All posts by Harry Wakefield, Correspondent

Opinion

Reflections from Nov. 5: Student correspondent visited with voters at polling locations in Haverhill

 
I voted stickers on a white background
Photo courtesy of Canvas

With the election behind us and the aftershock of a historical victory in full swing, some look back and wonder: could we have seen this coming?

On the evening of November 5th, I stepped into my car and began my drive around Haverhill, Massachusetts with the goal of visiting a handful of polling stations across the city. I only made it to two. 

The first station I visited was located in the Haverhill High School gymnasium, and while I was not allowed inside with my camera and notebook, I was still given plenty of opportunity to interact with those exiting the polls. 

My first interviewee I noticed standing across the walkway from me, and I made my way over. 

Brandon, aged 22, who declined to provide a last name and lives in Dracut, Massachusetts had come with their partner Gianna, aged 23. Gianna lives in Haverhill and also declined to provide a last name. 

The couple told me that they were worried about the safety of their relationship if former (and now upcoming) president Donald Trump were to snatch the victory. 

“We’re an obviously queer couple, and I want to ensure that queer rights remain upheld.” Brandon said when asked about their primary reason for voting. “Another is Question Five on the ballot, I have friends in the service industry and I’m always like ‘dude, come on, you deserve at least minimum wage for all you put up with.’”

Brandon had voted early this election cycle, and said they had come to Haverhill to provide support for Gianna. 

Once I decided on where to go next – our own NECC campus polling location – I started my car and left the high school behind.

Like lots of people, I tend to sometimes tune out outside distractions as I am driving. As I turned onto Kenoza Avenue en route to campus, I found myself somehow stationary in a line of cars, not knowing why or for what purpose they were there. I had never seen something like this before. Not wanting to delay further, I figured the cars belonged to members of the VFW across the street and that I had somehow missed an announcement of sorts. 

It was when I sped past the front of the line that I realized what the line was for: a gas station. A gas station I had never seen busy before with a line of cars down to the beginning of the street. At the time, I thought nothing of it. 

Pulling into the TC parking lot on campus, I noticed a group of pro-Trump sign holders standing on a small median. I grabbed my camera, pen, and notebook, stepped out of my car, and approached. 

I was greeted by the face of Philip, a local architect who declined to provide a last name or age. He reached for a handshake and asked me what brought me over. During my conversation with Philip, I was surprised to learn that he had been in the same spot helping the group since 7:30 that morning, our conversation marking the near 12-hour interval. 

“It’s been a great day so far for us, we’ve had a surprising amount of people come by and honk in support or drop in for a quick debate or conversation.” Philip told me, while pointing out another student in the middle of a debate with another sign holder. 

That other sign holder, Paul,  took an interest in my presence and turned his attention almost immediately to me after hearing about my reasons for being there. Now, Paul is more of what one considers a ‘stereotypical’ Trump supporter. 

A small business owner who has done well for himself, and is willing to buy into anything Donald Trump feeds him. 

“It’s good to have this new generation of journalists coming in. It gives me hope that the legacy media won’t be sticking around much longer,” Paul told me, after I made him aware of my studies. 

However, when I attempted to explain his misconceptions surrounding the field of journalism and the importance of objectivity over neutrality, I was brushed off. “Yeah, but you have to understand that what they’re doing is — it’s intellectually dishonest. Actually, it’s worse than that,” Paul rebutted. 

Having had my fill of regurgitated propaganda, I decided to cut my losses and head back home for the night, though I unfortunately did not get to visit as many polling locations as I intended. I sat at my desk, turned on my computer, and spent the rest of the night watching MSNBC’s live election coverage. 

Now, as I sit here at my desk typing away, I wonder. I wonder if there was a way to see even a sliver of what would come to pass. 

Perhaps we as a nation were ignorant, perhaps naive. 

If there were signs, maybe we ignored them. Maybe I should have given more thought to the scene at the gas station, or the hopeful words of Philip the architect, standing on that mulch curb in our own parking lot. 

There were a lot of maybes that night, and there exist quite a handful more coming down the road. Many are nervous, even scared about what might come next and I do not blame them. It is rational to fear the unknown. 

However we, the press, will always have our place to inform and assuage that fear, no matter what the future of this country might look like. After all, in the words of Bob Woodward: “Democracy dies in darkness.”

Arts and Entertainment, Slider

Cabaret creates musical memories

 
A musical exposition hosted by both the NECC Choral and Music Club
Cast of NECC Cabaret
NECC’s Cabaret team Photos by Harry Wakefield

They’re creepy and they’re kooky; mysterious and spooky; they’re altogether ooky… They’re the performers of the27th annual fall Cabaret at NECC.

Oct. 23 marked the date of the fall Cabaret, a musical exposition hosted by both the NECC Choral and Music Club, as well as the NECC music department.

Something eye-catching those who attended may have noticed — aside from the various instruments and bits of overlapping conversation strewn about the conference hall TC103 — was a new addition to the funding goals for the event.

In addition to all cover fees contributing towards future trips and activities for the Choral and Music Club, this year’s Cabaret profits would also be split with the new memorial scholarship fund for the late Bonnie Suroweic, a 2009 graduate of the music program at NECC.

“She would always make the effort to come to these events, and it’s what I know she would have wanted.” said Alisa Bucchiere, the coordinator of the NECC music program and one of Suroweic’s former professors.

The show began a few minutes past 7 p.m. and marked a night full of many different genres of music and performances ranging from original compositions (“Liminality” by Joni Silva), to classical sonatas (CPE Bach’s Sonata in C Major), and even showtunes (“My Days” from The Notebook).

At about 8 p.m., the event was put on hold for a brief intermission as the one-man crew prepared for the following number of performances. “Usually I account for overtime when I work night events on campus, but things like this? I’m always happy to donate my time,” says Rick Ingham, the night’s lone crewman, NECC alumni and an IT technician for NECC in his 13th year as a staff member.

Exactly 10 minutes later, the show resumes with an energetic performance of They Might Be Giants’ “Instanbul, Not Constantinople,” perfectly placed to bring the attention of each guest back to the stage after the short break.

Cast of NECC Cabaret perfoming
Photos by Harry Wakefield

The acts that followed were all nearly equally energetic, and the second half of the event was marked by show tunes, blues, and Latin.

The night’s penultimate performance of “No Me Queda Mas” by student Angely Gabriel perfectly wrapped up the night’s activities, and was followed quickly by a raffle drawing (proceeds of which also went to both NECC Music and the Bonnie Suroweic scholarship fund).

The night ended with a passionate quartet performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “The Schulyer Sisters” of Hamilton fame, a perfect way to cap off the festivities and serving as both an energetic send-off and culmination of months of work from both students, staff, and alumni.

“I’ve been coming to this for the past three or four years, it’s always a fun time and the last song was a great way to wrap it up” said Kathy Godin, a retired member of the local community.

Home Page News Bytes, News

Kimball Farm hosts Vintage Bazaar

 
People strolling around Kimball Farms
Photo by Harry Wakefield

Oct. 5 marked the beginning of the annual Fall Festival at Haverhill’s Kimball Farm.

The festival is held annually by Vintage Bazaar, a traveling event company known for hosting similar events across the east coast, garnered much attention and a lively crowd composed of families, couples, and even pets as it does each and every year it has been held on the 300 acre field in rural Haverhill.

The field, full of white tents and the smell of barbecue, is host to local artists, thrift outfits, and charity organizations as well as an array of food trucks, coffee shops, and live music.

All of whom were eager to share their talents and skills to the local community.

Robotic statues made of metal
Photo by Harry Wakefield

One artist, David Dawson of Shrewsbury commented on his experience attending the event through the past four years.

“It’s validating, you know. Seeing the look on somebody’s face when they see your art… it’s one of the best feelings,” he said.

Dawson has been producing art for nearly a decade in his Shrewsbury studio/warehouse, where he scavenges estate sales, flea markets, and junkyards for anything that might catch his eye. He then repurposes his findings as miniature — or occasionally quite large — robotic statues.

Dawson is not the only artist grateful for the opportunities afforded to him by the festival, however. Kelly Stuck, a wildlife illustrator from Nashua, New Hampshire shared her thoughts on attending for the fifth time.

“I like building my relationships with the other vendors when I can, it’s good to have support,” she said.

Wildlife illustrations and art at Vintage Bazaar Kimball Farm
Photo by Harry Wakefield

Networking and accomplishment were not the only topics the artists were drawn to, and many commented on how strong they felt the sense of community present within the fenced-in field.

Jeff Whittum, a welding artist with eight years of experience out of East Kingston, New Hampshire, commented on his very first experience attending as a vendor and the pleasantness of the event as a whole.

“With the weather and everything this weekend, the atmosphere just… works. It works.”

Whittum was not alone in his experience, as it only took a brief walk through the festival grounds to see that most, if not all guests and vendors alike felt the same.

The infectious cheeriness of the crowd guaranteed an unforgettable experience for all who visited the farm throughout the weekend, and was sure to bring back many more for years to come.