Arts and Recreation

Ray Brewer Selected As Grand Marshal for the St. Patrick's Day Parade

Celebrated newscaster chosen as Grand Marshal for the 7th annual St. Pat's parade in Jaffrey, New Hampshire

2026 Grand Marshall Ray Brewer
Photo courtesy of The Park Theatre

Honorary Grand Marshall Jimmy Quinn
Photo courtesy of The Park Theatre

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (March 9, 2026) It was announced this morning that renowned television news reporter Ray Brewer will be the Grand Marshal of the 2026 Jaffrey St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 15. The parade is the centerpiece of the Shamrock Festival that begins Thursday, March 12, and ends on St. Patrick's Day, Tuesday, March 17.

The 7th annual parade begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 15 in front of St. Patrick's Parish at 89 Main Street in Jaffrey. It heads east on Main Street to downtown Jaffrey, passes by the reviewing stand in front of The Park Theatre (the parade's producer), and ends at Conant High School off Stratton Road.

Ray becomes the first yearly chosen Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick's Parade. In the parade, he joins the Honorary Grand Marshal, Jimmy Quinn, who is the co-founder of the parade. Each year, all former grand marshals will be invited to march in the parade.

Ray currently lives in Peterborough, N.H. However, he was born in New York City and has lived in different parts of the country, including Los Angeles, Cleveland (he is a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan), and mainly grew up in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

Ray is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a B.A. in History. Before joining the WMUR News 9 team, Ray worked at WKNE in Keene, N.H. In 1995, Ray came to WMUR-TV ABC 9 as a general assignment reporter. During that reporting, he covered stories across New Hampshire and has been in every city, town, and unincorporated places.

Ray has been voted Best TV reporter in Best of NH over a dozen times, and most recently in 2025. He has also joined The Park Theatre board of trustees in 2025.

"We are so thrilled to have Ray as the first annual Grand Marshall of our St. Patrick's Day Parade. Everyone in New Hampshire knows and loves Ray. He is a great ambassador for the parade and Shamrock Fest. Sláinte, Ray!," said Steve Jackson, CEO of The Park Theatre and producer of the parade and Shamrock Fest.

For tickets and information, go to theparktheatre.org or shamrockfest.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. The facility is fully accessible.

Coming Up at Nova Arts in Keene

Terraces and Sunset Mission This Saturday Night, March 14!

Born in the quiet fields of Walpole, NH, TERRACES creates instrumental soundscapes that stretch wide and deep, inviting listeners into vivid, ever-shifting terrain. Whether fast or slow, loud or hushed, the project blends every shade of sound into immersive sonic topography--music designed for wandering, reflection, and discovery. Close your eyes and follow the echoes wherever they may lead.

Sunset Mission is a six-piece progressive rock band from Boston, MA, known for its dynamic, layered approach to modern prog. Drawing inspiration from bands such as Animals As Leaders (prog-metal), Ritual (folk-prog), Renaissance (historic folk-prog), Pain of Salvation (progressive rock), and Sweet Trip (shoegaze), along with classical music influences, the group weaves together heavy eight-string guitar voicings, piano, driving drums, immersive soundscape textures, and ethereal vocals. The result is a sound that balances technical intensity with atmosphere and emotional depth.

Together, TERRACES and Sunset Mission offer an evening of expansive and transportive music; moving from instrumental exploration to intricate progressive compositions, creating a live experience that is both powerful and immersive.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and music begins at 7:30 p.m.! Seating is first come first serve!

Access For All tickets available thanks to support from Savings Bank of Walpole. (Note: To purchase more than one Access For All ticket, each must be done in a separate transaction.)

Shows are all ages and seating is first come first served.

Tickets and more info available at www.novaarts.org/events

Nova Arts is located at 48 Emerald St, Keene, NH.

Regional News

Athol Hospital participation in the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program

Athol, MA - Athol Hospital is excited to announce our participation in the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program. This nationwide federal program provides technical assistance to rural hospitals, at no cost to the hospital, to help improve financial stability by enhancing or expanding health care services that meet community needs.

Athol Hospital applied for the program last fall and began receiving hands-on technical assistance in January of this year. As part of our participation, Athol Hospital will receive a comprehensive set of financial and operational assessments to help inform action and implementation plans to expand or introduce new service lines and help keep care local to the Athol service area. The program provides funding for operational and equipment costs to support these service line efforts.

“We are proud to be selected for the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program, which strengthens our ability to enhance services and keep high-quality care close to home for the communities we serve in Athol and the greater Gardner region.” says CEO and President of Heywood Healthcare, Rozanna Penney on what it means to be selected as a participant. Eight hospitals were selected from across the country to participate in this year's cohort. These organizations will have the opportunity to learn together, share experiences, and build their network of similar organizations.

As participants of the program, Athol Hospital will also receive funding to support a Community Engagement Champion position. This role will help the hospital build lasting relationships within the community, lead outreach and marketing efforts for services, and share the impact of the hospital on the local community. Theresa Thompson has been chosen to fill this role and began this month.

The Rural Hospital Stabilization Program is funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, a division of the Health Resources and Services Administration. Services and technical assistance are managed and provided by the National Rural Health Resource Center. Read more about the program at ruralcenter.org/programs/stabilization

Financial Focus®

How outdated beneficiary choices can derail your plans

When you open a retirement account or buy a life insurance policy, you're asked to name a beneficiary. It might seem like just another form to fill out, but this simple step can affect your family's future.

Many people don't give beneficiary designations much thought after signing the initial paperwork. It may have been years ago, and life has moved on. But this might surprise you: These designations can override what's in your will or living trust. That means your retirement accounts and insurance proceeds could end up going to someone you didn't intend, creating what professionals call an accidental inheritance.

Life changes quickly. You might get married, divorced or remarried. You might have children or stepchildren. A loved one might pass away. You may decide to give to your favorite charity. Any of these events could mean it's time to update your beneficiaries.

The rules can get complicated. For example, after a divorce, some (but not all) states have laws that automatically revoke your beneficiary designations for IRAs, bank accounts and insurance policies. But no matter where you live in the U.S., the designations for 401(k) plans and pensions stay in place until you change them. In community property states, couples must split 50-50 the assets they acquired during marriage, adding another layer of complexity.

There are other considerations, too. It's a good idea to name a primary and a contingent beneficiary. If your primary beneficiary dies before you do, the contingent beneficiary receives your assets. Without this backup plan, your carefully considered wishes could go awry.

Naming minor children as direct beneficiaries isn't usually a good idea. Children can't legally receive and control assets until they become adults, so a court would have to get involved and appoint a guardian for managing the money. Instead, you might set up a trust or name a custodian to oversee the funds until your children are mature enough to handle them responsibly.

For family members with special needs, you'll want to be especially careful as about choosing your beneficiary. Some choices may jeopardize their eligibility to receive government benefits such as government disability payments or Medicaid. An estate attorney can help you make important beneficiary decisions.

One major benefit of proper beneficiary designations is that they can help your loved ones avoid probate, a time-consuming and potentially expensive legal process.

For these reasons and others, it's important to review your beneficiary designations regularly, especially after major life events. Contact your retirement account administrator or insurance company to update any outdated information.

A financial advisor can help you understand how your beneficiary choices fit into your financial strategy and ensure your assets go where you want them to go. It may also make sense to work with a legal professional who can help you ensure your beneficiary designations align with your plans for transferring your estate assets.

Don't leave these important decisions to chance. Taking time now to review and update your beneficiaries can help give you a sense of security and protect the people you love.

Gardening

2026 is the Year of the Azalea

Double purple Perfecto Mundo azalea brings bright color to spring and late summer-fall gardens.
Photo courtesy of National Garden Bureau

by Melinda Myers
Azaleas add welcome color to the spring garden and some, like Encore®, Perfecto Mundo® and ReBLOOM^TM offer additional blooms in summer and fall. With beautiful flowers in an array of colors and sizes and a variety of growth habits it's no wonder the National Garden Bureau has declared 2026 the Year of the Azalea.

The keys to success are selecting azaleas adapted to the climate, placing them in a suitable location and of course, providing proper care. Azaleas need slightly acidic soil with good drainage and prefer light to moderate shade. If shade is limited, consider growing Encore® Azaleas, Sweet Reward® Coral azaleas or one of the more sun-tolerant varieties.

Once the perfect location is identified with adequate space for the plant's mature size, it's time to prepare the soil. Start with a soil test and follow any recommendations for amending the pH as needed. Incorporate compost or other organic matter into the planting bed, not just the planting hole, to improve drainage and moisture retention of the existing soil.

Dig a hole that's the same depth as the root ball and two to four times wider with sloping sides. This loosens the surrounding soil as needed, allowing roots to extend beyond the planting hole. Do not dig a deeper hole as this leads to settling and the plant will end up in a low spot where water collects and can lead to root rot. If amending the soil, firm the bottom of the hole to prevent settling.

Loosen any circling pot-bound roots prior to planting or shave off the outer 1" of roots then gently tease out the roots along the edge. This encourages the roots to grow out and away from the root ball. When circling roots remain intact, they continue to grow around the original root ball, limiting moisture and nutrient uptake, plant stability and eventually end up girdling the stem.

Make sure the crown of the plant, where the stems meet the topmost roots, is at or slightly above the soil surface. Create a raised planting area if gardening in heavy, slow-draining soil.

Water thoroughly, moistening the top eight to twelve inches of soil. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet which can lead to root rot. Mulch the soil with leaves, evergreen needles or woodchips. Pull the mulch a few inches away from the stems. Organic mulch helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve the soil as it decomposes.

Wait a year to fertilize and follow soil test recommendations. Most azaleas only need one fertilization in spring while repeat bloomers may benefit from a second application mid-summer. Do not fertilize after the start of August as this can promote late season growth that is more susceptible to winter damage. Use slow-release fertilizer according to label directions. Avoid overfertilization that can prevent flowering and promote lush growth, which is more susceptible to insect damage.

Those gardening in zones five to seven and interested in adding native plants may want to add a Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) to their landscape. This azalea is native to the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia and grows four to eight feet or more tall and eight to ten feet wide.

Look for opportunities to add an azalea or two to the landscape. Prepare the site and get busy planting this spring or fall.

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" instant video series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.