The Insider visited Second Start School to find out what kind of holiday traditions Concord’s diverse immigrant population brought with them from the many lands they call home, and how they celebrate now that they are Americans.

Capital Area Veterinary Emergency Service received a special visit from Santa, much to the delight of the canine and feline residents of Concord who were looking to finalize their Christmas lists. The Insider was there, of course, and we found out what the furry little critters wanted most to receive under the tree this holiday season.

Name: Kevin ClarkTitle: buskerHow long have you been playing music?Since I was 5, so a long time. And I've been a busker in Concord since the end of August.What is your ultimate goal? Becoming a recording artist or doing it for the love of music?I just play for fun.What's the most money you've ever made in one day? And how much do you collect on an average day?The most money…

"A partridge in a pear tree," made famous in the Christmas lyric, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," is a bird native to Europe, Asia and Africa. Here in New England, we at times call our ruffed grouse a partridge, but the two birds are not in the same avian family.The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was first published in England in 1780 and it is thought…

Each year Christmas comes. Trees are trimmed, carols are sung, and each year I write up a short, sweet Christmas list asking for peace and goodwill across the world - and for Gary Busey to rework his jaw-dropping direct-to-video release "The Ginger-Dead Man" into a Broadway musical. Each year I am left hanging.But that's not to say I've soured on Christmas; no, you won't catch me just asking for a couple good books and a new set of pajamas and calling it a season. In fact, now that baby Owen is on the scene, I'm probably more determined to play Christmas up big this year,…

I'm writing with suggestions for the Food Snob. He doesn't appear to be to snobby. It seems like he and companion Snob will eat anything anywhere. I understand the Sunoco station on Manchester Street has quite an array of sandwiches and sides he may want to review. I also heard McDonald's has a new sandwich called a McRib he may want to weigh in on.Just kidding, Mr. Snob, I enjoy reading your column. Some unusual places people might find interesting: school cafeterias - are they as bad as we hear - and hospital food - is it still bland tasteless mush?-Bob TomichA forever treeMany thanks…