In case you missed it, here are some of the Concord Monitor's most popular stories from last month. Subscribe today to keep in touch with the news & events in your local community.

Some in the Epsom area insist they've seen a mountain lion; Fish and Game remain skeptical

Lindsay Holden looked at photos of both cats. She read about their habits, their history, their homesteads. She’s convinced that at least one mountain lion is wandering somewhere in the Suncook Valley. Or at least it was recently.

Tech billionaire Alex Karp gives $180k to ousted hermit River Dave

River Dave will be able to build a new home thanks to an unexpected benefactor: Palantir Technologies CEO and billionaire Alexander Karp, who gave former hermit David Lidstone a personal check for $180,000 last week.

Brady Sullivan to buy DOT buildings near downtown, beating out city

To the city of Concord, buying the 5.6-acre eyesore meant a chance to redevelop and beautify a valuable downtown location visible from Interstate 93. "However, after several months of negotiation it has become apparent that the City was unable to match the favorable terms of the Grantee’s offer in terms of time and conditions," Sheehan said in the letter.

Leading cyclist crashes and dies at Concord bike race

An annual Concord bicycle race ended in tragedy this weekend after a young competitor crashed and died. On Saturday, Sunapee Racing Team hosted the 40th Annual Concord Criterium, a race that draws cyclists from around New England to compete on a 1-mile course around White Park.

Salinger aside, after 50 years and 18 books, Joyce Maynard has earned her own literary fame

She’s written bestselling novels, magazine pieces and newspaper articles. She’s provided commentary for NPR, sold the movie rights to a pair of her books, wrote a nationally syndicated column for decades, and affected readers and publishers all over the country with the autobiography she wrote when she was just 18 years old.

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Grace Orzechowski, never one to sit on life's bench, gets one of her own

The granite bench paying tribute to Grace Orzechowski, was unveiled Friday at New Hampshire Technical Institute. It stands rock-solid, honoring a Concord woman who knew she was dying from brain cancer, yet made people laugh and helped them reach their potential. She died nine months ago, at age 24, but not before leaving her mark on the radiation therapy program at NHTI.

GOP press conference turns into protest against state COVID response

They bustled onto the grassy lawn of the State House to hear House Speaker Sherman Packard and Majority Leader Jason Osborne speak about the Biden administration’s recent announcement that businesses with more than 100 employees must require their workers to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

Concord High School seniors walk out of class to protest lost privileges

Seniors at Concord High School are asking the school to restore privileges that have traditionally allowed fourth-year students to leave campus during periods when they are not in class.

Communities show support for Ouellette family ahead of Saturday services for brothers

Following last week’s tragic accident, sports teams from across the state are paying tribute to the Ouellettes through moments of silence, fundraisers, T-shirts, blue armbands, or memorial stickers. The players at Division II rival and neighboring school Merrimack Valley unanimously decided to wear blue and yellow helmet decals with Nick’s No. 55. Its booster club also plans to make a donation to the family

Bow comes together to grieve two students killed in Friday morning crash

Hundreds of community members gathered at the field outside Bow High to talk, share fond memories, cry and embrace one another in the aftermath of a community tragedy. Students stood and sat on the grass in small groups, talking quietly while on the track and outside the fence, parents and family members talked and hugged, many with tears in their eyes.