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Something Wonderful is Happening in Warner
Jim Mitchell

The Mulberry Tree & The Logo

On May 12, 2009 The Division of Forest and Lands dedicated the Mulberry tree in the park as the oldest and largest in New Hampshire.
This wonderful tree has become the focal point for the Jim Mitchell Community Park, and the logo for MainStreet Warner, Inc. as designed by Colin Nevins.

About MainStreet Warner, Inc.

MainStreet Warner, Inc. became a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation in August of 2002 to further an appreciation for Warner; our businesses, organizations and schools; our writers, artists, musicians and theater groups; to promote historic preservation and community building; and to assist in child and adult literacy.

In keeping with our mission, our current programs include:

  • the construction of the Jim Mitchell Community Park and the MainStreet Warner Stage in the Central Village of Warner NH, through donations and volunteers, based on the principles of sustainability
  • the MainStreet Warner Annual Literacy Project, bringing influential local authors and their books to each student at Simonds Elementary School
  • the Jim Mitchell Annual Scholarship, awarded each year to students entering college who demonstrate having made a positive impact on the Warner community
  • the Jim Mitchell Local Hero Book Award at Simonds School, honoring one graduating fifth grade boy and girl  Simonds Elementary School   End of School Celebration   2016
  • the promotion of local authors, musicians, artists and performers through public appearances
  • weekly Farmers Markets in the park

Community Involvement

MainStreet Warner, Inc. is housed in MainStreet MarketPlace & Gallery, part of MainStreet BookEnds. It is a member of the Kearsarge Chamber of Commerce. The non-profit works with the Pillsbury Free Library, and with other non-profits such as the Warner Fall Foliage Festival, Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner Historical Society, and New Hampshire Telephone Museum, and works to support all the small businesses including Warner's four restaurants; The Foothills, The Local, Charlie Macs, and The Schoolhouse Cafe. We are maintained in all things computer by CherryWind Technologies, Inc. The Jim Mitchell Community Park has been designed and built by Pellettieri Associates. The MainStreet Warner stage was built by an amazing band of carpenters, led by Peter Ladd, Robert Shoemaker and Charlie Betz. The rainwater irrigation system was designed and constructed by Greenleaf Irrigation, and the solar array was installed by Harmony Energy Works.

MainStreet Warner Board of Directors

Neil D. Nevins                       Matthias Nevins
Deb Cantrell                          Chuck Huckins
Lucinda McQueen                 Ben Dobrowski
Faith Minton                          Chuck Austin
Katharine Mitchell Nevins      George Smith


 

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Jim Mitchell

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On June 4, 2008 Warner lost a beloved adopted son and "local hero", Jim Mitchell. For ten years he ran and operated MainStreet BookEnds with his sister and family, proudly hosting over 300 events a year in The Gallery, promoting the artists, musicians and writers of the area and the beauty and uniqueness of Warner far and wide. He was a host for Yankee Communications, a local cable program interviewing local personalities, and it was here that he coined the phrase "One more reason, Something Wonderful is Happening in Warner". As weekend news anchor for WBZ NewsRadio1030 in Boston, he interviewed people from all over the world and all walks of life, but always heralded his pride of living in Warner, New Hampshire. He helped found MainStreet Warner, Inc. as a non-profit to further everything educational, cultural and historical in Warner.
From The Warner Town Report of 2009, which was dedicated to Jim:
" 'Just one more reason why something wonderful is happening in Warner' is the phrase from Jim Mitchell, as he tirelessly promoted the virtues of life in the town of Warner. Jim died on June 4, 2008, but not before leaving an indelible mark in creating, along with his sister and brother-in-law, MainStreet BookEnds of Warner in 1998. The bookstore became the focal point and gathering place for the town. Here he coordinated over 300 events a year, including concerts, lectures, classes, story hours and the meeting of presidential primary candidates. He was a former director of the Warner Fall Foliage Festival, served on numerous town committees, and was named Warner's Citizen of the Year in 2004.

Jim had influence on people far from Warner, but he most loved to promote and encourage all artists, writers, musicians, and children who live in Warner. To help promote all things cultural and educational in Warner, he created the non-profit community foundation, MainStreet Warner, Inc. in 2002. For his support of the children and education, The Simonds Elementary School named their library after him. To honor Jim's spirit and life work, his dream for a community park between the bookstore and the Pillsbury Free Library is currently coming to fruition, his gift to the town he so loved, through MainStreet Warner, Inc. also named in his honor."

The Jim Mitchell Community Park will serve as a magnet for the gifts, talents, and resources that the people of Warner and the surrounding area have to give, as well as provide an inviting outdoor place for people to relax, meet, and talk with friends and neighbors. The park will stand as a daily reminder to us to move respectfully, with humor and grace towards others and to always remember that..."Something wonderful is happening right here in Warner."
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Address

16 East Main Street
PO Box 130
Warner, NH 03278
603-456-3745
603-456-2060 Fax

How You Can Help

Click here to join the volunteer effort.