Rejoice all you die-hard bicyclists in the Upper Valley: When the snowflakes start falling, you no longer have to be forced inside and sit astride that stationary bike while you watch boring television shows in your living room!

“The fat tire bike opens up all four seasons in our region,” says Jason Ouelette, new owner of the bike shop at Mason Racing on Mascoma Street in Lebanon. It’s an ideal location when you consider that within the Lebanon area there are some 105 bike trails, highlighted by the Northern Rail Trail.

Fat tire bicycling has taken the region by storm and the Lebanon area may be the epicenter of that movement.… Read More

November and December is a time of real local pride for me, especially, and perhaps strangely, pride in our local harvest. Summer’s juicy fresh fruits and veggies are fabulous and already missed, but our autumnal New Hampshire foods dominate the traditional menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hannukah. The classic Hannukah potato pancakes are served with applesauce, after all, and potatoes and apples are easy to find on Lebanon farms!

The Thanksgiving story, of course, is all about New England foods. I like to add two components to my family’s big holiday meals, both of which are possible because I live here, in this rural community filled with excellent farms.… Read More

I’d no more than joined the Lebanon Historical Society when they appointed me curator,” says Ed Ashey, who is also Lebanon’s City Historian, the man in charge of fielding questions about Lebanon’s past. Though not formally trained in museum work, Ed says, “I have gone to museums forever. I knew you needed accession numbers on things, records of the donor, condition, and so forth.” He’s worked hard going through piles of photos and other records, often posting pictures on the group’s website, LebanonNHHistory.org, or on the Facebook page “You know you grew up in the Upper Valley if…”

Ed’s interest in history started when he was “just a little kid.… Read More

You may have noticed some new structures pop up around town—filled with great reads that are free to anyone who walks by.

While we’ve had public libraries here in Lebanon since 1802, the newest ones never close and don’t even require a library card. These Little Free Libraries are both beautiful and functional, allowing Lebanon residents to pass on what they don’t need and find a new treasure while they are there. The idea is to “take a book, return a book,” but there are no requirements or due dates on these shelves, no e-readers or digital copies; just free and easy access to books in public locations.… Read More

Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the Sacred Heart Church in Lebanon offers a heartwarming reminder of what this season of giving is all about.

Each Thanksgiving, more than 100 volunteers gather at the Sacred Heart to serve a community Thanksgiving dinner, all free of charge and open to the public.

Offering both a full-course meal at the church as well as an extensive delivery service, this event serves 850 free meals to individuals, groups, and families every Thanksgiving Day.

Coordinating a meal of this size is a major undertaking. “It’s a good thing I have the whole week of Thanksgiving off work!”… Read More