Saturday, January 30, 2010

Goodbye to January ...

Around Town by Dick Patten
Happy Groundhog Day, hoping that spring is just around the corner, but in some ways, it hasn't been a bad winter. I can remember as a child, winters were very cold and a lot of snow. I can remember my father having to bring the car battery inside and put beside our stove to keep it warm. He would get up during the night and start the cars because we didn't have a garage. I think the winters were tougher back in the 1950s and 1960s.

What's happening this week Around Town?
Pineconia Grange had to postpone their meeting last Monday until next Monday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. inside the Activities Room at Havenwood. Members, please note the change in location. Dick Patten finished delivering new directionaries to 3rd grade students in the Concord School District, Dunbarton Elementary School, St. John's Regional School, and Concord Christian Academy. This was the first year in which dictionaries were given to 3rd grade students at St. John's Regional School and Concord Christian Academy. This was also the 7th year in which we have done this project. I hope next year to include 3rd grade students at Trinity Christian and Shaker Road School.

As Ward 8 councilor, I spoke to Anita Hickey about the Dog Park, located on Old Turnpike Road (or as many of remember it as the Dump Road). I also spoke to Tom Aspell and Phil Bilodeau from General Services. Phil and I are suppose to meet at the location and visit the concerns she mentioned about. I also suggested to her about possibly partnering with Pineconia Grange or the Kiwanis Club of Concord who are located on the Heights about helping. There are several organizations whom she might speak with about partnering with.

Speaking of the Kiwanis, they will be meeting Monday at 12:10 p.m. at The Red Blazer Restaurant, Manchester Street.

I would like my deepest sympathies to the family of the late Vernon Mitchell, who resided on Airport Road, next to Eagle's Bluff. Vern served one term in the House of Representatives from Ward 8, active member in the Vietnam Vets organization. and loved to decorate his home for Halloween and Christmas. I was very surprised to see how quick he left us. I spoke to him and his wife who were with some friends at Veano's recently.

It has been nice to see the old crowd back at Veano's and now there are rumors that the Cat n' Fiddle family are coming back at a new location on South Main Street in the Draft building. I wonder if they will have famous salad bar again?

Don't forget to order your Girl Scout Cookies. Although they will be outside of Walmart this spring when they arrive, it's nice to place your order now.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Substance Abuse Coalition to discuss strengths, challenges in Concord community

From the inbox:
Do you think Concord is a healthy community?
The Concord Substance Abuse Coalition is interested in hearing your thoughts about the strengths and challenges of our community.
A brief community discussion, led by Deputy Chief John Duval of the Concord Police Department, will be held on Tuesday, Jan 26, from 6:30-7:00 pm in the cafeteria at Rundlett Middle School.
If you live or work in the Concord or Penacook community we invite you to take part in this important conversation. The Coalition will be using your input from this discussion as well as survey data to guide our work toward reducing substance use and underage drinking during the upcoming two years.
Please RSVP to the Concord Substance Abuse Coalition @ 223-2023 or to sarah@concordprevention.org.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Handing out dictionaries

Around Town by Dick Patten
Around Town in Concord has been busy this week.
I have had the pleasure of presenting dictionaries to third grade students in the Concord Public Schools finishing with Beaver Meadow School, Dunbarton Elementary, and St. John's Regional School. St. John's Regional is new this year along with Concord Christian School. I am hoping that I can complete this project this week. The Grange will meet Monday at 7 p.m. at Havenwood Retirement Center, 33 Christian Avenue in the auditorium. The Grange will hold its planning meeting following the order of business.
The Concord Kiwanis Club will meet Monday at noon at the Red Blazer Restaurant, Manchester Street.
Congratulations to Andrew Georgevits, who came in second place following ski jumping competition at Storrs Hill in Lebanon on Saturday!
Speaking about the Heights, I have been in contact with Anita Hickey and Phil Bilodeau from General Services about the repairs needed at the Dog Park. I will be meeting with him at the park this coming week to talk about the future. I mentioned the Dog Park at the City Councilor Work Session at Beaver Meadow Club House meeting. The Council held a retreat to discuss projects and goals for the coming year. They will be meeting Monday, June 25 to continue their discussions for the upcoming year.
I couldn't help but notice the Concord Theatre building on South Main Street. It is a shame this building has fallen into decay and nothing is being done to renovate it. There must be a reason that the building should be saved.
Many thanks to Chris Jaques and crew for removing the holiday banners on Loudon Road. I know they have so much to do with snow removal but I was assured by Chris that they would be taken down. I am hoping to purchase some more banners for the summer season, but donations are needed to help purchase them. The company where I purchase them is having a sale so if someone is interested helping, please let me know. I can be reached at 496-2917. I have been asked about extending the holiday banners next year. Again, it comes down to donations.
I think that's it for now, don't forget to order your Girl Scout Cookies. I am still looking for a troop to come on my tv show. Thanks again, and I really
appreciate the nice remarks that people have saying. I do appreciate it more than you could ever possibly know. Recently several people whom I don't know either stopped by my table in Veano's or Hannaford to express their appreciation. I couldn't do it without you folks. I love this community. I know on television at city council, I may not speak up much, but believe me prior to the meeting, I am doing my homework, calling people and talking to them about what's going on before the meeting. I also try to have them come on my show to talk about it.I also want to thank Jean Michael Laurent, Josh Harwood, David Murdo, and Andrew Georgevits for all their help. Many times I couldn't do a lot of things without them. Unsung heroes include Chris Reinhart at the studio, Matt Walsh, Tim Robinson, Mike Langille, and Fr. Chris. There is another friend, but I am honoring his request and not publicly mention his name. Thanks to all!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Dog Park needs sprucing up

Around Town with Dick Patten
The Concord Dog Park, located at the intersection of Old Turnpike Road and Manchester Street, is in need of tender loving care/repair. Anita Hickey, whose husband John the park is named in honor, has become a very popular place for dogs to come and run free. I spoke to Anita and she informed me that people with their pets use the park from Hooksett, Pembroke, Manchester and other towns outside of Concord. Volunteers are needed to help spruce the park up this spring. There are some other items to be addressed by the group. This is located in Ward 8 and I am hoping we can come together and make this a successful venture. Please call me at 496-2917 or Anita Hickey at 225-9538 for information.

I realize snow is on the ground, but now is the time to plan for spring. I am in need of volunteers to help with the adopt a spot cleanup. The area at Airport Road and Loudon Road (two small areas) that need some TLC. Pineconia Grange along with Cub Scout Pack 90 and Boy Scout Troop 90 helped last summer. But we are hoping to do this again, but more hands will help.

I have been asked about the banners on Loudon Road. They are hoping we can do more for the summer season. Last year, Pineconia Grange purprosed six banners. I would like to purchase another four to six for the summer season. These can be of different designs. The banners cost
$ 75 each plus shipping. Please call me if you are interested at 496-2917. I need businesses to support this as well.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Audi presents The Rhythm of the Night 2011

Saturday, January 22 at 7pm –
THE RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT
The 20th annual dance extravaganza highlights the stars of seven capital area dance schools in a showcase directed by Lisa Drouin Goff and Genevieve Woodward. This is a wonderful show for the whole family!
Tickets are $6, general seating, available at Gibson’s Bookstore on S. Main St., Concord, and at the door.
For info and advance ticket orders: Contact 225-7474 or nhdm40@comcast.net
Proceeds will benefit the Audi’s ongoing restoration projects.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Around Town with Dick Patten is back

Editor's Note: For many years before becoming a city councilor, Dick Patten wrote a column for the Town Crier section of the Concord Monitor. Dick hasn't been able to do a column of late but asked to have some space here, whenever he feels like submitting them. And don't miss his show on ConcordTV either. Welcome back to the columnist world Dick! ... Tony

Good evening, looks like a fairly quiet week after having a messy mini snow bout on Friday. Regardless of big or snow, it's hard to complain about the general services department. They have been trying to keep up with the roads and sidewalks. Plus they need to keep the cemetery roads open as well. Then they also need to take down the Christmas tree at the State House Plaza and Boudreau Square. They will be taking down the banners on Main Street and Loudon Road. So they are are really working up there.

The Fire Department has been doing their great work as usual. In addition to their regular duties,they also need to shovel out fire hyhdrants and talk to citizens about fire dangers, and do training. Both The Fire and Polie in this city are the best you will ever find. And the same way about the General Services Dept. We should be very pleased about what happin this City.

The City Council meets Monday night at 7 p.m. The agenda seems like a big one.

There is one item that I will be speaking about: There will be a hearing about some of the U-turn
stops that they want to do away with. I drove around Ward 8 and there are several on Loudon Road and Fort Eddy Road that I feel are dangerous. I feel some of these U-turns are dangerous anyway.

My sincere best wishes and prayers are extended to Vern Mitchell, Yvonne Crocker, and Elizabeth Cotsibas. Try to keep positive, all your friends are with you.

Pineconia Grange #322 will be delivering new dictionaries to third grade students in Concord and Dunbarton schools. The Dictionary Project is a nationwide Grange endeavor. Rodney and Shelley Huntoon have done this for Pineconia for the past few years, but were unable to this year. This year, I have taken this on. It is a great project and I didn't want it to end. Plus, I have included Concord Christian and St. John Regional School as well.

Pineconia Grange meets the fourth Monday of the month at Havenwood Retirement Center at 7 p.m. We are in need of members. We do so many community projects, but we need help. The dues for full membership are $40 a year; family membership are $30 a year; Friends of the Grange, $20 a year; Business Friends of the Grange, $25 a year. We also sponsor Boy Scout Troop 90 and Cub Scout Pack 90; are also heavily involved with Christmas parade and Christmas tree lighting and decorations. providing food and holiday surprises along with 10 stockings for Christmas for the teenagers.

Please call me if you have news I am doing this like the old days of Town Crier in the Monitor on Sundays. Thanks to Tony, I have been resurrected.

Page to Stage Series to present four new plays at The Audi

From the inbox:
The Friends of the Audi are pleased to present a second season of staged readings introducing new works for the stage. The first season saw growing audience interest in this innovative program and wider acclaim for three of the new plays which went on to win prizes at the Heartland Competition, a Boston Theatre Festival, and the New Hampshire Theatre Awards. A fourth, Rebecca Rule’s CROSSCUT, was chosen by the Walker Series for a staged production.

The second Page to Stage season opened with Les Rosenthal’s GIDEON on October 4 and previewed Jim Webber’s edgy musical, JUDY’S SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, at the Friends of the Audi’s December 6 Open House prior to its full production by Nashua’s Music and Drama Company. JUDY has received 15 nominations for the 2010 New Hampshire Theatre Awards! That’s just the start of the 2009-2010 schedule. Coming up next:

Sunday, January 31, 3pm – Playwright Don Tongue returns to P2S with SCENE CHANGES.
Last season Don’s P2S presentations featured two short works and actors who wowed the audience. Don’s 10 minute play, VOID, went on to Boston’s Playwrights Theatre as part of the 37th Annual Playwright’s Platform Festival of New Plays, where it won an audience choice award and a publishing contract with Heuer Publishing, Inc.

Sunday, March 14, 3pm – Playwright Eugene Shear: CROSSED HEARTS
This new romantic comedy is a sequel to THE MATCHMAKERS, Eugene Shear’s play that was produced at Players Ring in Portsmouth in 2009 and is being published by Big Dog/Norman Maine Publishing. Though a sequel, the new work can stand independently.

Wednesday, March 24, 7:30pm – The Timothy and Abigail B. Walker Lecture Fund presents
Rebecca Rule’s CROSSCUT, her dramatic multi-media one-woman telling of the stories of North Country logging and lumbermen. Free and open to all. No tickets. Info: 225-9004.

Sunday, April 11, 3:30pm – A Double Bill –
New Hampshire Playwright Dale Harrington: A MEASURE OF SUCCESS
Virginia Playwright Linda Mundel: PARADISE LODGE
Two playwrights present their new one-act dramas of entangled family situations.

Thanks to the James and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Page to Stage events are free and open to all. We welcome inquiries from playwrights with plays-in-progress. We hope you will join The Friends of the Audi at Page to Stage events for afternoons of dynamic readings, authors’ Q&A, and dramatic desserts. Questions: please contact info@concordcityauditorium.org or 225-2164.

Visit www.theaudi.org for information on the Audi’s exciting Flyspace Project!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Foundation awards grants to non-profits

The Merrimack County Savings Bank Foundation recently presented grants totaling over $48,000 to 16 not-for-profit organizations, according to Ronald Wilbur, Chairman and CEO of Merrimack County Savings Bank.

Grants totaling over $48,000 were presented to Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support Services, Children’s Place & Parent Education Center, Concord Dental Sealant Coalition, Concord Heights Neighborhood Family Center, Concord Hospital, Families in Transition, Friends of Concord City Auditorium, Greater Nashua Council on Alcoholism, Merrimack Valley Day Care Service, Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter, New Hampshire Association for the Blind, New Hampshire Humanities Council, Riverbend Community Mental Health, Salvation Army/McKenna House, The Friendly Kitchen, and Welcoming Lights, Inc.

In making the announcement, Wilbur stated, “The Foundation was established in 1997 on the occasion of the bank’s 130th anniversary with the purpose of providing perpetual financial support to the communities we serve. It is one way in which we give back to the communities which have helped us grow and prosper over the years.”

Applications for grants are received by the Foundation annually, during September. Not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations interested in making funding requests to the Foundation should contact Merrimack County Savings Bank. Founded in 1867, Merrimack County Savings Bank is a mutual savings bank headquartered in Concord, New Hampshire, with seven full service offices in Concord, Bow, Contoocook and Nashua. The bank offers a wide variety of deposit, loan, and convenience services to individuals, businesses and organizations. Deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Bank assets total over $575 million. For more information, please visit www.TheMerrimack.com or call 603-225-2793.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

HNY!

Happy New Year everyone! Best to you and yours ... and let's hope 2010 is a lot better than 2009.