The Nation's Top Touring Ozzy Osbourne Tribute Show Coming To The Park Theatre

Crazy Train performing in Jaffrey, NH, on August 18

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (August 8, 2023) August 18 will be “Ozzy Day” in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. CRAZY TRAIN: The Ozzy Experience is the ultimate touring Ozzy Osbourne tribute show in America. The "Train" arrives at Jaffrey's Park Theatre performing arts center on Friday, August 18, with a 7:30 pm show.

The concert is hosted by Vinny Cormier, North America's #1 Ozzy Osbourne tribute artist. Vinny is supported by a band full of Berklee College of Music drop-outs, including his son Dylan. They deliver a captivating show unlike no other, musically and visually.

The show has special effects and "wow" moments you won't forget! Crazy Train plays every show like it is "live and loud" 1993! Crazy Train rolls over all of the Prince of Darkness' noteworthy hits, anywhere from Sabbath to Patient #9.

Vinny Cormier has been a touring musician since 1977, traveling all over Canada and down the East Coast, working with acts such as Molly Hatchet, Eddie Money, Blue Oyster Cult, Quiet Riot, Steve Perry of Journey, Kansas, John Cafferty, Marshall Tucker and many more in a long list.

The concert will be held in The Park's acoustically acclaimed 333-seat Eppes Auditorium. Tickets for the show are $25 each, and all seats are reserved. You can purchase tickets online at theparktheatre.org or call the box office (603) 532-8888. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

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 exciting shows!

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

Rep. Jim McGovern Advocates for Anti-Hunger Initiatives at Community Harvest Project in North Grafton

North Grafton, August 8, 2023 - Rep. Jim McGovern visited Community Harvest Project (CHP) in Grafton on August 3 to speak about hunger relief and food insecurity in Massachusetts. Community Harvest Project engages and educates volunteers to grow fruits and vegetables for hunger relief in the region.

During his visit, Rep. McGovern addressed critical issues related to hunger, including the farm bill and state lawmakers' efforts to fund free universal school meals. He emphasized the importance of taking steps to alleviate food insecurity in the community.

Despite these positive efforts, Rep. McGovern also expressed concern over congressional Republicans pushing for cuts to existing benefits, which could hinder progress in the fight against hunger. "Hunger is a political condition," Rep. McGovern remarked during his visit. "We possess the necessary resources, knowledge, and food to solve this problem. What we lack is the political will. However, we are gradually building that will, and together, we can make a real difference."

Community Harvest Project relies heavily on the support of volunteers and plays a crucial role in addressing the hunger crisis. Last year alone, CHP donated 323,000 pounds of produce to people experiencing food insecurity in Eastern and Central Massachusetts.

Tori Buerschaper, CHP’s Executive Director, highlighted the gravity of the current situation, stating, "Recent statistics indicate that one in three people in Massachusetts faces hunger, a number higher than pre-pandemic levels. This is a crisis, and we must take action. It is imperative that we provide robust support systems, including programs that help people secure a living wage, ensuring they have all they need to afford food without struggling."

Several of Community Harvest Project’s distribution partners also participated in the discussion including Lovin Spoonfuls, Community Servings, UMass Memorial Health, Boston Area Gleaners, Grafton Food Bank, and Stone Soup Kitchen, as well as an aide from Representative Hannah Kane’s office.

FY24 State Budget Passes Measures to Address Hunger and its Underlying Causes

Hunger advocates are celebrating wins for Universal School Meals, The Hunger Free Campus Initiative, and more

On August 9, 2023, Governor Maura Healey signed the Massachusetts FY24 budget agreed upon by the House and Senate Conference Committee into law. The reconciled budget includes many of the food insecurity related benefits and provisions the Food Bank and its partners have been advocating for, such as:

• Funding to make Universal School Meals permanent in MA for all K-12 students.
• $35.5 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP).
• $1 million for the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative addressing food insecurity on state funded college campuses.
• $150 million for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to improve bus route coverage, frequency, and the hiring of additional drivers. There is an additional $15M earmarked for fare-free bus pilots.
• A 10% increase in cash assistance benefits helping the poorest families in Massachusetts meet their basic needs.

"With this budget, Governor Healey and the Massachusetts legislature once again affirm their commitment to reducing food insecurity and providing basic rights for all residents," said Food Bank Public Policy Manager Laura Sylvester, who has been hard at work advocating for the passage of these bills. "We are now the eighth state in the nation to provide free school meals to all K-12 students! We’re also pleased the budget contains funding for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP), the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, and a huge increase in funding for the Regional Transit Authorities. The Food Bank will continue to advocate for these and other policies that support our mission to end hunger in Massachusetts and beyond."

The Food Bank extends its thanks to Governor Healey and all our representatives in the House and Senate for your commitment to our communities, as well as to all those who worked with the Food Bank to advocate for these measures. Thank you especially to those with lived experience of food insecurity, poverty, and hunger whose personal testimonies are critical to bringing awareness to these issues and creating effective solutions.

About the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts: Since 1982, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has been a community partner to end hunger. We provide healthy and culturally responsive food directly through our own programs (Mobile Food Banks and Brown Bag: Food for Elders), and through the food assistance network in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties. These independent pantries, meal sites and shelters are on the front lines providing food and resources to individuals, families, seniors, children, and people with disabilities, including veterans, so they may lead healthy and meaningful lives. The Food Bank partners on public education and advocacy to address systemic issues that lead to hunger, operating with the belief that everyone has a right to healthy food.