Community Players of Concord to present ‘The Gods of Comedy’

The Community Players of Concord will present Ken Ludwig’s “The Gods of Comedy” from Feb. 14-16 at the Concord City Auditorium.

Local preservation and history enthusiasts to gather at Kimball Jenkins Estate

A group of Concord residents will host an informal networking gathering on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the Kimball Jenkins Mansion to celebrate local historic preservation successes, connect with others, and share ideas for future activities and events.

NH Furniture Masters Association holds ‘Founders Exhibition’

Six furniture makers joined together three decades ago to form the NH Furniture Masters Association, creating a new space to share their craft with the world. The organization and its members have helped shape the growth and evolution of the studio furniture movement. To celebrate their contributions, the Furniture Masters Association is holding a “Founders Exhibition” showcasing the work of its original six members – Brian Braskie, Lenore Howe, David Lamb, Terry Moore, Jere Osgood and Bill Thomas – and kicking off a year of exhibitions and events culminating in the group’s autumn show at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester.

John Stark students participate in busy music festival season

By RACHEL WACHMAN

The music festival season kicked off last month for students at John Stark Regional High School in Weare. Several band and choral musicians attended the 20th annual Granite State Invitational Music Festival on Jan. 9 alongside students from several other New Hampshire schools. John Stark students also participated in the Chamber Festival at the University of New Hampshire on Jan. 11.

Paul Tuller presents ‘Japanese House in New Hampshire: A Long Story’ for speaker series

On Feb. 7 at 5 p.m., the Jaffrey Civic Center will present the fifth program in this season’s “Stories to Share” series. The speaker will be longtime woodworker Paul Tuller, who will offer a talk entitled “Japanese House in New Hampshire, a Long Journey.”

Mocktails on Main Street: A fun exploration of downtown non-alcoholic drinks

By RACHEL WACHMAN

Whether you’re celebrating Dry January, don’t drink alcohol, or simply love fun drinks, mocktails could be the answer you’ve been waiting for. A good mocktail provides not only an alternative to alcohol but something to sip on, to savor, to feel like you’re part of the party.

$2.5M grant to reinvigorate Canterbury Shaker Village

Canterbury Shaker Village has received a $2,500,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative. The grant will support the Village’s reinvigoration of its on-site and online interpretive experiences to emphasize the history and culture of the Shaker faith at the core of its visitor engagement strategy.

Grab some binoculars and start counting: NH Audubon annual bird survey taking place Feb. 8-9.

NH Audubon is calling on all nature enthusiasts and bird lovers to participate in the annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey, a unique opportunity to contribute valuable data from your own backyard to help track New Hampshire’s winter bird populations. Scheduled for Feb. 8 and 9, the survey is open to participants all across the state. Whether you are a seasoned birder or just starting to learn to identify the birds in your backyard, the survey is fun for all ages.

Things look nice and icy for February events

By ADAM DRAPCHO

If you were in charge of an ice fishing derby, a sled dog race or a pond hockey tournament, few words would warm your heart as much as the phrase “arctic blast.” That’s exactly what the region has been experiencing since the start of January, and it has brought smiles to the faces of those who organize some of the Lakes Region’s iconic winter activities.

Vintage views: Concord’s very first bookmobile

By JAMES W. SPAIN

My first experience with a library dates back over five decades. It is one of my favorite memories from my very early years – one that I have grasped and held onto, one that I will never let go.

Talk of the Towns

The Allenstown Town Office will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

PILLAR Gallery + Projects to open ocean-themed exhibit

PILLAR Gallery + Projects is set to launch its eighth exhibition, “Currents,” which opens Feb. 9 and runs through April 2. Artists include Jackie Brown, Mary Mead, Hannah Perrine Mode, and Liz Nelson.

Art & Bloom brings vibrant art and flowers together

Symphony NH to present Illuminated Ensembles – Heartstrings on Valentine’s Day

Bought your special someone a Valentine’s Day gift yet? Need some help?!

Fab Four to play Capitol Center for the Arts

For those who wish they could’ve seen The Beatles live back in the day, or for those who did and want to reminisce about a bygone era, a tribute may be the next best thing.

Hopkinton native to present debut novel at Gibson’s

Author, and Hopkinton native, Christine Murphy is headed to Gibson’s Bookstore, to present her debut novel, Notes on Surviving the Fire, in which she introduces us to Sarah, who grew up in the forests of Maine and learned how to stalk prey and kill, but only when necessary. Now, Sarah must confront a different type of killing—and decide if it can be justified in an unbelievably propulsive and darkly funny story.

Smart bird feeders gain popularity and spark interest in bird-watching

By HOLLY RAMER

Marin Plank truly had no interest in birds when she gave her husband a camera-equipped bird feeder for his birthday. But by Christmas, she had become so obsessed with birds that most of the gifts she received this year — books, stickers, notecards — were related.

Vintage Views: Our beloved family dogs

By JAMES W. SPAIN II

“There are three faithful friends - an old wife, an old dog and ready money.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Take Me Outside: Wolf in the sky, foxes on the land

By RUTH SMITH

The January full moon which occurs on Monday, Jan. 13 is called the Wolf Moon. Sources vary as to the origin of the name. Yet one thing is certain, when the name was assigned, wolves were more common than they are now. Gray wolves were once widespread in New Hampshire until habitat loss and hunting eliminated them. The last record of a wolf in the state was in 1895.

Library

There are so many words unspoken,volumes just waiting to be read,but the hour is very late,so very quiet instead.There is darkness in the great room,a scent of pages so old,wisdom has a way of doing that,perhaps something I have been told.I enjoy my...