Where the Insider goes – Tue, 19 Nov 2013
Eugene Cote, Marie Cote, Genevieve LeBrun and George LeBrun took the Insider to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Merci beaucoup!
The United Way guide to gifts and giving
It’s easy to get caught up in the commercial side of the holidays. For that, we thank incessant television advertisements in which people give other people brand-new luxury automobiles for Christmas (where do you find those enormous red bows, anyway?) But you know what? New socks can be a luxury to many this time of year.That’s why every year at this time, the Insider teams up with Granite United Way in order to assist those in need...
Say it ain't snow – Tue, 19 Nov 2013
Imagine our surprise when, cruising down Mountain Road early last week, we discovered this mysterious pile of what appears to be snow on somebody’s front lawn. Funny thing is, we can’t recall it snowing around here in the last several hundred days, and there wasn’t a spot of the white stuff on anyone else’s lawn in the area (just peep the barren background here). Several days later, the pile was still there. We are left to assume that...
Time to head down to the SPCA and bring home a senior pet
What’s that, James? You need a new home with someone who will love you? One that will feature older housemates with preferably no dogs and maybe one other cat? I’m sorry Birch, can you say that again? Oh, you also need a new home to call your own where you can have room to play and enjoy a few nice belly rubs? James, a 13-year-old domestic short hair with gray tiger markings, and Birch, a 12-year-old English Setter, Blue Tick...
Instagram photo of the week – Tue, 19 Nov 2013
This picture of a fiery sky over NHTI was snapped by Instagram user @darkroomsignite. Fitting name!
Missed Connection Mad Libs, and a poem
We at the Insider like to scour Craigslist’s Missed Connections to see if anyone in Concord spotted us wearing our jeggings at the gym is finding true love online. Here, presented unedited as always, are some of the best recent entries.better than nothing – m4w – 28 (concord, nh)Its so hard to not look at you every time I see youPretty face with that perfect smileBut we can’t be together, not right now at leastMaybe if I...
Rapping things up
The wonders of Facebook bring us this screen shot, in which the Concord Garden Club invited more than just local flower aficionados to its event last Thursday at Pleasant View Retirement Home. Turns out the event was free and open to Public Enemy! It’s not the soundtrack one typically associates with gardening, but, good for them for trying to reach a new and untapped audience. No word on whether the rap group that originated in the...
Time to head down to the SPCA and bring home a senior pet
Adoption program runs till end of November
Upstart features ways to help nonprofits for the holiday season
The goal of Nearby Registry is to connect shoppers with local businesses. Conceived in 2009 and launched this spring, the website works in a few ways. Shoppers can pick out items for themselves or others through online storefronts or someone can create a wish list featuring everything they’ve ever wanted from a business right down the street. Nearby serves businesses throughout New Hampshire and has recently expanded to Seattle, but...
This Week In Concord History
Nov. 19, 2001: The Concord City Council makes a three-year, $150,000 commitment to the downtown, and on terms that downtown merchants want. The merchants hope to join the Main Street Program, an initiative to help preserve and sustain downtowns across the country.Nov. 19, 1863: Lyman D. Stevens of Concord represents New Hampshire at the dedication of the national cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa. He is near Abraham Lincoln during the...
Wondering who won SNOB Film Festival awards? Wonder no more
Thank you to all the people who came out to support independent film at the 2013 SNOB Film Festival. We had four days filled with great indie craft beer, live indie local music, and of course, great indie films. This year we had another record turnout over the festival weekend – thank you to all those who were a part of this year’s festival. Also, thank you to our volunteer team and all of our wonderful sponsors and partners who made...
City Briefly
Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell purchases dozens of cans of soup to donate for the holidays, only to become ravenously hungry and open them all at once. The trail of discarded lids leads right to his slumped-over self, and also conveniently spells out the city memo.Set your phasers to phase 3You drive on a parkwayNov. 21 at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers, the Engineering Services Division will hold a public information meeting on...
Tree lighting update: Concord Fire to usher in St. Nick
The Concord Christmas Tree Lighting is finalizing plans for this year’s 27th annual event. The Concord Fire Department will bring Santa Claus to the plaza at 5 p.m. It was reported that the Boscawen Fire Department would do the honors; however Concord will provide the jolly elf from the North Pole’s transportation to the plaza. Donations are still urgently needed to help defray the expenses. If you have made a pledge to coordinator...
Time for good ole’ Yankee (swap) ingenuity
That dreaded office holiday party is no doubt right around the corner, so we took it upon ourselves to visit Ocean State Job Lots to pick out the perfect Yankee swap gifts under $10 for you
Master Chorale to perform on Nov. 23 at McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
The New Hampshire Master Chorale will perform at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center on Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. Spectacular “Northern Lights” is the title for this phenomenal combination of music and astro photography. The New Hampshire Master Chorale will bring music from the Baltic Region, including Norway, Estonia, and Latvia. With ethereal harmony and accompanying photographic imagery by New Hampshire artist Christopher Georgia, the...
What treasures awaited us
You may have noticed leaf piles popping up in record numbers all over Concord over the last few weeks as residents pushed their mountains of foliage curbside for the city to magically whisk them away. But before they all got ushered to wherever they get ushered to, we found some pretty remarkable collections, like this humongous one on Fisherville Road. We figured there had to be some treasures inside, so we donned our best spelunking...
Winter Giftopolis returns on Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Winter Giftopolis, a rich bounty of handmade winter gifts, returns to downtown Concord’s Midnight Merriment festivities on Dec. 6, from 6:30 p.m. until midnight. This 3rd annual Winter Giftopolis features an eclectic selection of 22 of the best local and regional artisans and fine artists, in the atrium at 7 Eagle Square. Admission is free. Winter Giftopolis is a sister market to Concord Arts Market. Winter Giftopolis was founded in...
Printmaker combines paint, wire and vintage thread to create pieces
Contemporary printmaker Linda Basha Brookshire is currently showing in the Carolyn Jenkins Gallery at the Kimball Jenkins School of Art. The exhibit will be on display through Friday.
CRVNA to hold Hospice Lights of Life ceremony
The Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association is holding a Hospice Lights of Life Community Remembrance Ceremony on Dec. 6 at Merrimack County Savings Bank at 89 N. Main St., beginning at 6:30 p.m. This year marks the 18th Hospice Lights of Life, an annual event to honor loved ones and raise awareness about the compassionate care that the CRVNA’s hospice program provides patients and their families.
Printmaker combines paint, wire and vintage thread to create pieces
Contemporary printmaker Linda Basha Brookshire is currently showing in the Carolyn Jenkins Gallery at the Kimball Jenkins School of Art. The exhibit will be on display through Friday.
World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 at St. Paul’s Church
The Greater Concord Interfaith Council will be hosting the World AIDS Day Interfaith Service of Prayer, Remembrance & Hope event on Dec. 1 at St. Paul’s Church at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Gary Sobelson will be the featured speaker for the event. The NH Gay Men’s Chorus will also perform. A section of the Name Project Memorial Quilt will be on display.
Feeding the hungry, one bowl of soup (with croutons and cheese) at a time
It’s noon and the folding partitions open to reveal a lengthy line of more than 40. Food service at the Friendly Kitchen is about to begin and there are a lot of hungry people waiting for a hot meal. And from what I am told, this is what a typical lunch service looks like. On this day, I am helping out. Usually during a Thursday lunch, Carol Webster and Dorian Scammon handle the service line, but they were gracious enough to let me...
St. Nicholas Fair to be held for 10th year
Grace Episcopal Church in East Concord is pleased to be celebrating the 10-year anniversary for the St. Nicholas Fair held each December. To date, the fair has raised nearly $25,000 with proceeds supporting our community, including the Concord Homeless Resource Center and our Take-a-Tote program feeding school children. Join us on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Holiday shoppers will find one-of-a-kind artists’ quality holiday...
Friendly Kitchen, friendly faces
When Carol Webster and Dorian Scammon walk into the Friendly Kitchen each Thursday morning, they never know what will be available to serve at lunch that day. Scammon refers to her volunteer gig as something resembling a popular cable cooking show. “We like to pretend we’re on Chopped,” said Scammon. “What’s in the basket today?” Since the pair only volunteer on Thursdays, serving lunch to those in need from Concord and the...
Jingle Bell Run set for Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
The Arthritis Foundation is hosting the Concord Jingle Bell Run on Dec. 14 at the Rundlett Middle School located at 144 South St. Jingle Bell Runs are timed 5K races raising funds for research for a cure while encouraging a great time. Registration starts at 9 a.m., with the race starting at 10 a.m. After the race, there will be prizes for best costumes and information about arthritis and its related diseases. The Jingle Bell Run/Walk...
Friendly Kitchen, friendly faces
Concord's soup kitchen continues to help those in need.
Northeast Delta Dental welcomes host of future leaders
Northeast Delta Dental played host to a Youth Leadership Summit last week, with student groups from a host of area schools under the guidance of Jay Bonstingl of Bonstingl Leadership Development proposing creative ways to improve their schools.
This little guy sure is good at helping those in need this time of year
We first met Aidan Lamothe last year at this time, when he had just opted to eschew traditional gifts in favor of peanut butter and tuna fish during his fifth birthday party, with an eye toward donating the booty through the Capital Region Food Program to its many recipients. Well, Lamothe is at it again. He recently turned 6, and this year collected six boxes of food to donate. He will present the donations in person to the agencies...