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Cover Stories
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Friday, 02 May 2008 |
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UNH’s Jeffrey Bolster rethinks our shamed maritime history
From
the days when Native Americans paddled along the Piscataqua River and
out to the Isles of Shoals on birch bark canoes, up through World War
II, when the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was churning out submarines
faster than any other shipyard in the world, the Seacoast has enjoyed a
rich culture around the construction of sea vessels. To this day,
Portsmouth’s working seaport remains a vital part of the regional
economy and identity.
But American maritime history, which has its roots in northern
New England, has long been rife with inaccuracies. That’s according to
Portsmouth resident Jeffrey Bolster, who co-authored the recent book,
“The Way of the Ship: America’s Maritime History Reenvisioned,
1600-2000.” According to Bolster, an associate professor of history at
the University of New Hampshire, the canonical view of the nation’s
maritime history has focused almost exclusively on oceanic ships, and
not enough on the domestic ships that have crisscrossed the country’s
lakes, rivers and coastlines for centuries. The historical focus on
deep water ships and the U.S. Merchant Marine belies the fact that
America’s shipping trade has thrived for centuries in the country’s
interior.
“In other words, the real story of waterborne commerce in
America is a story of Americans trading with each other, of Americans
using ships and tugs and barges to trade with each other,” Bolster
said.
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Written by staff
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Thursday, 24 April 2008 |
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Billy Collins to headline Jazzmouth 2008
Since its
inception in 2005, the annual Jazzmouth festival has managed to bring
an array of talented poets and musicians into Portsmouth. Last year’s
events included live performances from internationally recognized
Romanian poet Andrei Codrescu and inventive jazz bassist Eric Mingus,
son of the great Charles Mingus. Multi-instrumentalist David Amram, who
has been performing with jazz and literary legends like Jack Kerouac
for more than 50 years, has made it to all three Jazzmouth celebrations
and will return in 2008, joining this year’s headliner, former U.S.
Poet Laureate Billy Collins. The 67-year-old Collins, who has published
eight collections of poetry and has also served as poet laureate of New
York state, is known for his rejection of standard poetic forms and his
retaliation against over-interpretation of poems. He is now a
distinguished professor of English at Lehman College in the Bronx,
where he has taught for more than 30 years. Collins will headline the
Super Beat Night Extravaganza at The Music Hall at 8 p.m. on Friday,
April 25. The following is an excerpt from an interview with Collins
conducted by Chris Elliott on his radio show, “Culture Waves,” on
106.1, WSCA, Portsmouth Community Radio.
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Written by Patrick Law
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Friday, 04 April 2008 |
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local manufacturer and regional artists put their best bag forward
At a time when most manufacturing jobs can’t get overseas fast
enough, it’s no small wonder that BaileyWorks has been able to thrive
on the Seacoast. The Portsmouth-based manufacturer is not sheltered
from the stormy winds of international trade, but it has been able to
carve out a sizable share of the messenger bag market while remaining
true to its local roots.
Locally, the bags have a certain
cache. Walking around downtown, you are likely to see at least one
pedestrian or cyclist with a Bailey bag slung over his shoulder. But
the popularity of BaileyWorks extends beyond the confines of
Portsmouth. Wherever a whiff of bike culture exists, Bailey bags are
often present. Jonathan Bailey, owner of the Islington Street business,
has received letters and postcards from as far away as Cambodia, all
from customers extolling the virtues of the simple satchel.
In
this Bailey nation, it’s hard to find two bags decorated the same way.
People draw, paint, stencil and stitch their individuality onto the
outside of Bailey bags. Altering the simple design is a way of
articulating an identity, interest or attitude, without ever having to
say a word.
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Written by staff writers
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Thursday, 27 March 2008 |
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RPM bloggers reflect on the trials and triumphs of February 2008
The mainstream music industry is filled with savage competition and
rabid money-grubbing, which has led to some damned ugly situations. In
a nasty demonstration of this trend, Kid Rock recently sucker-punched
Tommy Lee in the face. And remember when Axl Rose publicly challenged
Vince Niel to a rumble? For that matter, remember the Guns N’ Roses
song “Get in the Ring?” Here at RPM headquarters, however, we deplore
violence. The RPM Challenge promotes a sense of collective musical
camaraderie that has been reflected in countless blog entries on the
RPM discussion board. Musicians across the globe found creative unity
in the singular objective of writing and recording 10 songs or 35
minutes of original music in 29 days. Artists who were oceans apart
went through the same daily rigors as they attempted to balance their
RPM projects with day jobs, families and basic necessities, like eating
and sleeping.
The 2,400-plus participants who signed up this
year were propelled forward by a common motivation. The noncompetitive
nature of the Challenge, which offered no reward other than the
personal gratification of finishing, spurred determined participants to
support and encourage one another throughout the month, bolstering each
other’s spirits when they encountered inevitable setbacks, and
congratulating one another when they successfully laid down a track or
wrote a new tune.
Approximately 750 finished albums, all postmarked by March 1,
arrived at RPM headquarters in Portsmouth this year. Hundreds of
listeners will get their first chance to hear selected tracks from
those albums during the citywide listening party on Friday, March 28.
Festivities begin at The Music Hall before spreading to at least five
venues in downtown Portsmouth.
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Written by Patrick Law
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Thursday, 20 March 2008 |
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UNH professor looks back on five years of war coverage
It’s
been five years since the war began, and the U.S. military is still
operating in Iraq. The war, which many believed would be a short-term
engagement, has turned into a long-term disaster. If Americans had
foreseen such a lengthy involvement, would they have been so eager to
invade Iraq? If more accurate information had been available before the
invasion, would support for the war have been so strong?
Joshua Meyrowitz is a professor of media studies in the
Department of Communication at the University of New Hampshire. His
research explores how the war in Iraq has been covered by the American
news media, the challenges faced by U.S. journalists covering this
conflict and how changes in the news industry have tied the hands of
war reporters.
In advance of the five-year anniversary of the U.S. led invasion
of Iraq on Wednesday, March 19, Meyrowitz discusses his findings with
The Wire.
First, could you describe your research methods?
I looked at the headline coverage, the topics that dominated, and I
looked at the stories that were on the back pages or buried on Web
sites and the information that was available online, including
information where people were re-circulating the stories that were on
the back pages.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Wednesday, 12 March 2008 |
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Boys of the Lough plays pre-Paddy’s Day show
Few people
outside of Ireland and Scotland were familiar with Celtic music prior
to the early 1970s. It existed, primarily, in kitchens and pubs
sprinkled across the Irish countryside. Generations of self-taught
musicians fiddled and sang folk tunes while exchanging local gossip,
filling small spaces with colloquial banter and song.
“Irish traditional music existed only in tiny little unknown
ghettos, really,” said Dave Richardson, multi-instrumentalist for Boys
of the Lough. “To a great degree, as far as the general public was
concerned, they didn’t even know it existed.”
When Boys of the Lough embarked on its first overseas tour of
the United States in 1972, the band members believe it was the first
time any professional Celtic folk ensemble had toured in North America.
More than 35 years later, traditional Irish music has thoroughly
infiltrated the United States—especially in New England, where Irish
immigrants maintain a strong presence.
“Other bands saw that we had been able to tour this music, and
it gave them the courage to attempt it themselves,” Richardson said.
“It has turned into an incredible worldwide phenomenon.”
Richardson has been a member of the band for almost exactly 35
years. The Northumberland native joined the group in March 1973,
replacing former member Dick Gaughan. In addition to composing much of
the band’s original material, Richardson plays mandolin, cittern,
concertina and button accordion. He spoke to The Wire by phone from a
hotel in Minnesota last week in advance of the band’s show at the
Rochester Opera House on Sunday, March 16—the eve of St. Patrick’s Day.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Wednesday, 05 March 2008 |
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N.H. Sports & Social Club sends balls flying
Dodgeball
was originally conceived by humankind’s prehistoric ancestors
Australopithecus robustus, who would scratch lines in the savannah
sands and hurl rocks at each other.
The game hasn’t changed
much. Only now, instead of rocks, the players hurl six-inch,
rubber-coated balls and compete on courts with parquet floors. And,
without all the terrible rock-inflicted wounds and concussions, it’s a
lot more fun.
On a snowy night in February, fellow field
reporter Larry Clow and I embarked on an in-depth exploration of the
modern game. We arrived shortly after 8 p.m. at Spinnaker Point
Recreation Center in Portsmouth, where games were underway between
participants in the local chapter of the New Hampshire Sports &
Social Club. There we met local dodgeball organizer Todd Henley,
captain of Casual Encounters, who gave us an introduction to the
awesome world of dodgeball.
The rules are fairly simple. Each
team begins with 10 players, at least three of whom must be women.
Eight balls are lined up on the centerline as teams take their starting
positions at opposite ends of the court. When the ref blows the
whistle, four “runners” from each team dart out to the centerline and
gather balls. They then must drop back behind the “attack line” before
they can begin flinging balls at their opponents.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Wednesday, 27 February 2008 |
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a spate of mountain rescue missions hits the White Mountains
It
was about 2:30 a.m. when a trio of hikers pulled into the Appalachian
Trail parking lot in Randolph on Sunday, Feb. 17. They hoped to ascend
the Valley Trail and reach the summit between Mount Madison and Mount
Adams before first light so that they could watch the sunrise from
above the tree line. After reaching their initial destination at about
8:30 a.m., one of the hikers, Will Chere, turned around and headed back
to the car. The other two hikers, 30-year-old Alex Obert and
29-year-old Steven “Dewey” McCay, both of Arlington, Va., continued
southward. Their goal was to hit all eight peaks of New Hampshire’s
Presidential traverse and arrive at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s
Highland Center at the top of Crawford Notch by 7 p.m., traveling a
total of 19 miles in a single day. Chere would be waiting there to pick
them up.
They didn’t show. Chere waited as the hours passed, but his
friends did not arrive. He eventually contacted authorities and, at
about 2:30 a.m. on Monday, word reached N.H. Fish and Game that two
hikers were missing in the mountains.
Six rescue teams, each composed of three or four searchers, set
out at first light on Feb. 18 and spent the entire day scouring the
mountains for the two lost hikers. But heavy rains and high winds quite
literally put a damper on their efforts. The rains, combined with
unseasonably warm temperatures, produced flash flood conditions and
caused streams to swell. The weather also made it impossible to use a
helicopter in the search that day. The rescue effort continued well
after the sun had gone down on Monday night, but the searchers turned
up nothing.
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Written by Marie Gallo
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Thursday, 21 February 2008 |
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Mexican art exhibits held in Exeter and Portland
Two
Mexican art exhibits are bringing balmy breezes to the Seacoast,
reminding us of warmer climates. “Frida Kahlo: Images of an Icon” is on
display in the Lamont Gallery at Philips Exeter Academy, while “Lola
Alvarez Bravo” can be viewed at the Portland Museum of Art in Maine.
The exhibits, which both portray the lives of Mexican female artists,
were not planned by either curator to coincide. The conjunction of
these two shows provides an unexpected opportunity to get an in-depth
look at the relationship between these two important artists, as well
as a taste of life in 20th century Mexico.
Kahlo, who died in 1954, created wonderfully dramatic
autobiographical paintings—and an equally dramatic persona for herself.
She wore colorful, traditional Mexican dresses with chunky jewelry
covering her fingers, neck and ears. Her hair was often fashioned into
a neatly ornate braid on the top of her head, sometimes with scarves or
flowers woven into it. But, even without all of her favored
accessories, Kahlo was a strikingly beautiful woman. Photographers
described her as a “fascinating subject,” and Kahlo must have agreed,
because the majority of her works are self-portraits.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Thursday, 14 February 2008 |
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The Red Door celebrates four years of its Monday night music series
It’s
easy to walk past The Red Door without even noticing that it exists.
There is no sign beckoning customers to the State Street location in
downtown Portsmouth, just an unadorned entrance between AK’s Bar and
Bistro and Dos Amigos Burritos. The windowless door would be entirely
inconspicuous were it not painted blood red, which makes it stand out
slightly against the white façade of the building.
Once you open the door and climb the narrow staircase on the
other side, however, you discover a thriving metropolitan alcove with
wood floors, leather sofas and all-red walls. The scene within varies,
depending on the night of the week. On Tuesdays, DJ Beat Pervert hosts
an evening of experimental soul and hip-hop called the “Scissor Test.”
On Wednesdays, the Green Lion Crew hosts its popular reggae night. On
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, a range of guest DJs and artists
provide house music. And, on Sundays, hip-hop ensemble Pharos
improvises fresh beats.
But for many Seacoast music fans, Monday is the most exciting
night of the week. While most residents sink into the dreary onset of
another work week, a reliable group funnels into The Red Door for an
intimate evening of live music. Whether it is a solo folk act with an
acoustic guitar or an electric punk band with drums and bass, the act
onstage is tucked into the audience, as if performing in your living
room.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Thursday, 07 February 2008 |
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Seacoast communities are taking the ‘LEED’ on green building. But what does LEED really mean?
Like
it or not, dramatic change is headed Portsmouth’s way. Within a couple
of years, the outdated Parade Mall office building that is currently
nestled between Deer, Hanover and Maplewood streets will be replaced
with massive new development. As motorists head east on Maplewood
Avenue toward downtown, they will be greeted by four gigantic brick
buildings with large windows reflecting the azure sky. The ground level
of each building will feature shops, cafés and restaurants with outdoor
patios lining broad brick sidewalks. On Deer Street, an extended stay
hotel with 128 rooms will hover over retail spaces, and 28 new
residences will fill the top four floors of a building on Hanover
Street. The two other buildings will offer a combined 160,000 square
feet of office space abutting Deer, Hanover and Maplewood streets.
Carving through the middle of the development, stretching from
Deer to Hanover, will be a one-way vehicular thoroughfare referred to
as the “Broadwalk.” Lined with trees, flowerbeds and café seating, the
Broadwalk will connect all four buildings and provide
pedestrian-friendly access to storefronts. Tucked underneath all the
development will be an underground parking garage with approximately
650 spaces.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Friday, 01 February 2008 |
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lottery players buying up high priced scratch tickets
In
October 2007, the N.H. Lottery Commission made available a $30 scratch
ticket called Polar Express. Offering a top prize of $1 million, it is
the highest priced instant lottery ticket ever to be sold in the state.
The odds of winning the lowest possible prize of $40 are one in six.
The odds of winning the $1 million prize, however, are one in 150,000.
Good luck.
The $30 ticket represents the latest development
in a state and national trend of lottery players requesting higher
priced scratch-off tickets with bigger payoffs. It was only a couple of
years ago, in fiscal year 2006, that New Hampshire first unveiled a $20
scratch ticket. The state now offers at least five different $20 games
and one $30 game, and higher priced tickets could be on the way. Texas
began offering a $50 scratch ticket last year, and other states could
soon follow suit.
“There’s always a discussion on how we can
make better products that appeal to our players,” said Maura McCann,
spokesperson for the N.H. Lottery Commission. “We are continually
assessing our products to make them more entertaining to our players,
more fun for our players to be a part of and that sort of thing.”
Lottery
critics contend that Americans with low incomes and limited education
tend to spend the most money on scratch tickets. Opponents also argue
that higher priced tickets lend themselves to problem gambling and
addictive habits typically associated with casinos.
“This
is hammering the poor. We know that,” said Tom Gray, spokesman for the
National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling. “Have you ever stopped
at a gas station and watched who’s in line where the tickets are sold?”
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Written by Larry Clow
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Thursday, 24 January 2008 |
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The Wire’s 2008 legislative preview
The New Hampshire
primary has come and gone, and while most of us are still nursing
political hangovers and wondering what sort of terrible, strange
surprises democracy has in store for us next, the political work that
matters most to Granite Staters is already underway. The New Hampshire
Legislature is back in session, and more than 400 members of the House
and 24 members of the Senate are in Concord, ready to debate,
pontificate and maybe even pass a law or two. Some of the topics up for
discussion this year are familiar to voters—debates over how to fund
education in the state, questions about spending cuts and so on—while
others are new and, occasionally, weird (why is the legislature talking
about peeing in public, anyway?). Here’s a look at what lawmakers will
be talking about during the legislature’s 2008 session.
the big two: education funding and revenue shortfalls
While
legislators debate the merits of hundreds of bills scheduled to be
heard in the House and Senate this year, policy watchers in the Granite
State believe that, ultimately, only two topics will matter: the
ongoing education funding debate and Gov. John Lynch’s request for $50
million in spending cuts.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
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new laws take effect in 2008
It’s 2008, and the new
year brought a number of fresh laws into effect in New Hampshire. From
highly publicized bills, like the passage of civil unions, to lesser
known mandates involving dog penalties and hunting regulations, the new
laws will have varying degrees of impact on the average citizen’s daily
life. But, after a full year with a Democratic majority in Concord, New
Hampshire’s basic ideologies seem to be undergoing changes. While
Republicans see the latest policy changes as evidence of a left-wing,
“nanny state” government, Democrats feel they are making long-awaited
and necessary changes for the betterment of the Granite State.
Surely the most controversial law to take effect this year was
House Bill 437, which “permits same gender couples to enter civil
unions and have the same rights, responsibilities, and obligations as
married couples.” The state made available applications for civil union
licenses beginning in early December, and a flood of applications
followed. Dozens of homosexual couples entered into civil unions during
ceremonies held just after midnight on the morning of Jan. 1.
Other major pieces of legislation that passed in 2007 include
Senate Bill 42, which prohibits smoking in restaurants, cocktail
lounges and other enclosed public spaces. The divisive smoking ban was
approved in June and became effective 90 days later, on Sept. 17. Gov.
John Lynch’s initiative to raise the required school attendance age
from 16 to 18 also passed in June, although it will not become
effective until July 2009. It may or may not be a coincidence that the
high school dropout bill was numbered Senate Bill 18.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Thursday, 10 January 2008 |
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winter sports thrive in ’08
More than a foot of new
snow settled across Sunday River’s eight peaks during the overnight
hours between Jan. 1 and 2. By the time the lifts opened the following
day, the mountain had surpassed 100 inches of total snowfall for the
season, just two days into 2008.
According to Sunday River
spokesperson Alex Kaufman, a typical December brings about 24 inches of
snow to the resort in Bethel, Maine. In December 2006, a measly eight
inches fell, Kaufman said. December 2007, however, was a different
story. Kaufman had not yet tallied the final sales numbers for the busy
holiday week that encompassed Christmas and New Year’s Day, but he
knows they were significantly higher than last winter.
“It
was potentially record-breaking,” Kaufman said. “It was head and
shoulders above last year, as far as snow conditions and visitation.”
Reports
from New Hampshire ski resorts were similar. At Attitash, located in
Bartlett, ticket sales for holiday week were double the previous year,
according to spokesperson Krissy Fraser. She expected all 75 of the
mountain’s trails and glades to be open by Monday, Jan. 7, and December
was highly successful.
“We’re already at 66 inches of snow on
the season, which is more than triple what we had this time last year,”
Fraser said on Jan. 2. “For the industry, it’s just an absolute
blessing.”
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Written by staff
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Thursday, 03 January 2008 |
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a roundup of polling places for the first-in-the-nation primary
New
Hampshire voters have had ample opportunities to meet the 2008
presidential candidates. In anticipation of the Granite State’s
first-in-the-nation primary, candidates from both parties have spent
months trekking along the campaign trail that stretches around the
state. If you haven’t had a chance to get out and see the candidates,
you have less than a week to educate yourself on their policies and
make a choice. Primary ballots will be cast on Tuesday, Jan. 8, in
every New Hampshire community. With a field of eight Republicans and
eight Democrats to choose from, it’s time for you to decide who will
best represent your party as we head into the general election next
fall. What follows is a list of polling hours and voting locations in
southern New Hampshire. Help determine the nation’s future and vote!
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Thursday, 27 December 2007 |
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a guide to Seacoast happenings on New Year’s Eve
Why do
we celebrate New Year’s Eve? As a wise man with a weird
mono-nomenclature once said, “Nothing changes on New Year’s Day.” It’s
true—when we wake up on Tuesday, Jan. 1, not much will have changed
from the previous day, other than the date on the calendar. It will
still be cold and snowy outside, you will still have the same banal day
job, and your gambling debts will still be unpaid.
But that’s a pessimistic view. If New Year’s Eve is nothing more
than an excuse to temporarily break free from the tethers of your
inhibitions and celebrate life with friends and family, there’s nothing
wrong with that. Still, it broaches the question of what to do on New
Year’s Eve. Expectations of extraordinary fun are high, and time is
running low. So decide!
Around the Seacoast, there are attractive New Year’s Eve options
for music, dining, dancing, comedy and theater. Depending on a variety
of factors, including your budget, your aversion to crowds, your noise
tolerance and your entertainment preferences, you should be able to
hunt down the perfect celebration. The Wire wants to assist you on your
hunt. What follows is a guide detailing some of the Seacoast’s most
anticipated New Year’s Eve concerts, bashes, balls, parties and other
festivities.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Thursday, 20 December 2007 |
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besieged icon of Christmas battles political correctness, criminal impersonators
For
years, terms like “consumerist holiday” and “bah humbug” have been
flung at Christmas like monkey detritus, besmearing the holiday’s
shimmering, tinsel-draped spirit. This year, even Father Christmas
himself has come under attack, accused of using offensive language
every time he rears back for a good belly laugh.
A number of media outlets have reported, with a mix of horror
and fascination, that Santas across Australia and some parts of the
United States have been advised to veer away from their traditional “ho
ho ho” greeting because it is offensive to women and frightens some
children. The jolly laughter sounds too close to the American slang
word for prostitute, argue representatives from Westaff, an
international supplier of Santas. Therefore, the famous elf is advised
to instead bellow “ha ha ha.”
In Cairns, northern Australia, a Santa even reports that he was
fired from a shop for singing “Jingle Bells” and saying “ho ho ho.”
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Thursday, 13 December 2007 |
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as Congress pushes new legislation, study predicts more severe storms and floods due to global warming
On
Dec. 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed “The Energy
Independence and Security Act” by a vote of 235 to 181. The legislation
sets strict mandates for energy policy, improving the environment and
reducing dependence on foreign oil. The bill, which received support
from N.H. Representatives Carol Shea Porter and Paul Hodes, will
increase national fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks to
35 miles per gallon by the year 2020 and establishes national standards
for renewable energy production.
If approved by the Senate and signed by the president—both
questionable scenarios—the energy bill is projected to cut 126 million
metric tons of global warming pollution per year by 2020—the equivalent
of taking 20 million cars off the road. It would also save about 1.2
million barrels of oil a day in 2020, while rolling back more than $13
billion in tax breaks for oil companies. (On Dec. 7, The U.S. Senate
voted to hold further debate on the bill, with both of New Hampshire’s
Republican senators voting not to end debate.)
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Written by Patrick Law
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Wednesday, 05 December 2007 |
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what to do about high fuel prices and low temperatures
The
phones at Rockingham Community Action (RCA) start ringing before the
office opens, at 8:30 a.m. They continue to rattle throughout the day,
usually until about 4:30 p.m., when the office closes. This time of
year, many of those calls come for Sharon Brody, director of the RCA’s
Fuel/Electric Assistance Program. As temperatures drop and fuel prices
soar, many Seacoast residents are turning to Brody for help.
The RCA is one of six community action centers in New Hampshire
that help distribute federal assistance to residents who can’t afford
to purchase home heating fuel. The action centers are contracted
through the N.H. Office of Energy and Planning. So far this year, New
Hampshire has received about $15.5 million in federal funding, with
contingency funds in excess of $3 million, according to Celeste
Lovette, fuel assistance program manager for the OEP.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Wednesday, 28 November 2007 |
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in preparation for The Button Factory Open Studios on Dec. 1 and 2, The Wire profiles three of its resident artists
When
Jim Buttrick and Peter Bowers bought the historic brick building at 855
Islington St. in Portsmouth in 1986, they founded a thriving community
for artists and craftspeople. Originally a manufacturing building for
shoe buttons, the structure experienced a variety of uses before
establishing itself as the heart of Portsmouth’s working arts scene.
The Button Factory will celebrate its 21st anniversary as art space
with its annual open studios event on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and
2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
When James Morley bought the three-story building—across from
the current location of Plaza 800 and Hannaford Supermarket—in 1895, he
quickly became the top manufacturer of shoe buttons in the world.
Morley sold the building in 1947, occupying a smaller section to
manufacture mattress buttons. Subsequent uses for the building included
the canning of fish, the printing of Christmas cards and vocational
training. George and Isabelle Irwin took over in 1968 to manufacture
paper potato sacks, but railroad siding behind the building was later
condemned and the Irwins shut down their business. Artists and
craftspeople began renting space shortly thereafter, creating fertile
ground for Portsmouth’s artistic renaissance of the late 1970s and
early 1980s.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Wednesday, 21 November 2007 |
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Concord forum will address the impacts of children’s widening distance from nature
Those
Norman Rockwell images of children caked with dirt and mud, catching
frogs and playing stickball in fields, once captured what it meant to
be a kid. Not anymore. Now, the prevailing image of kids has them
sitting on couches, gaping sedately into the television, swathed not in
sunlight but in the iridescent glow of the TV screen or computer
monitor.
In a sense, complaints of this kind have prevailed
through the decades. Older generations never seem to approve of their
grandchildren’s play habits. But, could the growing disconnect between
children and nature actually have a significant impact on the
emotional, physical and environmental health of our nation?
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Wednesday, 21 November 2007 |
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the past and future of New Hampshire farming, according to the present and future agriculture commissioners
The
dirt roadway leading to the Stuart Farm in Stratham is lined with
silver maples, the leaves of which are tinted gold and yellow in the
fall. According to local folklore, the majestic trees served an unusual
purpose for former owner Charles Whitcomb, who operated the farm 100
years ago. Whitcomb supposedly planted the trees to guide his carriage
horses home after long nights of carousing the pubs in Newmarket.
A century later, the maples still watch over the road like
stolid sentinels, guiding visitors into a 270-acre dairy farm now
operated by the family of Lorraine Stuart Merrill. On a recent morning,
a herd of pregnant heifers grazed in a distant pasture, flipping their
tails and munching grass in the morning sun. A couple hundred other
cows fill three barns on the property, divided into groups based on
lactation cycles. Another barn is filled with calves and young cows in
stalls, the newest resident being Alaska, a calf born on Wednesday,
Nov. 7. Merrill’s granddaughter named the calf while they were milking
cows together.
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Written by Matt Kanner
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Wednesday, 07 November 2007 |
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candidate endorsements are rolling in, and a recent union
endorsement remains shrouded in controversy—but, does it really matter?
what’s in an endorsement?
The State Employees’ Association of New Hampshire ignited a wave
of controversy last week when it apparently reversed its original
decision and endorsed former U.S. Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) for
president. According to some SEA board members, the Board of Directors
originally voted 7-5 in favor of U.S. Rep. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). A
second vote, taken about a week later, favored Edwards by a count of
9-8.
Edwards accepted the endorsement amid a firestorm of questions
from media and union members skeptical of the vote’s legitimacy. And,
with a membership of 10,000 workers statewide, many question whether
such a narrow margin of victory accurately reflects the members’
collective opinion.
The SEA’s endorsement of Edwards was the latest in a string of
well-publicized endorsements over the past two weeks. Former Arkansas
Gov. Bill Richardson traveled to Concord on Tuesday, Oct. 30, to
officially add his name to the N.H. primary ballot. On the same day, he
received what he called a “crucial” endorsement from Portsmouth Mayor
Steve Marchand, a prominent Seacoast Democrat.
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Written by staff writers
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Tuesday, 06 November 2007 |
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Rochester is a
growing community with significant opportunities for continued
commercial growth and development. As the city addresses issues such as
infrastructure improvements, downtown revitalization and public safety,
voters have much to consider. Two former mayors are competing with
current Mayor John Larochelle to take the helm of the Lilac City, and
four City Council races are contested. Rochester is divided into six
wards, each of which has two Council seats. Ward 5A Councilor Lisa
Stanley and Ward 6A Councilor Bruce Lindsay have opted not to run for
reelection. Alan Dews and Joey Rowell will be on the ballot but have
withdrawn from the race. Ward 2B candidate Steven Tuttle could not be
reached for comment.
John Larochelle
David Walker
Doug Lachance
Jeff Winders
Brian LaBranche
Raymond Varney Jr.
Shawn Mickelonis
Elaine Lauterborn
Sandra Keans
"TJ" Thomas J. Jean
Peter A. Lachappelle
Rick Healy
Ray Lundborn
Geoffrey Hamman
Ralph Torr
Fred Glidden
Larry Goelz
James P. Gray
Charles Grassie Jr.
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Written by Liberty
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Wednesday, 24 October 2007 |
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As Portsmouth continues to experience rapid growth and development,
citizens have a growing number of concerns. The Wire surveyed all 17
Portsmouth City Council candidates on issues ranging from affordable
housing to sustainable practices to support for artists. Only five of
the nine current councilors are seeking reelection, with Mayor Steve
Marchand and Councilors Joanne Grasso, Harold Whitehouse Jr. and John
Hynes opting not to run. The candidate who receives the most votes on
Tuesday, Nov. 6, will be declared the new mayor. Although his name will
be on the ballot, Adam Hegi has withdrawn from the race.
Thomas G. Ferrini
Christine Dwyer
Laura C. Pantelakos
Ned Raynolds
Kenneth Smith
David Adams
John "Jack" Blalock
Nancy Clayburgh
Charlton M. Dobson
Steve Durgin
Leo Gagnon
William Gladhill
Jerry J. Hejtmanek
Esther E. Kennedy
Merton "Skip" Mobbs
Norman Patenaude
Eric Spear
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Written by staff writers
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Wednesday, 17 October 2007 |
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From city spending to the Toland Landfill, Dover candidates weigh in on
the big issues facing their small city. The Wire was able to survey all
18 council candidates and 3 of the 4 mayoral candidates. Mayoral
candidate Sean McCabe was unavailable for comment.
Robert Keays
Douglas Dede
Parks L. Christenbury III
Jan Nedelaka
David Scott
Gary R. Gilmore
Rick Hebbard
Peter M. Lester
Dean Trefethen
Catherine Cheney
William "Bill" McCann
Dennis Ciotti
Rick Callaghan
Mary Hebbard
Bill Colbath
Steven McCusker
Karen Weston
Thomas C. Dunnington
Scott Myers
Charles Reynolds
Joyce El Kouarti
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Written by Patrick Law
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Wednesday, 10 October 2007 |
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autumn colors should mean a vibrant economy in New Hampshire
As
the days grow shorter and New Hampshire delves deeper into fall, a
number of sensory experiences accompany the changing weather. The air
becomes crisper and clearer. Chrysanthemums of all colors accost front
porches, and plump, orange pumpkins decorate doorsteps. But what would
a New Hampshire autumn be without its brilliant foliage? The changing
leaves define the season in the Granite State, and the vibrant colors
mean big bucks for New Hampshire, as “leaf peepers” flock to the area.
The New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism launched a new
Web site (www.visitNH.gov) in June, which highlights where to go and
what to do during foliage season. It features an interactive map,
calendar, text messaging, podcasts and video clips of autumn hot spots.
Technology is finally catching up with the ancient art of leaf peeping.
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Written by Patrick Law
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Wednesday, 03 October 2007 |
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a glimpse of Portsmouth’s six sister cities
Portsmouth’s
proximity to the ocean has always inspired a sense of connection to the
outside world. Through the establishment of several “sister city”
relationships, the Port City has become part of a global community that
includes Japan, Hungary, Russia, Estonia, Ghana and Northern Ireland.
In late 2003, the idea to establish a sister city relationship
with two Ghanaian villages was brought before the Portsmouth City
Council. Several citizens had visited villages in the West African
country and decided that both communities could greatly benefit from
such a relationship. After the council approved the sister city
program, members of the Portsmouth-Greater Accra Sister City Connection
committee invited chiefs from two Ghanaian villages to New Hampshire.
Their visit coincided with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of
the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail. During that visit, a ceremony was
held to cement the relationship.
“We resolved to continue the exploration of our historical and
cultural connections and to support educational programs between our
community schools and churches, such as assistance with technology,
scholarships and exchanges with faculty and students, as well as to
foster business initiatives between our communities with programs for
micro-economic lending, trade and business education,” said Liz
Doucette, a member of the committee. Her statement accurately reflects
the overall mission of establishing sister city connections.
The U.S. sister city program began in 1956, when President
Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a people-to-people, citizen diplomacy
initiative. According to Portsmouth’s sister city ambassador, former
Mayor Eileen Foley, the sister city program became important after
World War II in order to establish a friendship network.
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