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Something Wonderful is Happening in Warner
Jim Mitchell

Our Mission

MainStreet Warner, Inc. identifies and addresses community needs in ways that build connections between education, the arts, food security and ecological living practices. Through supporting local organizations, businesses, artists, musicians, educators and farms MainStreet Warner, Inc. supports the greater Warner community by creating partnerships and places to come together for entertainment, relaxation, learning and service.

In keeping with our mission, our current programs include:

  • Jim Mitchell Community Park, MainStreet Warner Stage & Amphitheater, and Children's Park
  • Restoration of The Lodge, the future home of Music & Performances and the Community Kitchen
  • Warner Farms and Food Security Project
  • MainStreet Warner Annual Literacy Project at Simonds School
  • Jim Mitchell Annual Scholarship
  • Jim Mitchell Local Hero Book Award at Simonds School

About MainStreet Warner, Inc.


Community Involvement

MainStreet Warner, Inc. is housed at 17 Church Street in the former Harris Masonic Lodge. It is a member of the Kearsarge Chamber of Commerce. The nonprofit works with the Pillsbury Free Library, and with other nonprofits such as the Warner Connects Food Pantry, 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 Kitchen, Reed’s North, Charlie Mac’s Pizzeria, and Cafe One East. CherryWind Technologies, Inc. maintains the web site and all-things-digital. The Jim Mitchell Community Park was designed and built by Pellettieri Associates. The MainStreet Warner, Inc. stage was built by an amazing band of carpenters, led by Peter Ladd, Robert Shoemaker and Charles Betz. The rainwater irrigation system was designed and constructed by Greenleaf Irrigation, and the solar array was installed by Harmony Energy Works. Huge “thanks” to Greg Uhrin and Yankee Cable Network, a loyal supporter and has chronicled the growth on the non-profit since 2000.

MainStreet Warner Board of Directors

Chuck Austin
Jane Coplan
Karinne Heise
Tom Heise
Chuck Huckins
Katharine Mitchell Nevins
Neil Nevins

Administrative Assistant: Rachel Allen Parsons
Advisor to the board: Bret Ingold
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The Mulberry Tree & The Logo

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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.

History

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Jim Mitchell

Jim Mitchell, along with his sister, Katharine, and her husband, Neil Nevins, purchased the 16 East Main Street building and property in 1998. Together they created the independent bookstore MainStreet BookEnds and Gallery on this site. In 2000, the three established MainStreet Warner, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to furthering the cultural development of Warner, and originally housed in the Gallery. Bringing over 100 events annually, including Friday Night on MainStreet, Jim imagined extending this into a three-season community park for music, authors and the arts. He had created the plans and started promoting the park idea when he died suddenly in 2008. With the support of the community, the Board of Directors for MainStreet Warner, Inc. remained focused on the creation of this community park, Jim’s dream for Warner, as well as on scholarship and literacy programs.

Before his unexpected death in 2008, 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. In recognition of his support of children and education, Simonds Elementary School named its library after him. To honor Jim’s spirit and life work, his dream for a community park between the bookstore and the library has come to fruition, his gift to the town he so loved and named in his honor.

The Jim Mitchell Community Park serves 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 stands as a daily reminder to us to move respectfully, with humor and grace towards others, and to always remember that . . . “Something Wonderful is Happening in Warner.”
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New Hampshire Charitable Foundation helps provide grants and other funding opportunities.

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Pellettieri Associates are the designers of our wonderful outdoor spaces.

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Providing assistance to fund our mission.

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Supporting the Arts in New Hampshire

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Helping to fulfill our vision for The Lodge

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Address

17 Church St
PO Box 130
Warner, NH 03278
603-456-3745
603-856-0425 Fax

How You Can Help

Click here to join the volunteer effort.