The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of December 23 to December 30, 2021

Park Theatre Presents First Theatrical Stage Production

Acclaimed romantic comedy "First Night" set for Dec 28 & 29

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (December 21, 2021) The new Park Theatre will present its first stage play production, First Night, on December 28 and 29 at 7:30pm each night in the 333-seat Eppes Auditorium.

The romantic comedy is written by award-winning playwright and New England native, Jack Neary. Neary's plays have been produced all over the United States, in Canada, and Europe. His most recent play, Trick or Treat, written for and featuring Emmy-winner Gordon Clapp, debuted at Northern Stage in Vermont and was produced off-Broadway in 2019 at 59E59 Theaters. Auld Lang Syne, produced by the Peterborough Players and also starring Clapp, was the winner of five New Hampshire Theatre Awards, including Best Professional Production. It has since been produced by New Century Theatre at Smith College and Gloucester Stage.

First Night debuted professionally at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre; subsequently, it enjoyed a long run at the Theatre Lobby in Boston and was produced off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre. The actors starring in this production, John Manning and Jocelyn Duford, did their first public reading of the play at The Park Theatre's temporary theatre, the River Street Theatre, in 2018.

The story of First Night is set on New Year's Eve, 1985. Danny Fleming, mid-thirties, is about to close up his neighborhood video store for the evening when into the store pops a woman he believes he remembers from his grammar school days. What he remembers most is that she went away to be a nun. Why is she there? Why does he care? What does she want to rent? Manning and Dufford have brought these delightful characters to the Actors Studio Theatre in Newburyport, the Larcom Theatre in Beverly, the Hatbox Theatre in Concord, NH, the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, and the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport, where audiences raved at their comic chemistry.

The Los Angeles Times called First Night, "A delight!," the New York Post told its readers, "You can't help cheering!" and the Boston Globe said of the play that it's "A lovely riff of magic...touch it for yourself."

"We are thrilled to have our first theatrical stage production be Jack Neary's First Night. We feel a kinship to this production because John and Jocelyn did their first public reading of it at our River Street Theatre. It's a special treat for New Year's week, guaranteed to trigger many laughs and warm hearts," said CEO and Managing Director of The Park Theatre, Steve Jackson.

Tickets are $28 and can be purchased at theparktheatre.org or by calling the theatre's box office (603) 532-8888. Masks are mandatory at the theatre for all events. The theatre is in downtown Jaffrey at 19 Main Street, just 90 minutes from Boston.

Santa Visits Jaffrey's Park Theatre

250 children and families meet with Santa and see a classic holiday movie

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (December 13, 2021) The Park Theatre held Santa's Christmas Party with a free showing of The Polar Express on Saturday, December 18.

Over 250 children, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles came to see Santa live, get a photo with him, and see a showing of the classic holiday movie (with Tom Hanks providing the voice of the conductor and many other characters).

After the movie screening, the families lined up to get their pictures taken with Santa Claus (played by Jaffrey resident, John Stone) in the lounge of the new performing arts center in Jaffrey, New Hampshire.

The founder of The Park Theatre, Romolo Vanni (1885-1954), held a similar event every Christmas at the original theatre for children of the surrounding communities. This year, the Given Family sponsored the reborn event.

"It was a wonderful event for the region. There were lots of happy faces on the children as well as their families. We thank the Given Family for supporting this event. It brings back a great tradition that the new Park Theatre will continue every year," said Steve Jackson, CEO and Managing Director of The Park Theatre.

Park Theatre Santa
Children and families waiting in the Park Theatre lobby
Photo courtesy of The Park Theatre
Park Theatre Santa
John Stone as Santa
Photo courtesy of The Park Theatre

New Year's Eve Party with Bernie & Louise

Local favorites sing the great standards at New Year's Eve event at The Park Theatre

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (December 21, 2021) The Park Theatre will hold a night of great song and food on New Year's Eve. The evening features local favorites Bernie and Louise Watson. The party will go from 5pm to 7:30pm on December 31.

It will be an early New Year's party in The Park Theatre lobby and lounge. The night will include hot and cold hors d'oeuvres from Carolyn Edwards' Sunflowers Café, the next-door neighbor of the performing arts center. Longtime friends of the theatre, "Bernie & Louise," will provide the entertainment for dancing and listening. A cash bar will be open.

"Bernie and Louise have been fervent supporters of The Park Theatre for many years. They have performed for fundraising events, parties and concerts. Everyone remarks that they are the sweetest couple and beloved by all who watch them perform so beautifully. Their music evokes incredible memories for people. Combine that with Sunflowers Café and you have the perfect recipe for a grand New Year's Eve event," said CEO and Managing Director of The Park Theatre, Steve Jackson.

The debut of the new West Side Story film happens right after the party at 7:30pm in the theatre's Eppes Auditorium. Tickets for West Side Story can be purchased separately ($9/$8).

Tickets for the New Year's Eve Party with Bernie & Louise are $30 each and can be purchased at theparktheatre.org or by calling the theatre's box office (603) 532-8888. Proof of vaccination and masks are mandatory at the theatre for all events. The theatre is in downtown Jaffrey at 19 Main Street, just 90 minutes from Boston.

Nova Arts Schedule for December 20-December 26

Nova Arts is proud to continue in person entertainment at 48 Emerald Street in Keene NH.

Wakadoodles kids art sessions continue this week with Priya Allaire, on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Register via our website: novaarts.org/workshops

Thursday 12/23 is the last Irish Session of the year, featuring an ever-changing group led by Randy Miller and Matt Harris. Music starts at 5:00 p.m. in the cafe and goes until 7:00 p.m. The kitchen and bar will be open throughout, and donations will be accepted. Starting in 2022, this session will be moving to the first Thursday of every month.

Thursday 12/30 we are closing out the year with Jim Murphy's Blues Night. We'll get music going around 8pm with Jim's amazing band. Donations accepted.

Most Nova events see doors open at 7:45 p.m., unless otherwise specified. Masks are required when moving about the space.

Nova Arts is supported by and under the fiscal sponsorship of Arts Alive.

Audit Identifies Issues with How Nonprofit Serving Vulnerable Populations Resolves Complaints and Manages Finances of Individuals in its Care

BOSTON (december 23, 2021) - In an audit released today, the Office of State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump (OSA) found issues in how the Center for Human Development (CHD), a nonprofit that provides programs and services to vulnerable populations, resolves complaints for persons served by its group homes and programs and manages the finances of individuals in its care. CHD has contracts with state agencies, which serve as CHD's main source of funding, including the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to provide Adult Community Clinical Services Programs and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to provide adult long-term residential programs. These programs provide group homes and services to support individuals with mental illness or disabilities. The audit reviewed the period of July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2020.

"Rules regarding protections for our most vulnerable populations were put in place for good reason, and it is essential that they be followed," Bump said of the audit. "Our audit identified areas where the Center for Human Development must correct its course of action to comply with applicable regulations, and to ensure the safety and well-being of persons in its care."

The audit found CHD and its subcontractor's human rights committees (HRC) did not review all the complaints that were resolved in the audit period. This is required in order to ensure the rights of clients to appeal a complaint resolution was adequately protected in matters of alleged abuse, mistreatment, or neglect. Additionally, CHD did not always investigate and resolve DMH person-served complaints in a timely manner or meet with the complainant during an investigation.

During the audit period, some CHD employees were also HRC members, which poses a financial and administrative conflict of interest as the HRC is intended to be an independent body established to help providers support, promote, and protect the human and civil rights of the people served by CHD.

The audit also found instances in which CHD, while acting as an individual's representative payee, did not properly administer the payments on behalf of DMH and DDS individuals in its care. This included instances where proper paperwork for purchases was not filed, authorization forms were not signed by the client, and mismatched records were found between payments made and payments authorized. These issues could increase the opportunity for mismanagement, unaccounted-for variances, losses or thefts of funds.

To address the issues identified, the audit recommends that CHD document and implement procedures to detail the process for monitoring and reviewing all complaints, establish written procedures that define HRC membership requirements, and implement monitoring controls over documentation and fund disbursement. Based on its response, CHD is taking steps to address these issues.

The Center for Human Development (CHD) is a private nonprofit corporation established January 5, 1972. CHD operates more than 80 programs and services across western Massachusetts and Connecticut. CHD offers programs including outpatient clinics, group homes for people with Down syndrome, foster care sites, and a large alternative high school. According to CHD's independent audit report for the period ended June 30, 2019, CHD's total operating revenue for fiscal year 2019 was $104,937,152, and its total operating expenses for that year were $100,653,323.

The full audit report is available here.