From Guilford GROWS to Guilford Recreation and Discover
In 2010, Wendy and Eric formed Guilford G.R.O.W.S. — Guilford Residents Organizing With Students — an all-volunteer collective dedicated to enriching the lives of students through community connection. The group supported both Guilford Central School and local homeschool families, bringing people together through:
- community service
- local farming and gardening
- exercise and sports
- social inclusion
- service learning
Guilford GROWS organized family movie nights, Field Day, a Winter Holiday crafts event, and contributed to the school garden project. They also provided graduating 6th graders with gifts — gestures that helped make the school year more memorable.
Two programs launched by GROWS — Trunk or Treat (2012) and Bike Night — have since become beloved annual Guilford traditions, still bringing families and neighbors together each year.
The Formation of the Guilford Recreation Commission
As these programs expanded, the community saw a growing need to support youth athletics after the closure of the middle school. With strong town backing and months of planning, the Guilford Recreation Commission was formally established in 2015 with Selectboard approval.
During its first six years, Wendy served as Chair and Eric as Vice-Chair. Together, they helped lay the foundation for a sustainable recreation program. Under their guidance, the Commission:
- ran athletic programs with GCS from 2015–2017
- organized Archery classes with Sportsman Inc.
- partnered with local volunteers to manage land on Carpenter Hill Road and develop it into a community park, The Guilford Center Village Natural Playscape, This park was funded through grants and features a walking trail, community gardens, fruit and nut trees and provides access to the Broad Brook. The site is mowed regularly and remains open to the public year-round.
The Recreation Commission also continued annual traditions like Trunk or Treat, Bike Night, and launched new annual community events including:
- Winterfest at the Fairgrounds
- Guilford Community Picnic
- Scarecrows in the Park
- Egg Hunt
Under the leadership of Wendy and Eric, The Guilford Recreation Commission also hosted a popular weekly Open Gym for young children and caregivers, and created the Cross-Country Ski lending program, complete with instructional classes and acquired an equipment shed at the Guilford Free Library. Another storage shed was acquired for Recreation equipment at the Town Office to support these growing community efforts.
Today, Guilford’s dedicated volunteers continue to carry the mission forward, offering recreation opportunities for residents of all ages — both at GCS and throughout the wider community.
The Birth of Discover Guilford
While the Recreation Commission took on much of GROWS’ mission, one need remained:
a central place to share information, celebrate community life, and help residents stay connected.
That vision led to the creation of Discover Guilford in 2019 — a website designed for Guilford and the people who call it home.
Discover Guilford now serves as a local hub where residents can:
- Explore a town-wide activities calendar
- Read stories about local people and projects
- Browse a business directory featuring shops, farms, makers, and service providers
- Learn about marketing opportunities that help local businesses reach neighbors and visitors
To better support community communication, Discover Guilford launched a Facebook Page, Facebook Group, and Instagram account. These platforms continue to grow and now serve as a valuable resource for over 3,000 people, providing a digital gathering place for town news, events, and updates.
Eric and Wendy are proud to live in a town full of farmers, craftspeople, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, homesteaders and storytellers — and Discover Guilford exists to celebrate and support that creativity.
About the Founders
Beyond their community work, Eric and Wendy continue to blend grassroots energy with digital design, communication, and service.
Eric Jones, through his company Jones E Designs, provides web design, product photography, newsletters, social media management, CRM systems, and online learning tools to help local organizations grow. He is also the creator of BrattBeat, a regional events and business marketing platform dedicated to promoting artists, venues, and small businesses.
Wendy Stone is in her 30th year as an Occupational Therapist and currently works at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, NH. Her commitment to helping others has been reflected not only in her professional life but also in her decades of community involvement.Eric and Wendy have lived in Guilford since 2005 and have raised three children in Guilford. They are currently continuing to support their community by volunteering as board members of the BUHS Booster Club. They remain connected to — and supportive of — the community they love.