Some girls have all the luck – and Ally Smith, 26, of Concord, happens to be one of them. Well, we can’t speak for her entire life, but she can count Feb. 12 as one of her luckier evenings. Not only did she perform in Neil Berg’s “100 Years of Broadway” at the Capitol Center for the Arts after winning a contest, but when she was done singing – her boyfriend, James Thorpe,…

Thank you to the eight people who participated in our online poll. We know that there were technical difficulties (ours) and much better things to do (yours), but you eight intrepid readers logged on to theconcordinsider.com and weighed in anyway. And now, drum roll please, the results. The question: Concord's city council is looking for ways to save money. One idea getting kicked around city hall involves asking local businesses to sponsor swimming pools. The arrangement could save the city $70,000. What do you think? Should the city partner with businesses to pay for pools? 63 percent of you…

Aw shucks, Tom. You shouldn’t have. That’s what the residents of Penacook Village will be saying when they see the new tax maps of their neighborhood. According to City Manager Tom Aspell’s weekly memo, the maps will help guide future property tax assessments. That’s why it’s important for property owners to check the maps for errors. The maps will be on display at the Penacook Community Center on March 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5:30 to 8 p.m. and on March 20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents can also log on to concordnh.gov and click the link that says “Penacook Village Preliminary…

There are many service organizations in the Concord area, and every now and again, we like to spotlight one of them, telling you about the cool people involved and what the group is doing to make Concord a better place. Enter the Woman's Club of Concord. The group offers social, educational and volunteer opportunities for its 130 members. And thanks to a donation made in 1919, it also has its own headquarters on…

The Concord Winter Farmers' Market will run on Feb. 27, March 27 and a possible April date. Stop by from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and bask in the warmth of the greenhouse at Cole Gardens, 430 Loudon Road, while shopping for seafood, meat, dairy, fresh fruit and vegetables, jams and jellies, Joan's Famous Composting Worms, body care products and more local food and products. For more information,…

The spring portion of the Walker Lecture Fund's 113th season opens on Wednesday evening, March 3, at the Concord City Auditorium with Jay Daly and the New England Brass in a program called "The New England Brass Plays Gershwin (And Other Musical Gems)." As with all Walker Lecture events, admission is free and no tickets are required. Doors to the auditorium will open at 7 p.m. and the program begins at 7:30 p.m. Highlights of the program include trumpeter Jay Daly, leader of the New England Brass, in "A Tribute to Five Decades of Popular Trumpet Solos" and noted pianist George Lopez with Gershwin's…