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- Written by Ginna Schonwald
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Representative Cassie Levesque of Barrington has worked hard to end child marriage in NH. As a result of her efforts, she has been successful in getting a bill passed in New Hampshire raising the minimum age that children can marry to 16 for both girls and boys (up from 13 years old for girls and 14 years old for boys). But it is not enough, Levesque says. Though the federal government set the marriage age at 18, most states allow children to marry at 16 or 17 and some allow children to marry as young as 12.
“We don’t allow children to do many things such as voting, driving, drinking, smoking because they do not have the legal capacity to understand the ramifications of such undertakings,” Levesque explains. “A 16 or 17-year-old doesn’t fully understand the medical complications of unsafe sex. They do not realize that maternal conditions and HIV/AIDS are some of the highest reasons for teen mortality so what we really need to do is to turn that question around and ask why would we continue to have a law that would allow children to become victims of these things.”
Research into child marriage started as a Girl Scout project for Levesque but soon became a passion. She knew about the devastating consequences of child marriage from her own family history. “My great-grandmother was 16 when she married my great-grandfather who was 49. It was during my research that I found out the effects of child marriage and then realized that my family has been dealing with these effects for at least two generations, if not more. We are talking about almost one hundred years of people affected by one marriage,” Levesque says.
Levesque refers to research by an organization called Unchained at Last, which shows many devastating consequences of child marriage, including serious health complications like HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, poverty, and an early end to their education. This can leave child brides without the skills and resources to support themselves when a marriage ends in divorce, as between 70% and 80% of marriages before the age of 18 do.
A girl in the U.S. who marries young is 31% more likely to live in poverty when she is older, according to statistics gathered by Unchained at Last. The organization estimates that over 248,000 child marriages took place in the U.S. from 2000 to 2010. Of these, most were girls married to adult men.
Add to all of this that many girls and some boys are forced or coerced into child marriage by adults as a result of religious or cultural expectations. Often these marriages are to a much older partner who the child does not even know. Often the child is subjected to brutal physical and sexual abuse in the relationship. Though forced marriage is considered a human rights violation in the U.S., Unchained at Last notes that only 10 states have legislation that directly addresses forced marriage.
“Currently, I am working with Unchained At Last to establish a coalition to end child marriage in New Hampshire,” Levesque says. “I would encourage anyone who wants to join in advocating to end child marriage to write to our state officials and encourage them to learn more about child marriage and to vote to end it here in NH.”
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- Written by Kat Roedell
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The 12th Annual Pease ‘n Carrots food drive has kicked off this year with some amazing goals to help feed the food insecure in the Seacoast area. For 2019, in partnership with Gather, the Pease ‘n Carrots team has a goal of 50 Pease Trade port Businesses participating, $50,000 in monetary donations, and 2,500 pounds of non-perishable food donated during the time frame of 11/18/2019 – 12/20/2019. The food and donations go directly to the food pantry – Gather, New Hampshire’s oldest charity is based in Portsmouth NH and is part of the Food Provider Network and, as such, gladly shares its bounty with 16 other area pantries.
Founded in 2007 by Mark Sullivan, of Seacoast Asset Management, the food drive has grown each year. In that year, Mark was a participant in the Leadership Seacoast program. While attending the courses, they took a tour of Cross Roads House homeless shelter in Portsmouth to learn what it would be like to be homeless and unemployed. Mark’s takeaway “There are a lot of invisible people in dire straits, right here in the Seacoast. They may be invisible intentionally, out of pride or because of the legal system, but they still need help. It was a need I didn’t know existed.” They may be out of sight but the less fortunate among us are everywhere and really need our help. “It was a population I didn’t even realize existed”.
Mark had previously started a softball league with others on the board of the Tenants Association at Pease Tradeport earlier and had noted that the situation there was different than most locales. The Tradeport is a world-class business park that is conveniently situated, remarkably well-kept and totally secure, and permeated by a real sense of camaraderie and an esprit de corps that may be unrivaled in our state.
Many of the businesses that participate in Pease ‘n Carrots bring that friendly competitiveness to the table. One such company donated pallets of green beans – because they weighed the most per can – and at the time the “My Cup Runneth Over” Trophy recognition was given for the most pounds of food donated. Now the rating system is based upon the most frequently recurring needs –but the friendly competition is still there.
The grand goals of the Pease ‘n Carrots food drive are three-pronged:
- No one should be hungry on the holidays – every person on the Seacoast, regardless of means, should have food throughout the holiday season, and beyond.
- To teach our children, and our children’s children how to give back joyfully – “It reminds you of how much you have when you give back” Mark Sullivan
- To get the entire community working together, to have every company on the Trade Port participating in this user-friendly initiative.
What You Can Do for this Food Drive: The Pease ‘n Carrots Food Drive is happening 11/18 through the Friday before Christmas: 12/20/2019. We are looking for non-perishable food donations or monetary donations. Make your check out to Gather, which will be using the monetary donations to fill in the gaps of the usual pantry items with fresh healthy foods. You can donate by patronizing one of the many fine Pease Tradeport restaurants including Grill 28, Green Bean, Paddy’s American Grille, Cisco Brewers (formerly Redhook), or Belle Peppers. You can make a monetary donation directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
What you can do throughout the year: Non-perishable healthy food donations can be made at
Gather
210 West Road #3
Portsmouth, NH 03801
You can make a monetary donation directly to Gather on their website.
If You Need Help: Gather has an open pantry day on Fridays from 9am to 1pm, bring your photo id and proof. You can also apply for the program online, and if you have a food-based emergency you can come one time, no questions asked.
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- Written by Ginna Schonwald
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Recently, Barrington residents received their December tax bills. Changes in property valuations along with changes in tax rates left some Barrington residents scratching their heads. “We printed a yellow flyer which was mailed along with the tax bill to help clear up confusion,” says Conner MacIver, Barrington’s Town Administrator. “It can be difficult enough to explain the tax rate. This year, with the property revaluation, it was a little more confusing for people.”
A property revaluation for the town of Barrington is required by state law every five years. The revaluation completed this year resulted in an average increase of 12% in Barrington property values. This brings Barrington properties in line with its current market value. As the value of town properties goes up, the tax rate per $1000 of value decreases. As a result of the revaluation, the tax rate for the town of Barrington dropped - from $24.78 per thousand dollars of assessed value to $22.67.
Some residents, active on the Barrington Connections Facebook page, have complained about tax rates increasing this year by 12% or more. According to Matt Towne, one of Barrington’s State Representatives, the revaluation hit some harder than others. “Unfortunately, starter homes, modular and mobile home values went up a lot so their taxes went up pretty dramatically,” Towne says, noting that these are the people who can least afford the higher taxes. “Then people get irritated and irate and take that out on the school or the library, which puts pressure on them to cut programs and salaries, which means higher turnover. It’s a vicious circle.”
Towne has talked to a lot of residents about an alternative: a broad-based tax that would help take the burden of school funding off those who can least afford it. “Funding schools with property taxes is a really outdated way of doing it. That’s why none of the other 49 states do it this way,” Towne points out. “We need to change the model.”
Towne supports a statewide income tax. He explains that he doesn’t want to see taxes increase, but instead to see the tax burden shift to those who are more able to pay. “When I canvassed last year, I’d say 30% of the people I talked to believed that we need a broad-based tax.” Towne is hopeful that a new governor will be elected in 2020 who will be willing to work for this change. He notes that one candidate, Andru Volinsky, has refused to take the pledge which has become an NH tradition - to not pass a state sales or income tax.
Residents can determine exactly how much taxes have increased for their own property by comparing their Fall 2018 and Fall 2019 tax bills. The bills include both the total property tax for the year and the assessed value of their property. Comparing the two bills allows residents to review their property value before and after the revaluation.
Barrington property owners who believe their property valuation is not accurate can apply to have their assessment reconsidered. An application is available online or at the Town Hall.
Below is one example which compares last year’s Barrington tax rates to this year’s, based on a property value of $250,000:
Fall 2018 Property Value = $250,000 x $24.78/thousand tax rate = $6195 total tax for 2018
Fall 2019 Property Value = $280,000 x 22.67/thousand tax rate = $6347 total tax for 2019
Total Tax Increase: 2.4% or $152.60
“The Select Board and Town Department heads have been working hard to control costs,” Town Administrator Conner MacIver notes. “This year, the town warrant articles had no additional tax impact.” This means that there was no increase in taxes from the town budget.
“The town portion of the tax rate has actually gone down in recent years. In 2014, 20% of the Barrington tax rate went to town services. Now the town portion – including the police department, fire department, town offices - is just 16%,” explains MacIver.
The school experienced a 1.98% increase in its budget, according to Barrington School District Superintendent Daniel Moulis. “If you look at the default budget, the increase would have been 1.27% for that,” Moulis notes that the school district has fixed costs that must be included in the budget each year. Examples of fixed costs include high school tuition, staff contracts that have been previously approved by voters, and transportation (bussing) costs.
Conner MacIver also notes that warrant articles passed in March doesn’t affect the tax rate until the fall billing. “There are several months between the time town residents vote for school and town budgets and the time that the changes are seen in tax bills,” MacIver says.
In addition to an increase in school costs, the County portion of the tax rate increased this year. The budget for the county is set by the Strafford County Commissioners, who are elected by voters. The Commissioners conduct public budget hearings as part of the process so that local residents can be informed about budget decisions at the county level.
Looking ahead to March 2020, what can voters expect? “We’re currently going through the budget process with the School Board and Advisory Budget Committee,” School Superintendent Moulis explains. “Our preliminary budget proposal includes a new preschool teacher and a new transportation contract.”
A warrant article for a new Barrington Public Library and Community Center will also be on the ballot this coming March. “They have been before the Select Board several times,” MacIver says, noting that the Select Board has been diligent in getting answers to citizen questions about the new building. “It will increase the tax rate for the entire term of the bond,” MacIver explains. “It’s important for voters to make those decisions.”
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- Written by Patrick R. McElhiney
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New Hampshire Local Area Unemployment Statistics Highlights – October 2019 Estimates (Note: Rates are not seasonally adjusted)
The October 2019 not seasonally adjusted State unemployment rate was 2.3 percent. This was unchanged from the September rate. The October 2018 rate was 2.0 percent.
New Hampshire’s October 2019 not seasonally adjusted labor force estimates show 11,850 more employed and 2,720 more unemployed than in October 2018 for a year-to-year net gain in the labor force of 14,570.
Fifteen areas recorded rates below the statewide not seasonally adjusted average of 2.3 percent:
- New Hampshire portion of the Lebanon NH-VT Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 1.9 percent
- Plymouth NH Labor Market Area – 1.9 percent
- Concord NH Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.0 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Littleton NH-VT Labor Market Area – 2.0 percent
- Newport NH Labor Market Area – 2.0 percent
- Charlestown NH Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Colebrook NH-VT Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Conway NH-ME Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Dover-Durham NH-ME Metropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.1 percent
- Haverhill NH Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- Meredith NH Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- New London NH Labor Market Area – 2.1 percent
- Belmont NH Labor Market Area – 2.2 percent
- Manchester NH Metropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.2 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Portsmouth NH-ME Metropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.2 percent
Eleven areas recorded rates at or above the statewide not seasonally adjusted average of 2.3 percent:
- Keene NH Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.3 percent
- Peterborough NH Labor Market Area – 2.3 percent
- Raymond NH Labor Market Area – 2.3 percent
- Franklin NH Labor Market Area – 2.4 percent
- Hillsborough NH Labor Market Area – 2.4 percent
- Claremont, NH Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.5 percent
- Laconia NH Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.5 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Nashua NH-MA New England City and Town Area Division – 2.5 percent
- Wolfeboro NH Labor Market Area – 2.5 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury MA-NH New England City and Town Area Division – 2.7 percent
- Berlin NH Micropolitan New England City and Town Area – 2.9 percent
The New Hampshire portion of three interstate labor market areas contain only one town:
- New Hampshire portion of the Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford MA-NH New England City and Town Area Division (Pelham town) – 2.9 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Lawrence-Methuen-Salem MA-NH New England City and Town Area Division (Salem town) – 3.0 percent
- New Hampshire portion of the Brattleboro VT-NH Labor Market Area (Hinsdale town) – 3.1 percent
You can download the New Hampshire Local Area Unemployment Statistics for October 2019 source file.
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According to New Hampshire Employment Security, New Hampshire's 2.6% preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2019 was ranked fourth lowest in the nation, tied with Colorado, Iowa, South Carolina and Virginia, based on data released this morning by BLS.
Lowest were:
Vermont --- 2.2%
North Dakota --- 2.5%
Utah --- 2.5%
New England states -- seasonally adjusted:
Vermont --- 2.2% -- lowest
New Hampshire --- 2.6% -- 4th lowest (tie)
Maine --- 2.8% -- 10th lowest (tie)
Massachusetts --- 2.9% -- 12th lowest (tie)
Connecticut --- 3.6% -- 29th lowest (tie)
Rhode Island --- 3.6% -- 29th lowest (tie)
Highest rates:
Alaska --- 6.2%
Mississippi --- 5.5%
District of Columbia --- 5.4%
https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
For further information, please contact:
Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau
(603) 228-4124
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DURHAM, N.H.—The Granite State continues to depend on migration for the majority of its population growth, according to new research released by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. Population growth has recently started to increase after a decline during the recession and its aftermath. The state’s population grew by more than 7,000 annually between 2016 and 2018, and most of the gain resulted from more people moving to the state from other U.S. destinations. Immigration also contributed to the gain. In contrast, the excess of births over deaths has diminished so much that its contribution to population gain is now minimal.
“Migration is important to New Hampshire’s future because it brings in younger people of working age at a time when the state’s workforce is aging,” said Kenneth Johnson, professor of sociology and senior demographer. “In-migrants to the state have been better educated than those leaving and that has resulted in an increase in the state’s store of intellectual capital.”
Johnson noted that while New Hampshire is often characterized as a state where residents’ lineage goes back generations, in reality, it is one of the most mobile populations in the country. Only 42% of the state residents were born in New Hampshire, far less than for New England (58%) of the United States (59%).
“The future economic and social well-being of New Hampshire communities depend on their ability to anticipate change and respond appropriately,” said Johnson. “This analysis of how the state’s population is growing and changing can help to inform policy and contribute to the efforts of policymakers, nonprofits, and businesses to consider the future needs of the state’s people, institutions and organizations.”
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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On Friday, November 8th, The Fabulous Find, a nonprofit upscale resale boutique in Kittery, ME, received the 2019 Outstanding Non-Profit Corporation Award at the Annual Conference of the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Northern New England Chapter (AFP-NNE). This award was given in celebration of National Philanthropy Day® (NPD), which is a special day set aside to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy, and those people active in the philanthropic community. First held in 1986, NPD celebrates the endless contributions of individuals and organizations across the world make to countless causes and missions.
Becky Kates, Development Director of Krempels Center in Portsmouth, NH, and Erika Lee, Advancement Director of Cornerstone VNA in Rochester, NH, nominated The Fabulous Find for this special award due to its tremendous impact on local nonprofits. Both nonprofit organizations have benefitted from the kindness of The Fabulous Find and teamed up to submit a nomination to AFP-NNE. “When we found out that the AFP-NNE selected The Fabulous Find to receive this award, we were thrilled,” Kates remarks. She adds, “Erika and I were very excited for the opportunity to introduce The Fabulous Find during the conference luncheon and thank them for their incredible efforts of supporting over 150 local nonprofits, including Krempels Center and Cornerstone VNA.”
The Fabulous Find is a 501c3 non-profit corporation, listed by the IRS under the name ‘A Caring Community’. Its roots began in 2010 when a small group of Seacoast Maine and New Hampshire women had a vision for a non-profit resale boutique that would benefit a variety of other worthy non-profits in the seacoast region. Located on State Road in Kittery, Maine, it started with a volunteer board, minimal staff, a dedicated cohort of volunteers, and donors from the community.
Unlike other resale or consignment stores, the Fabulous Find focuses on designer clothing, jewelry, home accessories, and furniture, with an emphasis on ‘upscale donations’, providing shoppers an opportunity to catch incredible bargains. Each month, they select three nonprofits in the community, and give away the profits generated from that month’s sales to the chosen nonprofits. Since 2010, The Fabulous Find has donated more than $1.6 million to over 155 area non-profits.
Erika Lee explains, “the members of this wonderful organization have created something really special and we know they will continue to make a difference in our local communities.” Lee adds, “it was an honor to recognize The Fabulous Find and we encourage the community to continue to donate and shop at this very unique boutique.”
“It was such an honor to be recognized for what we do,” said Marcye Philbrook, President of the Board of The Fabulous Find. “We’ve got a very special team that works very hard, and they couldn’t do it without such amazing support of donations and shopping from the public. We love the non-profits that we donate to…they are such an integral part of what makes the Seacoast a wonderful place to live.”
To learn more about The Fabulous Find call 207-439-8669 or visit www.thefabulousfind.org. They are located on 139 State Rd., Kittery, ME and are open Mon-Fri 9:30-5:30, Sat 9:30-5:30, and Sunday 11:00-4:00.
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A 39-year-old Barrington resident, Thomas Whitney, has pled guilty in federal court to the production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray announced recently. Whitney was charged with creating visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct using a cell phone. The charges, which involve a 5-year-old child, happened on or before September 19, 2018. Whitney is scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2020.
“Mr. Whitney is finally accepting responsibility for his heinous actions – coercing a 5-year-old child into sexually explicit conduct,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, the special agent in charge of the FBI Boston division. “The FBI will continue to do everything in its power to stop children from being exploited and bring to justice those responsible for terrorizing them.”
According to the terms of a plea bargain agreement between Whitney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski, the prosecuting attorney, Whitney could serve up to 16.5 years in federal prison. With the acceptance of the plea bargain agreement, Whitney has waived his right to both a jury trial and an appeal of the case. A federal judge will determine his final sentence. Whitney remains in custody pending his sentencing hearing.
Whitney will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements when he is released from prison to ensure his current address, employment information, and other relevant personal information are provided to authorities.
According to the City-Data.com website, there are 18 registered sex offenders in Barrington, as of November 16, 2019. You can access the list of offenders and their addresses at their website here: http://www.city-data.com/so/so-Barrington-New-Hampshire.html.
In a recent article in Seacoast Online magazine, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) reported 425 investigations and 56 arrests between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, compared to 202 investigations and 27 arrests during the same time period from 2017 to 2018.
“It is never-ending,” John Peracchi, commander of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force reportedly said. “The number of investigations we’ve had, the number of arrests we’ve had, all increased by more than 100%. We have search warrants backed up, ready to go.”
A September 2019 NY Times article notes an even more alarming nationwide statistic. “Last year, tech companies reported over 45 million online photos and videos of children being sexually abused — more than double what they found the previous year.” The article notes that despite the passage of federal legislation to combat child sexual abuse in 2008 (The Protect our Children Act of 2008), the prevalence of these images have overwhelmed law enforcement efforts to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice, reports receiving over 42.9 million reports of suspected child sexual abuse as of November 2018. NCMEC provides educational materials to help educate children and families about how to protect themselves at two websites: Netsmartz (https://www.missingkids.org/NetSmartz ) and KidSmartz (https://www.kidsmartz.org/). NCMEC also operates a Cyber Tipline for the public to report incidents of suspected child sexual exploitation at https://report.cybertip.org/.
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Rochester, NH: Cornerstone VNA will be hosting a 4-week Holiday Grief Support Group for adults, in a safe and caring environment. The goal of the group is to help individuals cope with feelings of grief, loss, and sadness, which can be especially challenging during the holiday season. The Holiday Grief Support Group will take place on Tuesdays, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on November 26 and December 3, 10 and 17 at Cornerstone VNA on 178 Farmington Road in Rochester, NH. This is a drop-in group and registration is not required. For more information, contact Cornerstone VNA at 603-332-1133.
Cornerstone VNA is a nonprofit 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.
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Francesca Ferguson is an 8th grader at Barrington Middle School who is looking forward to the new Barrington Public Library and Community Center, which she hopes will be approved by voters this coming March. The reason? The library is really crowded!
“The library staff is really nice and they do amazing with what they have, but they really need more space,” Francesca says. “One time my friends and I went to the library to work on a project after school. The Lego Club was using the children’s room, so we couldn’t work there. A Mahjong Club was using the tables. The library was so crowded that we had to go into a back corner to find a place to work. It’s such a small space,” Francesca says. “It’s hard for it to accommodate so many people.”
Francesca and her family use the library a lot. She has participated in 4-H Science programs, summer craft programs, summer reading program, babysitting classes (where she got CPR certified), a Dungeons and Dragons Club, an Escape Room program, and more. Francesca has worked as a volunteer at the library, too, helping out with 3-5-year-old storytimes.
“I love volunteering to help with story hour – it’s great to see the little kids and help them with crafts. It feels really rewarding to see their faces,” Francesca says.
With two younger siblings, Francesca has lots of experience working with young kids. Her mom, Laurie Ferguson attended lap-sit story hour with all three children. “That’s where all my friendships in this town happened,” Laurie says. “It’s a place to connect with your community and find your peeps.”
The library has also been a place for both her and her family to broaden their horizons. “Francesca found out about the Dungeons and Dragons Club and she wanted to try it. Dave [a former library staffer] took the time to teach her all she needed to know to get started. The club welcomed her in. Opportunities like that let kids learn things that they might not ever have access to otherwise.” Laurie says.
During the summer, Francesca goes to the library 2-3 times a week and during the school year, she gets there as often as she can. “Sometimes if the school doesn’t have a book that I want to read, I’ll ask my mom to get it at the town library.” If the town library doesn’t have the book, they can get it for her on InterLibrary Loan, so that she doesn’t have to buy the book to read it. And Francesca reads a lot of books!
Both mom and daughter agree that the Barrington Public Library is about more than books though. It’s really all about connecting with others. “You can connect to people who have the same interests as you,” Laurie notes. “Now Francesca knows this whole other group of kids that she would probably have never known. It has expanded her social connections – made them more diverse.”
The current Barrington Public Library, at 3,740 square feet is about 1/3 the recommended size for our town’s population. “Right now, they don’t have space for new books, which means that every time they get one they have to get rid of one,” Laurie says. With more than 560 programs and 46,000 visits per year, there is simply not enough room for the current demand. Francesca is looking forward to the library having a space for teens. ”When we have group projects, we often have to get together outside of school to work on them. The library is a great place to meet because it’s a central gathering point for us and we can find (the) information we need for our projects.” But, Francesca notes, sometimes the computers are all in use and the children’s room is in use. With the new library, there will be room for everyone.
“When we lost power and didn’t have the internet, my mom could go there to get her work done. It’s a great place to get work done, to hang out and read, and to work on projects,” Francesca notes.
“It all centers around (the) community. It’s really a community space.”
More about the Proposed Barrington Public Library and Community Center
The proposed new Barrington Public Library and Community Center will be about 3 ½ times the size of the current space with 13,120 square feet. It will include a community room with space for up to 100 people in addition to a craft room, a quiet study room, and a conference room for 10-12 adults. The project is expected to serve the needs of the town for at least 50 years to come. Nearly half a million dollars in donations and pledges have been received to help cover the cost of the new building. In March of 2020, voters will be asked to approve a $4.7 million bond for 15 years to cover the projected costs of the new facility. This cost equals approximately $36 per 100,000 of assessed value for Barrington property owners.
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