It's only early October but the holidays are right around the corner and before long we'll all been inundated with strains of "Jingle Bells" ringing in our ears.
This week on my WKXL talk show, "Downtown Dialogues", I had an opportunity to speak with the man who might be dubbed Concord's imminent "Christmas Man" for his many years of helping to make the season just a little bit brighter for everyone.
Dick Patten has spent the last 50 years or more giving back to the community where he was born, preferring to not sit on the sidelines but to actively participate in activities that help others.
During the course of our conversation we touched on a variety of topics including the petitions that were circulated to convince Dick to run, once again, for City Councilor. He had expressed a wish to perhaps sit out the upcoming election but constituents had another idea and Dick listened to them, as he always does.
When he's not in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Dick may be found at the State House where he serves in the House of Representatives.
Not content to waste a moment of life, Dick is responsible for the annual Christmas Parade, the City's Tree Lighting Ceremony and plays a major role in the Grange which will be marking it's 100th Anniversary in 2014.
What does come across in our conversation is Dick's deep and abiding love for the City of Concord and its citizens. Take a listen and I am sure you'll agree.
