Extra, extra: ‘The Porcelain Post’ is the place for your NHTI news
We can all appreciate something to read in the bathroom. You know, when nature calls. Cell phones have cut down on the necessity of a book, magazine or newspaper, especially when you’re not at home. Sure, we expect you to keep a copy of the latest Insider on you at all times, but we understand it doesn’t always happen that way. And what if you left your celly at home or it’s out of battery? Just think of the boredom that will ensue as...
Take a little time each day to focus on what’s most important
Well, it is finally here, the cold winter weather! Yes, winter, also referred to as “cold and flu season.” So take some time each day to focus on you, your overall health, wellness and boosting your immune system. The top five ways to stay healthy during cold and flu season are: Great nutrition – good clean eats support our digestive tract and support our immune system; vitamins and immune supporting supplements – your primary care...
If you’re looking for a new look, give Katie Lord-Smith a call
We’re all faced with making difficult decisions from time to time. Like those days when you add a third cookie to your plate or opt for that extra scoop of mac and cheese – with bacon, of course. And those other times when you skip the gym for happy hour or buy yourself that expensive pair of Air Jordans instead of a pair of winter boots. And for Katie Lord-Smith that time came last month. One day she came to the realization she...
The ‘Insider’ sure has been busy traveling all over the world
It’s not easy living a carefree existence, traveling the world on a whim, but that’s just how it goes for us these days. For some reason, people like to take us on vacation with them and document all the fun we’re having with scenic pictures. We took so many trips in 2015 that we had a stock pile of photos just waiting to show off the luxurious life style we live. So in keeping with the cleaning out of our junk drawer theme, we...
Classic Concord Photo
These boys of summer took home the Merrimack Valley Baseball League championship in 1922. Red Rolfe, the future New York Yankee, was in eighth grade at the time. Rolfe would go on to play in the Sunset League before going to Dartmouth.
Instagram Photo of the Week
We’ve always thought Concord was a beautiful city, especially as the sun begins to set on what we can only assume was yet another glorious day, and this Instagram photo only reaffirms our incredible insight. If you want to see your Instagram pics in an “Insider” to be named later, make sure to tag us using #concordinsider.
This Week in Concord History
Feb. 23, 1795: A group of men meets at Butters’ Tavern to plan a bridge across the Merrimack River. It will be built near the site of today’s Manchester Street bridge. Feb. 23, 1799: Seven men hold the first Masonic meeting in Concord at Gale’s Anchor Tavern. Feb. 23, 1847: A meeting is held in Concord to organize a relief effort to aid victims of the Irish famine. The following donations are collected: $1,293.02 and 100 bushels of...
Book of the Week: ‘Jacksonland’
Jacksonland Steve Inskeep 2015, 10 audio CDs Nonfiction Jacksonland is a fascinating history of one of the United States’s most influential presidents, Andrew Jackson, and the events leading up to expulsion of Native Americans from the southern U.S. known as the Trail of Tears. Author Steve Inskeep, the co-host of NPR’s Morning Edition, intertwines Jackson’s story, both personal and political, with the story of Chief John Ross, who...
NHTI staffers need your vote to earn top spot in photo contest
There’s nothing quite like some good ol’ fashioned friendly competition among co-workers. Especially when the winner of said competition earns bragging rights around the office for the foreseeable future. So when we happened upon a collection of photos taken by NHTI staffers in the school’s library with the word contest associated with it, we had to take some pictures. Nine members of the NHTI staff, Steve Ambra, John Dennett, Sarah...
Bulletin Board
Annual spring tree and shrub fundraiser ongoing The Merrimack County Conservation District is currently accepting orders for its annual spring tree and shrub fundraiser. This year, we are offering a mixture of old favorites as well as exciting new varieties of trees, shrubs, fruit trees, small fruits, plant packages, composting items, bulbs and N.H.-grown plants. Whether you are looking for a new variety for a sunny or shady spot in...
Here it is: The ‘Young Love Part 2’ video you’ve all been waiting for
If you’ve been an Insider fan long enough, you might remember a cool Valentine’s Day-inspired video taken with a group of 12 third-graders at the Kimball-Walker School five years ago. It was done so long ago that neither of the Insiders who shot the video have worked at the paper for more than two years and the elementary school isn’t even open anymore. But that didn’t stop us from doing our best to re-create the heartwarming...
We checked out the police academy, where every N.H. officer trains
New Hampshire has hundreds of police and corrections officers from Pittsburg to Pelham, and they all learn the ropes at the same place: the police academy right here in Concord. Officially called the Arthur D. Kehas Criminal Justice Training Facility & Campus (which, for the sake of saving ink, we’ll refer to as the police academy from here on out), the sprawling complex right next to NHTI and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery...
We tagged along with members of the Concord Fire Department
One of the best things about this job – outside of the occasional baked goods and entry into just about anything in the city for free – is that no day is really ever the same. Sure, I’m doing interviews, writing stories and taking pictures on a daily basis, but it’s almost never with the same people and even more rarely on the same topic. You really never know how the day is going to play out – and it’s one of the reasons I enjoy what...
The academy’s bad-guy scenario simulator gets the blood flowing
If you’re training to be a police officer, you need to be prepared for anything and everything you might come across in the line of duty – from wayward emus and pigs to gun-toting troublemakers. But given that police officers often encounter dangerous, life-threatening situations, it’s tough to truly replicate that danger without putting recruits in harm’s way. Until now. The Arthur D. Kehas Criminal Justice Training Facility and...
Oh, just a little jewelry making, dancing and a home-cooked meal
Tuesday There’s been a series of talks over the last few days called “WE Are Concord.” It’s an effort to get the community talking together about solutions and healthy problem solving to strengthen relationships and increase community understanding, which doesn’t sound like a bad thing. The discussions are held in small groups led by a trained facilitator. And if you weren’t able to make the first two, then you won’t want to miss the...
Ladies – learn how to defend yourself with RAD System classes
One of the sad realities of life is that not everybody is as nice as we are here at the Insider. In fact, some people are downright evil and wouldn’t hesitate to attack a woman for any number of absurd reasons. Nobody – man or woman – should have to feel afraid to go to the ATM, grocery store or anywhere else for that matter. And if you’re a woman who wants to learn how to defend yourself in case you find yourself in a dangerous or...
Easter Eggstravaganza is coming and ConcordTV needs your help
You’ve all probably been to the Festival of Trees at the Bektash Shrine Center. You know, the fundraiser held the week of Thanksgiving each of the last 15 years where you can take in all the Christmassy sights and buy some raffle tickets for a chance to win a fake tree covered with all kind of goodies. It’s been a big hit, raising lots of money for the Shriners, and ConcordTV is hoping to ride those coattails a little bit. But instead...
Here’s the lowdown on the Bow Public Safety Building project
We assume you’re all familiar with the old adage ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.’ It’s somewhat of an inspirational message of hope and maybe the only thing that’s kept the Bow Public Safety Building Committee moving forward all these years. After three failed attempts to win over residents at town meeting, (including a couple of painstakingly close votes) the committee is bringing back another proposal with the hope...
Let us bring you into Dan Layne’s world of foil stamping and collage
Dan Layne, an adjunct instructor in PC Applications at NHTI, has a collection of his work comprised of foil stamping, paper cutting and collage hanging in the school’s library through this month.
Two Concord guys to perform the quirky ‘Gutenberg! The Musical!’
Musicals are a staple in the world of theater. Singing and dancing tend to add some extra oomph to stage shows that might otherwise lack energy. But musicals aren’t for everybody. Maybe you’re too macho to be seen at a musical theater show, or maybe you just prefer comedy to drama. Well, there’s a two-man show coming to town Friday that’s sure to please everyone. It’s called Gutenberg! The Musical!, but it doesn’t have anything to do...
This Week in Concord History
Feb. 16, 1943: The temperature falls to 37 below zero at 8:30 a.m., the coldest temperature ever measured in Concord. The record had been 35 below, set Jan. 8, 1878. Feb. 16, 2002: In Concord, a blaze that brings the city’s entire firefighting fleet to Main Street damages the two brick buildings that house Granite Bank and Eye 2 Eye Gallery. Nobody is hurt. Feb. 17, 1874: Franklin B. Evans, killer of Josianna Lovering of Northwood, is...
Book of the Week: ‘Uprooted’
Uprooted Naomi Novik 2015, 435 pages Fiction Agnieszka is a village girl who is happy with her home, her family and her friends, especially her best friend, Kasia. Their local magician protects them from the dangerous creatures of the forest, which allows them to live on the border of their land. Everyone knows that Kasia will be taken by the magician as a servant at the upcoming harvest festival, as he always takes the best and the...
Bulletin Board
Pianist Frederic Chiu to perform at the Audi Renowned Pianist Frederic Chiu will heat up the Concord City Auditorium stage on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a “Classical Smackdown.” Chiu will engage the audience to judge the contest as his award-winning performance pits Prokofiev vs. Debussy. The event is presented by the Concord Community Concert Association – the fourth program in the association’s 85th season. The Audi opens at 6:30...
Constantly Pizza whips up heart-shaped pies for Valentine’s Day
Constantly Pizza has been in the pizza-making business since 1990. It’s safe to say they know a thing or two about making a delicious pie. You probably already know that though. What you might not know is that since the beginning, John and Dave Constant have been offering heart-shaped pizzas for Valentine’s Day. “We never advertise it,” Dave Constant said. “We don’t even put it on the menu.” Instead, it’s one of those things that you...
Haven’t found a Valentine’s Day gift yet? Don’t worry, we did the shopping for you
A wise man once said, “If not for the last minute, I’d never get anything done.” That’s sort of our mantra over here, and we imagine we’re not the only ones. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner (or in some cases, already over), and there’s no doubt plenty of you still have to get something for that special someone. Luckily, we went out around downtown Concord and did the shopping for you. You don’t have to thank us, it’s our...
It’s gonna be a crazy couple days for those in the flower business
Just for a second, imagine your busiest work day of the year. We know, it’s not all that fun reliving the stress that comes with it, but we wanted you to have that feeling. We wanted you to visualize the chaos that it means. Because for local florists at D. McLeod, Cobblestone Design Company and Cole Gardens, that day is just around the corner. Yep, you guessed it, Valentine’s Day is by far the most hectic one on the calendar, and...
Bow fourth-graders are putting a new twist on Valentine’s Day
We all remember Valentine’s Day as a kid. Your parents went out and bought a box of cards with superheroes, princesses or the latest and greatest trend on them. You spent about a half hour after school one day filling out your classmates names on the To line and yours on the From, and maybe added a few pieces of chocolate to a bag. You’d hand them out the closest school day before V-Day and get about 15 to 20 from your classmates to...
It’s Primary Day! Oh, and there’s plenty of other stuff going on, too
Tuesday If you’ve been completely disconnected from the outside world for the past six or so months, we feel bad for you. That’s no way to go through life. It’s also no way to learn that the presidential primary – the first in the nation – is upon us. We’re not big on the political stuff here at the Insider, but we’re sure many of you are, so here is your official reminder to go out and vote. You know, if you want to. If you’d like to...
NHTI Wheelchair Basketball Benefit raises money for students with disabilities
The 14th NHTI Wheelchair Basketball Benefit was held last week, and as you can probably guess, there were lots of out-of-control drivers rolling around the NHTI court. In addition to all the high-speed crashes and missed wheelers down the lane, the annual event, held in honor of former NHTI student Zech DeVits, helps raise much-needed funds to purchase assistive technology for NHTI students with disabilities. The total raised through...
