Lebanon police officer and percussionist, Tim Cohen, has been a member of the Upper Valley community for almost thirty years.

Cohen, 55, studied music during college and then went on to work in the radio industry for several years. His job as a radio broadcast announcer is what originally brought him to New Hampshire to work on a local morning show. 

His move to Claremont from Cape May, NJ in 1993 led to the discovery of the Lebanon Police Department and their dedication to the community of Lebanon. Cohen’s past experiences with police officers in larger cities such as Cape May, where he grew up, were less influential on his present career than the officers who he’s engaged with in the Upper Valley. … Read More

Each year, drug and alcohol problems among employees result in the loss of productivity, profits, and a positive working environment for businesses and organizations. In the past, employees dealing with these issues might incur severe consequences from their employers, frequently resulting in termination, which often led to a further downhill spiral in their lives. However, in recent years, many forward-thinking companies and organizations are trying different approaches to support employees facing addiction problems.

One such company in the Upper Valley is the well-respected Hypertherm Associates. Stacey Chiocchio, the community citizenship manager at Hypertherm Associates, explains how this move towards assisting employees with addiction issues, termed a “recovery-friendly workplace”, began at the firm.… Read More

In 2021, the City of Lebanon commissioned the West Lebanon Revitalization Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the City Council on priorities for improvements in West Lebanon. West Lebanon has been thoroughly studied and surveyed over the years, so the committee built on this work with a plan for action. (Read the Action Plan for West Leb on the City’s website or at westleb.org). 

Out of this committee grew an informal collection of residents and business owners who work in an upbeat and positive way towards the goals outlined in the Action Plan. The West Leb Civic Action group began meeting a few months ago and we are excited about the possibilities for beautification and improvements in our neighborhood, and we’re committed to making those plans a reality. … Read More

The holiday season is upon us, and for millions of Americans, that means food, friends, and family – and sometimes uncomfortable conversations deftly avoided by offering another serving of apple pie. In Lebanon, the City government is bucking that trend: a recent visit to City Hall by Braver Angels – a nonprofit dedicated to bridging partisan divides and finding common ground – is part of a series of moves meant to help the City come together during a time of increasing polarization.

When former state legislators Doug Teschner and Patricia Higgins sat down with Lebanon’s City Councilors and other City officials in late September, it was as a part of an initiative called “Braver Politics.”… Read More

Since 2018, Sustainable Lebanon (SL) has been making positive environmental change through an informal network of 300 local members. SL’s number one goal is to address Climate Change. The organization’s efforts help City residents to meet their needs while allowing future generations to thrive. 

As the warming planet we live on has made sustainability ever more urgent, SL’s leaders decided to make changes to strengthen the organization’s efforts in 2021. They secured 501c(3) nonprofit status from the IRS in August of 2021. In 2022, they hired the organization’s first employee, local leader Jennifer Grant, who brings a deep knowledge of the Upper Valley and years of nonprofit management experience to her role.   … Read More

When Lebanon was chartered in 1761, West Lebanon was the initial locus of most early activity. In 1765, the oldest surviving home in Lebanon – the Dana House (originally known as the Hall-Cody House) – was built, situated near the current Powerhouse Mall, and facing the Connecticut River.

The home was first inhabited by Jonathan Dana’s family, and in the 1780s, it was the home of Dr. Ziba Hall, Lebanon’s first resident physician. The Dana House was moved to Seminary Hill at 3 Elm Street West in 1988 after the City Council purchased it for $15,000 to save it from demolition.… Read More

Over her 35-year career serving the citizens of Lebanon, Deputy City Manager Paula Maville has held many different positions, including the top job of acting city manager. Currently the longest-serving employee with the City, Paula has developed a reputation over her tenure for not only fair and ethical leadership, but also for being a trusted mentor and expert practical problem solver. Now, the lifelong Lebanon resident is embarking on a new chapter – retirement from civic leadership – and is reflecting on her decades long service to the City.

“Looking at that life balance is the way to put it. It’s something that I can afford to do, and after 35 years, I want to take a look at other possibilities until I retire completely from working,” says Paula.… Read More

For 40 years, Opera North – the only full-time, professional opera company in New Hampshire – has served as a creative outlet to share the art form with performances of opera, operetta, and musical theater. Opera North’s steadfast commitment to the arts was apparent in 2020 as they were the only professional opera company that performed that summer during the height of the pandemic.

Opera North’s 40th Anniversary Gala was held at The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farms on June 30, 2022. It was a celebratory evening focused on the company’s impact on our community and the wider artistic world, as well as a celebration of the company’s long history and support for opera in the Upper Valley.… Read More

Each year, thousands of Upper Valley residents take part as participants, volunteers, and donors, in The Prouty, the annual fund raising effort for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC) at DHMC. This year, the 41st for the event held on July 8 and 9, is no different, as preparations are well underway for another successful Prouty.

Literally thousands of participants take part in the cycling, walking, rowing, golfing and other activities that make up each Prouty event. And each of these participants raise money from friends and family for participating, with the funds raised going towards research, and services for patients at the NCCC.… Read More

Community master plans provide a unique vision for what residents and public officials would like for their towns and cities over a multi-year time frame. Master plans also help guide local decision-making in areas like land use, energy, conservation, recreation, housing & transportation, business, and cultural and historic resources, among other topics. Lebanon, like many communities around New Hampshire, is revising the 2012 master plan using a dynamic new approach of working on a few chapters each year.

This year, the Natural Resources and Energy chapters are being updated as opposed to rewritten, says Planning & Development Director David Brooks. “Some communities do their master plan this way, taking a chapter or two each year, which affords a rolling cycle of updates.… Read More