Arts and Recreation
THE GOONIES--40th Anniversary Edition on the Big Screen at Jaffrey's Park Theatre
One night only SHOWN ON THE GIANT SCREEN.
The treasure-seekers study their map to fortune.
Photo courtesy of The Park Theatre
JAFFREY, New Hampshire (April 7, 2025) A young teenager named Mikey Walsh finds an old treasure map in his father's attic. Hoping to save their homes from demolition, Mikey and his friends Data Wang, Chunk Cohen, and Mouth Devereaux run off on a big quest to find the secret stash of Pirate One-Eyed Willie. Join the Goonies on their quest on Friday, April 18, 7:00 p.m., at The Park Theatre.
Steven Speilberg, Richard Donner (Lethal Weapons films), and Chris Columbus (Harry Potter films) collaborated on this epic adventure of subterranean caverns, sunken galleons, and a fortune in lost pirate treasure waiting to be found. With an all-star--and very young--cast including Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, and Kerri Green.
Tickets for THE GOONIES are $10 and $9. Purchase in advance by going to theparktheatre.org or by calling the box office (603) 532-8888. You can buy at the door as well. The theatre doors will open at 6:00 p.m.
The Park Theatre performing arts center is located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, New Hampshire, just 90 minutes from Boston & 60 minutes from Worcester, MA.
ALEX MINASIAN TRIO -- Live at Jaffrey's Park Theatre
Ultimate New York Jazz at the Park
JAFFREY, New Hampshire (April 7, 2025) ALEX MINASIAN is back at the Park, Saturday, April 19, playing the Mason & Hamlin 7-foot concert grand piano.
Alex Minasian has, at a remarkably young age, established himself as a versatile pianist, educator, and impresario in many different musical genres. As a pianist, Alex has studied with some of the greatest pianists in jazz history and has performed in most of the country's most famous jazz rooms such as Birdland, the Blue Note, Cafe Carlyle, Yoshi's, Bohemian Caverns Iridium, Jazz @ Lincoln Center, Scullers, the Regattabar, and the Apollo Theater.
Minasian has shared the stage with such legends as James Ingram, Arturo Sandoval, ?UESTLOVE, Sam Moore, Marylin McCoo, Curtis Fuller, Hank Jones, and Clark Terry, and with such jazz greats as Brian Lynch, Billy Pierce, Kenny Washington, Sheila Jordan, Gary Bartz, and Hugh Masekela. Alex currently plays keyboards with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers', Little Anthony and the Imperials, and iconic soul diva Candi Staton.
On Saturday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m., take a musical journey to the New York jazz scene with the Alex Minasian Trio.
Tickets for ALEX MINASIAN are $25, and all seats are reserved. Purchase in advance by going to theparktheatre.org or by calling the box office (603) 532-8888. You can buy at the door as well. The theatre doors will open at 6:30 pm.
The Park Theatre performing arts center is located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, New Hampshire, just 90 minutes from Boston & 60 minutes from Worcester, MA.
Movie Musical Classic "Easter Parade" Screens at Park Theatre on Easter Eve
Restored MGM extravaganza with Judy Garland & Fred Astaire is shown on The Park's giant screen in Jaffrey this Saturday, April 19
JAFFREY, New Hampshire (April 15, 2025): The Park Theatre will screen the 1948 movie musical classic Easter Parade at the Jaffrey, New Hampshire performing arts center this Saturday (Easter Eve), April 19, at 7 p.m. The newly restored film will be presented on the theatre's giant 27-foot wide screen.
Easter Parade, directed by Charles Walters, is a vibrant 1948 musical that captures the charm of early 20th-century New York. The film stars Judy Garland as Hannah Brown, a chorus girl discovered by dancer Don Hewes, played by Fred Astaire. When Don's original partner, Nadine (Ann Miller), leaves for a solo career, he vows to transform Hannah into a star to prove his talent-scouting prowess. The story unfolds with dazzling dance numbers and Irving Berlin's timeless songs, like "Steppin' Out with My Baby" and the titular "Easter Parade," as Hannah and Don navigate professional ambitions and budding romance. The chemistry between Garland and Astaire, paired with lush Technicolor visuals, makes this a standout in MGM's musical catalog.
The film's blend of humor, heart, and spectacle earned it widespread acclaim. Critics praised its leads and direction, with Variety calling it “a dazzling showcase of song and dance, with Garland and Astaire at their peak.” The New York Times lauded Walters' “crisp direction” and noted, “Astaire's elegance and Garland's warmth make every scene a delight.” The supporting cast, including Peter Lawford as a charming suitor and Ann Miller's show-stopping tap routines, adds depth to the breezy plot. Easter Parade won an Oscar for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, cementing its status as a beloved classic that still resonates with audiences for its joyful energy and iconic performances.
Tickets are $10 & $9. To purchase tickets, go to theparktheatre.org or call the box office (603) 532-8888.
The Park Theatre performing arts center is located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, New Hampshire, just 90 minutes from Boston & 60 minutes from Worcester, MA.
Coming Up at Nova Arts in Keene
Tuesday, April 22: Experience the magic of Thanya Iyer, with Michael Roberts and The Woods Vehicle at Nova Arts
Thanya Iyer is a musician with a gift of crafting experimental pop music. She uses the synth, piano, and violin to accompany her angelic yet powerful voice. Her live band features Pompey, who assists in vocals and also uses the bass and clarinet. Emilie Kahn and Daniel Gelinas are also featured, with Emilie on harp and flute, and Daniel on the drums. Altogether they create a sound that is spiritual, bright, and transformative. Listeners are reminded of the power in mindfulness and the beauty of life. They've performed all over Turtle Island, alongside artists like Kimya Dawson, Jeff Parker, Kevin Drew, and Land of Talk. After their long awaited sophomore album KIND was released in 2020, their new record TIDE/TIED produced by Top Shelf Records was brought to life. TIDE/TIED addresses themes of love, community, and existence in the modern world.
Michael Roberts is a guitarist, singer/songwriter, and improviser. He also does research in sound. He is based out of Vermont. He is a man with many talents; creating the indie folk band Wooden Dinosaur, leader of the beloved honky tonk band The Rear Defrosters, while also working on his solo career. His album Rose Gold was released in February of 2025. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Newport Folk Festival, and the Thing in the Spring Festival, and shared bills with Iris Dement, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, the Devil Makes Three, the Suitcase Junket, and Chris Smither, along with numerous other artists. His band The Woods Vehicle is made of Max Adam on bass and Stefan Amidon on drums, with special guest John Levin on ARP Odyssey.
Doors are at 7:00 p.m. and music will start at 8:00 p.m.! All ages! Seating is limited and first come first served! For more information visit: https://www.novaarts.org/events/thanyaiver. Nova Arts is located at 48 Emerald St, Keene, NH.
Regional News
Treasurer Goldberg and Bay State Bank Announce Small Business Empowerment Series
Series will provide valuable insights and resources to empower small businesses
BOSTON--(April 14 2025)--In collaboration with Bay State Bank, State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg's Small Business Initiative (SBI) opened online registration for its 2025 Small Business Empowerment Series. The series includes two free virtual workshops that will help Massachusetts entrepreneurs secure and manage their business finances. Both workshops will be presented in English with live interpretation in Spanish and Portuguese.
The series will kick off on April 23rd, 2025 with recorded remarks from Treasurer Goldberg and Bay State Bank President and CEO Seth A. Pitts and will conclude on April 30th, 2025. During the series, participants will attend virtual trainings presented by experts at Bay State Bank who will cover topics related to mastering financial management, understanding banking services, and securing financing.
"The goal of these workshops is to provide access to the tools and information all entrepreneurs need to succeed," said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. "By supporting the growth of independent small businesses, we not only positively impact their development, but also our local communities and the state's economy in many positive ways. Thank you to our partners at Bay State Bank for investing in this work with us."
"Small businesses have always been the economic engines driving successful communities everywhere. Bay State Bank plays an important role in this journey for countless businesses and entrepreneurs in our communities," said Seth A. Pitts, Bay State Bank President & CEO. "We are honored to work alongside Treasurer Goldberg's Small Business Initiative to provide business owners from all starting points and backgrounds with the tools to succeed. This partnership reflects our mutual dedication to supporting local entrepreneurs' financial education and access to the resources needed to grow, hire, and continue driving our economies. When small businesses succeed, our communities flourish, and together we are doing our part to help businesses across Massachusetts build a strong and sustainable future."
You can register for one or both of the following sessions at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sAt9mShtTlqhzZ6pv3GvFA#/registration.
Mastering Financial Management / Dominar la Gestión Financiera / Domínio da Gestão Financeira
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 9:00am - 10:15am
Understanding Banking Services & Securing Financing / Entender los Servicios Bancarios y Asegurar Financiamiento / Compreensão dos Serviços Bancários e Obtenção de Financiamento
Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 9:00am - 10:15am
During the Mastering Financial Management webinar, participants will learn how effective financial management lays the foundation for a thriving small business. Presenters will review how to make informed decisions, manage risks, and drive long-term growth, and cover essential financial skills such as budgeting, bookkeeping, cash flow management, and business financing--empowering you to build a financially strong and sustainable business. In the second webinar, Understanding Banking Services and Securing Financing, presenters will explore essential banking and financing strategies. Participants will learn how to identify the right banking services, understand different financing options, and build strong relationships with lenders and financial professionals. Presenters will also cover key topics like the Five C's of Credit, cash flow management, factors that impact loan approval, business credit, maintaining accurate financial records, and selecting the right financial institution.
About the Small Business Initiative
Under the direction of Treasurer Goldberg, SBI was designed to provide a range of relevant, important information that is often needed when starting a small business for the first time. Typically, it is challenging to find resources and advisors that can help lead to success. The toolkit and webinars offered by SBI provide valuable educational materials on how to plan, maintain, and grow a successful small business.
About Bay State Bank
Bay State Bank is a preferred financial institution committed to fueling the growth of businesses and entrepreneurs across Massachusetts. As the only bank headquartered in the "Heart of the Commonwealth" Worcester, MA, Bay State Bank connects you to success. For over 130 years, the bank remains a trusted partner, providing innovative commercial, business, and retail banking solutions that empower companies of all sizes to succeed. Bay State Bank's tailored approach focuses on the principle of doing more together to help businesses reach their goals sooner and achieve long-term success.
Second Chance Animal Services Celebrates No-Kill Status and Commitment to Every Life
A mother cat snuggles with her kittens, all safe thanks to Second Chance's compassionate program for pregnant pets. Today, her kittens are thriving in loving adopted homes--proof that every life deserves a second chance.
Photo courtesy of Second Chance
EAST BROOKFIELD, MA (April 15, 2025)--Second Chance Animal Services is celebrating another year as a no-kill shelter, maintaining a 99% save rate and helping 56,000 pets in the past year to live better lives. Every day, this organization is making a profound difference--giving homeless, sick, and injured pets a second chance at happiness and ensuring families can stay together through lifesaving care and support. The organization emphasizes its commitment to every animal life through innovative programs, including a compassionate approach for pregnant pets.
"At Second Chance, we believe that every life matters," said Sheryl Blancato, CEO of Second Chance. "Every pet deserves love, care, and a chance to thrive. We will never stop fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves."
Second Chance safeguards animal lives through several key initiatives. First, its robust spay/neuter program helps prevent overpopulation by providing accessible services for pets to get these services. Second Chance offers a compassionate program specifically for pet owners who discover their pet is already pregnant. This program focuses on saving both the mother and her unborn offspring, ensuring they receive the care and support they need. By guiding pet owners through the process and offering vital resources, Second Chance's adoption center ensures that every life is given a chance from the very beginning. While Second Chance does not spay a pet known to be pregnant, the organization offers innovative options to help save all lives, ensuring that both the mother and her offspring receive the necessary care and find responsible homes. Once the puppies or kittens are of age, Second Chance will spay the mother to prevent future litters and further reduce pet overpopulation.
Beyond spay/neuter services, Second Chance operates a variety of programs aimed at keeping pets and families together. From affordable veterinary care and vaccine clinics to a pet food pantry program and emergency medical assistance, the organization is committed to addressing the root causes of pet homelessness and suffering. These efforts reduce the number of animals at risk and reinforce Second Chance's promise to protect and advocate for every life.
Second Chance Animal Services is very proud to have a 99% no-kill status, reflecting its dedication to saving as many lives as possible. The organization is committed to transparency and encourages the public to learn more about no-kill status in Massachusetts by visiting the Best Friends website at https://bestfriends.org/no-kill-2025/animal-shelter-statistics/massachusetts. Second Chance openly shares its statistics and celebrates the incredible work being done to ensure every pet has a chance at a loving home.
"Our mission goes beyond just sheltering animals," Blancato emphasized. "It's about changing lives--saving those in need, preventing unnecessary suffering, and giving every pet a fighting chance. Every pet we save, every family we help stay together, and every life we touch brings us closer to a world where no pet is left behind."
Second Chance Animal Services invites the community to join in their life-saving mission. Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, every effort helps ensure that every pet has a chance at a loving home.
For more information about Second Chance Animal Services and its life-saving programs, visit www.secondchanceanimals.org.
Gardening
A Sustainable Lawn Starts with the Right Grass Seed
A healthy lawn starts with selecting the right grass seed.
Photo courtesy of Outsidepride
Growing a healthy lawn in a more sustainable manner is better for the environment and can also help reduce maintenance. As a major component of landscapes, they provide living surfaces for play areas and pathways while protecting the soil from erosion and slowing stormwater runoff.
When starting a new lawn, selecting the best lawn grass is as critical as selecting the right plant for your gardens. Look for a mixture of grasses that thrive in your growing conditions and activity level, provide the aesthetics you prefer and with the care you are willing and able to provide.
Fescues are known for their shade and drought tolerance and ability to thrive in warm and cold climates. Tall fescues are among the toughest with their dense root system, ability to tolerate heavy foot traffic and other wear and compaction. Turf-type tall fescues have finer leaf texture, denser growth, and tend to spread better than the bunching tall fescues.
When selecting a tall fescue grass seed, look for one with several varieties to create an attractive, resilient and low maintenance lawn. Varieties like Annihilator, Marauder, Rhizing Moon, and Bloodhound have excellent heat resistance while Channell is great for high traffic and low maintenance areas. Barbarian can be managed at a moderate height. Roman tolerates diverse soils and Warhawk produces a beautiful dark green lawn.
Using a mixture of grass seed allows the various varieties to fill in where they excel, tolerate the often-challenging growing conditions and work together to create an attractive lawn. Grass seed mixes, like Combat Extreme Transition Zone (Outsidepride.com), contain several tall turf type fescue seeds to create a heat, cold, and drought resistant lawn that looks good and requires less watering and fertilizing and is suitable for zones 3 to 8.
Prepare the soil and begin planting the seeds when the soil temperature is 55 degrees and warmer or up
to six weeks before the first fall frost. Use this seed calculator to help you determine how much seed you'll need.
Broadcast the seed over the soil surface and lightly rake to ensure adequate seed to soil contact. Water often enough to keep the soil slightly moist and mulch to conserve moisture. Look for seedlings to sprout in 7 to 14 days and be ready to start mowing in 21 to 30 days.
Mow high, 2-1/2 to 3", and often enough to remove no more than 1" at a time. Regular mowing is less stressful on the lawn and the short clippings quickly decompose, adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
Save even more time, fuel, and water with sharp mower blades when cutting the grass. You can cut more efficiently when the blades are sharp, your mower will consume 22% less fuel, and the lawn will use up to 30% less water when using sharp blades.
Put away the rake and mow over fall leaves in the lawn. As long as they are the size of a quarter or less, they will not pose a problem to the grass. You may need to make several passes, but the leaf pieces will decompose, adding nutrients organic matter to the soil for your lawn to benefit.
Selecting the best grass seed for your climate and growing conditions and making a few changes in maintenance can help you grow a beautiful lawn.
Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener's Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses "How to Grow Anything" DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers' web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.