Arts and Recreation

Reverend Horton Heat Brings Its High-Octane Rockabilly To The Park Theatre September 5

Special Guests Messer Chups Bring Their International Surf-Rock Sound from St. Petersburg, Russia

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (August 20, 2026) The Park Theatre will turn up the volume on Saturday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m., when legendary rockabilly powerhouse Reverend Horton Heat takes the stage for a night of blistering guitar, rock & roll swagger and pure high-energy entertainment. Adding to the bill are very special guests Messer Chups, the internationally acclaimed surf-rock band from Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Led by singer, songwriter and guitar virtuoso Jim Heath, Reverend Horton Heat has spent more than three decades building a devoted following with a wild fusion of rockabilly, punk, country, surf and straight-ahead rock & roll. Known for explosive live performances, the band helped propel the modern psychobilly and rockabilly revival and has become one of the hardest-working and most recognizable acts in American roots rock. Reverend Horton Heat was a frequent opener for legendary performers that include Johnny Cash, Nine Inch Nails, Carl Perkins, Soundgarden and White Zombie.

Songs including "Psychobilly Freakout," "Galaxy 500," "Bales of Cocaine," "It's Martini Time" and "400 Bucks" have become fan favorites, while the band's relentless touring has earned Reverend Horton Heat a reputation as an act that truly needs to be experienced live. Heath's lightning-fast guitar work, combined with the band's pounding rhythms and irreverent sense of humor, makes every Reverend Horton Heat concert an event.

Opening the evening will be Messer Chups, bringing an entirely different--but perfectly complementary--brand of guitar-driven mayhem. Formed in St. Petersburg, Russia, Messer Chups mixes classic 1960s surf guitar with rockabilly, garage rock and a wonderfully strange dose of vintage horror and sci-fi culture. Their cinematic sound evokes everything from beach-party movies and spy thrillers to B-movie monsters and late-night horror television.

Together, Reverend Horton Heat and Messer Chups make for a rare double bill that brings American rockabilly and Russian surf rock together on one stage.

"This is going to be one of those nights when The Park Theatre feels more like a great rock & roll club," said Park Theatre CEO and Managing Director Steve Jackson. "Reverend Horton Heat has an extraordinary live reputation, and adding Messer Chups makes this a really unusual and exciting double bill. If you love great guitar playing, rockabilly, surf music or just a high-energy live show, this is one not to miss."

Reverend Horton Heat with special guests Messer Chups appears Saturday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m. at The Park Theatre, 19 Main Street, Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Advance tickets are $29, $39 and $49 and are available through The Park Theatre at theparktheatre.org and the box office (603) 532-8888.

The Park Theatre is New England's unique showplace for live entertainment and film. The venue is fully accessible and it is roughly 90 minutes from Boston and 60 minutes from Worcester. The Lounge at The Park is open for beer, wine and cocktails before the show (ID required).

Tony® Award-Winning "Hadestown" Comes To The Big Screen at The Park Theatre September 4-6

Winner of 8 Tony® Awards filmed for cinemas

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (August 25, 2026) One of the most acclaimed musicals of the 21st century comes to the giant screen at The Park Theatre when Hadestown: The Musical plays for three days only, September 4, 5 and 6, at the historic performing arts center in downtown Jaffrey. Tickets are $15. The screening are addition to The Park's ArtsCinema Stage2Screen Series.

Filmed live on stage at London's Lyric Theatre in the West End, Hadestown: The Musical reunites the extraordinary five principal stars of the original Broadway company: Reeve Carney as Orpheus, Eva Noblezada as Eurydice, André De Shields as Hermes, Amber Gray as Persephone, and Patrick Page as Hades. The result gives movie audiences a remarkably intimate, cinematic view of one of Broadway's most celebrated productions.

Created by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and originally directed for the stage by Rachel Chavkin (first staged in Vermont), Hadestown brilliantly intertwines two ancient Greek myths--the young lovers Orpheus and Eurydice and the turbulent marriage of Hades and Persephone. Its distinctive score combines American folk, blues and New Orleans-inspired jazz in a haunting journey to the underworld and back.

Hadestown was the sensation of the 2019 Tony Awards, receiving 14 nominations and winning eight Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Featured Actor for André De Shields, Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design and Best Orchestrations. It also received the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

The newly released cinema presentation has received similarly spectacular reviews. It currently holds a 97% Tomatometer score and a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have celebrated the show's combination of music, theatricality and emotion, with The New York Times calling the production "Sumptuous. Gorgeous. As good as it gets."

Tickets are $15, and they are available at The Park Theatre's website, parknh.org, (603) 532-8888 or at the box office. The film is 2 hours, 21 minutes long and is Not Rated.

Hadestown: The Musical will be presented on The Park Theatre's giant screen with its powerful 17-speaker surround-sound system, giving Monadnock Region audiences the opportunity to experience one of Broadway's most celebrated modern musicals in a true theatrical setting.

Located at 19 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH, The Park Theatre is New England's unique showplace for live entertainment and film. The venue is fully accessible and it is roughly 90 minutes from Boston and 60 minutes from Worcester. The Lounge at The Park is open for beer, wine and cocktails before the show (ID required).

Coming Up at Nova Arts in Keene

Saturday, August 29 at Nova Arts!

Nova Arts is pleased to announce an upcoming evening of live music featuring High & Loathsome and Max Knause.

On Saturday, August 29, join us for a captivating showcase of local songwriting and powerful performance. High and Loathsome is the new music project of Michael Roberts (Rear Defrosters, Wooden Dinosaur), combining the seemingly disparate influences of both Michael Hurley and Miles Davis. Max Knouse is an indie folk singer on tour from the west coast, where he has opened for Jolie Holland, Califone, Simon Joyner, and more.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m., with music beginning at 8:00 p.m. Nova Arts is an all-ages venue located at 48 Emerald Street, Keene, NH. Seating is first come, first served. Access For All / Pay What You Can tickets are available thanks to support from Savings Bank of Walpole, but we encourage you to pay full price if you are able. For tickets and more information, visit www.novaarts.org/events.

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

Regional News

Second Chance Celebrates 100,000 Spay and Neuter Surgeries

NORTH BROOKFIELD, MA (August 25, 2026)--Second Chance Animal Services is celebrating a major milestone in its commitment to improving the health and well-being of pets: 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries performed.

Atlas, a four-year-old Golden Retriever, had the special honor of being the 100,000th patient when he received his neuter surgery at Second Chance's North Brookfield Community Veterinary Hospital. The special milestone shines a light on the countless pets who have benefited from spay/neuter surgery through Second Chance.

"Reaching 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries is an incredible milestone for Second Chance, but what makes it truly meaningful is the impact those surgeries have had on the lives of individual pets," said Lindsay McCormack, Chief Development Officer of Second Chance. "Spaying and neutering can help pets live healthier lives by preventing serious reproductive health problems and reducing the risk of certain cancers and potentially life-threatening infections."

Second Chance began offering low-cost spay/neuter services in 2005 and has continued to expand access to the procedure as part of its mission to help pets stay healthy and families keep the pets they love. Spay/neuter also plays an important role in animal sheltering by helping reduce the number of unplanned litters and, ultimately, the number of pets who may enter shelters and need homes.

Spaying female pets eliminates the risk of pyometra, a potentially life-threatening uterine infection, and can reduce the risk of certain reproductive cancers. Neutering male pets eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and can reduce the risk of other reproductive health problems.

"Behind this milestone are 100,000 pets whose lives have been touched by this care," said McCormack. "We are incredibly proud of that number and grateful to the veterinary teams and supporters who have made it possible."

Second Chance Animal Services provides spay/neuter services through its Community Veterinary Hospitals in North Brookfield, Southbridge, Springfield, and Worcester, helping make veterinary care more accessible to families throughout the region.

For more information about Second Chance's spay/neuter programs and veterinary services, visit www.secondchanceanimals.org.

Financial Focus®

Build confidence in your 401(k) decisions

In its simplest form, saving can mean putting money into a jar, adding to it and letting it grow slowly. A 401(k), or other workplace retirement plan, is a step beyond that. It's more like a garden than a jar. Once you understand the basics of your 401(k), it becomes easier to feel confident in your decisions.

In a jar, your money only grows when you add more. In a garden, what you plant can begin to grow on its own. Your investments can earn returns, and those returns may in turn earn additional returns. That's called compounding, and it can have a meaningful impact over time. Like a garden, however, growth is not guaranteed. Markets can rise and fall, and investments can lose value.

Most workplace retirement plan contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, which lowers today's taxable income; you'll pay taxes when you withdraw it in retirement. Some plans also offer a Roth option: you contribute after-tax dollars and withdrawals in retirement can be tax free. Your plan administrator can provide more information.

Many 401(k) plans include an employer match, either up to a set dollar amount, perhaps $500, or a percentage of your salary, typically 3%-5%. Contributions you make, as well as those from your employer, can grow over time. Try to contribute at least enough to capture the full match; anything less means you're leaving money on the table.

Now the question is how to invest your contributions inside your 401(k). The menu of investment options may seem complicated, but most fall into a few common categories.

• Stock or equity funds focus on stocks, which represent ownership in companies. Because they're tied to company performance, they have the potential for higher growth over time, but their value can go up and down in the short term. When you're decades from retirement, that short-term volatility matters less; you have time to ride out the swings.
• Bond funds invest in loans made to governments or corporations. These tend to be more stable than stock funds but typically grow more slowly. They can help balance the ups and downs.
• Balanced or blended funds hold a mix of stocks and bonds in a single investment.
• Target-date funds combine different types of investments in one fund. As you move toward a specified retirement year, the fund gradually adjusts to focus more on stability and less on growth.

The earlier you start planting, the more time your money has to grow. Even small contributions early in your career can end up as large amounts later, simply because they had more time to compound.

If you change jobs, keep in mind that your employer's contributions may not be fully yours immediately. It depends on your plan's vesting schedule, so it's worth checking before you go.

The most important steps in a retirement plan are getting started, contributing consistently and taking advantage of what your plan offers. With a little knowledge, you can feel more confident moving forward. The garden is yours. Start planting.



This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Jordyn Lynds, your Edward Jones financial advisor at 978-297-7452 or stop by 113 Central St. Winchendon, MA 01475.

Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C., Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C., and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.

Gardening

Boost Your Landscape's Beauty with Fall Planting

by Melinda Myers
Add some immediate and long-term beauty to the landscape with fall plantings. The soil is warm and the air cooler, making it easier for plants to adapt to their new location and more comfortable for gardeners.

Replace fading annuals and fill voids in the garden with pansies, snapdragons, ornamental kale, stocks and other cool weather plants. Use cold hardy pansies that provide color in the fall garden, survive most winters, and come back blooming in the spring just as the snow melts. Pop in a few pumpkins, decorative squash and gourds for a bit of fall flair.

Create or purchase container gardens filled with fall favorites. Set them by a front entrance or on a patio, balcony, or deck. Gardeners will enjoy this last bit of color, and the pollinators will enjoy the nectar and pollen as fall fades to winter.

Consider making a few permanent changes with perennials, trees, and shrubs. Use them to enhance an existing landscape or replace those that have outgrown their location or were damaged by this summer's storms, extreme heat and drought. With the warmer soil and cooler air, plants are less stressed and establish more quickly. Give new plants plenty of room to reach their mature size. Small transplants will eventually grow to large specimens. Temporarily fill the voids with annuals for immediate results. Each year, fewer are needed as the plants grow.

Plant trees so the root flare, the place where the roots curve away from the trunk, is even with or slightly above the soil surface. Dig a hole the same depth as the distance from the root flare to the bottom of the rootball. Make the hole two to five times wider than the rootball. Roughen the sides of the hole and backfill with the existing soil. Water thoroughly and spread a two-to-three-inch layer of mulch over the soil surface, keeping the mulch away from the tree trunk.

Follow a similar planting procedure for shrubs. Plant them so the crown, the place where the stems meet the roots, is even with the soil surface. Be sure to keep the mulch away from the stems.

Make sure all plantings are properly watered throughout the fall. It takes perennials, trees and shrubs several years to become fully established.

Call 811 at least three business days before digging. Wisconsin residents can also file online at www.DiggersHotline.com and people in any other state can visit https://811beforeyoudig.com/811-In-Your-State/. This free service will contact all the utility companies who will mark the location of their underground services in the work area. It's an important step to reduce the risk of injury and the inconvenience and expense incurred if an owner damages a utility and does not make the call.

Plant daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and other bulbs in fall for extra color next spring. Add them to perennial and mixed borders. Start planting spring flowering bulbs after the nighttime temperatures hover between 40 and 50 degrees. Be patient since waiting until the soil cools reduces the risk of early sprouting that often occurs during a warm fall.

Set the bulbs at a depth of two to three times their height deep. Check the label for recommended spacing specific to the type of bulbs. Then cover them with soil, sprinkle on a low nitrogen slow-release fertilizer, working it into the top few inches of the soil, and water.

If critters are digging and eating the bulbs, plant the ones they tend to ignore. Daffodils, hyacinths, fritillarias, alliums, snow drops, and grape hyacinths are a few to consider. Otherwise, protect animal favorites like tulips and crocus with repellent, chicken wire, or bulb cages at planting. Then in spring, apply repellent as the bulbs burst through the ground.

Take advantage of the fall weather and often slower gardening time to add beauty to the landscape with fall planting. It will reduce the workload next spring and provide welcome color throughout the growing season.

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. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.