‘Concord Monitor’ IT wiz Ben Allen has old school apple cider game
As the superhero of the Concord Monitor IT department, Ben Allen spends most of his day surrounded by technology (or at least what newspapers consider technology). But when it comes to making apple cider, he’s down to use techniques that are centuries old. For instance, the press he uses right now is a wine press made by Ames Manufacturing Co., which is still in business selling agricultural tools. Allen’s is about 100 years old and...
Did you know apple cider is our official state drink? Well, you do now
According to Wikipedia, the source we all use to fact check weird and interesting tidbits, 28 of the 50 states in America have an official state beverage. Of those 28, 20 list milk as one of, or the sole, beverage for their states. But only one has apple cider next to its name and you better believe that New Hampshire is the one. Thanks to a group of students from Jaffrey Grade School, HB 1206 requesting that apple cider become the...
This Week In Concord History
Nov. 11, 2000: For the first time in school history, the Concord High girls’ cross country team wins the New England Championships.Nov. 11, 1965: The Douglas N. Everett Arena opens in Concord.Nov. 11, 1874: Meeting in Concord’s Eagle Hall, a crowd of 100 women form the New Hampshire Women’s Temperance League. The first president is Mrs. Nathaniel White of Concord.Nov. 11, 1975: Gov. Mel Thomson makes a surprise visit to the state...
Making hard apple cider is so easy that even you can do it
When it comes to creating adult beverages in the backyard, we tend to call upon Ed Ramshaw. As president of the Concord Area Homebrewers, Ramshaw is a bit of a local brewing legend. He makes delicious tasting fermented concoctions and has been teaching others how to do so for years. Guess that would make him some sort of expert, as well. So when we wanted to find out how to take that fresh local cider you buy each fall and turn it...
Missed Connections: I write songs about your friend, maybe?
We at the Insider like to scour Craigslist’s Missed Connections to see if anyone in Concord wants to go on a raking date is finding true love online. Here, presented unedited as always, are some of the best recent entries.Concord Walmart Pharmacy 3 weeks ago – m4w (NH)About 3 weeks ago I let you go in front of me at the Walmart pharmacy to get your meds.. Then the women at the register said something to you and you seemed to go...
Ladybug Picture Book award up for grabs
Results are in from the mid-term election, but New Hampshire’s youngest residents are now out in full force, voting for their favorite picture books to see which will win the 2014 Ladybug Picture Book Award. Designed to promote early literacy, the Ladybug Picture Book Award honors the best in recent children’s picture books. Each year, a committee of children’s librarians from across the state selects 10 picture book titles that will...
City Briefly
Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell writes an especially juicy city memo, then tries so hard to squeeze it into cider that he turns bright red and passes out. So a local orchard mistakes him for an apple and turns him into cider, but thankfully puts the city memo on the label before selling it.Still building stuffConstructiony thingsConstruction on North Main Street will continue this week in similar fashion to the past couple of...
Hero nominations sought by Red Cross of N.H.
The American Red Cross in New Hampshire is currently seeking hero nominations from community members for the 2015 Heroes Breakfast. The breakfast, a nation-wide signature Red Cross event that recognizes and honors ordinary people with extraordinary courage, will be held on Thursday, March 5, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Southern New Hampshire University’s Dining and Conference facility alongside Unitil Corp. as this year’s title sponsor....
Audubon photography exhibit opening Nov. 18
N.H. Audubon is hosting an art exhibit featuring photography by Hal Close from Nov. 4 to Dec. 30 with a special opportunity to meet the artist at an opening reception Nov. 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. The reception and exhibit will be in the McLane Center’s PSNH Room.Close’s passion for photography was first inspired by his skiing and climbing trips in the White Mountains, and followed him through his travels out west and to Switzerland. “I...
Check out the parks and recreation brochure
If you haven’t somehow come into ownership of the latest Concord Parks & Recreation Fall/Winter 2014-15 brochure, it’s time to drop by their office to grab one. If you’re not in their neck of the woods, feel free to browse the electronic version on their website to see all of their new and exciting programs. In addition to maintaining longtime favorites, such as basketball, dance, healthy cooking, archery, and Tae Kwon Do, the...
Ward 2 meeting at Newell Post Restaurant
Well, we managed to get through Halloween and the election, although I’m not sure which one was scarier. So with that in mind, Rep. Paul Henle and I thought it would be a good time to get together for another Ward 2 meeting. With the holiday season rapidly approaching this will be our last get together until after the New Year. This will be a good opportunity to talk about the planning board’s meeting on Dec. 17 for the PSNH 317 line;...
Law enforcement entrance exam at NHTI
On Saturday, Dec. 6, NHTI will offer a Law Enforcement Entrance Level Examination for persons interested in becoming full- or part-time police officers in the state of New Hampshire. This exam is required to establish employment eligibility in roughly 50 N.H. towns and municipalities. (For a list of towns which require the exam, visit nhti.edu/docs/policetesting.pdf.) The 90-minute written exam begins at 9:30 a.m., but participants...
‘Dying to Talk’ cafe at True Brew Nov. 19
Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association is offering the “Dying to Talk” Cafe that gives people the opportunity to breathe life into conversations about dying on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at True Brew Barista in Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St. The “Dying to Talk” Cafe is held on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the same time. Join us for conversations on matters about living and dying. Each cafe is offered by...
Service of healing and light at Perkins Chapel
A Blue Holiday Service of Healing and Light will be held Friday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Perkins Chapel, located at Blossom Hill and Calvary Cemetery, 207 N. State St. For many people the holiday season does not bring with it the joy and happiness advertised in greeting cards or on television. Perhaps we have lost someone we love, suffered an emotional trauma, ended a relationship or dealt with illness. Perhaps we no longer have...
Encore screening of ‘Nosferatu’ at Red River
There will be an encore screening of Nosferatu at Red River Theatres on Friday, Nov. 14.So if you missed out on the sold out Halloween showing, you have another chance to get frightened. Nosferatu (1922), the first screen adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, will be screened at 7 p.m. at Red River Theatres, 11 S. Main St.The film will include live music performed by New Hampshire-based silent film accompanist Jeff Rapsis....
Quilters guild to hold class and meeting
The Capital Quilters Guild will meet at Havenwood, 33 Christian Ave., on Friday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. All quilters are welcome to attend. Our featured speaker will be Marilyn Jewell with a Trunk Show. Jewell will be teaching a Bargello Class on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register for class, call Carole at 485-5336 or Joanne at 485-8381. For Guild information, contact Jean at 223-9766.
County stamp collectors to meet on Nov. 18
The Merrimack County Stamp Collectors’ regular monthly meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 1:30 p.m. at the Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St., Bow. Anyone interested in stamp collecting is invited to attend. For more information, call Dan Day at 228-1154.
The chamber is making a return trip to China
Because of the overwhelming response to our recent visits to China, the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce will offer another trip to the Far East next spring. We invite chamber members and the public to take advantage of the outstanding rates for the China adventure, departing March 23, 2015. The chamber will hold a brief, no-obligation information meeting at GoodLife Programs and Activities at the Centennial Senior Center, 254 N....
Concord Public Library Book of the Week
For more information about the Concord Public Library, visit concordpubliclibrary.net and visit us on Tumblr (reading-rumblr.tumblr.com and concordteens.tumblr.com) and Facebook (facebook.com/ConcordPublicLibrary.)Comet’s Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My LifeSteven D. Wolf2012, 257 pagesNonfictionSteven Wolf’s body is in real trouble. Wolf has a very painful spinal condition and can only walk hunched over with the help of two...
Turning apples into cider is a time honored New England tradition
Just imagine for a second you’re an apple.You’ve spent all spring and summer preparing for this moment. Dealing with the hot days and cool nights to grow big and strong. Now that it’s finally fall, you’ve got this unbelievably shiny red coat and it’s time to figure out what the future holds. Are you going to be picked by a nice family and made into a delicious pie or crisp? Will a young child take you on an adventure to school before...
Instagram photo of the week – Tue, 04 Nov 2014
OH MY GOD SOMEONE CALL 911 THAT TREE IS ON FIRE, oh, wait, that’s just some stunning fall foliage captured outside the State House by Instagram user @mr_puppet_edenwald. Perhaps it’s nature’s way of reminding us to turn on the TV so we can catch the final week of scorching political ads roasting every candidate and every decision they’ve ever made. Us? We’re just voting for this photo. Want your Instagram picture to end up in the...
Here’s a trailer for a few SNOB selections
Bingo and PBR-BQWe mentioned Rob Azevedo earlier, and now we’re going to mention his two films at this year’s festival. He has Bingo, a short comedy about three bingo playing buddies starring local stand-up comedians Ryan Bourassa, James Mullan and Paul Landwehr, and he also has a music video he directed over the summer with editor Chris Tremblay for the local country rock band, The Dusty Gray Band and their song “PBR-BQ.” This is the...
Pedro Pimentel has another short film for you – so go watch it
You may remember last winter we introduced you to Pedro Pimentel.Say hello, Pedro.At that time, Pimentel, a budding filmmaker, was a senior and president of the Concord High Film Society. He, along with his society buddies, were putting on the second annual Concord High Film Festival, and we helped get the word out.Now, Pimentel is the founder of Manguetown Pictures and will have his film, Accursed, shown as part of this weekend’s...
Jana Brown wrote a screenplay – and it’s going to be a movie soon
The scene opens with Jana Brown sitting at her desk.The editor of St. Paul’s alumni magazine, Alumni Horae, opens her email to find a class note from Perry King, a 1966 alum. King has written something for the magazine ahead of his 45th reunion.Brown stops and wonders ‘Is this the Perry King that my mother used to like from Riptide and The Lords of Flatbush’?There’s only one way to find out, so Brown responds with thoughts of an...
The Co-op has pub grub and craft beer to whet your movie appetite
We all know movies are better with a tasty adult beverage and some food that tastes so good it has to be bad for you. It’s certainly preferable to spending $46 on a fountain soda and a box of Junior Mints. Because make no mistake, this ain’t no concession stand – this is the beer tasting at the Co-op on Nov. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. to kick off the SNOB Film Festival in style. Get the SNOB party started right by checking out some tasty...
Beloved one-acts back at CHS this weekend
Nov. 6 through Nov. 9, Concord High School will be welcoming nine student directors for what has become a much-loved tradition in the school community – the Senior Directed One Acts. “They’ve been running for about 20 years,” said Clint Klose, director of Concord High’s theater program. “The director before me did them, and the director before that. I think it gives seniors a chance to look at theater from the other side of the stage...
Smile, SNOB is back in town
The SNOB Film Festival and the Insider have become a little like peanut butter and jelly – or maybe we should say, like craft beer and awesome flicks. We just work well together.So with the SNOB Festival back for its 13th go-round, we figured we’d hook you up with our annual preview issue with everything you need to know!As has been the case in each of the last several years, the festival is a celebration of indie film, music and beer...
A craft beer film with heart and a touching look at Quiet Riot? Check
Here’s a quick look at some of the films being featured this year at the SNOB festival.Blood, Sweat, and BeerBlood, Sweat, and Beer is a feature-length documentary exploring the explosive growth of the craft beer industry and the dramatic journeys of two start-up breweries.The film follows a trio of 23-year-olds as they struggle to start The Brew Gentlemen Beer Company in Braddock, Pa. Matt, Asa, and Brandon hope their brewery will...
Eastern Bank welcomes itself to town by buying everyone breakfast
Eastern Bank purchased Centrix Bank last week, crossing the border from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, and welcomed itself by surprising customers and buying everyone breakfast for a few hours at Dunkin’ Donuts locations throughout the state Tuesday, including two in Concord.
We got the low down on tunes from SNOB music man Rob Azevedo
For the second year in a row, the SNOB Film Festival has joined forces with a few local venues to add music to the docket, and for the second year in a row we caught up with the man responsible for bringing that all together, Rob Azevedo. Azevedo is already famous in these parts for a couple of reasons – he hosts the Granite State of Mind radio show on WNHN 94.7 FM every Thursday from 9 to 10 p.m., and he’s also entered films in the...
