The 2nd Annual Festival of Trees Barrington Lions Event
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Saturday, December 7, 2019, dawned cold, crisp and clear.  A few hearty souls, lined up at 8 am, stomping their feet and blowing into their hands, were outside the Christmas Dove waiting for trees to arrive or ornaments to appear.    As more people arrived, trees began to pop up, lights were strung, and ornaments placed in strategic locations.  Themed trees and wreaths were the word of the day, puzzles, legos, patriots, homes, all donated by local organizations and businesses.  The most popular, scratch tickets, gift certificates, and cash, all given to raise money for a good cause.

The cause, the Barrington Area Centennial Lions Club.  This second annual event has grown, with over 35 entries this year.  The event runs in 2 sections – from 8 to noon, tree and wreath setup; from 12 to 4 voting.  By purchasing $10 worth, people receive 25 tickets, which they then use to “vote” on their favorite tree or wreath.  There were 4ft and under trees, over 4ft trees, and wreaths.    At the end of the event, a lucky winner was drawn for every tree or wreath, and two donor awards were given – Best Tree and Best Wreath.  Shown below, the Lion’s Club President, Wanda Walker with the People’s Choice Best Tree Winner, Hadden Fine Carpentry and People’s Choice Best Wreath, Partners in Health. Both winners were LEGO-themed!

At 1 pm, the Granite State Choral Society performed Christmas carols decked out with beautiful matching red scarves and festive attire.

All in all, the Festival of Trees was a great, family-friendly event.  There was a drive for supplies for homeless teens, baked goods for donation, hot chocolate, and coffee provided as well.    This is from Kris Pavlik, part of the leadership from the local Lions group:

“Kat - We wanted you to know that we had a successful tree festival and want to thank our new Leo’s group for all of their help, and the Christmas Dove for allowing us to hold our festival there, to everyone who donated a wreath or tree, and who donated to our collection for items for homeless teens, and to everyone who came out to see our wreaths and trees, share some hot cocoa and many laughs! All of the funds raised will be used to fund our Charitable activities within the community. Thank you so much for all of your continued support! Coffee. Soon!”

One of the best things about Barrington is how giving our local community organizations and businesses are – and how family-friendly our town is.  We at Barrington Town News looks forward to next year and the growth of these wonderful local events. 

2019 Barrington Soiree – 19 Years of Growth
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There is something about the town of Barrington, a small-town feel in an internet world. Every December, many of the major community organizations gather around in the “Village Center” to participate in the Barrington Soiree.  The Soiree is a community open house, outdoors and indoors, a gathering of locals who eat, chat, view, and investigate many of the offerings that Barrington has. 

As we wandered through the stores, each little corner revealed something different – from authors inside Calef’s to the Historical Society with their raffle inside the Edward Jones office and artists throughout the Christmas Dove.   Outside featured bonfires and little talking spaces – at booths and around the town firetruck, where little kids were idolizing their heroes!

There are three central gathering places at the Soiree – Calef’s Country Store, the Christmas Dove, and The Village Barn.  Local merchants this year also included American Dream Stables, Elf Made, the Florist at Barrington Village, KCob Plumbing and Heating, The Barrington Chamber of Commerce, the Barrington Local Artist Galler, ReFined Art, Citizens Bank, Great View Landscaping, Bellaviso Salon and Edward Jones Investments.  There were 5 food trucks/tents: Lexie’s Burger Bus, Jeremy’s Roadside Barbecue, Kozy’s Pizza, Sausage Express, and the Barrington Recreation Department had a Cocoa and S’mores Tent. The Boy Scouts were selling Fried Dough Boys and Hot Cocoa, while the Girl Scouts offered hot cider.  Each organization had something to do, buy or talk about! 

Every booth had something to offer, from the Barrington Food Panty – giving away a free Santa picture with every donation received, to the Friends of the Barrington Public Library with raffle baskets. Other organizations represented included the Barrington Middle School with a Jazz Band performance on Calef’s porch, the Barrington PTA with its famous discount card, the Barrington Historical Society, Special Olympics, the Police Department and Fire Departments, Lion’s Club, End 68 Hours of Hunger, Barrington BYA and Blaze, the Elementary School, and Journey Church.

Everyplace we wandered last night had something to look at, explore and enjoy – running into old friends and meeting new people – the night was full of things to do.  Next year is the 20th anniversary, so it will be a night to remember!  If you plan on attending next year, bring some cash, gloves, warm shoes and appropriate weather gear – you will linger longer and enjoy the family-friendly community that Barrington has to offer.  

Family Farm Awarded $150,000 LCHIP Grant For Conservation
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December 5, 2019 – At an award ceremony yesterday in the Governor and Council Chambers in Concord, the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELT), received a $150,000 grant from the NH Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) to conserve Clarke Farm in Epping and Newmarket. This project was one of 33 projects across the state that received $3.5 million in matching grants from LCHIP.

“We are so appreciative of LCHIP’s investment in conserving important farmland in New Hampshire,” said Jeremy Lougee, SELT’s Conservation Project Manager and Farmland Coordinator. “The Clarke Farm is an example of a small, family farm growing food for its community, and this LCHIP award will enable SELT to protect this agricultural resource while also maintaining clean drinking water, critical wildlife habitat, and open space for future generations.”

Purchased in 1977, Clarke Farm straddles the Newmarket and Epping town lines. There, Jack and Linda raise beef cattle and sheep, largely on pasture, and they have built this operation over time with careful attention to soils and long-term sustainability. Over the years, they've transitioned unmanaged, low-value forest back into productive farmland fields that now produce quality hay and feed, grasses for grazing, and superb finished meats.

In addition to its important contribution to the local food system, Clarke Farm also provides extensive and exemplary wildlife habitat. Development, as experienced in southeastern New Hampshire, often breaks up habitat making it difficult for wildlife to thrive. Once protected, Clarke Farm will connect nearly 5,000 acres of conservation land surrounding the Wild & Scenic Lamprey River, thereby enhancing habitat for a variety of wildlife species, protecting clean drinking water for people and allowing local residents to explore the extensive network of forest trails the Clarke’s maintain on their land.

Speaking about why they felt it is important to conserve the remainder of their farm, Jack and Linda shared, “We’ve poured our lives into this family farm over the past 40 years. We’ve improved the soils and the land with an eye on sustainability and profitability. We want to make sure that our farm will continue to be a viable and productive operation that feeds our community long into the future.”

Projects are being supported in each of the state’s 10 counties. This grant round was highly competitive, with over $7 million in funding requests compared to $3.5 million available for grants. LCHIP Board Chair Amanda Merrill of Durham observed “The LCHIP Board of Directors was particularly impressed with the variety and quality of projects seeking support this year.”

Grant recipients are required to raise a minimum of one dollar for each dollar provided by LCHIP. This year’s awards of $3.5 million will be matched by more than $10 million that the project proponents will raise from other public and private sources, infusing a total of almost $14 million into the state’s economy in direct project activity.

Big Hit Media – “One of the best kept secrets in New Hampshire”
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Scot in the studio control room at Big HitScot Villeneuve started Big Hit Media in 2004 after several years in corporate marketing with Cabletron Systems, AT&T and The Tracey Edwards Company – a large New Hampshire marketing firm.  His vision was to take what he had learned and created a company that really focused on the client and their needs.

“We’re looking to build client relationships based on trust…”, said Villeneuve, and added that “it’s something that’s built over time.”

Some of Big Hit Media’s clients have been with the firm for nearly 15 years, such as Granite State Glass and L3 Insight Technology. The thing that keeps them coming back, is the good work, the results, but what it’s really about is the relationship.

Mr. Villeneuve explained an example – One day, Dave Ryan, VP of Sales & Marketing at Granite State Glass said he needed an advertisement designed, and Scot didn’t see the email immediately, and so he apologized. Mr. Ryan laughed and said that it was alright because if he needed it done right away, Dave knew Big Hit Media would have been on it; that's how strong the relationship is.

Over the years, Big Hit Media has served national clients such as ESPN Books, L3 Communications, iParty, Willis Insurance, and Long Term Care Partners. They also represent local clients, including Turbocam, TimberNook, Lake Sunapee Bank, When Pigs Fly Bread, and George Calef’s Fine Foods.

Since 2004, Big Hit Media has developed over 1,000 websites, including their own that states “Nice people, great work, good advice.” Their tagline is “Good at what we do,” and that pretty much sums up Big Hit Media.

An interview set for LTC PartnersMr. Villeneuve’s company offers Website Development, Social Media Marketing, Graphic Design, Business and Sales Consulting, Content Creation, Marketing Strategy, Print Ads, Video & Radio Production, and so much more.

“We don’t like to just put a new facade on a website or ad campaign for the sake of making it look fresh,” said Villeneuve. “We want to identify the business goals of an organization, and customize the strategy to achieve those goals.”

People understand what advertising is, and they know what digital marketing is. The thing that differentiates Big Hit Media, is they can provide guidance as a business advisor to clients. That could take the form of retail sales strategies, Online sales strategies, and it could also take the shape of positioning a company in the marketplace.

“We’ve helped established companies that have grown significantly to refocus their identity via mission, vision, and positioning exercises, a methodology that Big Hit Media has developed over the years.

Cujo, the Big Hit ChihuahuaWhat Big Hit Media seeks to do, is to simply state the mission, vision, and position of the company. That’s the foundation for all messaging, and it guides business decisions. Even if the company has been around for 100 years, it doesn’t mean they can’t make improvements, according to Villeneuve.

He said, sometimes you must examine the “why we do this”  because the “we’ve always done it this way” is not an acceptable reason. “Why do we spend $60,000 a year on this radio station?” to which Big Hit Media asks the question “Is this ad-spend yielding the maximum return on investment?”

Villeneuve explained, “There’s the business, analytic, and consulting side of what we do, but that’s just one part.” He added, “The other part is the creative design, and imagination component.” He said, “I like to consider ourselves artists and content creators – that’s really the 'golden goose' of our business.” Villeneuve added that there wouldn't be any 'soul' in his work without that creativity and imagination.

What do we see for the future?

“We know the technology is going to change – that’s a given. What isn’t going to change is our creative thinking and our commitment to clients,” said Villeneuve. “We’re constantly pitching ideas to our clients to make their businesses better.”

Villeneuve continued, “We see emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence-based marketing, business intelligence, and data analytics as tools and tremendous opportunities to grow our client's market share.”

“With our creativity, methods, and most importantly, our client relationships, I see Big Hit Media continuing to grow and I am really excited about the future,” Villeneuve concluded with a smile.

For more information about Big Hit Media, reach out to them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit their website at www.bighitmedia.com, call Scot Villeneuve directly at 603-834-6300, and visit the old fire station building on the corner of Route 9 and Mallego Road at 644 Franklin Pierce Highway, Barrington, New Hampshire 03825.

Private Roads Not Receiving 10% Adjustment from Town
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Through additional research into the issue of private road taxes with the NH Private Road Taxpayers Alliance, we have found that part of Town Administrator Conner MacIver’s statement, which he gave on October 11th, 2019, is factually incorrect.

He stated:

“For a piece of property on a Class VI or private road, the land value is reduced by 10%.”

According to the State of New Hampshire, Class VI roads are public roads that are no longer maintained by the Town. We found that properties that are accessed via Class VI roads consistently get a 10% adjustment in the Site Field of Barrington’s property cards, but Private roads do not get the 10% adjustment. There is nothing private about a Class VI road – they are two completely different types of roads, but what they have in common is that neither of them is maintained by the Town.

During our investigation, we asked the Town Administrator why Private Roads and Class VI Roads receive the 10% adjustment, and he responded:

“Every appraisal is an opinion of market value. Achieving fair market value is the only goal of an assessment. Whether that opinion is from a private appraiser as part of a home purchase or the Town’s Assessor. In many cases, the Assessor’s opinion of a property on a road not maintained by the Town is a reduction in market value.”

Mr. MacIver could have corrected his statement of October 11 and set the record straight by admitting that Private Roads do not get the same Site adjustment as their Class VI counterparts, but he missed the opportunity.

We also asked Mr. MacIver about 10 properties that are accessed via Private Paved Roads, and why they didn’t get the 10% adjustment. The properties were:

  1. 12 Covenant Way
  2. 13 Colcord Rd
  3. 16 Birch Ln
  4. 17 Breezy Way
  5. 18 Bryson Dr
  6. 24 Colcord Rd
  7. 32 Chapman Dr
  8. 40 Chapman Dr
  9. 60 Breezy Way
  10. 99 Mendums Landing Rd

His response to this evidence was a long, dramatic explanation about what the Assessor does, and the appraisal value of the property and he even mentioned the Superior Court, rather than admitting that his claim of a 10% reduction for properties located on Private Roads was incorrect. So we gave him two opportunities to correct the record, and he did not take advantage of either one.

Nearly 52% of all the roads in Barrington, when categorized by name and type, are Private Roads – roads that don’t receive plowing or road maintenance from the Town. Since Private Road Taxpayers represent the majority of taxpayers in Barrington, NH, we believe they should be asking the question of why Class VI Roads get a 10% adjustment for their Road Class, but Private Roads (which they were told get the same adjustment) do not. 

For those interested in political action on Private Road Taxation, the New Hampshire Private Road Taxpayers Alliance can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

 

Be Prepared For Incoming Winter Storm
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CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management is urging residents and visitors to be prepared as the first significant winter storm of the season is forecasted to impact the state tonight through Tuesday. 

Two waves of snow is expected to arrive tonight and last into Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), causing significant snow accumulation for parts of the state over a prolonged period of time. The first wave of moderate to heavy snow will be tonight into Monday morning and will affect the commute in southern and central parts of NH. The second round of snow will be Monday night into Tuesday morning.

The NWS has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Cheshire, Hillsborough, Sullivan, Merrimack, Rockingham and Strafford counties from 4:00 P.M. tonight through 7:00 A.M. Tuesday.

The NWS has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Belknap, Grafton and Carroll counties from 4:00 P.M. tonight through 7:00 A.M. Tuesday.

“During the storm, only travel if absolutely necessary,” New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Jennifer Harper said. “Once the storm begins, travel will be hazardous. If you must travel, remember to clear snow and ice from your vehicle, slow down, allow extra time for travel, and leave plenty of space between vehicles.” 

Some sleet could mix along the coast Monday night and Tuesday.

Snow totals through Tuesday:

·        Southern and Coastal NH: 12-18”

·        Central NH: 6-12”

·        Northern NH: 2-6”

 

Harper provides these additional reminders:

·        Slow down and move over for emergency vehicles.

·        Do not crowd the plows or emergency crews.

·        Clear all snow and ice off your car, including your roof, around lights, and license plates before traveling.

·        Bridges, overpasses, and exposed road areas are the most prone to icy conditions.

·        Visit ReadyNH.gov to learn more preparedness tips to help you and your family stay safe.

Take time now to prepare. Director Harper encourages everyone to plan ahead for disasters. The core steps toward preparedness is (1) make an emergency kit, (2) have a family emergency plan, and (3) stay informed by signing up for NH Alerts. Download templates and instructions for each of these preparedness steps online at ReadyNH.gov

Defined by the NWS, Winter Storm Warnings are issued for a significant winter weather event including snow, ice, sleet or blowing snow or a combination of these hazards. Travel will become difficult or impossible in some situations. Delay your travel plans until conditions improve.

Defined by the NWS, Winter Weather Advisories are issued when snow, blowing snow, ice, sleet, or a combination of these wintry elements is expected but conditions should not be hazardous enough to meet warning criteria. Be prepared for winter driving conditions and possible travel difficulties. Use caution when driving.

 

About NH HSEM:

NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) provides a coordinated, integrated program for state-wide emergency management and homeland security, including coordination of the state response to emergencies, strategic and operational all-hazards planning; community preparedness; exercise and training; and grants planning and program management. HSEM is a division within the NH Department of Safety and is the state-level equivalent of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Follow NH HSEM on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NH_HSEM and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NH.HSEM. Also, sign up for NH Alerts to receive emergency information via your mobile and landline phones, including severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service and emergency information from NH HSEM. To learn more about NH Alerts and other preparedness tools, visit www.readynh.gov or call HSEM at (603) 271-2231.

Photograph by Matt Crutchfield
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After only a ten-minute drive on 202 West from Calef’s Country Store or an eight-minute drive from the Northeast Credit Union on 202 East, you will find this sign on the edge of a dirt road.  (Drivers beware – not all GPS systems get this location right!)

If you head down the road, you will find two parking lots along the road, and where this dirt road ends (about ¼ of a mile down) is a 5-car parking lot.  Get out of your car, walk up the rocks, and turn to your right.

This beautiful view is one of the many you will find in this remarkable spot.  Stonehouse Pond conservation area is 241 acres, and since 2017 abutted by 1500 acres to the east called Stonehouse Forest.  A combination of land trusts and conservation groups holds the property and reserve its use for hikers, anglers, nature enthusiasts and the like.  There are hiking trails (including a mile-long loop up to the peak), different rock faces, wildlife to view, and plenty of flora as well.  For Pokémon Go players, there are two poke spots – one near the sign on RTE 202, the other is the granite bench memorial beside the lake!

Photograph by Matt CrutchfieldSo why exactly is this gem of wilderness called Stonehouse Pond?  While there don’t appear to be any stone houses about if you look carefully on the cliff, you can see a rough outline of a house with a door and a window. 

During the spring and fall, Stonehouse Pond proper is open to fly fishing only for trout.  Boats are limited to cartop, and there isn’t much turn around space, so bring your kayak but leave your trailer at home! 

There are more plans in the works for the Stonehouse Pond and Forest area, and it’s a great day-tripping spot for all four seasons (since winter is well on its way, don’t forget your snowshoes or cross-country skis!)  During the wintertime, the gate is closed since the road is not maintained, so don’t plan on a lot of easy parking.  Stonehouse Pond and Forest is mostly untamed, so follow safe hiking practices, and always let someone know where you are going and when you are expected to return

What is Strategic Business Planning?
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As an owner of a boutique business planning business, I am often out and about networking and marketing my business to other small to mid-size business owners.  But often, when I mention the word Strategic – dollar sign warning bells start sounding, and a glazed look appears on their faces. 

The truth is, strategic planning is the art of taking the big picture, long-range view of any problem – and breaking the solution down into executable chunks.  It is the ability to ask “what if” and figuring out the different tactics to accomplish the desired end result.

What is Strategic Business Planning?With a small business owner, the need for this kind of in-depth analysis may seem overwhelming.  Most people start their business because they are good at creating their product – not because they are skilled at managing employees, marketing their product, invoicing and accounting, running the IT systems and so on.  So why have a business plan at all?

  1. To identify what you need to know. The process of business planning identifies what you know and what you need to learn in order to effectively manage all the moving parts of a growing business.
  2. To obtain funding.  Banks and lenders want to see that business owners understand the moving parts of their business and have the critical problem-solving skills to be agile when an unforeseen problem arises.  The business plan is really just an exercise in creativity and what if’s, but it can answer the questions – am I charging enough, do I have realistic achievable goals and do I know how to zig when I’ve been zagging too long?
  3. To be proactive vs. reactive. Failing to plan is planning to fail.  Even simple things like setting a budget, technology refresh plans, sales goals, and basic job descriptions all place your business in a better position; like an eagle soaring versus the elk at the bottom of a gully.  The elk will only see the trees and the river beside it – while the eagle will see for miles and be able to account for any issues that may arise.

When a potential client comes to me with the inevitable question – “Do you write business plans?” my answer is, “I certainly can, but better yet, I teach you how to write yours.”  This tactic helps reduce costs, and allows me to become the facilitator for the process, and for the business owner to be equipped for success. 

Kat Roedell – Ignite Business Planning Services

 

5 Places to Volunteer for the Holidays and More in Barrington
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During the holiday season, we often feel the need to give back through volunteering to help others.  Sometimes with busy schedules, it is hard to find a worthy organization to attach ourselves to, or to find somewhere we think we will be able to make a difference.  Volunteering comes in all shapes and sizes, from sitting with an elderly patient in a nursing home and giving the gift of listening, to raising funds for a worthy cause, to crocheting baby booties and preemie hats for a hospital.  Using our gifts and talents, even if it’s just our hands and feet – manning a booth at a hearing screening, handing out flyers for an upcoming fundraising event, all of these things can take just a bit of our time and make a huge difference.  With the holidays fast approaching, we created a list of worthy places in the Barrington area that are looking for volunteers – not just for the holidays, but all throughout the year.  This is not a comprehensive listing of great places to volunteer but should spark the creative juices and give a great start towards giving back.

Barrington Food Pantry:  The Barrington Food Pantry has limited hours that it is open, and is always looking for food donations and long-term volunteers.  Regular Volunteer times are on Thursdays, between 6 and 7:30 pm.  The Food Pantry also takes stable food donations (i.e. canned and boxed foods with longer shelf lives) at the same time.  The pantry is located at 105 Ramsdell Lane in Barrington. If you have a food donation and cannot make it during the hours it is open, the fire department also accepts the food pantry donations.

Barrington Trails Committee:  Volunteering isn’t always about serving food – but it is about providing service for the community. The Trails Committee provides the opportunity to get out into nature and through that be nurtured. The group uses volunteers for creating and maintaining trails, clearing brush, keeping pathways clear, removing debris and making our beautiful town trails and forests easier for local people to enjoy throughout the year.  The Barrington Trails Committee is a subcommittee of the Barrington Conservation Commission. More information about volunteer times and events can be accessed by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. using the subject line of “Volunteering for the Trails Committee”.

Pond View Acres:  Located at 923 Franklin Pierce Hwy. Barrington, NH 03825, this assisted living home provides care for 10 residents.  Volunteers for Pond View are greatly appreciated. They already have a weekly pet therapy time, but would love for people to sit and talk with the residents, lead some arts and crafts projects (like cookie decorating at the holidays or painting), assist with puzzles and play games with the residents.  Call (603) 664-9967 and ask for the Administrator to discuss volunteer opportunities at Pond View Acres.

Barrington Lions Club:   The Barrington Lions Club is a growing group that meets every 2nd Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Barrington American Legion 731 Franklin Pierce Highway Barrington, NH 03825. This structured service organization provides assistance in a variety of areas – vision screening, youth programs and camps and grants for humanitarian efforts throughout the world.  The Lions Club was founded in 1917 and has made a positive change in the world.  Come as a guest to the next meeting and ask for more information about this organization.  Our local Lion’s Club is hosting A Festival of Trees on December 7, 2019, which will be a great place to meet the other members of the community that participates in this club.

Barrington Chamber of Commerce:  For the business-minded volunteer joining the Chamber will provide a great network of connections, as well as the ability to participate in several giving back to the community events, like the Peeper 5k and the Annual Golf Tournament, which allows the Chamber to fund 3 scholarships to deserving students.  Both of these events and many other give-back opportunities use volunteers and sponsors to help fund scholarships, donate to non-profit organizations and give back in other ways.

Cornerstone VNA Launches Caregiver Café in Alton
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Rochester, NH:  Cornerstone VNA is pleased to announce the launch of a new monthly Caregiver Café on December 5 at 12:30 pm at the Alton Public Library on 100 Main Street in Alton, NH. The first Café will be a meet and greet with a hot cocoa bar and cookies.

The Caregiver Café is a collaborative effort between Cornerstone VNA and the Alton Public Library. Family caregivers and their loved ones are invited to attend for an afternoon of support, conversation, and education. The library is wheelchair accessible from the back parking lot.

According to Holly Brown, Library Director, "Our library is very pleased and proud to assist Cornerstone VNA in offering this wonderful service to our community caregivers.” Brown continues, “We are honored to be working with such a vital and caring organization that does so much to help so many people. We appreciate all that Cornerstone VNA does and welcome the opportunity to work together to support and educate family caregivers."

Janice Howard, Cornerstone VNA Life Care-Private Duty Director states, “We are truly excited for the opportunity to reach out to this important sector of our community and provide a gathering spot for support and comradery for caregivers.” Howard adds, “If you are caring for a loved one or know someone who is, please join us, all caregivers are welcome.”

The Alton Caregiver Café is the third in a series of Caregiver Cafés that Cornerstone VNA facilitates. There is also a monthly Caregiver Café at the Langdon Public Library in Newington and at the Goodwin Library in Farmington. Details can be found at www.cornerstonevna.org.

Cornerstone VNA is a non-profit home, health and hospice agency currently serving Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap and Carroll Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine. The team at Cornerstone VNA provides skilled nursing, rehabilitative therapies, social work as well as volunteer and support services through five distinct programs: Home Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Life Care-Private Duty and Community Care. For 106 years, Cornerstone VNA has been committed to bringing services to people of all ages so that families can stay together at home, even when facing the challenges of aging, surgical recovery, chronic or life-threatening illnesses or end of life care. To learn more about Cornerstone VNA, visit www.cornerstonevna.org or call 800-691-1133.