Lend a helping hand this holiday season
Welcome to the Insider’s annual Guide to Gifts and Giving, a partnership with the Granite United Way. There are so many organizations out there who are in need of volunteers, supplies and donations, especially around the holidays. Earlier this month, the United Way put a call out to the service organizations for things they’re in need of and then pass it along to us, so we can print it for the masses. As you will soon see, there are a...
There are many food pantries around here, and they’re always looking for help no matter the time of year
Since this is our annual Guide to Gifts and Giving issue, we decided to check in with some local organizations whose businesses rely almost entirely on gifts, but not the kind that come in fancy wrapping paper with big red bows. We’re talking about food pantries, and there are more than two dozen of them in Merrimack County, with about half of those stationed right here in Concord. And while it’s great that there are so many of these...
Merrimack Valley Day Care Services gives kids a place to grow
Every year as the calendar inches closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s typical for people and businesses to start thinking about those in need in the community and what they can do to help. At the Merrimack Valley Day Care Service, that spirit of helping runs strong all year long. Since parents usually have to work all year long, that means the kids always need a place to be, and that’s where MVDCS comes in.Celebrating its 50th...
Our four-legged friends could use your help
At this time of year, there are a lot of worthy causes that need your attention and resources. It’s hard to decide what is the most important. More often than not, it’s the people who don’t have a place to live or need food for their table that are the focal point. And believe us, we completely agree. But there’s another population that could use a helping hand – they just happen to walk on four paws and bark and meow instead of...
New winter shelter could use a nice boost
For a few years, right about this time of year, there has been a collective scramble to figure out where the emergency winter shelter in Concord was going to be. After First Congregational Church and South Congregational Church made the decision to end their shelter operations in 2015 after many years of providing a warm place to stay for the city’s homeless, many wondered what would happen the following winter. It took well into...
Help fill the Holiday Basket Project boxes
The holiday season is busy. There’s shopping for gifts, decorating the house with lights and picking out the perfect tree to display in your living room.But if you have a mere two hours to spare, the Capital Region Food Program sure could use your help.Every December – with this being the 44th year – the program undertakes what can only be described as a monumental task called the holiday food basket project.The project provides...
Live music, theater and movie listings for Concord
Once again, we have another week that’s bursting at the seams with entertainment options. From a free show at a music school to a special show at Rattlebox, there’s something entertaining going on for everyone. Music Wednesday Poor Howard will play at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m. There will be no cover charge. Thursday Richard Gardzina will take the stage at Hermanos at 6:30 p.m. Friday My Mothers Mustache will play at...
Bow Elementary School students learn about concussions by making egg helmets
Concussions, unfortunately, have become more and more prevalent in today’s society. It seems that just about every day, some star athlete we watch on TV is diagnosed with a concussion, or some student athlete we’ve never heard of has to take the week off of practice for the same reason. In extreme cases, people even die from a disease caused by repeated blows to the head. Concussions are no fun, but they are a reality, and it’s...
Wreath-laying ceremony to celebrate Franklin Pierce’s birthday
Franklin Pierce, the only U.S. president from the great state of New Hampshire, would be 213 years old on Thanksgiving. And every November, on or around his birthday, the White House sends a wreath to be placed at his gravesite to commemorate the president’s date of birth and contributions serving in the country’s highest office. And since it would be a little tough to have a ceremony on Thanksgiving – with all the other things people...
Big things are brewing at Lithermans Limited
Early on, it was pretty clear that Lithermans Limited was going to need more space.For a new brewery, the tap room size was fine, but now as an established destination for delicious beer in the capital city, there was most definitely room for expansion. Especially since they started serving food and pouring full pints.“Our landlord knew we were going to grow when he came by opening day and could barely get in,” said co-owner Michael...
Quadracalabasia has returned to Lithermans
As an IPA kind of beer drinker, I’ve never really gotten into the fall/ pumpkin beer craze.But sometimes for the good of a story, you have to do things that aren’t exactly in your tastebuds’ wheelhouse.We had originally set out to taste test – for all of you, of course – Lithermans Limited’s SoundTrack, the official beer of the SNOB Film Festival last week. Since it was an IPA and in the news because of the festival, we thought it...
Community Players of Concord to perform ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’
The Community Players of Concord are celebrating a big birthday this year – 90 years old. Think about how many performances that is. Say they averaged two shows a year (probably more) and that’s a minimum of 178 shows going into its 10th decade.But somehow the Players have outdone themselves once again. They’re only the first community theater group in the state to perform The Hunchback of Notre Dame – ever. That’s all.“We’re billing...
NHTI Stage Lynx to perform ‘Spoon River Anthology’ this weekend
If you have any plans for this weekend, you’d be well-served to cancel them all.Why?Because the Stage Lynx, NHTI’s drama club, is going to put on quite a performance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.The show, directed by Jim Spiegel, is called Spoon River Anthology, and it’s sort of a modern adaptation of some old works.Written by Charles Aidman, Spoon River Anthology is a series of about 60 vignettes with musical interludes, based on a...
The craft fair circuit is going to be very busy
If you happened to miss last week’s Insider, you might not be aware of the fact that holiday craft fairs are quite popular in this area – like super popular. Really from the last weekend in October right through the second week of December, people will flock to local schools, churches and community centers in search of handmade jewelry, clothing, candles, soaps and much more. It’s also a great place to find that one-of-a-kind gift for...
New Hampshire Master Chorale to perform ‘The Heart of the Singer’ at First Congregational Church
If you’ve ever leafed through the pages of this paper before, you probably know that there’s always a ton of live music to be heard around here. Between all the bars, restaurants, outdoor areas (though not so much at this time of year) and dedicated music venues, there’s seemingly always music filling the air.But for the most part, the live music is always pretty straightforward – you go and hear a collection of songs by a group, each...
On Display: Merrimack River Painters at Kimball Jenkins
The Merrimack River Painters are a group of 12 female artists from New Hampshire and Maine that show off their experience as painters with a collection of clever creations in “Finding Our Voices,” in the Kimball Jenkins Carriage House. The exhibit shows off the work of all 12 women, and will be on display through Dec. 2.
Chapman, Hancock to earn Chamber honors
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce hosted its biggest event of the year last week, the 98th Annual Meeting at the Grappone Conference Center.In addition to the cocktail reception, keynote presentation and a sit-down dinner, the Chamber handed out a pair of pretty big awards – the 2017 Citizen of the Year and Special Community Service Citation.William Chapman was chosen as the Citizen of the Year, while Mary Louise Hancock was...
Try to win one of more than 100 fake trees at the Feztival of Trees
If you like elaborately decorated artificial Christmas trees, then you might want to etch out some time in your upcoming schedule. Beginning Saturday, the Bektash Shrine Center will turn its Pembroke Road location into a winter wonderland with the 17th annual Feztival of Trees. And whether you’ve been going year after year – or have never heard of it – it’s always fun to see what people come up with for their tree creations. This...
Concord Christmas Parade set for Saturday
We don’t want to get you too excited, but Santa is coming – this Saturday.That’s right, jolly old Saint Nick will be making a much-anticipated appearance in Concord well before the big day (and Thanksgiving) and it’s all thanks to the 66th annual Concord Christmas Parade.Santa is always a big draw for the Concord holiday tradition and that’s why he’ll be on the final float of the day, just to ramp up the anticipation. Some of Santa’s...
Concord Garden Club to host Matthew Mead
Matthew Mead is kind of a legend when it comes to making beautiful home arrangements.If you’re not familiar with his work, he’s what we like to consider a home stylist guru. He has worked for home decor giants like Pottery Barn, and has been featured in the pages of Better Homes and Gardens – to name just a few.We’ve seen a ton of finished products created by Mead, but have never had the good fortunate of watching as he uses his...
Concord Young Professionals Network: Robert Dunn likes beer and went to Alaska
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to our “Young Professional of the Month,” Robert Dunn. 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? 35 Where do you live? Tilton Where do you currently work? For the past 2 ½ years, I have been part of the...
Art exhibitions on display in Concord
Concord is home to lots of great locations to see some incredible art. So that means at any given time, there will be a wide range of work on display all over the city. It’s hard keeping track of all the shows, hours you can view them and how long they’ll be around. So we’ve compiled this trusty list for you, so you can concentrate on checking out the art. McGowan Fine Art Closer: Gary Haven Smith and Bert Yarborough Through...
Bulletin Board
‘Time Flies’ at Jazz Sanctuary Sunday On Sunday at 1 p.m., Jazz Sanctuary – First Church/ Third Sunday will explore the theme “Time Flies – The Spirituality of the Moment,” as conversational guest and pastoral psychologist, Emily Geoghegan joins Pastor and vocalist Emilia Halstead to consider mindfulness in the face of society’s increasing time-oriented stress. Mitch Albom’s fable about Father Time, The Timekeeper will serve as...
Check out this vibrant shot of downtown we found on Instagram
We’re no strangers to Instagram pictures of the clock tower by Eagle Square – it’s become sort of required photography in the capital city. But this shot here, posted by user @greggvogt, had everything going for it – the vibrant lighting, the reflections off the wet pavement, the guy with the umbrella, the overall framing. Well done, @greggvogt, well done, sir. Have you taken a cool picture somewhere in Concord? If so, post it to...
Book of the Week: ‘Mr Campion’s Fault’
Mr Campion’s Fault Mike Ripley 2016, 243 pages Fiction – Mystery Albert Campion has retired from detecting, he says. But he can’t seem to stop looking into mysteries. His son Rupert and daughter-in-law Perdita travel north to Yorkshire to help at a boys’ boarding school. Rupert is to coach the rugby team and Perdita will teach English and direct a musical of Dr. Faustus. There has been some strange happenings in the area. The senior...
This Week in Concord History
Nov. 14, 1861: A fire at Main and School streets, the fourth major fire of the year in downtown Concord, destroys a harness factory, a shoe store, the gas-light company offices and homes. Nov. 14, 1963: Visiting Concord, Mrs. Eddy Peterson, assistant chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, says she is excited about the prospect of Sen. Margaret Chase Smith running for president. Nevertheless, Peterson adds, “I...
