Read about reading
Clarence’s Big Secret By Roy MacGregor & Christine MacGregor Cation, Illustrated by Mathilde Ting-Mars (Tumblebooks) Clarence has a big secret he doesn’t want anyone to know. He can’t read. The very first day of school children laugh at him so he leaves and never returns. Soon after leaving school Clarence’s Dad becomes blind in an accident and he takes over the family farm. Clarence goes on to become a logger, miner and...
Entertainment: All the live music, theater and movies we could find
In the week ahead, there are some concerts here and there as well as a selection of films at Red River Theatres. Also, a play recounting Orson Welles’s famous stunt in 1938, called Invasion From Mars!, will make its Hatbox Theatre debut this weekend. Here’s what we found: Music Tuesday Scott Solsky at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. Open Mic Comedy at Area 23 at 9 p.m., sign-ups start at 8:30. Wednesday Joel Cage at...
Instagram: Check out social-distance-friendly fun
It’s been a while since we’ve shared an Instagram post from the community, so we’ve decided to do two this week. The first is a shot of a mom and mom-to-be squad at White Park that was shared by the Funky Bump (@funkybump), which will be holding their first workout of the summer on Saturday, June 27, at 9:30 a.m. A full body pre- and postnatal combo fitness class will be led by Coach Antonia and Coach Kieran They ask that you register...
Bulletin Board: Concord Community Concert Association to kick off 88th year
Retirement: The Next Chapter Contemplating retirement or looking to re-energize your retirement plans? Check out the four-week Retirement: The Next Chapter program at Center for Health Promotion in Concord. Sessions are held Oct. 2, 16, 30 and Nov. 30 – from 6 to 7:30 p.m. – at 43 S. Main St. The price for the four-part series is $75 for AARP members and $90 for non-members. Registration is required by calling 230-7300. All workshops...
Symphony N.H. announces schedule
Music, particularly live music, brings a community together and connects people in a way like no other. Symphony N.H., like other cultural organizations, realizes this and understands the important role music plays in daily life. In keeping with New Hampshire state guidelines issued by Gov. Chris Sununu and the specific public health recommendations issued by the CDC, Symphony N.H. has announced its plans for moving forward with a...
Art work of Brenda Wilbert to be displayed at Red River Theatres
Artist Brenda Wilbert, who was featured in the Insider recently when she had an exhibit at NHTI, is back in the news again, and for all the same reasons – she has another exhibit up in Concord, with an opening reception, to boot.Her exhibit of mixed media collages will be on display at Red River Theatres until Oct. 30. There will be an opening reception on Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the theater. It will be a free event that...
City newsletter: Purple trash bags return, request a ballot
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: Absentee ballots Residents wishing to vote in New Hampshire who are concerned about participating in-person due to COVID-19 may register to vote, and vote, by absentee for the 2020 elections. Find more information on the State of New...
Instagram: A sensational shot of fog over the South End
While creeping around Instagram last week, we came across an account with the handle @jeand1825 and decided to poke around the account for a minute. It turns out this might be the most “lit” Concord-centric Instagram account there is – just take a look at this shot, for example. This was taken in the South End of Concord near the field by South Concord Meadows off Birch Street on Sept. 22 at sunrise via drone, called the DJI Mavic...
Summer exhibits
The New Hampshire Art Association will have two installations on display for the summer around Concord now through Sept. 17. Reconsidering Trash The works Marylou Ashooh Lazos of Derry will be at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce in an exhibit titled, “Reconsidering Trash.” She creates assemblages using pieces of her past and found objects – or “other people’s trash.” “As the daughter of a ‘Depression-baby,’ I find it difficult...
Stick it to the man by checking out some banned books at Concord Public Library
Catcher in the Rye. American Psycho. 1984. Lolita. Harry Potter (yes, that Harry Potter). What do they all have in common? These books, among many, many others, have all been either banned or “challenged” in various communities – mostly schools and libraries – at some point in time. Censorship has gone on pretty much since the beginning of time, and at one point or another, the aforementioned books were the targets of parents,...
Learn power move
While gyms are beginning to open at lower occupancy numbers and at least some social distancing precautions expected to continue through the summer, it might be hard to keep up the routines you are used to doing. However, it is still important to stay active for a healthy body and mind. Instructors from 43 Degrees North will be sharing quick exercises with the Insider that you can do at home. Jump squat Stand with feet hip-distance...
Tasty Brews: Stoneface Porter at the Red Blazer
I have to confess – ever since my trusty old colleague Tim turned me on to IPAs a couple years ago, they’ve basically been the only kinds of beers I’ve tried since then. What can I say, I like hops I guess.But I realize not everybody does. In fact, I know a lot of people who actually hate IPAs – I used to be one of them. Since we are an equal opportunity publication, I decided to get off the IPA train for once and get back to my roots...
This week in history
June 25, 2003: The Penacook Historical Society holds an open house for the Rolfe barn, a 200-year-old building that the group had fought to save for months. The event gives many supporters their first peek at the property. June 25, 2002: Against the brilliant blue background of Lake Winnipesaukee, Gov. Jeanne Shaheen says that as a U.S. senator she would build on the state’s new clean air laws to set stricter federal standards. June...
Concord native to visit Gibson’s Bookstore
For some reason, unbeknownst to her, Meredith Tate just can’t seem to stick with a genre when it comes to her writing. The Concord native’s second published book, Freedom Trials, is a young-adult sci-fi thriller that is scheduled to be released Oct. 9 and will be the featured book event at Gibson’s Bookstore on Saturday. It’s vastly different than both her debut work, Missing Pieces (adult dystopian romance) and The Red Labyrinth, a...
Book of the Week: Discover your purpose
The Quarter-Life Breakthrough: Invent Your Own Path, Find Meaningful Work, and Build a Life That Matters By Adam Smiley Poswolsky (Nonfiction, 224 pages, 2016) Confused? Unhappy? Only a quarter of the way through your life? It’s okay, it happens to everyone. You’re having a quarter-life crisis. But this book is the light at the end of the tunnel. Everyone tells you, you need to live life a certain way. Follow society’s...
On the Road: Concord’s Always an Adventure group took us to the Isle of Wight
In June, 21 members of Concord’s Always an Adventure group took a trip to the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England. The group was kind enough to bring a copy of the Insider with them for their seven-day guided walking tour. Thanks for bringing us along, gang – we needed the exercise anyway.Are you going somewhere exotic or even just pretty cool? If so, bring a copy of your favorite Insider edition (as hard as it is to...
Poem: Home
Time has brought memories, cherished moments made from each year, the days provided heartfelt thoughts, though some years delivered a tear. As the road continues along the way, may the future moments be clear, remembered, cherished, and most sincere. Take the time to live your life, embrace those with whom you roam, travel around the world, but never forget about home. For home is a place, to always keep very near, time has brought...
Missed Connections: Looking for love in Concord through Craigslist
August was kind of a hectic month at the Insider, and in all the hubbub surrounding Tim’s departure, we somehow let the ever-popular Missed Connections feature fall through the cracks. Luckily, there were still plenty of entries on there dating back to mid-August, including what could be a first – someone replying to a post with a post of their own, and in very short order. We’ve printed them here – completely unedited, of course –...
City Newsletter: Get books curbside, tax relief
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 playgrounds open With the governor lifting the stay at home order, the city’s playgrounds reopened on Tuesday, June 16. On Monday, June 15, Parks and Recreation Department staff inspected and thoroughly cleaned all the...
Book of the Week: ‘Lost for Words’
The Lost for Words Bookshop Stephanie Butland 2017, 352 pages Fiction Loveday Cardew is not afraid to say what she thinks to people, and she often does just that. She likes books more than people and has the first lines of some of her favorite books as tattoos. She doesn’t let anyone too close, usually. Loveday’s childhood was a happy one at first, but her dad lost his job, and things began to change for the worse. Now Loveday is a...
Playground fun
With the expiration of the governor’s order, the city of Concord reopened its playgrounds Tuesday. So you and the kiddos can held on out from some fun in the sun. Some things to consider, however, are these recommendations from the CDC: Visit parks that are close to your home Don’t visit parks if you or someone in your home is sick, has tested positive for COVID-19, or was recently exposed to COVID-19 Try to stay more than 6 feet away...
This Week in Concord History
Oct. 2, 1856: Near the end of his term, President Franklin Pierce visits Concord to stump for James Buchanan, the Democrat nominated to succeed him. Pierce is greeted with a great parade and reception downtown. A fine horseman, he himself rides in the procession down Main Street. Oct. 2, 1918: Two Concord troops – Marine Lt. Paul Corriveau and Pvt. Herbert C. Drew – die in France on the same day. Corriveau is killed in action; Drew...
This week in history
June 18, 2003: House and Senate leaders strike a deal on a compromise state budget that restores most of the cuts to Health and Human Services that Gov. Craig Benson and the House proposed earlier this year. “We have presented a people’s budget,” Senate President Tom Eaton says. “And we did it without raising taxes.” June 18, 2000: Organizers say the 77th edition of Bike Week brought some 340,000 people to the Laconia area. The...
It’s that time of year: Get out there and pick some apples in Concord
If you grew up in New England, you know what this time of year is all about – apple picking. As the air develops a crisp chill and the leaves start to change from green to red and gold, the apples trees are ready for people to come and pick their fruits right off the branches. We’re fortunate enough to live in a city where there are two places to do such a thing – Carter Hill Orchard and Apple Hill Farm.The two farms are similar in...
1907: Granite Railway Co.
A photograph from 1907 of granite loaded on a train of the Granite Railway Company, owned by John Swenson, as it leaves Concord. This particular load was part of a 4,000-cubic-foot order of Concord granite that was to be used to construct a pyramid tomb. If you look closely you will noticed the flatcar is lettered “Boston & Maine Railroad” and there is a B&M Railroad employee standing on the car as it departs. My family, like...
Ocean State Job Lot Adventure Shopping: Apples edition
Since this is the Apples Issue, we decided to hit up Ocean State Job Lot for a little Adventure Shopping to see if we could find any apples-related items. Sure enough, there was plenty of oddly interesting stuff that fit right into the theme. Who knew you could get a rubber lid for a cooking pot in the shape of an apple?
Book of the Week: Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl By Eoin Colfer (Young adult fantasy, 280 pages, 2001) Artemis Fowl is a delight of a read. Pragmatic, cut-throat boy wonder Artemis posits himself against the entirety of The People, the collective species of fae and fairy folk world over. From dwarves to gnomes, these beings have hidden themselves underground to hide from the threats and encroachments of humans. Artemis discovers their existence and plots to steal...
Food Snob: Fresh apple turnovers – straight out of the oven – from Apple Hill Farm
For this Apples Issue, I obviously couldn’t just sit around all week and not try something made with apple. After much consternation and hand-wringing, the hard decision was made to go to Apple Hill Farm, right around the corner from Insider headquarters, and try the tastiest treat I could find. As luck would have it, right as I arrived – unannounced, by the way – owner Diane Souther saw me and asked whether I’d like to try some fresh...
Making Good Health Simple: Lower into a lunge
While gyms are beginning to open at lower occupancy numbers and at least some social distancing precautions expected to continue through the summer, it might be hard to keep up the routines you are used to doing. However, it is still important to stay active for a healthy body and mind. Instructors from 43 Degrees North will be sharing quick exercises with the Insider that you can do at home. Lunge A lunge is a great exercise because...
Raise awareness for mental illness at NAMIWalks NH on Sunday
Mental illness is a pretty serious issue that touches millions of lives all over the world every year. Last year, in New Hampshire alone, the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s New Hampshire chapter provided education, support and advocacy for more than 21,000 individuals affected by mental illness – that’s a lot for a state with a population just a little over a million.That’s why NAMIWalks NH, taking place this Sunday, is such an...
