Book of the Week: ‘Young Men and Fire’
Young Men and Fire Norman Maclean 1992, 301 pages Nonfiction Winner of the 1992 National Book Critic Circle Award, Maclean’s Young Men and Fire is a gripping account of a terrible fire in 1949 that claimed the lives of 13 U.S. Forest Service smokejumpers. It starts with a lightning storm in the Montana wilderness and follows the brave young men that were sent to fight one of the fires left in the storm’s wake. What seems like an...
This Week in Concord History
Aug. 7, 2001: The Concord Baseball Association announces that Pete Dupuis has been named the General Manager of the Concord Quarry Dogs for the 2002 season. Dupuis was the Assistant General Manager under Warren Doane, who passed away earlier in 2001. Aug. 7, 2000: The state unveils its contribution to the country’s new set of quarters. George Washington remains on the “heads” side. On the “tails” side reposes the Old Man of the...
Blast over to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center to check out the new Discovery Lab
If your kids love to tinker with stuff – and what kid doesn’t? – the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center has just the thing: The Discovery Lab.Opening Friday, the Discovery Lab will be a permanent, dedicated area at the space and aeronautics museum for kids to tinker, discover, create and persevere, among many other activities. The Discovery Lab will be located in the room that previously held the Riding the Waves of History exhibit,...
Gear up for the 38th Concord Criterium cycling race this week
Ladies and gentlemen, start your bicycles – Concord is about to once again host the Concord Criterium and New England Criterium Championships, the 38th annual installment of the bicycle race. This Saturday, the roads surrounding White Park will be full of Spandex-clad cycling enthusiasts giving it their all to try to earn a spot on the podium – and, in many cases, cold, hard cash. The full day of races features a variety of entry...
It’s that time: Go out and pick your own blueberries around Concord
We’re starting to hit the sweet spot of summer – literally. While strawberry-picking season wrapped up a few weeks ago and apples won’t be ready till Labor Day, blueberries are ripe for the pickin’ right now at farms across Concord. Not every berry on every branch is dark blue and ready for eating yet, but it’s pretty close, and it’s certainly late enough to get out there and start amassing a stockpile.Rossview Farm, Carter Hill...
Bulletin Board: Concert, yard sale and planning for retirement
Yard and bake sale at East Church An indoor/outdoor yard and bake sale will be held at East Congregational Church, 51 Mountain Road, on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clothing, books, holiday decor, kitchenware, glassware, decorative items, toys, games, puzzles, and much more will be available. The $3 bag sale starts at 11 a.m. Sale will be held rain or shine. For more info and directions, call 224-9242 or visit eastchurchucc.org. Kay...
On Stage: RB Productions to perform ‘Mary Poppins’
“Winds from the east, mist coming in, like something’s a brewin’, about to begin.” And for weeks, something has been brewin’ at the Capitol Center for the Arts. RB Productions will be presenting a mainstage production of Mary Poppins this week. Amid the rain and mist of last week, two of the leads discussed the musical and the work behind it. Candace Gatzoulis of Manchester will play the title role of Mary. Andrew Gibson of Manchester...
Entertainment: Slim schedule as the calendar flips to August
When you get to the end of the month, it’s often difficult to find lots of live entertainment listings, as many venues have minor details to be worked out before setting their schedules for the month. Nonetheless, there’s still plenty going on this week, including three different theater performances. Enjoy! Music Tuesday Kid Pinky at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. The Nevers’ Second Regiment Band at the State House at 7...
On Display: New England seascapes are an inspiration
Susan Clement is drawn to the picturesque seascapes along the New England coastlines. And let’s be honest here, who isn’t?She enjoys capturing the vibrant colors of the sunrises and sunsets in her paintings, and it’s all on display at the 2 Pillsbury St. gallery space through Sept. 28. Using oils, acrylics and watercolors, Clement’s style is mostly impressionistic – with a hint of realism – and at times venturing into the world of...
Book of the Week: ‘The Orkney Scroll’
The Orkney Scroll: An Archaeological MysteryLyn Hamilton2006, 261 pagesFiction/Mystery Toronto antiques dealer Lara McClintock is asked by a wealthy client to authenticate a rare Mackintosh writing cabinet (as in Glasgow’s famous architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh). Lara thinks it is genuine, but wants to do some research to make sure. But before she can do so, the client buys the piece. When later it appears to be a...
This Week in Concord History
July 31, 1860: Sen. Stephen A. Douglas, the Democratic nominee for president, comes to Concord. The crowd at the railroad station is “dense and ungovernable,” and 5,000 people jam onto the State House yard to see the most famous politician of his day. Douglas denounces his fellow Democrat, President James Buchanan, for placating the South. July 31, 1947: The Monitor is inundated with letters to the editor urging the city to build a...
We got the full New Hampshire Wild experience at Memorial Field
Summer.The word conjures up so many images and ideas – sun, beaches, pools, ice cream, fireworks, vacations, flip-flops, frozen margaritas and, of course, baseball.America’s original pastime may be just one sport (and for that matter, recreational activity in general) among so many to choose from these days, but there’s nothing that quite exemplifies an American summer like nine guys taking to the diamond in the middle of July.There’s...
Entertainment: Plenty of concerts and shows to keep you busy
Boy – the weather has really been pretty much perfect lately. We’ve had a bit of rain to refresh, and the oppressive heat seems to have simmered down to a comfortable level. Fittingly, the entertainment schedule is finding its sweet spot, too, with live music every day/ night, some theater productions and a slate of good movies at Red River Theatres. Here’s what’s up this week: Music Tuesday Paul Desmarais at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m....
The Forest Society is having a photo contest
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (aka The Forest Society) is hosting a photo contest and they want you to be a part of it.So enter your favorite shots taken on a Forest Society reservation or on any property conserved through an easement with the Forest Society, by Aug. 15 for a chance to have your photo published in the autumn 2018 issue of Forest Notes, free passes to Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves or a...
Butterflies make pitstop at Joyce Kimball’s garden
Joyce Kimball knows her way around a garden – she is a longtime member of the Bow Garden Club after all – so when she saw some monarch butterflies visiting her purple coneflowers outside her home last week, she sprang into action. She grabbed a camera and documented the happenings for Insider readers to enjoy. Great shooting, Joyce!
Bulletin Board: Grange event, value bucks and N.H. markers
Veterans Value Bucks at markets To increase access to fresh locally grown food to our community of veterans and their families, the Merrimack County Conservation District has launched a voucher program called Veterans Value Bucks. Veterans coming to the Concord, Penacook, Contoocook, Franklin or Wilmot farmers’ markets can receive a coupon booklet worth $20. Each month Veterans Value Bucks will be available and expire on the last day...
Pierce Manse to host open house with 39th Army Band
We’re all well aware that Franklin Pierce is the only president to come from New Hampshire. So even though he sat in the oval office more than 160 years ago, he’s still a pretty big deal in these parts. His entire house was moved across town and turned into a museum about his life for goodness sake. And from now until early October, you can take guided tours of the Pierce Manse on certain days and times (check out their website for...
It’s wedding season and Red River has ‘Bridesmaids’
If you’re like us, you’ve been to lots of weddings. Of course, we attended our own, there have been ones for friends and family – and even a few that we decided to crash (just kidding). We even have a few remaining on the calendar before the weather gets too cold to exchange vows outdoors. And since we’re in the middle of “wedding season,” Red River Theatres thought it would be great to put together a one-night-only event with one of...
Book of the Week: ‘Temptation of Forgiveness’
The Temptation of ForgivenessDonna Leon2018, 300 pagesFiction/Mystery Commissario Guido Brunetti is asked by a colleague of his wife if he can help her. She thinks that her teenage son is using drugs, and buying them from someone near his school. A short time later this woman’s husband is attacked and he ends up in a coma in the hospital. Are the two events linked? Brunetti begins to investigate, but this tangled web of a tale leads...
The Arts: Final week (ever) for McGowan Fine Art
Mill Brook Gallery Spring and Summer Through: Sept. 2 Outdoor Exhibit Through: Oct. 14 Location: 236 Hopkinton Road Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. League of N.H. Craftsmen Celebrating 85 – The Stevens Collection Through: Sept. 21 Location: 49 S. Main St., Suite 100 Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. McGowan Fine Art Streetwise – John Bonner Through: Friday* Location: 2 Phenix Ave. Hours: Tuesday...
This Week in Concord History
July 24, 2002: An 11-run second inning and sparkling defense propels Concord National to the Junior League Softball Championship, with a 13-2 victory over the host Bedford team. July 24, 2003: Manuel Gehring, the Concord man accused of fatally shooting his children, Sarah and Philip, pleads not guilty on two counts of first-degree murder in Hillsborough County Superior Court. July 25, 1874: Thirteen months after a fire destroyed the...
VIDEO: We’re in the heart of summer concert season in Concord, and things are really heating up
It’s a little past the midway point of July, and all the summer concert series are in full swing by now. Between Concord and Bow, you can catch some (mostly) outdoor music a few times a week all summer long. It’s the perfect time of year to sit outside, maybe have a little picnic and take in some cool, free tunes – yes, all of the concert series we’re about to mention are completely free and open to the public. With the exception of...
Grammy winner Patty Griffin coming to the Cap Center
The Grammy award-winning modern folk singer-songwriter Patty Griffin will be bringing her acoustic tour to the Capitol Center for the Arts on Sunday. Griffin, based out of Austin, Texas, and born in Old Town, Maine, has released nine classic studio albums and two live collections. Griffin’s first two albums, Living With Ghosts and Flaming Red, are considered seminal albums in the singer-songwriter genre, while Children Running Through...
Food Snob: Tenders and cheese sticks from Ballard’s
As you may have seen in the recent ice cream issue, Ballard’s on Broadway has lots of options when it comes to frozen treats. But did you know they’re also in the business of serving food? And one of the featured items on their menu is fried foods – something we just can’t get enough of – at least until our wives find out.So after our grueling three-game tennis match at Memorial Field, we were looking for something that would sit...
Entertainment: A variety of concerts and stage shows abound
We’re in the dog days of summer now, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on. This week features quite a few concerts – both indoor and out – plus three stage shows. Enjoy! Music Tuesday Dan Weiner at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. Nevers’ Second Regiment Band at Rolfe Park at 7 p.m. Hopkinton Town Band at Presidential Oaks at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Craig Jaster at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. The ExP Band outside next to...
Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce names grant recipients
Through its Business Grants program, the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce awards more than $5,000 annually to teachers who have developed innovative teaching programs for use in capital area schools. Recipients of the seven grants chosen this year demonstrated that their projects fit a specific educational need, were unique to their respective schools, and were not supported by their school system’s annual budget. Funding for the...
Another stunning Instagram shot from @michaelpmurphy
We swear we don’t play favorites, but when we see a really great photo on Instagram, we run it. It just so happens that user @michaelpmurphy takes a lot of great shots around Concord, many of which have appeared in these pages over the years. Here’s another one, this one taken somewhere on the Winant-Swope connector trail. The tall grass, the bright sun, the solar flare, the potential UFO near the top – it all works here, and it works...
Jon’s daughter helped him change a flat tire last week
It’s everyone’s worst nightmare: You finally make it to the office for what’s going to be another long day on the job and your left rear tire is losing air – and quickly. A small piece of sharp metal had made a nice gash in Jon’s tire last week, so he did what anyone else would do — he called in his 3-year-old daughter, Julia, to help put the spare on. Good thing she was free.
Book of the Week: ‘If We Were Villains’
If We Were Villains M.L. Rio 2017, 355 pages Mystery Fiction Oliver Marks was a drama student before going to jail. Now that his parole has been approved, he is the only person who can finally ease the misgivings of the policeman who put him there. Oliver agrees, at last, to tell him the truth. Oliver’s story begins at a small, private conservatory of the arts, where his class of seven drama students have been eating, sleeping and...
