Keys to the universe
astrophotography by John Gianforte catches falling stars and more
A total solar eclipse forms a ring of fire and a lunar eclipse turns the moon strangely red in some photographs. In others, the magnified surfaces of our sun and moon are unrecognizable.
Role reversal‘Leading Ladies’ at Hackmatack is a cross-dressing crowd pleaser Leo Clark and Jack Gable are Englishmen trained as Shakespearean actors with only a dollar between them. So when they see an opportunity to act as nephews to an ailing old lady with millions of dollars, they play the part—even after they find out the roles call for nieces, not nephews, and one of them is deaf and mute. Go outside and playSchool’s been out for weeks, and some kids might be tempted to sink into summer inactivity. But parents looking to keep their kids busy still have plenty of opportunities to get them outside engaging with nature and arts on the Seacoast.
The best shop in townSwap shops at transfer stations around the Seacoast offer unexpected treasures and bargain finds while diverting waste from the landfill. Children sift through boxes of toys, books and Christmas ornaments that glitter in the afternoon sun. Inside, there’s a table piled high with clothes, baskets of plastic Easter eggs, knee pads, coffee mugs and other assorted gems. An organ and an old but still functional bicycle are dropped off, waiting for someone to adopt them into a new home. This is what the Kittery Swap Shop is like every Wednesday and Saturday. Town residents come and go with items of all sorts, while dedicated volunteers organize and sift through unwanted stuff. More boom than bustAfter a busy Fourth of July weekend, many local business owners are hopeful the economy has turned a corner. Economic conditions appear to be improving on the Seacoast, but it seems almost too good to be true that the “Great Recession” is behind us. In the face of widespread reports that the nation could be headed toward a double-dip in the recession, many local retailers and state officials are reporting steady progress this summer. Federal gay marriage ban ruled unconstitutionalA U.S. district court judge in Boston recently declared a federal ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. Judge Joseph L. Tauro ruled against the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to married same-sex couples.
DES urges water conservationAlthough New Hampshire is not facing drought conditions, precipitation levels were below average in April and May, and a heat wave swept through the region in July. Such conditions increase demand for water at a time of limited supply, which could lead to temporary restrictions on water systems. Lynch bans dog racing, and establishes emergency notification systemGov. John Lynch recently signed into law a ban on live dog racing in New Hampshire. The state’s two existing dog tracks, including one in Seabrook, have already stopped holding live races and only show simulcast races on TV screens. The new law, which takes effect in January, prohibits them from resuming live races.
Eliot passes marijuana dispensary ordinanceVoters in Eliot, Maine, approved an ordinance on July 7 establishing some local control over a potential medical marijuana dispensary in the town. But whether or not there will be such a dispensary in Eliot remains uncertain.
Surette, Capecelatro and The Chemical Distance‘Sun Dog’ by David Surette South Berwick resident David Surette had the house to himself on Feb. 19, and after dinner he sat down in his kitchen with his acoustic guitar and played until midnight. He didn’t know it at the time, but the eight tunes he recorded that night would become the track list to his next CD. Concert for a Cure coming soonLast year’s Seacoast Concert for a Cure raised more than $15,000 to research breast cancer and support survivors, and organizers hope this year’s event will match that success with Boston-based folk-rock band the Adam Ezra Group, along with reggae bands Mighty Mystic and Strings of Thunder. cello in the GardenLocal cellist Kristen Miller will celebrate the release of her new CD “Walk” with a performance in the gardens of the Hamilton House in South Berwick, Maine, on Sunday, July 18. Old Crow Medicine Show returnsFresh off a performance at the All Good Music Festival in West Virginia, Old Crow Medicine Show will return to Hampton Beach for a show at the Casino Ballroom on Sunday, July 18. Strings on the HillWith its grassy, rolling fields on preserved farmland, Wagon Hill Farm in Durham seems an ideal location for some old-timey acoustic music. The Clearly Related String Band will provide just that on the evening of Friday, July 23.
'Predators'rated R The Busey Creep Factor is off the charts here, as he peeps through windows, hides in closets, and murders his way through the suburbs. Despite all that, his tragic past and good intentions make Sykes a somewhat sympathetic character. Exposing infidelity, saving a little girl from drowning, and protecting Julie from a neighbor who’s slightly less creepy than Busey himself? They’re all positives. 'Hider in the House'Vestron Pictures, 1989 The Busey Creep Factor is off the charts here, as he peeps through windows, hides in closets, and murders his way through the suburbs. Despite all that, his tragic past and good intentions make Sykes a somewhat sympathetic character. Exposing infidelity, saving a little girl from drowning, and protecting Julie from a neighbor who’s slightly less creepy than Busey himself? They’re all positives. |
