Arts and Recreation
"Sopranos" Star Coming to Park Theatre with His Stand-Up
The Park Theatre Presents Comedian & Actor Frank Santorelli on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m.
JAFFREY, New Hampshire (May 2, 2025) The Park Theatre is thrilled to welcome celebrated actor and comedian Frank Santorelli to its stage for a night of uproarious comedy on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 7:30 PM.
Best known for his unforgettable role as Georgie, the endearing bartender at the Bada Bing in HBO's The Sopranos, Santorelli brings his sharp wit and everyman charm to Jaffrey, New Hampshire. With a career spanning over four decades, he has headlined at iconic venues like Catch a Rising Star, The Improv, and Caroline's on Broadway, and appeared in films such as Meet the Parents and No Reservations.
Joined by two talented opening comedians, this $25 ticketed event promises an evening of laughter at The Park Theatre's state-of-the-art performing arts center, located at 19 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH.
Santorelli's comedic prowess has earned rave reviews, with The Bash proclaiming, "Our comedy night with Frank Santorelli was a smashing success," a testament to his ability to captivate audiences.
Tickets are available now at theparktheatre.org or call the box office (603) 532-8888, or at the box office. Don't miss this chance to see a comedy legend in action at New England's premier destination for live entertainment and film. For more information, visit theparktheatre.org or contact boxoffice@theparktheatre.org.
The Park Theatre, a beautifully reimagined landmark opened in 2021, offers an intimate 333-seat auditorium with a 27-foot-wide screen and 17-speaker surround sound, ensuring an exceptional experience for all.
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.
Regional News
Senate Releases Fair Share Package Investing in Public Education, Transportation Statewide
Allocates More Than $1 Billion Collected Under Voter-Approved Ballot Law
(BOSTON--5/1/2025) The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday released a $1.28 billion plan to invest in public education and transportation across the Commonwealth.
The proposal, S.2512, primarily uses funds from the Fair Share surtax, which is paid by households in Massachusetts earning more than $1 million per year, to expand career and technical education opportunities, to help construction projects at local schools and college campuses, and to support public transit and road and bridge funding for city and town governments.
The supplemental budget maintains the Senate's commitment to prioritizing regional equity by providing direct support to special education across school districts, funding rural roads and bridges, funding capital improvements for statewide public bus transportation, and making infrastructure upgrades at Massachusetts' public colleges and universities.
"This legislation invests in our future. I'm especially proud of the major investment it commits to expanding capacity at career and technical education programs, which is the fulfillment of a pledge I made on the very first day of this term," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Career-oriented education is vital as we prepare students for personal success, build up our workforce, and develop our economy to lead the nation in the years to come. The $100 million directed toward these programs will help prepare Bay Staters for their future careers—from health care to horticulture, construction to criminal justice, and biotech to business tech."
"I'm pleased to advance this Fair Share supplemental budget out of committee, prioritizing regional equity while maintaining fiscal integrity during these highly uncertain times," said Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport). "By utilizing almost $1.3 billion in one-time surplus surtax revenues, the proposal strengthens the Commonwealth's economic foundation by making meaningful investments in education and transportation. Despite previous reports alleging millionaires would leave Massachusetts, recent data shows that the number of millionaires has actually increased in our state, and the use of these surplus Fair Share revenues is here to prove it."
"My constituents in western Massachusetts canvassed, advocated, and then voted overwhelmingly to pass the Fair Share Amendment. It is especially heartening now, amid blistering federal spending cuts, to have funds to invest equitably in education and transportation in the Commonwealth," said Senate Ways and Means Vice Chair Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). "Thank you to Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for once again leading the charge for regional equity. Because of their leadership, the Senate's Fair Share spending proposal will benefit all of Massachusetts."
The overwhelming success of the Fair Share amendment to the Constitution--voted for by residents in 2022--generated more than $1 billion over initial projections in fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
The Fair Share spending bill contains restricted one-time investments in public education and transportation initiatives, including a total of $613 million in education spending and $670 million in transportation funding. The Fair Share spending bill is expected to be followed later in the month by Senate debate on the state's annual general budget.
Education investments
The education investments in the supplemental budget include funding for:
- Special Education Costs: $248 million, including circuit breaker reimbursements to local school districts.
- Public Higher Education Deferred Maintenance: $175 million for higher education overall, including $10 million for lab resources for community colleges following the success of MassEducate.
- Career Technical Education Capital Grants: $100 million to expand capacity and accommodate additional career technical education opportunities.
- Local School Construction Relief: $50 million to support cities, towns and school districts experiencing extraordinary school construction increases due to inflation.
- Literacy Growth: $25 million to support accelerated literacy growth for students in kindergarten through grade 3.
- English Language Learning Programs: $10 million for educational grants to reduce the waitlist for services for speakers of languages other than English to learn English and subsequently help fill in-demand jobs.
The transportation investments in the supplemental budget include funding for:
- MBTA Improvements and Infrastructure Upgrades: $370 million for improvements and transportation infrastructure upgrades across the MBTA system including:
$200 million to replenish the MBTA budget reserve after the MBTA's recent usage of reserve funds to support operations;
$100 million in workforce and safety training to implement improvements recommended by the Federal Transit Administration;
$50 million for commuter rail system maintenance and infrastructure upgrades; and
$20 million for the MBTA's low-income fare relief program. - Local Road Improvements: $190 million for shovel-ready transportation improvements to roads, bridges, and culverts.
- Regional Equity in Transportation: $105 million for regional transit initiatives including:
$50 million for capital improvements to equipment and facilities at Regional Transit Authorities, which serve and connect all regions of the Commonwealth;
$25 million for efforts to improve workforce recruitment and retention at the Regional Transit Authorities;
$20 million for ferry infrastructure improvements; and
$10 million for on-demand micro-transit shuttles and Last Mile grants fostering an innovative multimodal transit system. - World Cup Preparations: $5 million for transportation improvements associated with the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
Members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 16-0-2 to advance the proposal.
Each Senator may file amendments to the bill until 2:30 p.m. on Monday, May 5.
The Senate plans to debate the legislation during a formal session on Thursday, May 8.
Gardening
Creating and Caring for Shade Gardens
A shade garden with hostas, Solomon seal, and coleus grown in pots.
Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com
Those shady spots in the landscape can make it challenging to grow a beautiful garden. Fortunately, there are more plants than you may think that will thrive in low light.
Monitor the amount of sunlight the area receives throughout the day, season, and year. You may be surprised that it gets more sunlight than you thought. Some plants, like spring ephemerals and even sun-loving spring flowering bulbs, receive sufficient sunlight early in the season before most trees leaf out. Other plants need sunlight throughout the growing season and those sun-loving plants growing in hotter regions often benefit from a bit of afternoon sun.
Make a list of plants you have had success with and those that failed in the shady location. Use these to help you select or avoid plants with similar light requirements. For example, if peonies bloom and tomatoes produce fruit this area receives quite a bit of sunlight, enough to grow most full sun plants.
Consider mulching the soil when there is more shade than even shade-loving plants can tolerate. Add a table and chair for relaxing, and a few steppers if needed, to enjoy the cool shade.
When planting under or near trees be careful not to damage them when creating your shade garden. Don't bury, cut, dig, or shave off surface roots, creating entryways for harmful insects and diseases. Skip adding soil over the roots as even an inch can kill some tree species. Avoid deep cultivation that damages the fine feeder roots critical for water and nutrient absorption. Keep in mind the majority of tree roots grow within the top 18" of soil with 50% of these in the top six inches.
Instead, carefully dig relatively small planting holes between major roots, mulch, and spot water new plantings to minimize root damage. It may take transplants a little longer to fill in, but your tree will be healthier and live longer.
Add a splash of color with a few potted annuals set among the perennials. Or permanently sink a few pots in the ground and set potted flowering plants inside them. It's easier on the tree roots and your back.
Check soil moisture several times a week and water thoroughly as needed. Plants growing under large trees or overhangs need more frequent watering, especially in the first two years until they become established. The dense canopy of many trees and impervious overhangs prevent rainfall from reaching the ground below. Plus, the extensive root systems of trees and shrubs absorb much of the rainfall that does make it through.
Avoid high nitrogen, quick-release fertilizers that promote lush succulent growth that is more susceptible to insects and diseases. And with limited light as a potential plant stressor, this can increase the risk of problems. Use a low nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer that promotes steady above and below-ground growth.
Protect new plantings especially hostas, impatiens, caladiums, coleus, turtleheads, wax begonias, Solomon seal, and other plants often damaged by deer and rabbits. Apply animal repellents before the animals start browsing for better results. Select a rain and snow-resistant product, like organic Plantskydd (plantskydd.com), so you won’t need to reapply as often. Always check the product label and follow the directions for the best results.
You can create a beautiful shade garden for years of enjoyment with proper plant selection and care.
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.