As our beautiful summer scenery is slowly saturated with campaign signs it's easy to tune them out. In these parts, people don't seem to get too fancy with their yard and street-side signs. Two colors, maybe three, with their name and desired office printed in simple font.

In our land of simple signs I can't be the only one surprised by the ones for Todd Smith in Hooksett. This Hooksett state representative with a common last name is running for re-election and, to make sure his signs stand out from the rest, he has printed his full-color picture on every one.

“I think it always helps when people can picture who the person is,” Smith told me.

Our House of Representatives has more than 400 seats. It is shameful for someone who writes for a newspaper, but I'll admit that when I go to the voting booth I have no idea who some of these people are. If I have met them before, or feel like I have some sort of connection with them, then they usually get my vote.

I know nothing about Smith's politics, but I think his signs are a smart move to win over voters like myself. Smith said he got the idea from the McCain/Palin campaign in 2008. It didn't work out so well for that duo, but it has been working for Smith. He has won two elections with them so far and is now going for his third.

Smith had lived in town about 15 years when he first sought office, but he was relatively unknown. He thinks the signs helped him win and they now help his constituents recognize him around town and make them feel comfortable stopping him at the grocery store to ask questions.

Smith is one of six Hooksett Republicans vying for four available statehouse seats in the Sept. 11 primary. Other candidates are David Hess, Frank Kotowski, Tom Walsh, Richard McGahey and Dick Marple.

Hess is running for his 12th term. I called to ask this veteran candidate what he thinks about Smith's design. “They're very handsome,” he said. “Of course, he's very handsome.”

Hess won't be putting his photograph on his own signs anytime soon. “That's far too expensive for me to consider,” he said. In fact, Hess just replaced his signs after using the same ones for about 25 years. The signs were so old they lasted through two of his pet dogs. “They are a testament to my political conservatism,” he said.

In the 2010 general election, however, Hess did agree to have his photograph on large signs with Smith and other Hooksett Republican candidates. The frugal Yankee said splitting the cost five ways made it more affordable.

Hess' new signs, which he said simply read, “Dave Hess for State Rep.,” haven't even been put up yet for next month's election. His strategy is to post his signs less than two weeks before the vote and avoid getting lost in the scenery with all the other signs that have already been up for much of the summer.

While Hess said he applauds Smith's signs, it seems Smith's five children aren't big fans. “They hate it,” Smith said. “The eyes of dad are in every corner of the town.”

His signs are everywhere
Speaking of signs, Scott Aubertin just has to drive down Elm Street to see much of the work produced by his company, First Sign, Inc. The Hollis Street company has been designing and producing logos, signs, awnings and complete storefronts in Manchester since 1994. Signs at both the Brady Sullivan Tower and the Brady Sullivan Plaza are his handiwork, in addition to Steve's House, North End Framing, Karma, Republic, Dancing Lion Chocolate, Baked and others.

Aubertin is obviously used to walking down the street and happening upon one of his creations. But he certainly didn't expect to see one of his window graphics while on vacation in Malmo, Sweden. He had produced the lettering for Avid Technologies, the filmmaking technology company based in Burlington, Mass. He had no idea where the finished product was sent. Now he does. To see more pictures of Aubertin's work, visit www.firstsignnh.com.

Proud of the pearly whites
Speaking of people who are proud of their work, Drs. Paul Thompson and William Mehan loved seeing a certain stunning smile on the stage during a recent production of “Jersey Boys” in Providence, R.I. Thompson, a Manchester dentist, and Mehan, a city orthodontist, were there to see their mutual patient Kaleigh Cronin. Cronin, a Central graduate who honed her incredible stage talent here at the Palace Theatre, is currently starring as Lorraine in the 2nd Broadway touring cast of “Jersey Boys”.

NH365 Events of the Week
Downtown Elm Street will be lined with classics, hot rod and custom cars from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday for the city's largest classic car show of the year. The Manchester Rotary Club's Cruising Downtown Car Show will also feature lots of entertainment, including a visit by Elvis, or maybe even Elvises, as the 4th Annual New England Elvis Festival takes place at the Radisson all weekend too.

The Elvis event will be filled with activities to celebrate the life of The King and commemorate the 35th anniversary of his death. Highlights include Saturday night's Las Vegas-style show called “Back to the Beginning,” featuring Graceland's 2011 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Cody Slaughter and 2011 New England Elvis Festival Champion and New Hampshire native Rick Huntress. There will also be an Elvis Tribute Contest, the winner of which will represent New England at the 2012 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist World Championship.

The car show is free for spectators and $25 to display a car. The Elvis Festival has many ticket options, ranging from $15 to $149. Visit www.NH365.org for more information on these and other events.
If you have an interesting item for Scene in Manchester, email it to scene@unionleader.com