Surely we are both blessed and cursed to have such rich subject matter. The blessings are pretty easy to see: beautiful and fascinating people, events, places, and ideas abound in every direction. If you're paying attention, there is always something to learn and to do, to fire the imagination, to stir the heart. It is a true blessing to be in this "most inestimable place."

But why is this also a curse? Well, with so much here, it's really easy to lose a sense of perspective. We have to fight from becoming seduced into thinking Concord really IS the center of the known universe. Whenever I travel, I am simply amazed to remember there really is a big, diverse world out there...one that offers an even more richly-textured experience than our little hamlet. To forget this is to become provincial... sheltered... chauvinistic. Certainly, a narrowing worth fighting, and fight it we must.

A Glorious Year
Nonetheless, I am content for the moment to rest on our laurels. Our past few editions have been absolutely a delight to produce and I enjoy browsing through them still. If you've missed some or want to revisit any, you can click on their covers on this page to be taken there directly.

Now, here's where I get kind of choked up. We have had the MOST wonderful and generous contributors this year. Writers, graphic and fine artists, and photographers from both Concord and beyond. I have listed them all below. What pleasure their talents have brought us!

If you're interested in contributing to this publication, see our contributor's guidelines or email us. We look for participants from near and far, and accept both inexperienced and seasoned contributors.

Artwork: Jeanie Abbott, Andrea Menna Taylor, Beverley Bringle, Ellie Bemis, Allie Bueti, Sarah Coppi, Jonathan Donahue, Chris Lewis, Susan Ticknor, Rebecca Morris, Hometown Websmith, students from Kristina Joyce's after school art classes, Concord-Carlisle Action Committee for TeenS (C-C ACTS), Bandit Designs, Classic Themes, The Rhymster, Art Today, Digital Crafts, Magnolia Station, Helen's Images, Word of Mouth Web Design, Culprit Fey, Chibi Creations, Lady Kree, Brave Web Creations, Designs by Tara, Chesil, Micrografix, ABC Giant, Hasso Ewing, Julie's Homegrown Graphics, Kristina Joyce, Miz Kitty, Ann Streton.

Authors: D. Michael Ryan, Leslie Perrin Wilson, Richard Smith, Deborah Bier, Joyce Woodman, David O'Donaghue, Maria Powers, Peter Waksman, Andrea Menna Taylor, Aryeh Finklestein, Mary Walker, Cynthia Aguilar, Victor Arroyo, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Carolyn Barnes, Jonathan Betts, Adam Binette, Emily Blessing, Sarah Corkum, Aislinn Dewey, Jonathan Ford, James Fuccione, Jason Haas, Ariela Haberman, Katherine Horlitz, Erin Johnson, Sarah Keleher, Kelly Kerr, Samuel Krueger, Jonathan Owen, Jeremy Pasha, Kimberly Ressler, Daniel Rooney, Irene Schmidt, Valarie Schmidt, Katharina Tkacik, Hunter Wells, Ginger Allison, Pam Murray, Tara Calishain, Joyce Miller, Anthony Dorman, Cherry Corey, Carol Haines, Kristina Joyce, Lydia Rogers, Barbara Howland, Pat MacAlpine, John Howe, Morwen Two Feathers, David Wood.

Photography: Richard Stevenson, Peter Waksman, Concord Free Public Library Special Collections, Martin Studio, Deborah Bier, Robert Davidson, Tom Ballantyne, Tara Calishain, Cherrie Corey, The Concord Museum, Lynn Rogers.

Proofreading: Brenda Russell.

Our Kind Sponsors
And of course, we cannot neglect our kind business sponsors. They have recognized the value of supporting this community Website. They also see the value of exposing their businesses to our roughly 35,000-50,000 visitors monthly. Please visit these sponsors on the Web as well as in person.

A Publication Change
You may have noticed that this is the "March-April-May 2002" issue of the Concord Magazine. As such, it marks our first foray into quarterly publishing. I am quite sad to have to make this change because I have such a blast doing this ezine. But this is a volunteer position and I have to broker my time. Due my continued deep involvement with Concord's Neighborhood Network, I find I need to reapportion my commitments.

Photos: Along left border - Our local spring peeper (Hyla crucifer).
Title image - Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Both courtesy ArtToday.