We ate our way through the night at Taste of New Hampshire
Imagine this scenario – you’re in a big reception hall full of high-end food and drink, with nearly 40 different restaurants accounted for, and there are no limits on how much you can consume.It’s not some fantasy or dream scenario – it really happened last Thursday, and it was called the Taste of New Hampshire.As we previewed last week, the Taste of New Hampshire is one of the best, Insidery events the city has. The Grappone...
ConcordTV to celebrate 20 years on the air
ConcordTV, your local access television station based out of Concord High School, is gearing up for its seventh annual Concord On Air telecast, an eight-hour televised celebration of Concord, its residents and its creative culture.While a seventh annual anything doesn’t sound that special, this Concord On Air production is special in that it will serve as the official kick-off to ConcordTV’s 20-year anniversary.That’s right, the...
City Manager’s Newsletter: Voting info, hydrant pumping, parking forum and more
The city of Concord’s public information officer, Stefanie Breton, sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The newsletter contained too much information for us to fit into this spot, so we’re just printing some highlights here. For the full newsletter, go to concordnh.gov and click the “Newsletter” button on the home page. Absentee ballots, voter registration On Tuesday, Nov. 6, residents will have the opportunity to cast...
The White Park skate house project is (finally) underway, and you can help
If it seems like you’ve been hearing talk about plans for a new skate house at White Park forever, it’s because you basically have. The old skate house at White Park, originally meant for renting out ice skates, was built in the 1950s and closed 15 years ago due to health and safety concerns. Ever since then, it has sat vacant and decrepit at the city’s most popular park.Now, after years of meetings and planning sessions, all that is...
Bulletin Board: NHTI fall open house, Wicked FIT Run and more
Concord Regional VNA to offer Walk-in Wednesday Concord Regional VNA offers Walk-In Wednesday on Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon at Horseshoe Pond Place Senior Resource Center, 26 Commercial St., Concord. Walk-In Wednesday is held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the same time. Walk-In Wednesday is an opportunity to get your questions answered. A Concord Regional VNA team member is available to meet with people individually...
City to hold two public meetings to discuss solar ordinance
The City of Concord’s Planning Division, along with the Energy & Environment Advisory Committee, is holding two public meetings to discuss the solar ordinance.The purpose of these meetings is to summarize the city’s renewable energy goals; present examples of the types of solar development (roof-mounted, ground-mounted, carport) and size (residential, small, medium, large); discuss revisions to the zoning ordinance that will...
City smoothing over buckling downtown crosswalks
Monitor staff Nearly two years after the city cut the ribbon on its new Main Street, its crews have begun patching some of its crosswalks.Concord General Services workers were out last Monday and Tuesday ripping up bricks and pouring concrete and asphalt at the junction of North Main and Pleasant streets.City Engineer David Cedarholm said the concrete slab on Pleasant Street needed to be fixed because it was cut through during a water...
Catch the last film of the Future of Nature film series, ‘Sacred Cod,’ at Red River Theatres
Red River Theatres is more than just a place to watch movies. It’s also a cultural hub that often hosts special events such as art gallery openings, fundraisers and discussion panels to go along with film screenings. On Wednesday, you can catch the final installment of a three-part film series.The Future of Nature Film Series, put on by The Nature Conservancy, will wrap up its 2018 run with a showing of the documentary Sacred Cod on...
Entertainment: Burlesque show comes to Hatbox Theatre
In a week that almost includes Halloween, there’s a pair of Halloween concerts in Concord, with one at Area 23 and another at the Capitol Center for the Arts. There’s also a burlesque show coming to Hatbox Theatre – an 18-plus, BYOB show. Here’s what we found: Music Tuesday Kid Pinky at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. Open mic comedy at Area 23 at 9 p.m. Sign-ups start at 8:30. Open mic with Mikey G at Tandy’s at 8 p.m....
Author Margaret Porter to present ‘Beautiful Invention’ at Gibson’s Bookstore on Thursday
Margaret Porter will return to Gibson’s Bookstore on Thursday with a new novel of historical fiction, Beautiful Invention, surrounding Hedy Lamarr; publicly famous for her Silver Screen appearances, quietly revered for her military technology inventions (spread spectrum technology, the gateway to wi-fi and Bluetooth).Hedy Kiesler, Austrian actress of Jewish heritage, scandalizes Europe with her nudity in the art film Ecstasy. Her...
On the Road: The ‘Insider’ takes a cruise on the Baltic
Scott and Cindy Rainie took the Insider with them on a cruise of the Baltic. This picture was taken in Porvoo, Finland, just outside Helsinki. Thanks for taking us along, Scott and Cindy!
Book of the Week: ‘A Tale of Time City’
A Tale of Time CityDiana Wynne JonesOriginal copyright 1987, our edition 2012, 334 pagesJuvenile Fiction/Fantasy Anxious, worried Vivian Smith is on a train full of children who are escaping the German bombing of London in 1939. Her fears and worries on the train, as bad as they are, are nothing like what actually happens to her, as she is kidnapped off the platform and whisked away to a remarkable place: Time City. Her abductors,...
This Week in Concord History
Oct. 23, 1890: A statue of John Stark is dedicated outside the State House. Oct. 23, 2001: Former vice president Al Gore meets with several Concord-area Democrats at the Barley House in Concord. During his visit to the state, he also speaks with out-of-work mill workers in Berlin and attends a concert by Voices From the Heart, a 200-woman choir, in Portsmouth. Oct. 23, 2003: Wesley Clark keeps his appointment at Concord High School,...
Bring your appetites to the 13th annual Taste of New Hampshire
Don’t look now, but one of the greatest days on the Concord calendar is right around the corner: Taste of New Hampshire day. The festival of food, put on by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire as a fundraiser, returns for a 13th year Thursday, and with a slight tweak to its name from years past – formerly the Taste of Concord, the event’s new name reflects the fact that the Boys & Girls Clubs’ network is expanding,...
Singers to compete for the crown of N.H. Opera Idol at Concord City Auditorium
If there’s one knock against this city, it’s the relative lack of opera competitions we have around here. Thankfully, opera fans, your dreams will all come true this Saturday when the Piccola Opera and Opera New Hampshire present New Hampshire Opera Idol at the Concord City Auditorium.This will be an all-day affair featuring 40 opera singers belting it out, giving it their all to try to become the next N.H. Opera Idol. And by all day,...
David Ruedig named Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce announces David Ruedig as its 2018 Citizen of the Year. The Chamber will honor the Concord businessman and philanthropist with an award ceremony at its 99th Annual Meeting and Citizen of the Year award celebration presented by Merrimack County Savings Bank on Nov. 7 at the Grappone Conference Center. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.“This award represents the highest honor bestowed...
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests honors Ben Gayman with Conservationist of the Year award
On Sept. 29, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests presented the organization’s Conservationist of the Year award at its 117th Annual Meeting. Among the organization’s most prestigious recognitions, this annual award honors those exemplary people who have worked to promote land conservation through many different avenues, often with significant sacrifice. The Conservationist of the Year honors people whose work to...
Learn about forest bathing with Hanna Fries at Gibson’s Bookstore
No loofah required! People have been retreating to the woods for quiet, meditation and inspiration for centuries, and recent research finds that time spent in the forest doesn’t just feel good but is, in fact, good for you. Inspired by the Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, poet Hannah Fries invites readers to bask in the company of trees, whether in a city park or a rural nature preserve, as she presents Forest...
Bulletin Board: Stamp collectors, free concert and a movie
Stamp collectors to meet today The Merrimack County Stamp Collectors will hold its monthly meeting at the Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St., Bow, on Tuesday (Oct. 16) beginning at 1 p.m. We invite all who are interested in stamp collecting to attend, share their interest, buy, sell and trade. Meet other collectors and learn more about their hobby and enjoy the fellowship of others with varied interests in Philatelic...
City Manager’s Newsletter: Liberty the comfort dog, paving updates, indoor golf and more
The city of Concord’s public information officer, Stefanie Breton, sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The newsletter contained too much information for us to fit into this spot, so we’re just printing some highlights here. For the full newsletter, go to concordnh.gov and click the “Newsletter” button on the home page. Comfort dog aims to join Concord PD If all goes according to plan, Liberty, a yellow Labrador...
Concord has made a change to its leaf-collection program, and you’ll probably like it
It’s mid-October, which means it’s prime leaf-raking season. In Concord, that has usually meant raking up all your leaves and somehow lugging them out to the curb for the city to come suck up with its giant vacuum trucks.But now, there’s a new option, and it just might change your life – bagged collection in the fall.Yes, you can finally put those leaf bags, previously acceptable only in spring, to use as the city will begin accepting...
Coalition to hold info session at Common Man on ending homelessness in Concord
Ending homelessness in a community like Concord requires commitment, time and a wide range of talents and skills.For those who would like to be part of that effort, the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness will hold a volunteer information session next Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Common Man restaurant in Concord.CCEH staff and volunteers will describe the many ways that individuals, service organizations, houses of...
Entertainment: ‘Friends’ parody highlights a very busy week
We have about as busy a week on the entertainment front as you’ll ever see around here this week. On the music side, Area 23 is hosting a big “Decades Night,” in which several artists will each do a set of songs from a particular decade. As far as theater, the Capitol Center for the Arts has a musical parody of the classic sit-com Friends. And Red River Theatres will have one showing of The Divide, a gritty Western. Enjoy! Music...
On the Road: A couple of newlyweds took the ‘Insider’ on their Hawaii honeymoon
Robert and Nancy Bussiere took the Insider along with them on their honeymoon to Hawaii in August. Along with five nights in Honolulu and a seven-day cruise was a visit to Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu.Thanks for bringing us along on your romantic getaway!Are you going somewhere exotic, or just cool? Bring a copy of the Insider with you and take a picture of yourself holding it in front of something memorable or picturesque....
Grange looking for donations for Concord Christmas parade, tree lighting
For the InsiderPlanning is underway for the 67th annual Concord Christmas Parade, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 9:30 a.m. on the Concord Heights. The parade route is being finalized, but Loudon Road will be the main route. The units will begin forming at 8 a.m. for floats and decorated vehicles. The remainder of the parade units will be there at 8:30 a.m. The formation location is also being finalized.The Concord Grange...
This Week in Concord History
Oct. 16, 1975: The Reagan for President campaign opens a headquarters at the New Hampshire Highway Hotel in Concord. Hotel owner Matthew Morton agrees to a temporary replacement of the wording on the huge sign atop the building from “Highway Hotel” to “Reagan for President,” creating an ostentatious precedent for future political candidates. Oct. 16, 2001: Citing safety concerns relating to the Sept. 11 attacks, the Steeplegate Mall...
Book of the Week: ‘Have Dog, Will Travel: A Poet’s Journey’
Have Dog, Will Travel: A Poet’s JourneyStephen Kuusisto2018, 239 pagesNonfiction Stephen Kuusisto grew up in Exeter, N.H. He was legally blind and could only see some colors and shapes. His parents didn’t want him to be pitied, so they told him that he had to “pass” as sighted. They thought his disability would make him a victim. Stephen went to school, read books (pressed up to his nose) and even marched in a Memorial Day parade. As...
A few words about Making Strides from event chairwoman Kathi Russ
To the wonderful Greater Concord Community, Do something hard. Do something meaningful. Do it with good people. You are sincerely invited to join the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event on Sunday, Oct. 14, at Memorial Field in Concord. Whatever your reason for Making Strides, all are welcome. Perhaps you are supporting a friend or family member facing breast cancer, or perhaps you are a caregiver...
All the day-of-event details you need for the 2018 Making Strides walk
The 2018 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk will take place Sunday at Memorial Field in Concord. Here’s all the day-of-event information you need to know:Parking: The Governor Hugh Gallen State Office Park is available for your parking needs. Please enter the parkway off Pleasant Street or Clinton Street. Please avoid using Fruit Street. There will be parking signs and attendants available to assist you. Shuttle buses will be...
Walkers share what ignites their passions
Jo Bunten Team: Brave Hearts What ignites your passion for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer? The Brave Hearts team will be participating on Oct. 14 to honor and remember those we have lost, support those currently in treatment and those who have survived. This year we walk in honor of Sue Auerbach, Dottie Bozek, Connie Collins, Winifred Harty, Judith Houle, Lorraine Kreamer, Jean Boisvert, Pauline Ouellette, Hilary Morrison Roman,...
