Fred's Fund receives award
Fred's Fund mover and shaker Jay Swymer recently received a Community MVP Award from the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation for his work with the fund. Jay tells us that there were over 200 nominees from New England. The top 21 award winners (in which Jay was a runner up) got a free lunch at Gilette Stadium. In the photo, from left to right, is John Hannah, Andre Tippett, Jay Swymer, Myra Kraft and Bob Kraft. Fred's...
Ask the Elders: Retirement savings
Dear Elders, If you had a chance to do it differently, how would you manage your nest egg or retirement package? Signed, Sal Roioli Schweiker Dear Sal: If I had to do it over again, I would do exactly the same: Ask my husband, who was very interested and knowledgeable about finance, to do all the planning. My children were overjoyed how easy his estate was to settle. Now my daughter, who studied her father’s methods, is in charge....
20 things to do for $20 (or less!)
We don't have to say it, but we will anyway. In case you've been living under a rock and don't already know, the economy is sort of down in the dumps right now. Maybe this doesn't concern you rock-dwellers, because you don't have to pay a mortgage or worry about electric bills, but the rest of us are pretty darn broke. Instead of pouting around all summer and cursing at the gas prices, you may want to partake...
Vrinda founder comes to Concord
The founder of the Vrinda Mission, a worldwide association of Hindu Vaishnava Spiritual Centers, will visit the Vrinda Center of New Hampshire, 57 S. Main St., from June 25 through 27. A series of three free evening programs featuring Bhakti Alok Paramadvaiti Swami, will be open to the public free of charge at the Vrinda Center. Paramadvaiti Swami is based at the Vrinda Kunja Ashram in Vrindavan, one of the most sacred places in...
Keep your fingers crossed for CATCH!
CATCH Neighborhood Housing is in the running for a national award from the Home Depot Foundation for its Friedman Court II project. Friedman Court II contains 41 affordable apartments for people age 62 and older, built according to EnergyStar and LEED standards. The design is expected to reduce energy use by 47 percent compared to traditional building designs. During construction, 50 percent of the construction and demolition waste...
It's time for the annual River Jamboree
The eighth annual River Jamboree is scheduled for June 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Waterfront Park at Everett Arena. The event will include food, music, amusement, pontoon boat rides, free canoe and kayak rentals, a kayak package raffle and a rubber duck race at 1:15 p.m. For more information, call 225-8690. Rain date is June 28.
Pinnacle Award winners
On June 11 at the fourth annual Pinnacle Awards, the chamber of commerce presented the W. Grant McIntosh Award for volunteerism to local architect Christopher Carley, AIA, of C.N. Carley & Associates. The W. Grant McIntosh Award is presented annually to an inpidual who has gone above and beyond the call of volunteerism, and is given in honor of W. Grant McIntosh, who served as both volunteer chairman and president of the chamber....
Racing ducks
Debbie LaValley snapped this shot of a group of common mergansers a few months back. The ducks were hanging out by the Merrimack River, below Sewalls Falls, and appeared to be racing. Debbie calls this picture “Photo Finish.”
Nancy Keane knows what's hot for kids
Are your kids wondering what to read this summer? Are you looking for ways to distract them from their iPods, cell phones and other infernal devices? Come hear Nancy Keane and other guests, such as NHPR's Virginia Prescott, talk about what's new and all the great books that the young people in your life can enjoy this summer. This free event is held at Gibson's Bookstore, 27 S. Main St., on June 25 at 7 p.m. Nancy is...
Pretty peonies
Last week we asked our readers to send in their garden photos, and since then our inboxes have been flooded with pictures of beautiful flowers. Thanks, readers, it kind of makes all this rainy weather seem a little more bearable. Anita Hickey of Concord sent us these pretty peonies from her garden. Stay tuned next week for even more garden photos. Send your photos to news@theconcordinsider.com and please be sure to include your first...
Pick of the week
Watch the 2009 Concord High School graduation every day at 8:30 p.m. on Concord TV Channel 6 through June 26. DVD copies are also available for $15 at yourconcordtv.org, as well as a special package that includes the graduation ceremony, prom highlights and senior awards night for $35. For more information, call 226-8872.
Book of the week
The Concord Public Library also provides endless hours of fun for under $20. Visit onconcord.com/library for more information. “In the Rainfield: Who is the Greatest?” Isaac O. Olayeye Illustrator: Ann Grifalconi 2000 The classic battle among fire, wind and rain is presented in poetic prose and with exciting illustrations. Who could ask for anything more? The background swirls, the trees and animals and people are...
See your friends and neighbors on stage
Looking for something to do this weekend, readers? Allow us to suggest “Hot Hits, Cool Harmonies: The Great American Songbook,” presented by the Rotary Club of Concord at the City Auditorium. And by “presented,” we don’t mean the group is just sponsoring the show. Club members will be providing the talent, too. (With help from director Betty Thompson and musical director Martha Kuepper.) In case you weren’t aware, the Rotary is a...
If the shoe fits, head on over to The Draft
Leopard print pumps, red patent leather heeled mary janes, strappy multi-colored stilettos. These were just some of the shoes that made an appearance at The Draft's sexy shoe party held this month. The downtown sports bar hosts ladies' night every Thursday and during one special evening every month, the bar invites the women of Concord to strut their stuff in their sexiest heels and compete for a few lady-friendly prizes. In...
Stamping (out) Styrofoam
A number of people have asked me about Styrofoam. One wondered how the manufacturers of the stuff could imprint the number 6 on their products, knowing the unlikelihood that said products would ever be recycled. Well, the answer to this is they can, because Styrofoam is a form of plastic No. 6 – polystyrene. In its hard plastic version, No. 6 is accepted in our recycles at curbside and at the transfer station. In its foam form,...
Report on summer plans
Sophia Johnson and Ella Fabozzi quizzed their classmates on their plans for the summer. Ella's class Tate: Lego Land and video games Molly: Move back to California Remi: Alaska Ian: Don't know Kate: Art camp Ella: Yellowstone National Park Claire: Overnight camp Gabriel: Middlebury Charles: North Carolina Savannah: Moving Tyreed: Gramma's house Brianna: The beach Phoebe: Camp Catherine: Vermont Devon: Birthday party...
