The Comfort Inn has received a 2008 Platinum Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International, Inc., a lodging franchisor. The Choice Preferred Platinum Award is one of the highest honors a Choice Hotels property can receive. Recipient properties meet the highest standards of customer service, housekeeping, and product quality. The Concord Comfort Inn earned this award because it met several key thresholds that are important to achieving guest satisfaction. First, the hotel scored high marks for cleanliness and property maintenance. Second, they maintained a low ratio of guest complaints. Third,…

Tom Geno, president of the Concord Lions Club and Lori McIntosh, co-chairman of Race Fever, regretfully announce that the event has been cancelled for 2009 due to lack of sufficient sponsorship. Airgas and their associates have been great sponsors in the past. Airgas provided us the monetary support to put on this fundraiser for the past two years and without them, the event couldn't have been run. Airgas Northeast wanted to return again this year, but the ailing economy forced them to pull back. We would also like to thank Merrimack County Savings Bank, N.H. Radio Network, Courtyard Marriott and…

The School of Art at the Kimball-Jenkins Estate, 266 N. Main St., is a highly regarded provider of visual arts education. Helping the school fulfill its mission is a group of volunteers known as the "School of Art Advisory Team," or SAAT. SAAT's purpose is to support the school of art by providing scholarships for talented and aspiring artists of all ages. To raise money for the scholarships, SAAT will hold a number of fundraising events throughout the year, including the annual wine-tasting event in October. SAAT needs volunteers to help conceptualize, plan and carry out these events. If interested,…

Katie: I was thinking we could make cut-out valentines for the next issue . . . you know, something that says "I choo-choo-choose you." Cassie: Isn't that from a Simpson's episode? Katie: I don't know. I only watch television shows for mature adults. Cassie: Why don't we do Valentine's Day trading cards? Katie: Yes! Heartthrob trading cards! And so, the concept of Insider trading cards was born. Our first set of…

Imagine a first date where there's very little awkwardness, the location for dinner and the movie is completely at your discretion and there's no question that you'll get along splendidly with your date. In fact, even though it may be a first date, you already know this person quite well. I'm proposing that this Valentine's Day, your dream date is yourself. This can be in lieu of a…

Nearly 80 new prints by 45 New Hampshire artists are featured in "Prints of the Year 2009" at Franklin Pierce Law Center, 2 White St. The exhibit is open daily, free of charge, through April 3. The public is welcome to attend a reception for the artists on Friday evening, Feb. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. Participating artists will bring portfolios of their work featuring additional prints for examination and purchase. Participants include nationally and internationally-known printmakers, professional artists and several printmaking students from New Hampshire. The exhibit is on view weekdays, from 8…