See robots doing robot things at Rundlett Middle School on April 18
If you’re interested in robots and the kids that build them, then Rundlett Middle School is the place for you. On April 18 (that’s next Wednesday), the Concord School District is hosting a Bring Your Own Robot showcase in order to give the students participating in the Capital City 21st Century Community Learning Centers (also known as 21C) robotics program a chance to wow parents, teachers and possibly you with what they’ve been able...
On Display: ‘From Our Hands’ exhibit at League headquarters
The League of N.H. Craftsmen headquarters at 49 S. Main St. is exhibiting “From Our Hands,” featuring the work of the White Mountain Woolen Magic Rughooking Guild. The exhibit will be on display until Sept. 13. The artists featured include Nancy Qualls, Sandra Grant, Heidi Martin, Rebecca Doherty, Mary Jane Peabody and Joan Sullivan. For more info, go to nhcrafts.org.
Jason Seavey is once again the Iron Chef of Concord
Walking into last week’s fourth annual Iron Chef Competition, hosted by GoodLife Programs & Activities, Havenwood Executive Chef Jason Seavey wanted to simplify things. After all, last year was the first time he didn’t leave with the winners trophy.But simple didn’t mean his meal wasn’t going to be delicious. It was so tasty in fact, Seavey was once again crowned the Iron Chef of Concord, bettering the likes of Chris Normandeau,...
CYPN: Melissa Vezina of Keller Williams is the Young Professional of the Month
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Concord Young Professionals Network introduces you to our “Young Professional of the Month,” Melissa Vezina. Each month the CYPN Steering Committee recommends a young professional in the community it thinks readers would enjoy getting to know better.How old are you? 42.Where do you live? Concord.Where do you currently work? I’m a real estate agent at Keller Williams Metropolitan with offices...
We finally gave the Friendly Kitchen a check
Thanks to the more than 100 people who attended the inaugural Pizza Pie Showdown, the Concord Monitor/Concord Insider was able to make a sizeable donation to the Friendly Kitchen.Last week, we took a very normal sized check – we were vetoed on the idea for one of those cool giant checks – and gave it to Friendly Kitchen Director Tricia Foisey in the amount of $858.14. But that didn’t prevent us from setting up a picture that made it...
This Week in Concord History
Aug. 20, 1816: A wandering portrait painter named Samuel F.B. Morse writes to his parents that he has just been to a party in Concord and met a 17-year- old woman who is “very beautiful, amiable and of excellent disposition.” She is Lucretia Walker, a member of one of Concord’s most prominent families. Morse decides to stay in Concord for awhile. Aug. 20, 1844: Samuel Jackman, the oldest man in Concord, dies at the age of 96. He was a...
On the Job: Nothing like filling potholes to start the day
The dictionary defines a pothole as “a deep natural underground cavity formed by the erosion of rock, especially by the action of water.” It also lists “a depression or hollow in a road surface caused by wear or subsidence.”But around these parts they’re more known as an annoyance, a nuisance and an unfortunate part of the early spring freeze/thaw cycle. How can the same process that allows trees to produce sap that is then turned...
Book of the Week: ‘Save Me the Plums’
Save Me the PlumsRuth Reichl2019, 288 pagesNonfiction Ruth Reichl was a restaurant reviewer for the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times and an author. She knew nothing about running a magazine. So she was floored when Condé Nast asked if she would like to be editor in chief of Gourmet magazine.Ruth’s love affair with Gourmet started when she was 8 years old and she visited a used book shop with her father. On the floor were some...
On Display: These were drawn by students – in Ukraine
The Concord Public Library is home to a new exhibit that features drawings from art students. It just so happens the students are from the S. Vasylkivskyi Children’s Art School – in Ukraine. “The Peace in the World” exhibit was brought to Concord as part of the 10th anniversary of the Fermata Arts Foundation, and it’s making its way around New England throughout the remainder of the year. There are 16 drawings in total with...
Always in the rough: Trying out a little disc golf
If you’re not familiar with disc golf yet, I won’t hold it against you. All I ask is, at the very least, do yourself a favor and get acquainted with one of the fastest-growing sports in the state sometime this year before the weather turns for the worse. I promise you won’t regret it. “What I see here is they start playing in the fall, they get all winter to think about disc golf and they come back in the spring/summer,” said Marty...
Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire turns 40
Join the Crisis Center of Central N.H. on Thursday at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, 2 Institute Drive, from 6 to 9 p.m. for our 40th celebration. We will welcome Lissa Curtis, a survivor and dancer, to speak at this event. There will be performances by the Jazz Dogs and Claire Taylor, appetizers, a cash bar, whisky tasting, photo booth fun, wine pull, live auction, star gazing (weather permitting) and Building on Hope...
Making strides, making beer with Lithermans Limited
American Cancer Society Community Development Manager Michelle Audet and Lithermans Limited teamed up to brew Whole Lotta Rosé, a hibiscus and pink guava rosé ale crafted to raise awareness for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Concord. Whole Lotta Rosé will be released to the public on Aug. 25 at the brewery at 126 Hall St., Unit B, Concord. The event will run from noon to 4 p.m. The American Cancer Society will be onsite with...
Author David Elliott to present ‘In the Past’ at Gibson’s Bookstore
Join Gibson’s Bookstore on Friday at 6 p.m. for a poetic, prehistoric journey through time as David Elliott presents the newest addition to his acclaimed library of poetry picture books, In the Past: From Trilobites to Dinosaurs to Mammoths in More Than 500 Million Years – a perfect way to celebrate Poetry Month.Return to the prehistoric era and discover a host of creatures both novel and familiar, from the mysterious trilobite to the...
Food Snob: Nina’s Bistro offers classics and foreign fare
There’s a new bistro in town, and you know as foodies, we had to stop in last week to survey the city’s newest breakfast and lunch option.Nina’s Bistro and Sandwiches has moved into the former Sandwich Depot at 49 Hall St., and although the menu has changed, customers are still welcomed to the same close-knit community feel when stopping by for a quick bite.The woman greeting us behind the counter spoke as if we had been regulars for...
This Week in Concord History
April 10, 1829: While addressing a Merrimack County jury in Concord, the spellbinding lawyer Ezekiel Webster, brother of Daniel, drops dead. “He had spoken nearly a half hour, in full and unaltering voice, when the hand of death arrested his earthly course,” writes Judge Charles Corning. April 10, 1865: A huge celebration in Concord marks the end of the Civil War. Mayor Moses Humphrey orders the city’s fire engines decorated and ready...
Making Good Health Simple: What research tells us about good habits
Since birth we have been told over and over again the same four things: Eat. Sleep. Exercise. Use your brain. These fundamentals of becoming more healthful have stood the test of time. Let’s be real. We have to accomplish all of these tasks on a daily basis, so shouldn’t we in fact be experts at these skills? Some days I am crushing it and firing on all cylinders at 100%, while other days I can barely seem to use my brain and feed...
Instagram: The eye closes on downtown for good
We have to admit – it’s getting harder and harder to find what we would consider “legit” photos on Instagram with the #concordnh tag. What we see an absolute abundance of is commercial posts – business owners taking pictures of their products or services and using Instagram as free advertising. This is all fine and good, but these types of shots aren’t generally that visually stunning or interesting enough to run in a newspaper....
City Manager’s Newsletter: Extended pool season, construction updates and more
Here’s the Concord city newsletter for the week of Aug. 11! Pool season extended Concord Parks & Recreation is keeping the following three pools open until next Friday: Rollins, Rolfe and Heights Pools. The pool hours will be as follows: Saturday and Sunday 12:30-4:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday 12:30-4:30 p.m. & 5:30-7:30 p.m., and Friday August 16 from 12:30-4 p.m. White, Merrill, Kimball, and Garrison will close for the season...
Bulletin Board: Grange awards, State of the City and stamps
Concord Grange to host awards night The Concord Grange #322 will celebrate Grange Month with their 42nd annual Community Awards Night on Monday at 7 p.m. at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hall, 48 Airport Road. The Grange will honor the police officer, firefighter, citizen and educator of the year, along with awards for public service, community spirit, state police officer and lifetime achievement awards. In...
Bulletin Board: Health clinics, Audi events and more
Concord Regional VNA announces August senior health clinics Concord Regional VNA is holding the following senior health clinics in August in and around Concord. All clinic services are provided for a suggested donation of $10, however, services are provided regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Services offered include foot care, blood pressure screening, B-12 injections, medication education and nutritional education. Call (603)...
Missed Connections: Eye contact, a compliment and former loves
You may have heard that Craigslist recently shut down its personals section in response to the passing of H.R.1865, an anti-online sex trafficking bill. As you can imagine, we were rather concerned that this would put a real damper – or rather end – to this here monthly Missed Connections report as we all know and love it. But much to our surprise, the Missed Connections listings were not included in that personals-section dump and...
Penacook resident marks 104 years with dinner and a concert
Presidential Oaks Retirement Community welcomed a special guest during a recent Summer Concert as Penacook resident Bessy Jones kicked off her birthday celebrations by enjoying dinner and a performance by the Nevers Band.But this wasn’t just any birthday: Bessy just turned 104.Joined by her son, Jerry, and his wife, Diane, the trio enjoyed a turkey dinner and strawberry shortcake in the Big Oak Café before making their way outdoors...
Book of the Week: ‘Three Pennies’
Three PenniesMelanie Crowder2017, 181 pagesChildren’s Fiction (Ages 8-12) Marin has been bounced from foster home to foster home ever since her birth mother left seven years ago. She only has a pocket-size edition of the I Ching, a ceramic piggy bank and some fuzzy memories to remember her by. If only Marin could find her mother, they would be a family again. But the foster care system has other plans. Marin is now available for...
The Yogi: Tom Waits, yoga and the car salesman
“How you do anything is how you do everything.” Ever heard that one before? I always attributed it to the great Tom Waits, the eclectic singer-songwriter, carnival barker and modern-day troubadour. The quote has been used, re-used and tossed around so much that I’m not sure where it originated. Since I’m a musician, and fond of Tom Waits, I’ll let the phrase linger with him. It’s been used by authors, accountants, coaches and...
The Arts: There’s a full slate of exhibits to see this week
As you can see, there are a lot of art shows going on right now. You should go see one. League of N.H. Craftsmen Fairy Tales and Fantasies Through: June 15 The Grodin Collection Through: Ongoing Location: 49 S. Main St., Suite 100 Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kimball Jenkins Robert Dorr Through: April 30 N.H. Weavers Guild Through: May 16 Location: 266 N. Main St. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30...
Local nurse practitioner fights cancer with modified triathlon
Monitor staffCancer takes many different shapes, and Renee Plodzik is fighting back the same way.Three years ago, Plodzik started hosting Fit4acause bootcamp, “as a way to engage the community in a donation-only workout to raise money for patients with cancer,” she said. Last year, she began the Fit4acause Triple Challenge, a family-friendly, non-competitive modified triathlon, as another way to generate funds to fight cancer. The...
Concord Young Professionals Network: Lacie Smith is climbing all the 4,000-footers
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to our “Young Professional of the Month,” Lacie Smith. Each month the CYPN Steering Committee recommends a young professional in the community it thinks Concord Insider readers would enjoy getting to know better. How old are you? 29 Where do you live? Concord. Where do you currently work? I’m currently working as a tax senior accountant...
This Week in Concord History
Aug. 13, 1852: The tallest flagpole in New Hampshire history is erected in the State House yard, put up to celebrate Franklin Pierce’s nomination by the Democrats to be president. It is 143 feet tall, higher than the State House dome. First flown is an emblem with pictures of Pierce and Sen. Rufus de Vane King of Alabama, his running mate. Aug. 13, 1979: At the official opening of his presidential campaign headquarters in Concord,...
Entertainment: Plenty of laughs and magic in the capital city this week
In a slight departure from the norm, the entertainment schedule in Concord is a little more theater- and comedy-heavy than usual this week. The Cap Center will play host to much of this stage work, so make sure you check out their website to check on tickets. Music Tuesday Poor Howard at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m.Wednesday Paul Heckel at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m.Thursday Will Hatch at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Bach’s Lunch Concert:...
Book of the Week: ‘The Farmer’s Son’
The Farmer’s Son:Calving Season on a Family FarmJohn Connell2018, 243 pagesNonfiction John’s family has been in farming in Ireland for generations. But as a young man John left the farming life to pursue a writing career. He lived in Australia and Canada and wrote articles and books. But things went wrong, and John came home to Ireland to work on the farm. John became depressed, and writes honestly about how it affected him. A variety...
