City Briefly
Every week, City Manager Tom Aspell stares through the windows of the SPCA looking for just the right pet to fit into his corner office. Unfortunately, pets aren’t allowed at City Hall, so he uses the application to spell out his city memo. Upgrades Who wants to swim? The Public Properties Division of the General Services Department has begun scheduled renovations at Rolfe Park. The renovations will improve safety and accessibility of...
This Week in Concord History
Sept. 29, 1954: Vice President Richard Nixon warns a crowd of 900 state Republicans at Concord’s city auditorium that Sen. Styles Bridges “is one of those targets chosen by left-wing groups” in the coming election. Opinions may differ over a move in Congress to censure Sen. Joseph McCarthy, he says, but there is “no difference of opinion” in the Eisenhower administration’s objective to destroy communism. Sept. 29, 1965: New Hampshire...
Fall’s the time of year for pickin’ winners at Carter Hill Orchard
It’s that time of year again. Nothing says fall like going to a local orchard to pick some fresh apples – and pumpkins, if you’re into that kind of thing.
The Insider’s guide to fall in N.H.
September Sept. 26 Ride the Wilds Jamboree: Fall Foliage Spectacular 2015 Explore all the majesty of the North Country with a full day of events. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore Ride the Wilds – a 1,000 mile network of interconnected trails in Coos County – on ATV or UTV. Guests are invited to bring their own ATVs or rent-one for a day of adventure on the trails and in the mud. There will be something for everyone...
It’s a Keith farewell scavenger hunt
It’s never easy saying goodbye. So when former Insider editor Keith Testa was creating his final masterpiece, he decided it was only right that his farewell include sending his faithful followers scouring the city to find what he loves most in Concord. And now Joy Potter gets a $20 gift certificate to a Concord business for being the first to get them all correct. Yeah for Joy!
‘Monitor’ and ‘Insider’ staffers get crushed at NHTI Wiffle Ball tournament, but for a good cause
The rules were bizarre, the pace was ludicrous, but in the end, it was a good day. NHTI hosted the Play Ball for Seth Wiffle Ball Tournament over the weekend as a fundraiser for Seth Peake, 10, who was diagnosed with hemophilia before he was born. The Monitor/Insider entered a team into the tourney, and Jon is already second-guessing his enthusiastic decision to join, as his quads have just quit working. This was no ordinary Wiffle...
We got an exclusive interview with the Bow emu – and it’s good
Bow has been the center of the bird universe recently, and for good reason. In case you didn’t know, there was an emu on the loose. That’s why everyone was leaving their garage doors open at night with jingly-jangly things hanging inside. But in the end it was a father-son duo who put an end to this bird’s free run of the town’s natural habitat by using a large net. Go figure. The emu is the second tallest bird in the world, but it...
Unleash your inner child at Concord Library’s Adult Coloring Night
Childhood was a much simpler time. Whereas adult days are filled with alarm clocks, traffic, work, taxes, insurance, car payments and chronic joint pain, kid days were always filled with storytime, naps, toys, singalongs, hide-and-seek, kissing boo-boos, more naps and coloring. Don’t we all miss those days? Now sure, you can still break out the G.I. Joes/Barbies and sing Frozen songs until you fall asleep at 1 p.m., but how rewarding...
Check out this art that’s now showing at Mill Brook Gallery
Mill Brook Gallery is currently showing an exhibit of paintings and sculptures in the upstairs gallery, which will be on display through Oct. 11.
Score some unique works of art at the Paint the Town auction
Do you like art? What about food and drinks? And are you a regular person who might not be able to afford to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on wall hangings and conversational mantel pieces? Well, if you answered yes to any or all of the above, then the Kimball Jenkins School of Art’s Paint the Town fundraiser this week is right up your alley. The art auction, entering its fourth year, is the main fundraising event of the...
The Cap Center’s turning 20, so you should all help celebrate
Everyone seems to be celebrating a big milestone this year around these parts. The city of Concord is 250 years old, Concord’s favorite son, Matt Bonner, is halfway to 70 and the Insider turned eight. And now the Capitol Center for the Arts is getting in on the fun with a two-week festival marking the 20th anniversary of the nonprofit’s reopening in 1995. Well technically, the anniversary date is in November, but you never know when...
Alicia Rossman likes to fish, eat at Dos Amigos and teach yoga
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to another “Young Professional of the Month,” Alicia Rossman, RDN, LD, Yoga Therapist How old are you? 28 Where do you live? Concord Where do you currently work? Owner of Let’s Get Movin’! Yoga and Nutrition, Concord Hospital Center for Health Promotion and office of Diabetes and Nutrition Concord, News Radio Host: A Healthier Life,...
It’s a free open house, yo
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at ConcordTV? Us too. But so far we’ve been unable to take a closer look at the glamorous and exciting world of community television. That is until now. On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Concord TV and Concord Parks and Recreation will hold an open house at the Heights Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road (formerly the Dame School), from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. So it’s kind of like you’re getting a...
Bulletin Board
Second annual Mayor’s Walk moved to Sept. 30 The second annual Mayor’s Walk put on by the Capital Area Wellness Coalition scheduled for Sept. 23 has been moved to Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. Those interested should meet on the State House green at 9 a.m. For more info, email Johane Telgener at jtelgene@crhc.org. Insider staff New Hampshire authors at Gibson’s on Thursday On Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m., two New Hampshire authors will...
Instagram photo of the week
Instagram user @druzba seems to have caught Danny Webster deep in thought.
City Briefly
Every week, City Manager Tom Aspell sits down to carve a pumpkin in the shape of the State House dome. After hours of meticulous work, he uses the left over pieces to help create a city memo, which we now present to you in a more readable form. New man on the job He’s a supervisor Brian Pushee has been chosen to be the supervisor for the new Downtown Services Team. Pushee joined the city of Concord in March 2014, working for the...
Book of the Week: “Lending a Paw”
For more information about the Concord Public Library, visit concordpubliclibrary.net. We’re also on Tumblr (reading-rumblr.tumblr.com and concordteens.tumblr.com), Facebook (facebook.com/ConcordPublicLibrary) and Instagram. Lending a Paw Laurie Cass 2013, 344 pages Fiction Another one to add to the “Librarian with a Cat” cozy mystery genre, Lending a Paw takes the genre on the road in a bookmobile. Having a cat on board the maiden...
This Week in Concord History
Sept. 22, 1849: Asked to change Concord from a town to a city, local voters say no, by a vote of 637 against and 183 in favor. Four years later, they’ll change their mind. Sept. 22, 1991: Refurbished and restored through a community effort, the City Auditorium re-opens with a gala variety show. Sept. 22, 2000: Defense lawyers for state Supreme Court Chief Justice David Brock take the offensive in the cross-examination of former...
The Week In Concord History 9/15/15
Sept. 15, 1860: Concord celebrates the opening of Auburn Street. Several hundred residents join in a carriage procession, led by the Concord Cornet Band, from the Eagle hotel, up Centre Street to Auburn. Two large flags suspended across the new street draw hearty salutes. The march continues to Little Pond Road. One speaker says the new road suggests indications of our progress in civilization. Sept. 15, 1983: WJYY radio in Concord...
City Briefly 9/15/15
Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell spends hours upon hours researching old buildings in the city only to realize there’s no end to the information. So he eventually gives up and decides to spell out his weekly city memo with cut up letters from his research notes. Helping others Stuff to make school cool Concord Human Services would like to thank the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Post 1631, for once again providing backpacks filled with...
Take a walk next week with the mayor
Join the Capital Area Wellness Coalition on Wednesday, Sept. 23, for its second annual Mayor’s Walk to promote wellness, community and the walkability of Concord’s beautiful downtown. Walk a mile and a half through the city streets with Mayor Jim Bouley passing by such places like the N.H State Library, the N.H. Historical Society and City Hall. Those interested in the walk should meet on the State House green at 9 a.m. and follow the...
Book of the week
For more information about the Concord Public Library, visit concordpubliclibrary.net. We’re also on Tumblr (reading-rumblr.tumblr.com and concordteens.tumblr.com), Facebook (facebook.com/ConcordPublicLibrary) and Instagram. How music got free Stephen Witt 2015, 296 pages Nonfiction When is the last time that you bought a CD? I’m not talking about an album of music on iTunes, but an actual physical CD, purchased in a store. If you’re...
We scoured the city (and Bow) for some of the cool older buildings
If you’ve paid attention at all this year, you have a pretty good idea that Concord is kinda old – like 250 years old to be exact. And what you may not have known – and we only recently realized – is that Bow has been officially incorporated since 1727. We sure do wonder what life was like back then. And when you have a city or town that spans more than two centuries, there’s a really good chance that some of the buildings and homes...
Renovations to give N.H. Historical Society a new feel – literally
When the New Hampshire Historical Society building was finished in 1911, it must have been the talk of the town. With high ceilings, large skylights and more space than probably anyone knew what to do with, let’s just say it was quite the project after Edward and Julia Tuck made a generous donation to construct it. They used granite from a quarry right here in Concord and marble – lots of marble – for some of the finer finishes. “They...
Everything you need to know about researching your historic home
Concord is a city steeped in history. As it turns 250 years old this year, many in the community have been excitedly letting their inner history geeks loose, partaking in time capsule celebrations and touring some historic buildings in the city. And some may even decide to get one of those fancy plaques you see on some of the oldest properties. You know, those historical signs that tell you when the house was built and who lived there...
The Audi’s ready to ring in 111 years with 25th annual opening gala
The Concord City Auditorium is an institution. The city-funded arts venue right in the heart of downtown has been around since 1904, when it was built on the western side of city hall. Since then, thousands upon thousands of performers and guests have stopped in for plays, musicals, concerts, magic shows and everything in between. And there’s no sign of slowing down any time soon. The Audi will hold its 25th annual Season Opening...
Who would’ve thought Tim could actually wash windows?
I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. Putting myself at the mercy of the good people at the Granite United Way, I offered up my services for the annual Day of Caring last Wednesday. With volunteer jobs set up all over the city, there were so many possibilities. So when I got the email that I was being placed at the new spot for Girls Inc., (the former Eastman School on Shawmut Street if you didn’t know) the jobs seemed...