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By RAY DUCKLER

They’d seen each other a few times before, a pair of dog lovers walking the trails under the Sewalls Falls Bridge in Concord.They’d smile, nod, say hi – common behavior among dog lovers, who often know a dog’s name before they know the owner’s name....

By PAUL STEINHAUSER

Steve Shurtleff said he forgives President Joe Biden, but he won’t forget.“I forgive, but I haven’t forgotten how New Hampshire was treated,” the longtime Democratic state representative from Concord and former state House speaker told the Monitor...

By RAY DUCKLER

Back in the 1970s, Peter Spaulding and other like-minded Republicans met at the old Brick Tower bar in Concord regularly to consider the direction of their party.There, Spaulding, Steve Duprey, Jim Cleveland and a small group of young GOP members,...

By RAY DUCKLER

Jerry Lavigne bowed slightly to receive his medal, draped around his neck like an official presenting gold at the Olympics, leading to a handshake and a two-minute speech that seamlessly mixed laughter with tears.Lavigne smiled when he spoke at the...

By RAY DUCKLER

She sat in a room below a shrine of flags, medals and framed photos in honor of her son, next to the young daughter of her late sister.The conversation shifted, moving from the death of Heather Demello’s son, Dustin Hall, a 21-year-old member of the...

By RAY DUCKLER

Initially, while visiting the local Aubuchon Hardware store this week to say goodbye, Jeff Ginn declined an opportunity to address his emotions concerning the franchise that he dedicated 50 years to.A day later, though, Ginn, who grew up in Pembroke...

By RAY DUCKLER

Randy Pierce has been rooting for the New England Patriots for nearly 50 years.He watched them when they were awful, at Schaefer, Sullivan and Foxboro Stadiums in the 1970s and ‘80s. About a dozen years after his first live game, he began to listen to...

By DAVID BROOKS

When you talk to old-time New Hampshire folks about “that funny guy who used to do the weather on TV,” there’s a split. In the southern part of the state, they’ll probably think of Al Kaprielian from WNDS but in the northern part, it’s “Marty On The...

By RAY DUCKLER

Mentioning Stella made Lou Sillari’s tired eyes open just a tad wider.His memories were sharp, considering. But some of his recollections of events 80, 90, even 100 years ago challenged him, causing him to pause, eventually needing his son, Peter...

By RAY DUCKLER

All systems were go for Dominic Torro earlier this month, just like always.He had the gear and experience to conquer Airplane Gully – a steep chute on Mount Washington that he’d skied down dozens of times over the past few years.He was trained on how...

By RAY DUCKLER

The intimacy projected at the Hatbox Theater the past seven years brought Scrooge’s silver mutton chops to life.The theater, tucked into a corner of the Steeplegate Mall, offers audiences clear details from every nook and cranny, revealing expressions...

By RAY DUCKLER

Rabbi Robin Nafshi of Temple Beth Jacob in Concord had to tweak her annual sermon this month while celebrating the eight nights of Hanukkah.The Jewish holiday features a menorah with eight lights, lit once each night for the duration of the holiday....

By RAY DUCKLER

Sarena Preve gave birth to her daughter, Isabelle Ernst, 15 years ago during an ice storm that snapped trees and toppled power lines like never before.Giving birth is memorable enough, but driving to the hospital in the middle of an ice storm while...

 By RAY DUCKLER

The recent closing of the Franklin Opera House – forced to shut down because of code violations that had been shelved for a while – pushed the Addams Family from their home and into a middle school cafeteria.That means Lurch, Cousin It, Uncle...

By RAY DUCKLER

Katy Burns became a staple in the Concord area, served with scrambled eggs and coffee on Sunday mornings for over 20 years.She had an army of passionate fans, some of whom liked her very much. But Burns often addressed political issues during her two...

By RAY DUCKLER

Erica Marino of Fremont rolled the dice five years ago and won big.She adopted a puppy that had been abandoned on the side of a Mississippi road, part of a litter that developed a deadly, infectious disease while being transported to Maine on a rescue...

By RAY DUCKLER

Karen Smith of Bow got stuck in traffic near the entrance to the New Hampshire State Hospital late Friday afternoon.Not stop-and-go traffic. Parking lot traffic. She saw flashing lights in the distance and police cars racing past her, moving at least...

By RAY DUCKLER

Friday is Mike Martioski’s big day.He’ll celebrate a birthday at his home in Manchester. His wife will prepare something special for the occasion. Lobster, steak, veggies and what Martioski called “a super sweet dessert.” There will be a birthday cake...

By RAY DUCKLER

Casey Neal, Alex Stoyle and Jordan Reynolds seek to introduce your palate to new food in Concord.They’re opening the State Street Kitchen on Nov. 17, offering budding restaurateurs the chance to build a business without investing thousands of dollars...

By RAY DUCKLER

Kirk McNeil hopes his new business in the Thirty Pines plaza, sandwiched between a laundromat and the Post Office, will alter Concord’s nightlife in a big way.Gone is Area 23, a local hotspot that added flair to the entertainment climate in the city,...

By RAY DUCKLER

Rusty Cofrin never demanded anything from his runners at Concord High School that he wouldn’t demand of himself.For 30 years, he told members of his cross country and track teams to reach within, for an element that Cofrin believed many of them didn’t...