Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio To Be First Concert at The New Park Theatre

Award-winning Celtic fiddler trio in concert on August 13

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (August 2, 2021) The new Park Theatre will debut its first live concert on Friday, August 13 at 7:30pm with the award-winning Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio.

Bringing fresh energy to traditional Celtic music, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki is an award-winning New Hampshire-based fiddler/singer who has been performing professionally for over two decades. He has toured nationally with bands in various genres, performed across Ireland, and released multiple recordings of Celtic music that can be heard on radio stations in Ireland and Scotland as well as around New England. He is also an Emmy^®-nominated composer who has written soundtracks for audiobooks and television and appeared as a guest on over 75 albums. His lifelong passion for history helps bring to life the traditional music around which he built his career.

The concert will be held in the 333-seat William David Eppes Auditorium. Tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased at theparktheatre.org or by calling the box office (603) 532-8888.

The Park Theatre is located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, New Hampshire, only 90 minutes from Boston.

Romeo and Juliet UK HD Production Arrives at The New Park Theatre August 8

Downtown Abbey's Lily James & Game of Thrones' Richard Madden Star as the Lovers in This Stage2Screen Production

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (August 3, 2021) The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's modern and passionate staging of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet comes to the newly opened Park Theatre in Jaffrey on Sunday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 11, both at 2 p.m. It will be the first Stage2Screen HD event at the new theatre. Stage2Screen HD screenings of live theatre from London, Broadway and around the world was established at The Park Theatre's River Street Theatre in 2017.

This inventive and atmospheric reimagining of one of Shakespeare's best-known tragedies, filmed for the big screen in black and white CinemaScope, stars Richard Madden (Game of Thrones, Rocketman, 1917) as Romeo and Lily James (Downton Abbey, Cinderella) as Juliet. This Trafalgar release, in collaboration with Fiery Angel, is directed with "seriousness and opulence" by Sir Kenneth Branagh and Rob Ashford. The production also stars Derek Jacobi and Marisa Berenson.

Romeo and Juliet is a heartbreaking tale of forbidden love where the longstanding feud between Verona's Montague and Capulet families brings about devastating consequences for two young lovers caught in the conflict.

Sir Kenneth Branagh stated, "I am delighted our production of Romeo and Juliet is to return to cinemas this summer. When we staged the play as part of our Plays at the Garrick season, a key aim was to attract new audiences, both by presenting Shakespeare with naturalism and reality but also by taking the play out to the wider world through our partnership with Trafalgar Releasing. The original cinema broadcast was seen by 125,000 people worldwide and I hope that this rerelease will give many more people--particularly schoolchildren and students who have endured such a major interruption to their education during the past year--the opportunity to enjoy this passionately committed production of Shakespeare's timeless tragedy."

Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, added, "It's been five years since we first broadcast this cinematic and powerful production of Romeo and Juliet live from the Garrick Theatre. As the world opens up after the global pandemic our cinema partners are looking for fantastic events like this to entice audiences back and once again enjoy the unique experience of the big screen."

You won't want to miss this astonishing production at The Park Theatre in the beautiful downtown Jaffrey, New Hampshire. The August 8 presentation of Romeo & Juliet is in the 333-seat Eppes Auditorium with 17 speakers surrounding you with thrilling surround sound and breathtaking HD projection. The Wednesday, August 11 screening is in the more intimate King Auditorium with 77 seats.

Tickets are $15. You may purchase your tickets at The Park Theatre box office, online at theparktheatre.org or call the box office at (603) 532-8888.

New Documentary Based On Memoirs Premieres at Park Theatre August 11

"Last Boat From Bordeaux" Recounts Story of 16-Year-Old Boy Who Escapes Nazi Occupation of Belgium

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (August 2, 2021) In the spring of 1940, the German war machine was racing across Europe. Amid the chaos and destruction, one young man, like many others, answered the call of his government and his conscience. A brave sixteen-year-old left his mother and father in Brussels, Belgium, and headed for France on his bicycle with 500 francs in his pocket. As he waved good-bye to his family, he had no idea that five long years of war would pass until he saw them again -- if indeed he ever did. The boy was Francis de Marneffe. He would go on to become a renowned psychiatrist and serve as McLean Hospital's general director for 25 years. Many Monadnock Region individuals know Francis as a Dublin summer resident.

In 2001, he published his book, Last Boat From Bordeaux, detailing this amazing journey. Filmmaker (and The Park Theatre's CEO/Managing Director) Steve Jackson has produced a documentary film of Francis retelling the journey. It's a breathtaking tale told by the man who lived it.

The documentary will have its world premiere at the new Park Theatre on Wednesday, August 11 at 7 p.m. The film will be followed by a talkback with Francis de Marneffe. A wine reception will follow the Q&A.

This event is a fundraiser for The Park Theatre. Tickets are $25. They can be purchased online at theparktheatre.org or by calling the theatre box office at (603) 532-8888. The theatre is located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, New Hampshire, only 90 minutes from Boston.

Bump's Office Recognized by National Conference of State Legislatures for Study on Police Training and Accountability

Award Marks the Second Time Bump's Office Has Been Recognized Nationally for its Police Reform Report

BOSTON (August 2, 2021) - State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump today announced her office has received the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) Notable Document Award in the field of public safety for its study, Municipal Police In-Service Training: Funding and Cooperation across the Commonwealth. The study, which was produced by the office's Division of Local Mandates (DLM), called for the establishment of a Police Officer Standards and Training system, a database to track police training credits, and expanded training opportunities, all of which were included in the state's police reform bill signed into law this past December. The award marks the second time this year that Bump's office has been recognized nationally for its police reform report.

The award was presented today during NCSL's Legislative Research Librarians Business Meeting and recognizes excellence in public documentation for topics of interest to legislators.

"The police reform law that is now being implemented here in the Commonwealth was influenced by many critical stakeholders and advocates, and we are immensely proud that our study was valued and helped inform the debate. What started as a cost burden analysis turned into a proactive review of police training, a subject matter that was both timely and of great interest to lawmakers," Bump said. "I could not be more proud of the DLM staff members who worked hard on this report and are so deserving of this honor."

"The recommendations for greater police training and professional accountability are well written and clearly provided for policy makers. The material covered is an extremely relevant topic for all state and local governments," said Ingrid Hernquist, Manager of OLS Library Services for the New Jersey State Legislature, who also served as a judge for the Notable Document Award. "It contains well researched information and includes easy to understand graphs and tables as well as a strong bibliography. This was one of my choices for the Notable Document Awards as the recommendations were laid out in a clear fashion and could be used by legislators and policy makers in all local, state and national levels."

The report, which was released in November 2019, found that while Massachusetts has one of the highest hourly requirements for in-service police training in the nation, at 40 hours annually, it did not provide enough training opportunities to allow officers to meet this requirement and had no mechanism to hold officers and municipalities accountable.

The Notable Documents Awards are presented annually by the NCSL's Legislative Research Librarians. Using a scorecard, NCSL Notable Document Award committee members evaluate each submitted report or study on specific criteria, including relevance, organization, clarity, effective use of graphics, innovation, balance, and expansion of the base of knowledge on a particular subject. NCSL's mission is to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of legislatures and to foster interstate cooperation and facilitate the exchange of information among legislatures.

Massachusetts State Senate Overrides Governor's Vetoes on Fiscal Year 2022 Funding

Ensures Adequate Funding for School Districts, RTAs, Police Training, Behavioral Health and More

BOSTON (07/30/21) - The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday passed a bill to override Governor Charlie Baker's vetoes on certain items in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) budget passed earlier this month. The actions taken by the Senate will ensure adequate funding for school districts, regional transit authorities (RTAs), and public and mental health supports, as well as the implementation of last year's landmark police reform bill. Additionally, the bill includes measures to reinstate certain guidance relevant to state bodies such as the MBTA and prison facilities.

"Our Fiscal Year 2022 budget was carefully crafted and debated to ensure the success of our efforts to get back to better by focusing on resources and services that are critical to everyday life in the Commonwealth," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "The Senate refuses to compromise on investing in public transportation, our schools, and behavioral health supports, among other things, which are so important to our recovery. I would like to thank Chair Rodrigues, the entire Ways and Means committee, and my colleagues for acting swiftly to override the Governor's actions."

"The Senate passed a very solid budget unanimously and the overrides were necessary to assure proper funding and to make policy changes that will assist many people in my district and across the Commonwealth," commented Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education and a member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "The investments we made here will ensure longevity in our public infrastructure and other support systems, and I am proud of the steps that we have taken today."

Many of the Governor's vetoes were cost-cutting measures deemed unnecessary by the Legislature in light of the state's need to invest in crucial programs and services. Gubernatorial vetoes threatened $150,000 in funding for the children's behavioral health advisory council, as well as $150,000 for Emergency Family Assistance Shelters. With the Legislature's overrides, these funds are now restored.

To offset the cost of charter schools on school districts, this legislation reinstates a policy of 100 per cent charter school tuition reimbursement for school districts which have reached the spending cap on charter schools, thereby providing $2.9 million to school districts across the Commonwealth. For local transportation, $3.5 million is reinstated to enable Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to operate effectively as use of public transportation picks back up.

Last year's omnibus police reform legislation, An Act relative to justice, equity and accountability in law enforcement in the Commonwealth, included provisions requiring cities and towns in Massachusetts to follow new officer training standards. In line with this, the Legislature set aside $1 million in funding to pay cities and towns for costs incurred by new training programs, which the Governor vetoed entirely. The override legislation reinstates this funding so that cities and towns can be compliant with the police reform law without additional financial burden.

Citing fiscal concerns, the Senate also voted to further delay implementation of a tax deduction for charitable donations until at least 2023.

"The trigger for the charitable tax deduction was the income tax hitting 5 per cent, and that happened January 1, 2020," said Senator Adam G. Hinds (D-Pittsfield). "In the period between the triggering event and the start of the implementation of the charitable tax deduction, COVID-19 hit and completely changed our economic picture. A delay makes sense until we have more clarity on the economy and our revenue absent federal assistance."

The Fiscal Year 2022 budget conference report included two transfers of FY22 funds to help support known obligations that the Commonwealth will face in the future: fully funding the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) and unfunded state pension obligations. The Governor sent an amendment back asserting that there may not be sufficient surplus funds to make the transfers as proposed and recommended using FY21 funds instead. The Senate adopted a further amendment yesterday that suggests funding these transfers to the highest level possible given actual revenues at the time the transfer is to take place, thus providing flexibility to react to an uncertain future revenue picture while still requiring surplus funded to be dedicated to cover these future obligations.

In addition to funding projects across the Commonwealth, the legislation passed on Thursday encourages the MBTA to develop ‘shovel-ready projects,' or projects in their final stages of development, in anticipation of incoming federal dollars and their requirements. The Senate also reinstated guidance on releasing, transitioning, or furloughing inmates from Massachusetts prisons in a timely manner.

Having previously been passed by the House, the overrides now return to the Governor's desk with a veto-proof majority.