Thunderbirds Return to Pease

By Larry Favinger

Staff Columnist
PORTSMOUTH—
It’s been 25 years since the United States Air Force Thunderbirds have performed in the Seacoast, but their long awaited return will be accomplished next weekend.
The F-16 Fighting Falcons with the easily recognized red, white and blue design will headline the Service Credit Union Boston–Portsmouth Air Show at the Pease International Trade Port Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 13-14.
A year ago, a crowd estimated at 70,000 attended the two-day event that featured the United States Navy’s Blue Angels and a crowd of similar size is anticipated this year, said Herb Gillen, spokesperson for the show. Those returning to this year’s event will find several changes to enhance their enjoyment of the festivities.
Gillen said one of the top concerns following last year’s show was the handling of traffic and soon after the event, meetings were held with safety officials to come up with “a better plan this year.”
He said the parking plan has been refined and “a more coordinated effort” is in place to move people on and off the trade port. He added, however, it would still be best to “get there early” as “there’s plenty to see.”
There will also be “heavy emphasis” on water and helping people “stay cool” during the show. Free water will be available from Monadnock Mountain Spring Water of New Hampshire and water will also be sold at a reduced rate.
In addition, a concerted effort has been made to secure large-scale static airplanes to help provide shade in the main spectator area.
Gillen said Portsmouth Regional Hospital is establishing water and misting stations and more concession areas have been increased from 18 to 37 to reduce the time spent in line a year ago.
A heat index flag system has been established and the show announcer will stress the need for people to keep hydrated during the show.
Military demonstrations by the United States Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, the Navy F-18 Super Hornet and the New Hampshire Air National Guard KC-135 are scheduled. The Super Hornet will also be featured in the Navy’s Legacy Flight with an F4U Corsair.
Civilian aerobatic displays include the National Aviation Hall of Famer Sean D. Tucker, New England native Michael Goulian, and Jason Newburg.
Teams performing include Team AeroShell with four AT-6 “Texans,” The Northeast Raiders flying Yakovlev 52’s and Nanchang CJ6’s, and Team Heavy Metal; a new jet demonstration team flying four L-39’s and one T-33.
The show will also have MIG-17 and P-51 Mustang demonstrations as well as a solo demo by the F4U Corsair.
There will also be a large number of on-ground aircraft displays and the popular Kidz’ Zone Play Area.
Tickets for the show are available at www.BostonPortsmouthAirShow.com. The Service Credit Union Boston–Portsmouth Air Show is again being jointly produced by the Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America and the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire.
At a recent press conference announcing the various aspects of the show, Steve Wade, CEO, of the Brain Injury Association said: “We are excited to once again bring a world-class lineup to our air show fans throughout New England. Pease will be rocking with the Thunderbirds and this phenomenal lineup.”
Michael Kaufman, CEO of the Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America detailed the show’s enhancements for 2011. “We are very excited for the show and know that these site enhancements will go a long way to improving the fan experience this year. We are thrilled to have such strong community and business support to the make the air show a success.”
Photo caption: The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will perform a long-awaited return performance at Pease International Trade Port August 13-14. (Photo courtesy thunderbirds.airforce.com)

‘Summering in Rye: Over a Century by the Sea’ – Historic Images at the Seacoast Science Center

RYE—

“Summering in Rye: Over a Century by the Sea” is now on exhibition at the Seacoast Science Center. The exhibit, on loan from the Rye Historical Society, chronicles the Golden Age of Rye’s Victorian Resort Era of the mid-1800s to the 1960s. As the advent of the railroad system in the 1840s made travel much easier and affordable, luxurious hotels sprang up along the eastern American shore. In Rye, those of modest means vacationed in 22 boarding houses. The establishment of eight grand hotels, such as the Atlantic House in 1846 and the Ocean House in 1848, secured Rye’s place as one of the more significant seaside destinations for well-to-do travelers. The images in this exhibition showcase the accommodations along the shores of Rye, as well as the many activities vacationers enjoyed during their stay. The exhibition, on display through December 31, was made possible by the generous support of the Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation. The Seacoast Science Center is open daily, 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. For more information call 603-436-8043 or visit www.seacoastsciencecenter.org.
Photo caption: The exhibition, “Summering in Rye: Over a Century by the Sea,” now on display at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, showcases summer visitors in the mid-1800s. (Photo courtesy of William M. Varrell and the Rye Historical Society)

The Story of Joltin’ Joe’s Biggest Feat

By Chip Schrader
Book Reviewer
Sports Illustrated contributor Kostya Kennedy’s biography of the late great Joe DiMaggio is the latest of many, but takes on a special spin. “56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number In Sports” covers the span of the 56-game hitting streak that landed Joe DiMaggio a record that has held for seventy years; a record that is lasting longer than even that of Iron Horse Lou Gehrig’s record of playing 2,160 consecutive games, broken by Cal Ripken.
Yes, DiMaggio is a Yankee, and New England is not known to be Yankee-friendly territory. But, this biography covers his relationship with brother Dom DiMaggio, the legendary Boston center fielder known for his wireframed glasses and ability as a contact hitter. In fact, the early years of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is depicted with the crowds’ banter each DiMaggio faced when playing each other. During that season, a bench-clearing brawl the Yankees and Red Sox waged make this a fascinating read for New England fans showing us how old that rivalry really is. Moreover, Joe DiMaggio is an undisputed champion on the field and at the plate, and has earned his place alongside rival Sox legends Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, and Babe Ruth (pre-curse Bambino, of course).
While typical sports biographies dig into the personal struggles, tragedies and scandals while doing a play-by-play of each great record or title their subject might hold, Kennedy sticks to one record, and the social context in which this historic record was made.
The racism and social isolation that Italians faced is among the interesting frameworks of this time period. Kennedy delves into acquaintances of DiMaggio and how they were unwittingly linked to the mafia, and even puts in the passing detail of a friend’s daughter’s bulimia. Kennedy’s research is so deep, the reader marvels at how he could ever have found all of these facts and anecdotes. Did Kennedy just bunk with Joe in a past life?
Another major theme is the pending war. At the beginning of DiMaggio’s streak, before it was really even noticed, FDR’s speech at Yankee stadium about the horrors unfolding in Europe hung over the baseball season. Hitting legend Hank Greenburg was already enlisted at this point, and athletes were beginning to get heckled for not following suit.
The writing is as impeccable as the research. Kennedy uses snappy phrases that grow invisible and becomes the natural flow of the book. At a time where biographies are just expanded gossip rags, “56” is a welcome departure from our cynical era.
DiMaggio’s imperfections were touched upon, but the real news was what he achieved that halcyon summer, and the world in which he was doing this. No steroids, no million dollar contracts, and no elevation of athletes to unnecessary heights. DiMaggio was considered too greedy wanting a figure well under $50,000 per season. Hardly the spoiled and pampered superstar of today.
Baseball fans and history fans are highly recommended to read this book. No matter what jersey an athlete might wear, their numbers, the consistency of their game, and the era in which they played make the legend; rival or not.
Hardcover, Sports Illustrated, Released March 2011.
Photo caption: (Courtesy book cover image of “56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number In Sports” by Kostya Kennedy)

U.S. News Ranks Wentworth-Douglass Hospital as One of the Best Regional Hospitals in Area

DOVER—
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been ranked #16 in the category of Nephrology in the Boston Metro Area for in U.S. News Media & World Report’s 2011-12 Best Hospital rankings. The latest rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Each is ranked among the country’s top hospitals in at least one medical specialty and/or ranked among the best hospitals in its metro area.
According to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital President & CEO Gregory Walker, this is the second consecutive period Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been ranked as a Best Regional Hospital in the Boston Metro Area.
“This ranking recognizes the contributions of all our caregivers who provide high quality care everyday for patients in our community,” Walker said. “We are honored to be listed among the other distinguished healthcare institutions in the Boston area.”
Covering 94 metro areas in the U.S., the regional hospital rankings complement the national rankings by including hospitals with solid performance nearly at the level of nationally ranked institutions. Hard numbers stand behind the rankings — death rates, patient safety, advanced technology, patient care resources and high patient satisfaction scores compared to state and national scores.
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital was recognized as Best Regional Hospital in the category of Ear, Nose and Throat in the U.S. News Media & World Report 2010-11 listing.
Photo caption: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover was recently recognized in U.S. News Media & World Reports in the category of Nephrology. (Courtesy photo)

Hot Reading for Hot Weather

By Chip Schrader

Book Reviewer
The summertime brings to mind many traditions: vacations, baseball, cookouts, and beach days. More often than not, a good book is typically paired with a beach outing, and a handful of titles tend to be the “it” books for each summer. This summer is no different. Bestseller lists, personal recommendations and book clubs are the best indicators for the browser to find out what’s hot, and this year we have a few newer titles, and a few that have been around.
“Room” by Emily Donoghue, acclaimed author of “Slammerkin,” is the newest of these books. The life of the main character, Jack, is entirely lived in one room with his mother, who struggles to provide a normal life for him. They are held captive in this place by a man named “Old Nick.” On the author’s webpage, there is a video trailer of the book, a full description and a bevy of accolades from Donoghue’s contemporaries on how well she narrates from a five-year-old boy’s perspective. Currently, this is possibly the most popular book this summer. Little Brown, 336 pages (2010).
Earlier in the year, Abraham Verghese’s “Cutting for Stone” began catching fire. This is the story of twin boys born in Ethiopia, and then separated shortly after birth. The novel takes on an epic theme of humanity and the birth of modern medicine as it spans generations and continents to tie together how one person’s actions can be a consequence to someone a world away. This novel is also critically acclaimed and enjoying high summer sales. Vintage, 667 pages (2010).
Since last year, Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” has dominated the bestseller list and continues to be a popular read for this summer. Set in the antebellum south, this story follows the help, or the housekeepers who are employed by wealthy southern families. Jackson Mississippi was a hotbed for the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, and readers will be surprised by the racial climate in that era. The book has been made into a film, and is enjoying a resurgence in sales and reading groups in anticipation of its August release. Berkely Trade, 544 pages (2010).
The 1996 novel, “The Game of Thrones” by George R. R. Martin, is the subject of barroom chatter and fodder amongst fantasy aficionados as its adaptation by HBO has just finished its first season. Set in medieval world, a king is slain, and the drama of two families unfolds. One family, the Lannisters, was thwarted from the throne by the recently deceased king, and the Starks are headed by a man assigned to be the new kings personal hand. This is the first of four volumes, and a giant book. Bantam Books, 720 pages (1996).
Among other hot titles for this summer is the trilogy by Steig Larsen with “The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo” as the first in the series. Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” also begins a trilogy, and a non-fiction epic about the horrors of World War II “Unbroken” by Lauren Hillenbrand. All titles are widely available at local and online bookstores, and libraries in various formats.
Photo caption: “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett is one of many books that people are continuing to bring to the beach this summer, largely due to its upcoming film release. (Courtesy book cover image)

Hampton Falls Hosts Farmer’s Market

HAMPTON FALLS—
The Hampton Falls Farmer’s Market was conceived of and founded by Sue Veilleux. Sue raises Nubian goats at her Jesta Farm in Hampton Falls. She has been selling her goats’ milk soap, milk and eggs at various local farmer’s markets for many years. Her dream was to create a market on the Hampton Falls common to serve as a meeting place for town and area residents and provide an opportunity for smaller and unique producers to sell their wares.
To that end, she founded the Hampton Falls Farmer’s Market Association and the group has been sponsoring markets on the common on Monday afternoons between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. Besides Sue’s Jesta Farm, the market offers vegetables and fruit from Applecrest in Hampton Falls and Long Hill Orchard in W. Newbury, MA, items from Buzz Bomb World spices and gluten free bakery in Hampton, and maple ice cream and candy from Sugarmomma’s in Northwood. They also offer honey wines from the Moonlight Meadery in Salem and cut flowers from Indian Hill Farm in South Hampton. Other vendors offer products ranging from herbal teas and syrups to Belgian waffles.
The vendor list is constantly growing and the market welcomes applications from area producers, especially in the category of organic produce. For more information, contact hamptonfallsfarmersmarket@comcast.net.

St. Thomas Aquinas High Receives Unexpected $250,000 Gift

DOVER—
For several years, St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s largest benefactor lived next door at St. Ann’s Home…only the school never knew it. Last October, 99-year-old Alicia Sullivan passed away after an extended illness. A resident of Somersworth and later of Dover, and a daily communicant at St. Mary’s Parish, Ms. Sullivan was the last surviving member of a family that included two other unmarried sisters, Ruth and Melanie Sullivan.
Together, the sisters invested their financial resources wisely, and when the time came to consider who would benefit from their foresight, their thoughts turned to education. The oldest of the three, Ruth, was a woman who had earned a college degree at a time when such an occurrence was extremely rare. Combined with their devout Catholic faith and deep understanding of the needs of Dover residents, the sisters designated St. Mary Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas High School as the beneficiaries of their largesse.
On Tuesday, July 12, 2011, Sullivan family attorney Anthony McManus, and longtime family friend Paul Boucher presented a check to St. Thomas in the amount of $250,000 – by far the largest single donation ever bestowed on STA. According to Mr. Boucher, the sisters were a remarkable trio whom he and his late wife had come to know when the oldest Sullivan sister was stricken with ovarian cancer. Alicia, he said, “had a sharp wit and a ready quip” and along with her sister Melanie, had been a supervisor with the telephone company with a reputation for toughness.
It is clear, however, that the sisters had a soft side as well. Their legacy to St. Thomas Aquinas designates that the bequest be invested, and the income used to provide scholarships for needy students from Dover or Somersworth who attend STA. For Principal Kevin Collins, this legacy helps fulfill one of his chief goals: making a St. Thomas Aquinas education accessible for as many deserving students as possible.
“This gift couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Principal Collins. “The opportunity to experience an STA education should not be a faraway dream, but a reality.”
St. Thomas Aquinas has long been committed to this goal, and is particularly focused on maintaining affordability in the current economic downturn. A little-known fact about STA is its financial aid program, which provides nearly a half-million dollars annually in grants and scholarships. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 students at the school receive some level of aid.
“Many of our top students could not have attended St. Thomas without help,” Collins noted.
“However, perhaps even more important than the benefit they receive from us is the way in which these students – like all our students – enrich our lives.”
The Sullivan legacy check was accepted on behalf of the school community by Dominique MacDonald, Vice-Chairperson of the St. Thomas Aquinas School Board – and someone who understands the impact of this gift more than most. She and her husband Tim are both members of the STA class of 1982, her children are recent grads, and she was recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award.
“The sisters have given us a tremendous gift,” she remarked upon accepting the gift. “In this economy, I’ve seen how an STA education has become more difficult to attain. This will help so many families.”
The gift of the Sullivan sisters – Ruth, Alicia and Melanie – will help secure the future of STA students for years to come. There is a play by Anton Chekov which includes this line: “…our sufferings will pass into joy for those who will live after us, happiness and peace will be established upon earth, and they will remember kindly and bless those who have lived before.”
The name of the play? “The Three Sisters.”
Photo caption: From left to right: Sullivan family attorney Anthony McManus, family friend Paul Boucher, STA Dean of Students Gordon Quimby, Vice-Chairperson of the STA School Board Dominique MacDonald, Dean of Studies Ron Holtz and Principal Kevin Collins. (Courtesy photo)