New Documentary About Holocaust Survivor To Have New England Premiere at Park Theatre

"Eva's Promise" debuts in Jaffrey on Friday, January 13. Filmmakers attend January 15 screening

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (December 28, 2022). In 1944, on a train to Auschwitz, 17-year-old Heinz Geiringer told his sister Eva that he hid the paintings and poetry he created during his time in hiding beneath the attic floorboards. Heinz made Eva promise that if he should die in the camps, she would retrieve the belongings. Today, his story sits in the shadow of the better-known Diary of Anne Frank. After the war, Eva (Schloss) became a posthumous stepsister of Anne when her mother married Anne's father. While the world knows Anne's story, Eva's Promise introduces Heinz, his artistry, and his sister's efforts to find and share his remarkable legacy.

Eva's Promise will make its New England debut at The Park Theatre in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, on Friday, January 13, and play through Thursday, January 19.

On Sunday, January 15 at 4 p.m., the film's director, Steve McCarthy, and the producer, Susan Kerner, will attend the screening for a talkback after the film. A special video message from Eva Schloss to the Jaffrey audience will also be shown.

Eva is 93 and resides in London. In addition to Eva's Promise, she was featured in Ken Burns' recent documentary series, The U.S. and the Holocaust. She wrote the award-winning book, The Promise in 2006. Signed copies of the book will be available for sale at the theatre and all Toadstool Bookshops.

Tickets for Eva's Promise are $9/$8. The special talkback event will be $15/$10. They can be purchased in advance by visiting theparktheatre.org or calling the box office (603) 532-8888. Group sales and private screenings are available.

The Park Theatre performing arts center is located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, New Hampshire. The facility is fully accessible.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces First Day Hikes at Massachusetts State Parks

BOSTON - Continuing with tradition, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced it will once again offer First Day Hikes throughout the Massachusetts State Parks System on Sunday, January 1, 2023. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will provide 13 guided hikes as part of the 32nd annual First Day Hikes in Massachusetts to provide residents and visitors with outdoor recreational opportunities to enjoy the Commonwealth's vast outdoor spaces as they ring in the new year.

"The Baker-Polito Administration is proud again this year, to carry on the long-standing tradition of First Day Hikes at state parks throughout the Commonwealth," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. "Our beautiful parks offer the public year-round opportunities to get outside and enjoy our beautiful landscapes, and the First Day Hikes Program serves as a wonderful way to kick off the new year and explore the Commonwealth's natural resources."

First Day Hikes were introduced in 1992 at DCR's Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Massachusetts, as a way to encourage year-round outdoor recreation and to inspire the public to discover the Commonwealth's impressive natural resources. As the program grew, it became a nationwide trend, and in 2012 all 50 state parks systems joined together to create the America's State Parks First Day Hikes Initiative, which has become a signature program for America's State Parks.

"DCR is excited to once again organize popular First Day Hikes, which provide excellent opportunities for residents and visitors to get outside with their friends and families, and to connect with the natural world that surrounds us," said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Doug Rice. "The popularity of this program has been felt throughout the country and has encouraged us to expand to new locations across the Commonwealth."

The Massachusetts State Parks System offers incredible natural resources for visitors to explore, as well as exceptional recreational activities that residents and visitors can take advantage of year-round. This year's First Day Hikes will range from one to three miles depending on location. For details about the hikes, difficulty, length, terrain, and tips regarding proper apparel, please visit DCR's website. Furthermore, participants are also encouraged to tweet, post, and tag photos on social media using @MassDCR and #FirstDayHikes. DCR's First Day Hikes will be offered at the following 10 locations and times:

Central Region
Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, 10:00AM
287 Oak Street, Uxbridge
Meet at the Visitor Center. Registration begins at 9:00AM. Co-sponsored by the Blackstone Heritage Corridor.

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, 2:00PM
198 Purgatory Rd, Sutton, MA
Meet at the Visitor Center. Registration begins at 1:00PM.

Wachusett Reservoir, 11:00AM
167 Temple Street, West Boylston
Meet at Gate 22 on Route 140 in West Boylston (GPS address: 167 Temple Street, West Boylston), starting at 10:00AM.

North Region
Breakheart Reservation, 10:00AM
177 Forest Street, Saugus
Meet at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center. Two hikes will be offered, both beginning at 10:00AM, one hike will be 2-miles and the other will be 3-miles. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Breakheart.

Halibut Point State Park, 10:00AM
4 Gott Avenue, Rockport, MA
Meet at the parking lot starting at 9:00AM. Co-Sponsored by the Friends of Halibut Point State Park.

Middlesex Fells Reservation, 10:00AM
4 Woodland Rd, Stoneham, MA
Meet at the Botume House. Co-Sponsored by Friends of the Middlesex Fells.

Walden Pond State Reservation, 10:00AM
915 Walden St, Concord, MA
Meet at the Visitor Center.

West Region
Great Falls Discovery Center, 1:00PM
2 Avenue A, Turners Falls
Meet at the Main Entrance. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center.

Mount Greylock State Reservation, 9:30AM /12:30PM
30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough
Meet at the Visitor Center. Two hikes will be offered; pre-registration is required.

South Region
Blue Hills Reservation,12:00PM
840 Hillside Street, Milton
Meet at Houghton's Pond. Two hikes will be offered, both beginning at 12:00PM over easy to moderate terrain, one will be a 1-hour hike and the other will be a 2-hour hike. Parking is limited so visitors are advised to arrive early.

Additionally, most locations will offer hot chocolate following the hike. In the event of inclement weather or icy trail conditions, hikes may be cancelled. Please call the park prior to arriving to ensure the hike will proceed as scheduled. Families are also encouraged to create their own First Day Hike adventure at a state park close to home. Further information on self-guided hikes is available on the agency's website, which features almost 70 facilities statewide.

In addition, DCR-managed ice rinks in the City of Boston will hold free public skating on New Year's Eve from 10:00AM to 2:50PM, with the exception of the Steriti Rink in the North End, which will be open for public skating from 10:00AM to 9:50PM. Also, on New Year's Day, the Kelly rink will be open regular hours for public skating, and the Steriti & Murphy rinks will be open for public skating from 11:00AM to 3:50PM.

Massachusetts State Treasurer's Office Launches Small Business Toolkit and Resource Map

Provides access to comprehensive resources for small business owners

Boston - December 29, 2022 - Massachusetts State Treasurer, Deborah B. Goldberg, recently announced the launch of the Treasurer's Office's newly designed Small Business Resource Toolkit website. The toolkit provides access to comprehensive resources and materials for small business owners and future entrepreneurs in Massachusetts.

Under the direction of Treasurer Goldberg, the toolkit was designed to provide a range of relevant, important information, often needed, when facing the enormous challenge of starting a small business for the first time. Typically, it has been impossible to easily find the resources and advisors that can help lead to success. This website offers valuable educational materials on how to plan, maintain, and grow a successful small business.

"By collecting relevant resources in one place online, we are providing an understandable road map for people as they begin to develop and open their own businesses," said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. "One of my top priorities has been to ensure that everyone has equal access to the tools and information they need to succeed. And by supporting the growth of independent small businesses, we not only positively impact their own development, but also our local communities and the state's economy, in many positive ways."

To help ensure that small businesses thrive, this toolkit provides additional information about banks, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and community partners available across the Commonwealth.

"Successful small businesses are critical generators of wealth, they are the backbone of the economy," said State Senator Lydia Edwards (D-Boston). "I am so thankful to Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and her team for creating a website that serves as a one-stop-shop for small businesses new and old. I look forward to sharing this new resource with my constituents."

"The State of MA Treasurer's Office has taken yet another step to actively support economic empowerment for entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout the Commonwealth," said Samilys Rodriguez, Director, Eastern Massachusetts Center for Women & Enterprise. "The Center for Women & Enterprise Women's Business Centers are just one of many business resources in the Treasurer's new Small Business Resource Toolkit, which can provide additional support and guidance for clients to achieve their next business milestones."

"Congratulations to the Office of the Treasurer's team for their hard work and dedication in creating a website that connects and provides resources for business owners in Massachusetts," said Aliesha J. Porcena, City of Boston Director of Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion. "At the City of Boston, we are committed to working across agencies, to make sure business owners have the resources and tools to start, grow, and build a business in Boston. As we work to address the many hurdles that businesses face, and build a community of support for businesses, this tool is an effort in that direction."

There are several organizations and community partners across the state that help business owners with technical assistance and business counseling. The Treasurer's Office's website has identified these organizations and placed them by county and category on a Small Business Resource Map. This map will be updated on a regular basis.

To learn more about the Treasurer's website and to watch the launch event, please visit https://www.smallbusinessma.org/.