Author: Rick Broussard

Just 150 years ago, one of the most illustrious female orchestral composers in American history was born in Henniker. It’s sad to think that most Granite Staters have never heard her music.

The news told of the horrors of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, but I kept thinking about the brave work of first responders, volunteers and hospital personnel in the wake of such a nightmare.

Building on Hope, a remarkable effort that began in a conference room here at our offices, has a new extreme makeover project — but for this one, the location has to remain a secret.

“In wildness is the preservation of the world,” wrote Henry David Thoreau. Now, physicians and scientists are suggesting that wildness may be the preservation of good health as well.

It may not be one of the first adjectives that come to mind when describing the Granite State, but when people (or states) describe themselves as “cool,” it’s often a sign that they aren’t.

“I wish that in the ear of every son and daughter of New Hampshire, in the summer days, might be heard whispered the persuasive words: Come back, come back.” — Gov. Frank Rollins, 1897

Heroics are often associated with a singular response in a moment of crisis, but what about a whole world in the aftermath of war? What do you call the thousands who answer the call?

My very first note as editor of the precursor of this magazine was for the May issue, back in 1993. Naturally, I took advantage of the column to sneak in a quick “Happy Mother’s Day” to my mom.

I borrowed the above title from a quotation cited by one of this year’s top doctors; mostly because I love big, useful and obscure words, but it also sums up so much in this issue.

My first foray into editing was a high school underground newspaper, cryptically titled The Shibboleth. It was intended to be revolutionary, but it included fashion notes.

With films like “The Secret Life of Pets” and “A Dog’s Purpose,” it’s easy to imagine that family pets have their own stories to tell. But it wasn’t always so.

I first met John Harrigan in 1989, which probably seems like a long time ago to anyone under 50. To me, it seems like yesterday afternoon.

In this age of storage units and overpacked garages, the “attic” has become a cartoon cliché. But real attics hold more than just stuff.

“Pam Smart?” replied my young friend. “I know the name, but I don’t know why.” It took only a few words to freshen his memory.

Most geographic boundaries are only visible on maps, but we still benefit from examining them up close and personally.

New Hampshire Magazine Editor Rick Broussard reflects on the passing of Van McLeod.

Yo. New Hampshire. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and temperate.

Our Best of NH deadline falls just as summer wishes take shape. This year, for my family, there's also a wedding.

Summer is about expanding horizons, but it’s also a chance to look at some familiar things in a new way.

“We enhance stockholder value through strategic business initiatives by empowered employees working in new team paradigms.”

To keep a reader engaged, the most colorful language pales next to a simple situation that compels the mind to wonder, “What’s next?”

Comedian Louis C.K. has a famous routine where he mocks those who agonize over what to do with their lives. He demonstrates his answer by pointing to his mouth and saying, “Just put food in here.”

Family pets are more than just furry, drooling, hair-shedding, furniture-scratching consumers of costly veterinary services.

Who doesn’t want to give the future a piece of their mind?

Here in the season of giving, it’s a good time to consider a certain set of gifts — the kind we never wanted and would have said “No, thanks,” if anyone had asked.

Does anyone besides me remember the “Edmund Scientific Catalog?” Its arrival in the mail was like a secular Christmas.

Graveyards freak people out. I still remember a childhood playmate telling me, long ago, you have to hold your breath while walking or driving past one or you might “inhale a ghost.”

Call it a walkabout, a pilgrimage or a spirit quest, but the idea is basically this: You’re so busy and burdened that to get back in step with your life you’ve got to walk away from it for awhile.

Having lived in concord for nearly 30 years, i’ve somehow become one of the old-timers who can say, “I remember when ...”