About Town

A Healthy Community is a Happy Community

The Healthy Concord initiative plans its next survey, RTBC hosts another Cocoa House, and two plays grace town stages.

  Hello all, and happy Thursday! I know, it feels like it should be Friday, doesn’t it? But there’s still one more day to go in the week, and that’s a good thing, because Thanksgiving is one short week away. I don’t know how that happened – it just kind of snuck up on me. Thanksgiving’s early this year, which means more time to eat holiday food, which of course means more time to think about how NOT to eat all the goodies that will parade before you. Sigh. It’s so hard to be healthy. Which brings me to Jill Block and the initiative she’s currently running on keeping Concord healthy. I had heard whispers of this here and there, so I tracked her down to get the dirt, so to speak. I’m a strong supporter of regular exercise and healthy eating…

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About Town

Honoring Veterans, Kudos to CMLP and a Showing of Next to Normal

The lobby at 51 Walden shows off their patriotic spirit with WWII memorabilia; we give thanks to our electric company; and Emerson Umbrella has a show opening this weekend.

  Here we are, it’s Thursday, and we’re just days away from the big Veterans Day weekend. Got any plans? Even if it’s not a major holiday for you, you really should check out the display in the lobby of 51 Walden. It will not only get you in the spirit, but you’ll learn a whole lot. Jill Henderson and Carole Wayland have pulled together an impressive collection of World War II memorabilia, to coincide with the run of Mister Roberts, the current Concord Players show which of course takes place during that timeframe. They have lots of really cool stuff that will leave you breathless. There’s a vintage Red Cross uniform; propaganda posters like the Uncle Sam one that says “I Want YOU for U.S. Army,” and the one that admonishes you not to tell…

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About Town

Going for Gold At Pony Club Championships; Movies and Music at the Library

Three Concord girls competed in Games competition last week, and the library has movies for families and teens.

Hello, and welcome to August! Yes, I know this is actually the SECOND day of August, but it’s the first About Town column of the month, so I’m here to welcome it. I totally agree with Maureen about August being the Sunday night of months. Sigh. Better get out there and enjoy the summer while we still have it; Labor Day will be here before you know it. Speaking of Maureen, I have to say I’m very sad to see her leave this space. She is a talented journalist and a fine writer, as well as one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet; I love her turns of phrase and sense of humor. I owe her a debt of gratitude for allowing me to share this space, and will keep a place open for her if she ever wants to come back. Good news is, I still get to see …

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About Town

About Town: Leibovitz Photography Exhibit at Concord Museum

Picnic in the park is Wednesday,

  Good morning and happy July 3. We’re all looking forward to Concord’s annual Picnic in the Park at Emerson Field tomorrow. Lots of fun for everyone, and it’s free!! I am always bragging about the benefits of living in Concord and last Tuesday I experiened another. I was among hundreds of guests at the Orchard House fortunate enough to listen in on a conversation between Concordian, historian and best-selling author Doris Kearns Goodwin and world renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. Concord was the first stop and only New England venue of Annie’s “Pilgrimage” tour. Pilgrimage is the name of Annie’s latest book of photographs that highlight the people and places that have inspired her work. However, unlike her traditional portraits - …

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About Town

About Town: Book Sale Update, Natural Child's Play

Giant book sale this weekend, park passes for military, and graduation is upon us.

  Good morning everyone!   I’m sure you’ve heard by now, that the giant book sale, which was supposed to take place this past Saturday is now being held THIS Saturday, June 9. Books don’t fare well in the rain, I’m told. But not to worry, our good Friends of the Concord Free Public Library were ready for all weather conditions. Only the date has changed.   Same place, the triangular lawn there in front of the main library at Sudbury Road and Main Street. Same time, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Same good cause, proceeds benefit professional development programs for library staff, purchase passes to our favorite Boston museums, and such. Instead of rain, the Friends would love to see some $20,000 pour into its coffers that day. Same incredible …

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About Town

Earth Day Celebration, Ice Cream for All, and an Artist in the Making

Musketaquid Earth Day is this weekend; time is running out to load up your Bedford Farms card for a cause.

  One of the things I love about this column is the opportunity to give shout-outs to people doing interesting and/or extraordinary things. Today that person would be my friend Zoe Gregoric. Zoe is a junior at CCHS, and two weeks ago she was featured as the “Art Student of the Week” in the Concord Journal. Her preferred art medium is photography, and she especially loves doing portraits – which, if you are her Facebook friend, you can see, as she loves posting them. I love seeing someone find a creative outlet for their passions, and I’m really proud of Zoe for finding, and following, hers. I can’t wait to see her continue to grow as an artist. Another parade! In case you weren’t paying attention, Earth Day happened last Sunday, …

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About Town

About Town: Signs of the Times

Turtle Crossing signs installed around town, Community Gardens in full swing.

Once again Concord raises the bar in terms of conservation. A few weeks ago, the Concord Public Works Highway Division, in collaboration with the staff and kids at Thoreau School, placed signs warning motorists to slow down. And what better to symbolize “slow” than an image of a turtle. Four Turtle Crossing Signs were installed around town to protect Blanding’s turtles who may be negligent about looking both ways before crossing streets to seek out soul mates. It is mating season for the species, which is considered nearly endangered in Massachusetts, as their habitats become infringed upon and predators destroy their nesting sites. The turtles mate through May and begin nesting in June. The new signs will be located on Monsen Road, the …

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About Town

Art Instruction at Home, a Gala, and the Visitor Center Opens

Concord resident’s company brings art instruction to you; Community Chest hosts their gala.

  Ah, how things can change in a week! Last week it was sandals and shorts, this week we’re back to fleece and sneakers. Such are the joys of living in New England! It IS a little odd to see blossoms on the trees so soon, and the forsythia out, but I’m loving the colors. I only hope it doesn’t get cold enough to stop them in their tracks. Today I want to tell you about local mom and businesswoman Alicia Cleary, who I met through my friend Kate Harmon. Alicia has had a fascinating life – she lived in Hong Kong in the last days before China took it back, and she’s worked in a bunch of cool places, like the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Now she’s living in Concord and raising her family, and it was while she was doing that thing …

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This Saturday is Give Back Day in Concord

Event is now in its second year.

Give Back Day is a gem of a program that allows us to simultaneously do a little retail therapy while supporting our local merchants and nonprofit programs. It’s give, give and then give. All good.  Now in its second year, Give Back Day began as a vision of a some small business owners in West Concord village who were looking for a way to boost sales and support the community that they cherish being a part of. The kick-off went so well last year, that organizers, Debra Stark of Debra’s Natural Gourmet, Barbara Scofidio of noa’s, Hilary Taylor of Merlin’s Silver Star Studio, and the Concord Chamber of Commerce, are hopeful it will become an annual event.  Each participating business, (see the list below) will donate 5 percent of its …

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About Town

Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year/Freedom Fighters

  Shin Nian How. I think I got that right. It means "Happy New Year" in Mandarin. The Chinese New Year, also known this year as the Year of the Water Dragon, began yesterday with the first new moon following the winter solstice. My friend Elyn just forwarded me this video Sunday afternoon, taken in the Shanghai high-rise apartment complex where she lives and where I visited her last year. It’s a long video, but I thought you might enjoy seeing how each neighborhood celebrates versus the government-run celebrations of which we see so much. Today, the second day of the 15-day celebration, is considered the beginning of the year, when Chinese women visit their birth relatives, beggars and unemployed individuals solicit money from those more …

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Maureen Costello

5:17 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I liked it, Jesse!   more ›