As New Hampshire’s population grows older – and is expected to keep following that trend – the older residents, their families and friends, and the community as a whole seek ways to help them manage their lives in a variety of ways. Fortunately, the Upper Valley hosts no shortage of services and programs to assist in this effort. The state’s largest hospital and employer, of course, is involved in supporting the region in a big way.

The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Aging Resource Center is committed to improving the minds, bodies, and spirits of older adults in the Upper Valley, helping them to become more active, connected, and supported. At the center’s main office at Centerra Parkway, and in the annex at the Upper Valley Senior Center, they offer educational classes; exercise and balance programs; opportunities to explore creativity through art and writing; support groups; assistance to complete Advance Care Plans; and support and education for people with dementia, their families, and caregivers. Event registration is available on the center’s website or by phone, email, or walk-in. Upper Valley residents do not need to be patients at the hospital in order to join events or use any of the Center’s services; the Center is open to all.

Program Leader Lori Fortini, MEd, herself a Lebanon resident, has been working at DHMC since 2001 and moved from the Office of Care Management to the Aging Resource Center in January 2016. “It has been the perfect fit bringing together my love of working with people, my appreciation of the experience and wisdom of our elders, and all of my training and skills,” she says. “The Aging Resource Center is a very special place.  Every day is a joy to work with the dedicated and talented staff here.  And of course, the people who come to our Centers are so appreciative for our help.  We learn so much from them and we receive much more than we give.”

Gladys Gerendler from Lebanon participates in the Aging Resource Center’s Gentle Yoga for Older Adults class which meets at the ARC Annex. Despite being billed as ‘gentle,’ Gladys says the class is still challenging, but she feels much better after joining. Gladys originally started with a more basic beginner class called A Matter of Balance, and she has now moved up to a more advanced program called Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance.  She says that the combination of falls-prevention programs and Tai Ji Quan worked. She is happier and more confident now, saying, “I am no longer the person that you knew. I am different!” She notes that her health and balance have improved noticeably as a result of the programs.

For people diagnosed with or caring for someone with dementia, dealing with the disease can often be overwhelming and exhausting. The Aging Resource Center has caregiver support and engagement programs that teach coping strategies, and provide a bit of respite from the daily routines of older residents. One Saturday per month, the center sponsors the Upper Valley Memory Café at the Howe Library in Hanover, which provides breakfast, music, exercise, activities, and a chance to socialize in a safe, stress-free space with students from Dartmouth College, Geisel Medical School, and local high schools. Lori mentions the program enthusiastically, saying, “It is a time to just be yourself and know you are among friends with no judgement or expectations.”

Liz Downs, also from Lebanon, participates in many of the Center’s programs, and is grateful for the support she received from the bereavement support group, facilitated by their chaplain, after losing her husband. When asked about the Aging Resource Center, Liz stated: “Where do I start?  It feels like my second home. Every time there is a need, you meet it.”

For more information about the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Aging Resource Center, you can visit their website at www.dhaging.org, call them at 603-653-3460, or send an email to agingcenter@hitchcock.org.

Police departments everywhere are well-known to stand by the slogan ‘Serve and Protect.’ In order to protect, law enforcement agencies have quickly learned that they must be prepared in these tumultuous times. Rest assured, Upper Valley residents, the Lebanon Police Department is prepared.

Cruising around the Upper Valley you may have seen an impressive-looking vehicle that bears the Lebanon Police Department logo. That is what is called a Mobile Command Center, and while it may appear rather conservative on the outside, it represents a thoroughly high-tech communication center capable of handling any type of crisis situation. Lebanon Police Chief Richard Mello explained what an asset that vehicle has become.

“We acquired that Mobile Command Center is 2018 and already we have used it extensively for many, many uses. It is very versatile, to say the least. The foremost use would be for situations such as the fatal and tragic shooting at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in September of 2017. We had not acquired the vehicle at that time, but it would have played a key role. The list of how it is utilized in major emergencies is extensive.”

Chief Mello went on to illustrate just how versatile that sophisticated rig can be to benefit not only Lebanon, but the entire Upper Valley region and beyond.

“We have nicknamed it the ‘Peace Keeper’ and it will be used in many different scenarios. Basically, it will transport a complete mobile dispatch center to the scene of a major disaster or crime scene. It can be available for a serious automobile accident like we experienced recently to direct emergency responders right from the site. We can utilize it at a serious fire to aid the Fire Department. Also, we can be on-site to aid the Highway Department in case a major traffic situation.”

The formal description of a Mobile Command Center is as follows: They are used for large-scale incidents or incidents that may require extended time demands. The primary use is for communications – to use aside from a central dispatch with on-site radio equipment. They also are equipped with up-to-date computer expertise. Several different radio bands offer equipment to connect with several departments at one time with on-site reports.”

Chief Mello made a point to explain that the overall benefit of the Mobile Command Center is not restricted to the City of Lebanon.

“We can use the Mobile Command Center for any area of the Upper Valley and we do so on a regular basis. It is the only one in this region and it will be available to all communities.”

When Linda Copp arrived in Lebanon in 1984, one of her first stops was to visit the Lebanon Recreation & Parks Department to inquire about teaching ballet. What began as a small instructional program with a few dancers upstairs at the Carter Community Building is today a thriving, multi-faceted organization offering ballet, musical theater dance, and modern dance. The institution now has its own studio space on the mall in Lebanon comprised of a dance school – the Lebanon Ballet School – and a non-profit performance dance company – City Center Ballet, Inc., hosting professional artists and choreographers from around the country.

Jennifer Henderson teaches a high school class at City
Center Ballet.

Linda and fellow teacher Ruth Mayer established City Center Ballet in 1999 to provide opportunities for local dancers to explore and perform classic and contemporary ballet. “The cost of adding that component far exceeded the financial ability of a small ballet school, but forming a not-for-profit company opened the door to private and foundation funding,” says Copp. The ballet company has a dual mission: to provide performance and educational opportunities for advanced dancers from local communities, while providing cultural enrichment for the wider Upper Valley audience. Now celebrating its 20th year, City Center Ballet offers high-quality full-length classical and repertory ballet performances to communities in Vermont and New Hampshire.

In 2008, Linda transitioned into the role of Artistic Director for City Center Ballet. “I felt that is was important to bring guest artists and choreographers from NYC, Canada, and from wherever I could to expose the dancers to a wider world and great connections to others in the dance world,” explains Copp. With a philosophy of starting early to give dancers the greatest chance of long term success, the company has included children as young as six years old in age-appropriate roles.

Linda Copp inspects the extensive City Center Ballet
costume inventory

Through teaching and training dancers for more than 30 years, Linda has seen many of her students grow up and become professional dancers and teachers in their own right. One of those students is Linda’s daughter, Jennifer Henderson, an original founding dancer. Jennifer became the Resident Choreographer for the company in 2010, working on her first show, Cinderella. A natural interpreter of the classic dances and a skilled dancer and teacher, Jennifer tells an “amazing story with dance,” according to Linda. Jennifer also choreographs the annual presentation of Clara’s Dream, a nutcracker story, now in its ninth year. Jennifer says she was on the fence about teaching at first, but realized “there was a natural gravitational pull” back to the dance studio. Today, parents, and dancers alike say Jen is an “amazing teacher.”

The Upper Valley has several dance schools, each with a different focus and teaching approach. City Center Ballet’s reputation is one that expects dancers to make a full commitment to the program; and as a result, the company has a disciplined philosophy with the intent to prepare dancers with a high level of technical skill. Linda explains that dancers are asked to commit to three things, including “…to show up on time and be prepared to dance; ask questions and be informed; and understand that after the first week, there is a process of learning ballet that cannot be rushed.”

Jennifer Henderson coaches Camille

There was a time when high-school-aged dancers in the company were fewer in numbers, but this is changing, says Linda. “The very nice thing is that former dancers are returning to the company.” Emily Higgins is one returning dancer who couldn’t stay away from the studio. “Anywhere you go in the dance world, if you have a strong foundation in classical ballet, you can  explore all the other types of dance.” Emily started dancing as a 5-year-old and notes, “The joke in the family was that I could dance before I could walk.”  At age 25, Emily was drawn back to the company after teaching locally and missing the classical aspect of dance. “The school and company have always had a professional atmosphere, and the etiquette and discipline are a big part of what appeals to me. I have a lot of discipline in my life because of this school.” Linda adds, “Ballet was an etiquette before it was an art form. Ballet guidelines were set down 300 years ago, and the pointe slipper has changed little since the early twentieth century. I don’t expect everyone to become a professional dancer, but I do ask that whatever they do, commit to doing it well.”

Last year, the company began the Master Dance Series, which gives dancers the opportunity to study and learn intensively for six to seven days with a visiting choreographer/teacher. “We strive to link students with professional dancers so they can advance their technical skills and get exposure to the national dance community,” says Linda. Guest artists have performed or taught with companies such as Ballet Hispanico, Twyla Tharp, and on Broadway. Many of the company’s students have gone on to dance at the college level, with some being awarded scholarships to dance at University of Richmond, Skidmore, Boston Conservatory, Adelphi, and others. One college recruiter watched a rehearsal of the company, and offered two students full scholarships on the spot.

Some of the masks used in City Center Ballet productions

Camille Dizon, a seventh grader, is currently dancing with the company. Camille loves to dance so much that she practices five days a week. “I love being involved in the company because it pushes me to be a better dancer, and I get to know dancers from a lot of different schools.” Camille started dancing at age six, being introduced to the basics of how to move with others, listen, observe, and move her body in space before getting instruction in classical ballet. “The more exposed you are to professional dancers, the broader your education. I learn a lot from the master classes and the mentoring really helps my performance skills. The teachers know what’s best for you technically.”

It appears that Camille and Emily will be dancing for as long as they want to, and Jennifer is set to carry on the legacy of professional-level choreography at City Center Ballet under Linda’s guidance. As Linda says, “There is always a next generation of children to teach. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

For more information on City Center Ballet and Lebanon Ballet School, visit www.citycenterballet.org and www.lebanonballetschool.com.

Cindy Heath is the former Director of Recreation & Parks for the City of Lebanon, and takes belly dance classes for fun and fitness.

It was just one more challenge when the January night of the awards ceremony threatened a dismayingly snowy drive. But – as the award bears witness – overcoming challenges is a specialty of Opera North, the Upper Valley’s esteemed homegrown opera company. Three intrepid representatives of the company set forth for Concord to receive the New Hampshire Theatre Alliance’s Matty Gregg Award for Vision and Tenacity.

“I think of it as New Hampshire’s equivalent of the Tony awards,” says Opera North’s Director of Development, Maria Laskaris. Opera North (ON) was being honored for its collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS) which resulted in last summer’s Singers and Swingers, a surprising blend of opera music and circus performance at the NPS site, Blow-Me-Down Farm. The property, with its beautiful views of water and mountains, has historic links to the nearby Augustus Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site.

Told of the proposed blend of different arts, some people thought, “Circus and opera – weird,” and stayed home. Open-minded folks thought, “Circus and opera – weird – let’s go find out what they’re up to.” This adventurous crowd was richly rewarded. The unique blend of circus arts and opera music bent audience brains in a pleasing way, opening people to connections they had not felt before. “You think, come on – circus and opera?” says Jim Adler of Quechee, who has been attending ON shows with his wife, Brooke, for over 20 years. “Then you have the excitement of seeing people pull off a major risk” as they display newly combined art forms.

It was the partnership with the National Park Service that tipped the scales for ON to win the Tenacity award, says Maria. The NPS has been on the lookout for an arts organization that would work with them to create a national park for the arts, and ON is poised to be that partner. While the prospect of working with a government body might give pause, ON sees a wide-open field of possibilities. They’re prepared to accept NPS restrictions such as not changing the exterior of the site’s historic buildings. “We’re experimenting with different things,” says Maria. “Some things will go better in a traditional environment [like Lebanon Opera House], “but we’re trying new venues, and looking for new audiences.” Like many arts groups, ON presenters see their audience aging, and work to engage new fans. Exposing circus aficionados to opera music fits their bill precisely.

Lebanon’s Sally Rutter is an ON board member, and she’s delighted with the successes that General Director Evans Haile has pulled off already, and with his larger aims. “Evans just dreamed up this whole concept,” she says. “He has a vision of the Upper Valley being a center of the arts, people coming here from other areas, like Tanglewood or Aspen. Maria Laskaris has done phenomenal work getting grants from all over. And of course, Louis [founding conductor and Maria’s husband] is a legend! They’re a compellingly terrific trio.”

ON board member Sally Rutter

ON has definitely embraced the vision thing. “When we first heard about the venture at Blow-Me-Down Farm,” says Jim Adler, “the singers and swingers idea seemed unlikely.” But the wonderful views and the lovely property put the couple in a hopeful mood. What they saw, Jim says, “was truly innovative. The intimate staging was thrilling, and somehow operatic music went well with circus acts. They really pulled it off wonderfully well. If they’re able to fulfill their dreams for Blow-Me-Down Farm, it will be an outstanding place.”

Next summer, July 12-14 will see five shows of Hoedown at Blow-Me-Down with circus performers and American music by Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, and Richard Rodgers.