Here's a grasshopper sitting upon a purple thistle for you all, courtesy of Debbie LaValley.

We received a news release from the Concord Public Library detailing some of the ways you can help the library as it (and many others) deal with budget shortfalls. Save the magazines and newspapers Program budget reductions made it necessary for the library to cancel 25 percent of its magazine subscriptions and 50 percent of its newspaper subscriptions. The library is seeking cash donations…

The very creative Vicky Shouldis snapped this shot of the Concord crew team's shoes to denote the passing of summer in Concord. We thought this photograph was timely because with the cold weather right around the corner, you're probably with us in wondering where the heck did summer go? Thanks, Vicky, for submitting! Send your photos to news@theconcordinsider.com. Be sure to include…

If you ever doubted Concord’s talent, attend a Poetry Society of New Hampshire meeting and all your doubts will go out the door. On the third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m., poetry society members congregate at Gibson’s Bookstore, 27 S. Main St., to listen to a featured poet and participate in an open mic. As luck would have it, the third Wednesday of this month is right around…

Last month, we collected responses for the first-ever Insider readers favorites awards. We came up with 24 categories and asked you, readers (aka the reason we exist), to tell us who and what you liked best in Concord. There were some pretty close calls and all-out fights when it came time to tally the results, but one thing's for sure: You people know what you like and you stick to it. (This became rather clear…

You've got to read this. It's a classic. But you have to do it out loud. At the library. The Concord Public Library and the Community Players of Concord will host a free "Countdown to Adventure Read-In" of the "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" starting Friday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m., in conjunction with the Children's Theater Project rendition of the classic at the Audi that night. The reading…