Hangin’ with the Bonners – oh, and the Larry O’Brien trophy
As you all know, Matt Bonner is a bit of a legend around these parts. And it’d be hard to find someone who thought otherwise. In the late 1990s, Bonner led Concord High School to three straight Class L boys basketball championships and went on to a successful four-year career at the University of Florida. And in case you forgot, Bonner just won his second NBA championship last month with the San Antonio Spurs, his 10th year in the...
Producing awesome water colors is old hat for Conrad Young
Watercolor artist Conrad Young has been capturing scenic memories – from covered bridges to wildlife – from all over New Hampshire for many years. And here’s your chance to check out a bunch of his work. Young’s paintings are currently on exhibit under the title ‘Treasured Memories’ in the Conservation Center at the Society for the Protection of N.H. Forests through Aug. 27.
We put tasty things from the Eagle Square Deli in our Insider bellies
When we initially conceived the idea of doing an Eagle Square issue, our first thought was “is there anything the Food Snob can eat there?” Then again, that’s generally our first thought when we think of any issue, but it’s pretty rare that it actually works out in a tasty way (we still shudder when recalling our dentist bill following the Christmas Lights issue incident). But this time we were lucky enough to find a deli that shares...
City briefly
Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell decides it’s too darn hot, strips down to his Wonderwoman swim trunks and pes headfirst into the Eagle Square fountain. Refreshed, he gets out and dribbles a city memo in water droplets on the sidewalk. Here it is!Classiest Trash aroundGarbage area gets gussiedCasella, the city’s trash and recycling vendor, will be replacing all trash and recycling containers in the Downtown Solid Waste District on...
How do you catch a mouse? Make a trap out of balloons, of course
Jungle Jim, the family entertainment extraordinaire, captivated an audience of local children (and at least one adult who happens to be a member of the ‘Insider’ team) at the Concord Public Library on June 27 with his impressive balloon making skills and ability to turn those balloons into simple machines. Jungle – as we like to call him – even created a mouse trap, which was actually strong enough to catch what we believe is a human,...
Instagram photo of the week – Tue, 08 Jul 2014
It’s that time of year again: Tiny green grassy nub season! We’re not sure those red things attached to them are. But thanks to Instagram user @amyjeanzpix for this pic from Rossview Farm in Concord.
There’s about to be a new flagpole in town, so go help dedicate it
For a long time, Keach Park had a flagpole. And just about every year the Concord Grange would furnish a new flag to gently flap in the wind. But somewhere along the way the flagpole failed to exist. Grange president Dick Patten isn’t quite sure what happened, so naturally many conspiracy theories have cropped up. As of now, we’re pretty sure it wasn’t stolen, because there’s no official police investigation that we know of and it...
He’s back, and sharper than a pocketknife
The Grammarnator was struck recently by a sign at the Liquor & Wine Outlet asking people not to park in the Firelane.Compound words abound, and most of us can come up with a few without thinking very hard. Bookcase was the first that came to my mind, and then backpack. Others with the same beginnings are bookend, bookmark, bookshelf, bookstore, and bookworm; backslide, backspin, backstage, and backstop. But book club and book...
Evo climbing duo ready to compete against the best at nationals
Grant Dreffer, 15, of Concord and Chloe LaBerge, 16, of Pepperill, Mass., like to climb up walls with oddly shaped grips on them.And it turns out the Evolution Rock and Fitness youth team pair are quite good at it. That’s why the two are making their way to Stone Summit in Atlanta, Ga. this week for USA Climbing’s Sport Climbing Series Youth National Competition.From Thursday to Sunday, Dreffer and LaBerge will take on the best youth...
The ever-evolving face of Eagle Square
During one of our routine daily knowledge enrichment exercises (OK, we were wandering around and opening every drawer in the building trying to find a plastic fork), we stumbled upon two folders full of Monitor file photos and stories about the history of Eagle Square. And there was so much good stuff in there, we had to share it with you, our beloved readers! Turns out the square has undergone more facelifts than Joan Rivers. It was...
This Week In Concord History
July 8, 1965: Construction of a new King’s Department Store begins on Loudon Road in Concord. Plans also call for a supermarket and five smaller stores.July 9, 2003: Summer school begins at the State House, as lawmakers try to write a budget that can pass into law. The session comes after Gov. Craig Benson stamped a big red VETO on the Legislature’s $2.6 billion budget and succeeded in blocking an override.July 9, 2000: The new owner...
Classic Concord Photo – Tue, 08 Jul 2014
Most current Concordians probably associate the Boutwell name with bowling, but this is Ernie Boutwell’s sunset league baseball team from 1936, posing in the most basebally setting possible – in front of an old house. The team was sponsored by Boutwell’s Filling Station, which probably served gas. But imagine if it was the station from which all Hostess Cupcakes were filled? Those are some happy thoughts. Thanks to reader Earl...
Discovery Center offering camps, extended hours
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will be open extended hours this summer, Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every week through Aug. 31. In addition to a brand new planetarium show on its roster, “To Space and Back,” summer science and engineering camps for kids began this week. Every week, a new science and engineering adventure will be offered Monday through Friday. Camps for 5- to 7-year olds focus on the...
Intensive swimming classes at YMCA
With summer already in full swing, get your kids up to speed quickly on their water skills with the Concord Family YMCA’s evening summer intensive swim classes. Similar to the morning intensive classes, we’re offering both a preschool intensive class (4-4:30 p.m.) and a youth intensive class (4:40-5:20 p.m.) to fit into your summer schedule. Classes run Monday through Thursday for two weeks starting July 14. Call the YMCA’s Welcome...
Artist reception at N.H. Audubon Thursday
During July and August, the McLane Audubon Center will be hosting an exhibit of beautiful paintings of birds and bird related items. Artists Susan Parmenter of Sunapee and Mimi Wiggin of Warner have teamed up to share some of their pieces that have captured the beauty of fleeting birds in hopes of inspiring others to help protect birds and their habitats. An artist’s reception will be held on Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. All are...
Sign up for the third annual fire truck pull
Registration is now open for Concord Public Safety Foundation’s 3rd Annual Fire Truck Pull. Teams of 10 inpiduals will once again face off against a 45,000 pound City of Concord reserve fire truck. Registration is limited to 20 teams, who compete for the fastest time. The starting horn sounds on Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m. as teams show their strength by pulling the truck along a section of Main Street during the Market Days...
Capital Quilters to make Christmas stockings
Capital Quilters will meet at Havenwood, 33 Christian Ave., on Friday at 4 p.m. for our community service project, Christmas in July. Bring your sewing machines, basic sewing supplies and $5 for pizza. We will be making Christmas Stockings. All quilters welcome. There will be no August meeting. For Guild information call Jean at 223-9766.
Concord Public Library Book of the week
For more information about the Concord Public Library, visit concordpubliclibrary.net.The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless Versus The Rest Of UsMartha Stout2005, 241 pagesFictionHave you ever met someone who was congenial and charming one minute and then cold, callous, or even cruel the next? Unfortunately, you may have run across a sociopath – a person who is unable to feel emotions like guilt, shame, or remorse. These...
Adam Barbrie lived to tell his story of the Spartan Death Race
On June 27 at 9 a.m., Concord’s Adam Barbrie embarked on a 36 1/2 hour journey doing whatever the Spartan Death Race organizers asked of him. Barbrie climbed mountains, moved boulders for steps, made fire and recited silly phrases in an attempt to earn a skull given to all finishers. Barbrie had no idea how long the race would last or what he’d have to do. All he wanted to do was finish. Unfortunately his quest to be one of the few to...
Big group in little China – Wed, 02 Jul 2014
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce led a trip to China in April and brought the Insider along. If you look closely, you’ll actually see a pair of issues – that’s two for the price of one! And at free, times two, that’s some tremendous savings. The group of 39 travelers visited Shanghai, Beijing and many attractions including the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven and Ming Tombs. We love travel photos featuring the...
Instagram photo of the week – Wed, 02 Jul 2014
Ever since the creation of Milkbone flavored frozen yogurt and the addition of Beggin’ Strips to the toppings bar, Orange Leaf has been overrun by hungry pups trying to get in on a piece of the action. So who can blame little Leonidas for gazing longingly at this sweet treat? Thanks to Instagram user @easpell688 for the photo. Tag us with #concordinsider in your photos and they just might end up in a future issue of the...
We'd say horses at the McDonald's drive thru count as classic photos
We asked for Classic Concord photos; we got horse-drawn wagons cruising through the McDonald’s drive thru. For the record, we consider that a major victory. Big thanks to reader Arolyn Sargent of Concord, who found these images while looking through a box of old photos. She believes the pictures are circa 1980 (back before inflation when hay was still on the Dollar Menu) and came after a parade through the streets of Concord....
Animals (probably) can’t ride Harleys, but SPCA supporters do
Heritage Harley Davidson on Manchester Street held a Community Day Barbecue Fundraiser for the SPCA on Saturday.
Let Peter Milton guide you through his land of fictitious scenes
Peter Milton has spent many years creating his work through the art of collaging, taking people and things from all walks of life, to create fabricated scenes that cause audiences to examine all aspects of his prints. Milton began his collaging by cutting out figures and objects and creating the scenes directly on a printing plate. In recent years, Milton has switched to digital prints through the use of Photoshop. His work is on...
So how difficult can golf possibly be?
Check out these Concord area golf courses this summer: Beaver Meadow Golf Course, 1 Beaver Meadow Road, Concordbeavermeadowgolfcourse.com. Concord Country Club, Country Club Lane, Concordconcordcountryclub.org. Pembroke Pines Country Club, 42 Whittemore Road, Pembrokepembrokepinescc.com. Canterbury Woods Country Club, 15 West Road, Canterburycanterburywoodscc.com. Lochmere Golf & Country Club, 360 Laconia Road,...
Tom Walton thinks you can do this race – you up for the challenge?
Just the idea of competing in a triathlon makes us want to cringe.Words like difficult, exhausting and painful are just a few that come to mind, along with some others that probably would be frowned upon if they made it into print. And since tri means three, and a triathlon includes participating in three sport disciplines, we can only assume athlon means sports or something equivalent. That’s where our innate ability to reason with...
The NHGA is now a Concord resident, so stop in and say hello
When Matt Schmidt took over as executive director of the New Hampshire Golf Association last fall, one of his first decisions was to move the headquarters.Nothing against Wolfeboro, but having the association’s office located off the main drag in the quaint N.H. town wasn’t exactly where Schmidt felt the NHGA could best serve the close to 15,000 players in its handicap index and 100 golf facilities in the state. So Schmidt immediately...
We pitch the layout for a Concord mini-golf course
Don’t you think Concord would be that much awesomer if it was home to a miniature golf course? We do, so we decided it would be a fun idea to think one up. Unfortunately, this is still little more than a well-conceived idea, since our quest for financing has thus far resulted in $17 in cash, a check for $3.84 and two boxes of Tagalong Girls Scout Cookies. But on the bright side, the cookies sure were delicious.But instead of keeping...
Our contest winners always get their hard-earned prizes – eventually
Perhaps we should start this story with a little disclaimer, just like the one they put at the bottom of the screen during those middle-of-the-night weight loss pill commercials on TV: The following results are not typical.Most people actually have great experiences when they win our contests.Alas, not so for poor Betsy Peabody. Way back in March (yes, of 2014 – we’re not THAT bad), Peabody was the winner of our church scavenger hunt,...
