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- Written by Patrick R. McElhiney
- Category: Articles
LATROBE, PA – One hundred-four students were awarded bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees by Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., chancellor, and Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., president, in a traditional public ceremony which recognized the completion of their degree studies at the 15th annual December commencement ceremony of Saint Vincent College on Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Robert S. Carey Student Center.
Graduates were presented by Dr. John J. Smetanka, vice president for academic affairs and academic dean, while Paul Siefken, president, and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions was the principal speaker. Benediction was given by Father Killian Loch, O.S.B., Director of Campus Ministry.
Graduates are grouped below according to hometown and zip code. The degree awarded and the major area of study follows each name.
PENNSYLVANIA
ACME (15610)
– John William Kip Lindstrom, M.S., Criminology
– Skylar Anne Piper, B.A., Criminology, Law and Society
ALTOONA (16601)
– Joshua Daniel Allender, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
BEDFORD (15522)
– Alyssa Jane Turkovich, B.S., Integrated Science
BELLE VERNON (15012)
– Aubrey Ann Cintron, B.A., Communication, Summa Cum Laude
– Lindsey Ann Izzo, B.A., Mathematics/Engineering, Magna Cum Laude
BELLEFONTE (16823)
– Sierra Jane Nagel, B.A., Studio Arts
BETHEL PARK (15102)
– Kelly Nicole Kramer, B.A., Mathematics/Engineering
BLAIRSVILLE (15717)
– Zachary Taylor Kriley, B.S., Computing and Information Science
BOVARD (15619)
– Cody James Henry, B.A., Sociology
BRADDOCK (15104)
– Haley Marie Tougher, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
CARMICHAELS (15320)
– Stephanie Faye Mitchell, B.S., Early Childhood Education
CHAMBERSBURG (17202)
– Brock Lyndon Martin, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
CLYMER (15728)
– Roman Joseph Tate, M.S., Criminology
CONNELLSVILLE (15425)
– Michael Joseph Gismondi, B.A., History, Magna Cum Laude
– Rebecca Grace Guie, M.S., Criminology
DERRY (15627)
– Jacob Patrick Antolik, B.S., Psychology
– Chelsea Marie Dominick, M.S., Management: Operational Excellence
– Stephanie Jean Kline, M.S., Curriculum and Instruction
EAST MCKEESPORT (15035)
– Parker Michael Janosko, B.A., Criminology, Law and Society
ERIE (16509)
– Elspeth Grace Mizner, B.A., Communication, Magna Cum Laude, College Scholar of the
Honors Program
FINLEYVILLE (15332)
– Sara Kathryn Passarella, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
FORD CITY (16226)
– Christina Marie Davis, B.S., Marketing, Magna Cum Laude
FRANKLIN (16323)
– Mara Rae Benvenuti, M.S., Counselor Education
GREENSBURG (15601)
– Devin Matthew Anderson, B.A., Sociology
– Jeffrey Nathaniel Beltz, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Dakota Clinton Bradley, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Joseph Michael Brun, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Robert William Goodfellow, M.S., Criminology
– Ira Kosta, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Michaela Raquel O’Connor, B.S., Marketing
– Blaise Alessio Venturini, B.A., Liberal Arts
– Troy Ramon Wade, B.S., Information Technology, Cum Laude, College Scholar of the Honors
Program
– Nicole MacKenzie Worsham, B.S., Marketing
INDUSTRY (15052)
– Tiffany Dawn Bartoles, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
IRWIN (15642)
– Larissa Nicole Bistarkey, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Ryan Henry Fasnacht, B.S., Psychology
JEANNETTE (15644)
– Jonah Andrew Yunker, B.S., Integrated Science
– Anthony Charles Mash, B.A., Mathematics/Engineering, Cum Laude
JOHNSTOWN (15905)
– Courtney Dawn Lohr, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist, College Scholar of the Honors
Program
LATROBE (15650)
– Jonathan Matthew Adzema, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Brandyn Robert Behnke, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Nathan Stanford Call, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Rachel Alicen Conrad, M.S., Curriculum and Instruction
– Paige Elizabeth Forrai, B.S., Marketing
– Joshua John Gordon, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Anthony Charles Greece, M.S., School Administration
– Miranda Kay Jackson, M.S., Criminology
– Shelby Marie Noel, M.S., Criminology
– Jaron Kirk Polatis, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Alec Parker Soich, B.S., Computing and Information Science
– Sarah Lynn Stewart, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Trevor Lewis Swedeen, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
– Mason Gerard Wheeler III, B.S., Environmental Science
LIGONIER (15658)
– Paisley Jane Adams, B.A., Art Education
MONROEVILLE (15146)
– Sarah Elizabeth Sheldon, B.A., Mathematics/Engineering, Magna Cum Laude
NATRONA HEIGHTS (15065)
– Christian H. Crowley, B.A., English
NEW KENSINGTON (15068)
– Philip Michael Montalbano, B.S., Finance
NORTH HUNTINGDON (15642)
– Gavin Jeffrey Watters, B.S., Management
OAKMONT (15139)
– Bethany Marie Giancola, B.A., Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude
PEN ARGYL (18072)
– Samantha Marie Firestone, M.S., Instructional Design and Technology
PENN (15675)
– Shannon Michelle Satira, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
PERRYOPOLIS (15473)
– Caitlin Emerald Jacobs, B.S., Psychology
PITTSBURGH
(15206)
– Alexander James Hahn, B.S., Accounting
(15207)
– Cleona Denise Helton, B.A., Communication
(15228)
– Eric Michael Sweeney, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
(15232)
– Sara Lynn Felden, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
(15239)
– Samantha Ayres, M.S., Counselor Education
RUFFS DALE (15679)
– Gregg Thomas Norton, M.S., Criminology, Cum Laude
SCOTTDALE (15683)
– Amanda R. Pierce, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
SEWICKLEY (15143)
– Colton Lee Selvidge, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
SMOCK (15480)
– Yvonne Marie Rafter, D.N.A.P., Nurse Anesthesia Practice
TRAFFORD (15085)
– Mark Steven Pernick, B.S., Computing and Information Science
UNITED (15689)
– Greg L. Holzer, B.S., Finance
WHITE (15490)
– Sara Elizabeth Norton, B.A., Mathematics/Engineering
WHITE OAK (15131)
– Michelle Catherine Cerasuolo, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
WHITNEY (15693)
– Thomas LaMar Mouritsen, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
YOUNGWOOD (15697)
– Jared James Crossland, M.S., School Administration
ARIZONA
CAVE CREEK (85331)
– Locke D. Lewandosky, B.S., Bioinformatics
FLORIDA
HOLLYWOOD (33029)
– Damien Noah Charles, B.A., Communication
LEESBURG (34788)
– Coy Joeseph Patterson Jr., M.S., Criminology
MARYLAND
BERLIN (21811)
– Renee Louise Wood, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
CHARLOTTE HALL (20622)
– William Robert Cook, B.A., Communication
CUMBERLAND (21502)
– Jacqueline Candace Cross, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
FREDERICK (21703)
– Michael Joseph Grus, M.S., Management: Operational Excellence
GAITHERSBURG (20877)
– Ariel Aldair Martinez, B.A., Liberal Arts
(20878)
– Faith Amanda Brake, B.S., Psychology, Summa Cum Laude
GLEN BURNIE (21061)
– Samantha Regina Kenjorski, B.S., Marketing, Cum Laude
HAGERSTOWN (21742)
– Kelsie Grace Linden, B.S., Marketing
HOLLYWOOD (20636)
– Gregory Andrew Bizup, B.S., Environmental Science
LAUREL (20723)
– Alyssa Rose Salter, B.S., Management, Magna Cum Laude
MICHIGAN
HARRISON TOWNSHIP (48045)
– Kenicia DeAnna Adams-Strong, D.N.A.P., Nurse Anesthesia Practice
NEW HAMPSHIRE
BARRINGTON (03825)
– Zachary George Wood, B.A., Biology
NEW JERSEY
LEONARDO (07737)
– David Herbert Osborn IV, B.S., Computing and Information Science
MORRISTOWN (07960)
– Shane Patrick Tierney, B.S., Information Technology
NEWARK (07105)
– Jason Peter Hutchins, B.A., Communication
NEW YORK
STATEN ISLAND (10308)
– Margarita Maimur, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
SOUTH CAROLINA
MYRTLE BEACH (29579)
– Christian Sue Jefferies, D.N.A.P., Nurse Anesthesia Practice
WASHINGTON, D.C. (20017)
– Jhanard L. Dorsett, B.A., Communication
WEST VIRGINIA
MORGANTOWN (26501)
– Jancis Anne Hanna, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
(26508)
– Christina Maria Maust, M.S., Health Science Nurse Anesthetist
NEW CREEK (26743)
– Kellon Sean Smith, D.N.A.P., Nurse Anesthesia Practice
CHINA
CHENGHUA DISTRICT CHENGDU
– Ning You Ru Hong, B.A., Graphic Design
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- Written by Patrick R. McElhiney
- Category: Articles
DURHAM, N.H.—More than 20% of potential voters in the 2020 New Hampshire primary were either not old enough to vote in 2016 or resided somewhere other than New Hampshire, according to new research released by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. In fact, the Granite State’s population is among the most mobile in the nation.
“This migration, coupled with the natural change in the population as young voters come of age and older generations of voters pass from the scene, has produced considerable turnover in the voting population,” the researchers said. “Together, the migrants and those turning 18 in the past four years represent 230,000 potential new voters or about 20% of those eligible to vote in 2020.”
The researchers also found that young voters are more likely to have a liberal ideology than migrants or established voters; nearly 34% of young voters classify themselves as liberal compared to 28% of migrants and 26% of established voters.
“Candidates campaigning in New Hampshire as well as political commentators should be careful about characterizing New Hampshire based solely on what happened in past primaries,” they said. “More than 20% of the voters eligible to cast ballots in 2020 could not have participated in the 2016 primary and roughly half of the current electorate could not have voted in 2008. These demographic changes have significant implications for the upcoming presidential primary and subsequent November election.”
The research was conducted by Kenneth Johnson, the senior demographer at the Carsey School and professor of sociology; Dante Scala, professor of political science and Carsey fellow; and Andrew Smith, director of the UNH Survey Center and professor of practice in political science.
The Carsey School of Public Policy is nationally recognized for research, policy education and bringing people together for thoughtful dialogue to address important societal challenges. The school develops and facilitates innovative, responsive and equitable solutions at all levels of government and in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
The University of New Hampshire inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation, and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. As one of the nation’s highest-performing research universities, UNH partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF and NIH, and receives more than $110 million in competitive external funding every year to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea, and space.
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- Written by Kat Roedell
- Category: Articles
Did you know that according to Part 2, Article 6 of the New Hampshire Constitution:
“... there shall be a valuation of the estates within the state taken anew once in every five years, at least, and as much oftener as the general court shall order”
This basically is an article built-in to protect the property owners of New Hampshire. That means at least every 5 years the party responsible for assessing taxes (in this case the Town of Barrington’s Assessing Office) is legally required to reassess the properties in the town.
Many people are concerned with a property reassessment because they feel the value of their properties will most likely increase. However, this year our tax rate decreased, which may actually result in a tax decrease for some people. The property tax is calculated in the following manner:
This year’s (2019) tax rate is the lowest in 6 years. The valuation of the town, however, has increased by almost 10% compared to last year. The average single homes have increased an average of 12%. The valuations are a reflection of the current real estate market. More affordable properties are in higher demand, which increased sales prices and resulted in higher fair market value. This may result in a property tax increase for some people. However, their homes are worth more on the current market. Our town’s property tax rate is comprised of several different elements, as seen on the town website:
If there is a problem with the assessment that was made, the property owner can follow the normal abatement and appeal process by contacting the Assessment office in town. There are Property Tax Exemptions, Credits and other property tax reductions available in the Town of Barrington:
· Current Use (for parcels larger than 10 acres)
· All Veteran’s Credit ($450)
· Surviving Spouse Credit ($2,000)
· Service-Connected Total Disability Credit ($2,000)
· Elderly Exemption ($85,000-$161,500 depending on age)
o Income Limit
§ Single $30,000
§ Married $50,000
o Asset Limit (does not include residence)
§ Single/Married $125,000
· Disabled Exemption ($50,000)
o Income Limit
§ Single $30,000
§ Married $50,000
o Asset Limit (does not include residence)
§ Single/Married $75,000
· Blind Exemption ($15,000)
· Solar Exemption ($5,000)
How do I find out the current valuation of my home?
https://www.axisgis.com/BarringtonNH/
Online Property Tax Calculator*
Based on your property’s valuation, the tax calculator figures out an estimate for you. Please note, the tax bill insert shows a lower rate ($22.67) than the online calculator is using ($24.78).
https://www.barrington.nh.gov/assessing-office/pages/online-property-tax-worksheet
More about Property Tax Assessments https://www.barrington.nh.gov/sites/barringtonnh/files/uploads/dra_present_assessing_101_web.pdf
What our last Tax Bill Insert Said:
https://www.barrington.nh.gov/sites/barringtonnh/files/uploads/2019_tax_bill_insert_-_191105.pdf
2019 Revaluation FAQ https://www.barrington.nh.gov/sites/barringtonnh/files/uploads/revalfaq.pdf
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- Category: Articles
For many of us, part of the holiday fun equals shopping local, but where in Barrington should you go to cross those special people off of your list? We took a quick tour around Barrington and came up with 12 places to shop to fill the needs of the loved ones on your list this year.
For the Martha Stewarts in your life try Elfmade. Located on Route 9 right next to Calef’s Country Store, this twisty, windy store is comprised of nooks and crannies filled with candles, potpourri, country décor, Christmas lights and other unique gifts and items.
If they love everything and anything Christmas you have got to go to The Christmas Dove. This two-story shop is full of ornaments, nutcrackers, trains, nostalgic toys, and other Christmas oriented items. Take your time to wander through, every little room is full of surprises. Make sure to visit the second floor, the train displays are awesome!
For the Movie Buff, we recommend Barnz’s Cinema. Buy your favorite movie addict a gift certificate for Barnz’s… They have new chairs, smaller – cozy viewing rooms, and very rarely a big crowd. With great snack options, First Rate, First Run movies, there’s no one better than Barnz's to bring Tinseltown to our town.
For the Outdoorsman in your life hunt for sales at The Village Barn. With cozy country décor items, and Carhartt goods as well as winter hats, socks, mittens and gloves, you are sure to find something for just about anyone on your list.
If they are “Pawsitively” a Pet Lover trot to The Pet Connection: This recently relocated discount pet store is just full of items for your cats, dogs, and other four-legged friends!
For the Nostalgia Lover in your life go to Calef’s Country Store. Filled with jam’s, jellies, penny candy, nostalgic toys, community information, this family-run store just celebrated its 150th anniversary. It also offers a fantastic deli with its famous Rat Trap Cheese for the foodies in your life.
If your loved one is into giving back or recycled items visit Journey Home Thrift Store. This non-profit store offers gently used items and accepts donations daily. All proceeds are donated to various New Hampshire Hospice Organizations. With clothes, kitchen items, books, games, and home décor you can find a regifting treasure.
To the little ballerina in your life, The Joy of Dance gives a gift that keeps on giving. Register your loved one for dance lessons and that gift certificate will help your child grow in confidence and grace.
To the active ninja’s in your life learning self-confidence, leadership and martial arts at Quest Martial Arts can be an awesome on-going year-round gift. You can drop in, or purchase the course online!
For the Foodies around you, George Calef’s Fine Foods has an amazing deli, lots of local gifts, a butcher counter and local baked goods. Purchase an item, or a gift card, either way, it’s worth a stop inside.
For that special person in your life who needs a Spa day, Bellaviso Salon and Spa have hair and spa services, including massage, mani-pedi’s, facials and makeup application. Stop in to buy a gift certificate, and your bases are covered! And if a great men’s cut is more your loved one’s style, Hodgy’s Barbershop on route 125 is an awesome place to stop.
For the one with discriminating taste in Home Décor and Custom Furniture Hubbingtons is the place to find that special piece of legacy furniture or accent pieces to round out their interior design. Plan on spending some time at this awesome store, there is plenty to see here.
We have more places to stop, sit, chat and shop in the cozy town of Barrington – enjoy your time out and about, and crossing people off of that shopping list!
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- Written by Ginna Schonwald
- Category: Articles
It’s 28 degrees outside on a December morning and a group of 4-8-year-olds and their teachers are walking through the woods with their backpacks, to spend the morning in unrestricted free play. This “Little Wild Ones” group is one of several offered by the innovative Timbernook program, headquartered in Barrington.
“We have to go over that bridge. I think it has ice on it. I’m going to check,” says Eric*, age 5, running ahead.
“Don’t go in the water,” Mikayla*, age 7, reminds me as we head across the bridge. This was a rule discussed at circle time.
We are heading for a blue tarp where 20 kids and four teachers are gathering to take off their backpacks and have a snack before they begin the unstructured free play which is the hallmark of the Timbernook program.
“Last time there was a stream and I followed it,” Caroline*, age 8, tells Kellie Barr Foster, “but I did not go in the water.” Kellie, the lead teacher for the program, tells me that the play is different every day. “We do a song and a story to inspire them. Then the kids have a good hour and a half of free play. The adults keep a low profile – we often get down on the ground to be as invisible as possible. We try to be interesting and fun during the storytime, but boring during free play.”
The goal of the program is to help kids develop their own ideas for play and to work out problems on their own without adults telling them what to do. “We’ve been talking a lot about executive functioning,” Kellie tells me. “Kids are losing it. Kids at nineteen are supposed to be able to make all these decisions, but they have never developed the executive functioning because they’ve never had the freedom to make their own decisions. So we are trying to back it up to the time when kids should be developing these skills.”
Timbernook began as a summer camp developed by Barrington-based pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom. “In order to empower children, we need to give them freedom,” Hanscom says. She has been an outspoken proponent of unrestricted outdoor play for kids for more than 10 years, noting that kids need this type of play for healthy development.
“We create a ‘Yes’ environment. We remove as many hazards as possible – things like bees’ nests, glass, weak limbs. We remove the hazards, but not the risks.” Hanscom notes that kids might choose to take a risk like jumping off a rock or climbing a tree. “Kids naturally regulate what risks they are ready for,” she explains. She points to research which suggests that removing risks from kids' play areas restricts healthy development. Even a simple activity like picking up sticks can inspire creativity when the child decides what to do or build with it. Picking up heavy sticks can help kids develop their senses.
Hanscom is the author of the book Balanced and Barefoot: How unrestricted outdoor play makes for strong, confident children and a recipient of the Glamour Magazine Hometown Hero Award. Since she began her year-round program in Barrington in 2013, the Timbernook model has spread around the world. There are now over 60 Timbernook-certified programs from California to New Zealand.
Hanscom explains that recent research suggests that most children today have an underdeveloped vestibular system. She explains that the vestibular system helps kids develop balance and regulate sensory input. “It helps you to know where your body is in space,” she says. In a pilot study which Hanscom conducted in a local school, she found only one out of every 12 children could meet the balance and core strength standardized averages of children from 1984. “In the medical world, one of the important things you are taught is to do no harm. We are at the point of doing harm to our children by over-restricting them,” she explains.
When free play begins, Eric* immediately begins hauling tires down to the marshy area. “He’s our engineer,” Kellie says. “He likes to build things.” Pretty soon other kids are joining in, hauling tires and boards down to the water to help create a bridge. Several kids gather around making suggestions, bringing more supplies and helping to create the bridge. A line forms to go across.
“It’s not ready. It’s not ready!” the first boy across warns everyone, as he runs off in search of one more board to help shore up the bridge.
A few boys lose interest and run off with sticks to play a superhero. Kellie watches as the sticks turn into swords. “So, I’m watching this to see if I need to say something. We have a rule – sticks go on sticks but sticks don’t go on bodies.” As it turns out the boys change direction and run off into another area of the woods. “They help make the rules, so when I do have to call them out on it, they tend to say ‘Oh, yeah. I remember that.’”
For the most part, the kids ignore the adults who are scattered around through the woods, keeping an eye out as the play develops. Occasionally a child will come to an adult to ask a question, but mostly they figure it out themselves or with the help of another child.
Hanscom notes that kids need at least a few hours of unrestricted outdoor play each day to develop proper balance, coordination, and executive functioning skills, among other things. Unfortunately, many kids have little time for unrestricted play, and this takes a toll on their ability to sit still and pay attention in school. That is one reason that Timbernook launched a school program this February. So far, 6 schools have become Timbernook-certified, with more currently working through the process.
Teachers spend a week at the Barrington facility to see the program in action and learn how to set it up at their own location. Timbernook staff also visit the school to help them design the environment for their outdoor program which can happen once a week or more. “We even help them design extension activities to use when they get back into the classroom. So if they are working on a giant marble run outside, they can go back inside and talk about the physics of it or have some STEM activities around that,” Hanscom explains. Timbernook staff even help with designing the curriculum to meet the school’s learning standards.
Back at the “Little Wild Ones” class, a line of kids are backed up, waiting to cross the bridge. They chant, “Go Gavyn. Go Gavyn. Go Gavyn,” to the youngest member of the group, who is at the front of the line, trying to determine if this risk is the one he is ready for.
*Children’s names are changed to protect their privacy.
Timbernook runs year-round programs in Barrington for ages 18 mos. to 14 years of age.
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- Written by Patrick R. McElhiney
- Category: Articles
We were all shocked to learn of the news that The Three Socios, LLC purchased the real estate where Phil’s Restaurant sits vacant today, for the purpose of developing the land into a fast-food restaurant, according to sources. They’re the same company that is building the Burger King / 7-Eleven / Mobil Gas Station next to George Calef’s Fine Foods near the intersection of RTE-125 and RTE-9. They reportedly paid a good price for the lot.
Barrington regulars are concerned that the town is being over-developed. People fly through the intersection at RTE-9 / RTE-125 at 50 mph. The trouble started when the intersection went from one lane going straight, to two. People are driving like idiots, and residents are concerned the new properties being developed will only make matters worse. Barrington Elementary School is right near that intersection, and people don’t slow down. It’s not a large enough intersection to pack it full of the hazards that come through with every change of the light.
On Facebook, after we broke the news about the sale @BarringtonTownNews, residents contemplated what type of fast food restaurant may go in there. They suggested KFC/Taco Bell, Arby’s, Sonic, a Quaint Coffeeshop, a Small Diner, Pizza Hut, Friendly’s, Dairy Queen, Popeyes, Hardees / Carl’s Jr., and LongHorn to name a few. One thing was clear – no one expects The Three Socios to deliver a local gem like Phil’s Restaurant was for 40 years.
Many residents were opposed to the concept of a fast-food restaurant going in there. Many residents said Barrington doesn’t need it. One resident said Barrington is going to end up looking like Epping or Plaistow on RTE-125. We attempted to reach out to The Three Socios, LLC, but they wouldn’t respond to comment even after multiple tries. The website for the Burger King property is www.tropicstardevelopment.com, however, it doesn’t list any information about the sale or future development of the location where Phil’s Restaurant was.
2016 Car Accident
What led Barrington, New Hampshire to this point in time happened in 2016, when Phil and his wife Chris were seriously injured in a car accident. Chris had a broken leg, and Phil had broken bones, according to Jim Ratta, a longtime Phil’s patron and friend. They had to close the restaurant for a year, and then to much fanfare, they reopened with reduced hours, closing on Wednesdays. Phil and Chris did that for six months – they made a great team. Phil had a hard time standing after the accident and collapsed at the restaurant one day from a blood clot in the leg, which led to the closing for good in late 2017. Faithful “Philistines” kept hoping they would re-open, but it never happened, and the property was sold in 2019.
The Community
Scot Villeneuve, owner of Big Hit Media in Barrington, New Hampshire started going to Phil’s Restaurant 10 years ago when he was in his 30s. He said there was a loyal following there, and that if you needed a contractor, such as an electrician or a plumber, you went to Phil’s. The previous Barrington Fire Chief, Russell Hayes, was there every morning sitting at the bar eating his breakfast and starting his day, according to Villeneuve. The quality of people there were some of the most well-known and loved people of Barrington.
Phil’s opened around 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM. The early morning crew, which came in around 6:00 AM, included Russell Hayes, Lenny Caverly, and Steve Lenzi. The 9:00 AM crew included Paul Steer, Jim Ratta, George Lafleur, Scot Villeneuve, Dave, Betty & Jake, Lenny & Dottie, and Bill who is a snowbird, spending his winters in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Jim Ratta, who owned Barrington Septic, is referred to as a “Philistine”, which means someone that was dedicated to the meaning of being one of Phil’s many followers. He said he first started going into Phil’s regularly in 2000. He said he used to travel there 2-3 times a week. Jim explained that all the old-timers sat in there around the horseshoe-shaped bar. A real treat for Jim was meeting Harlan Calef, George Calef’s father. Harlan would talk about how he taught his granddaughter about stocks and investing, and that’s probably one of the reasons why the Calef’s are such a big part of Barrington’s history. Ratta said of the community at Phil’s, “The good ones make life worthwhile”, and they were at Phil’s Restaurant every morning.
Villeneuve said of Phil’s, “There won’t be another gathering place with the type of people and quality of character that was in the restaurant.” He said the atmosphere was very welcoming to outsiders, adding that patrons would go out of their way to say, “Good morning!”, even though there was a reputation that Phil’s didn’t welcome newcomers. It was a well-used building, the food was good, and the people were great. Phil’s was loved by many of the business owners in town.
Fred Knight, who owns Knight’s Garage next door to Phil’s Restaurant always took care of anyone that needed an oil change or car service, allowing them to drop off their vehicle while they ate and mingled at Phil’s. They’d be able to get something to eat, and two hours later, they’d bring the keys back and say “You’re all done!” The Svenson family that owns the Christmas Dove has a son named Garth that is also a big fan of Phil’s.
There were a lot of veteran patrons at Phil’s Restaurant, including Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force. There was a Chief Petty Officer with the U.S. Navy that ate there regularly. Bill Turner, a career Air Force man, would be in there doing crossword puzzles from the Foster’s – he’d cheat by asking people for the answers. He’d say “look this up on your computer” because he was amazed by the technology. Jake with the 82nd Airborne had done around 80 paratrooper training jumps. He and his wife Betty, who was the Prom Queen of Newmarket, were at Phil’s daily. She used to help Bill Turner with his crossword puzzles as well.
There were a lot of patrons that were into their 90’s that grew up in the 1930s. They were all nice people, according to Villeneuve. Lester and Barbara Waterhouse were patrons – both into their 90s, and sadly Barbara passed away a few years back. Scot said he’s been to so many funerals of people that ate at Phil’s – that’s how connected the community was.
They would have liked to do a reality TV show there, because it would have been a side-splitting comedy, according to Villeneuve. “The things that came out of the mouths of people that have lived in Barrington all their lives – it’s so real, it’s funny.” He said that Chris Amazeen would answer the phone “all nice”, while Phil would answer “PHIL’S!!!”. Jim Ratta said, “They had more fun down there you could shake two sticks at.” They even fed Jim’s dog, Willy.
The Food
Phil’s served breakfast, and early-on, lunch, including hot dogs, pies, chowders, chili, and other varieties of meals. They didn’t serve alcohol there, but there was a vintage frappe making machine, and there was an old cigarette dispensing machine that didn’t work, according to Villeneuve, but had advertised for brands like Pall Mall’s.
One time, Villeneuve asked, “Hey Phil – how many eggs do you think you’ve cracked in your life?” and Phil responded by showing Scot a stainless steel bowl that was polished by a fork that was curved to the bottom of the bowl. Phil said he’d been using the fork and bowl for 30 years. Jim Ratta said, “There’s no one in the world that could make scrambled eggs as good as Phil.”
Phil and Chris were genuine, good, honest, hardworking people that went in at 4 AM to make donuts. Phil had two trays of donuts, and elderly patrons would get coffee and donuts, or bring the homemade donuts home to family members.
The plow truck drivers would stop there at 5 AM, and there was strong coffee and good meals at Phil’s.
Trust in Phil’s
Phil’s Restaurant was the type of place where you could leave money for a contractor the next time you went there if you didn’t have the money that day. Regulars at Phil’s, if they happened to be short on money, they’d use a service known as the “Wall of Shame”. It was a corkboard on the wall behind the cash register, where debts would be displayed, extended only to regulars. If you owed a debt to Phil’s, the regulars would harass you, in good fun, because you were on the “Wall of Shame”.
Phil also sponsored little league teams, that had their pictures on the walls. “We’re all faithful Philistines,” said Jim Ratta.
History Behind Phil’s
Phil Amazeen and his wife, Chris, ran the restaurant since it was incorporated after being established in 1976, but before Phil had Phil’s Restaurant, he was the chef at Young’s Restaurant in Durham. Before that he worked at a restaurant in Dover.
Phil’s was a single location, privately held business, located next to Knight’s Garage in Barrington, New Hampshire.
Phil’s was open 6 days a week before the car accident. Villeneuve said, “They were just good, down to Earth people – no drama, no false pretenses.”, and he said they once contemplated a slogan, “Phil’s Diner – Not for Sissies”.
Rosie was one of the waitresses that worked at Phil’s for a while. Another waitress was Alice, who was a tattooed lady who did a great job, according to Jim Ratta. Chris Amazeen, Phil’s wife, came in and ran the restaurant with him around the year 2000.
Phil is approaching 80 years old – he had two daughters and a son with Chris, to which many grandchildren were also born. They live in Nottingham, New Hampshire.
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December 12, 2019 [Exeter, NH] – From now until the end of the year, Patagonia Action Works will match all donations – up to $10,000 per donation – to SELT, the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire. Matching will continue until the end of the year or until the national $10,000,000 threshold is met.
For nearly 40 years, Patagonia has supported grassroots groups working to find solutions to the environmental crisis. But in this time of unprecedented threats, it’s often hard to know the best way to get involved. That’s why Patagonia is offering this opportunity to connect individuals with local Patagonia grantees (such as SELT), in order to act on the most pressing issues facing the world today.
SELT became a Patagonia grantee in 2018 with the help of local Patagonia retailer, Rob Garneau of Travel & Nature in Exeter, NH. According to Rob, "SELT has become a very important part of our community. It is easy to take for granted the many trails, rivers, and nature sanctuaries that we adventure in, but thanks to SELT and those who donate to their cause, we get to enjoy the many wonders of our home. We fully believe and trust in the hard work that SELT does to protect, revive, and breathe life back into our lands that have otherwise been ignored. This is why we do what we do, to allow our community to enjoy this beautiful earth we have been given."
Brian Hart, Executive Director of SELT, shared, “We are so grateful to be selected by Patagonia for this opportunity. Through Patagonia Action Works, they aspire to connect people to the organizations in their communities who are making a difference in the environment. By providing this platform, we are hoping more people can learn about our work and make a gift to protect wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, farmland for the future, and outdoor recreation in southeastern New Hampshire.”
With this dollar-for-dollar match from Patagonia, donations will be doubled: $1 becomes $2. $20 becomes $40, and $10,000 becomes $20,000. Gifts of any size will have a huge impact and help SELT save, share, and steward lands you love in southeastern New Hampshire.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to give the gift of giving,” said Beverly Shadley, SELT’s Deputy Director. She continued, “For people who are looking to reframe their holiday gift-giving to focus less on stuff and more on experiences and impact, making a donation in someone’s honor for a special cause – like SELT – is a really wonderful way to show someone you care.”
To make a gift to SELT that will be matched by Patagonia Action Works, please visit seltnh.org/donate. Donations made through the Patagonia Action Works page will be securely processed by Network for Good. Patagonia will cover processing fees so that SELT will get the entire donation and the entire matching amount. No product purchase is required to donate.
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DURHAM, N.H.—An estimated 2.5 million children under the age of four are being raised by young adult parents (age 18-24), with significant concentrations of these families in the South and Southwest, according to new research by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. While fewer than 5 percent of children live with young adult parents, 16 percent of children age 0-3 and 25 percent of low-income children age 0-3 do.
Low-income young adult parents have different characteristics than their older counterparts, more often parenting their first child with no co-parent present and still enrolled in school.
“These characteristics can add up to a lack of resources for children during a key period of child development and barriers for these parents who are in a critical period for shaping their own educational and employment trajectories,” said Jess Carson, research assistant professor with the Carsey School’s Vulnerable Families Research Program. “While supportive policies exist, most could be strengthened to better support young adult families, including stronger income supports such as refundable tax credits, more affordable education for parents via Pell grants, and stronger childcare systems.
The Carsey School of Public Policy conducts research, leadership development, and engaged scholarship relevant to public policy. They address pressing challenges, striving for innovative, responsive, and equitable solutions at all levels of government and in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
The University of New Hampshire inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation, and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. As one of the nation’s highest-performing research universities, UNH partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF and NIH, and receives more than $110 million in competitive external funding every year to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea, and space.
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First Seacoast Bank had a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Greater Barrington Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, December 10th, 2019 to celebrate the rebranding from Federal Savings Bank, and 45 years of doing business in Barrington, NH.
It was a foggy night on RTE-125, where First Seacoast Bank is located next to the Journey Church. It’s been a milestone year for FSB, which is a community bank that has been successful because the community supports them.
First Seacoast Bank originally opened in 1890 under the name “Dover Co-Operative Savings Fund and Loan Association”, and its original meeting location was the Cocheco Hose Company on First Street in Dover, NH. It was renamed to the “Dover Federal Savings and Loan Association” in 1974, and in 1983, it was renamed to “Federal Savings Bank”.
Barrington was FSB’s first branch – First Seacoast Bank was first headquartered on First Street in 1972, and they’ve been there ever since. The Barrington branch was opened in 1974. In 1979, the Durham branch opened, and in 1987 the Fourth branch was opened in Portsmouth. Rochester was the Fifth branch, which opened in 2009, and it was named Business of the Year in Rochester in 2019. First Seacoast Bank was also the recent recipient of the Cornerstone Award from Cornerstone VNA.
Their mission throughout the years has been to serve the community, which is why after all these years, the bank has changed names to reflect that. They sponsored the tree-lighting ceremony at the Barrington Soiree this past weekend, and the bank gives away over $300,000 in donations to the community each year.
After the ribbon-cutting, FSB served refreshments and hosted a Barrington Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours (BAH). Chamber members and bank customers, alike, brought in non-perishable food items to help the Barrington Food Pantry. There was also a raffle, that attendees could only enter if they brought in a donation for the Food Pantry.
Familiar faces, food, and beverages flowed throughout the Barrington branch’s location tonight. The Chairman of the Board of the Barrington Chamber of Commerce, Michael Guyre said, “This was the best Business After Hours ever!” Members and employees from other branches traveled through rainy weather to Barrington for this amazing event.
First Seacoast Bank is a mutual bank. They work hard for their customers and the community. The bank is committed to meeting the financial service expectations of individuals, families, and locally owned businesses. First Seacoast Bank focuses on:
- Providing high-quality, personalized, convenient service.
- Offering a challenging and rewarding work environment for its employees.
- Maintaining public trust as an independent mutual community bank by operating in an ethical and sound financial manner.
- Empowering their employees to make a difference by actively and positively contributing to the quality of life in the surrounding community.
First Seacoast Bank offers Kasasa® Cash Checking, which offers 3.00% APY on balances up to $20,000, when the account meets specific qualifications – See This Flyer. For more information about First Seacoast Bank, please visit www.firstseacoastbank.com.
For the Greater Barrington Chamber of Commerce, there’s a monthly membership meeting on January 8th, 2020 for all Chamber of Commerce members.
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DURHAM, N.H.— Researchers at the University of New Hampshire has been awarded a three-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in partnership with Saildrone, Inc. of Alameda, CA, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) to develop data quality tools for a new unmanned wind-powered a sailboat-like vehicle capable of long-duration missions to collect vital ocean mapping information.
“This innovative partnership will produce a much more efficient and cost-effective way to collect needed data for mapping the ocean and monitoring the marine environment,” said Larry Mayer, professor of Earth Science and Ocean Engineering at UNH’s Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (CCOM), and co-head of Seabed 2030’s Arctic and North Pacific Regional Data Center. “The data we collect will play a critical role in the safety of navigation, tsunami and storm surge predictions, ecosystem and other environmental studies, and modeling climate change.”
The Saildrone Surveyor, currently under development and scheduled to be deployed in spring 2020, will be a 72-foot unmanned surface vehicle (USV) capable of going out to sea for six to 12 months. Working with UNH and Kongsberg, which specializes in advanced maritime technologies, Saildrone will install three state-of-the-art sonar systems on the USV enabling detailed mapping data of the seafloor and water column to be transmitted back to shore, some in real-time. UNH will analyze and evaluate the data quality and will lead the development of autonomous data quality monitoring tools to identify targets of interest.
“We are very pleased to be working with the University of New Hampshire and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute to further ocean characterization research using eDNA and achieve global bathymetry goals” said Richard Jenkins, founder, and CEO of Saildrone. “Over the past five years, Saildrone USV's have performed extensive missions in the Arctic, Antarctic, and Pacific and Atlantic oceans, proving it to be a capable and effective vehicle for collecting data in the most extreme environments. The larger Saildrone Surveyor is an exciting evolution that leverages all our expertise and experience to create an extremely capable platform to further explore our oceans and share that data with projects such as Seabed 2030.”
The Saildrone Surveyor will be equipped with a complete suite of environmental sensors to support studies looking at harmful algal blooms, microbial ecology, water quality, and environmental DNA (eDNA) indicative of invasive species and larger animals.
Even though the world’s oceans are widely traveled, fished and explored, experts say only roughly 15 percent of the Earth’s seafloor has been mapped with high-resolution imaging.
Mayer is part of the international consortium known as Seabed 2030, which hopes to accomplish that goal by the year 2030.
The new Saildrone Surveyor will be piloted remotely rather than operated fully autonomously enabling responsive mission adaption whenever sensors indicate an area of interest. Data will be relayed in real-time to a shore-based operator via broadband satellite communication.
Funding was provided by NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) and is part of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) which facilitates partnerships between federal agencies, academia and industry to advance ocean science research and education. Since 1997, NOPP has funded over 200 projects that address our nation’s economic development, national security, quality of life and science education.
Saildrone, Inc. is a provider of oceanographic and atmospheric data, collected by a fleet of wind and solar-powered unmanned surface vehicles, known as sail drones. Each vehicle can stay at sea for up to 12 months, transmitting real-time data before returning to shore for servicing and sensor calibration. Saildrone has deployed vehicles to the most remote corners of the planet, in locations ranging from 75°N, on the ice edge in the U.S. Arctic, to 62°S in the Southern Ocean. Using clean renewable power, sail drones provide access to the world’s oceans at a fraction of the cost of traditional ship-based methods.
The University of New Hampshire inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation, and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. As one of the nation’s highest-performing research universities, UNH partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF and NIH, and receives more than $110 million in competitive external funding every year to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea, and space.
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