Concord Reads 2025 selection announced
TheConcordPublicLibraryandConcord PublicLibraryFoundationarethrilledtoannouncethat“WhereYou'll FindMe:Risk,Decisions, andtheLastClimbofKate Matrosova”byTyGagneis the2025selectionforConcordReads,anannualcitywideliteraryeventencouragingcommunitymembers toreadanddiscussthesame book.Thisyear'stitlewas selectedtocelebrateaNew Hampshireauthorandto providebotheducationand anopportunityforreflectiononatopicrelevantto GraniteStaters.
“WhereYou'llFindMe”is thetruestoryofmountaineerKateMatrosova's fatalclimbduringherattempttocompleteawinter traverseoftheNorthern PresidentialRangeofthe WhiteMountainsin2015. Forcenturies,NewHampshire'sWhiteMountains haveluredadventurers fromnearandfartoreach theirsummits.Thebookexploresthemotivationsbehindrisk-takinginthisinfamouslyunpredictableenvironment,thescienceofsurvival,andthestrategiesand techniquesofSearchand Rescuepersonnel.
SponsoredbyConcord PublicLibraryFoundation andproducedinpartnershipwithConcordPublic Library,ConcordReadsis freeofchargeandopento all.Copiesof“WhereYou'll FindMe,”andothertitlesby TyGagne,arenowavailable toborrowfromConcord PublicLibrary.Programs willtakeplacethroughout themonthofApril.Tickets toallConcordReadsevents
arefree,andregistrationis requiredat www.tinyurl.com/CPLFGagne
Concord Reads 2025 event schedule
BlackHawkHelicopter Tours:Saturday,April5,10 a.m.and11a.m.attheNew HampshireArmyAviation SupportFacilityat26RegionalDrive
BlackHawkhelicopters andtheircrewplayapivotal roleinrescuinghikerswho endupindangerinthe WhiteMountains.Joinus forthisall-ageseventatthe ArmyAviationSupportFacilityhereinConcordto touraBlackHawkhelicopterandhearwhatgoes intoatypicalrescuemission.Therewillbetwo tours.Registrationislimited sosignupearly!
Search&Rescuein NorthernNH:Tuesday, April8at6p.m.,CityWideCommunityCenter at14CanterburyRoad
JoinretiredFish&Game Warden,GlenLucas,fora discussionofhisexperiencesinthewild,witha specialfocusonsearchand rescue(SAR)operations andtheeventssurrounding thecaseofKateMatrosova. Glenwillalsosharedetails
fromhisyouththatledto hiscareerchoice,howbeing agamewardenshapedhis life,andsomeofthesignificanteventsfromhiscareer intheoutdoors.
ISurvived:Triviaand SurvivalKitTime!(children'sprogram):Saturday, April12,10a.m.atthe ConcordPublicLibrary Auditorium
Areyouafanofthe“I Survived”bookandgraphic novelseriesbyLauren Tarshis?Ifso,cometest yourknowledgewithyour friendsatalow-keyandfun triviachallenge.Wewill roundouttheeventby makingourveryownmini survivalkits!
TheMt.WashingtonObservatoryPresents:The World'sWorst Weather:Tuesday,April 15,6p.m.attheConcord PublicLibraryAuditorium.
WhyisMountWashingtoncalledthe"Homeof theWorld'sWorst Weather"?Thisprogram willexploretheuniquelife andworkoftheweatherobserversstationedonMount Washingtonandlearnwhy, foramountainitssize, MountWashingtonhosts someoftheworstweather onEarth.
FilmScreeningof“Infi-
niteStorm”:Tuesday,April 22at6p.m.attheConcord PublicLibraryAuditorium
Joinusforascreeningof the2022film“Infinite Storm,”starringNaomi Watts.Thefilmisbasedon atruestorydocumentingPamBales'daring 2010rescueofafellow hiker.Onasolohike,Bales ascendsMt.Washingtonbutturnsbackbeforereachingthesummitas ahugeblizzardapproaches. Onherwaydown,sheencountersalone,stranded man,andtakesituponherselftogetthembothdown themountainbeforenightfallarrives.Thefilmisrated Rwitharunningtimeof 1h37m.
TyGagneinConversation:Thursday,April24, 6:30-8:30p.m.attheBank ofNewHampshireStage. Forthefinaleventof ConcordReads2025,authorTyGagnewilljoin writerandbackcountryexpertSallyManikianfora liveconversationaboutthe themesof“WhereYou'll FindMe.”Attendeesareen-
couragedtobringtheirown questionstoaddtotheconversation.Eventsponsor Gibson'sBookstorewill haveallthreeofTyGagne's booksavailableforsale. Meettheauthorafterthe eventandhavehimsign yourcopy!
Gagneisalsotheauthor ofthebooks“TheLastTraverse;TragedyandResilienceintheWinter Whites,”and“TheLionsof Winter:SurvivalandSacrificeonMountWashington.” Hisessaysinclude"EmotionalRescue,"thetrue storyofPamBales,whorescuedadistressedhikeron MountWashington,and "WeaknessinNumbers: HowaHikingPartnerCan BeDangerous."Heserves astheChiefExecutiveOfficerofPrimex,aNHrisk managementcompany,and holdsaMasterofPublicAdministrationfromtheUniversityofNewHampshire andaBachelorofScience fromGraniteStateCollege. Formoreinformation, visitconcordnh.gov/1983/Library.
Seniors honored dar chapter
TheBuntin-RumfordWebsterChapterof theDaughtersofthe AmericanRevolutionhas announcedtheselection ofsixhighschoolseniors fromConcordareahigh schoolswhohavebeen honoredforgoodcitizenship.Thesesixstudents are:EliseE.Berry(PittsfieldMiddleHigh School),TrevorP. Abel(BowHigh School),AveryG.Sahr (BishopBradyHigh School),AbigailJ.Ciarametaro,(Merrimack ValleyHighSchool),JenniferNoni(CoeBrown Northwood Academy)andAshlieL. Klawes(Pembroke Academy). Thesehighschoolstudentsarehonoredfortheir qualitiesofgoodcharacter: dependability,service, leadership,andpatriotism. Onechapterwinnerwill beselectedforconsiderationinthestatewideGood CitizenshipScholarshipselection.OnMarch7,the NewHampshireStateOrganization,Daughtersof theAmericanRevolution, willhonorallthechapter “GoodCitizens”atan awardsbanquetatthe GrapponeConference CenterinConcord.Atthe luncheon,theDARwill presentaNewHampshire scholarshipwinner.
Fun connections with four-legged friends
By RACHEL WACHMAN Insider staff
Toencouragetheadoptionofanimalsintheir shelterandfosterconnectionsbetweenhumansand theirfour-leggedcounterparts,PopeMemorialSPCA holdsyogaclassestwicea monthwhereparticipants canpracticeposesalongside shelterpets.
TheConcord-basedanimalshelterhopestheprogram,startedlastyear,will provideanewwayfor peopleandanimalstointeractbeyondtypical sheltervisits.
“Spendingtimewithanimalsoffersstressreduction andrelaxation,andcreates anoverallsenseofhappiness,”saiddirectorJennifer Raimer.“Thisgentleinteractionreducescortisol levelsinhumans,boosts oxytocin–thefeel-good hormone–andallowsthe
animalstoenjoycalmand friendlycuddletimewith humanswhowehopemay providethemwithafureverhome.”
Theprogram’smostfrequentparticipantsinclude kittens,bunnies,andpuppies,allofthemcuddlyand lookingforlove.
“Beinginashelter,sometimesanimalsdon’thaveexperiencewithalotofhumans,”saidCelesteStanley, administrativecoordinator.“Beingabletobeina
calmenvironmentwhere theygettobearound people,itgivesthemthe comfortabilitytobeableto gooverandsay‘hi’ontheir ownandthatreallyhelps themgetadopted.Dependingontheanimal,that cansometimeshelp someoneopenupandthat canhelpsomeonebemore friendlyandsocialaswell.”
Theclasses,opento adultsofallyogalevels,are taughtbyCarolEllis,alocal certifiedyogainstructor.
Theshelteraimstooffer yogatwiceamonth,dependingonthenumberof animalsabletojoin.
“Afteralong,stressfulday atwork,thereistrulyno bettertherapythantoenjoy thecompanyoflike-minded humansandsomeadorable four-leggedfurryfriends,” Raimersaid.
TheMarchclasseswill takeplaceonMonday, March10at5:30p.m.and Monday,March24at5:30 p.m.Yogasessionsareheld
attheBanksHumaneEducationCenterat95Silk FarmRoad,acrossfromthe shelter.Participantsmustbe 18orolder,registerwith a$25non-refundablefee, andbringtheirownyoga matsandanyblocks,straps, orbolsterstheywanttouse. Formoreinformation, visitpmspca.org/yogawith-pets
–RachelWachmancanbe reachedatrwachman@ cmonitor.com
Senior Living Community
CULINARY WIZ COMING TO CONCORD
By REBECA PEREIRA Insider staff
Byhisownadmission, AltonBrown’snewestbook wasahappyaccident. Brownhadbeenrepairinga manualtypewriter,lubricatingawayward‘J’key, whenheloadedthemachinewithpaperandbegan
testingoutitsfunctionality. Thatday,hetypedthefirst ofthe39essaysthatwould makeup“Foodfor Thought,”histenthliterary venture.
Ofallthevignetteshe wrote,thatfirstpiece,“The HowloftheHusky,”isstill hisfavorite:apersonalnar-
rativeaboutbeingachubby kidandachubbyadult.The other38essaysrevealalifetimeofculinaryescapade, acquiredkitcheningenuity andintrospection.Fansof thefamousfoodiewillbe happytoknowthat,while notalloftheessaysare aboutfood,mostare.
Brownreleased“Foodfor Thought”earlierthis month,coincidingwiththe kick-offofhisfourthand finaltour,AltonBrown Live:LastBite.It’satriumphantfarewellthat promisestoentertainand educateaudiencesacross62 cities.
Theshowcomestothe CapitolCenterfortheArts inConcordonTuesday, March11,withabook signingatGibson’sBook-
storeonMonday,March10. BrownspoketotheInsiderfromhistourbus, sharingthejoysandpracticaldemandsofpackinga varietyshowintoan18wheelerandtravelingthe nation.
Whilehisbookmayhave beenserendipitous,his showrepresentsthefulfillmentofapromiseBrown madetohimselftoembark onfour andonlyfour tours.
“Liveshows,”hesaid,are the“lastbastionofcreative freedom.”
Butthey’realsoagrind andtakeaphysicaltollon thebody.Brown,thestaron afive-persontourbus,has thesmallluxuryofabathroomtohimself,butthere arefewothercreaturecomfortsontheroad.
“Yougetupandyouunpacktheshow,youbuildthe show,youdotheshow,you unpacktheshow,youput theshowbackonthetruck, andyourepeat,”hesaid. “It’sahard,hardlifebecausewedon’teversitanywhere.It’sconstantmovement.”
Preparingforaliveshow isn’tfrictionlesseither. Ideasdon’tstrikelikelightning;they’relaboredover. EachofBrown’sshowshas featuredaculinarydemonstrationthatrequiresthe
constructionofalargeprop machine,forexample.This tourfeaturesa27-footlongmachine,thebiggest histeamhasmade.
“I’mnotgoingtotellyou whatitdoes,butit’sthe mostmechanicallychallengingdevicethatwe’ve evermade.Andtherearea fewthingslikethatonthis show.Theycomefromresearch,theyreallydo,” Brownsaid.
Aswithhisprevious tours,Brownwillcounton volunteerstolivenupthe spectaclehebringstothe stage.Audiencemembers canalsoexpectademonstrationofthefascinating powersofsteam.Ticketsto theshowcanbepurchased atwww.altonbrownlive.com
RebeccaPereiracanbe reachedatrpereira@cmonitor.com
www.FriendsProgram.org Drivers & Shoppers Needed
Panel on holding government accountable
TheFirstAmendmentof theU.S.Constitutionprovidesforthe“rightofthe peopletopetitiontheGovernmentforaredressof grievances.”Butwhatdoes thatmeanandhowdoesit work?Thesequestionswill beexploredduringSunshineWeek,anationalinitiativesupportedbytheSocietyofProfessionalJournaliststoeducatethepublic abouttheimportanceof opengovernmentandthe dangersofexcessiveandunnecessarysecrecy.
TheNackeyS.LoebSchool ofCommunicationsandthe NewEnglandFirstAmendmentCoalition(NEFAC)are celebratingSunshineWeek withanexpertpaneldiscus-
sion,“KeepingtheLightOn: HoldingGovernmentAccountable.”Theeventwill beheldonMonday,March 10,from5:30p.m.to 7p.m. atattheNackeyS.Loeb School,insidetheNHInstituteofPoliticsatSaint AnselmCollegeinManch-
ester.
HostedannuallyincelebrationofSunshineWeek, thispanelwillexaminethe valuesofopenandresponsivegovernmentandhow weallplayarole.Theconversation,moderatedbyAnnmarieTimmins,reporterat
NHPublicRadio,willfeatureGillesBissonnette,legaldirector, ACLUof NewHampshire; EmilyGrayRice,CitySolicitorforthecityofManchester,NH;andGregoryV. SullivanofMalloy&Sullivan,aFirstAmend-
mentlawspecialistand boardmemberofthehost organizations.
Learnmoreaboutthe Schoolatloebschool.org.
Theeventisfreeandopen tothepublic.Pre-registrationisrequiredatloebschool.org
‘COZY AND CHAOS’
By RACHEL WACHMAN Insider staff
Fivepaintingshangonthe backwalloftheConcord coffeeshopBrothers’Cortado,rightaboveasitting areacompletewithtwo lamps,acouch,anendtable, andachair.Thewhole cornerbelongstoDunbartonartistJoeSquare’s newestinstallation:“WeAre AlwaysSayingGoodbye.”
Eachofthepaintings holdsastory,andeachstory containsachoice.ConnectedtoaniPadwithbuttonstoselectdifferent piecesofart,theexhibit takesviewersonajourney, onethataltersthelighting besidethepaintingsbased onthestorychoicesthe viewermakes.
“Thesubjectmatteristhat momentofstillnesswhen weexperienceanending,” Squaresaid.“AndIfindtwilightinwintertobeperfect symbolism.Thesefigures existinwinterandattwilight.It’sthatthresholdfor somethingendingand somethingbeginning.”
Thisinstallationinvites viewerstoconsidertheidea ofchangebeinginevitable, beggingquestionssuchas howweexperiencechange, whatwemourn,whatwe lookforwardto,andwhat weaccept,Squaresaid.He believesgoodarttellsa story,whichisjustwhathe setouttodo.
“Amissionofmyartisto bringsomemagicintothe artexperiencethrough
technology,sovisitorscan usetheirphonestogivethe subjectsinthepaintinga ‘gift’toaidthemintheirmomentofchange,”hesaid.
“Givingthe‘gifts’changes thelightsintheroomfor about30secondsandthenit resets.”
Theinstallationcameto Brothers’CortadoonFeb. 23andwillremaininplace forseveralmonths.Opened threeyearsagobybrothers
ChuckandIanNemiccolo, thecoffeeshoppridesitself onprovidingahomefor localart.
“Myvisionalways,sinceI wantedtoopenacafe,was tohaveaplacebeanoutlet forcreativity,artwork,”said ChuckNemiccolo,whocuratesthecafe’sartand music.“Wewantthistobea placewherepeoplefeelsafe andthey’resurroundedby artthatcanreflectthat.”
SayingGoodbye" willbe
Thefrontroomofthe businesslocatedinBicentennialSquare,aimsfora cozyvibeanddisplayswork byJamesO’BrienandSaad Hindal.Thebackroom takesonamore“eclectic” and“self-expressive”feel, accordingtoNemiccolo, whostartedacommunity artwallthathehopesto growovertime.Square’sinstallation,alsointheback room,includesthefive paintingsavailableforpurchase.Brothers’Cortado willbeginsellingprintsof Square’swork.
“That’smyvision,cozy andchaos,”Nemiccolosaid. “Backhere,Iwantalittle counter-culture,orpopart, somethingeye-catchingor colorful,thatdoesn'thaveto fitthemosaic.WhenIwas helpingSquareputupthis art,wecollaboratedonthe placingofthesepiecesas beingalmost,tothoseperfectionists,off-putting.”
BothNemiccoloand Squarehopecoffeeshop goerswilltaketimetocheck outtheinstallationandparticipateintheinteractive component.Squarewants
eachpersontofindtheir ownindividualsourceof connectiontohiswork.
“Changeisconstantbut weonlyfeelitwhenwe’re notreadyforit,”headded.
“Everydaythingsshiftbut wedon’tbreatheonlylittle change,onlywhenitfeels likewe’velostsomething.
We’realwayssaying goodbyeinsomeway, whetherit’saphaseoflife,a versionofourselves,orjust thewaythingswere.Butnot
everygoodbyeissadandreallydependsonthemeaning weascribetoit.”
Formoreinformationon JoeSquare’swork,visitoleander-tuna-8szt.squarespace.com.Tosee“WeAre AlwaysSayingGoodbye,” checkoutBrothers’Cortado,locatedat3-5BicentennialSquareinConcord.
RachelWachmancanbe reachedatrwachman@ cmonitor.com
Perennials and more fundraiser
Readyforspring,flowers, fruits,andnature?Luckyfor you,MerrimackCounty ConservationDistrict knowsjustwhatyou’llwant toplantthisspring!
Thisyear,theConservationDistrictisofferingavarietyofperennialsincluding nativeslikeblackcohosh andbutterflyweedaswell astreesandshrubslike balsamfir,tulippoplar, whitepineandhighbush cranberry.Createfoodfor thefamilywithourfruit trees,blueberrybushes, raspberries,onions,and more.MCCDalsoofferslocallygrownpottedplants thatbenefitpollinators.
Priorityorderswillbedue byFriday,March28th.PickupwilltakeplaceatCarter
HillOrchardinConcordon April25from4to6p.m. andApril26from9a.m.to noon;atBlazingStarGrange inDanburyonSaturday, May3from9a.m.tonoon; orbyspecialarrangement. Formoreinformation, visitmerri-
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“MY CONFESSION TO OUR COMMUNITY”
And why we do what we do…
Dear Friend,
I want to give credit where credit is due. So perhaps a bit of a confession can clear the air so there’s no misunderstanding. But before my confession, let me give you the scoop on the people in the photo.
I’m the woman sitting in the photo, the little cutie next to me is our patient Everly. I’ll tell you her story in a moment, but first, the deets on the man behind me, my husband. John grew up in a home full of mental health challenges, which created more mental health challenges and a constant state of anxiousness for him. He joined the Boy Scouts as an es-cape, and became an Eagle Scout at age 15, which is quite remarkable. After a career in the Air Force, John was living a healthy life, with lots of exercise and good nutrition, but he still suffered from anxiety and GERD. A friend told him try chiropractic, and with nothing to lose, he gave it a try. He got an “adjustment.” It didn’t hurt, it actually felt good. That’s when his life changed. The cloud of anxiety he had known since childhood lifted, and his acid reflux disappeared. It sounds like a small thing, but having his spine aligned was so profound that John decided to become a chiropractor himself.
So, what about me? Unlike Dr. John, I grew up getting adjusted. My mom was a local chiropractor, I was checked at birth for misalignments. Getting adjusted on the regular was no big deal. But now that I’m a chiropractor myself, I realize just how miraculous it can be for families. Just take 2-year-old Everly for example. At 3 months old she was put on MuriLAX out of necessity. Even with that intervention, she only had one bowel movement per week at best. Her mom Sam brought Everly to us for a checkup after see-ing kids with constipation on social media having positive results with chiropractic. With two months of gentle spinal adjustments from us, Everly now moves her bowels, 4-6 times per week WITHOUT MuriLAX! She’s sleeping for a longer period of time and the rash on her belly is even starting to go away. If you’re a parent, you know what a big deal this is.
And what’s more… Everly’s mom Sam is expecting another baby! Mom-to-be Sam just started getting adjusted with us two weeks ago. She already has less back pain and her sciatica is gone! Sam says she is sleeping better too. And now dad, Tyler, had his first adjustment with Dr. John last week. He’s hoping for relief from upper back and mid-back pain. Maybe we’ll share his story next.
It’s strange how things turn out. Dr. John and I met at college. We fell in love with chiropractic, and each other! We moved back to my home state and together we opened a new Crossroads location in Beford to elevate the health of our community through corrective chiropractic care. Now I adjust my mom!
Our patients have come to us with their headaches, ear infections, neck pain, low back pain, migraines, chronic pain, shoulder/arm pain, whiplash from car accidents, allergies, ADHD, asthma, digestive problems, sciatica and numbness in limbs just to name a few.
Here’s what some of our patients have to say: My husband & I came hoping it might help me with my constant sinus problems. Well it has and we’ve been coming ever since. We started taking our two boys too. My younger son has ADD and it has helped him – he’s off his medication! – S.C.
Dr. John & Dr. Brooke were very profession-al and explained every step of the evaluation process. The experience of competent trauma informed care was refreshing. I am looking forward to developing my treatment plan and improving my health. Thank you!! M.M.
I have noticed a boost in my health in so many ways. I find I am calmer, get sick less, feel less aches and pains as well… I love the people here and the quality care. -D.A *results may vary
Several times a day people thank us for helping them with their health problems. But we really can’t take the credit. My confession is that I’ve never healed anyone! What I do is perform specific chiropractic adjustments to reduce
interference in the nervous system – the body heals itself.
Millions of Americans no longer have health insurance, and those that do have found that their benefits are reduced. That’s where chiropractic comes in. Many people find that they actually save money on their health care expenses by seeing a chiropractor.
You benefit from an amazing offer – Look, it shouldn’t cost you a fortune to improve your health. When you mention this article (by 4/24/25) you will receive our entire new patient exam for $59 at any location. That’s with any necessary x-rays, a thorough chiropractic exam… the entire first visit. This exam could cost you $300 or more elsewhere. And, further care is very affordable and you’ll be happy to know that I have affordable family plans. You see I’m not trying to entice you to come see us with this low start up fee, then to only make it up with higher fees after that. We understand the importance of affordability and further care is very important to consider when you’re exploring chiropractic care as part of your lifestyle. High costs can add up very quickly.
Great care at a great fee…
Please, I hope there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care just because of the lower exam fee. You’ll get great care at a great fee. Our qualifications… we are graduates of the prestigious Sherman College of Chiropractic and we have been entrusted to take care of tiny babies and children from 1 to 91. Dr John was awarded the Sherman Clinical Distinction Award and last spring I was honored by my alma mater with its “Service to the Profession Award.” In fact, all of our Crossroads doctors in Epping. Meredith and Pembroke have also won their own awards. Many of us have served on mission trips and we cohost a podcast and weekend radio show all about health on WTPL 107.7FM. We just have that low fee to help more people who need care.
Our offices, CROSSROADS CHIROPRACTIC, are both friendly and warm and we do our best to make you feel welcome. We have wonderful service at an exceptional fee. Our entire team at the Crossroads locations in Pembroke, Meredith Bedford and Epping is fantastic. Our phone number is (603)575-9080. Call us today to set up an appointment. Or schedule online at CrossroadsChiropractic.com. We can help you. Thank you.
Dr. Brooke Schuessler, Chiropractor
P.S. We ask that you take advantage of this offer only if you are serious about your health.