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Alex Trebek: Master of the trivial still has plenty of questions

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Sun, 13 May 2012 15:59:47 EST

If 6,300 episodes of “Jeopardy!” count as scientific data, human beings can be classified as a cordial and sedate species, partial to demure wardrobes and simple haircuts. Each human displays a rigorous grasp of general knowledge and possesses both a typical occupation and a charming anecdote that defines his or her life. They enjoy using their knowledge to win modest amounts of money, three at a time, Monday through Friday, on a soundstage in Culver City, Calif. There is a fourth human who remains apart, behind a lectern near a wall of flat-screen TVs. He is also cordial and sedate. He is the host of the show. He cracks few jokes. He hugs no one.

Amherst resident’s play takes top prize in competition

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:00:25 EST

Amherst resident Maryann Cocca-Leffler’s musical “Princess K.I.M. the Musical” won the second annual Ronald M. Ruble New Play Festival in Ohio. The top prize is a full production of the play. The festival featured five original works and is the result of a nationwide search for the finest new works in children’s and youth theater.

Sharon Arts Center seeking artists for ‘Child’s Eye,’ colored pencil exhibitions

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:00:30 EST

The Sharon Arts Center is sending out a call to students ages 5-18 for an exhibit titled “Through a Child’s Eye: Youth Art Exhibition.” The exhibit will be held June 4-16 in the Members Gallery of the Downtown Exhibition Gallery, 30 Grove St., Peterborough. The submission deadline is May 19. All work will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis because of limited exhibition space. The juror will be cardboard artist James Grashow, who will be artist-in-residence at Sharon Arts from May 15-26, working with local students to create a larger-than-life fantasy garden at the Exhibition Gallery. Awards will be given, including one-week summer art camp, one class and one workshop.

Reveal your inner self at Mogi’z Masquerade in Nashua

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:00:42 EST

NASHUA – With a long work week behind you and a weekend of chores and errands looming ahead, it can be hard not to feel like a pre-Fairy Godmother Cinderella. But who says you can’t go to the ball? Let your dreams come true at Mogi’z Masquerade from 6 p.m.-12:45 a.m. Friday, May 11, at the Radisson Hotel, Nashua’s own fairy tale castle. “The idea is to bring a little life to Nashua,” said artist Julio Aguilera, who’s helping with the event behind the scenes. “To make a little excitement, that’s what we try to do.” The masquerade is the brainchild of Mogi Zagdsuren, more commonly known by her first name, who owns Mogi’z Hair Salon and Art Gallery. Mogi worked in New York City before moving to Nashua several years ago, and has an extensive background in hair design, having worked on “American Idol” and high-profile award shows such as the Grammys and Oscars. “She’s very visionary and very artistic,” Aguilera said, explaining that Mogi organized the masquerade because “she wants to bring this to Nashua to share with the community.” The event will begin with an opportunity for attendees to mingle and meet the masquerade’s many business sponsors while enjoying a cash dinner and cash bar. The main event is divided into three acts, each with its own theme, and incorporates break dancing, flamenco dancing, vocal performances by soprano Melissa Piantedosi and tenor Enrique Gill, and a high-fashion hair show with professional models. “Mogi’s making huge hairdos, beautiful, colorful, amazing,”Aguilera said. “The makeup is going to be fantastic, with the masks and all.” Afterward, attendees may dance the night away at a disco masquerade party. As this is a true masquerade, masks and appropriately fantastic attire are a must.

No easy solution to volatility of world gas prices

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:01:02 EST

Last month, Mitt Romney called on President Obama to pink-slip three of his Cabinet members: Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson. Per Romney’s rant on Fox news, the trio is behind a dastardly plan to raise the price of gasoline at the pump. Romney’s remarks came on the heels of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s own two cents. Jindal, also appearing on Fox, accused the Obama administration of driving up the cost of gas prices as part of its “radical” agenda. “Gasoline prices have doubled under this president,” Jindal said, “the highest prices for oil and gasoline in 100 years.” Actually, Jindal’s characterization of gas prices is wrong; they were higher in 2008 under President George W. Bush. But let’s face it – like almost anything on which Republicans can agree, the Obama administration gas-price-hike conspiracy theory is a lot malarkey.

Collaborative effort ripples through Nashua Symphony Chorus concert

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:01:23 EST

NASHUA – Each of us feels like an outsider at one time or another. The Nashua Symphony Chorus will explore those feelings in music on Saturday, May 12, with the world premiere of “Find Other Lights, Too,” which features choral settings of poetry by students from Nashua’s public high schools. The performance completes the fifth cycle of “The Ripple Effect,” a collaboration among the Nashua Symphony Association, New Hampshire composer Ted Mann, New Hampshire poet Marie Harris and high school students. The program seeks to connect poetry, art and music by focusing on issues faced by young people. Although the concert doesn’t include the full orchestra, the number of people involved in its preparation far exceeds most of the organization’s subscription events. From the 60 members of the volunteer chorus to the 60 more from high school choirs to the world-class organist and the heroic intervention of a Derry-based organ dealer, from the student poets and artists to conductor Diane Cushing, the concert can truly be called a group effort. Wait – a heroic organ dealer? For this concert, which also features Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” and Rutter’s “Requiem,” the organization needed a concert organ of massive proportions. “The organ is on its own for much of this repertoire,” said Joseph R. Olefirowicz, organ soloist for the concert. “There must be three manuals, several levels of memory and it has to meet the most up-to-date digital standards in order for this performance to be successful.” Olefirowicz, minister of music at The First Church, has established an international reputation as a conductor, organist and keyboard artist and will be featured prominently at the concert. Just two months ago, the organization learned that the procurement of the instrument it had planned to use was in peril.

Cabaret to raise funds for Nashua Sculpture Symposium

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:01:30 EST

No one can empathize with the challenges of funding an artistic endeavor like a fellow artist. Local singers and musicians, including this year’s Encore Superstar, will donate their talents to raise funds for the Nashua International Sculpture Symposium at “Music Works,” an evening of cabaret-style entertainment, at 8 p.m. Friday, May 11, at Nashua Country Club. The event was born out of last year’s “Love Notes,” a fundraiser hosted by TV and radio personality Arnie Arneson and her husband, Marty Capodice, with entertainment by pianist Jeffrey Moore. “We decided that we’d like to do something similar,” said Sandra Hurd, a member of the symposium committee. Instead of featuring one or two entertainers, “We decided to do a cabaret-type event,” she said. They put out a request for local singers through Craigslist and other websites, asking candidates to submit videos of themselves performing. From these videos, the committee narrowed it down to about a dozen acts. This year’s Encore Superstar, Jolene Beaulieu, of Derry, was specially invited to sing at the event. “We’re looking at it as a high-profile act that will be fun to have come,” Hurd said. “She’ll be coming, and hopefully doing a few songs for us.” Beaulieu’s heartfelt ballads will round out an evening of varied entertainments. “Some are single vocalists, some are groups,” Hurd said.

Pop culture Q&A: ‘NCIS’ romances, million-dollar game show

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:01:52 EST

QUESTION: My wife and I and many of our neighbors watch “NCIS,” and not one of us has ever seen a word about the marital status of Cote de Pablo or Pauley Perrette. Help! ANSWER: De Pablo, who plays Ziva on the long-running CBS series, has long been in a relationship with actor Diego Serrano. She told Prevention magazine a couple of years ago that they balance each other. “My partner’s idea of fun is to dress up, get in the car, pump the music, go clubbing,” she said. “I could not be further away from that.

On TV: Saying goodbye to ‘Desperate Housewives’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:01:58 EST

After eight seasons of murder, a tornado, shootings, an airplane crash and numerous car accidents, the mayhem on Wisteria Lane will come to an end soon. A series finale of “Desperate Housewives” is set for 9-11 p.m. Sunday, May 13. It has already been a tumultuous season on “Desperate Housewives” both on-camera and behind the scenes. Mike Delfino (James Denton) died last month after being shot by a mobster just days after Denton testified at a trial pitting former cast member Nicollette Sheridan against show creator Marc Cherry and ABC. Sheridan sued, claiming her Edie Britt character was killed off in retaliation for her complaint that Cherry slapped her on set; the trial ended with a hung jury. The trial may have distracted from the fictional “Desperate Housewives” universe, but it shared many of the show’s hallmarks: a mix of drama, comedy and soapy shenanigans (observers in court said Sheridan mouthed “Bastard!” after Cherry finished his testimony). For viewers who drifted away from “Desperate Housewives,” the final season has offered good reason to tune in. The writing is sharper than it has been for several years, with plenty of reminders about why viewers made the show a habit when it debuted. The recent episode containing Mike’s death included some winning comic moments with cancer-stricken Mrs.

Music review: ‘Broken Little Hearts,” Norah Jones

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:02:04 EST

‘Little Broken Hearts’Norah Jones. Blue Note/EMI. Norah Jones is tougher than she appears. Although the Grammy-winning singer has sold millions of albums by creating delicate pop songs tinged with jazz and country, her musical vision is actually quite sturdy. She proves it on “Little Broken Hearts,’ a collaboration with producer-performer Danger Mouse, who’s known for his hip-hop creations with Gnarls Barkley and eerie electronic soul with Broken Bells. Jones’ gorgeous, unassuming voice could easily have been overwhelmed by the surroundings Danger Mouse provides – the chugging blues-rock of the single “Happy Pills,” the trip-hoppy rhythms of “After the Fall,” the R&B guitar work and hip-hop groove of “Say Goodbye.” But Jones holds her own, both musically and lyrically. “Little Broken Hearts” is, after all, another breakup album, like her previous one “The Fall,” written after another painful failed relationship. Jones examines a much deeper pain this time around, though. She writes of murdering her lover’s mistress in the creepy “Miriam,” in which she offers, “Oh, Miriam, that’s such a pretty name and I’ll keep saying it until you die.” She twists the simple ballad “She’s 22” into a complaint about being left for a younger woman, while everyone seems to get hurt in “4 Broken Hearts.” “You tried to replace me, but you didn’t get far,” she declares over a dark background, made darker by the seeming sweetness of her delivery.

Second annual Bollywood Film Festival comes to Wilton Town Hall Theatre

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:29 EST

Indian cinema has much in common with Indian cuisine. Both use masala, which translates to “spicy mixture,” to please the palates of their respective audiences. With food, this takes the form of literal spices. With Indian cinema, generally known as Bollywood, it means incorporating a little bit of everything into one movie – comedy, drama, action, even singing and dancing. Film enthusiasts and the cinematically curious can enjoy the many flavors of Bollywood at the second annual New England Bollywood Film Festival at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 12. Dan Szczesny, one of the festival’s main organizers, explained that the masala filmmaking approach can be confusing to Western movie viewers who are unacquainted with Bollywood. In the West, films are created with a specific genre in mind, such as comedy or action. Each film therefore draws its own unique audience that enjoys that genre. “Bollywood just throws all of that out,” Szczesny said, describing how this cinematic tradition evolved from the traveling entertainers who went from village to village. “In order to get the whole village out, you had to have something for everyone.” As a result, with movies, “No matter what the scene, no matter what the plot, they’re going to have a little bit of everything, including song and dance,” Szczesny said. Although Bollywood does produce genre-specific films and art house cinema, Szczesny noted, the majority of movies made for popular entertainment are of the masala variety. “It takes a little getting used to, and you have to know what you’re getting into when you sit down to watch a Bollywood film,” he said.

Summer movies: The dark horses

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Sun, 06 May 2012 08:50:00 EST

Let’s play a game. I’ll describe a movie, and you tell me which season you think it will open in theaters. For instance, if I said “Meryl Streep portrays Eleanor Roosevelt,” you would say: “Oscar season.” See how easy that was? Here’s today’s brain-teaser: A 70-mile-wide asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, and the world will be destroyed in three weeks. If you answered: “summer movie season,” you would be correct. But “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” isn’t your typical apocalyptic summer movie. First, there are no scenes of asteroids hurtling toward Earth. Second, the White House is never shown blowing up. Third, there are no aliens in the movie. In fact, there are no special effects at all. Finally, there isn’t even a climactic scene in which Bruce Willis and a group of heroic astronauts save the planet. The movie, written by first-time director Lorene Scafaria, is a black comedy with serious overtones, starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley as neighbors who set off on a road trip in a desperate attempt to find the meaning of life before Earth’s annihilation. It doesn’t sound like a summer movie, does it? It sounds more like a September movie. The strategy behind the movie’s June 22 opening is called counter-programming. Despite the big box-office numbers expected for movies such as “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Men in Black 3” and “The Amazing Spider-Man,” there will be room for smaller movies to find an audience. Adults like to go to the movies in the summer, too. These are the dark horse films that could have a shot at planting roots among the giant Redwoods: “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (May 4) – Director John Madden (“Shakespeare in Love”) couldn’t find any talented actors, so he had to settle for Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Tom Wilkinson.

Not a lot of risk, but some red-letter dates this summer cinema season

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Sat, 05 May 2012 22:59:35 EST

ORLANDO, Fla. – Summer cinema is always a minefield of movies that somebody thought were a good idea – that maybe they convinced you were a good idea – but weren’t. “Smurfs,” “Jonah Hex” and “Cowboys & Aliens,” anyone? This summer is more fraught with peril than usual. Loaded with sequels, top-heavy with reboots and remakes, the titles may look familiar, making movie marketing departments happy. But the movies? A real crapshoot. Disney has so much riding on “Marvel’s The Avengers” (May 4) that it added “Marvel” to the title, lest people confuse it with the 1998 Uma Thurman/Ralph Fiennes bomb that was based on the British TV show. Universal is so hedging its bets on “Battleship” (May 18) that it opened it in the rest of the world before unleashing it here.

Organ company steps up to help Nashua Symphony

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:00:30 EST

The Nashua Symphony Association needed a concert organ of gigantic proportions for its upcoming show featuring Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” and Rutter’s “Requiem.” “The organ is on its own for this project,” said Joseph R. Olefirowicz, CAGO, organ soloist for the concert. “There must be three manuals, several levels of memory and be in the most up-to-date digital standards in order for this concert to be successful.” Olefirowicz, music director at The First Church in Nashua, has an international reputation as a music director, organist and keyboard artist. He will be featured prominently along with the Nashua Symphony Chorus for this concert.

Wilton artists hold open house on Mother’s Day weekend

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:00:37 EST

One of the best-kept secrets in southern New Hampshire is the small group of artists, fine craft makers, beaders, jewelers and pottery makers nestled in the Riverview Mill studios at 29 and 33 Howard St., Wilton. Artists at the studios will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend, May 12-13, by having open studios from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Among the new artists this year are Becca Anderson and Mary Carroll Moore, who share a studio. Anderson is a lamp maker and painter who has exhibited throughout New England. Her lamps include multilevel chandeliers made of silk and standing lamps created from copper wire, beads and homemade papers. She paints in gouache, ink and pastels. Moore is an internationally known pastel painter.

‘Ghost-Writer’ conjures spectre of a psychological mystery to MRT audience

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:00:55 EST

LOWELL, Mass. – Myra Babbage waits patiently at an early 20th-century typing machine for messages from deceased novelist Franklin Woolsey, for whom she spent years typing his novels by dictation. Through his ghostly communication, she serves as a medium for the completion of his final, unfinished masterpiece. Alternatively, over a decade of working closely with the writer, Ms. Babbage formed an intimate, albeit not consummated, relationship with the married novelist. His style imprinted in her ear, on her fingers. She alone is completing the novel, and taking her time about it because finishing the book means severing the connection with a man she has grown to love. Which version is true? “Ghost-Writer,” Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s final play of the season, suggests both possibilities.

Concert at Nashua club benefits hearing impaired

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:59:41 EST

There’s an old chestnut that says if you listen to too much rock ’n’ roll, it’s likely to damage your hearing. It’s a little ironic, therefore, that an upcoming show at the Boston Billiard Club will achieve exactly the opposite – helping those with hearing disorders lead happy and fulfilling lives. All this will happen at the Nashua club at 8 p.m. Friday, May 11, as the Dreams Heard Foundation presents a benefit concert featuring The Ron Noyes Band and Paranoid Social Club. “This is a really big deal for us,” said Kevin Reinbold, president and founder of Dreams Heard. “I had been to a couple of shows by the Paranoid Social Club and was impressed. The Ron Noyes Band is a big player, as well, having won the Boston Music Awards prize for Best Rock Act last year.” The Ron Noyes Band, hailing from Concord, fuses roots rock and descriptive instrumentation with evocative lyrics.

Windy City breezes into Gate City with Actorsingers’ ‘Chicago’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:59:47 EST

Kellie Haigh is one busy lady. A wife and mother of two, burgeoning cake entrepreneur and Zumba instructor, she also manages to choreograph the Actorsingers’ presentation of “Chicago,” which opens Friday, May 4. And yet, by comparison to past theatrical adventures, this is – if you’ll pardon the pun – a cakewalk. The last time Haigh was involved in a production of the hit musical, she played the lead character of Velma – and assistant choreographing, and assistant costuming, and helping with props. “It’s nice to just be able to focus on choreography (this time) and wear just one hat,” Haigh said. The cast and crew of the latest show in the Actorsingers’ 57th year are striving to offer theatergoers a fresh take on the classic musical. And they’re confident they have – all in a zippy, fast-paced, two-hour show. “I was wondering – I’ve choreographed it before – will I be stale, can I create something different?” Haigh said.“And I did, because I have a diverse group of actors with many kinds of talents. “It gave me the opportunity to do some new things. We even have a dance number with ballerinas en pointe.” That’s definitely a new addition to the classic John Kander/Frank Ebb/Bob Fosse musical. It was always a dream for director William McGregor to be involved with “Chicago.” It was important to him to bring a fresh aspect to a musical with which many are familiar. He achieves that in part by not having watched previous iterations of the show. “I’ve never actually seen the show; I’ve seen clips, of course,” McGregor said. “But I try to avoid seeing shows I want to work on.

‘Anne of Green Gables – The Musical” is a labor of love for artistic director of Riverbend in Milford

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:19 EST

MILFORD – Forty local children ages 8-19 have been in rehearsals since mid-February to bring “Anne of Green Gables – The Musical” back to the Amato Center for the Performing Arts from May 10-13. The musical is a project close to director Toby Tarnow’s heart. It was the first production she chose when she became the creative and artistic director of the Riverbend School of Theater Arts at the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley six years ago. “When I arrived at the Amato Center theater … in 2006,” Tarnow said, “I had never directed in community theater. My only experience had been in the professional world. And we were at the very beginning of creating the wonderful theater community of young performers that has developed here over the past six years. “In the 2006 production of ‘Anne of Green Gables – The Musical,’ we had a cast that in some cases were playing three characters.” This long-running, worldwide musical is appropriate for all ages.

Pop culture Q&A: ‘Bones’ baby, Redford acting, ‘Reaper’ remembered

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:25 EST

QUESTION: Besides having a baby on “Bones,” we know that Emily Deschanel has a baby of her own. Is she married? And how is she related to the girl who plays the lead on “New Girl”? ANSWER: Emily Deschanel, who plays Temperance Brennan on Fox’s “Bones,” is married to actor-writer-producer David Hornsby, of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Unsupervised” and other shows. They wed in September 2010. A year later, they welcomed their first child, a son named Henry. Emily Deschanel is the older sister of Zooey Deschanel, of “New Girl.” They are daughters of Caleb Deschanel, a well-regarded cinematographer and director, and actress Mary Jo Deschanel. Q: Could you please tell me what happened to “Ace of Cakes” on Food Network, one of my favorite shows? Is it gone for good? A: Yes. The series ended its run in 2011. Q: I know that Robert Redford will be 75 in August.

Louis-Dreyfus tries to overcome improbable ‘Veep’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:33 EST

HBO’s “Veep,” starring former “Seinfeld” actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the vice president of the United States, is an odd comedy amalgam. Louis-Dreyfus plays a character squarely in her wheelhouse – vain, self-deluded, prone to Elaine-like physical gestures – who just happens to work in an office next door to the White House. The result is overly broad and narrow at the same time. The “Veep” characters are so much bigger than life that it’s impossible to believe Louis-Dreyfus’ seemingly incompetent, socially inept Selina Meyer could possibly have gotten elected. But some of the specifics – situations, sometimes as small as a look or a moment – are so precise and on point that they hit a comedic bull’s-eye. These two aspects of the show are in perpetual conflict, at least in the first three episodes HBO sent for review. If you can’t buy the characters, is there any reason to stick around for the winning moments? Some have complimented “Veep” (10 p.m.

Music review: ‘Divide the Blackened Sky’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:38 EST

‘Divide the Blackened Sky’ The Veer Union. Rocket Science Ventures. What The Veer Union lacks in innovation, it makes up for in firepower. But is that enough? The Vancouver, British Columbia, band is an earnest, post-grunge act with few frills. This isn’t one of those “-core” subgenres – no screamo, no electro, no rap.

Woody Guthrie centennial celebrated by Unitarian-Universalist Church of Nashua

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:51 EST

The Unitarian-Universalist Church of Nashua, in collaboration with Simple Gifts Coffee House, will present “A Tribute to the Life and Spirit of Woody Guthrie” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5. The evening of musical performance and narrative is part of Nashua’s contribution to the Woody Guthrie centennial being observed throughout the country. The Rev. Steve Edington, author of the forthcoming book “Bring Your Own God: The Spirituality of Woody Guthrie,” said that in many ways, his work on Guthrie paralleled his work on another American icon, Jack Kerouac, and the Lowell (Mass.) Celebrates Kerouac festivals. “There are some parallels in their lives in terms of what I call this spiritual attachment to the land and the country they were a part of,” he said. “And then as I got to looking into this, a friend of mine who was very big on Woody Guthrie said, ‘Why don’t you look at some of the spiritual and religious themes of Woody the same way you had done with Jack?’ And so I set out to do that, and I found out some pretty remarkable things.” Edington headed to New York, where he did research at the Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives, delving into the correlation between Guthrie’s music and spirituality. “I would think that people who are followers or devotees of W.G. probably have some hints of that spirituality,” Edington said.

Dylan: Poet laureate to a generation

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:53:03 EST

Across the landscape of today’s cultural scene, there are but a handful of singer-songwriters whose words have the power to stand alone without musical backing to prop them up. There are fewer still who can lay claim to the title of “living legend.” Bob Dylan, born Robert Zimmerman in Duluth, Minn., 70 years ago, is a case in point. Dylan, who took his name from poet Dylan Thomas, is a member in good standing of an elite club whose members reside in that shadowy place where the lines of fact and fantasy blur and often intermingle freely with each other. The membership list includes the likes of Elvis, Frank Sinatra and the Beatles, and along the well-worn path of his long musical odyssey, this scraggly haired, scratchy-voiced Midwestern poet crossed the line from being the pre-eminent songwriter of his time to enter this realm of legends. I’ll let you in on one of my guilty pleasures. Every now and then there are times that find me alone, driving along in my car, when a Dylan song comes on the radio. It’s usually one of his time-worn classics such as “Positively 4th Street” or “Like a Rolling Stone,” and I always feel an involuntary smile slowly crawl across my face as I crank up the volume. And yes, just like a lot of people, I sing along. In my mind, “Like a Rolling Stone” may just be the greatest song ever written. From the very first notes of the massive church organ that is its musical underpinning, it’s one of those songs that sweeps you up and takes you away, a song that always sounds brand new to me no matter how many times I hear it. The passing of the decades has done nothing to diminish its import.

‘Princess K.I.M.’ takes top prize in play competition

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:59:19 EST

Amherst resident Maryann Cocca-Leffler’s musical, “Princess K.I.M. the Musical,” won the second annual Ronald M. Ruble New Play Festival in Ohio. The top prize is a full production of the play. The festival featured five never-before-seen -before works and is the result of a nationwide search for the finest new works in children’s and youth theater.

‘Peter’ reaches for the stars, but fails to catch them

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 09:05:00 EST

NEW YORK – Donyale Werle may be the most inventive visual artist working in theater today. To enter the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway for “Peter and the Starcatcher” is to find yourself in a life-size Victorian toy theater, a gilded dazzle of eye candy, with humorous cameos set in the glittering false proscenium and a glinting sea-blue backdrop for this tale of how Peter Pan became an ageless hero. Werle, who also created the fantastic American West setting for “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” nearly betters the filigreed Arthur Rackham illustrations that once accompanied J.M. Barrie’s stories about the boy who wouldn’t grow up. There’s plenty more promise in the enterprise, as well: staging by Roger Rees (forever Nicholas Nickleby) and Alex Timbers (from “Bloody Bloody”); a script by Rick Elice (“Jersey Boys”); and a starring performance by Christian Borle, who in short order has gone from playing Prior Walter in “Angels in America” to a leading role on TV’s Broadway soap opera “Smash.” Here, he plays the comically villainous Black Stache, eventually to become the more familiar Captain Hook. But there’s no mention of Barrie in the program, and with good reason. For once the show begins, the humor, wisdom and delight of the original adventure quickly swirl down the quicksand funnel of this witless prequel. Based on a novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Elice’s script introduces us to the gang of orphans and social outcasts who eventually become the Lost Boys and Hook’s pirate mates. The plot involves two ships – one called the Wasp, the other, inevitably, the Neverland – carrying identical trunks, one filled with treasure, the other with sand. The captain of the good ship has a willful daughter, Molly, who befriends the boys.

Former child star still performing at age 100

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:59:43 EST

NEW YORK – Once upon a time, there was an 11-year-old Hungarian girl with blond curls, big dark eyes, a beautiful singing voice and a singer mother who taught her how to use it. She was discovered, as such girls often are, and toured as a child prodigy. And she had staying power, which such girls often do not. At 17, she landed a role in a hit show written by one of the biggest names in show business. A great opera conductor tried to secure her services, but so did the film studios, and she became a movie star – all the more starry after falling in love with her handsome leading man. They married, made films together, starred together on Broadway and were known as the Love Couple all over Europe. They had two children.

Extras to be cast in Boston in May for Sandler’s ‘Grown Ups 2’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:05:00 EST

Sande Alessi Casting will be casting kids and adults as extras for the new Adam Sandler film “Grown Ups 2,” filming in Marblehead, Mass., starting in May. Sande Alessi Casting, the Los Angeles-based casting directors of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Social Network” and “Glee,” is seeking all ages and types and is accepting SAG and non-union candidates. No experience is needed. Those who wish to be considered should bring a pen and a current 4- by 6-inch color snapshot. The photo must not be professional and should not be a head shot. Casting will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 12-13, at Carson Place at the Boston Teachers Union Hall, 180 Mount Vernon St., Boston. For more information, “like” Sande Alessi Casting Boston on Facebook or visit www.sandealessicasting.com.

Local filmmaker raising funds to produce original screenplay

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:05:00 EST

Daniel Young, a local photographer and filmmaker, is working on a short film about the end of the world. “Final Task” is the story of the last survivor and his journey to complete one project before the inevitable. “I have been sitting on this script for years now,” Young said, “and coincidence would have it that now in 2012 – the end according to the Mayans – that we are going to be able to bring the story to the screen.” Kevin Potter, of Milford, will star in the picture. He has worked on several other local commercial productions. “Kevin and I went to Nashua High together, but it had been a while since I had seen him,” Young said. “When we randomly bumped into one another and caught up, he had mentioned he was doing some voice-over work. The entire trip home, I began to envision him in the lead role, dusted off the script and sent it to him to read.” “I read it and knew that this was going to be great,” Potter said, and the two have been collaborating on how to make it happen since. They are working to raise funds for the project through Kickstarter.com. “We want backers of this project to feel as excited for this as we are,” Young said.

Three students chosen to play in concert with New Hampshire Philharmonic

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:00:22 EST

The New Hampshire Philharmonic announced the winners of the 10th annual Libby Family Concerto Competition. The artists will be featured in concerts with the philharmonic next season. Jurors selected three instrumentalists from the finalists who performed in April. The winners are Jan Fuller, an 11th-grader from Concord; Anna Philbrick, an 11th-grader from Candia; and Isaac Schultz, a 10th-grader from Exeter. “There’s no better way to celebrate the arts in New Hampshire than to spotlight the next generation of talent,” said Anthony Princiotti, music director and conductor of the philharmonic. “The orchestra has a strong music education outreach program, and this competition provides an enriching experience and an important developmental path for young area musicians.” Fuller was selected for his performance of the first movement of the cello concerto by Shostakovich.

Nashua Theatre Guild to present Simon’s ‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:00:33 EST

NASHUA – You may not want to wish the Nashua Theatre Guild’s “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” cast to break a leg. Cast members have plenty of stairs to climb before their performances this week at the Janice B. Streeter Theater. Neil Simon penned “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” during what’s called the “Golden Age of Comedy.” The play is based on Simon’s early career experiences as a writer for NBC’s 1950s TV program “Your Show of Shows,” which featured comedian Sid Caesar. “I was a big Sid Caesar fan, specially once I saw ‘Grease,’ ” said Mark Morrison, director of “Laughter on the 23rd Floor.” “I thought he was hilarious.” The play follows main character Max Prince, played by Richard Hurley, and his wild antics in the writers room for a fictional comedy/variety TV show. Prince struggles with NBC executives, who believe his jokes are too sophisticated for middle-class America.

Nashua Sculpture Symposium celebrates fifth year

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:00:50 EST

NASHUA – The Nashua International Sculpture Symposium is celebrating its fifth year. The purpose of the symposium is to create outdoor public art that engages the public and generates enthusiasm for art. The symposium is a volunteer endeavor of the city of Nashua, City Arts Nashua, the Nashua Area Artists Association and the Andres Institute of Art. Each year, artists have been invited to Nashua for three weeks to create outdoor public art for the city. In 2008, artists came from Vietnam, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Cuba and the U.S. In 2009, artists came from Bulgaria, Italy, Israel and the U.S. In 2010, the Symposium Committee invited New England artists. The theme this year is “Origins” and will feature the turtle.

Grammy winner to perform at benefit concert in Derry

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:26:40 EST

“Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns.” – “The Odyssey,” Homer. You may have read the story of “The Odyssey,” the epic poem about the hero Odysseus, who uses his charm and wits to overcome obstacles on his long journey home. This exciting tale inspired Paula’s Cole’s latest album, “Ithaca” (2010). “Coming home to Rockport (Mass.) was the full circle,” the Grammy-winning artist said. “Like Odysseus, I’ve been off slaying monsters, and now, I’m home.” The 1998 Grammy winner for Best New Artist made the top Billboard Hot 100 list for her single “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?” She is also well known for her No. 11 pop hit “I Don’t Want to Wait,” which was the theme song for the teenage drama “Dawson’s Creek.” On Friday, May 4, Cole will take to the Stockbridge Theatre stage at Pinkerton Academy in Derry for the first time. The fourth annual concert and silent auction that night will benefit the Center for Life Management, a nonprofit organization that provides behavioral and mental health services, psychiatric treatment, acute care, emergency intervention and family support services to southern New Hampshire residents. According to the CLM website, 1 out of 4 people will experience some life event and/or symptoms of a mental health disorder at some point. “I think mental health is a new realm that continues to expand,” Cole said. “I’m happy to see them taking an active role on the issue.” Cole, who was born in Manchester, Conn., moved with her family to Rockport, Mass., and attended Rockport public schools.

Music review: ‘New Life’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:01:25 EST

‘New Life’ Monica. RCA. She’s only 31, but Monica has already had an eventful life, including an up-and-down pop/R&B career that started when she was a teenager. Still, she chose the most basic concept for her latest release, “New Life”: getting out of a bad relationship and getting into a good one. What’s more, her producers (including Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliott and Rico Love) put her simple theme in an unobtrusive – generic, even – context of uncomplicated arrangements. Consequently, Monica has to use her voice – solid, but far from unique – to sell this mundane idea wrapped in an unremarkable package. Improbably enough, it works.

Pop Culture Q&A: ‘Merlin,’ ‘Highway Patrol,’ ‘Evening in Byzantium’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:01:30 EST

QUESTION: I’d like to find DVDs of an old show I haven’t seen in years called “Highway Patrol” starring Broderick Crawford. Is it available? Answer: “Highway Patrol” “was one of the most popular syndicated programs in television history,” says “The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows.” It originally aired from 1955-59, with repeats for years afterward. Crawford, who had won the Academy Award for best actor for the 1949 movie “All the King’s Men,” played Dan Mathews, chief of the patrol in an unspecified state. Crawford’s gruff delivery inspired a lot of kids in the ’50s to bark “10-4.” While there have been various unauthorized video releases over the years, MGM has released the 39-episode first season in a DVD set that’s available through various retailers, including at Amazon.com and Walmart.com. Q: Whatever happened to “Merlin,” airing on Syfy on Friday nights? There were just six or seven episodes, and then poof! What’s the story? A: The fourth season of the series consisted of 13 episodes, the last of which aired in late March. A fifth season is reportedly in the works, but I haven’t yet seen an air date. Q: Back in the ’70s (?), there was a made-for-TV movie titled “Evening in Byzantium.” As I remember, it had some big-name stars.

On TV: James Van Der Beek talks about the James Van Der Beeks

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:01:36 EST

James Van Der Beek is tossing his image away. The so-called “Beek from the Creek” – as in “Dawson’s Creek,” on which he played Dawson for six seasons – is spoofing his public persona with the new “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23” (9:30 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC). In the comedy, he plays a “heightened” version of himself, a narcissist and all-around troublemaker. He’s partners in slime with pseudo-sociopathic Chloe (Krysten Ritter), whose ex-boyfriend/best pal just happens to be this alter-ego James Van Der Beek. The two live to torture others, most notably Chloe’s long string of roommates, the most recent being the naive June (Dreama Walker). “ ‘Apartment 23’ isn’t ‘The James Van Der Beek Show,’ ” the actor said. “It’s really about these two girls and their relationship and their dynamic and living in New York City, all the crazy adventures they go through.

Dick Clark: An interview with ‘America’s Oldest Teenager’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:01:54 EST

When music and TV legend Dick Clark died last week, I recalled the great fortune I had to interview the pop culture ambassador in 1994. We met in New York, and I was surprised at how gracious and personable he was. He had a tendency to brace my shoulder when he made a point, and the whole time I sat there thinking, “Wow, this guy really does look young.” Naturally, I couldn’t resist asking him if he had any advice for maintaining a youthful appearance. He supplied his stock response: “Pick your parents very carefully.” Clark was a TV personality and producer, an entrepreneur and music aficionado. Here are a few factoids from his hundreds of hours of television: His “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve,” debuted in 1972. He introduced “American Bandstand” in 1956, and the show’s first national broadcast aired on Aug.

Hawk displays work inspired by Scotland

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:35:00 EST

NASHUA – Jacqui Hawk, a mixed-media artist from Dunstable, Mass., is the featured artist for May at 263 Art Gallery, 263 Main St. An artist reception will be held from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, May 12. Hawk is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland. She began her art career more than 20 years ago. She works mainly in mixed media, including acrylics, oils, wax, pearlescent powders, gesso, stained glass, decoupage and unusual objects she finds washed up on the beach. Her recent works are inspired by a trip to Scotland and a reunion with her family. For more information, visit jacquihawk.com.

‘Pastels by Pauline’ at Canal Art

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:35:00 EST

NASHUA – Canal Art and Framing, 1 Water St., will present “Pastels By Pauline” by local artist of the month Pauline Daley. The original paintings include landscapes, still life and figurative works. The collection depicts quietness, romantic and other moods presented in her selection of colors and subjects. The artwork may be viewed through May during regular store hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Frost Heaves’ greatest hits on tap

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:50:01 EST

PETERBOROUGH – “Frost Heaves,” an award-winning comedy show, will wrap up its fourth season with “The Greatest Hits of Frost Heaves” on Friday-Saturday, May 11-12, at the Peterborough Players Theatre. “For this one show, we’re bringing back some of our favorite bits,” said Fred Marple, self-appointed spokesman for the town of “Frost Heaves.” “This is for folks who might have missed them before or maybe fell asleep during those other shows.” The Frost Heaves Players will feature such classic comedy bits as “The Yankee Checkout Scanner,” “MomCare (the original universal health plan),” “Candles for Men,” “Big Dog Cleaners,” “Gab-B-Gone (“When people just go on and on”),” “The Universal Support Hotline,” “If Teenagers Ran the Country” and “Life’s Little Mystery Theatre (clearing up the mystery of where clutter comes from).” The Speed Bumps band will perform oldies and present a medley of their favorite Songs on the Spot – original tunes based on suggestions from the audience. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. May 11 and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. May 12.

Library holds silent film screenings

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:50:01 EST

MANCHESTER – “The Man Who Laughs” (1928), a silent drama featuring a title character forced to wear an insane grin all his life, will be screened with live music at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, at the Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St. The film will be accompanied live by silent film music specialist Jeff Rapsis. Admission is free; donations are encouraged. “The Man Who Laughs” is the latest in a monthly series of silent films presented with live music in the library’s 1913 Carpenter Auditorium. Upcoming silent film screenings at the library include: Tuesday, June 5, 6 p.m.: “Underworld” (1927); director Josef von Sternberg’s groundbreaking tale of big-city mobsters, widely considered the father of all gangster pictures. The tale follows crime boss “Bull” Weed (George Bancroft) as he battles rival 1920s gangsters. Tuesday, June 26, 6 p.m.: “Spite Marriage” (1929); Buster Keaton’s last silent feature finds the poker-faced comic smitten so much by stage actress Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian) that he joins the cast of her production. The fun really starts when she asks Buster to marry her, but only to get even with an old flame. Tuesday, Aug.

Bard, Davison display artwork

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:50:01 EST

HOLLIS – The Hollis Arts Society is presenting Linda Bard and Ellen Davison as the featured exhibitors at Re/Max Properties, 2 Ash St. A free artists reception will be from 5-7 p.m. May 17. Bard began her “serious” painting in 1994 while taking courses at the Danforth Museum School. Her subjects range from still lifes to landscapes and portraits. Captivated by the play of light and shadows in life, she tries to incorporate those in her paintings. Recently, she has expanded her artwork by painting with acrylics and metallic medium while continuing to work in watercolor. Her works are in collections in New England, New York, Georgia and Florida.

Baroness provides retreat for writers, mourns a Europe in decline

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:59:59 EST

NEW YORK – “May I offer you coffee? Water? Vodka?” Baronessa Beatrice Monti della Corte asked as she welcomed me into her Upper East Side apartment. Monti, widow of the fabled novelist of old Europe Gregor von Rezzori, led me into her book-strewn living room, where she sat down, flanked by a polished-stone Noguchi sculpture to her left and a wheezing pug to her right. A slender woman with elegantly coiffed silver hair, Monti has been in the thick of artistic ferment for more than half a century. Monti, now in her mid-80s, is eager to talk about her Santa Maddalena Foundation, a writers retreat held on her estate. The splendid property in Tuscany, with cook and swimming pool, has attracted such literary superstars as Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk, Michael Cunningham, Edmund White and Zadie Smith. By now, she has hosted almost 150 writers from more than 40 countries, raising fellowship funds to support the activities of her nonprofit foundation. She spoke to me a few days before leaving for Santa Maddalena, where preparations for the arrival of this year’s artists had already begun. QUESTION: You’re known for your writers retreat, but you’ve also had a career in art. ANSWER: I had a gallery in Milan for 20-something years, where I introduced American and British artists to Italy. I showed Robert Rauschenberg in 1962. At that time, Milan was the capital of culture, not just of fashion. It was a wonderful place to have a gallery. Everyone was there: Eugenio Montale, the poet, and Italo Calvino, the author, would just come by my gallery. Q: Why did you shut it down? A: My husband preferred Tuscany – he never wanted to go to Milan.

Ballerina Teresa Reichlen at the top of her game after overcoming doubts

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:00:06 EST

That body. Those legs. She was just 10, but Teresa Reichlen made an impression on her new ballet teacher before she’d even danced a step. “I’m walking around assessing my new young students, and I walked by her and did a double take,” said Margaret Virkus, recalling the day Reichlen, now one of New York City Ballet’s most prized ballerinas, showed up in her class. It wasn’t often that a child holding so many aces walked into the storefront studios of the Russell School of Ballet, tucked away in an office park in Chantilly, Va. “She had the perfect physique: long, lanky, straight legs with a lot of rotation in the hips. Beautifully arched feet,” Virkus said.

Currier Museum offers artistic family activities for school vacation week

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:00:50 EST

MANCHESTER – Spend the morning, afternoon or make a day of it at the Currier Museum of Art during April school vacation week, April 23-27. The museum is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday-Friday. Admission to the Currier is always free for children 17 and younger, but adults are admitted free during vacation week, too. The free admission is supported by Citizens Bank Foundation. “Citizens Bank Foundation is proud to partner with the Currier to offer free admission to the museum during April school vacation week,” said Joe Carelli, president of Citizens Bank New Hampshire.

Palace Theatre goes pink for ‘Legally Blonde’

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:01:09 EST

MANCHESTER – The Palace Theatre will continue its 2012-13 Professional Theatre Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series with the New Hampshire stage premiere of “Legally Blonde, the Musical,” opening at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4. The show will run through May 19. This spring, the Palace Theatre will be wearing Elle Woods’ signature color, hot pink. As “Legally Blonde, the Musical” comes to the Palace, the theater will be dressed in pink with lights and bows, the lobby will be cast in a pink haze and the bar will offer a pink cocktail special chosen by a winning Palace Theatre Facebook fan. “Legally Blonde,” the hilarious MGM film turned Broadway hit musical, follows sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn’t take no for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. “As the Palace turns pink for ‘Legally Blonde,’ it is only befitting that we take this opportunity to raise awareness and ask our generous audiences to think pink and support the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition’s work at the state and national levels in the fight against breast cancer,” said Peter Ramsey, CEO and president of the Palace Theatre. Tickets are $15-$45.

Snare some excitement at first N.H. Drum Fun

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:01:01 EST

For drummer Tom Mungovan, of Merrimack, coordinating N.H. Drum Fun, a competition for amateurs, has been like a “Field of Dreams” experience in fast forward. Like Kevin Costner’s character in the film, Mungovan has discovered that if he builds it, they will come. New Hampshire’s drumming community has leaped at the opportunity to participate in this inaugural event, with performance slots filling up within a week and a wait list of close to 50 names. N.H. Drum Fun will be from 6-9:30 p.m.

Music is a draw for elementary students in Bedford, Nashua, Litchfield

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:01:10 EST

In the arts, as in life, connections lead to opportunities. For the fourth-grade students at Bedford Memorial Elementary School, their music teacher’s connection to the New Hampshire Philharmonic led to the opportunity to participate in the orchestra’s “Drawn to the Music” program. As a result, seven students from Bedford Memorial, along with students from Main Dunstable Elementary School in Nashua and St. Francis of Assisi School in Litchfield, will have their art projected onto a screen above the stage during the New Hampshire Philharmonic’s performance of “Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky. The concert, which will also feature Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” and a concertina by Weber, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. Each year, the New Hampshire Philharmonic selects a piece of music and asks students in grades 1-6 throughout the state to listen to it and create an illustration in response to what they hear. The philharmonic then chooses among the submitted drawings and assembles a choreography of images to accompany the music. Each drawing remains on the projection screen for several seconds during the orchestra’s performance of the piece. This is Bedford Memorial’s third year participating in the program, which came to the school’s attention through music teacher Amanda Scarpaci’s involvement with the philharmonic. Scarpaci, a violinist, performed in her first “Drawn to the Music” concert with the philharmonic four years ago. “After playing in the concert, I thought it would be a neat thing for the kids to do,” she said. Scarpaci collaborates regularly with the school’s art teacher, Martha Westlund-Kimball, and suggested they work together on “Drawn to the Music.” Westlund-Kimball’s enthusiasm for the program matched Scarpaci’s, as did that of the administrators. “There’s a strong integrated arts team here at this school,” Westlund-Kimball said.

Warmer, dry weather threatens local farms

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:01:31 EST

Take a walk through the orchards in Hollis’ town center, enjoying the firm, dry paths beneath your sneakers and the warm breeze against your face. Walk by rows of peach trees pushing out pink blossoms and note the field hands gently raking the protective winter coating of straw off the rows of strawberries. In the distance, you may see a cloud of dust as a tractor turns the soil, preparing a field for the first of the spring plantings. That sounds like the perfect spring day on the farm doesn’t it? But not everyone is feeling as carefree when walking the fields. A warmer than average winter, the lack of snow and rain, and an early burst of high temperatures have local farmers observing this scene with concern. Vegetable plants are doing well in the controlled environment of greenhouses, but the fruit crops are most vulnerable to the weather shifts right now. March temperatures that hovered in the 70s and 80s encouraged fruit tree blossoms to appear six weeks too early. This early budding of fruit trees and strawberry plants added four to six weeks of unwanted exposure to potential frost and freezing temperatures that could significantly damage or destroy acres of fruit crops.

New Hampshire music stores get ready for Record Store Day

onlineeditor@nashuatelegraph.com — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:02:04 EST

Between big box stores, online shopping and paid downloads, many music enthusiasts haven’t been inside an actual record store in quite some time. There’s no better day to schedule your triumphant return than Record Store Day, celebrated annually on the third Saturday of April. This year, the holiday falls on April 21. According to the Record Store Day website, www.recordstoreday.com, the holiday was established in 2007 with the goal of bringing musicians and independently owned record stores together in celebration of the art of music. To this end, musicians issue special vinyl or CD releases exclusively for Record Store Day. Some releases are available only on the holiday and others are available for longer periods, but they’re only available at independently owned brick-and-mortar record stores. Because there are limited numbers of each release and orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, stores often aren’t sure what they’re getting until Record Store Day arrives. “There are hundreds of titles being released on that day,” said Bill Proulx, general manager of Metro City Records in Manchester. “There’s always a little bit of something for somebody somewhere.” Metro City Records has officially participated in Record Store Day for three years, participating unofficially the year before that.