City crews were ready for the winter season
The city manager’s office sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The full newsletter can be found by going to concordnh.gov and clicking the “Newsletter” button. Here are some highlights: Bring on the snow! Concord General Services road crews spent last week preparing for snow. Thorough maintenance checks were performed on trucks and equipment vehicles. Crews replaced any parts necessary, such as cutting edges on plows,...
Poem: Winter’s eve
Daylight fades to darkness, another winter eve does call, the warmth of the fire beckons me, as the snow continues to fall. There is peace within my heart, when winter casts another stone, for I embrace this solitude, this cold winter eve alone. Perhaps it is the bittersweet thoughts, of winters past where my thoughts do roam, as a child in the early years, with many friends and family home. In this vast world we live, this winter...
Entertainment for the week of Dec. 22, 2022
Live music Dec. 22 Zeb Cruikshank at Hermanos from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 23 Charlie Chronopolous at Over the Moon Farmstead from 6 to 9 p.m. Blue Light Rain at Area 23 Pub starting at 8 p.m. Dec. 24 Ken Budka at Mount Sunapee from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 27 Paul Hubert at Hermanos from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 28 Brian Booth at Hermanos from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 29 Brian Booth at Hermanos from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 30 Stoned Wasp at Area 23 Pub...
Bulletin board for the week of Dec. 22, 2022
Covered bridge book Gibson’s Bookstore is pleased to host author Kim Varney Chandler on Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. for her engaging and well-illustrated history of the remaining covered bridges in the Granite State, Covered Bridges of New Hampshire. The 288-page, full color, softcover features the author’s own current day photography of all sixty-one covered bridges, paired with historical photos in a then-and-now-theme. Author Kim Varney...
Book: Love of learning never ends
Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning By Tom Vanderbilt (229, nonfiction, 2021) When’s the last time you tried to learn something new? Tom Vanderbilt is taking his young daughter to chess class and chess tournaments. He starts to wonder why he doesn’t try new things? When did he stop being a beginner? Adults often don’t like to do things that they aren’t good at. As a child, there is no stigma to...
This week in Concord history
Dec. 22, 2001: In a state where primary campaigns rarely heat up until just before the election, Craig Benson has thrown more extravaganzas than any of his four competitors – probably more than any candidate in the state’s history so far out from the election – and he never lets anyone leave hungry, the Monitor reports. Food, folks and fun is not his only tactic, but Benson knows that in a good activist’s heart, eating is next...
City news: Explore the city’s forests
The city manager’s office sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The full newsletter can be found by going to concordnh.gov and clicking the “Newsletter” button. Here are some highlights: Upcoming meetings City meetings are held in person in Council Chambers at 37 Green Street (unless otherwise specified on the City’s calendar). Upcoming meetings include: Planning Board: December 21, 7 p.m. Visit...
Bulletin board for week of Dec. 15
Chamber event Join the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce for a virtual forum on our regional and national economy on Thursday, Dec. 15 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Guest speaker Brian Gottlob, Director of NH Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau, will share a big-picture view of where the U.S. stands on a possible recession, and what we can expect in N.H. for the coming year. Gain insight on regional economic trends to help inform...
Come for the vocab, stay for the fun
The Piñata that the Farm Maiden Hung By Samantha R. Vamos (Children’s picture book, 2019) The Piñata that the Farm Maiden Hung is so much fun to read! This bilingual story follows a young girl and her family as they work together — with the help of some farm animal friend — to make a piñata for a surprise birthday party. The illustrations are bright and beautiful, and the cadence of the text is mesmerizing. The story itself...
This week in Concord history
Dec. 15, 1774: On the third day of unrest in Portsmouth since the warning visit of Paul Revere, Major John Sullivan of Durham rides in with another mob of defenders. Upon learning that word of the approach of British troops is a false rumor, the crowd agrees to disperse. It reneges on this promise, however, marching that night to Fort William and Mary and hauling off 16 cannons and 60 muskets. Dec. 15, 1836: The Legislature...
Entertainment listings Dec. 15-24
Live music Dec. 15 Craig Fahey at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Concord High Chamber and Jazz Concert at the Concord City Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. The Morning Buzz Christmas Ball will be at the Capitol Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 Stray Dog at Makris Lobster and Steak House from 7 to 10 p.m. The Hart of Sound with Colin Hart at Over the Moon Farmstead from 6 to 9 p.m. Mary Fagan Jazz Combo at Area 23 at 8 p.m. Songweavers and...
CYPN of the Month: Backstage with Cap Center’s Sal Prizio
Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to the “Young Professional of the Month,” Sal Prizio. Each month, the CYPN Steering Committee recommends a young professional in the community it thinks readers would enjoy getting to know better. Sal Prizio Where do you live? Concord, NH. How old are you? 46. Where do you currently work? The Capitol Center for the Arts. Tell us a little bit about yourself. I have been working...
Bulletin board for the week of Dec. 8, 2022
Lights in Loudon The family tradition of driving through 2.5 miles of dazzling Christmas light displays at New Hampshire Motor Speedway continues this year with the Gift of Lights presented by Ambetter. The 12th annual event will spread 39 nights of holiday cheer with fundraising for the local community with more than 3.5 million twinkly LED lights on display through Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 (New Year’s Day). Gift of Lights will open at...
This week in Concord history
Dec. 8, 1979: Concord City Manager Jim Smith rescinds the fire department’s ban on live Christmas trees in public buildings. Dec. 8, 2001: Former Franklin city manager James Pitts will start work in January as Bow’s second town manager, the Monitor reports. “I’ve always admired the way the town had a lot of pride in itself,” Pitts said. In Bow, he continued, there’s “a strong focus on a community spirit. I am delighted to get a chance...
Entertainment for the week of Dec. 8, 2022
Live shows Dec. 8 Gardner Berry at Area 23 at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 Jud Caswell at Over the Moon Farmstead from 6 to 9 p.m. Brick Yard Blues at Area 23 at 8 p.m. Dec. 10 Paul Gormley at Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Kimayo at Contoocook Cider Company from 1 to 4 p.m. Acoustic Jam at Area 23 at 2 p.m. Ian Archibold at Over the Moonfarmstead from 6 to 9 p.m. Mikey G at Chen Yang Li from 7 to 10 p.m. Secret...
There’s always someone in need
If you’re looking for a way to give back to the community during this holiday season, here are a few of the many places that are seeking donations. Friends of Forgotten Children Friends of Forgotten Children, a 100% volunteer-run provider of food, clothing and holiday gifts for low-income and at-risk individuals and families, has been serving the greater Concord area since 1972. If you would like to fill a child’s wishes for Christmas...
Book: The thread of history
The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle By Jennifer Ryan (411 pages, fiction, 2022) Set in World War II, this story features three women who become involved in their small village’s sewing circle. Famous dress designer Cressida Westcott loses her house and business to the Blitz in London. Escaping with just the clothes on her back, she has to return to her family manor house near Canterbury. Cressida had vowed never to return home because of...
City newsletter for Dec. 2, 2022
The city manager’s office sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The full newsletter can be found by going to concordnh.gov and clicking the “Newsletter” button. Here are some highlights: City meetings City meetings are held in person in Council Chambers at 37 Green St. (unless otherwise specified on the City’s calendar). Upcoming meetings include: City Council Meeting: Dec. 12, 7 p.m. Planning Board: Dec. 21, 7 p.m....
Visit a pop-up or a craft fair
If you’re looking for a unique gift to give your loved ones this year, and trying to shop local, look no further than one of New Hampshire’s many talented artisans and crafters. Here are some craft fairs and markets you can visit this holiday season. Through December Concord Handmade Pop-up This downtown favorite featuring local artists is returning for its 12th season and this year will be hosted inside Penumbra (10 N. State St.,...
Want a gift idea? Here’s 12!
Whether you are preparing for Hanukkah, the winter solstice, Kwanzaa, or Christmas, the upcoming holiday season is a special time for many of us, and shopping for gifts is often part of the celebration. Spread Joy, Shop Concord highlights local businesses in Concord, New Hampshire, and shares their stories, unique products, and best deals. This year, Concord locals submitted their favorite gift ideas to help you satisfy even the...
This week in Concord history
Dec. 2, 2000: Shortly before 2 p.m. Canterbury Country Store owner Bob Summers rings up his final sale and then shuts the place down. The store will reopen nearly a year later, after members of the community invest several hundred thousand dollars to buy it. Dec. 2, 1774: New Hampshire’s committee of correspondence, formed the previous year to stay in touch with other colonies about acts of the British Parliament, sends a...
Until the clock strikes midnight
Maybe you trekked out among the throngs of mall shoppers for a day – or night – of browsing on Black Friday. And you’ve likely had packages dropped off on your front porch after some late-night cyber hunting on Amazon. Now, complete the trifecta by coming to downtown Concord to see what your local merchants have to offer. Concord’s annual Midnight Merriment is returning to downtown Concord for a night of shopping, deals, food and...
City newsletter
Fall leaf collection Bagged leaf collection continues through Dec. 9, regardless of weather. Unlike bulk collection (which is weather dependent), snow will not suspend bagged leaf collection. However, it is important to bag leaves early if necessary to avoid leaves getting covered in snow. Leaves will be collected by the City’s solid waste contractor, Casella, and will be collected separately from trash and recycling. Residents with...
Entertainment for the week of Dec. 1, 2022
Live music Dec. 1 Jordan Fletcher with Maggie Ryan, with opener Nashville Newcomers will be at the Bank of N.H. Stage at 8 p.m. The Trio d’Anches de Concord presents “Exquisitely French! Reed Trios 1935-1945” as the December Bach Lunch Lecture at the Concord Community Music School at 12:10 p.m. Dec. 2 Spencer and the Walrus bring the music of the Beatles to the Bank of N.H. Stage at 8 p.m. Sam Hammerman at Over the Moon Farmstead from...
Bulletin board for week of Dec. 1, 2022
The crime that stunned the nation On August 19, 1997, in little Colebrook, New Hampshire, a 62-year-old carpenter named Carl Drega, a man with long-simmering property rights grievances, murdered state troopers Scott Phillips and Les Lord at a traffic stop in a supermarket parking lot. Then Drega stole Phillips’s cruiser and drove downtown to settle some old scores. By the end of the day three more were dead, Drega among them, and four...
At Pitchfork Records, a downtown institution, what’s old is new again
With 49 years in the business of selling music, Michael Cohen has seen about everything. Lately, he’s seeing it all over again. “It’s gone back to the beginning!” said Cohen, the owner of downtown mainstay Pitchfork Records & Stereo, sounding both amused and a little incredulous. Cohen was a student at Henniker’s New England College in 1972 when he and some friends started selling vinyl records – then called LPs or long-playing...
This week in Concord history
Nov. 23, 2002: The Holiday Magic Parade, which has marked the beginning of the holiday season in Concord for 51 years, marches up Loudon Road in Concord. The procession includes emergency response vehicles, floats, decorated vehicles, equestrian units, clowns, eight marching bands and Santa Claus. Nov. 23, 1911: The New Hampshire Historical Society dedicates its building in Concord. The building was designed by Guy Lowell, also...
CYPN: Mark Borak has a love of the outdoors
Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to the “Young Professional of the Month,” Mark Borak. Each month, the CYPN Steering Committee recommends a young professional in the community it thinks readers would enjoy getting to know better. Mark Borak Where do you live? Bow, NH. Where do you currently work? I am one of three Independent Financial Advisors at Bahr Casey Financial Services. I help people reach their...
Bulletin board
Concord tree lighting Head downtown for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in City Plaza on Nov. 25 from 4 to 7 p.m. Several streets will be closed from 3 to 7:30 p.m. for the event, including Main Street, from Centre Street to School Street; North State Street, from Park Street to Capitol Street; Park Street from Main Street to North State Street; and Capitol Street from Main Street to North State Street. Writing mindfully...
Christmas Parade among holiday events
The city manager’s office sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter last Friday. The full newsletter can be found by going to concordnh.gov and clicking the “Newsletter” button. Here are some highlights: Community Development Block Grant Awards On Nov. 3, the NH Community Development Finance Authority awarded the City $1,500,000 in Community Development Block Grants to support the development of a new Boys and Girls Club facility in...
