Meet your local Timbermen (and women)
Last month, dozens of local athletes participated in the Timberman Sprint, a short-distance triathlon around Lake Winnipesaukee that consists of a 0.3-mile swim, 15-mile bike ride and 3-mile run. Phew – we’re tired just thinking about it! The sprint is part of the national Ironman competition, which is held all over the country. The day after the sprint, even more participated in a half-triathlon, which consisted of a 1.2-mile swim in...
A brief (albeit riveting) history of the Insider
Before the Insider was the strapping, young publication it is today, it was just a mere twinkle in someone’s eye. In 2006, the powers that be at the Monitor decided that they wanted to create a brand spankin’ new publication. “(The Monitor) wanted to find a way to give back to our core community,” said Insider publisher Danielle Kronk. Kronk explained that the daily paper couldn’t always find a home for some of the super local...
'I and her exchanged some signs via tongue'
No, we haven’t forgotten how to form sentences and use punctuation – these Missed Connections were better left unedited. You waited on us at the Barley House – m4w – 41 You were a beautiful blond and waited on me and a coworker at the Blarney House Thursday in the mid-afternoon. I wanted to talk to you more, but didn’t know how appropriate it was considering you were working and I was kind of working as well. I very much...
A Dummer moose
Where would the Bulletin Board be without Debbie LaValley’s nature shots? Debbie recently took a day trip to the Great North Woods and came across a moose in Dummer. “Yes, there is a Dummer, N.H. I chuckled at the name. Can you imagine the razzing folks get when they say they are from Dummer?” Debbie mused. Did you know that our Facebook page has albums dedicated to reader-submitted shots? Well, it does. So go check it...
The Concord Quarry Dogs take on Finland
Our fifth-grade correspondents are such jet-setters. In May, we published a photo of Ella Fabozzi holding The Insider in Florence, Italy. Here’s our other super cultured correspondent, Sophia Johnson, on the banks of of the Aurajoki in Turku, Finland. “We don’t have an Insider, but we do have a vintage Concord artifact!” mom Megan DeVorsey wrote. We want to know where you bring The Insider. Send photos to...
Book of the week
Scent of the Missing: Love & Partnership with a Search-and-Rescue Dog Susannah Charleson 2010, 288 pages Setting: Dallas Susannah Charleson sees a photo of an exhausted dog handler holding his dog after they searched for hours for victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. She decides that she wants to help in these kinds of missions by raising and training a search-and-rescue dog. It is challenging just bringing up her bouncy golden...
What really happens at the Insider every week
Check out our sweet comic, Insider World! ——>
Know a do-gooder?
Since 2003, Volunteer NH has recognized volunteers around the state for their service through the annual Spirit of New Hampshire Awards. This year, nominations are due by Sept. 15. Nomination categories include the Volunteer Service Awards to honor those who volunteer, and the Volunteer Program Champion Awards to honor organizations or agencies that support volunteerism. This year’s ceremony will be held on Nov. 9 at the Executive...
Three minimalist artists, one show
McGowan Fine Art announces the opening of “Contemporary,” featuring the work of Lotus Lien, Lynda Litchfield and Fred Lynch. The show will run from Sept. 7 to Oct. 8 with an artists’ reception on Sept. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. “Minimalist work is not always as popular as it should be,” says gallery director Sarah Chaffee. “I think people believe that there isn’t enough to look at or be engaged with. This show, featuring three different...
Help the Red Cross
With an extremely active hurricane season looming and local disasters such as recent home fires, the American Red Cross in New Hampshire is gearing up for the next major storm, which includes an active disaster preparedness fundraising campaign. Red Cross chapters across the state and country are taking part in the new disaster response fundraising drive, kicked off just before the height of the hurricane season in August and...
Sing somewhere other than your shower
The Suncook Valley Chorale will begin its 29th fall season with two non-audition open sing nights for new and current members at Pleasant View Retirement Center, 227 Pleasant St., on Sept. 13 and Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. This is a noncommittal opportunity for you to try us out. Our fall program includes Italian, German and English madrigals, spirituals and upbeat pop songs with happy, joyous themes as we prepare for our concert in January....
'New' parking meters draw ire
– Aug. 31, 1892 – The statue of antislavery Sen. John P. Hale is completed outside the State House. – Aug. 31, 1866 – The Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, author of a Concord history a decade earlier, is named state historian. He will holds this position for 11 years, during which he will compile 10 volumes of provincial and state papers for publication. – September 1, 1782 – The Rev. Timothy Walker, who has served as...
City briefly
Route 3 improvements In this week’s issue, you’ll experience what it’s like to be an Insider (it’s both more and less glamorous than you’d imagine). But, we know what mystery you’d really like to unravel: what goes on inside the mind of City Manager Tom Aspell? To help answer this burning question, we took a look at Aspell’s weekly memo. The first thing we learned is that Tom is the type of man who cares deeply about Route 3...
These guys make beer-making look like a cinch
When I got the invite to spend a night sipping beer with the Concord Area Homebrewers, I wasn't sure what to expect. A tasting experience with my amateur cider-making cousin years ago had left me leery about drinking things that had aged or matured in a basement. But on a recent summer night when I arrived at Ed Ramshaw's home on Clinton Street, a spraypainted golden keg out front to light my way, it became clear these...
Meet Ben Leubsdorf, your new city hall reporter
There's a new city hall reporter in town, and his name is Ben Leubsdorf (pronounced LOOBS-dorf. Try saying that 10 times fast). Ben attended Brown University, lived in Egypt for a stint and worked for the Associated Press before coming to the Monitor. But who cares about boring things like that? We bet you're interested in the important facts, like how many times a day Ben flosses and what his favorite Billy Idol album is....
What makes something news? Let us tell you
It's the closest thing to alchemy in this business, the factors that do – or don't – make something news. Most news starts with one of two things: A sudden, often catastrophic event that sends us sprinting out the door or, less dramatically, an idea. And those ideas comes from lots of different places. Some journalists are like pining rods. Send them on a coffee run, and they return with a couple of iced lattes...
How to propose romantically
Dear Bill and Casper, I want to propose to my longtime girlfriend, but I'm not the most romantic soul out there – a fact she reminds me of quite often. I'd like our engagement to be something special and, assuming she says yes, memorable. How did you two decide to get married? Dear Not So Romantic, First off, until the federal government recognizes marriage for all, we do not consider ourselves married. But on to your...
Here's how newspapers get made!
It's not until we hit print that the real action begins. But then we realized . . . we didn't exactly know what that action was. So we went to Dave Field, the Monitor's trusty camera mechanic. He's been here about 16 years and knows the ins and outs of this place like the back of his hand. Dave scans photos and improves them so they publish well. He also works in the plate room, meaning he cooks up the plates that...