Rochester, NH- January 2023, marks the 110th anniversary of Cornerstone VNA, a local nonprofit home health and hospice care organization serving Strafford, Rockingham, Belknap, and Carroll Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine.

Cornerstone VNA is excited to celebrate its 110^th year and is proud to look back on their impressive history of providing care at home.  In 1913, the Rochester Women’s Club, led by president and philanthropist, Norma Snow, and the Ladies Aide of the First Church Congregational founded the VNA to provide homecare services.  For more than a century, 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.  As a full-service home care organization, Cornerstone VNA provides award-winning care and support through five distinct programs: Home Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Life Care-Private Duty and Community Care.

Julie Reynolds, RN, MS, President/CEO states, “I have proudly worked as a home care nurse since 1987 and joined Cornerstone VNA in 1994. I have experienced so much personal and professional growth in my time at Cornerstone VNA, and it has been an honor to lead this organization as the President/CEO for the past 10 years.” Julie continues, “Although we have grown tremendously in recent years, we still pay tribute to our founder and our remarkable history of providing high quality care to our patients and our community.”

Particularly in the last decade, Cornerstone VNA has experienced significant growth which earned them recognition as the Business NH Magazine 2020 Health Care Business of the Decade, as well as numerous other awards including most recently the Falls Chamber of Commerce 2022 Nonprofit of the Year, and the 2022 Best of the Seacoast Best Home Health Care.

As the region braced itself for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Cornerstone VNA was well-prepared thanks to their ongoing emergency preparedness efforts. They continued providing care to patients and developed innovative ways to remain connected to their local communities. They also broke ground on an important capital project in October 2020 to expand their building and renovate their existing space to address the growing needs of their patients, staff, and community members. Over the years, Cornerstone VNA has remained proactive in its approach to researching and implementing innovative specialty services, including a remote telehealth monitoring program, to meet the complex needs of their patients to ensure positive outcomes.

With a staff of over 170 team members, Cornerstone VNA has a depth of longevity that is quite extraordinary. Sandy Powers, RN, has been a nurse at Cornerstone VNA for thirty-one years, and is known fondly by her patients as “Nurse Sandy”. Sandy remarks, “I’ve had various roles over the last 30 years, and it has been a wonderful ride with all of them. I’ve gained so much knowledge working as an RN in home care.”

From longtime nurse, Sandy, to recently enlisted team member, Megan Casey, RN, BSN, the positive feeling of being a nurse and working in home care is just as strong. Megan shares, “There’s something remarkable and rewarding about caring for patients in the home setting, often at their most acute and vulnerable states, and being part of an agency (family) that provides endless support and appreciation. I don’t just love what I do, I live for it.”

To learn more about Cornerstone VNA, visit www.cornerstonevna.org or call 800-691-1133. Visitors to the website can also learn more about Cornerstone VNA’s history by reading their historical blog posts, which will be posted each month throughout the year.

     

   

Photos include: 110 Banner with members of our Management Team, 110 Banner with members of our Board of Directors, a photo of Megan Casey, RN and Sandy Powers, RN (quoted in the press release), and a portrait of our founder, Norma Snow.

Dear Valued Business Neighbor:

Sole City Dance is a local business providing highly artistic and noncompetitive dance opportunities in the Seacoast NH and ME area. As a Board, our guiding goal is to make dance accessible for as many students as we can. We accomplish this through our scholarships, work study opportunities, and free classes for students enrolled in our After School Arts program. We are known throughout the area for our annual Nutcracker performance, Dance Northeast event in March, and our spring ballets in April.

Currently we are procuring donations of gift cards or gift certificates from our fellow business partners to run a raffle fundraiser for programming. Any amount of card(s) or denomination is greatly appreciated!

Sole City Dance is a federally designated 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization. Should your business decide to provide a donation, we can provide our Tax ID Number at that time. Please always check with your tax preparation resource regarding the possibility of this being considered a tax deductible donation.

Thank you very much for your consideration. Below I have included my contact information. I look forward to hearing from you and collaborating with our business community!

Sincerely,

Karin Best

Sole City Dance Board Trustee

mission@solecitydance.org

603.953.4362 (personal cell)

603.750.7777 (studio business)

What’s a huswif? In early America, a huswif, or housewife, was a small foldable sewing kit which held needles, pins, thread, buttons, and other sewing tools. A huswif was an essential lady’s accessory, but soldiers of the Revolution and Civil War also often carried a huswif to make repairs to their clothing. Stitch your own huswif at this one-day workshop, held from 9 am to 3 pm on February 25 at Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House.

Janith Bergeron, co-founder of the Sewing Tree and owner of Designs by Janith, will guide workshop participants in creating their own unique and personal sewing kit while learning about hand-needle stitching techniques. A variety of fabrics, needlecraft supplies, beads, ribbon, etc., will be provided but participants are welcome to bring any special fabrics they might like to use to personalize their huswif, such as old quilt pieces, vintage linens, buttons, crocheted items, or handkerchiefs. Workshop participants should bring a lunch, small scissors, pin cushion, and needle threader. While a huswif was historically made by hand, a few sewing machines will be available for those who prefer to sew their huswif by machine.

Workshop fee is $20. To register, send an email to paulwentworthhouse@gmail.com by February 20. For additional information, send an email to designsbyjanith@gmail.com.

Located on Water Street in Rollinsford, NH, the Colonel Paul Wentworth House is maintained by the nonprofit Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH) as an educational and cultural center, and hosts living history weekends, exhibits, school programs, and other events. For more information, consult the ARCH website at www.paulwentworthhouse.org.

Dover, NH – Due to the winter storm that is predicted to arrive overnight and result in moderate to heavy snow, with the possibility of rain and a freezing rain mix, the decision has been made to curtail all service on Monday, January 23, 2023. “The mixing, rates of snowfall, visibility concerns, and total amounts predicted makes it look like travel will be very messy Monday, we feel this is the most sensible decision we could make based on the predicted conditions,” stated Rad Nichols, COAST Executive Director.

Based on the current forecast, COAST plans to return to normal operations on Tuesday. When COAST resumes service, expect delays as storm cleanup may still be affecting the roads and walkways.

Nichols commented further, “As always, when traveling after the storm, please be safe on your way to and from bus stops. Please do not wait for the bus on top of snowbanks. Find the nearest driveway opening; make sure you are visible to the bus operator and wave as the bus approaches. In low light conditions wave a lit cell phone or flashlight to make you more visible to the bus operator.” COAST recommends wearing bright clothing, having reflectors and carrying a flashlight.

For updated information on COAST services, please tune in to area radio and television news outlets. COAST will also be using its website at www.coastbus.org, Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COASTbus and twitter account @COASTbus to provide additional updates.

The Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST) has provided public transit service to the Seacoast New Hampshire region since 1982. COAST is a public, non-profit transit system that relies primarily on federal and local government support to operate. COAST is governed by a board of directors representing the communities served, two regional planning commissions, and many local and state agencies.

Cathleen “Cathy” Sleeper was recently promoted to Regional Vice President at MVSB (Meredith Village Savings Bank). In this role, Cathy will oversee the Bank’s office locations in the communities of Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Wolfeboro and Melvin Village, and she will work closely with the branch teams to build on existing relationships and develop new opportunities.

“Cathy’s expertise and her commitment to customer experience have been fundamental to our branch leadership team, and her management and customer service skills have helped our Main Office continue to grow and be an integral part of the community,” said Stacy Trites, Senior Vice President, Retail Banking Officer. “She is a well-known business leader in the region and we couldn’t be more excited to have her guidance moving forward.”

“The lakes region is my home and I take great pride in supporting and getting to know my fellow community members and local business owners, and to get involved in ways that help make the area a better place for all of us to live and work,” said Cathy. “I am honored to have the opportunity provide leadership to our teams as we continue a long history of service in our communities.”

Cathy has held several roles in MVSB branch offices since joining the Bank in 2009 as a part time teller. She was promoted to Branch & Business Development Manager for the Meredith Main Office in 2017 and to Assistant Vice President, Branch & Business Development Manager at the same location in 2022. She also serves as the Program Coordinator for the Bank’s in-school savings program, Save for America School Savings.

In the community, Sleeper volunteers her time as a Board Member for the Greater Meredith Program and she is a member of the Meredith Rotary. She attended Jamestown Business College, Northern New England School of Banking and the Dale Carnegie Effective Speaking & Human Relations course and she is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Lakes Region. Cathy has three grown children and enjoys spending time biking with her husband of 35 years.

Unlike a stock bank, MVSB is a mutual savings bank that operates for the benefit of its depositors, borrowers and surrounding communities. As a result, MVSB has remained steadfast in fostering the economic health and well-being of the community since it was founded in 1869. For over 150 years, Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB), has been serving the people, businesses, nonprofits and municipalities of New Hampshire. MVSB and its employees are guided by the values of accountability, mutuality, excellence, respect, integrity, teamwork and stewardship. To learn more, visit any of the local branch offices located in Alton, Ashland, Center Harbor, Gilford, Laconia, Melvin Village, Meredith, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rochester or Wolfeboro, call 800.922.6872 or visit mvsb.com.

Caption: Cathy Sleeper, MVSB Regional Vice President

Dover, NH – Due to the winter storm that is predicted to arrive overnight and result in moderate to heavy snow, with the possibility of a freezing rain mix, including a light glaze of ice over the course of the day Friday, the decision has been made to curtail all morning service on Friday, January 20, 2023. “The timing, rates of snowfall, potential for a freezing rain mix, and total amount predicted makes it look like travel will be very tricky Friday, we feel this is the most sensible decision we could make based on the predicted conditions,” stated Rad Nichols, COAST Executive Director.

Based on the current forecast, COAST plans to run their afternoon services on Friday. On Friday morning they will re-evaluate afternoon service based on the latest conditions.

COAST fixed route operations should resume in staggered fashion after 12:15pm. For specific details, please visit COAST’s website at www.coastbus.org/upcomingservicechanges. COAST demand response services should also resume after 12:15pm Friday.

COAST services will operate as normal through today, January 19. The expectation is that COAST will return to regular operations starting on Saturday, January 21. When COAST resumes service, expect delays as storm cleanup may still be affecting the roads and walkways.

Nichols commented further, “As always, when traveling after the storm, please be safe on your way to and from bus stops. Please do not wait for the bus on top of snowbanks. Find the nearest driveway opening; make sure you are visible to the bus operator and wave as the bus approaches. In low light conditions wave a lit cell phone or flashlight to make you more visible to the bus operator.” COAST recommends wearing bright clothing, having reflectors and carrying a flashlight.

For updated information on COAST services, please tune in to area radio and television news outlets. COAST will also be using its website at www.coastbus.org, Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COASTbus and twitter account @COASTbus to provide additional updates.

The Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST) has provided public transit service to the Seacoast New Hampshire region since 1982. COAST is a public, non-profit transit system that relies primarily on federal and local government support to operate. COAST is governed by a board of directors representing the communities served, two regional planning commissions, and many local and state agencies.

KENNEBUNK, ME – Kennebunk Savings once again wrapped up the year with what has become a holiday tradition: making a round of donations to local food pantries and meal programs. As part of the Bank’s $1.8 million in total giving to nonprofits in 2022, the holiday gifts of $30,500 were handed out by local Kennebunk Savings’ branch managers in each of the Bank’s service areas. Recipients of the 2022 seasonal donations include Community Outreach Services Kennebunks, Footprints Food Pantry, Gather, and the Seacoast Community Lunch program.

“We’re seeing a lot of people faced with not enough money at the end of the month for basic needs,” said Mark Jago, Executive Director at COS Kennebunks. “I was speaking with one of our neighbors this week—her husband became ill and missed three weeks of work. They got behind on their bills. It came down to paying for rent or food. She was so grateful that they were able to get everything they needed at the pantry to feed their family. We are grateful for the support we receive to be able to provide food and help diminish food insecurities.” His organization sees a 25% increase in the use of their food pantry around the holidays.

“The most important part of the holidays is bringing people to the table,” said Bradford C. Paige, President and CEO of Kennebunk Savings. “We’re a community bank and we’re here to serve our communities in every sense of the word. While our year-end giving is important, we understand food insecurity is not just an issue during the holidays.  As a result, we support efforts to alleviate food insecurity throughout the year with regular donations of both money and volunteer time.”

Photo caption: (from left) Hampton Branch Manager Kaley Gagne, Jennifer Flynn, and Amy Wood from Kennebunk Savings drop off a donation check to Paul Nicholson, President at St. Vincent DePaul of Hampton.

If you own a local New Hampshire restaurant, your business may be able to receive up to $15,000 to help offset COVID-related equipment and technology costs through the Local Restaurant Infrastructure Investment Program.

Don’t wait because the application period closes at 4:00 PM EST on March 15, 2023

Click here to learn more about the program or to apply, which is facilitated by the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR).

EXAMPLES OF USE:

• HVAC equipment:
• • airflow studies, system upgrades.
• Drive-up or take-out capacity:
• • construction costs
  • certain structures for expanded outdoor seating 
• Technology: 
• • online or tabletop ordering and payments, touchless payment systems, and ordering kiosks
  • equipment or services for mobile/online ordering, check in/table assignment, digital integration with large third-party delivery companies, and kitchen technology investments. 

WHO CAN APPLY:

• In operation prior to March 20, 2020;
• Pay Meals & Rooms taxes to the State as a food service establishment;
• Have annual gross receipts, including all affiliates, at or below $20,000,000, in tax year 2021 or not exceed annual gross receipts per New Hampshire location of $5,000,000;
• Be submitting expenses for only New Hampshire locations; and
• Not be:
• • A national chain (locations in 3 or more states),
  • A national franchise (locations in 3 or more states),
  • Delivery or take out only, or
  • Primarily catering.

For additional information or questions, please review the program’s FAQ page or email GOFERR at info@goferr.nh.gov.

To apply, visit the GOFERR Grants Portal.

DOVER, N.H. – Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has awarded a $10,000 grant to Dover’s Triangle Club to support a new art and wellness program for those in recovery or struggling with substance use disorder.

Triangle Club, a leading local center for substance use disorder recovery programs, implemented a new program last fall entitled ‘Arts & Wellness in Recovery’, which offers free weekly meditation, yoga, drawing, and painting classes.

“Wentworth-Douglass is privileged to award these funds to assist our community in the continued fight against substance use disorders,” said Michelle Hanson, Director of Strategic Planning and Community Benefit at Wentworth-Douglass. “Triangle Club has selflessly served the residents of Stafford, Rockingham, and York Counties for 38 years and we’re confident this program will once again make a difference.”

The ‘Arts & Wellness in Recovery’ program will offer 156 classes with a total of 1,500 slots available to patrons. The classes will be offered on a drop-in basis, with a cap of 20 attendees. The program will be available at no cost.

“I’m extremely grateful to Wentworth-Douglass for both their generosity, and their recognition that substance use disorders can affect the whole person – including their body, mind, and spirit,” said Heather Blumenfeld, Executive Director of Triangle Club. “These funds will go a long way to help us accomplish our goal of creating a holistic approach to recovery.”

Triangle Club offer over 55 support groups each week, including Alcoholics, Narcotics, Crystal Meth, and Heroin Anonymous. They also offer grief and peer support, serving more than 2,500 people annually.

Wentworth-Douglass conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment every three years to identify where the hospital should focus its programs and services to improve the overall health of the individuals and families it serves. The funds donated are approved by the hospital’s Community Benefit Funding Disbursement Committee and are not raised through any public or private donations.

About Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (wdhospital.org) is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable health care organization located in Dover, New Hampshire with a more than 115-year history of compassionate care and innovation. A member of the Mass General Brigham system, Wentworth-Douglass is strategically located in the heart of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine, which it has served since 1906. The organization is a family of more than 3,500 employees, including more than 400 physicians and advanced practice providers dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of the region’s residents and visitors. The organization includes a 178-bed hospital, more than 30 primary and specialty provider practices and clinic sites, multiple express and prompt care facilities, an ambulatory surgery center, several medical office buildings, The Works Family Health and Fitness Center, and the Wentworth-Douglass Charitable Foundation.

Rollinsford, NH- Step back in time at Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House on Saturday and Sunday, January 14 and 15, and meet Captain John Harmon’s Snowshoe Company of Rangers, a group of historical reenactors who portray the soldiers who patrolled the New England frontier during the 1740s and 1750s.

Snowshoe companies were formed to patrol the colonial frontier during the long winters and protect the northern settlements from attack by the French and their Native American allies.  Members of Harmon’s Company will be in residence at the Wentworth House and will demonstrate the use of flintlock muskets and traditional snowshoes, plus the clothing, equipment and tactics used by the frontier militia. 

Visitors may also tour the Wentworth House; warm up by the hearth and watch food being prepared in 18^th century fashion; and experience other aspects of winter life in colonial New England. 

Event hours are Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm.  Admission is $5 for adults; the event is free for children and ARCH members.   

The circa 1701 Wentworth House is located on Water Street in Rollinsford and is maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH).  For more information about this and other events at the Wentworth House, consult the ARCH website at paulwentworthhouse.org or Facebook at The Colonel Paul Wentworth House.