Among the most well-regarded of Gustav Mahler’s nine symphonies is his second. Commonly called the Resurrection Symphony, it’s a daunting work. For Mark Latham, conductor and musical director of The Phil — the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra — scale is a big reason he’s drawn to it.
“It’s not very often done because it’s just so large and it’s a challenge to get all the forces in place,” Latham said by phone recently. “But I think it’s actually the dream of probably all conductors — the challenge of this incredible masterpiece.”
Latham promised an “immersive” experience when The Phil performs Mahler’s Second Symphony in C Minor at two afternoon shows, on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25.
“There are gigantic forces involved,” he said. “A huge orchestra, gigantic percussion, an off-stage band, a chorus of about 80 or 90, and two soloists. I think the audience can’t help but get immersed.”
The upcoming performance will feature two guest solo vocalists. Alto Hannah Murray is a Plymouth State University faculty member, and soprano Dr. Evangelia Leontis is from Keene State University. As the combined choirs from both schools are also performing, “it seemed appropriate and sensible to use their own faculty,” Latham said. “I have worked with both of them; they both have fabulous voices.”
The Keene State Concert Choir, directed by Dr. Sandra Howard, is non-auditioned and open to all students regardless of major. Plymouth State’s includes both students and community members in its non-auditioned University Chorale. Conversely, the Chamber Singers are an auditioned ensemble that tours nationally and internationally. Both are directed by Harmony Markey.
Despite its name, the Resurrection Symphony isn’t a Christian work; most biographers say the Jewish born composer was agnostic, though it does explore life, death, and death’s transcendence. Mahler, who was born in the mid-19th century and had siblings who died in infancy, was captivated by the topic of death.
“One of the games that he and his brothers and sisters would play would be to reenact funeral marches — a natural thing as kids, right?” Latham said, adding that Mahler wrote a piece called Polka and Funeral March before he was 10. “Even from a very young age, he was concerned with dying … how we can better live through understanding what death means, and what happens after death.”
Finishing the symphony was difficult for Mahler, who got stuck on choosing a text for the choral section in the final movement (stirringly recreated in the Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro). Before that, he’d shared the first section with renowned conductor Hans von Bülow, who didn’t like it; he covered his ears. “This sent Mahler into a big funk,” Latham said. “He didn’t compose for quite a while after that.”
When Bülow died, though, a reading of Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock’s poem “Die Auferstehung (The Resurrection)” at his funeral finally gave Mahler clarity. “That was the a-ha moment for him,” Latham said. “He raced back and began finishing the final movement.”
For Latham, the Resurrection Symphony “is an incredible journey … an exploration of the big themes of our lives.” He offered his thoughts on its five stages.
“The first movement is as long as a Beethoven symphony; its original name is Funeral Rites, and in a way, it’s the funeral of the hero that he presented in his first symphony,” he said. “Then it just goes from there, there’s a lovely, gentle, what’s called a Ländler, a German dance, in the second movement, then Saint Anthony and the Fish in the third movement,” which includes a song from a set of Mahler poems.
“Philosophically, it’s expressing in a way what seems to be the senselessness of human existence,” Latham said. “Saint Anthony goes to preach and the church in Padua is empty; then he goes and preaches to the fishes. They’re swimming about, and don’t pay much attention either. The actual song is hilarious.”
The fourth movement, Primordial Light, “is really pure and angelic,” and includes Murray’s alto solo. An apocalyptic vision commences the first half of the fifth movement, “followed by looking at what resurrection might mean — even if you’re not Christian, in fact. It’s just a gigantic voice, and you get swept up. Before you know it, it’s almost over. It’s fantastic.”
Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony When: Saturday, Feb. 24, and Sunday, Feb. 25, 2 p.m. Location: Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Geremonty Dr., Salem Tickets: $5 to $35 at nhpo.booktix.com
Winter farmers markets offer a taste of sunnier seasons
Farmers markets aren’t just for the warmer months; some continue to operate through the winter, featuring a variety of vendors selling everything from fresh produce to artisanal crafts.
Via email, organizers and vendors discussed how these markets adapt to the colder season and what unique offerings they bring to the community.
Concord Farmers Market
Brenda White, with input from her fellow organizers for the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market, discussed how this season is going.
How has this year’s winter farmers market differed from previous years in terms of vendor participation and customer attendance?
This year, our fledgling market has grown in visibility through our social media advertising and new signs that are more visually appealing and draw the attention of passersby. We worked with a local Concord artist, RS Creative, who designed our fresh, new logo. Attendance is up from an average of 275 customers to roughly 425 customers. We have gained some wonderful vendors to add to a diverse offering. The produce and products that you can find range from fish, meats and eggs to fresh microgreens, root veggies, fresh baked treats and bread. We have vendors who make wonderful soaps, lotions, candles and dog treats. We even have a vendor with fresh cut winter flowers … and microbrews and wine. There is such a wide variety of local goodness.
What unique challenges does operating a farmers market in the winter present, and how have you and the vendors adapted to these conditions?
Finding a location that works for all patrons and gives us enough space to set up. We are grateful for the generosity that Stephen Duprey has gifted this market in its early years by giving us a location to have a market to provide easy access for customers to obtain amazing local products. 7 Eagle Square is a bright, beautiful open space with two levels of shopping. It is a great location for folks who are either choosing to walk around downtown or park close by for quick easy in and out.
Can you share some success stories or particularly popular initiatives from this year’s winter market?
Manus Basket: Every Saturday we have a basket set up to gather donations to support families in need of food. So we have partnered with The Boys & Girls Club of Central and Northern New Hampshire. How it works is that each market Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market purchases food from vendors at the market to place in the cooler or basket for the Boys & Girls Club. We have budgeted a certain amount a week to spend. In addition to that, customers and vendors purchase or donate items to add to the basket and cooler as well while they shop. This supports the vendors as well as helping our local community.
We were excited to host a sing-along with Santa in December this year. It was well-received and fun for the customers’ children and families. … As always, the Merrimack County Conservation District has continued to offer its Granite State Market Match and Veteran Value Bucks programs. Through the Granite State Market Match, SNAP/EBT recipients can double the amount they are spending on food items offered at the market. For example, if $20 is charged to a SNAP card, the recipient will receive $40 in vouchers to spend on food items. The Veteran Value Bucks program provides $20 to veterans and active service members once a month to shop for any items at the market. These programs allow more customers to visit our market, while also keeping more dollars local. It’s a win for everyone.
How important are winter farmers markets for the vendors’ businesses, and what role do they play in the local community during the colder months?
There are very few markets in the winter months, and it is not easy for vendors to get their products out to consumers on their own during the winter months without this farmers market community. The market provides a central location with easy access for the public to get all their needs in one location. We have a variety of meats including traditional beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fish and now a new vendor who provides ostrich. We have cheeses, yogurt, beer, soaps, bread, pastries, gluten-free pastries and bread, vegetables, syrup, honey, jams, eggs, beef chips, mushrooms, coffee, microgreens, dog food, popcorn, nuts, soft pretzels, rolls and flowers. These amazing vendors are local and love to support and help their communities and provide fresh locally grown/made products.
What measures have you implemented to encourage community engagement and ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for visitors during the winter season?
We are fortunate that we can use the Storr Street parking garage’s top level to park and use the ramp to bring products down to 7 Eagle Square easily for setup. Customers can use the garage’s top level as well during business hours of the market. The building has an elevator so that patrons can access both floors of the market easily if they prefer not to use the stairs. Walkways and the courtyard are maintained well to be sure that the area is free of ice and snow so customers have easy and safe access to the building. We also have local musicians who are scheduled by NH Music Collective to entertain at the market to add another family-friendly feel to the experience.
Looking forward, are there any new plans or ideas you’re excited to introduce to the winter farmers market in future seasons?
We hope to have a new permanent location in the future that will give us more space and make it even more convenient for customers to join us.
Joyberry Farms
Amy Joyce and Brad Ikenberry of Joyberry Farms, based in Mason, joyberryfarms.com. Find them at the winter Salem NH Farmers Market.
Joyberry Farms. Courtesy photo.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
We are the owners of Joyberry Farms, a small family-owned and -operated farm in Mason. We cultivate fresh mushrooms and create unique mushroom products. At the markets you can find a variety of fresh mushrooms each week, as well as a variety of dried products like mushroom coffee, teas, dried mushroom soups and risotto. We also make wellness mushroom powders.
How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?
The sales in the winter tend to drop a little bit, due to attendance and weather. However, each year, as we grow, we also see a rise in our sales trends from repeat and new customers that love our products.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
The cold weather definitely makes farming a lot harder, but it also gives us time to slow down and be more creative.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Mushrooms, like vegetables, grow differently in each season. We offer different ‘cold weather’ mushrooms in the winter than in the summer, but some varieties grow all year-round.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
Although our summer season is packed with farmers markets, we do attend a few winter markets which helps keep our business running year-round.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
Our fresh mushrooms remain our top seller; however, in the winter we get an influx of sales from our soups, risotto, coffee and teas.
Blakeney’s Bakery
Brenda White, Blakeney’s Bakery, based in Contoocook, blakeneysbakery.com. Find them at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
Blakeney’s Bakery has a large variety of breads, scones, cookies, soft pretzels, whoopie pies, lemon bars and cookies.
How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?
Each year has grown in customers and sales.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
Weather can be a challenge, especially if it keeps customers from coming out.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Really don’t have to do much. We make seasonal products and create new flavors of bread sometimes just from customer suggestions. We don’t make as many products during the winter market as the customer base is significantly smaller due to summer guests and residents who leave for the winter.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
Being able to provide a great product for our customers and to … work with other vendors to support them by pairing their products with ours when possible.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
Our variety of bread flavors and scones. We strive to have savory, sweet and salty options to meet a variety of needs that our customers have.
HorseFeathers Ostrich Farm
Monte and Alison Cossette. HorseFeathers Ostrich Farm, based in Webster, horsefeathersostrichfarm.com. Find them every other Saturday (next date March 2) at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
My husband and I started our ostrich farm several years ago. We’ve been growing our farm, breeding stock, and now are excited to be able to offer USDA ostrich meat for the first time both locally and through online sales. This is our first season participating in farmers market and we have been thrilled with this market.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
Since we are offering a product that not as many people are familiar with, the amount of customers going through the market is very important for us. The more people we can show and teach about ostrich meat, the more sales and repeat customers we can have.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Currently we are bringing a small amount of meat and only a few types of meat cuts; we are hoping to be part of the summer market and have more offerings.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
As a new business it is amazing to have people to talk to about our product. All organizers of the group have been amazingly helpful as we get started with our farmers markets and our business.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
In our booth we have a display of ostrich egg shells with a fake ostrich head. That seems to really pique interest for people and get them over to the booth. The egg shells can be used for decorations and arts, but the display is a great starting point to bring people to the table and start talking about the meat.
Arándano Farm and Gluten Free or Die Bakery
Arándano Farm and Gluten Free or Die Bakery. Courtesy photo.
Paul Gareau and Angela Letelier, Arándano Farm and Gluten Free or Die Bakery, Belmont, arandano.farm, gfordie.com. Find them at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
It’s our first year as vendors in Concord; generally we attend other markets in Belknap County and we’ll be running three new markets in 2024. Our farm offers organic-fed chicken, grass-fed pork, eggs, vegetables and microgreens. The bakery offers celiac-safe gluten-free baked goods.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
Our area mostly offers summer markets, so the winter market helps us sell our products throughout the winter.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Less emphasis on grilling, more on meal prep.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
Income throughout winter months and expanded customer base.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
Our main attraction is no-compromised gluten-free baked goods, and we have a following for our chicken and pork as well.
Pastry Dream
Ann and Roger Baril of Pastry Dream are based in Derry. Find them at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market and the winter Salem NH Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
We sell individually sized pastries called Dreams. Some call them small pies. Our flavor selection ranges from lemon curd and raspberry to chocolate/peanut butter to our brand new Key lime. We presently offer nine flavors — something for everyone.
How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?
We have already seen an increase over last year.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
A challenge we experience each year is New Year’s resolutions and the fact that everyone eats too much over the holiday season and cuts back for a time especially in January. Our opportunity is that farmers markets allow us the opportunity to present our products to those who may not have tasted them before.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
For the winter season we offer a pecan pie Dream and a ginger/spice cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting along with all of our other items.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
Feedback from customers is a huge benefit of being at the farmers markets. We have a lemon curd and a raspberry and many customers suggested that we put the two flavors together. We did, and the lemon/raspberry is one of our best sellers. We’ve also been asked to create a Key lime dream, which we are now offering and is a great success.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
We offer samples, which give new customers the opportunity to taste our flavors before buying. This makes a big difference, because once you taste the filling flavors you have to have more.
KYS Food for Dogs
Sonia Javier Obinger of KYS Food for Dogs, based in Sandown. Find them at the Downtown Concord Farmers Market and the winter Salem NH Farmers Market.
Can you tell us about yourself and what you offer at the winter farmers market?
I started preparing whole-food recipes because of my interest in providing the best nutrition for my three pugs and a Boston terrier. I began researching, taking classes and using my experience to develop whole-food recipes for them. There would even be times when my friends would come over and ask what was cooking because it smelled so good. I said it was my dog’s dinner. So fast forward 16-plus years of testing, making mistakes, re-testing and friends’ support, I started KYS Whole Food for Dogs. Our recipes are created in small batches, bone broth braised with organic ingredients sourced from local farms sold fresh/frozen in compostable packages at farmers markets, online and retail. Recipes offer seasonally harvested organic vegetables with pasture-raised chicken or grass-fed beef, organ meat, seaweed, hempseed or flaxseed, providing dogs with a nutritious, complete meal. KYS ingredients are sourced from local farms like Vernon Family in Newfields. They provide the chicken for Tilly’s Pastured Chicken recipe. The organic vegetables in this recipe are grown and harvested by Heron Pond in Hampton, Two Farmers Farm in Scarborough, Maine, and Brandmoore Farm in Rollinsford.
How has this year’s market been for your business in terms of customer attendance and sales trends?
This is my first season with Downtown Concord Farmers Market, so I am still working on brand awareness. With the Salem NH Farmers Market this is my third winter market and this market has grown, especially at its new location at LaBelle Winery.
What unique challenges and opportunities does the winter market present for you?
I think the opportunities are that they are indoors, thus providing customers access to a great variety of vendors. I think the biggest challenge is New England weather, which this year has been relatively calm.
How do you adapt your offerings or business strategy for the winter season?
Since my recipes are based on harvest availability, root vegetables — carrots, winter squash, cranberries, for example — are used in the winter. Once the spring/summer season starts we have more greens, summer squash, blueberries, etc. So all year my customers have a diverse nutritional diet.
What are the main benefits of participating in the winter market for your business?
The benefits are that we still have access to our summer customers as well as meeting new ones. Plus it is warmer than being outside.
What is a popular item or service that draws customers to your stall at the winter market?
I think both Jake’s Grass fed Beef and Tilly’s Pastured Chicken recipes are equally popular. I have recently been testing with some of my customers’ liver truffles, which are another whole food product for those who want to provide a healthy treat for the dog.
The Robert Cray Band comes to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.; nashuacenterforthearts.com, 800-657-8774) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. Find more ticketed shows this weekend and beyond in the Concert listings on page 38.
Friday, Feb. 23
Catch a weekend of tribute acts at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester) and Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester) starting with tonight’s Palace show “Back to the Eighties with Jessie’s Girl” at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35. Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 24, “Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience” hits the Palace stage at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; tickets cost $40.50 to $50.50. Meanwhile, the Dave Matthews Tribute Band performs Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex. Tickets cost $35. See palacetheatre.org for more information and to purchase tickets for all shows.
Friday, Feb. 23
Queen City Improv turns your ideas into laughs tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Chunky’s in Manchester (707 Huse Road; chunkys.com). Tickets cost $20. See queencityimprov.com for more on the group.
Friday, Feb. 23
See a free screening of Gospel, a new PBS series by Henry Louis Gates Jr., and hear a performance by the Higher Praise Gospel Choir from Boston tonight at 6 p.m. at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org). The event is free but reserve a seat via the museum’s website.
Saturday, Feb. 24
Combat Zone 83, Combat Zone MMA, comes to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com, 644-5000) tonight at 6 p.m. Ticket prices start at $20. See the full fight card at czmma.com/cz83fightcard.
Sunday, Feb. 25
End the weekend with the sing-along piano bar tonight at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). No tickets needed. Jim Tyrrell takes the requests and accompanies the singers.
Thursday, Feb. 29
February is one extra day long so you get one extra day to vote in Hippo’s Best of 2024, our annual readers’ poll. Go to hippopress.com; voting ends tonight.
Save the Date! Thursday, March 14 “Shamrock Shenanigans: Comedy for a Cause” will feature comedian Jimmy Cash on Thursday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Hospital (172 Kingsley St. in Nashua). Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $50 and support Stepping Stones, which supports people 25 and under facing homelessness in the greater Nashua area, according to steppingstonesnh.org/comedy, where you can purchase tickets.
As mentioned at the bottom of this page, we welcome your QOLs. Michael McDonough of Catholic Charities of NH writes: “The CareGivers needs volunteers to help homebound and disabled seniors in Greater Manchester. Ninety-three percent of CareGivers’ clients live alone, facing social isolation and food insecurity regularly, negatively impacting their health and emotional well-being. These seniors rely on our volunteer-driven Caring Rides services for essential trips to medical appointments, doctors’ offices and grocery stores. Unfortunately, the demand for the program’s services is increasingly surpassing the number of available volunteers, and we need volunteers more than ever. Volunteer opportunities are flexible and tailored to your schedule.”
QOL score: +1 for the service
Comments:See caringrides.org for information on volunteering; see cc-nh.org for more on Catholic Charities of NH.
Helping wings
The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) honored Karen Hannigan-Machado, retired principal of the Manchester School of Technology, on Jan. 24 at an event at the Common Man in Windham for her role in establishing the school’s plane-building partnership with the museum, according to a press release. The program was the first of its kind in the northeastern U.S. and the school constructed a specialized workshop/hangar for the plane-building program, which led to the establishment of the school’s Aviation CTE program, the release said. Hannigan-Machado received a model of the Van’s RV-12iS aircraft (which is the airplane the students are building), the release said.
QOL score: +1
Comments: See aviationmuseumofnh.org for more on the “Student Plane Build” program.
Near-perfect angels, apparently
According to a press release from the personal finance website WalletHub, New Hampshire ranks 49 in the 50 states in “Sinfulness” as measured by seven (naturally) factors, including greed and vanity, the two sins on which the state scored highest (22nd and 23rd respectively). Vanity in particular was measured by things like “number of plastic surgeons per residents aged 18 and over” and “number of manicurists and pedicurists per capita,” according to the website.
QOL score: +1
Comments: No mention in the “Vanity” section of our vanity license plates, which the New Hampshire Department of Safety reported that 13 percent of motorists have, according to a 2022 article on nhmagazine.com. But then, being wiseguys for the benefit of fellow drivers isn’t really a “sin.”
QOL score: 56
Net change: +3
QOL this week: 59
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?
The Big Story: Even with the Celtics and Bruins taking center stage with football done, the big story is the utter lack of interest in your Red Sox as they open spring training. This is a team that a decade ago sold out 820 consecutive games and looked at Truck Day as an unofficial local holiday. Yet this week, no one cared. At all.
Sports 101: Name the seven former Celtics who later became head coach of the team.
News Item – Celtics Shooting: Thanks in part to their often overpowering offense the C’s have started with the NBA’sbest record. But buried in the credit their 3-point bombing gets is their incredible accuracy on 2-point shots, where, led by KristapsPorzingis’ 63.2 percent, four guys in the eight-man rotation are above 60 percent and as a team they’re making an incredible 57 percent of their twos. The best the Bird-era Celtics ever did was 53.1 percent in 1987-88 when KevinMcHale’s 60.6 percent made him the lone guy over 60 percent.
News Item – High-Profile NBA Teams Struggle: An interesting story as the NBA season evolves is how teams with KevinDurant, LeBronJames, Luka Doncic and StephCurry aren’t living up to the results their big names are expected to produce. L.A., Dallas, Golden State and Phoenix have all struggled mightily to just get a playoffs play-in slot, while long-downtrodden Oak City and Minnesota are solidly in the guaranteed slots with young Orlando competing for one. And while the Suns and streaking Warriors may have righted their ships, the question is, are we seeing a changing of the guard?
The Numbers:
44 – NCAA-record rebounds pulled down by LaurynTaylor for D-II Francis Marion in a win over North Greenville.
64 – wins the 43-12 Celtics are on pace to reach after closing the first half with a136-86 win over Brooklyn.
… Of the Week Awards
Clever Headline – San Francisco Chronicle: They led their paper the day after the 49ers lost the SB to KC in Sin City with “Loss Vegas.”
Now I’ve Seen Everything – Eddie House: We know the days of the tie and jacket are gone but seeing that get-up of a hooded sweatshirt under a sports coat Eddie wore sitting in for Scal during last week’s Celtics-Nets broadcast game was a new low. The good news is he was solid analyzing the game.
Thumbs Up – Caitlin Clark: Congrats to the U of Iowa star for passing U of Washington’s KelseyPlum’s 3,527 career points to become the all-time leading scorer in women’s D-I college basketball. She did it in style by going for 49 points, 5 rebounds and 13 assists in a 106-89 romp over Michigan.
Thumbs Down – NBA All-Star: With the ridiculous final score of Sunday’s defensive masterpiece 211-186, can the NBA All-Star game be called anything but what it’s become — a travesty?
Random Thoughts: The MVP chants JaysonTatum got in Brooklyn last week are the loudest I’ve ever heard a guy get playing away from home.
Guess AdrianGriffin really was Milwaukee’s problem. After going 3-7 in the first 10 games since his firing, the Bucks have obviously turned it around under DocRivers. Including the fired-in-May MikeBudenholzer, their tab for HC’s on the payroll is around $30 million.Here’s my question about MacJones: If he can’t play in the NFL, why was he so good his rookie year? Luck or something else?
Sports 101 Answer: The seven former Celtics who later coached them are Bill Russell, Tommy Heinsohn, Satch Sanders, Dave Cowens, K.C. Jones, Chris Ford and M.L.Carr.
Final Thought – The Red Sox: The worst part of the Red Sox dilemma mentioned earlier was not the lack of player moves, unwillingness to spend on talent, phony team-leaked rumors they were in on every free agent from ShoheiOhtani to TuckerCarlson, or the hiring of a not nearly ready for prime time GM. It was hearing earnest but clearly delusional team president/sacrificial lamb SamKennedy offer this doozy in defense of the team’s brass on WEEI in January: “If you think for one second that we aren’t passionate, committed, dedicated to the Boston Red Sox, you’re wrong, you’re a liar, and I’ll correct you on it, because it’s total BS.” Sorry, Sam, that’s not true. Expectations are at their lowest for your team since the bottom-dwelling days of the 1960s because ownership simply does not care about anything beyond expanding their sports business portfolio. Thus you’ve got a long haul in front of you.
So Tip No. 1: Calling your customers “liars” is not the best way to go. Tip No. 2: Tell us the truth — that you’re rebuilding, with a target date for when you’ll be ready, so unrealistic expectations built by owner TomWerner can be adjusted to look at TristonCasas and company with an eye on their growth, not being failures who can’t live up to the 2004 glory days.
Be honest with your customers and then get your act together.
The Nashua Public Library’s 2nd Annual Tiny Film Festival is now accepting 60-second film submissions in all genres until March 6, with a screening and awards ceremony on Saturday, March 9, at 3 p.m. Pamela Baker, programming and marketing librarian, discussed the festival’s inspiration, its focus on fostering creativity across all ages and how it serves as a platform for community engagement and storytelling.
What was the inspiration behind starting the Tiny Film Festival, and why focus on 60-second films?
The film festival idea grew out of two things we noticed here at the library. One, we’ve met so many creative customers through our programs, especially our craft programs and writing workshops. Part of our mission is to support this kind of lifelong learning; the festival is an opportunity for people of all ages to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves. … As the quality of filming on phones gets better and more and more people of all ages get comfortable using their phones, this also seemed like an opportunity that most people could take advantage of. And for anyone who doesn’t have access to a phone, the library offers free computers where people could create a film. Our Teen Room specifically offers free stop-motion cameras and other technology that teens could use as well. Second, we’re very lucky to have a movie theater space here in Nashua. We have many older adults who come to our free movie series — we show classic films every Sunday afternoon and new releases on Tuesdays — and reminisce about the time that Nashua had several movie theaters. The festival is a great way to remind the community that every week there is a space you can go to relax and watch free films with other people, which is still a special part of going to the movies. … And, because the films are only 60 seconds, we were able to screen all the entries at last year’s festival.
How has the festival evolved since its inaugural event last year?
During last year’s festival, so many people remarked that they loved how connected they all felt watching these stories from their friends, family or even neighbors. In response, this year we’re focusing on enhancing those connections by creating more time to “party.” We’re opening the doors early for our red carpet photo booth and offering free popcorn. We hope people stay after the awards to meet the creators and talk about the films over light refreshments.
Can you describe the judging process and how the Nashua Public Library staff determines the winners?
Our staff love watching these films but hate having to pick just three for awards. We have three age groups for the festival: kids, teens and adults. Our Youth Services team judges the kids and teen entries, and the rest of the staff judge the adult films. Everyone votes through an anonymous form for their top three picks.
What do you look for in a winning submission, and do the criteria differ between age groups?
We judge the films on the same criteria for each age group. We evaluate based on originality, creativity, plot, pacing and structure, characters, cinematography, sound quality and music score.
With the festival open to all genres, have you noticed any trends in the types of films submitted by different age groups?
We’ve noticed that the kids’ age group is excellent at using toys as props in their stories and seem so comfortable in using different technology like stop-motion cameras. Their films are so fun to watch. We were blown away at the artistry of the teen films, especially the technology students at Nashua High South. The teens weren’t afraid to tackle big themes and really captured their perspectives on life well. Those were actually the types of films we expected to see from adults, not teens.
After the festival, how does the Nashua Public Library plan to showcase the winning films and engage with the participants and audience?
We launched a new website in the fall, so while we weren’t able to host the videos for everyone to watch on our old website, this year we’ll have a page dedicated to the festival where everyone can watch the winners and get inspired to make their own films for next year’s festival.
