Recently in History Category

Attend preview and presentation of the West Concord Task Force's Master Plan recommendations for enhancements to the Village center including:

    • Transportation network and circulation
    • Streetscape and parking
    • Parks, open space, and trails
    • New development and redevelopment

Harvey Wheeler Community Center, Thurs., Nov. 19th 7-8:30PM*

* 7-7:30 Public preview (recommended)
* 7:30-8:30 Presentation and discussion

More information at: Town Website (concordma.gov) / "Links for Residents" / "West Concord Village Master Plan / Project Materials" and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCTF_announcements

"Life in the Balance: Food for Thought," will be held on Friday, November 20, 7pm, at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden St., Concord. This forum will explore food issues and discuss ways to effect change at home, in our towns, regionally and nationally.

The featured speaker is Brian Donahue (American Environmental Studies, Brandeis University), along with Willow Blish (Slow Food Boston), Jim Catterton (Concord Agriculture Committee), Jen Hashley (Tufts University New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and Pete & Jen's Backyard Birds), and Charlotte Vallaeys (Farm & Food Policy Analyst, Cornucopia Institute). "Food for Thought" is free and open to all.
 
The Life in the Balance series is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle, ConcordCAN (Concord Climate Action Network), Carlisle Climate Action and Concord-Carlisle Adult & Community Education. For more information, visit http://lwvcc.com/lifeinthebalance.html, email Green_Initiatives@lwvcc.com or call 978-369-3842.
 
 

Gently used books in good condition, suitable for giving. Cook books, travel, garden, fiction, children's, holiday, poetry, sci fi, mystery, DVDs, CDs.  These are the crème de la crème of the library's donated books in pristine condition and suitable for gifts. Festive decorations in the library lobby and very careful sorting and display make this an enjoyable shopping experience. And you purchases benefit the library. Bargain prices, beautiful books!

Friday and Saturday, December 4 & 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, December 6, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 129 Main Street, friends@concordlibrary.org.

Photo: The original facade of the Concord Free Public Library.

 

Though in Concord "only" for 96 years, New England Deaconess is celebrating its 120th year of existence. Do you know how this organization, first in Boston, end up in Concord in the first place, and how it has played a vital role in the well being of our community for nearly a century? From the current plus an earlier iteration of the New England Deaconess website:

"It was 1910 when Charles W. Emerson, a nephew of Ralph Waldo Emerson, brought his ailing wife from Concord to the Deaconess Hospital in Boston. The care and attention his wife received so impressed Emerson, that he donated both land and money to build a cottage hospital in Concord to be run by the Deaconesses. Emerson's vision and resources, combined with the free care and nursing expertise of the Deaconesses, provided the citizens of Concord and the surrounding areas with an alternative to Boston health care.

"Later, when it became evident that a residence for the aging Deaconess family was needed, Emerson came to their aid by generously donating the land upon which he had intended to build a home with his wife. This residence, completed in 1913, eventually came to be known as the Deaconess Home."

"At this same time, Emerson learned that Mrs. Foucar, who lived across the street from the hospital site, wanted to make a generous donation for a home for the aging. Emerson was excited about the prospect of working with Mrs. Foucar and her daughter, to create a great center for human welfare comprised of both a hospital and a home for the aging in Concord.

"In 1911, the Deaconess Cottage Hospital in Concord opened, and N.E.D.A. ran it until 1924 when it was turned over to the citizens of Concord and renamed Emerson Hospital.  In November 1913, the Home for Aged Methodist Women, now Deaconess House, formally opened next door on what is now our Concord campus."

Yes, we burn the American flag in Concord.  But don't think it's out of protest or disrespect -- in fact, it's just the opposite.  Our flag burning is actually an act of respect: we retire worn flags with dignity and honor.  We do this every year on Veteran's day to thousands of flags, a ceremony that involves the involvement from every facet of our community.

Beautiful photos by Concordian Rich Stevenson of this year's ceremony are below. (click on any to see a larger view in a separate window). 

Photos: ©2009 Rich Stevenson, Local Color Images, all rights reserved.

By Court Booth, Director of Concord-Carlisle Regional Public Schools Adult & Community Education, http://www.ace.colonial.net, (978) 318-1540


"The American Landscape" is a special presentation by Alex MacLean at the Thoreau School, 29 Prairie Street, West Concord. All ages are invited to this free program at 7:30 PM.

Alex is a pilot and photographer who has flown over much of the United States documenting the landscape. His remarkable photos demonstrate the extent to which the human ecosystem and our economic and social well being are dependent upon our wise use of land and its resources. His powerful and descriptive images provide clues to understanding the relationship between the natural and constructed environments.

Slowind Concert

Saturday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. Concord Free Public Library, 129 Main Street

Slowind (pictured above) is a wind quintet made up of soloists of the Slovene Philharmonic, an orchestra with a rich musical tradition since its beginnings more than 300 years ago in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In its long history, the orchestra's conductors have included Gustav Mahler, Fritz Reiner and Carlos Kleiber.

The musicians -Ales Kacjan, flute; Matej Sarc, oboe; Jurij Jenko, clarinet; Metod Tomac, french horn; Paolo Calligaris, bassoon--will perform works by Darius Milhuad, Vinko Globocar, Paul Hindemith, and Gyõrgy Ligeti.

Music From the Library is free, advance reservations required at  www.concordlibrary.org or 978-318-3301. Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

Thursday Author: Historian Speaks at the Library

Karl Jacoby, author of Shadows at Dawn: A Borderland Massacre and the Violence of History. Jacoby, aprofessor at Brown University, will discuss his examination of US/Mexico border issues during the 19th century. Thursday, November 19, 2009, 7:30 p.m.

Free. Main Library, 129 Main Street, Concord. For more information,  www.concordlibrary.org. Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.

By The Concord Indies

Local independent businesses are an under-recognized resources for combating global warming. Concord's Indies are working to be more sustainable in ways you may not realize. We're community members; we want to reduce negative impacts we have on our neighbors. As business owners, we're not powerlessly following wasteful corporate policies we had no hand in creating. We can quickly make decisions and take actions kinder to the environment. Here's what came back from an informal survey about what some Concord Indies are doing to be more environmentally friendly.

1. Reducing Waste. Far beyond the usual (though important) paper recycling, we're reusing materials and reducing how much goes into the waste stream. Bring a vase to the Concord Flower Shop, they'll recycle it and you'll receive a thank-you rose. Cynthia Cosmetics & More gives customers a 10% incentive to recycle their empty cosmetic packaging. Andrews & Andrews donates clothing hangers to local charities and surplus inventory to MinuteMan ARC so clients go to work appropriately dressed. Debra's Natural Gourmet's organic waste goes to feed customers' livestock and pets. Many of us reuse packing material in as many ways possible.

2. Reducing Toxic Chemicals. Cynthia Cosmetics has chosen its main product line because of the safety and purity of its ingredients, and its mission to help reduce skin cancer. When it can't source locally, the Concord Flower Shop uses growers certified to have strict standards of environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Debra's core business revolves around purity and unadulterated ingredients.

3. Sourcing Locally. Rude Bridge Construction buys over 95% of its materials from local Indie businesses, and uses 100% local Indie subcontractors. Lots of Debra's goods are made in New England: cheeses, cereals, meats, lotions and potions. The Flower Shop chooses local organic growers when possible.

4. Offering Recycled and Repurposed Goods.  Some of our Indies sell 100% recycled goods, including Thoreauly Antiques, Upstairs Antiques and Reflections Consignment Shop. Their quality of materials and workmanship can be better than new goods offered at higher prices. Old architectural pieces are made into lamps, vintage buttons are incorporated into jewelry and handbags, linens become window treatments, duvet covers and decorative pillows. Debra's offers items that repurpose our waste into purses, bracelets and hairbrushes.

5. Reducing Use of Non-Renewable Resources. Montague Gallery changed to LED spotlights, far more efficient than even compact fluorescents.  Debra's chose plant-, not petroleum-based, flooring during its expansion last year. Sales Renewal helps small businesses increase their sales through better website use, allowing customers to do business without driving.

6. Walkable Villages.  Our wonderful villages are still predominantly populated by Indie businesses in retail, service and other sectors.  More folks are out on foot these days, both for their health and to reduce their carbon footprint. As much as a mile from a village center is not too far for many to walk. Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher with the New Rules Project (www.NewRules.com) points out the importance of keeping walkable Indie business areas alive: increases in fuel economy are easily negated by increases in driving - a trend we've seen as total US miles driven rose 60% between 1987 and 2007. In Concord, we are truly blessed to have the option of doing business locally.

Concord Indies' members want many more ways to be part of the solution, and it's frustrating that some methods are not yet known.  Debra's wants fully bio-degradable, heat-resistant take-out containers.  Spiral Beading needs information on greener material sources that is truly reliable. Many Indies are searching for workable ways to do more local sourcing. We invite community members to dialogue with us on this topic.

Find out more about the Concord Indies and the $2 bills floating around town stamped with "Spend Local" at www.ConcordIndies.org or email info@ConcordIndies.org.

Nationally known Thoreau re-enactor, Kevin Radaker (at right), will portray Thoreau in a one-person dramatic presentation. (Praise for Kevin Radaker's Performances)

John Brown and New England is a series of public programs commemorating the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. John Brown and New England is a collaborative project of the American Antiquarian Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society,
the Thoreau Society, The First Parish (Concord) Transcendental Committee,
Worcester State College, and Mechanics Hall. This program is funded in part by the Mass Humanities, which receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This program is free and open to the public.

Directions:

First Parish in Concord is located at 20 Lexington Road, Concord, Massachusetts.

From the WEST: Take Route 2 EAST (Concord Turnpike) towards Boston. Take a left on Elm Street. Bear left on Main Street. At the rotary in the center of town, bear right onto Lexington Road. First Parish with be on your right.

From the EAST: Take Route 2 WEST (Concord Turnpike) towards Fitchburg. At the base of the hill when Route 2 turns left, go straight on the Cambridge Turnpike. At the stop sign, turn left onto Lexington Road.

Saturday October 24 was wet and chilly, but hundreds nonetheless attended the regional 350 Rally at the North Bridge. Over 500 ConcordCAN petitions were signed at this event, and around 250 "Messages to Copenhagen" were written on flags, to be sent to Copenhagen. Group photo during the event is below.
        
Photo: Courtesy of ConcordCAN