There is so much going on in our small town this week that regrettably, I can only touch upon a few. First up is the Concord Farmer's Market along Main Street this Saturday (hurricane pending.) This is a wonderful event featuring the lushest produce and freshest flowers from our very own farms. Main Street is temporarily transformed into a pedestrian-only Times Square, as local farms set up stands to sell their wares. I highly recommend you attend this event, if for nothing else but to see the beautiful fruits, flowers and vegetables grown right here on our fertile soil. This will be the …

This week I focus on serious topics: apologies, forgiveness and Indian residential schools in Canada. The Reverend Dr. Barbara Smith-Moran, a Concord resident and member of the town's chapter of Communities for Restorative Justice (c4rj) is my connection. Last Thursday I was invited to hear Smith-Moran speak about her volunteer role in the Canadian Truth & Reconciliation Commission's National Event, which was held in Winnipeg June 16 through 19. The event stemmed from a legal settlement between the Canadian government and thousands of victims who claimed they were physically, emotionally and …

Times, they are a-changing Despite our stretch of steamy summer days, it appears autumn is not right around the corner, it may be here. I first witnessed autumn last week when a crisp brown mitten leaf slowly zigzagged its way from my neighbor's sassafras tree to my front lawn. I categorized the incident as a fluke until I walked home from downtown yesterday. Orange, yellow and red sugar maple leaves were scattered across the milldam lawn. Acorns and yellow oak leaves were strewn across portions of sidewalk on Lexington Road. Before breaking out the Halloween decorations, I did a little …

I am happy to report this week that a commercial dumpster was removed from the Concord section of the Assabet River. The dumpster, which was discovered in May beneath the surface by astute kayakers Enid and David Karr, belongs to Kevin Flannery, chef/owner of Slowpokes Barbecue. Its journey from its post at 50 Beharrell St., to the middle of the river behind the prison began in early spring. During the torrential rains in March, Flannery noticed that the stream behind his business which fed into the Assabet River was rising and beginning to surround his dumpster. He chained the dumpster to a …

Proud baseball momJoyce Weissman is a shining example of a mom who cannot stop bragging about her son's accomplishments on the ball field. In the midst of her predawn workout at the Beede Swim & Fitness Center last Wednesday, an exuberant Joyce, glistening with joy instead of sweat. She could not keep herself from telling fellow gym rats about her son Rob's exceptional ball tournament the weekend before. She went on about how the Boston Renegades beat teams from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey to win the regionals at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School on July 24, and how they were …

When the job market gets tough, the tough get rolling. That was Tomasen Brady's response to the possibility of a summer void of paychecks. So, instead of sitting around hearing his friends' describe Bedford Farms' latest ice cream creation and plots to movies he wouldn't see until they were heavily edited to accommodate a television timeslot, the 2010 graduate of CCHS, sprung into action. Earlier this month, Tomasen began tweaking his family's recipe for spring rolls and offering them for $2 apiece. "I've been cooking for about three years," Tomasen said. "I make my own sauces and I love the …

Ice cold chardonnay, I find, is an excellent resource for taking the edge of this never-ending heat wave, so I walked into Concord Provisions the other night to purchase a bottle (or two). "Interested in our beer tasting," a young man who barely looked old enough to drink asked. "No thank you, I'm driving," I answered. But as I walked away, my inner hedonist spoke up, "Why not participate in an impromptu beer tasting? Live a little." So I found my way back to the table where a large tin bowl was filled with ice and pints. Crackers and smoked salmon pâté adorned a serving dish. Two others …

Ellen's Heart & Soul Summer Shootout netted a smaller crowd than expected Saturday afternoon but it did capture some outstanding lacrosse action and, probably more importantly, valuable donations for the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden in Harvard. The numbers collected weren't in yet, but just as important, the lacrosse participants had some great competitions at the Doug White Memorial Field. I watched two shootouts, including the Shake & Bakes (really, that's their team name!) beat All City Remodelers, with a score of 7 to 5. The tournament marked the first of many Ellen's Heart & Soul …

Concord residents helping those in need, no matter whom or where they are, is as iconic a characteristic of our small town as Walden Pond (which, by the way, remains open under restricted hours because of the flooding this spring.) My case in point this week is the Leavitt family. In mid-December 2004, Concord resident Ellen Leavitt died of breast cancer. She was only 49 years old and had been battling this devastating disease for 11 years. She left behind her husband Maurice and their two school-aged boys, Jason and Andrew. Ellen's death rocked the town. Thousands lined up in the bitter cold…

The big happenings in our small town once again bring us all over the map this week. Alex Japko and Alex Daniels, 2010 graduates of CCHS, are singing, dancing, sounding their vuvuzelas, eating heavily fried foods, and doing a little sight-seeing between attending games at the FIFA World Cup. A little closer to home Carlisle's Reed Lockwood is making his way up the Appalachian Trail – on foot! And our little orphaned rat friends from last week are still awaiting a loving home. Soccer Fanatics Not everyone in the Concord area trusted the high-def plasma in the family room to bring them every …

Life's a beachIf you had plans to bring dad to cool off at Walden Pond on Father's Day, I hope you skipped serving him breakfast in bed. The beach of the glacial kettle well, which remains filled beyond the brim from heavy spring rains, reached capacity at 9:30 Sunday morning.  Staffers were shooing away cars full of beach-goers from entering the parking lot. Walk-ins heard the news after braving a good half mile of sidewalk-free Walden Street, the Route 2 intersection -  where the walk and don't walk signs didn't appear to be working  - all the while towing beach chairs and toddlers. Not …

Big Happenings continue in our small town, and this week we have the added bonus of exciting things happening abroad as well. Concord residents Alan and Jean Lightman and Lisa Gutwillig continue to reach out to those in need around the world. The Lightmans are the founders of the Harpswell Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides the housing and other foundations needed for young Cambodian women to receive their college degrees. Ms. Gutwillig and her family tap other baseball enthusiasts for much needed equipment for baseball enthusiasts to play the game in impoverished Nicaragua. …

With our small town bursting with big happenings this week – we've got the Concord-Carlisle High School senior prom Wednesday night,  the graduation ceremonies running simultaneously Saturday with the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library Book Sale and the Lucky Duck fundraiser at Emerson Playground, one would think we couldn't possibly fit in any more news. But that was before I caught up with three lady friends at the Walden Grille last Thursday.I speak for many when I say the Walden Grille is as much a Concord icon as the North Bridge, even though it does not have its roots wrapped …