New Exhibit Opens Today at Bradford Mill

Featuring oil paintings, mixed media pieces, collages and Raku masks by local artist Brigitte Livet Desautels.

  Local artist Brigitte Desautels fancies herself a storyteller, though words really aren’t her thing. “All of my work tells a story,” says Desautels, “But I haven’t written anything.” Writing, it seems, is among the few forms as yet unexplored by Desautels, an artist who hails from France, lives in Harvard and works out of a studio at the Bradford Mills in West Concord. An exhibit opening there this evening offers a window in to the range of her work. From Raku masks to collage to large-canvas watercolors, Desautels will display about 40 or 50 pieces from various points in her life. A catered reception will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight, May 3, at 43 Bradford St. Art, Desautels says, is not the life she chose but rather the life …

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Waltham Costume Shop to Close Store, Move Online and to Concord

Eastern Coast Costume, also known as J & N Joke Shop, plans to continue business online.

Eastern Coast Costume, a longtime landmark on Moody Street in Waltham, will soon close its doors — but not its business. Also known as J & N Joke Shop, the business will close its retail store at 329 Moody St. on May 31, but the Weymouth family, which owns the business, will continue to sell costumes online after it moves its operations to a warehouse in West Concord. “We’re not going out of business. We’re just kind of shifting gears,” said Kendra Weymouth, the manager. “We’ve found that our retail store is just a little bit slow. We would like to kind of perfect what we do best [by selling online],” Weymouth told Waltham Patch. “After 40 years, we are scared to make a move. But we are ready to make a move.”  The business opened 40 years …

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How You Can Help Win a Bike Corral for West Concord

Concord is in the Final Three of a Saris Racks contest. Your votes online can help the town win.

Final Fours are all the rage this time of year. But, here in Concord, it’s a “Final Three” that needs your attention. Last month, Concord’s Planning Division entered the town into the Saris Bike Corral Photo Contest in a bid to win a 10-bike rack to replace a parking space in front of Reasons to be Cheerful in West Concord. Now, Concord has made it to the Final Three and the final round of voting takes place through April 5. According to a Planning Department press release, the first round votes have been cleared from the system, so if you voted once you’ll need to vote again. Voting takes place at the Saris Facebook page, which you can access here. The Planning Division provided these Top 10 Reasons to support the bike corral:  

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Shop Local to Show Your Love This Valentine’s Day

From flowers to sweets to one-of-a-kind jewelry, the merchants of West Concord have got it covered.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, some West Concord businesses will be making it real easy to show your shop local love. Next Saturday, Feb. 9 six stores in West concord will be hosting a “Valentine’s Day Crawl,” featuring free food and drink, special deals and a raffle for a $100 West Concord gift basket. Here’s a breakdown of the offerings, according to a press release provided by noa: Many of the gifts continue through Valetine’s Day, according to the press release, just show a dated receipt from one store at the others and receive a free gift with purchase.

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West Concord 7-Eleven 'Renovated' by Christmas Eve Drunk Driver

No one hurt, one incarcerated as shopper attempts to enter store still in his vehicle.

For all of you who enjoy your Slurpee or the Big Gulp, Big Bite hot dog combo, you will still be able get your morning pick-me-ups after the -Eleven adjacent to the West Concord MBTA commuter rail station despite an incident where the establishment "just got renovated by a drunk guy" early on Christmas Eve, according to police reports. Send us your smart or cell phone photos of the damage. According to numerous regional police accounts, the "Car Vs Building" incident occurred just after 1 a.m. when a young woman "plowed" his car "through the front doors" of the store located at 1224 Main St. in a popular strip mall.  The Christmas spirit was looking over everyone as no one in the store or the alleged drunk driver – reported in police …

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ICYMI: West Concord Treasures on Chronicle

West Concord got a little love from Chronicle earlier this week, and featured businesses include Slow Pokes, Merlin’s Silver Star Studio, Hammersmith Studios and 1-on-1 Self Indulgence.

The first stop was SlowPokes, where Chronicle pointed out how zoning restrictions prevent the biz from advertising, so word of the bodacious barbeque must pass word-of-mouth. And Hilary Taylor of Merlin’s Silver Star Studio shared her story, before Chronicle made its way to Hammersmith Studios and then on to 1 on 1 Self Indulgence. In case you missed it, check out WCVB's Chronicle segment here.

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Patch Facts

Five Things: WC Advisory Committee Talks 50 Beharrell St. Redevelopment

A look at five things you need to know today in Concord.

1. West Concord Advisory Committee: Meets at 7:30 p.m. today at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center and its agenda includes the proposed 50 Beharrell St redevelopment project by Oaktree Development.  2. Many Cancelled Meetings: Also according to the town website, there have been several CCHS Building Committee-related meetings cancelled for today, including the Site-based Subcommittee, Design Subcommittee, Finance Subcommittee, Communication Subcommittee and Sustainability Subcommittee. 3. Eco Arts & Crafts at Barefoot Books: A program at 11 a.m. today at Barefoot Books on Thoreau Street, welcomes children and parents to join the store's team of early childhood educators in turning "trash" into treasure. For $2, participants can learn a …

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POLL: Body Ink in West Concord, Whaddya Think?

Would you welcome a tattoo parlor to the West Concord business community? Take our poll or let us know in the comment section below.

After deciding unlicensed cats are OK, but bottled water isn’t, Concord’s next interesting debate could be about body ink. According to Boston.com, Acton tattoo artist Kurt Brown will go before the Board of Health on May 15 seeking approval for himself as a licensed body art practitioner and for his new establishment above Dino’s in the newish building at the corner of Main and Cottage streets in West Concord. If approved, Brown’s tattoo business, The Gallery Tattoo Studio, would be the first of its kind in Concord since tattooing was legalized in Massachusetts and the town’s Board of Health drew up its regulations 10 years ago, Health Director Susan Rask told YourTown Concord. Brown lives in Acton and commutes through West Concord to work…

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Changes Coming to MBTA Fares and Services

Concord commuter rail riders can expect an increase in fares and a decrease in service in the coming year.

  In an attempt to rectify a projected $161 million deficit in fiscal year 2013, the MBTA is reviewing a couple options that would save the transit authority money, but would scale back services to our area. The MBTA, along with the Central Transportation Planning Staff to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, have come up with two potential scenarios to implement as a means of closing the foreseen budget gap. Whichever option is ultimately selected, it will have an immediate impact on Concord's commuter rail schedule. The first scenario, according to the MBTA's executive summary of the two options, would generate a total revenue gain of $161-$172 million through a combination of increased fares and reduced services. …

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What's Open, What's Closed

An at-a-glance look at what businesses and services are open and closed this holiday weekend.

  It's going to be a busy holiday, and while most people have these next few days off, there will be some establishments open for business this weekend — and Monday — while others are posting special holiday hours. Here is a look at what's going to be open and what will be closed. Are you a business owner? Tell customers about your holiday hours in the comment section below, or email Chris.Tanguay@Patch.com.

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