Mystery photo
This building is on a plot of ground that gave School Street its name. One might call it a duke’s castle after the man identified by “Crosscurrents of Change” as the most extraordinary educator of the 20th century. Name the building and name the educator. The answer will be published next week in the Insider. In a hurry? Read the answer at concordhistoricalsociety.org. The Concord Historical Society is planning to publish...
Meet a Senior
In this new monthly feature one of our favorite seniors, Anita Hickey, will chat up a different senior each month to coincide with the Senior Section. First up: State Rep. Stephen Shurtleff. How long have you been a resident of this community, and what do you like about living here? I was born in Concord in 1947 at the old Memorial Hospital on South Spring Street. Except for the three years I spent in the U.S. Army and the three years...
Ask the Elders: Six words or less
Dear Elders, Can you describe your life with a six-word sentence? – Not verbose Steve Leavenworth Dear Not Verbose, My life in six words?! I have already written a brief bio for my kids in about 50 pages. Since I plan to live for 100 years, I have many more pages to write. “Papa” Hemingway was asked to tell a story in six words. I thought his answer was great: “For sale, baby shoes, never worn.” Tells it all! Roioli Schweiker Dear Not...
Free information sessions at Conant School
Learn how you can get a certificate of Advanced Graduate Study of Creative Arts in Learning. This program is designed for inpiduals who are currently or will become leaders in the design and implementation of arts educational offerings for students of all ages in schools, districts and communities. The program goal is to enhance the ability of arts leaders to design, develop and evaluate arts education programs. Free information...
A brand new year means new licenses for hunters and fishers
It's time to buy your New Hampshire fishing and hunting licenses for 2010. Get yours and be set for a wild year of outdoor adventure, from ice fishing this winter to bagging your deer next fall. Licenses are good from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. Purchase yours online at wildnh.com, at the Fish and Game headquarters in Concord or from more than 250 license agents statewide. Your hunting or fishing license (or your combo license) is...
The holidays are over but it's still better to give than to receive
In an effort to carry the spirit of goodwill into the new year, Volunteer NH announces the statewide Martin Luther King Food Drive, which will run through Jan. 15. Food collected during this time will follow the holiday seasonal food drives and help replenish dwindling supplies at local pantries throughout the state. The MLK Food Drive is one of hundreds of activities that cities and states throughout the country are organizing to...
Winter concerts
The Suncook Valley Chorale will be performing its winter concert, “Circle The Earth in Song.” on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. at St. John's The Evangelist Church, 72 S. Main St. Tickets are available at the door; at Ballard's Novelty and Party, 7 Broadway; or from any chorale member. Come celebrate the persity of music from around the world. For more information, visit svcnh.org.
January senior section
The Concord Recreation Senior Program 41 West St., 225-8690 onconcord.com/recreation Winter hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Each week seniors can bring in can goods to be distributed on Friday to food kitchens. On Mondays, we offer Bingo (10 cents a card). On Wednesdays, we offer card games, cribbage and a knitting group. The “bone builders” program begins at 10 a.m. You must have a doctor’s form to...
New England photography on display
My photography, which focuses on New England in all its glorious seasons, is featured at The Works Bakery Café, 42 N. Main St., this month. For more than 25 years, I served as a member, webmaster and photographer for the Conservation Commission in Chesterfield. Many of my images have been captured during my years of exploration and trail work in the Monadnock region and during exploration of the unique landscape throughout New...
A prickly woodland creature
A young porcupine came awkwardly waddling into my yard last summer, as if he owned the place. I walked out to meet him but he started moving toward a nearby tree. I caught him on film just as he began to slowly climb it. Porcupines have no need to hurry. They have a formidable defense with their armor of dart-like quills, which give any predator a sharp reminder that this animal is no easy prey. An hour after porcupines are born,...
Laughs equal cash for a food pantry
On Jan. 15, Lake Shore Farm, 275 Jenness Pond Road, Northwood, will present a night of comedy. Proceeds from the Bucky Lewis show will benefit the Northwood Food Pantry. Snacks will be served and a cash bar will be available Advanced tickets are $18 through Jan.10 or $20 at the door. For more information, call 942-5921.
New year, new decade, old habit?
This is a question for those of you who buy cases of bottled water at the grocery store: Why do you do it? I really would like to know. I have addressed this topic several times before. I do not intend to rehash what I've already covered. But it occurred to me that I have never really asked this question. Perhaps readers who don't buy bottled water could help in this quest. Ask people you know who do this and send a report...
Two free events at Gibson's Bookstore
– Jan. 7 at 7 p.m: Robin Antalek, “The Summer We Feel Apart.” In this “well crafted and cunning debut novel” (Publishers Weekly), Robin Antalek tells the story of a preoccupied playwright father and a cult-actress mother, and their four children, who between them have an enthralling collection of strengths and character flaws. This is a family saga that covers 15 years of trials, tribulations and triumphs. For lovers of Jodi...
Book of the week
To check out this book or any other book your heart desires, head on down to the Concord Public Library. For more information, visit concordpubliclibrary.net. Once in a Lifetime Trips Chris Santella 2009, 224 pages Nonfiction Winter is officially here, a season when many of us spend a lot more time indoors. I’d like to suggest that it’s a great time to be an armchair traveler. The new book, “Once in a Lifetime Trips: The World’s 50...
Mocha, meet raspberry
The holidays are over, and that means our off-beat gift guide series is over too. Fret not because we have a brand-spankin’ new series to get you through January’s bitter weather. For the next few issues, we’ll feature a hot beverage of the week. Why a hot beverage, you ask? Well, because it’s cold out and we want an excuse to leave our warm and cozy cubicle to brave the winter elements. Or something. We found our first beverage while...
One way to keep that resolution to exercise more
Get ready to swing your partner and do-si-do because Concord Coach Squares’ square-dancing classes are back and beginning on Jan. 13, 7 p.m., at West Congregational Church, 3 Garrison St. To get the hoedown lowdown (we’ve been dying to say that for quite some time now), we talked with Concord Coach’s Joanna McIntosh. For even more information about Concord Coach Squares, call 798-5304. How long do the classes run? The classes run Jan....
Babies, babies everywhere
Welcome to our second annual baby issue. It's been raining babies since the beginning of December when we started advertising for submissions, resulting in much squealing from the inhabitants of the Insider cubicle. Keeping with last year's theme, we invited folks to submit a photo of their new bundle of joy born in 2009. We also asked for a little information, like the names of the parents, what the babies like to do with...
Happy Gary Dodge day!
On Dec. 30 the Concord-Family YMCA celebrated Gary Dodge Day to honor none other than Gary Dodge himself who retired from the YMCA after working out there for 31 years. He'll now be livin' the life in Cape Cod. From left: Gary Dodge and the YMCA's senior program director, Deb Acres, having a good time at Gary's reception. Deb presented Gary his very own YMCA towel and the medal around his neck proclaiming him mayor...
Learn about mindfulness-based stress reduction at a free seminar
Do you find yourself stressed by work, family issues, illness, chronic pain or anxiety? Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a transformational seminar for learning to deal directly with life experiences in an open, honest and affirming way. Originally developed at the U-Mass Medical School's Center for Mindfulness by Jon Kabat-Zinn, MBSR training provides a proven means for awakening to the full experience of your life, for...
Let's hear it for the following businesses (cue applause)
On behalf of the Holiday Food Basket Project, I would like to thank the following businesses and restaurants for their lunch donations that fed the volunteers during our December project: Constantly Pizza, Panera Bread, Walmart, Friehofner Bakery Outlet, the Red Blazer Restaurant, Alan's of Boscawen, Quality Cash Market, Subway, Uno's Chicago Grill, the Common Man Restaurant and the Rowley Agency. This year is the 36th year...
Your bridesmaid and prom dresses in the back of your closet
Is it too early for spring cleaning? The Faith, Hope and Love Foundation is accepting dress donations to give out to girls in need of one for the upcoming prom season. If you have a dress that is in good, wearable condition and would like to donate it to our organization, contact us at info@faithhopeandlovefoundation.org. We will be holding a dress drive from Jan. 25 to Feb. 26. There are drop-off locations at The Pemi Youth Center in...
