The committee is currently waiting hear back from other presidential candidates but has already been informed by Herman Cain's campaign that he won't have time in his schedule to make an appearance.

Lauenstein said the committee has had some discussions with Mitt Romney's campaign and it doesn't look like a visit to RiverWoods will fit into his schedule either.

Still, committee member Barbara Trulson is hopeful the group will have a good showing of candidates.

"We're hopeful the candidates will want to come," she said. "I feel this is a good setting and a good place for them to come, especially if they want to try and pick up around 600 votes."

Spiers added, "This is the only way we can get an impression of how good these candidates are."

In addition to the presidential candidates, RiverWoods has also extended invitations to state officials in Washington to update residents on what going on down there.

Congressman Frank Guinta will be speaking at the campus later this month and the committee is also hoping to invite U.S. senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte to campus at some point.

Town officials have also visited the campus to educate residents about local politics and issues, including a special vote that was held earlier this year to allocate money to repair the Norris Brook culverts under Water Street and Swasey Parkway.

Lauenstein said the type of political information the committee is educating RiverWoods residents with is exactly what she envisioned when the Voter Information Committee was formed in 2009.

"We found that a lot of people didn't know about politics in Exeter or the area, so we wanted to address that," she said.

The committee will continue to wait patiently for more responses from the presidential candidates.

"We'll see what happens," Lauenstein said.

June 22, 2011

CNBC

Faulty meter charged seniors an extra $1.8 million

CONCORD, N.H. (Associated Press) - A New Hampshire senior housing complex is suing Unitil Energy Systems to recover nearly $1.2 million in electricity overcharges caused by a faulty meter.

Unitil acknowledges in letters sent to RiverWoods of Exeter that a meter at The Ridge campus double-charged for power for seven years. The problem was detected in February.

Unitil has refunded one-third of the resulting $1.8 million overcharge, but it has petitioned the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission for advice on whether to pay the rest, a balance of almost $1.2 million.

The utility cites a state law that imposes a two-year cap on refunds ordered by the commission. Unitil also says, however, that is it willing to refund the full balance as long as the commission approves its request to raise rates for its customers, saying they benefited from the excess money collected from RiverWoods.

Lawyers for RiverWoods counter that the two-year cap applies only to disputes involving "illegal or discriminatory" rates charged by a utility. They say RiverWoods should be entitled not only to the full refund, but also double or triple damages for what they say are deceptive and unfair business practices.

RiverWoods is a non-profit company that houses 600 residents in independent and assisted-living units. Executive director Justine Vogel said the utility company's failure to pay the balance is affecting all 600 residents, because they all share the costs of electricity for the entire facility.

Vogel said the $611,700 Unitil agreed to refund was credited to residents on their bills this month. Vogel said the amount credited to each resident varied based on how long they had lived at the facility since September 2004, when the faulty meter was installed. She said credits ranged from $190 to $1,300 per bill.

"Everyone makes mistakes," Vogel said. "But we learned in kindergarten if you make a mistake, you apologize, correct it and move on. They apologized, but they haven't completed the cycle. They haven't paid back."

Unitil spokesman Alec O'Meara called the lawsuit "unfortunate."

"We've expressed multiple times that we're willing to pay the full amount of the overcharge," O'Meara said. "We've been working through the regulatory process. This will send the entire process in a different direction."

RiverWoods estimates it will spend $1 million on electricity in the next fiscal year. It detected the overbilling after opening a new facility last year, similar to The Ridge in size and equipment, but its electric bill was markedly lower.

The lawsuit was filed this week in Rockingham Superior Court.

The public utilities commission is holding a preconference hearing on Unitil's petition Friday. RiverWoods has filed a motion to intervene in that case.

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WCSH-TV 6
May, 2011

Seven of the 75 authors of the book, "The War we Knew; RiverWoods Remembers WWII" were recently featured on the program "207" on WCSH-TV 6 based in Portland, Maine. Click the link below to watch their story. 

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RiverWoods Newsletter: May, 2011

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May 20, 2011
Exeter Newsletter

RiverWoods Team of 70 to Run the Exeter Get Fit in May Race

EXETER — This Saturday, at the Exeter PTO Get Fit in May race, RiverWoods will be fielding its largest team of runners and walkers.
The race starts at the Lincoln Street School. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race starts at 9:30 a.m.
More than 70 of RiverWoods' staff of 400 employees have signed up to participate in the community-oriented 5K, along with more than 15 residents who are volunteering to work the race course.
RiverWoods is a longtime sponsor of the Get Fit in May race, but this increase in participants reflects the organization's wellness initiative, which was launched two years ago.
The RiverWoods team will be wearing shirts created especially for the event, with the saying "RiverWoods runs as a team."
"Our goal is to motivate all employees to reach their personal best in fitness," said Dawn Barker, vice president of human resources. "We have made a number of programs available on our campuses to inspire people to be more active, but this race represents a great opportunity to share our wellness goals in a way that benefits the larger Exeter area community."
The race is a fund-raiser for the Parent Teacher Organization.

View photos from this year's race on our Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/RiverWoodsRC

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May 18, 2011
Foster's Daily Democrat

Self Made N.H. Announces Finalists, Plans Gala Event

  A real-estate developer who tried to buy his first piece of property at 17 years old, a woman who dedicated her life to better retirement living options and a man who started what is now the largest arcade in the world will be among those honored at the first annual Self Made in New Hampshire celebration gala.

More than 40 New Hampshire men and women throughout the state were nominated for the award, which aims to highlight inspirational stories of those who have truly carved a place in our state. Judges have named 10 semifinalists, who will be recognized at the event.

The three finalists and eventual winner of the Self Made in New Hampshire award will be honored at the gala. The untold stories of all semifinalists will be shared.

The 10 semifinalists are: Fred Bramante, Daddy's Junky Music, Manchester; Ben Gamache, Gamache Enterprises, Manchester; Maryanna Hatch, RiverWoods Continuing Care Retirement Community, Exeter; Gina Branley Hutchinson, Red Star Productions, Derry; Bob Lawton, Funspot, Laconia; Mark Lore, Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corp., Londonderry; G. Hayden McLaughlin, Belknap Landscape Company, Inc., Gilford; Dr. Deborah Osgood, Knowledge Institute, Inc., Exeter; Kirk Simoneau, Nixon, Raiche, Vogelman, Barry, Slawsky & Simoneau, P.A., Manchester; Steven Smith, Main Street Radio, Newport.

Tickets to the event are $65 per person and are available at SelfMadeInNH.com. The evening includes networking with self-made men and women from across New Hampshire, dinner and the award ceremony. The event is set for Thursday, June 16 at 5:30 p.m.

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May 17, 2011
Exeter Newsletter

Hammering Out a Fine Time
Seniors, teens build picnic tables together
By Hattie Perkins

EXETER — Six RiverWoods at Exeter residents and six members of the New Outlook Teen Center in Exeter got out their hammers and drill guns to put together six new picnic tables for the teen center.

RiverWoods residents purchased the pressure-treated picnic table kits, and helped assemble them with the teen center members on Wednesday at the Reedy Farmhouse in Exeter.

Last Thursday, kids from the teen center had planted perennial shrubs at RiverWoods.

"This week they helped us," said Lisa Harrington, community relations coordinator for the teen center.

Because of rotting and excessive use, the old tables were starting to fall apart.

"They were well-loved," said Harrington.

Given that the teen center holds a cook's corner every week, and a slew of other events, many center members sit outside to eat. As a result, the center was in need of new outdoor seating.

"It got to the point where we had 2½ left," said teen center member Bryan Berridge, who was the group manager for the day.

Harrington wanted this event to be an opportunity for the teen center to stretch its outreach program.

"We really believe in the value of getting our youth and seniors together," she said. "We're trying to develop a nice relationship."

She said because RiverWoods has helped the teen center in the past, New Outlook Teen Center plans to set up an outreach program in which the kids meet with RiverWoods residents at least once a month, whether it be for service work or just a fun activity.

Picnic table builders on Wednesday ranged in level of experience. Both Trevor Drury and Berridge said that they've helped their fathers build and fix things at home, but this was their first time tackling a table project.

RiverWoods resident Walter Sanderson said he had built a picnic table before.

"But not for 50 years," he joked.

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April 2011

 (Click here to read entire article: Ditch the House)

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The Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce named Business of the Year winners in eight categories during a sold-out award banquet Thursday night at the One Liberty Lane Conference Center.

Winners included Northeast Lantern Ltd. in the Manufacturing and Technology category; Seacoast School of Technology for Education and Nonprofit with more than 25 employees; the Exeter Historical Society for Education and Nonprofit with less than 25 employees; Emmanuel Engineering Inc. for the Real Estate/Construction/Engineering; RiverWoods for Health Care; F.W. Webb Co. for Business and Trade Services; The Tavern at River’s Edge for Tourism and Hospitality; and a tie between Cookies by Design and Cornucopia Wine and Cheese Market for Retail and Wholesale.

Gretchen MacDonald, director of marketing and events for the chamber, said the award ceremony is one of the most popular events for members and it’s held “to recognize outstanding businesses and organizations in the community.”

Chamber President Mike Schidlovsky said the organization is “home to a number of businesses recognized statewide beyond what we do here.”

The winners were grateful for the recognition.

“We are so truly fortunate because we wouldn’t be able to do what we do with your help,” said Margaret Callahan, president of Seacoast School of Technology. “We’re truly grateful and really fortunate to be part of the chamber here and part of this great community.”

Cathleen Toomey accepted the award for RiverWoods and said it was on behalf of the “spirit of Rosemary Coffin, one of our founders who died earlier in the month.

Toomey brought along four of RiverWoods residents.

“The poet (Robert) Browning said, ‘Grow old with me, the best is yet to come.’ I can tell you the best is here; it’s called RiverWoods,” first-year resident Joe Bain said.

The inaugural Lori Breard Achievement in Leadership Award went to Rob Ficara, owner of Exeter Bowling Lanes, for his excellence and involvement in the community and as chamber member and as a mentor. Teary and almost speechless upon accepting the award, Ficara said giving back to the community is important. Ficara said he learned from his parents and grandparents that “it’s not about what you get back in return, it’s about what you give.”

Kellie Farrar, co-chairwoman of the chamber, said records were broken with 80 businesses nominated for awards and 28 businesses “submitting for the honor.”

“It is an understatement to say that panel struggled with their decisions, because most of the submissions were so competitive, creative, and insightful,” said Farrar, who introduced and announced all the winners.

Submissions were put in one of eight categories and through process of elimination, an anonymous panel of judges, reviews the submissions and elects a winner in each. The winners are judged based on their generosity to the community, ethics, customer service, and employee oppurtunities that they have.
“Tonight’s about choosing the best of the best,” Schidlovsky said. He said the businesses honored are raising the bar for excellence and they will be admired and imitated for their work ethics.

Sponsors for the evening’s event were Comcast, Public Service of New Hampshire; Buxton Oil & Buxton Water Co.; RiverWoods at Exeter; DF Richard Energy; Staffing Sense; NextEra Energy Seabrook Station; Exeter Hospital; Unitil; One Liberty Lane; Galley Hatch Catering. Plus, Associate Sponsors including Coaching + Healthy Lifestyle Services; The Provident Bank; Jordan Signature Heating; and Donahue, Tucker and Ciandella.

March 20, 2011
Portsmouth Herald

Veterans share stories of 'War We Knew'
By Aaron Sanborn

EXETER — RiverWoods resident Marilyn Wentworth knows firsthand how difficult it can be for a war veteran to recall stories of battle.

Her father fought in the trenches of France during World War I and never opened up about his experience until he was 90. "When I asked him about the death and carnage, he told me the worst part was when you could hear the cries of the wounded and couldn't do anything to help," she said. "His eyes then welled up and he changed the subject."

But not every war story is a tragic one; just ask RiverWoods resident John Wicklein, who experienced the lighter side of war. His story and others are among those told in a new book by RiverWoods residents about World War II, called "The War We Knew."

Wicklein, 86, served as a Navy communications officer on a destroyer. He and his crew were scheduled to take part in the invasion of Japan in 1945, but it was called off when Japan surrendered.

"Everyone on the ship was relieved," he said. "We would've done what we had to do if needed, but we were happy we didn't have to."

Wicklein recalled the celebration that ensued at Guantanamo Bay, where he and some fellow officers went to an officers club to drink 15-cent whiskeys and play the nickel and dime slot machines. After losing money to the slot machines on multiple occasions, Wicklein's ship captain devised a plan to steal a machine.

"We figured we put so much money in that machine, it belonged to us," he said.

The plan was simple. Two of Wicklein's shipmates would pretend to fight to distract the club's captain, while three others grabbed the machine and took it to the ship. It didn't work.

"I remember they came running out of the club with the machine, and the club captain was right behind, yelling for them to stop," he said.

Even after being caught, Wicklein recalled, his captain tried to keep the machine by pulling rank on the club captain. That backfired when he learned the captain held a higher rank.

Navy Communications Officer John Wicklein, left, and American Field Services ambulance driver, Allan Prince sit in the library at RiverWoods in Exeter. The World War II veterans contributed to the book "The War We Knew," in which they tell their stories of the war.
Photo by Ioanna Raptis

 

 

Wicklein's story is one of 75 shared in "The War We Knew." The book includes stories from residents of the independent retirement community who were on the front lines or serving in supporting roles during the war. There are also stories from those who watched the war develop from the homefront.

Wentworth, who served as the book's co-editor, said it was important to capture the stories, because once war veterans die, their stories are gone forever. She said 10 of the book's storytellers have died since she started the collection in 2009.

RiverWoods resident Allan Prince, 86, didn't fight on the front lines of World War II, but he was there. His story focuses on his experience as an ambulance driver for the American Field Services. Prince's platoon was assigned to the front lines of Cassino, Italy, but almost didn't make it there as his convoy of ships were attacked on the way to Italy by German plans.

"We were sleeping on the deck, and I heard a lot of anti-aircraft fire going off," he said. "I just remember a lot of air activity. That was my first exposure to a live situation."

Prince faced more live situations when he drove his ambulance on the front lines in Cassino to transport the wounded. There were times when Prince felt the enemy would respect the ambulance and not fire at it. Still, it was a risky situation.

"It was really a stressful time," he said. "We were evacuating the wounded during battles and were well within the range of German artillery."

Prince said one of his platoon mates was wounded when his ambulance was traveling near an ammunition truck and was struck by a German shell. Prince was able to rescue his platoon mate, but the patient he was carrying in the ambulance was killed in the explosion.

"It was not a particularly exciting experience," he said.

The book's diverse stories should make it an appealing read, according to co-editor Jack Taylor.

"I've read these stories many times, and there were times that I couldn't stop laughing and times where I became choked up," he said.

Taylor's story focuses on being a youth during the war and growing up with the war always in the background. He remembers mornings at the breakfast table, where his father would read the daily newspaper. "I remember the six-inch headlines and my father calling out to my mother, 'He's done it again,'" Taylor said, referring to Adolf Hitler's march through Europe. "I still have a vivid picture in my head of the headlines."

Allan Prince, one of the 75 World War II veterans at RiverWoods in Exeter who contributed his personal experiences in war to the book, "The War We Knew", stands in front of the co-editors of the book, Jack Taylor and Marilyn Wentworth. Photo by Ioanna Raptis

Wentworth said the idea for the book came after she received a similar book from a friend at a retirement community in Vermont. In the book, Wentworth's friend wrote a note asking her if she thought she could collect similar stories from RiverWoods residents.

"It was kind of like a challenge," she said. "It seemed like a gargantuan task."

Wentworth enlisted the help of Taylor and fellow Riverwoods resident Katherine Southworth. Residents were surveyed to see who would be interested in contributing stories. Wentworth was astounded by the response.

"I didn't know how many residents we had here who were involved in the war," she said. "I also didn't know how many people would be willing to tell their stories."

"The War We Knew" is being published by Capital Offset Printing in Concord.

Buy your copy of
"The War We Knew"

at your local bookstore or
by calling 1-800-688-9663

Cost: $19.95 (plus $5.00 shipping) 

All profits from the sale of this book will go to
the RiverWoods Benevolent Fund.

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RiverWoods Newsletter: March, 2011

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March, 2011   

Remembering Rosemary Coffin

A Founder of RiverWoods and True Visionary

An Appreciation

Some people make a world of difference in their lives, and in their work, they change lives for the better.  In rare cases, their work continues on beyond their lifetime, and many others benefit from their vision.  Rosemary Coffin was one of those rare individuals.

Rosemary was not satisfied with the status quo, and saw needs that were not met, and imagined solutions.  Then she worked to make those solutions become reality.  She founded Seacoast Hospice in 1978, and created the first office in Exeter. She also served on boards as diverse as the Exeter Hospital Corporation and NH Child and Family Services, among many others.

In the 1980s, Rosemary met Maryanna Hatch, and the two of them began to imagine a new way for people to grow older - a community similar to a collegiate setting, where retirement age people could create a vibrant and supportive environment. Rosemary and the other founders persisted in their vision for more than ten years.  In 1994, RiverWoods at Exeter was opened, and in her lifetime, Rosemary saw the community grow from one campus to three, providing a wonderful way of life to hundreds of people.

Rosemary's vision lives on today, and we who work at RiverWoods strive each day to create a wonderful way of life, and provide it for as many people as possible.  We are all better for having known her, and the world has lost a true visionary with her recent passing.

Justine Vogel
President and CEO
RiverWoods    

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The RiverWoods Newsletter for February, 2011
Featured Openings, a rare opportunity and more.
Click on the icon below to view newsletter.  

 

 

 

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Union Leader
February 7, 2011 

Labor of love leads to collection of WWII stories.
Veterans speak: Book is project of Exeter retirement community.   

 

   

By GRETYL MACALASTER Union Leader Correspondent  

 EXETER— “If you don’t live here, or work here, you might think a 75-year-old is old,” RiverWoods President and CEO Justine Vogel said. Residents at the continuing care retirement community are traveling, volunteering — and publishing books. “The War We Knew” is a collection of 76 World War II stories as told by 75 residents of RiverWoods. It is set for release next month.     

The book is the culmination of months of work by RiverWoods residents Marilyn Wentworth, 81, Katherine Southworth, 74, and Jack Taylor, 76, who lovingly collected and edited the stories as well as maps, timelines and period photos from residents. The book includes stories from veterans who saw combat on the front lines, as well as contributions from the women and children left at home, and the soldiers stationed stateside. “These are stories of heart­warming situations, humor and heroism in battle,” Taylor said. In the 1980s, Wentworth had gone home to tape stories from her father, who was in his 90s, and had been in World War I. Wentworth’s father had never spoken of his experience, not even to his wife. “I said, ‘It must have been terrible seeing all those dead bodies,’ He said, ‘No, what was terrible was not being able to help the wounded.’” Wentworth said she knew the RiverWoods team members needed to act quickly if they wanted to make the book a reality. Of the 75 authors in the book, 10 have died since they began collecting stories. “Once the stories are gone, they are gone forever,” Southworth said. Judd Alexander was in Europe in early November 1944 and participated in the Battle of Ardennes, better known as the Battle of the Bulge. He fought in Holland and Germany. He described the casualties as “moderate,” with about a 25 percent mortality rate. “When I came back from the war, one of the things I noticed was we combat vets talked among ourselves, but we seldom talked to friends,” he said. “I was more at ease with it than some others.” He selected a period of three days to write about in the story published in the book. “I think those of us that were there are very proud of what we did and very proud of the people we were there with,” Alexander said. John Wicklein was a communications officer on a destroyer in the Atlantic. His war service lasted from 1943-1946. He decided to focus on a humorous story from just after the war, while his ship was anchored off of Guantanamo Bay. “All of these stories are going to be invaluable,” Wicklein said. “For every one of us, it is a time that had a tremendous impact on us and we wanted to tell about it.” Capital Offset Printing in Concord is publishing the book, which will sells for $19.95. The first run is 1,500 copies. A release and book signing is scheduled at River-Woods for March 25. Any proceeds from the sale of the book, after printing costs, will go to the RiverWoods Benevolent Fund, which assists financially struggling residents.  

 

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Union Leader
February 7, 2011 

RiverWoods Film Tells Its Story

By GRETYL MACALASTER,
Union Leader Correspondent

Maryanna Hatch (Pictured with Sophie) and friend Rosemary Coffin conceived of Exeter's RiverWoods Continuing Care Retirement Community 30 years ago.

EXETER— The idea for RiverWoods was conceived more than 30 years ago by two friends, Rosemary Coffin and Maryanna Hatch, who believed older people should be allowed a place to age and die with dignity and grace. The project was 10 years in the making, but the first campus opened in 1994. Now three campuses provide a new lease on life for over 650 residents. Hatch, who has been an active resident at RiverWoods for 15 years, said she never imagined the nonprofit would expand so much, but always knew the model would succeed. “We’d been looking at this for years before we really got started,” Hatch said. “It seemed like the thing to do because everything seemed to be changing in terms of living a long life. In anticipation of that, we had to have some way of getting ready for that.” The continuing care retirement community model provides care for life, according to Justine Vogel, president and CEO of The RiverWoods Company.

A resident enters at an age when they are still active, and additional care, whether it is skilled nursing or full-on nursing care, is provided at no additional cost for the duration of the resident’s life, she said. Residents pay an entrance fee that can range from $162,000 to $700,000, and guarantees care for life. Once a person dies or moves on, 90 percent of that fee is returned to the family or to the estate, Vogel said. In addition, there are monthly fees of $1,800 to $5,000; those do not go up as more care is needed. She said only seven percent of age- and income-qualified people will move into a continuing care retirement community. “People don’t know the model. They think of it as giving up freedoms,” Vogel said. But Hatch said it is just the opposite. As snow piled up outside recently, residents did not worry about shoveling, or clearing their roofs. Staff moved their personal vehicles and cleared parking spaces and sidewalks were cleared while residents carried on with their daily activities. Some residents are away on vacation, on cruises in the Caribbean or traveling through Europe. While away, they are not worrying about freezing pipes or getting the mail. “All you think about is the good stuff,” Vogel said. “I don’t know how to get that other 93 percent to understand that except to get them here.” Vogel said the most recent $75 million expansion has paid off. The board of directors had to rework a financing plan in late 2008 for the Boulders campus, but decided to take the risk as the banking crisis was about to peak. Of the 100 units built at The Boulders, 88 have been sold. Six months after building was completed in March 2010, the short-term financing was paid off, a full-half of the $75 million borrowed, she said. “The whole reason we’ve been financially successful is because we’ve been consistently occupied,” Vogel said. “If we are financially strong, we can go places and do things.” A new nine-minute film created locally through the RiverWoods marketing department tries to show prospective residents, staff and community members Hatch’s vision. A “red carpet” style event is set for Feb. 11 at RiverWoods to premier the video. 

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The RiverWoods Newsletter for January, 2011
Click on the icon below to view the January, 2011 newsletter.   

 

  

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RiverWoods Featured on The 50+ Radio Show on WXEX.   

 December 18, 2010   

Listen in as Santa considers a move to RiverWoods and residents talk about their RiverWoods experiences.  

The Fifty Plus Radio Show on WXEX 1540 AM recently featured RiverWoods residents along with RiverWoods Senior Living Counselor, Mary Rulison. As this program originally aired just before Christmas, the segemnt begins with a lighthearted call-in from a retirement- ready Santa.  Later in the program, residents speak from the heart about some of the many benefits of making a home at RiverWoods.   

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.  

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Union Leader
Dec 2, 2010 

RiverWoods again steps up, raising $70,000 for families

Exeter— RiverWoods at Exeter’s recent fundraising auction raised more than $70,000 in one evening to benefit Child and Family Services of New Hampshire. 

“Despite the tough economy, the generosity and the pure heart of our residents, friends, and supporters never fail to amaze and inspire,” said RiverWoods CEO Justine Vogel.  “Considering this is one non-profit supporting another, the final total is nothing less than astounding.”
RiverWoods, a non-profit nationally accredited retirement community, has been hosting fundraisers for other local non-profits as part of its mission for the past 16 years, providing hundreds of thousands of dollars of support.  This year’s fundraiser broke all records, according to organizers. 

Mike Ostrowski, president/CEO of Child and Family Services, said in a news release, “Now, we will be able to reach out to over 150 individuals providing critical prenatal supports for at-risk babies, services to children with developmental concerns, mental health counseling and services to youth who are transitioning out of foster care.” 

“Our partnership with RiverWoods and the Seacoast community will make a big difference in a lot of lives,” Ostrowski said. 

The October event at RiverWoods’ newest campus, The Boulders, featured live and silent auctions, gourmet food, tasting from local wineries and more than 350 people from the greater Exeter area participating.  

Auction items included a vacation get-aways, tickets to major sporting events, ski and stay packages, spa retreats, theater and concert tickets. 

 

 

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New Hampshire Business Review
November, 2010 

New Hampshire Business Review Presents Health Innovator Award to RiverWoods

By Julia K. Agresto,
New Hampshire Business Review

"Health Innovator Award" Presented to RiverWoods for its dedication to wellness by New Hampshire Business Review.
Read full story by clicking the icon below.

 

 

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RiverWoods in the News

Oct 6, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Manchester Union Leader recently published an article about RiverWoods. The article does a good job of explaining what life at RiverWoods is really like. You can read the full article here.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RiverWoods TV Commercial

Sep 16, 2010

One short month after the doors to the Boulders opened a TV crew came in to capture life at the new facility and RiverWoods in general. 

In May a crew from WBZ visited RiverWoods to film a four minute segment that aired on “What’s In Store,” a popular program that features unique Boston area businesses.

The segment aired in June. Additionally, the program segment was edited into a 30 second TV commercial that was written by Woods resident Howard Colwell. 

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CCRC Financial News

Sep 15, 2010

The recent US Senate Committee on Aging’s CCRC Investigation Report, released in July, has sparked a number of national articles, in the and the in response to the report RiverWoods has answered many of the major questions people research retirement communities should ask.

 

You can read this response here. And never hesitate to call RiverWoods directly with more questions or if you would like to have a more detailed discussion about the financial stability of CCRCs.

 

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Boulder Grand Opening

 

Aug 18, 2010

 

 

RiverWoods at Exeter recently celebrated the completion of its third community, the Boulders, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and Grand Opening gala on July 13. The ribbon cutting featured speeches from Justine Vogel, RiverWoods CEO, State Senator Maggie Hassan, and Exeter Town Manager Russell Dean. Also in attendance was co-founder and current resident Maryanna Hatch and residents and staff from all three RiverWoods communities.   

Read the article from the Exeter Newsletter on the Boulders Grand Opening here and view pictures here. 

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Q&A with RiverWoods CEO Justin Vogel from NHBR.com 

 

Jul 14, 2010 

Justin Vogel, RiverWoods' CEO, was recently interviewed by the New Hampshire Business Review. The interview focuses on RiverWoods newest community, The Boulders, and how the RiverWoods management team was able to weather the recent economic downturn and finance the construction of The Boulders.    

The full article can be read here.  

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RiverWoods in the News

Mar 30, 2010

 

RiverWoods has been featured in two recent articles.

The first is from New Hampshire Magazine. This article discusses why people choose to move into a retirement community and highlights many of the benefits that RiverWoods offers. You can read the New Hampshire Magazine article.

The second article, which appeared in the Exeter Newsletter, looks at the opening of The Boulders. This article can be found at Seacoast Online.

 

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RiverWoods to Host Art Quilt Exhibit

Mar 18, 2010

            

 

RiverWoods at Exeter, the Seacoast’s premier retirement community, will host “Alzheimer’s: Forgetting Piece by Piece”, a national traveling art exhibit of hand-made quilts. The exhibit has traveled to 30 states, but has visited New Hampshire only one other time. The free exhibit will be open to the public April 17& 18 from 9 AM to 6 PM and April 19 from 9 AM to 12 PM in the Great Bay Room of the Woods Campus.

The exhibit is on loan to RiverWoods courtesy of The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (www.alzquilts.org) and consists of more than 50 quilts that have been traveling the country since August 2006.

The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) is a national, grassroots charity whose mission is to raise awareness and fund research. The AAQI auctions and sells donated quilts, and sponsors a nationally touring exhibit of quilts about Alzheimer's. The AAQI has raised more than $379,000 since January 2006.

The April showing will be the first time since 2007 that the exhibit has been in New Hampshire and will be the second to last showing before it is retired.

For additional information on Riverwoods at Exeter please contact the Marketing department at 603-658-3014.

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First Move-ins at the Boulders
Mar 17, 2010 

The Boulders has its first residents.

On Tuesday, March 16 the first residents moved into their cottage at RiverWoods at Exeter's newest community, the Boulders. Two more moves are under way today with dozens more scheduled over the next month.

The first move was completed under clear sunny skies. And the new residents enjoyed their first meal in the Boulders Dining Room later that evening.

There are a limited number of apartments and cottages available at the Boulders. For more information call 603-658-1500 or contact us online.

 

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RiverWoods Receives Exemplary Accreditation from CCAC
Sep 18, 2009

RiverWoods at Exeter, the Seacoast region's premier Life Care Community, proudly announced today it's re-accreditation as a Continuing Care Retirement Community from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CARF-CCAC), the nation's only accrediting body for continuing care retirement communities.

An organization receiving a five-year term of accreditation has voluntarily put itself through a rigorous peer review process and demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site inspection that it is committed to conforming to strict standards and procedures.

The peer survey group that completed the on-site survey bestowed seven "exemplary" ratings on RiverWoods at Exeter. The following excerpt from the notification letter describes those ratings:

 

 

Independent residents, through committees, are able to develop and implement programs that they consider important to optimize the quality of their lives. The organization strives to support these efforts and make necessary resources available to ensure that the residents' goals are realized.

• RiverWoods staff engages its residents during the budget process, seeking their input into the assumptions that will be used to develop the final budget.

• RiverWoods adopted a no-smoking policy on campus for staff, which was announced one year in advance of the effective date of the policy. Smoking cessation programs were offered, and approximately twelve employees took advantage of the programs and stopped smoking.

• The resident handbook is available on audiocassette for residents with limited vision.

The Going Green effort by RiverWoods demonstrates inclusion of all stakeholders in establishing direction of and developing solutions for environmentally friendly actions; for example, the dual flush toilets that save gallons of water, the environmentally friendly carpet and paint that reduce environmental impact, and the reduction of lighting in areas not in use by dimming lights and turning lights off where appropriate that saves electricity.

The programs and staff consistently work with residents to help them preserve those aspects of their lives and interests that are meaningful to them and enhance the quality of their lives, even as the residents' levels of independence change. That has included preserving a frail resident's social activities, helping a resident continue to have a pet even though staff provided the pet's care, etc.

The organization truly lives its mission by creating an environment where the residents can optimize choice, self-directions, and self-actualization by continuing to organize and structure their own social, creative, and recreational activities. This is evidenced by the fact that residents structure and manage key aspects of their lives and activities; e.g. libraries, entertainment, and trips; inclusion of residents in organizational planning; ongoing communication from between the residents Outreach Association, the organization, and the staff to support the community efforts of the Residents Outreach Committee that offers monetary support, services, and volunteers to several of Exeter's community service organizations.

Achieving seven exemplary ratings from the peer survey was characterized by a CARF-CCAC representative as "very rare." Justin Vogel, RiverWoods at Exeter's CEO, described the distinction as "a true honor and a testament to the cooperation of our residents, staff and board members in pursuit of our shared mission."

In 1998, just four years after opening its doors, RiverWoods at Exeter earned CARF-CCAC accreditation, making it one of the youngest communities in the nation to earn such a distinction.

RiverWoods at Exeter currently houses 460 residents, in two campuses on 200 wooded acres in Exeter. The individual campuses each offer independent, skilled and assisted living residences, as well as common amenities such as a gym, pool, library, art studios, country stores, meeting spaces and more. All skilled nursing and assisted living units feature private beds.

The Boulders, RiverWoods' newest community, is a 214,000 square foot building, with an additional 24 private cottages. The main building includes 76 independent apartments, and the same common spaces as the other RiverWoods facilities. The Boulders will house at least 150 people when full, and is expected to create 100 new jobs.

"Our goal," Vogel said, "is to maintain the high standards we have in place in our current facilities while growing our community to include The Boulders. We hope that by expanding the programs we already offer and developing new ones as the need arises that our record of ‘exemplary' performance will be recognized again during the next re-accreditation process."

For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF-CCAC website at www.carf.org/aging.

For additional information on RiverWoods at Exeter's accreditation, please contact Cathleen Toomey at 603-658-1587.

 

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106.1 Portsmouth Community Radio Interview of RiverWoods
Jul 30, 2009

Listen to a radio interview conducted on Portsmouth Community Radio (WSCA) featuring Cathleen Toomey, Vice President of Marketing at RiverWoods at Exeter.

Left-click the link below to listen to the interview in your browser, or right-click and select Save As to download the files to your computer.

Portsmouth At Large - RiverWoods at Exeter Interview, Part 1 (Edited)
Running Time: 22:45
File Size: 5.2 MB

Portsmouth At Large - RiverWoods at Exeter Interview, Part 2 (Edited)
Running Time: 18:44
File Size: 4.3 MB

Please note: The above files have been edited from the original version for time and file size considerations. If you would like to listen to the unedited version, please click the link below.

Portsmouth At Large - RiverWoods at Exeter Interview (Unedited)
Running Time: 62:30
File Size: 22.0 MB

 

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BusinessWeek Ranks Exeter, NH Among Top 50 Best Affordable U.S. Suburbs
Mar 17, 2009

Best Affordable Suburbs in the U.S. 2009
BusinessWeek ranked the best affordable suburbs in the U.S. state by state. The overall winner? Pewaukee, Wis. Which is the winner for your state?
By: Prashant Gopal

BusinessWeekused data from Manhattan-based OnBoard Informatics to select one suburb within 25 miles of the most populated city in each state. The recession has flattened home prices across the country, but the idea behind the list is to help readers find the most for their money within some of America's largest metro areas.

We evaluated suburbs on a variety of factors but weighted affordability most heavily. We also considered lifestyle (short commutes, clean air, low crime, good weather, and green space), the quality of schools, and the strength of the local economy. None of the places had populations of more than 60,000 or less than 5,000. 

New Hampshire

Best affordable suburb:Exeter
Nearest major city: Manchester
Population: 10,240
Median household income: $54,969
Median home price: $258,767
Unemployment rate: 3.9%
Violent crime index: 20

Exeter, near the coast about 45 minutes from Manchester, is famous as the home of Phillips Exeter Academy, one of the most respected prep schools in the nation. The town has more than a dozen restaurants, bookstores, and bike shops. About 29% of residents are married with children. The average commute is 19 minutes.

 

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