Manse lecture series continues
If you missed the first few installments of the Pierce Brigade Lecture Series, it’s okay. There’s still more to come over the next few months. And it all starts Thursday with a talk by Kevin Gardner, an author, stone wall builder, teacher and professional actor, entitled “Discovering New England Stone Walls.” Why are we so fascinated with stone walls? Gardner, author of The Granite Kiss, explains how and why New England came to...
Book of the Week: ‘Orphan Train’
Orphan Train Christina Baker Kline 2013, 273 pages Fiction Molly Ayer, a Penobscot Indian, is 17 and is very glad to almost be done with the foster care system, being bounced from home to home. She steals a book and has to do community service to stay out of juvenile hall; 50 hours of helping an elderly woman named Vivian clean out her attic.In 1929, when she is 9 years old, Vivian comes to New York City from Ireland, and soon finds...
This Week in Concord History
Aug. 23, 2002: With the new school year only one week away, six Barnstead upperclassmen do not have high school assignments, the Monitor reports. School officials at Kingswood, Merrimack Valley and Pittsfield, which together took more than 50 of the almost 70 Barnstead eighth-graders placed by June, said they are still struggling to register late-comers in their own districts. Aug. 24, 2002: A dog that roamed Tilton for two...
Bulletin Board
Tickets are on sale for 2016 Fur Ball Join the Pope Memorial SPCA under the harvest moon for the 2016 Fur Ball on Oct. 15, from 5:30 to 10 p.m., at the Capitol Center for the Arts. Enjoy live music provided by the Windham 16 Piece Swing Band, plus dinner, a live auction and dancing. Try your luck in the Top Dog Raffle – just 100 tickets will be sold for $100 each. The winner will receive their choice of one live auction item. Purchase...
The Insiders’ night out on the town
We do most of our work around here during the day. Sure, it can be lame working in the day sometimes, but it’s kind of what most of the world does, so we just go with the flow. But we’re a publication that’s more about play than work. We exist to keep you informed not about the latest crime spree or political sparring match, but about the tastiest beers, the coolest places to visit and the most excellent adventures Concord has to...
Go Try It: Darts tourney at Area 23
In the spirit of the Olympics, we wanted to try to do something athletic for this week’s Go Try It. And since this is the Insider, we specifically sought a sport that could be played at night and in a bar. This would also be in keeping with the week’s theme, so it’s like a double-whammy. We ended up at Area 23, signing up for a darts tournament. The tournaments are held every Thursday night starting about 7, and there’s a $10 buy in....
Tasty Brews: Miles & Miles Dry-Hopped Pale Ale
Another week of oppressive, sweltering heat, another trip to a local watering hole to refresh. It’s just part of the life of an Insider. We had a specific beer in mind for this installment of Tasty Brews: We wanted to try Henniker Brewing Co.’s Miles & Miles Dry-Hopped Pale Ale, the one with astronaut Alan Shepard on the can that we wrote about last week. It turns out, this beer is hard to find on tap; of all the establishments in...
Check out model railroads at the Model Railroad Show at Everett Arena
If you’re a model railroad enthusiast – or even if you’re not – your one chance to check out a massive expo is coming right up.The Concord Model Railroad Show is the Capital Area’s big-time summer showcase of all things model trains. If you’re looking to buy some stuff to add to your home layout or just want to check out some other setups, this is the place for you.The show, which is Sunday at Everett Arena from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,...
Megan’s ‘Insider’ summer of fun is sadly over
As a student at Bow High school one of the requirements for graduation is to complete a senior project. It’s where you spend time doing something that gives back to the community. You can really do just about anything. Now that I am a senior (or will be in a few weeks), it’s time to start thinking about where I want to go for college and what I want to be. I’m supposed to be ready to move on, but I’m not. Thinking about where I want...
ConcordTV video camp film fest to be played at Red River
Ever wonder what goes into making a movie? How about a TV show? Or what about an infomercial? Well, the kids enrolled in ConcordTV’s summer video camps know all about those things, and they’re excited to show off their skills at a big-time film festival next week. On Aug. 24 at 6 p.m., Red River Theatres will host the 2016 Youth Video Camp Film Festival, featuring the works of kids ages 9 to 14. These kids have been working hard all...
Get in the ‘Pitch In’ spirit
“We Do Windows,” say The Friends of the Concord City Auditorium. Windows and orchestra seats and dressing rooms and stage floors. We sew curtains, polish chandeliers, and send event calendars to thousands of area households. And all in three days! The 26th annual Audi “Pitch In” will be held Aug. 22-24 to get the historic municipal theatre ready for its 112th year as the home of Concord’s community-based arts and entertainment. The...
Bring Your Own Baby to the movies Saturday
As parents of little girls under the age of two, we know all too well how hard it is to watch a movie – even if it is one about princesses. And going out to the theater is somewhat of a thing of the past.Sure, there are plenty of very qualified babysitters out there who will gladly watch your little one for a date night excursion, but it’s not easy finding the time with busy schedules or extra money lying around to pay for it.But Red...
Kristina Carlson is your new Chamber go-to
If you didn’t hear the news, the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce has a new communications manager and her name is Kristina Carlson. She took over about a month ago after longtime communications manager Becky Kinhan moved on to what we can only assume are bigger and better things. So we recently caught up with Carlson to see what kind of dirt she’ d be willing to tell us, and of course then share it with all of you. What interested...
CAWC: It’s time to talk about healthy eating habits
For the Insider Do you find it daunting to get your children to power down, move more or eat their fruit and veggies? Teaching your child the importance of establishing healthy habits through role modeling, support, positive praise and one challenge at a time will carry over into adulthood. Just remember, “monkey see, monkey do.” The more you role model a healthy lifestyle the more your children will follow suit. Although, with all...
Intown Concord Art Walk goes down this weekend
Summer vacation may be coming to a close, but not summer fun! On Friday and Saturday join family, friends, visitors and fellow shoppers in downtown Concord to enjoy more than a mile of savings, fun and art with the Discover Downtown 2nd annual Summer Sidewalk Sale and Art Walk, a free community event hosted by Intown Concord.Attendees will find a fun and festive shopping day throughout downtown Concord, including sizzling summer...
Miss Capital Area pageant coming to town
It’s almost that time again – time to crown a Miss Capital Area, Miss Capital Area’s Outstanding Teen, Miss Liberty and Miss Liberty’s Outstanding Teen.The Miss Capital Area Pageant (put on by the Miss Capital Area Scholarship Program) is a competition that will feature 17 young women from New Hampshire all vying for a crown. They’ll compete for one of two teen titles and one of two adult titles. These winners will then try to become...
Butterfly Update: The metamorphosis is under way
The circle of life is well under way at Cole Gardens. The original group of monarch butterflies brought in at the beginning of summer laid eggs a few weeks ago, and now those new caterpillars are now ready for their next phase of life. Here you see some caterpillars crawling around, while some others have already spun their chrysalises. When they come out of those green pods, they’ll be much bigger, brighter and butterflyier than ever...
Grammarnator: When did we start turning nouns into verbs?
NOTE: Following the practice that I learned and taught throughout my career, I have italicized words when they are used as words, e. g. Fire can be either a noun, verb, or adjective, depending on the context of its use. I know that you folks don’t like this practice, but there it is. My wife, a Latin teacher and better grammarian than I (me?) found this difficult to read without the italics. A couple of weeks ago the Monitor published...
Bulletin Board
Info night fornext Players show There will be an information night for the Community Players of Concord’s next performance Once on this Island on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at the Players Studio, 435 Josiah Bartlett Road. Come meet the creative team and learn about the show and the upcoming auditions! Light refreshments will be served. On Aug. 28 and 30 at 6:30 p.m., there will be open auditions for Once on this Island. Casting will be for...
Book of the Week: ‘Penguin Lessons’
The Penguin Lessons: What I Learned from a Remarkable BirdTom Michell2015, 219 pagesNonfiction In 1975 Englishman Tom Michell travels to take a job at a boy’s school in Argentina. During his trip he walks along a beach in Uruguay and is horrified to find hundreds of penguins who have died in an oil spill. There is one penguin still alive and looking at him fiercely. Michell captures the angry penguin in a string bag and takes it back...
This Week in Concord History
Aug. 16, 1843: A severe gale accompanied by torrents of rain destroys a large elm tree in the State House yard. The tree is 20 inches in diameter at its base. The wind breaks it off 20 feet about the ground. Aug. 16, 1982: The Concord City Council votes to maintain its ban on overnight parking. And it refuses to increase the number of exemptions allowed to individual residents. “I see it as creating a crime problem,” warns...
Get ready to groove at the 2016 Rock On Fest
Lovers of cool music and a cool environment take note: The 2016 Rock On Fest is right around the corner, and it’s bound to be a truly rockin’ time.The format and structure of the Rock On Fest is pretty simple: a bunch of people hang out at White Park and listen to a bunch of cool music all day, with some fun activities sprinkled in throughout.“It’s a free-flowing festival,” said Concord native Luke Bonner, executive director of the...
Here’s a rundown of all the live music acts at Rock On Fest
The first two words in Rock On Fest are “rock” and “on,” which would imply a festival of either something geological or something musical. Thankfully – for most of us, anyway – this fest falls into the latter category. To all of the geology fans out there, sorry, this isn’t the moment you’ve been waiting your whole lives for.Either way, the musical acts at Rock On Fest will be good enough for everyone to enjoy – even geologists! One...
Celebrate the Heights at Old Home Day
The Heights Community Old Home Day is slated for Saturday at Keach Park, and there’s going to be lots of fun for the whole family.The fourth annual festivities kick off at noon and go all the way to 6 p.m.“Last year wasn’t as good as we wanted and that was because of the weather,” said organizer Donna Robie. “So we just hope it’s sunny this year.” Throughout the afternoon, there will be musical performances, contests, games and food –...
Red River to show ‘Yankee Clipper’ with live music
The era when wind-powered ships ruled the seas comes to life on the silver screen in The Yankee Clipper (1927), a nautical adventure film to be shown on Friday at Red River Theatres.The silent drama, starring a young William Boyd and filmed at sea aboard authentic 19th century vessels, will be screened with live music performed by Jeff Rapsis at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 per person. Produced by Cecil B. DeMille and directed by Rupert...
You’ve got five chances to catch ‘Pippin’
For high school students around the state the months of June, July and August mean summer vacation, but members of Bow Performing Arts haven’t taken any time off.And with only a few days left before the opening night of Pippin, the cast made up of former, present and upcoming students of Bow High School are putting the final touches on the summer performance.Last week, we got a sneak peek at act one and if that’s any indication of...
