Fear of the unknown

By JAMES W. SPAIN II

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown” ~ H. P. LovecraftWhen I was a young child many decades ago, I heard a story that intrigued me. It was a story about the unknown and...

Talk of the towns

AllenstownAllenstown public Hearing on Town and School Budget will be held on Jan. 11, at 9 a.m. at Allenstown Elementary School, 30 Main St.2025 Declaration of Candidate Filing Dates will be from Jan. 25-31. at the Allenstown Town Hall, 16 School...

Book Review: Grappone Automotive: The Founding

By MATTHEW CAHILLANE

“The Founding” is a vivid and detailed story of European immigrant life at the turn of the 19th century in New England, by local author Amanda Grappone Osmer. The tale follows the origin journey of a well-known New Hampshire family through difficult...

Author: Sarah Beth DurstTitle: The SpellshopDate: 2024Pages: 377Genre: FantasySarah Beth Durst has written several fantasy books for all ages, and her newest release, The Spellshop, is a cozy retreat into a magical world of mythical creatures, spell...

Author: Allison MontclairTitle: Murder at the White PalaceDate: 2024Pages: 308Genre: MysteryIris Sparks, a feisty, capable young woman, and Gwendolyn Bainbridge, a beautiful, wealthy young widow are an unlikely pair who run an unusual business...

English Country Dance Society to Host Monthly Dances in Concord

The New Hampshire English Country Dance Society (NHECDS) will host monthly English dances in Concord at the Auditorium of the Howard Recreation Center (HRC), located at the intersection of Brown and Kent Roads on the Gallen State Office Park campus....

Maple versus Pumpkin: Which one reigns supreme in holiday dishes? Check out these recipes

By JONATHAN VAN FLEET

It may come as no surprise that the New Hampshire state fruit can be quite controversial from a culinary perspective. Sure, pumpkin can be delicious, but it can also be senselessly over-used. I don’t need pumpkin in my coffee, thank you.Yet...

“Changing Tides” exhibit at Proctor Academy with artist Rebecca McGee Tuck

By MOLLY LEITH

In November 2024, I had the privilege of visiting Rebecca McGee Tuck’s newly completed art studio in Natick, Massachusetts. Tuck is a fiber artist, sculptor, and dedicated ocean activist. A native of the state, she has spent hundreds of hours...

NHTI hosts annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition

On Nov. 13, NHTI – Concord’s Community College hosted the annual New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition on its Concord campus. The event featured 43 teams from high schools across the state, including...

Local author Peg Fitazpatrick to present new book at Gibson’s

Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord will host New Hampshire author and social media expert Peg Fitzpatrick on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Fitzpatrick will discuss her new book, The Art of Small Business Social Media: A Blueprint for Marketing...

Remembering Ed Mottau: Peterborough musician who played with John Lennon and nurtured local talent

By JESSECA TIMMONS

Longtime Monadnock region resident Ed Mottau, who died at his home in Peterborough Nov. 3 at age 80, is being remembered as a musician, a craftsman, a mentor, friend, father and devoted member of the community.Mottau was a guitarist and songwriter who...

From the Farm: Lazy steers find it easier to obey

By CAROLE SOULE

What happens when you put a harness on a Belted Galloway steer and drive him like a horse? Bliss. Pure bliss.Jerome and his brother Saturn are my Belted Galloway steers. With some coaxing and encouragement, each, in turn, figured out what I wanted and...

Vintage Views: Christmas’s past

By JAMES W. SPAIN II

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” ~ Charles DickensThere comes a time each year when autumn has concluded, we awaken to a crisp morn and frost-covered leaves. Vibrant foliage-laden trees are now bare and thoughts...

Rae Easter supports Concord’s music community

Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to the “Young Professional of the Month,” Rae Easter. Each month, the CYPN Steering Committee recommends an individual in the community it thinks readers would enjoy getting to know better.How...

Wolfeboro Friends of Music Presents Seamus Egan’s Celtic Christmas Dec. 14

The Wolfeboro Friends of Music will host Seamus Egan’s Good Winter: A Celtic Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. The concert will be held at the First Congregational Church, South Main Street, Wolfeboro.Seamus Egan, a renowned figure in...

Nature Conservancy to host Winter Solstice Soiree Dec. 19

The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire will host its annual Winter Solstice Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at its new offices inside The Hotel Concord, located at 11 South Main St., Concord.The event marks the shortest day of the...

Concord Chorale presents "Winter Cheer!" concert Dec. 14-15

The Concord Chorale will present Winter Cheer! on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m., at South Church, 27 Pleasant St., Concord. This festive concert will feature seasonal music performed by the Chorale, accompanied by a...

Gibson’s to host author event

Llewellyn Worldwide author Sally Cragin will discuss the annual Moon Sign Almanac, and speak about the new and full moon phases in 2025, on Jan. 8. The moon is full – things are a little crazy. The moon is new – everyone is a little lost. When is the...

Need a gift? Try some UNH-made beer, smoked fish or kelp oil

By TODD BOOKMAN

Students and faculty at the University of New Hampshire are putting out a unique set of holiday gifts this year, ranging from beer to smoked fish for the charcuterie board.For the beer lover in your life, this year, the UNH Brewery Science Lab is...

Vintage Views: The first “Dual Controlled Automobile” in Concord

By JAMES W. SPAIN IIFor the Monitor“The road goes on forever, and the story never ends.”-- Robert Earle KeenThere was a time when the young people living in Concord had no concerns about cruising up and down Main Street or traveling great distances in...