Book of the week
The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag Date Alan Bradley 2010, 364 pages Setting: English country village of Bishop’s Lacey, 1950 From the author of “Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” comes a second book featuring Flavia de Luce. Who is Flavia de Luce? She's an engaging and intriguing 11-year-old aspiring chemist with a passion for poison and a knack for solving murders who travels the countryside on her trusty...
Getting to know business owner Gerry Mark
This month, Meet A Senior's Anita Hickey talks with retail store owner, amateur musician and fellow senior Gerry Mark. After graduation from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Music Education, what led you to Concord? My first job in the area was with the Penacook High School as instrumental music teacher and band director. Penacook High School is now part of the Merrimack Valley School District. After a year I...
Turning breast cancer into something beautiful
Penacook Street may seem as normal as any other back road in Penacook, at least until you reach Donna Ciocca's home. Perennial gardens and an eccentric flying pig and fish are among the delights that decorate the lawn. Many people driving past stop by for a peek at Penacook's rusted wonderland. “I try to convince them they can do it, too,” laughed Ciocca, who's 59. “Because of my gardens, I have a...
Melee on Main; the coach is born
August 3, 1813 – A 20-year-old man from Lexington, Mass., who has rented a room on Concord's Chapel Street for the past three months announces in the Patriot that he has commenced a wheelwright business. His name is Lewis Downing, and in time his business, Abbot & Downing, will build the coaches that bring Concord national fame. August 4, 1926 – It is announced in Concord that Allen Hollis, a local lawyer and...
Nevers' forever
The Nevers' Band has been around since 1861, but its beat remains fresh. As the band performed in Eagle Square last week, an appreciative crowd saw firsthand why the organization has stood the test of time. In addition to its traditional patriotic tunes, the band's performance included symphonic scores from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “Harry Potter,” among others. The popular songs prove that for...
Someone needs your gently-used footwear
Soles4Souls and Green Concord will be collecting gently worn footwear and/or monetary donations to ship shoes to people in need, whether they are victims of a natural disaster or subject to living in extreme poverty. It is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unused shoes lying in their closets. The following Green Concord businesses will have donation boxes during August: Real Green Goods; Lotions n’ Potions; Your Home,...
Have Fido or Fluffy work it for the camera
The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA is pleased to bring back our annual 12-month pet lover's calendar. All proceeds will go directly to the care of the homeless animals in our shelter. To feature your pet in a full, half or quarter page, submit a photo by Sept. 1. Prices range from $75 to $300. You may also choose to sponsor a shelter pet in the calendar in lieu of your own pet. Businesses can sponsor a month for $50. Let your...
Pick it up, students
Concord High School student packet pickups will be held Aug. 25 and Aug. 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Main Office at Concord High School. For more information, e-mail kloga@csd.k12.nh.us.
Volunteers wanted
The Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association is seeking hospice volunteers. Volunteers provide care by visiting, reading to patients, giving caregivers a respite break, preparing meals, offering Reiki or massage therapy, transportation, bereavement services support, helping with office work and more. The next nine-week training session starts on Sept. 8. The application deadline is Aug. 20. For more information, contact Laurie...
Hey, where you at?
The Concord High School class of 1955 is planning its 55th reunion for Aug. 28. We are looking for the following class members: Majorie Ames Balsamelo, Clarence Chase, James Moscaritolo, June Reid Gibbons, Richard Mercier, John Cox, Cheryl Miller Quimby, Lester Putnam and Don Wilson. If you have any information regarding any of these people, contact Joe Cressy at 764-3321 or e-mail...
Where Alvin gets away from it all
“I found this little chipmunk living in a hole in the wall in Eagle Square one Saturday,” Corey Tess wrote. Be awesome like Corey and submit your photos to news@theconcordinsider.com to be included in the Bulletin Board or on our Facebook page. Put “Bulletin Board” in the subject line.
Doesn't Crystal Kennard look lovely?
Okay, the results have been in for a while now, but in case you hadn't heard, 28-year-old Crystal Kennard of Concord won the first ever Market Days makeover challenge put on by Main Street Concord last month. Kennard, a single mother of three, faced off against five others for the title of most transformed. The contestants were pampered and primped by local salons and clothing retailers for a day and showed off the results before...
