Ken Burns' New Film to be Previewed by Film Writer Dayton Duncan at Park Theatre in Jaffrey

The theatre's Filmmaker Series event, featuring a preview of Ken Burns THE AMERICAN BUFFALO, happens on Sunday, August 20

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (July 31, 2023) Renowned documentarian Ken Burns' new upcoming film, The American Buffalo, will be previewed at The Park Theatre in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, on Sunday, August 20. About forty minutes of clips from the documentary will be followed by a discussion and Q&A session presented by the film's writer, Dayton Duncan, who lives in Rindge.

The two-episode, four-hour film traces the buffalo's long history and relationship with Native people, stretching back 10,000 years; chronicles the animal's tragic near-extermination in the late 1800s; and then tells the story of the diverse and unlikely collection of Americans who set out to save the buffalo from extinction.

Duncan has collaborated with Burns as a producer and writer for more than thirty years (including Country Music, The Dust Bowl, The National Parks, Lewis & Clark). He has won numerous awards, including two primetime Emmys. He will introduce the preview and conduct a post-screening Q&A with the audience.

The Sunday, August 20, 4:00 p.m. event is a fundraiser for The Park Theatre. Tickets are $20, and children 12 and under are free.

A VIP reception before the film, at 3 pm, includes a personal meeting with Dayton as well as live piano music from the film performed by Will Duncan. VIP tickets are $35 each, including the film and the special reception. Tickets are available at the box office, at 603-532-8888, and online at https://theparktheatre.org/american-buffalo/.

The American Buffalo debuts on PBS on October 16 and 17. Duncan's book Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo will be published by Knopf in November.

This event is part of the theatre's Filmmaker Series where audiences get a chance to talk to film directors, writers, editors, actors. and producers after the film is screened. The Park Theatre is located in downtown Jaffrey, New Hampshire at, 19 Main Street. The award-winning performing arts center is just 90 minutes from Boston. The facility is fully accessible and has a lounge bar.

Coming Up at Nova Arts

Join us at Nova Arts in Keene in August for these three exciting shows!

On Wednesday, August 9, we welcome back The Huntress and Holder of Hands, the most recent musical project from Morganeve Swain, formerly of Brown Bird. The ensembles use of strings and dark and doomy take on folksong makes for an emotional and powerful performance, without sacrificing the sweetness of performing the music with friends.

Footings, featuring Nova impresario Eric Gagne, will be on a whirlwind New England tour with Huntress, so this is a great opportunity to experience another eclectic ensemble featuring some excellent players from the greater area (members of Rick Rude, All Feels, Bonnie Prince Billy, and more). Last time they were here in fact, was with Bonnie himself, as his backing band and opener.

Kicking off this show will be Emi Night aka Strawberry Runners, a truly magical songwriter who crafts melodies that are hymn-like and entrancing.

Doors are at 7:00 p.m. and music for this one will start at 7:30 sharp!

On Sunday, August 20, we've got indie rock powerhouse Slothrust! On their latest album, bandleader Leah Wellbaum pushed herself to try and understand her own spirituality on a deeper level, putting a lens on the core wound of the human experience, the idea that we're alone. With Parallel Timeline, Wellbaum explores the feeling of being trapped inside her own consciousness while simultaneously searching for a meaningful connection to the universe, and all the mysteries it contains.

Pronoun is the alias of Brooklyn based producer, performer, and songwriter Alyse Vellturo; they'll be opening this show.! The project was created in 2016 and debuting her EP There's no one new around you. The lead single "a million other things" received press from NPR, All Things Go, and peaked at #16 on the Spotify viral charts. Vellturo followed up with her debut album i'll show you stronger in 2019 receiving press from The New York Times, Pitchfork, Paper Magazine, UPROXX, and countless others.

Friday, August 25, William Tyler and the Impossible Truth will be here, with Garcia Peoples opening. This night will be a deep dive into contemporary underground jam bands, as both of these groups are famously incredible at delivering that heavy Dead inspired realm to folks usually outside of the jam circuit.

For all shows, tickets are available at novaarts.org/events or at Brewbakers / Terra Nova Coffee.

Nova Arts is supported by and under the fiscal sponsorship of Arts Alive, and is supported by the Putnam Foundation and the Osier Fund. Events take place at 48 Emerald St, within Brewbakers Cafe & Terra Nova Coffee. novaarts.org

Senate Passes Comerford Bill Allowing Nonbinary Gender Option on Birth Certificates, Drivers' Licenses

"Gender X" legislation also eliminates unnecessary roadblocks to changing gender identification on all state documents

(Boston, MA - July 28, 2023) - The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to pass An Act relative to gender identity on Massachusetts identification, filed by Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). The bill would allow, for the first time in Massachusetts history, an individual to be identified with a non-binary "X" sex designation on their birth certificate, and codify in law the current practice of allowing an individual to select a non-binary "X" gender designation on their driver's license. This is the fourth consecutive session during which the Senate has passed similar legislation.

"Giving people the opportunity to be who they are is a human right, and one that we are proud to extend to every member of the Commonwealth, regardless of how they identify," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Allowing a nonbinary option for state licenses and birth certificates is fundamental to building a society that welcomes, protects, and respects all individuals. I first introduced similar legislation as a senator back in 2017, and I'm grateful to Senator Comerford for her steadfast leadership on the issue this session, and to Senator Crighton for his support and advocacy for moving this bill along. I am as hopeful as ever that Massachusetts will be able to enshrine this change into our state laws this session, and continue welcoming everyone into our Commonwealth with open arms.

"People know what gender they are. This bill affirms the ability of people to choose a non-binary gender option on state documents and forms, which would align the Commonwealth with many other states that have adopted this designation," said Comerford, the Senate sponsor of the bill. "I am grateful to Senate President Spilka for advancing the work on this bill before I took office, and to Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for his support of this legislation. Together, with our partners in the House, we will continue to move our Commonwealth to embrace this basic human right."

"Everyone deserves the right to their own self-identity, and identification documents should reflect that," Senator Brendan P. Crighton (D-Lynn), Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. "Thank you to President Spilka and Senator Comerford for their continued leadership on this important policy change, as well as the many individuals who bravely shared their lived experiences to help move this bill forward."

Current law does not allow a sex designation of "X" on a birth certificate in Massachusetts, and in order to change one's sex designation, an applicant must provide a notarized statement from a physician stating that the individual has completed medical intervention.

The legislation passed yesterday would allow an individual to be identified with an "X" sex designation on their birth certificate. In addition, the legislation allows any person over the age of 18, emancipated minor, or parent of a minor, to request a change in the sex designation on a birth certificate without being required to present any medical documentation, court order, or proof of name change. Individuals would only need to present a signed affidavit "attesting that the request is to conform to the person's gender identity and is not made for any fraudulent purpose." The legislation also makes it easier for individuals who change the sex designation on their birth certificate to also change the name on their birth certificate.

The legislation would put Massachusetts alongside 26 states around the country which currently allow residents to change the sex designation on their birth certificate without the need for a court order or medical documentation. 16 states currently allow residents to have a sex designation of "X" on their birth certificate.

On drivers' licenses, the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)currently allows individuals to select "X" as their gender designation; however, the practice is not codified into law. This bill would codify this practice into state law to ensure residents will always have this option. Massachusetts is currently one of 22 states that allow residents to have a gender designation of "X" on state drivers' licenses.

The legislation also directs the administration to develop a plan to add a non-binary option on all forms or documents issued by state agencies that require a gender to be listed.

While debating the bill, the Senate unanimously adopted an amendment from Senator Barry Finegold (D-Andover) that empowers individuals to amend the gender designation on their marriage certificate to conform with their gender identity.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.