Kamilah Fucci crowned as Miss Strafford County 2011

STRAFFORD COUNTY —
Jazz Dancer Kamilah Fucci won the Miss Strafford County Crown on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Portsmouth Christian Academy Theatre, winning a $2,500 scholarship and advancing to the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program that will be held in April 2011. Fucci is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and recently completed an internship at Rehab 3 in Somersworth.
“I am so happy and excited,” said Fucci. “This was such a fun experience to share with incredible finalists. I am honored to be representing Strafford County as Miss N.H. in 2011. This is a dream come true!”
The Miss Strafford County and Miss New Hampshire Programs are a part of the Miss America Organization which is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and provider of scholarships for young women. It is a not-for-profit organization with a tradition of “empowering young women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions, talent and intelligence.”
Judges consider the finalists talent, interview, evening wear, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, and an on-stage question in various competitions. Many additional, local young women achieved recognition during the contest. Brianna Hill, a Senior at Somersworth High School won the Swimsuit Award and was named First Runner-up. Meghan Loring, a Graduate of Spaulding High and the University of New Hampshire won the Interview Award and was named Second Runner-up. UNH Graduate Student Kacie Ferraro won the Overall Talent Award. University of New England’s Samantha Kelly of Rochester won the People’s Choice Award. Finalists Crystal Blair-Prince, a senior at Spaulding High, Devan Collins, a sophomore at UNH, and Kiki Frudikis, a senior at Dover High, also received scholarship awards.
Special guests at the ceremony included sailors from the USS Oklahoma, Portsmouth Christian Academy’s Grace MacLeod who performed the National Anthem, and Senator Jacalyn Cilley who presented a Service & Leadership Award to Aimee Hanson, a student at Empire Beauty School. The Senator also recognized Miss Strafford County 2010 Lissa Silk for her year of service to the community. Justin McIsaac of WHEB served as host and Miss New Hampshire 2010 Krystal Muccioli made a special appearance.
Fucci continues to aspire as she recently took part in the MS Walk on Sept. 26 in Keene, in honor of her father who has suffered with the disease for the last 20 years. FMI: www.missnh.com.
Photo caption: Newly Crowned Kamilah Fucci (left) is congratulated by Lissa Silk (right), the prior Miss Strafford County (Courtesy photo)

Apple Harvest Day to Feature Chefs’ Challenge

DOVER —
If there is one thing that most can agree on, it’s that we have all become more aware of and passionate about food. Don’t believe me? Take one minute to concentrate on nothing but food. Try to ignore the rumbling in your stomach... Now write down quickly all the various food brands, grocers, local farms, restaurants and celebrity chefs that come to mind. See! It’s mind blowing. Food is a fundamental need so it should be no surprise that we all seek different ways to enrich and enjoy it.
If you are a passionate foodie, then October 2nd The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce and The Communication Mill present a unique, live cooking event for you; The Seacoast Chef Challenge.
Much of the event format is based off of Food Network’s successful cooking show, Iron Chef America. Rather than a fully equipped stadium filled with exotic fruits, vegetables and mushrooms from all the world, we are providing these local chefs with only the bare essentials and support from local markets and distribution channels such Favorite Foods and M. Saunders Inc. These chefs will demonstrate creative cooking techniques and recipes featuring Apples as a featured ingredient.
At the Seacoast Chef Challenge there will be three rounds of competition. Chefs will compete one at a time starting at 9:30 am, 11:30 am and 2:00 pm. Each chef will have an hour to cook and plate their dishes before presenting to our judges. Chefs will be judged upon taste, uniqueness and plating using the same point scale as Food Network’s Iron Chef show. All dishes must put apples at the forefront of presentation and palate. The points will be tallied and the chef team with the most points at the end of the day wins.
The debut of the Seacoast Chef Challenge event will feature the talents of Chef Evan Hennessey of Flavor Concepts, Chef Jeremay O’Dette of Dante’s Pasta & Vino, Chef Brent Morrill along with JP’s Catering.
The Seacoast Chef Challenge was developed as a community event to create food and restaurant awareness, boost fan followings and improve business for local chefs, restaurants and food merchants.
Our sponsors this year have all been non-monetary and have lent their passion, expertise and energy simply to improve our local food economy and present local talents to broader audiences. The Seacoast Chef Challenge thanks its outstanding support from sponsors such as FIRA, Favorite Foods, M. Saunders Inc., Independent Restaurant Supply, Taste of the Seacoast Magazine and WXGR 101.5 FM (Who will broadcast a live ‘Gourmet Lounge’ from the event at Apple Harvest Day).
We encourage all attend this Apple Harvest Day on October 2nd because it will be fun for all ages. Who knows, you might just discover a new trick for your next dinner party!
For more information regarding Apple Harvest Day please visit dovernh.org.
Photo caption: Flavor Concepts, Evan Hennessy is one of the Chefs participating in the First Ever Seacoast Chefs Challenge on Apple Harvest Day on October 2nd. (Courtesy photo)

At a Theater Near You

By Chip Schrader
Movie Review Editor
Ben Affleck’s “The Town” opens with an aerial shot of Metropolitan Boston, and cuts to a busy street that is about to be the epicenter of a bank robbery. The masked villains charge inside the bank dumping Blackberries into a fishbowl to be drowned in water after the standard “get on the floor” commands. As a shaken Bank Manager named Claire Keesey tries to get the combination right, one of the robbers consoles her with a touch, reassuring her to take her time.
The thief with a delicate touch is Doug MacRay, played by Ben Affleck, who also shares the screenwriting credit for “The Town.” Doug is a lifer in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the Boston suburb famous for being a breeding ground for bank robbers, and like McKray, survives within the stranglehold of the Irish Mafia.
Afleck plays a gritty role with a strongly understated charm. But, from the first scene, we are dared to consider him to be the good guy, while the manipulative FBI agent and his felonious brotherhood are swimming in sleaze. The tough guys are out muscled by the women who often suffer at the hands of these men, namely Blake Lively’s portrayal of Christa Coughlin.
While the story is strong and engrossing, the romance that brews between villain and victim is ultimately forgettable. There are few clever lines or tender moments that convince viewers that MacRay and Keesey have any chemistry. The film at the forty five minute point holds a solid three and a half out of five rating carried by the acting and anticipation of the next action scene.
The turning point for the film is a car chase that follows an armored car heist. This chase scene rivals those from any Steve McQueen’s or Al Pacino’s film, and begins the neck breaking ride. The near misses and near hits are puzzling, brutal, and riveting. From here on, the audience is in the front seat with MacRay as his back story fills out to a complete character.
Many good films have twists, but the best films give you details that develop into sharp turns that are both logical and unexpected. MacRay’s life is a story that unfolds, it doesn’t twist, and his depths are endless as are the conflicted emotions of his love interest Keesey.
Every caper must end with a big heist. MacRay’s crew is slated to heist Boston’s crown jewel, Fenway Park. This coup de grace of heists presents one of the many elements in “The Town” where cinema hasn’t taken us. As the heist proceeds, there is much to go wrong, and old ties scorned. And the details that were once delivered as casual conversation turn into lynch pins that will make or break this plot of plots.
Bottom line. The romance, as stated was forgettable, it needed more memorable moments that brought MacRay and Keesey together, and to show more of Affleck’s charming side. The police had to take some stretching leaps to get their suspects, but this was a forgivable detail. Some of the supporting cast needed some entertaining quirks to reveal what makes them tick, and to bring some more lively dialog. However, the flaws really end there.
While the dialog doesn’t pop, it is realistic and it serves the story with staunch loyalty. The characters and imagery are dank and gray, but the story of Charlestown and its people is hardly rosy, so the muted colors and gritty shots fit the story. The action and suspense are so good they suffocate, and the conclusion just might be classic.
The story is tight and every scene has a purpose, there is no flab or filler to carry the film to two hours.Jeremy Renner’s Cagney-like portrayal of Coughlin adds some color, and the previously mentioned Blake Lively’s portrayal will draw attention to her as we might see her move closer to top billing in future films outside of the adolescent themed “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and “Gossip Girl” series.
As far as Affleck, he needs to keep the goatee shaved and ditch the schmaltzy Hollywood roles to write his own material suited to his stone face delivery. Hack job cinema like Armageddon and Gigli will not do Affleck justice. “The Town” will make every Ben Afleck naysayer reconsider, and may put the name “Gigli” out of their vocabulary once and for all.
Rating: 4 out of 5, and will likely get better ratings with multiple viewings.
Photo caption: Movie poster of Ben Affleck’s “The Town” (Courtesy photo)

Dover High School Homecoming set for October 2

DOVER —
The schedule of events for the First Annual Dover High School Homecoming to be held on Saturday October 2, 2010 on the DHS campus has been announced. The event is open to the public and in particular anyone that attended either the “old” or “new” Dover High Schools. Day-long activities will begin with an “Alumni Division” in the Dover Apple Harvest road race in downtown Dover and end with the varsity football game on Dunaway Field.
The homecoming committee has been working several months to present a well rounded program with doors at the Alumni Drive Dover High School opening at 9 am and featuring a three ring affair with entertainment in the Frederick C. Walker Auditorium, athletic events starting at 10 am in The Oliver J. Adams Gymnasium and Judson Dunaway Fields and class meetings and school tours originating from the mezzanine, cafeteria and Mary C. Reilly Library.
Historic displays include several videos, including a recently produced interview with three of the honorees of the first homecoming, former high school principals A. Harvey Knepp, Kent Rosberg and Greg Kageleiry along with a slide show presentation from 60 years of DHS yearbooks. Football game ceremonies will include introduction of four outstanding contributors to Dover High School as well as the Dover American Legion Post 8 coordinated salute to veterans and active military at 1:15 pm, prior to kick-off of the Dover-Alvirne varsity football game. Halftime of the football game will feature a special half-time show by the Green Wave marching band and alumni.
Evening events will continue the homecoming theme as independent, post homecoming venues welcome alumni including informal gatherings at favorite Green Wave establishments Kelley’s Row, Roger’s Pizza and a special performance by The Spectras at the Somersworth VFW Hall. For more information and Spectras ticket forms email DHS.Homecoming@gmail.com.
Photo caption: The diploma of Henry Clinton Fall from the class of 1880 suprisingly arrived in the mail at Dover High School this summer. (Courtesy photo)

Comic Genius

By Chip Schrader
Book Review Editor
Author and cartoonist Daniel Clowes made his name in the graphic novel and independent film circles with “Ghost World,” a film that starred the then undiscovered sixteen-year-old actress Scarlett Johansson. Since then, Clowes has authored some of the most edgy, irreverent, hilarious and tragic portraits of everyday life that echoes the works of Al Jaffee and Don Martin of MAD Magazine, R. Crumb (Fritz the Cat) and the late Harvey Pekar (American Splendor).
His latest effort, “Wilson,” is a portrait of a loner who could easily be defined as a lost soul, or even a loser to less sympathetic readers. Wilson is only a logical extension of Clowes’s work as Wilson’s life story is divided up into single page comic strips, form Clowes had worked with in last work “Ice Haven.”
Wilson is a shabbily dressed man whose semi-estranged father is comatose, and his life in Oakland is far from satisfactory. The first portion of the book deals with his distaste for modern culture, and the lack of identity that Oakland seems to exude. Oakland plays as a nice backdrop for a character that seems listless and has a personality that is difficult to categorize, or even nondescript, a complaint Wilson states about Oakland. But, his father’s loneliness seems to spark insight into his own existence.
Soon Wilson searches for his ex-wife and a daughter he never knew. The three of them are starkly awkward within the real world, and no less awkward with each other as a family unit, which somehow makes perfect sense. Wilson swore his wife left him and ended up in prostitution, and there were times one wondered if that wasn’t better than being stuck with Wilson.
The bickering, the one liners, and absolute disdain for the mainstream make this semi-tragic comedy gut busting. All the while, Clowes taps into the universal curmudgeon that waxes and wanes within all of us, and creates a character that is as easy to identify with as he is to nauseate with his irritability. Wilson is every bit lovable as he is off-putting, and he is easy to see in the mirror at many turns of the page. By the end, we hope to see Wilson get a glimmer of insight and enlightenment, but will he? Or was he already enlightened, and is that why hid path is so jagged.
Offbeat is Clowes’s signature, and “Wilson” wears it proudly. The content is for adults and more mature adolescents, and while stories are often hard to follow or are often superficial in graphic novels and comics, Daniel Clowes’s is a master of juggling simplicity and nuance while treading into the depths of human psychology and sociology. Clowes’s other great works: “David Boring” and “Ghost World” should not be missed, either. A must read for any comic strip fans, or those with a taste for social satire.
Photo caption: Cover to Daniel Clowes’ Ghost World, a graphic novel. (Courtesy photo)

Help Your Child Succeed in School

STRAFFORD COUNTY—
Now that another school year is here, children are heading back to the classroom and parents might wonder what they can do to help their children succeed in school.
Most parents would say they want their children to know the alphabet and how to begin to count as their child begins school, but most kindergarten teachers and multiple research studies tell us social, emotional learning paves the way for academic learning.
Helping children develop strong social/emotional skills is one major key to school success. It’s hard to teach children who don’t listen, don’t get along with others, and aren’t interested in learning.
Some key social/emotional skills children should learn include how to follow directions, get along with others, stay focused, solve problems with words rather than aggression, work independently or within a group, and identify and manage their emotions and behaviors.
Children learn important social and emotional skills when they solve problems that arise in play with others. Playing games with your toddler can help prepare him/her for school in a couple of years.
Offer children a balance of “choice time,” such as free play, and time for structured play.
Help them with this balance by providing a regular routine. Help them schedule their time. Make sure they have time for both schoolwork and fun activities.
Parents can establish a routine for meals, bedtime and homework; provide books, supplies and a special place to study. They can encourage their children to “ready” themselves for studying by refocusing their attention and learning to relax. Offer to study with them periodically, such as spelling words or using flash cards.
Part of a daily meal routine includes making sure children eat a good breakfast. As simple as it sounds, according to an expert in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, “Eating breakfast improves concentration, memory and problem-solving ability. Eating breakfast improves the brain’s ability to function and gives you the energy to get you going and keep you going throughout the day.”
According to Katherine French, registered dietitian and extension educator, this is especially important for school-age children because “those who eat breakfast are more alert, less irritable, participate more fully in learning activities and have better behavior. These kids have longer attention spans, get better test scores and are tardy and absent less often.”
In many ways, parents are the most important teachers children will have and it’s important to support your children’s education both at school and at home. Children continue to learn outside of school. The more positive and constructive learning experiences children have outside of school, the better they do in school. Establish regular communication with your child’s teachers. As a parent, you know your child best. Help your child’s teacher understand his/her strengths and struggles, daily life, and culture making the teacher/student connection stronger and more meaningful. This helps bridge the connection between what children learn in the classroom with their lives outside of school, keeping them engaged and excited about learning.
Talk with your child’s teachers about the kind of behavior you both expect from the child. Children learn better when parents have clear and reasonable expectations. Then, give your children frequent verbal support and praise them often in their schoolwork, progress and efforts. Let kids know you care about them and how they perform in school; this increases their self-confidence and helps them do better in school.
Remember, your children watch you, so be a role model for education and learning. Set a positive example by reading, studying, asking questions, and talking about education. The important thing for parents to remember is they are the most important teachers in their child’s life. Children are born eager to learn, but parents need to help them channel that learning. Talking with children before, during, and after any activity helps them learn the steps involved in learning.
To learn more about parenting and other family topics, contact Ellen Rondina, UNH Cooperative Extension Strafford County Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Resources, at ellen.rondina@unh.edu or by calling 603-749-4445.

Volunteers Sought for Coastal Cleanup

PORTSMOUTH—
Last year, over 1,000 volunteers cleaned beaches along the NH Seacoast in September as part of the NH Coastal Cleanup, held in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup. Those volunteers picked up over 7,000 pounds of litter on NH beaches.
The Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation is seeking groups, individuals and students and teachers to participate in this year’s cleanup in September.
There are 3 ways to get involved: teachers can sign up their classes to participate in the Student Cleanup Day on Friday, Sept. 24, members of the public can participate in the regular Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Sept. 25, or groups, businesses, clubs and Scout troops can arrange a cleanup anytime in September for a group of 10 or more. The Society’s goal is to involve over 1,500 volunteers in the NH Coastal Cleanup.
During the cleanup, volunteers will spend 1-3 hours cleaning a local beach and recording their findings. The data is used locally and also gets sent to the Ocean Conservancy for use in studying trends in marine pollution and helping in educational programs.
Through their participation in the cleanup, volunteers will have a hands-on experience with scientific data collection. The data generated will contribute to ongoing research concerning the worldwide sources of marine debris. Ultimately, the litter collected collect will help Blue Ocean Society and other organizations to learn how we can prevent more from showing up in its place.
To learn more about the cleanup or to schedule a presentation on marine conservation, call (603) 431-0260 or visit www.blueoceansociety.org.
Photo caption: NH Coastal Cleanup 2009. Volunteers from Coca-Cola at Foss Beach in Rye, NH. (Ralph Morang photo)