Every year, in July, we celebrate The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) being signed into law. For many July 26, 1990 was a catalyst for slow change. Change that is still being forged today, 34 years later.  
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Today there is a much higher level of respect for disabled individuals. That is, if you can see their disability. If you see someone walking around assisted by a cane with a red tip, you can assume some level of vision challenges. If you see someone in a wheelchair, you can assume they have mobility challenges.  

The warming, flowering month of May is when the season truly changes here in the Monadnock region. Our community comes alive again; watching neighbors on long walks, children on bicycles, friends dining al fresco, and gardeners hard at work. The Children and the Arts festival marks the unofficial kickoff to these seasonal activities. 

As I write the sun is shining and the sky is clear and blue. Hard to realize that one year ago our region had three feet of snow in the middle of March.  
Welcome to March. My husband informed me early in our relationship in Bangor (Maine) that “where I come from, March is a spring month.” Despite this Connecticut boy’s observation, we opted to get married at the end of March in Bangor. That year, there was a New England-wide snowstorm that was actually called Snowstorm Nelson.

When you hear the word “taxes,” do you feel fear forming in the pit of your stomach? Does your heart start palpitating? Because of the way the IRS has been portrayed in the media , it’s no wonder that the IRS seems scary. However, you don’t have to be afraid and taking time to understand your tax return is the surest way to combat the anxiety around taxes.

By the time you read this column, you may have already abandoned your New Year’s resolutions. What sounded like a great idea on January 1 has become simply wishful thinking. OR you may be fully resolved to be successful in your plan for positive change and are making progress.
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What is the secret to making positive changes in our lives? The idea that comes to my mind immediately is taking a strengths-based approach to change. The River Center uses this approach when working with individuals and with families. It is a commonsense strategy that builds on already present strengths rather than emphasizing problems. This approach encourages a positive partnership and ultimately leads to positive change.