New Hampshire Honors Fallen Heroes

By Larry Favinger

Staff Columnist
RYE—
On Sunday, August 21, those members of the Armed Services who have lost their lives in service to their country since 9/11 will be honored.
A Run for the Fallen New Hampshire, a 12-mile loop, will start and end at Odiorne State Park. Runners will be able to run the entire race or any portion thereof as trolleys follow the route to pick up anyone who’d like to stop, Julie Hurrie, one of the run’s organizers, said.
Along the run will be placards with soldier’s photos and information about them. Next to the photos will be families of the fallen.
Hurrie said the run is just as much about the families as it is about those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
All runners will wait and gather about a quarter mile from the end of the race so all can finish together in what she termed “a finish in gratitude.”
Ms. Hurrie has run in Maine’s Run for the Fallen the last couple years, including last year’s run from Ogunquit to Portland.
She said he’s been “kind of waiting for someone to start one” in New Hampshire. “I got tired for waiting.”
As of early this week, 130 runners had registered for the run, but Hurrie expects the field to be at least 175 to 200 by the time it begins.
The object of the run is “a way for our citizens who enjoy their freedom to show their appreciation” to those who have given their lives to protect it.
She said many individuals, organizations and businesses have stepped up to help in the run.
Opening ceremonies will be kicked off with the reading of the names of New Hampshire’s heroes. This will be followed by a 21-gun salute by the Marine Corps League and a color guard ceremony by the ROTC of Winnacunnet High School in Hampton.
Following the run, runners, volunteers, and families of the fallen will have a free lunch provided by Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Entertainment will be provided by an Air Force rock band.
More information, including a listing of the fallen and the event’s sponsors, are available on the web at runforthefallennh.com.
This is a free event for everyone involved. It is funded by donations from the public and from businesses including Carrabba’s, Kittery Trading Post, Grappone Auto, Home Depot, Globe, UBS, Marshall’s Rentals, Leddy Grup, and the New Hampshire State Parks and the NH Civil Air Patrol.
Photo caption: A Run for the Fallen New Hampshire will take place at Odiorne State Park on August 21. (Courtesy image)

Annual Hampton Beach Children’s Festival Returns

HAMPTON BEACH—

Join the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hampton Beach Village District for five days of free fun for children of all ages at the Annual Hampton beach Children’s Festival, Monday August 15 through Friday, August 19.
Presented by TD Bank and jam-packed with music, balloons, dance, storytelling, puppetry, and much more, this is sure to be the most exciting Children’s Festival ever! The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival kicks off with a magic show and builds up to a Giant Costume Parade that marches almost the length of Hampton Beach on Friday, August 19. Every child gets a prize just for being in it! Tons of entertainment has also been added, including a train for the parade and a performance by the Extreme Air Jump Rope Team.
Each day will be a blockbuster filled with non-stop activity and entertainment, including mini-golf, a Ronald McDonald show, dancing, story tellers, balloons, face painting and more. There is even a kids’ bumper sticker contest.
All Children’s Festival activities are free and open to the public. For more information call the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce office at (603) 926-8717 or visit the website at www.hamptonbeach.org for a complete Children’s Festival schedule and other Hampton Beach events.
Photo caption: The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival will take place Monday, August 15 through Friday, August 19. (Courtesy photo)

The Summer Film Review

By Chip Schrader
Movie Reviewer
The big story on Box Office Mojo’s website reports the summer box office has been hot in 2011 with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” grossing over 1 billion dollars worldwide, and “Transformers 3” approaching that staggering number. We have seen comic book heroes hit the screen, low brow comedies, and plenty of sequels that are guaranteed to gross a few dollars for the studios. The industry saves Oscar potential films later in the year and into the next year, and pedals the popcorn-pushing pop culture flicks, often with a side of cheese, for the summer.
This has been the year of the comic book hero. We have seen “Green Lantern,” “Thor,” and “X-Men: First Class” released in the earlier wave of summer releases. In the latter half, we are reintroduced to “Captain America” and “Cowboys & Aliens.”
According to boxofficemojo.com, “Captain America” has only been out since July 22, yet it has already rolled in $117 million worldwide. It stars Chris Evans, Stanley Tucci and Tommy Lee Jones to ensure it has the star power to please audiences. “Pulp Fiction” fans will also see an appearance by Samuel L. Jackson. A new “Captain America” treatment has been long awaited, as the 1990 attempt has aged to the point it looks twenty years older (rightfully so).
“Cowboys & Aliens” pairs the legendary Harrison Ford with the latest James Bond Daniel Craig. John Favreau is the director, his most memorable onscreen moment of recent years being vomited upon by Paul Rudd’s character Peter Klaven in “I Love You Man.” In its first weekend alone it had already grossed a respectable 37 million, topping the box office. This looks like it may have enough cheese, humor and action to delight audiences, but between Ford and Craig, the acting talent implies that this is either a brilliant script, or the studio offered a boatload of cash.
Following up on “The Hangover Part II” and “Bridesmaids” earlier this summer, “Horrible Bosses” and “Bad Teacher” hope to cash in on unsavory characters with a belly full of laughs. Among the many “Horrible Bosses” stars are Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell. Aniston and Farrell are well disguised in these films as they play in unexpected roles as Bateman leads his two friends in a plot to kill their cruel employers. Surprisingly in this economy, it is not considered a threat to national security.
“Horrible Bosses” director, Seth Gordon’s, first film – the documentary “The King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters” – documents one man’s fight to defeat and prove his record high score in the Donkey Kong arcade game. This gem is available on streaming Netflix and is worth the watch just for the eccentric characters who frequent the arcade. Gordon has earned a place in many cult filmgoers’ hearts with that one.
Last, but not least, Cameron Diaz stars in “Bad Teacher” alongside “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” writer and star Jason Segal, and Justin Timberlake, fresh off of an acclaimed role in “The Social Network.” All three stars have proven their silver screen charm and charisma, and the movie is knocking on the door of the 100 million dollar mark.
At the end of the season, two films are poised to be billion dollar runaways in this memorable summer with the promise of “Cowboys & Aliens” and “Captain America” to bring in more revenue. It seems we now live in a day where a $100 million payoff is a given, and the thrills and laughs are a high commodity in a society wishing for wonder and escape.
Photo caption: (Courtesy movie poster for “Cowboys & Aliens”)