This week in Concord history
Dec. 31, 1999: Despite a bomb threat, First Night celebrations wrap up without incident. Enthusiasm, however, is hard to find. “It doesn’t feel like New Year’s Eve,” one would-be Concord reveler laments. “There’s not a lot going on,” another adds. “And with no snow, it’s even worse.” Dec. 31, 1866: Fire burns the roof and destroys machinery at the Penacook Mill. Though it is so cold that the firemen’s clothing freezes, a...
City Manager’s Newsletter: Tree removal, special election and more
Last Friday, the city’s public information officer, Stefanie Breton, sent out the City Manager’s Newsletter. The letter was too long to print in its entirety here, but you can access the full version at concordnh.gov by clicking the “Newsletter” button on the homepage. Special election is March 5 Residents will vote for one at-large city councilor position and one Ward 10 councilor position on Tuesday, March 5. Polls will be open from...
Poem: Covered Bridge
Just an old covered bridge, spanning the brook, surrounded by vibrant foliage, the same bridge our ancestors took. Nestled in the deep forest, on the road near a farm, the bridge that pays tribute, to the people that pass without harm. A refuge to man and his horse, for many years past and more, when history was respected, in New England days of lore. This covered bridge made by craftsmen, so many admirers still take a look, just an...
Entertainment: Symphony NH coming to town to perform some Mozart
We’ve got a pretty eventful week ahead of us on the entertainment front, as Symphony New Hampshire comes to the Audi to play some Mozart and, on the other end of the spectrum, Area 23 hosts what it calls “the worst karaoke experience you’ll ever love.”Enjoy!MusicTuesdayKrimson Krewe at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m.Catfish-Howl at Area 23 at 8 p.m.WednesdayPaul Donahue at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m.Storytellers, open mic at Area 23...
Book: Check out King biography
Haunted Heart: The Life and Times of Stephen King By Lisa Rogak (310 pages, nonfiction, 2008) Ever wanted to know the man behind the horror? How does he get his ideas? These stories may be realer than you think to the renowned author Stephen King. Yes, even The Shining. This book goes over the makings of a world-famous author. His origin story. How he struggled to get noticed as an author, despite submitting his work to...
Bulletin Board: Milestones, performances and other items
Local Baskit to celebrate birthday Local Baskit is celebrating its second anniversary with a open house event on Tuesday, March 5, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Stop in to this free event to learn more and toast to the anniversary. New Hampshire’s local take on the recipe kit concept is thriving and expanding as national meal kit brands report declining subscribers. “We have found a special niche of providing the convenient recipe kit...
Poem: The Mansion
The brick mansion, under the slate roof old, has sheltered many families, many Christmas stories told. New lives were started, where many lives did end, the brick house holds secrets well, just like a dear old friend. There were times of joy, but not always so, the old brick house on North Main, where so many young children did grow. Generations have passed, the memories this mansion does hold, the brick mansion, under the slate roof...
Blast From the Past: A gravestone at Blossom Hill tells a story of 11 forgotten men
As I walk the Blossom Hill Cemetery this brisk March day, I stop to reflect on those less fortunate. My thoughts are with those who have perished tragically in a time of war, just 11 young men, no different from our very own brothers, sons and fathers. Just 11 young men who enlisted with a passion to defend our country and speak for those less fortunate and oppressed. It is a very special monument where I somberly reflect today, for...
Book: ‘Harry Potter’ for adults
A Deadly Education By Naomi Novik (336, fiction, 2020) After the second time he saved my life, I decided that Orion Lake needed to die. He can keep his flashy heroics away from me; I don’t need help surviving the Scholomance like his fans do. Forget the monsters, cursed artifacts and the deadly peril in this boarding school; I’m probably the most dangerous thing here. Give me a chance and my spells can kill millions, even...
St. Paul’s School rectory chef to compete in NH Food Bank Steel Chef Challenge
St. Paul’s School Certified Executive Chef Bradley Labarre is one of four Granite State chefs who will compete in the New Hampshire Food Bank Steel Chef Challenge in Manchester on March 11. Labarre will join culinary talent from across the state in this celebrated cook-off for charity. A native of Manchester, Labarre began working in kitchens at the age of 13. While working on his childhood paper route, the aspiring gastronome talked...
Fun, festive activities for the whole family
Capitol Center adds more virtual shows On Friday, the Capitol Center for the Arts announced two more virtual shows to its partnership line-up. Celtic Thunder Christmas will air Thursday, Dec. 24, at 6 p.m. With the holidays just around the corner, and everyone begins to work on their holiday shopping list, what better way to make your holiday list complete than to include Celtic Thunder a part of your holiday cheer? Get in the spirit...
On Display: N.H. Potter’s Guild’s ‘Once Upon the Earth’ exhibit at Kimball Jenkins
From March through April, Kimball Jenkins will be displaying the exhibit “Once Upon the Earth,” featuring works by the New Hampshire Potters Guild. The exhibit is on display in the mansion gallery, and an artists’ reception will be held Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. (snow date is Friday).
Book: Sidekick moves to big league
Hench By Natalie Zina Walschots (416 pages, fiction, 2020) Anna does boring things for terrible people because even supervillains need office help. As a data entry temp, she’s just a cog in the machine. But at her newest assignment, everything goes very wrong, and an encounter with the “ultimate superhero” leaves her badly injured. Compared to the other bodies strewn about, she’s the lucky one. So, of course, then she gets laid off....
On Display II: Paintings by Patty Fazio at the NHTI library for the month of March
The work of Patty Fazio is on display at the NHTI library throughout the month of March.Fazio is a life-long artist and an emerging painter, primarily working in oils. With a bold palette, she represents still life pieces and her subjects are often familiar or found objects with lively color or curious form. She is a life-long learner who has trained in art through coursework, workshops and self-study.Originally from the North Shore...
This week in Concord history
Dec. 24, 2000: Several former Union Leader correspondents announce they’re starting up a free weekly competitor. HippoPress Manchester, scheduled to hit the streets in the new year, will focus on younger readers with a mix of reporting on restaurants, night clubs and the arts. Dec. 24, 1999: Wolfeboro Falls Postmaster Laura Cronin reports that her annual work as Santa’s secretary is going well. The job entails showing the letters to...
Mary Allquist, Bow’s oldest resident, presented with Boston Post Cane
On Jan. 22, the Bow Board of Selectmen presented the Boston Post Cane to Mary (May) Allquist, the town of Bow’s oldest resident. Allquist recently celebrated her 97th birthday, and she has been a resident of Bow for 40 years.The town has presented the Boston Post Cane to the town’s most senior resident since 1909. At that time, the now-defunct Boston Post newspaper presented canes to communities in New Hampshire for this purpose. Bow...
Checklist: Simply having a wonderful Christmastime
For many people, this Christmas will be a smaller, quieter one than we’ve ever had before. While in-person visits with family are curtailed, there’s still plenty of ways to bring joy to the holiday and keep it going through the snowy season. If you’re feeling stuck, here are some ideas to get the season’s greetings going: Decorate a gingerbread house Read a story with your household, bonus if you can do it around a fireplace Cut paper...
Book of the Week: ‘A Dog’s Way Home’
A Dog’s Way HomeW. Bruce Cameron2018, 332 pagesFiction Lucas finds a puppy living with a mother cat and her kittens under an abandoned building. Lucas has been feeding the stray cats that are living there. It is love at first sight for both the puppy and Lucas. He names her Bella. Bella wants nothing more than to be with Lucas. Bella becomes part of the family, and helps calm Lucas’s mother, who has seizures. Lucas sneaks her into the...
City newsletter: Municipal offices closed for the holidays
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: Holiday closings and reminders City offices will be closing at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Dec. 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. City offices will be closing at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31, through Friday,...
This Week in Concord History
March 5, 1740: After years of disputes over Massachusetts claims on New Hampshire, King George II approves the boundary between the two colonies. The decision increases New Hampshire’s size by 3,500 square miles and costs Massachusetts 28 chartered towns, including Suncook, Bow, Concord, Penacook, Webster, Salisbury, Dunbarton, Weare, Hopkinton, Warner and Bradford. March 6, 1991: With five seconds left in the state Class I semifinal...
Natural scenes on exhibit at chamber gallery
New Hampshire Art Association pastel artist Chris Reid will have her work on display in an exhibit titled, “The View Through My Eyes,” at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center beginning Dec. 22. “My work is a conversation with nature,” Reid said. “My paintings are more than simple depictions of place. Rather, they invite a choreographed dance of the eyes, where the viewer is invited to look deep into the depths of...
It’s time to start sprucing up inside the house
We’re in sort of an awkward phase of the year right now. It’s still technically winter, but by the end of this week we’ll be in March, when many people start to think about spring and all its trappings. You never know what you’re going to get around here in terms of weather – it could be in the 20s and snowing one day and up to 60 degrees the next. That can make it sort of tough to plan for anything that’s going to be outside.That’s...
Photos: A season all aglow
The holiday season is upon us and across the city families have decked the halls in anticipation. While some homes have had astounding displays for years, many more are all dressed up as more people stay home. Here are just a few of the outdoor lighting displays you can see: Borough Road 9 Peterson Circle 90 Primrose Lane 29 Winterberry Lane 45 Jackson Street Alice Drive and Kyle Street Elm Street Email news@theconcordinsider.com if...
Symphony NH to perform at Concord City Auditorium with acclaimed soloist Marza Merophi Wilks
We give a lot of ink in these pages to bar bands, comedy shows and plays, but the city hosts plenty of classical music, too. On that note (get it, note?), we’re here to get you ready for a big show coming to Concord City Auditorium next week, March 10, to be exact. Symphony New Hampshire will perform Mozart 40 and Elgar Cello Concerto with Grammy-nominated cellist Marza Merophi Wilks and guest conductor Stefano Sarzani next Sunday,...
Book of the Week: Expert guide on crafting a tale
On Writing and Worldbuilding By Timothy Hickson (233 pages, nonfiction, 2019) If you’re looking to up your writing game, this book is great for learning more advanced techniques. You may know how to craft character and plot already, but find out how your characters affect plot and vice versa. Learn how to use exposition in a way that will make your writing look like the pros. Explore the link between your characters and...
Strings and Things has some really high-end guitars, and a few free events coming up
If you’re a musician who lives in or around Concord, you’re probably familiar with Strings & Things Music Store, the shop on South Main Street that sells all kinds of instruments (not just stringed ones) and gives lessons. While many smaller stores – pretty much anything not called Guitar Center – tend to have limited selections and mostly specialize in selling strings and picks, Strings & Things is really a full-service shop...
At nightfall, the lamplighter makes rounds
Main Street in Concord is pictured here on a dark night, back on July 25, 1953. This photograph was taken shortly after Concord Electric installed new electric street lights on Main Street. Main Street wasn’t always so bright, light was indeed a luxury not easily afforded to our ancestors. In the 1880s, the Concord lamplighter still walked the old cobbled streets of downtown Concord. A lonely, solitary man fortunate to have a job...
Making Good Health Simple: Happiness – It’s a big deal, and it’s part of your health
Health is an umbrella that encompasses many aspects of your life. There are obvious benefits of making healthy choices that you can see, however there are many more that you cannot. You’ve probably heard the correlation between exercising and feeling great. Maybe you have heard the term “runner’s high?” If you haven’t experienced it yet, skeptics beware. It is a real thing. Are you happy? I mean how do you know if you are? Would you...
City news: Winter has arrived for the capital city
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: Holiday closings and reminders City offices will be closing at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Dec. 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. City offices will be closing at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31, through Friday,...
Concord Community Music School to host March Mandolin Festival this weekend
Concord’s 17th annual March Mandolin Festival is set for March 1 to 3, with two days of workshops at Concord Community Music School and two concerts featuring world-class musicians from near and far. The March Mandolin Festival Workshops on Saturday and Sunday are full to capacity, with more than 50 participants coming from as far away as Quebec, New Brunswick and California. As part of the festival, everyone can enjoy two fantastic...
