The Music Hall and Strawbery Banke Museum Present Vintage Christmas

New this year: Vintage Christmas Pop-Up Market, extended free trolley service, Market Square Carolers

PORTSMOUTH—
“We have a real shot at becoming the Christmas Capital of North America.” That’s how Music Hall executive director Patricia Lynch put it to the hearty agreement of the community collaborators who make Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth happen each year. At a gathering to start planning for the seventh year of this citywide event, they agreed that Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth steeps the entire destination in the incomparable, authentic sense of a classic New England holiday.
Presented by cultural anchors The Music Hall and Strawbery Banke Museum, it’s a month of Strolls, Shows and Stayovers in the historic seaport of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Listed as “one of the Top 100 Events in North America” (ABA) and “one of the Top Ten Things not to miss in New England” (Boston Globe), Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth has people returning year after year to the small city that Travel Guide of America calls “the crowning glory of the New Hampshire Seacoast.” Now in its seventh year, Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth will once again offer the irresistible Candlelight Stroll that Strawbery Banke Museum has created for 32 years, the live holiday shows, opera broadcasts and films in The Music Hall’s landmark Historic Theater and the new intimate Music Hall Loft on Congress Street, and the welcoming stays in the elegant and delightful holiday downtown. There are many components to the event that stretches over the month of December. In addition to the live holiday programs, The Music Hall this year adds the new Music Hall Loft to the party, with a Vintage Christmas Pop-Up Market in the Loft to make it easy for visitors and locals to get in the spirit of the season.
Now in its 32nd year, the Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Banke Museum continues to bring alive family holidays through nearly 400 years of Portsmouth history with each century’s own local traditions: harpsichords in the Chase House, fiddles in the Cider Shed, a dramatic Victorian Christmas tree at the Goodwin’s and sizzling potato latkes in the Russian Jewish 1920s home of the Shapiros. Each historic house vignette is lit by flickering candles in wood and glass lanterns and tiny white lights (a perfect atmosphere for a romantic proposal, which is exactly what happened a year ago).
Connecting these sparkling moments in holiday time are the vibrant streets of Portsmouth, brick sidewalks hung with wreaths, 19th century storefronts (tax-free shopping in New Hampshire!) festooned with the makings for the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Holiday Doors of Portsmouth competition. New this year are the Market Square Carolers, middle school choirs who will be serenading shoppers in the downtown. The City of Portsmouth itself adds a free Vintage Christmas Trolley to the mix, providing a comfortable ride around the downtown loop of shops, hotels, parking, and performance sites—with two new stops this year, one at Vaughan Mall with access to both Music Hall venues on Chestnut and Congress Streets, and the other at the Sise Inn, providing access to the parking at the Masonic lot. The popular Trolley shuttles patrons around the historic seaport each Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening for the first three weekends in December. And hotels, including the Sheraton Portsmouth, offer packages that tie the whole experience up with a bow.
Lynch continues, “Make your plans now for the perfect holiday visit during Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth. Get ready to cuddle up with a free trolley ride through red-bricked Market Square, stroll through the snowflakes to the many eclectic shops, step back in time through living history at the festively decorated Strawbery Banke Museum, sample Portsmouth’s famous culinary specialties, or enjoy a first-class show at The Music Hall. Portsmouth is the perfect town for Vintage Christmas since it’s a charming mix of the contemporary and historical. It’s all about celebrating the winter, the warmth, the light, and our collective memories of holidays past.”
Joining the two nonprofits this year will be Presenting Sponsors Churchill’s Garden Center; the City of Portsmouth; LunaChics; Upper Crust; Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce; and Seacoast Media Group; Lead Sponsors: Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel and Weather Partner 107.1 WERZ. Great Bay Academy of Dance, which produces “An 1836 Portsmouth Nutcracker,” will be participating as a Community Partner. A handy calendar/map will be available to visitors to make it easy to get around town.
For a full schedule of events, updates and more information, visit the Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth website: www.vintagechristmasnh.org.
Photo caption: Illuminated Gazebo at Goodwin Mansion. (Photo courtesy David Murray Clear Eye Photo)

Opening Scenes: ‘J. Edgar’

By Chip Schrader

Staff Movie Critic
“J. Edgar” begins with an exterior shot of the FBI headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C. A man’s voice laments the “disease” of communism that plagues this country. After the shot of the building pans up showing its looming presence, the scene changes to a shot of Dillinger’s death mask and a confiscated machine gun. The voice continues to rant about radicals and their danger to society in an almost Nixon-esque manner. We finally see J. Edgar Hoover pacing in his office while narrating his life story just beyond the machine gun and death mask on display.
At first, it is difficult to match Leonardo DiCaprio’s nearly child-like voice with the elderly Hoover he is made up to portray. For the first scene or two, he isn’t believable. Once the film settles into Hoover’s recollections, and DiCaprio plays the younger Hoover, the seeds of believability are planted and begin to flourish. Scenes after this, DiCaprio fits the elderly Hoover as well as he does the young one.
Eventually, we are introduced to a young Helen Gandy, played by Naomi Watts, whom Hoover unsuccessfully courts as a mate, but successfully finds her to be a lifelong secretary and confidant. Watts transforms herself in this role to the point she is unrecognizable, but the most interesting, and possibly most important introduction in Hoover’s life was when he met Clyde Tolson. Skillfully portrayed by Armie Hammer, the depth of Tolson’s connection to Hoover was subtly portrayed, and as they grow together, there is a tenderness between these men that has never been seen before in cinema.
“J. Edgar” is among many of director Clint Eastwood’s fine films: “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” “Mystic River,” “Unforgiven” and “Bird” to name a few. The cinematography is haunting and hypnotic, two qualities that have been Clint Eastwood’s signature.
Drawing from a bright gray color scheme and heavy use of shadows, “J. Edgar” might have an evenly paced story line, but the intensity of the imagery is where some of the greatest drama is created. Hoover’s career spans Al Capone’s St. Valentine’s Massacre, the kidnapping of the Lindberg baby, and takes America through the turbulent Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon administrations.
With “J. Edgar” being one of the earlier Oscar contenders, it is hard to speculate how it will be recognized. The acting is excellent, particularly with the performance of Armie Hammer. The screenplay and cinematography deserve a nod, as does the direction. Watts and DiCaprio turn out excellent performances, but Watts’ performance represents a fuller transformation. The film’s slow pace and lack of edginess may cause it to be overlooked.
Bottom line, “J. Edgar” is a rock solid film by a director whose career is as distinguished as a director as Eastwood is an actor. Like with many biopics, the action is slow but the intrigue and unraveling of world history outside of the walls is gripping. While the quietness of the film might come off boring to casual filmgoers, those who love classic film noir and American history need to see this movie. It is finely crafted and deserves savoring. 4 out of 5.
Photo caption: (Courtesy movie poster image)

Passport to Prizes Kicks Off Holiday Shopping

DOVER—
The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce begins its Passport to Prizes holiday raffle program on Black Friday, November 25. The program encourages residents and visitors of the Garrison City to shop in Dover this upcoming holiday season.
Passports can be picked up at any of the eighteen participating businesses or the Chamber Visitors Center starting November 25. Shoppers may have their Passport stamped at any five participating businesses and then turn their completed Passport into the Chamber to be entered into a holiday raffle.
Five raffle prizewinners will be selected starting Monday, December 19, with the Grand Prize drawing taking place on Friday, December 23. The Grand Prize winner will receive a rocking chair (Ross Furniture), a $25 gift certificate to Red’s Shoe Barn, a $25 gift certificate to the Dover Adult Learning Center, a $10 gift certificate to Lucy’s Emporium and $10 in parking tokens donated by the City of Dover Parking Commission. Additional raffle prize winners will receive a combination of gift baskets and gift certificates from participating businesses.
“The Passport to Prizes program is designed to promote what most residents already know; it is easier to accomplish your holiday shopping here in Dover,” commented Chamber Executive Director Molly Hodsdon Smith. “You can find everything you need from our friendly, local merchants, and you can’t beat the warm holiday ambience that has been created by our colleagues at Dover Main Street.”
Shoppers are encouraged to turn in their completed Passports to the Chamber of Commerce on 550 Central Avenue by December 16 to be eligible for all of the raffle drawings. Anyone with questions about the Passports to Prizes program are encouraged to contact Chamber of Commerce Community Events Manager, Michael Mengers at 742-2218 or at michael@dovernh.org. Also, follow the Chamber on Facebook for additional Passport to Prizes information and for raffle prizewinner updates.
Participating businesses include: Red’s Shoe Barn, Jewelry Creations, One Second Computers, Ross Furniture, Janetos Suprette, Naser Jewelers, Nicole’s Hallmark, Central Paint & Coatings, Photosmith, K-9 Kaos, Strafford Appliance, Herbal Path, Noggin Factory, Philbrick’s Sports, Ralph’s House of Tone, Lucy’s Emporium, Dover Cyclery, PagePro Wireless and Dover Wine.

A Locally Grown Cornucopia at the Winter Farmers’ Market

ROLLINSFORD—

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, more than 50 farmers and food producers will be offering their own farm-grown products on November 19, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Seacoast Eat Local’s 5th annual Holiday Farmers’ Market indoors at the Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford. Wentworth Greenhouses is located at 141 Rollins Road, a mile past Red’s Shoe Barn of Dover.
From cheese, milk, eggs, and butter to apple cider, pears, pie pumpkins, and apples, farmers and food producers will be offering a wide variety of foods for a completely delicious and local feast. There will be potatoes, carrots, winter squash, onions, beets, leeks, broccoli, parsnips, turnips, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and salad greens.
Farms are taking pre-orders for turkeys (see www.seacoasteatlocal.org for details). A wide variety of beef, pork, poultry and will also be for sale. Dinner rolls, pre-baked pies from locally grown fruit, bread for stuffing, and honey and maple syrup.
Area food producers have pledged to a high standard of localism and will be offering ready-to-eat meals, soups and stews, sausages and more, utilizing local ingredients in their recipes.
Seacoast Eat Local has begun using an online resource to manage the Winter Farmers’ Markets, providing customers with exciting new ways to get to know participating farmers, what products will be for sale, and even where to find their market booths before arriving at the market. The full list of participating vendors, product search, and interactive market maps are online at www.seacoasteatlocal.org.
SNAP (foodstamps) can now be used at the winter farmers’ market. With support from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Seacoast Eat Local will now be able to offer SNAP beneficiaries a way to purchase delicious local foods directly from farmers. SNAP customers will be able to swipe their EBT cards, and then use tokens to shop with approved vendors. With 15% of Americans now receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, alongside a crisis in health and obesity, it’s significant to be able to offer access to customers who seek healthful foods for their families.
The police association will be on hand accepting donations of food – including fresh foods – for their Holiday Food Basket program, which last year fed over 200 people and supplied a boost to area food pantries. Shoppers are encouraged to purchase fresh foods to donate; pantries are seeing a sharp increase in demand for their services and those in need are also eager to eat wholesome foods. Potatoes, carrots, onions, salad greens – any product available for sale at the market would make a welcome donation. Farmers generously donate hundreds of pounds of foods at each market and the combined efforts of shoppers and farmers creates a significant positive impact in our community.
Purchasing locally grown food directly from area growers helps ensure our farms stay in business - keeping open space and good food growing in the seacoast and keeping dollars and jobs in our community. Market Sponsors for the 2011-2012 Winter Season include Underwriting Sponsor Veris Wealth Partners, LLC, Wentworth Greenhouses, and Exeter Hospital.
For more information, including a complete schedule of area winter farmers’ markets, visit www.seacoasteatlocal.org.
Photo caption: RJ Joyce and Susan McGeough of White Gate Farm. (Courtesy photo)

Friends of Centennial Hall Receive Smuttynose Rockfest Marathon Grant

NORTH HAMPTON—

The small group of volunteers who manage, maintain and work to restore Centennial Hall have been awarded a grant from Newmarket-based LOCO Sports.
Centennial Hall was a recipient of $1,500 in funds raised through runner and walker participation in the recent Smuttynose Rockfest marathon and half marathon. The FOCH has directed the funds towards the building’s electrical efficiency upgrades.
“LOCO President, Mike St. Laurent recognized the effort that goes into restoring a building of this scale, and certainly understands the mission. LOCO supports the running community, and also gives back to the community they organize races in. Centennial Hall serves the community and the FOCH looks to the community to continue to support this uniquely valuable resource,” said FOCH President Marcy McCann.
Centennial Hall is owned and managed by the non-profit Friends of Centennial Hall, who work towards a complete restoration of the building as a community center for the arts. Tenants include the Seacoast Academy of Music, Mr. Guth’s Music Studio, Brush and Palette Art Studio, and North Hampton Bridge Club. Many community groups and organizations, including other non-profits utilize the Hall as a gathering place for meetings and events.
While hundreds of students and their families are in this historic building weekly, access is restricted to the main floor and basement until extensive second floor renovations are completed.
“We have a wonderfully cooperative and supportive group of tenants, alumni and former board members, Boy-Scout Troops and in our neighbor the United Church of Christ. These people are always on board with fundraising efforts, helping out with maintenance issues, working through over-lapping schedules and, when we need some extra special assistance. This is the only way we continue to be able to serve the community as a small, volunteer board,” McCann said.
LOCO Sports organizes successful fun runs and competitive races. Each year over 10,000 runners and walkers compete in Club LOCO races all across New England.
Grant awards, community financial support and gifts of in-kind services in trade, materials and goods are vital to sustaining the FOCH mission. Please visit www.centennialhall.org or call Marcy McCann at 964-2021.
Photo caption: Friends of Centennial Hall are able to continue restoration of the hall with the help of the Smuttynose Rockfest Marathon Grant. (Courtesy photo)

Lighting Up Dover One Tree at a Time

DOVER—
The 2nd annual Festival of Trees will take place on Friday, December 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Dover City Hall Auditorium. The focus of the event will be 25 elaborately decorated Christmas Trees on display that will all be up for auction. The event will also offer raffle prizes, local choral performances and a special visit from Santa Claus.
Each Christmas tree on display at the Festival will be sponsored by a local business or organization. Every sponsor decorates his or her tree prior to the event. Festival-goers will then have the opportunity to bid on any tree they want to take home through a silent auction format. At the end of the night, Don Briand, News Director of 97.5 WOKQ, will close down all of the auctions by asking for any final bids. Calling All Cargo will be on hand to deliver purchased trees to Dover residents for a fee.
“The creativity shown by the tree sponsors is really what makes this event special,” comments Festival of Trees organizer Paula Forbes. “You will see every type of tree decoration here, from simple to extravagant.”
The Festival of Trees will have live holiday carol performances by the Dover High/Middle School Chorus and the Parish of Assumption Music Ministry. Raffle items at the event will include Portland Sea Dogs tickets, tickets to Storyland, a guitar package from Ear Craft Music, local gift certificates and more. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Proceeds from the Festival of Trees go towards the City Lights Committee who annually illuminates the downtown trees during the holiday season. This year, the City Lights will be turned on prior to the start of the Dover Holiday Parade on Sunday, November 27.
“Having the trees illuminated at night gives the downtown a truly special and magical feel during the holiday season,” commented City Lights organizer Pam Simpson.
The City Lights Committee will again be selling their annual holiday ornament. This year, the ornament features a scene of the Dover Public Library. Ornaments are $8 and are available at the Chamber of Commerce, Dover Library, Nicole’s Hallmark, Harvey’s Bakery and at the Festival of Trees.
Those local businesses participating in the Festival of Trees include: Nicole’s Hallmark, The Noggin Factory, Artisan Electrical Contractors, Federal Savings Bank, Sweet Meadows, Dover Public Library, Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, K-9 Kaos, The Salon @ 903 Central, Ross Furniture, The Maids, Dover Main Street, RE/MAX Legacy, Tuxedos with Style, Century 21 Central Falls, Wade Landscaping, Third Street Style, Loyal Order of Moose, Hogan Flooring, Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, PA, Wyskiel, Boc, Tillinghast & Buldoc, PA.

Indigenous Grandmother Visits the Seacoast

PORTSMOUTH—

Hopi/Havasupai/Tewa elder Mona Polacca will visit the Portsmouth area November 17 - 19 to share ways to contribute to the welfare of the planet and all people. The event is in support of teachings that honor and help preserve the integrity of indigenous wisdom traditions.
Mona Polacca is a member of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, a group that travels the world with prayers for peace and that has met other spiritual elders, including the Dalai Lama. Her visit includes a variety of events and opportunities for the public.
On November 17 at 7:00 p.m., The Portsmouth Music Hall’s Film Matters series presents “For the Next 7 Generations” in affiliation with the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. Grandmother Mona will introduce the film and answer questions at the conclusion of the film. Tickets can be purchased online at www.themusichall.org or the box office: 603-436-2400. Tickets are $8.50/$6.50 seniors, students, and military.
On November 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., “Balance of Life Workshop” – a special retreat led by Grandmother Mona Polacca – will give you an opportunity to practice ways of creating balance in your life by the sharing of sacred teachings. The focus is on the balance of the masculine and feminine energies in our lives, and how to foster and maintain a healthy relationship between the two. As we move into this time of great transition on earth, it is more important than ever to create opportunities for people to find the balance of the masculine and feminine within themselves, their lives, and their communities. The workshop is being held at South Church, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Portsmouth, 292 State Street, Portsmouth. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please email grandmotherscouncil.NH@gmail.com or call 207-439-6515.
On November 19 from 12:30 to 3 p.m., join Grandmother Mona for a Talking Circle, held at the Portsmouth Public Library, 175 Parrot Ave., Portsmouth. For additional information please email grandmotherscouncil.NH@gmail.com or call 207-439-6515.
Photo caption: Elder Mona Polacca, pictured here with the her fellow members of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers and the Dalai Lama, will visit Seacoast NH for a variety of events in November. (Courtesy photo)

High School Canned Food Drives Nets Over 18,500 Cans

DOVER—

St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover recently held its annual canned food drive, collecting more than 18,500 cans in two short weeks.Cases and cases of cans were delivered to Lazarus House in Lawrence, Massachusetts; one of the largest homeless shelters in New England on Saturday, October 29 by a host of STA faculty, students and parent volunteers. St. Thomas is the second largest provider of non-perishable items to Lazarus House annually, and upon delivery the volunteers unpacked, sorted and arranged the goods on shelves for the staff at Lazarus House before returning to Dover.
Since 1983, Lazarus House Ministries has helped the poor and homeless by providing hot meals, temporary shelter, job training, child care, emergency food, clothing, outreach and advocacy.
“This provides a really nice boost to the folks at Lazarus House as they rely on us to help them help others. So, it is good all around for us to serve by giving, for the Lazarus staff and all the people that will benefit from this generosity,” said Campus Minister Mr. Adams.
The STA canned food drive was held on the heels of the largest all-school day of service, Saints Taking Action, held October 11. Making a difference in our community speaks to the heart of the mission of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, and as the Dean of Studies Ron Holtz recently pointed out, “It’s what we do.”
For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.
Photo caption: St. Thomas Aquinas High School students and faculty collect and sort cans in the school atrium before delivering to Lazarus House in Lawrence, MA. (Courtesy photo)

Legos to Celebrate the Season

HAMPTON—

At Marelli’s Market in Hampton, a man known to locals as Duck has erected and put on display Lego trains, buildings, ships, rockets, Ferris wheel and carousel, all to share with the community.
For the past three years, Duck has set up his Lego display at Marelli’s during the holidays. Each year he has added new Lego items. He now has seven trains, a working Ferris wheel and carousel, the Pirates of the Caribbean ship, Star Wars vessels, a rocket ship and a village with train station, markets, pizza shops and hotel.
Duck has been interested in trains since he was a boy. He remembers sitting by his grandmothers wood burning stove playing with his trains. He also has been a Carney worker and his love of the circus life he has represented with the intricate working Ferris wheel and carousel.
The carousel is his favorite Lego creation. It took him 40 hours to construct and has more than 5,000 pieces.
The display is a must-see for both children and adults. Duck will be at Marelli’s through the holiday season. Stop by and have him show you this Lego works of art. For more information call 603-926-2764.
Photo caption: Thomas Lyon at Marelli’s Market enjoying the Legos. (Courtesy photo)

Veterans Day at the Woodman

DOVER—

The Woodman Institute Museum in Dover invites all veterans to visit the museum on Saturday, November 12, for free from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. On hand will be some World War II re-enactors and military vehicles for museum visitors to enjoy. Visitors will also be able to ask questions about the many artifacts on display in the museum’s war room display. German, Italian, Japanese and American items have been donated over the years that include weapons, flags, uniforms, medals, radio equipment and souvenirs brought home.
A new exhibit displays items related to the capture of the German U-boat U-234 in 1945, which was brought into Portsmouth by the USS Sutton. Dover’s former high school principal and superintendent Fred Walker was the communications officer on the Sutton, and his children recently donated items from that historic event that include a German cap, photos of the prisoners being transferred, items from U-Boat Captain Fehler and original tracking charts from the U-234 was being hunted.
Also on display are many items related to the War of 1812, Spanish American War, World War I and a special Vietnam display showing the uniform and Purple Heart medal received by Dover’s Ann Darby Reynolds, Navy nurse injured in the 1964 Christmas Eve bombing at Saigon. Lt. Reynolds was the youngest nurse and one of the first women to serve in Vietnam and receive this recognition.
This year is the beginning of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. The Woodman has an entire room displaying one of the finest Civil War era collections in New England.
Many items related to Dover area veterans are being preserved and displayed at one of New England’s finest science, art and history museums. The Woodman Institute Museum is located at 182 Central Ave. in historic Dover and open Wed.-Sun., 12:30-4:30. Special group tours are available. Call 742-1038 or visit www.woodmaninstitutemuseum.org for more information.
Photo caption: In 1964, Lt. (JG) Ann Darby Reynolds was the youngest Navy nurse and one of the first women to serve in Vietnam and receive the Purple Heart for injuries received during the Christmas Eve bombing in Saigon. The Woodman Museum in Dover displays her uniform, medals and photographs as a tribute to all the women that served. (Courtesy photo)

Young, Loud and Snotty: A Review of Steve Jobs’ Biography

By Chip Schrader

Staff Book Critic
Biographer Walter Isaacson has covered the lives of innovative thinkers Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and Henry Kissinger. Being his latest subject, Steve Jobs approached Isaacson about being his biographer while he was still working on the Einstein biography nearly ten years ago. This was shortly after Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The book was released only weeks after Jobs’ death, but was not necessarily intended for a posthumous release.
The first chapters focus on Jobs’ childhood. His adoption, his biological parents’ more privileged background, and his adoptive parents’ blue collar background lead all the way up to the day his adoptive parents realize this emotional and manipulative child was more intelligent than they were.
The next several chapters borrow and quote heavily from Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak’s autobiography “iWoz.” In fact, the chapters in this section mimic “Woz’s” autobiography by naming and organizing chapters after the Apple products that were being introduced at this stage in their lives: “Apple I, Apple II, Lisa, Macintosh,” etc.
Those who have read “iWoz” can almost skip a good portion of the first one hundred pages without missing too much vital information, but this fact also reinforces that Isaacson’s research seldom, if ever, conflicts in perspective. This consistency of facts about the relationship between Wozniak, Jobs, and the foundation of Apple validates Isaacson’s research. Moreover, Isaacson freely elaborates on many of Jobs’ associates’ backgrounds throughout the book, providing a small biography of each important personality that comes into his life.
Isaacson has interviewed ex-girlfriends, friends, foes, current and former colleagues. There are no pulled punches, and the cheap shots are free game, as they were in Jobs’ life. In later chapters, Isaacson reminds us of how Jobs had worked with the likes of Ross Perot, founded Pixar, and played a major role in Disney picking up a contract with Pixar to supply the 3-D animation technology. We even are given a glimpse at his part in the creation of the “Toy Story” franchise.
Isaacson’s detailed account of these business endeavors and friendships brings the reader back to the eighties when Atari video games were king, and his description of American culture’s continual evolution. The cast of characters surrounding Jobs’ life paint a vivid reminiscence of a bygone era. Moreover, the biography shows how long and how short the span of thirty years really is, and how quickly the world changed.
Thoroughly researched, and written with a balanced perspective and detail, the book reads like an intelligent conversation. It never lags or gets dull; even the explanation of the technology and business negotiations keep the reader engaged. Isaacson keeps the details pertinent without driving the descriptions over readers heads, a tall order when trying to aptly explain such a rapid technological evolution.
With all of the headlines coming out showing how unpleasant Jobs’ disposition, hygiene, and ethics were, the story provides something deeper than just headline gossip. In fact, the last chapter consists mostly of Jobs’ own words and statements on his own life. This biography is a time machine that brings every reader back to recent eras we can easily access. It is epic in scope as it covers a revolutionary personality who forged a revolution.
Hardcover: 656 pages. Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 24, 2011).
Photo caption: (Courtesy book cover image)

Updates from the Bridge

By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
KITTERY, ME—
The replacement of the Memorial Bridge that connects Portsmouth, N.H., and Kittery, ME continues to move forward on several fronts.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) has named a Chicago firm as the apparent team for the design/build contract for the bridge and the Maine Legislative Council has unanimously approved the submission of a bill by State Sen. Dawn Hill, (D-York) to allow signage on Interstate 95 to aid downtown Kittery businesses by directing travelers to them.
Other legislation submitted by Sen. Hill to provide immunity from tort claim lawsuits for a New Hampshire based transportation company looking to expand its one Maine route through Berwick to include Kittery and Eliot since the closing of the Memorial Bridge failed to receive support from the Legislative Council. It was voted down in a 5-5 vote.
Sen. Hill said Monday she will appeal that decision.
A team headed by Archer Western Contractors had been selected for replacement of the bridge that carries Route 1 across the Piscataqua River.
Archer Western submitted a bid price of $81,420,000 to replace the 88-year old lift bridge that is closed to motor vehicle traffic. The projected date for opening the new span is July 2013.
The bid opening is “another important milestone in our aggressive approach in partnership with the Maine Department of Transportation towards building a new Memorial Bridge,” Christopher Clement, NHDOT commissioner, said.
“We will get the successful bidder on the job to restore this vital transportation link between New Hampshire and Maine as soon as possible.”
Design-build is a process in which the design and construction phases of a project are combined into one contract, with the goal of expediting project completion.
On the legislative front Sen. Hill said she appreciates “the support of legislative leaders to recognize the importance of signage on Interstate 95 to the people and businesses of this area. I look forward to discussing this issue in the upcoming session.”
“The bridge may be closed, but the community is still open for business,” she continued. “This bill will help the people and businesses of Kittery during this period.”
Sen. Hill said the signage will not be billboard-type that is prohibited by State Law, but will help direct traffic to popular local destinations, similar to detour signage.
As to the tort immunity proposal, Sen. Hill said she would like to reinforce the importance of it with help from the business community. She is seeking individuals and businesses to write in support of this legislation.
“I think once I am given the chance to explain the situation, there will be a clear understanding that this bill is of emergency status,” she said. “Input from local businesses and residents will be very helpful in garnering the support needed to move forward.”
At present the New Hampshire company does not fall under Maine’s immunity from tort claim lawsuits because it is located in New Hampshire.
Sen. Hill noted that without protection in Maine Law, the transit business faces insurance issues and is thus reluctant to expand its services. Maine transit organizations are protected from tort claim lawsuits.
A date for appeals has been scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Maine legislators filed over 290 bills for the upcoming session but none is allowed to be processed before the full Legislature unless approved by the council.
The State Constitution limits legislative business during the Second Regular Session to budgetary matters and legislation of an emergency nature.
The legislative session is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012.