Spring may have gotten off to a dry and dusty start, but the April sunshine was perfect weather for fans of the Rusty Berrings Skate Park at West Lebanon’s Riverside Community Park. As the sun chases away the last of the chill, adults, teens, young children, and families make use of what’s become a regional hub for a supportive and generous culture.

“We’ve been here four times this week,” says Cassandra Rossing, corralling four kids, all wearing helmets and ready for action. “It’s a really great community.” Her husband Michael agrees and adds, “It’s one of the nicest free public parks I’ve ever been to.”

The Rossing family

The concrete ramps and steel rails host an eclectic crew: adults Marcus and Brian practice their 50-50 grinds and frontside noseslides while a beanied teen named Gray works on ollieing onto a ledge. When asked about photos, Marcus laughs: “so long as you don’t mind them all being of me falling.” Another teen, Jacob, offers to demonstrate wheelies, then crosses the length of the park on his bike – using only the rear wheel. Smaller children do laps on scooters while their adults sit at picnic tables.

“It’s a great culture,” says Jess Morin, alternately watching the kids play and arbitrating disputes about exactly whose scooter belongs to whom. She’s brought her family up from Cornish for the afternoon to use the park. Last year, her daughter, then brand new to skateboarding, was frustrated and getting ready to leave when a group of anonymous teens showed up. One in particular offered some free lessons: “She actually strapped her up in her own brand new equipment,” Morin says, “and she taught her for like 45 minutes.” She didn’t get the good Samaritan’s name, but it really shaped her perceptions of the park and the kind of people that use it. “It was a real ‘restore my faith in humanity’ moment.”

Brian practicing his “50-50 grind”

It’s a story that gets to the heart of the culture of the park, which itself wouldn’t exist without the generosity of the community – especially that of the Kirschner family, who, in memory of their son Tyler, raised much of the funding to make the park into what it is today. In fact, the park’s name, “Rusty Berrings”, was – in the fashion of skateboarding greats Birdman, Ragdoll, and Wee Man – Tyler Kirschner’s skateboarding nickname. When it came time to upgrade and revitalize the park from the old wooden ramps into something new, the family acted as the skate park’s “angels,” according to Paul Coats, director of Recreation, Arts, and Parks for the City of Lebanon.

That culture of generosity also extends to our relationship with our neighboring communities. “It’s a regional park,” says Coats. “People from neighboring towns are coming to Lebanon to skate – and that’s the way it should be. Just as much as people in Lebanon are going to other towns to do other things. There’s not really a beach in Lebanon at [Mascoma] Lake, so people are typically going to Enfield to do that, or they’re getting in the Connecticut River via Hanover or Hartford’s waterfront. They’re going to other communities for the dog parks because Lebanon doesn’t have that. So it’s good to see a regional approach to a lot of the recreation that happens – and we get the skate park.”

It isn’t just Lebanon’s neighbors coming to use the park. For anything close to the same experience, skaters have to travel as far afield as Burlington, Manchester, and Nashua, which probably explains why it’s the city’s most used “non-programmed” park. “We put a lot of kids in Civic Park and Eldridge Park,” Coats says, “because we have sports being played there. Colburn Park is mostly a pass-through park…but Riverside Park, as far as people seeking recreation, that’s where they’re going.”

Marcus practicing his “frontslide noseslide”

As the sun goes down the park lights up, its hours extended by the relatively recent addition of lighting to help out in the shoulder seasons. Despite all the people still using it, Rusty Berrings Skate Park isn’t even “finished” – if a living park can ever be considered really done. The most recent addition was some beginner areas, but there are plans for more expansions. Ideally, they’d like to pave the floor of the pavilion (“We’re not trying to make the pavilion skatable,” Coats says, laughing, “but they will skate in there.”) and there are plans for the addition of another “bowl” as well, not to mention the planned extension of the Mascoma River Greenway to connect the park with the Powerhouse Mall, Miracle Mile and parts beyond.

Watching everyone from kids to adults use it together, it’s clear that Rusty Berrings Skate Park is a place for all – from first-timers to four-day-a-week families, more seasoned skaters to those new to the sport. It’s more than just a community resource –  it’s a home for a culture, one with generosity and support at its heart.

Any kind souls wishing to donate toward additions to the park can contact the nonprofit Friends of Lebanon Recreation, Arts, and Parks (FoLRAP): friendsoflebrec.org.

Teenager Jacob Hoisington demonstrating a wheelie

Every year, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation hosts its largest national fundraising event – Great Strides. Nearly 300 walkathons take place across the country to raise money for research, increase awareness, and support the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis (CF). On May 4th, Lebanon held its 37th annual Great Strides walkathon, bringing together children and adults with CF, their families, friends, community members, care teams from Dartmouth, corporate sponsors like Vertex, and many local supporters at the CCBA Pavilion.

Before the event, I spoke with Lisa O’Connor, executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Nashua, NH. She shared the following on behalf of the CF community:

“Great Strides provides an opportunity for family, friends, students, and colleagues to come together and strengthen the bond of the cystic fibrosis community. The event recognizes the many journeys people with CF face and the work that still needs to be done for those waiting for their transformative treatments – and ultimately, a cure.”

Although there is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, significant progress has been made in treatments and medications that have transformed the lives of many with CF. These walkathons are vital to sustaining the fundraising necessary to keep that progress going.

At the Lebanon event, I had the privilege of speaking with several members of the CF community – and I quickly discovered a common thread among them: Robert Plante.

Madison Culver, CF walkathon participant, and Robert Plante at the 2025 Great Strides Walkathon in Lebanon.

Robert is the honorary chairman of the Upper Valley Great Strides walkathon and a beloved figure in the CF community. Full of passion, kindness, and commitment, Robert has been involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for all 37 years of the Lebanon walkathon. Over that time, he has walked more than 7,500 miles, raised over $300,000, and inspired countless others.

His dedication began with his best friend from childhood, Doug Jones, who was diagnosed with and later passed away from CF. Since then, Robert has poured his heart into raising awareness and funds for CF research.

“I’m dedicated to cystic fibrosis research… and I’m going to be for the rest of my life,” he told me. “I love children – they’re my loving angels. All of them.”

One of Robert’s longtime friends and supporters, Bill D’Amico, traveled from Colorado to attend this year’s walkathon. The two met through the Best Buddies program, and this year, they’re celebrating 25 years of friendship. This was Bill’s sixth year participating in Lebanon’s walk and supporting Robert’s team.

“It’s beyond a community… they have a kinship with each other that you can’t help but feel – it’s so endearing,” Bill said. “CF is a very elusive disease. And while they’ve made great strides, there’s still no cure. Events like this make a real difference.”

I also spoke with Paula Garvey, whose daughter, Rosie, was diagnosed with CF at just two weeks old. Since then, Paula has become deeply involved in the CF community. She serves on both the Cystic Fibrosis Patient & Family Advisory Council and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Northern New England Chapter. She met Robert through her work and developed a strong connection with him.

Paula emphasized the importance of Great Strides events – not only for raising funds, but also for bringing people together.

“We used to always have a team – neighbors, Rosie’s friends, her Girl Scout troop. It was a wonderful way to unite people,” she recalled. “Now, the walks are more important than ever. We have to keep up the momentum.”

Thanks to ongoing support and medical advances, her daughter is now thriving – living independently, working full-time, and pursuing a master’s degree in public health.

Another touching conversation was with Lynn Freeman, a CF nurse specialist with 40 years of experience. Her journey with CF began early in her nursing career, and she’s seen firsthand how dramatically things have changed.

“I fell in love with kids with cystic fibrosis,” she said. “They had this amazing sense of humor, energy, and courage.”

Lynn reflected on the game-changing impact of new treatments called modulators:

“When those started coming out and we saw how fast people improved, it was stunning,” she said. “It’s because of the tireless work of the CF Foundation and everyone who walks, bikes, skis, or donates.”

Best buddies, Robert Plante and Bill D’Amico, who met and connected through the Best Buddies program 25 years ago.

Lynn also stressed that CF care requires a team: doctors, nurses, social workers – all working in sync. Her bond with Robert is also special – she cared for his best friend Doug at Dartmouth and remained in contact with him until the end of his life.

One of the most powerful stories came from Madison Culver, who was diagnosed with CF at 18 months old. Her brother, also born with CF, tragically passed away at age four from CF and cancer. Madison was told she wouldn’t live past 19, couldn’t become a nurse, and couldn’t have children. She has defied all those expectations.

Now 32 years old, Madison spent 10 years as an ICU nurse and is now a full-time primary care nurse – and a mom.

“It’s wild to see how different my life looks from what we expected,” she said. “I just started saving for retirement – something I never thought I’d do.”

“CF impacts every aspect of your life. It’s an invisible illness, and there’s a lot of silent fighting that happens. But without the CF Foundation and Great Strides –and the millions they’ve poured into research and treatment – I wouldn’t be here.”

I also had the privilege of speaking with a mom whose 10-year-old daughter was diagnosed with CF at birth. The early years were rough, but a new medication has been life-changing.

“She’s been so healthy since then. She’s super active, into all the sports – it’s made a world of difference,” the mother said.

These stories moved me deeply. The strength, determination, and love within this community are undeniable – and incredibly inspiring.

Here’s to the continuation of critical research, the walkathons that fuel it, and the incredible individuals and families who make it all possible. To the CF community in Lebanon: you’ve gained a new supporter. I’ll be there next year – hopefully alongside some of you, dear readers.

When Lisa Green’s house started reaching capacity with the many jigsaw puzzles she had finished and even more that she still wanted to put together, she decided it was time to share her passion with others. In launching the Upper Valley Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange Meetup group in 2018, Lisa thought other puzzle enthusiasts might have their own puzzles to share and exchange. Shortly after it began, the group took off and now consists of 170 members, coming from around the Upper Valley and beyond to swap puzzles every two months at the Kilton Library in West Lebanon.

Meetup is an online platform founded in 2002, designed to connect people in person and virtually through similar hobbies and interests. Inspired by the book Bowling Alone, which highlighted society’s lack of connection and community, Meetup has grown to include more than 35 million users, with 225,000 Meetup groups in 180 countries.

Lisa Green’s Puzzle Collection

Lisa explains her motivation for starting the Meetup group. “I have loved puzzles ever since I was a little kid. it was a favorite pastime, and there was always [a puzzle] on the dining room table.” Lisa explains that for hard core “puzzlers”, it’s unusual to do a jigsaw puzzle more than once. “Once you’ve done a puzzle once, you don’t want to do it again. And puzzles are expensive, so I decided to start a group for others to bring all the puzzles they wanted to trade.”

The Upper Valley Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange Meetup group has members who like all kinds of styles of puzzling, says Lisa. “I don’t like anything that’s too challenging like solid colors, but we have some members who do 5,000 piece puzzles, working on them for months.”

Lisa’s personal puzzling strategy is well thought out. “I don’t go over 1,000 pieces because my dining room table can’t accommodate anything bigger. Sometimes I’ll find a 500 piece puzzle I like, and my son and I can do those in an hour or two.” Lisa and her son Patrick are working on a White Mountain Puzzles brand art puzzle now that has beautiful exterior and interior scenes. “I love to do puzzles with my 33-year-old son. He’s a developmentally disabled young man and he’s very good at them.” Lisa and Patrick have plenty of puzzles to practice on at home, with more than 50 puzzles in their “puzzle closet”.  “I’m whittling the pile down each year,” Lisa says. “Puzzles are artwork because they’re so beautiful or have sentimental value as a gift from a family member.”

Patrick and Lisa puzzling

In the last few years, Lisa and Patrick have entered and won some puzzle contests. One might not think of puzzling as a competitive sport, but in fact, speed puzzling competitions are held all over the world. There are annual conferences with competitions (US Jigsaw Puzzle Association, World Jigsaw Puzzle Championships), and dozens of state and local competitions. For puzzle designers, there’s “Puzzle Parley”, a national group that celebrates the art and history of wooden puzzles meeting in a different city each year to showcase their craft. International wooden puzzle manufacturer, Stave Puzzles, in Norwich, VT, known as the “Rolls Royce of Puzzles”, has hosted puzzling competitions featuring their signature “trick puzzles”, presumably impossible to solve.

Locally, there are several puzzling parties to choose from, often hosted by libraries. In Enfield, a church hosts an annual competition inviting six-person teams to finish the same puzzle at speed. “After the event, there’s a turkey dinner that smells so good while we’re puzzling,” Lisa notes. “Whoever finishes their puzzle first wins the top place in line to eat.”

For her part, Lisa loves the calming effect of puzzling. “In this day and age, there’s so much going on and everyone’s stressed out. Puzzling occupies your mind, it’s like you’re in a meditative state. It keeps your mind sharp and engaged and you don’t think about your worries – you’re just having fun.” For now, Lisa will keep working on her puzzle closet, filling the trunk of her car with puzzles to share at upcoming exchanges.

To learn more about the exchange, search under “groups” on Meetup.com for “Upper Valley Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange”, and start clearing out your own stash of puzzles.

Community efforts met with passion and purpose during the Covered Bridges Half Marathon (CBHM) on June 1st. This annual marathon helps support local non-profit organizations through their fundraising efforts with a 13.1 mile road race that travels through Pomfret, Woodstock, and Quechee.

The five non-profits – which include WISE, The Family Place, Willing Hands, Positive Tracks, and David’s House – partner with CBHM with a goal to help raise funds for their programs and spread awareness about the services they offer to the community. All the non-profit teams work together to support each other in a true collaborative effort, and CBHM also gives money to multiple youth groups who volunteer their time at the race.

I gained insight into the details of organizing the event, as well as the impact it has on the Upper Valley community, by speaking with Mike Silverman, one of the CBHM co-race directors. He was introduced to the CBHM 25 years ago, and now he and co-race director Nancy Nutile-McMenemy partner together to organize the race each year. Mike’s history and passion for community involvement, paired with his love of outdoor activities and working with the Upper Valley community, make him an inspiring leader.

“What makes [CBHM] more special, I think, is that people come from all over. It isn’t just NH and VT, and they see the perfect setting of VT…They come through a valley, they go through a town, and they follow a river.”

There is a lot of planning involved in the race, including safety, gathering supplies, water stations, communication, traffic control, parking, and of course, local musicians who play music at different check points to help keep the energy up! It is also imperative that organizers take into consideration the impact on local businesses and churches and remain mindful when planning and organizing.

One of the challenges Mike acknowledged is finding enough volunteers, as they often have to find new ones to replace those who have moved on. Parking is also a big challenge, especially when the race is over, and people are trying to leave. “The exit is your last impression,” he explains, and he wants the community to feel a sense of appreciation for the event and look forward to the next year.

For Lebanon-based non-profit organization WISE, this was their 10th year partnering with CBHM. I spoke with WISE director, Betsy Kohl, as well as with Susan Dicken, a Lebanon resident who volunteers for the crisis line, is a WISE staff member, and manages the WISE Team.

“For us, it’s a great touchpoint in the community, and honestly, across America,” Susan shared. “The majority of our team is local, but some do come from all over, so it does help share what WISE is to a great number of folks we would have never connected with before.”

She said the most rewarding thing for her is seeing the excitement of the WISE Team runners, some of whom return every year to run. It’s especially heartwarming for her to see students who grew up with WISE in their schools decide to run for their team.

Betsy explained that this event raises “a significant amount of donations. But for us, it’s about participating in this community event with our community partners…it’s a fun way to bring people together; it offers that peer-to-peer fundraising opportunity, and it builds awareness of our issues, and that’s really, for us, what’s most important.” Susan added, “It’s a gorgeous course and the energy is so fun. They have built up such a great community around it.”

Izzy Kotlowitz & Sarah Wagner, friends and CBHM runners on the WISE team

CBHM runners, Izzy Kotlowitz and Sarah Wagner, have been running together for the WISE team for five years. They share a passion for running and being involved in their community. They are both from the Upper Valley and have personal connections with WISE, explaining that this is one way they can give back to the community they grew up in.

Izzy was inspired to get involved when she interned at WISE with the parent of a childhood friend who had previously participated in the race. In 2019, Izzy and her mother signed up to run for the WISE Team. It’s a very welcoming and energizing way to get involved with WISE,” Izzy said. “It’s a great way to give some time and some care.”

Sarah shared her interest in running marathons and in supporting local non-profit organizations. “I also just ran the New York marathon…I love to run,” she said, noting that her favorite thing about running is that it is one way in which to show up for yourself and your community.

What excites Izzy about the Covered Bridges Half Marathon is that “the run is like planting little seeds.” When you see runners, some of whom do not know each other well, it normalizes everything when they all come together. “This is one little thing we can put some energy into…the running and the friendship…and raising money for WISE.”

Sarah thinks that the marathon is a wonderful opportunity to spread the word about WISE so people can “be aware of it so they can support it.”

Whether an athlete or someone who just loves to run, the most important thing is the passion behind the purpose. The Covered Bridges Half Marathon is a community event made possible by the creative and thoughtful minds of those who organize it, the 600 volunteers who participated and contributed, and the surrounding community.

When speaking to those who have never run a half marathon before, Izzy explained, “You can go as slow and steady as you want. And people will cheer for you and it’s beautiful.” Racing on behalf of a local non-profit supports individuals and the entire organization, and “feeds right back into the people.”

Students for a Sustainable Future (SSF) at Lebanon High School (LHS) was founded in 2000 by Jared Duval, a junior who wanted to inspire his fellow students to work on global warming, composting, and recycling efforts, among other environmental issues. As a senior, Jared successfully led a campaign to prevent a 56,000-square foot supermarket and 302-space parking lot from being built on a wetland adjacent to the school. For his efforts, Jared was awarded the prestigious Brower Youth Award for Environmental Leadership by the Earth Island Institute’s New Leaders Initiative. The award website describes the youth activism that caught their attention: “After a nine-month campaign that involved circulating a petition, recruiting volunteers, letter-writing, canvassing, and frequent attendance at local zoning board meetings, the city planning board narrowly voted to prevent the project.”

Georgia Gaffney and Mallory Eshbaugh, collecting recycling at Lebanon High School as part of an SSF initiative.

After high school, Jared pursued degrees in economics and policy, and authored a book, Next Generation Democracy: What the Open Source Revolution Means for Power, Politics, and Change. Twenty-five years later, SSF is still an active club at Lebanon High School, and Jared is the executive director of Vermont’s Energy Action Network – a non-profit that brings together businesses, non-profits, academic institutions, utilities, and government officials to advance data-driven renewable energy initiatives in Vermont. Jared recently received the VT Community Foundation Con Hogan Award for public service for his work. He reflects on the motivation the awards have provided for his continued work on energy issues: “For me, the awards are a positive affirmation for work that is often lonely or contained to a small group. To know that the work is valued by others is just further encouragement to keep providing evidence-based information to help ground and advance climate and energy work.”

Jared speaks of his time at LHS with admiration for his teachers and fellow students. “Nothing is successful unless it’s a team effort, and a lot of other students were involved, including Allison Rogers Furbish, who went on to work for Vital Communities for a time. Joanna Winchester and Sara Vogel were also very involved. A lot of people committed time and effort to it.” SSF was built on the initial efforts of Allison, who started the recycling program and spearheaded other events, including hosting speakers and attending trainings like the Youth Environmental Summit. Eventually, the students got connected to the Sierra Club and their youth training programs.

Jared Duval, founder of Students for a Sustainable Future and Lebanon High School class of 2001 graduate. (VT Community Foundation)

A big factor in launching Students for a Sustainable Future was the support of now-retired biology teacher, Mary Maxfield. Jared notes that there was a moment of disconnect between what the students were learning about the value of wetlands for water quality, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat, and the proposal for the large grocery store project on the wetland site. Much of the work SSF did in 2000-2001 was attending Zoning and Planning Board meetings around the proposed project and trying to prevent it from going forward. “An important realization back then that has stayed with me is the power of organizing not just for students but also by students.” Jared notes that groups like SSF allow students to have a direct voice and can be organized in a way that feels right to them rather than being told what to do. “Having teachers like Mrs. Maxfield, who was there primarily to listen and provide support, was really valuable. When the issues feel big and overwhelming, having an avenue to address them in a way that resonates with students is empowering.”

Current LHS student and SSF member Georgia Gaffney is a junior who got involved in the club for the first time this year. “I really care about the climate, and I wanted to find a way to be involved that wasn’t too big of a commitment, and that I could do during the school day,” she says.

SSF has about 20-25 students participating, and is primarily involved in recycling efforts. “Every Friday during our advisory period, we help the janitors by emptying the recycling bins around the school,” Georgia explains. We found that people were throwing liquids into the bins, so we started a campaign with announcements, posters, and signs to educate everyone on how to recycle correctly.”

The group is also planting trees in the school courtyard and applied for a grant to purchase them. SSF is receiving guidance from the Lebanon Tree Advisory Board on tree selection and planting.

The efforts of SSF mirror the goals of another volunteer group in the city – Sustainable Lebanon – which is working on actions related to pollinator health, plastic waste reduction, and energy conservation. Jon Chaffee leads the group’s efforts and has high hopes for more LHS student involvement in environmental activism. “Sustainable Lebanon would love to see more young people getting active about ways that our customary lifestyle affects the environment,” he says. “Choices like buying plastic, driving a gas car, and putting pesticides on the lawn are opportunities for behavior change and education.” Sustainable Lebanon volunteers held a styrofoam collection event in April during a spring snowstorm, with 275 people showing up to drop off foam packaging for recycling.

Mariana Utell, Mallory Eshbaugh, and Peyton Rutherford collecting
recycling at Lebanon High School.

Past SSF projects have included a composting program in the high school cafeteria, a school garden, and a plastic free lunch day event. The compost stations in the cafeteria allowed students to sort food scraps from their trash and recycling in an efficient way. The stations were designed by the Applied Engineering class, built by the Wood Technology class, and painted by art students. Four 32-gallon totes of food scraps are collected each week, for a total of 4,608 gallons of food scraps each year. The scraps were picked up by a Vermont compost farmer, who then left empty totes. Previously, these scraps went into the trash, and were hauled away to the Lebanon landfill.

The school garden started out with three 4’ x 10’ raised beds, with additional beds recently added. Garlic, onions, carrots, beets, kale, spinach, herbs, were grown and harvested by SSF students, washed, and delivered to the cafeteria kitchen staff once a week. Senior students served as garden interns, working to build the garden, maintain the vegetables, harvest the crops, and work with elementary school students. The plastic free lunch day encouraged the school community to go plastic free for one day to reduce single use plastic waste.

According to Georgia, SSF has plans for future projects to support its mission. “We’re growing, and I’m excited for the future,” she says. “I think the group of senior girls we have will provide some solid leadership to the club. Next year, we plan to do a trash clean up and activities around Earth Day, and one thing I‘m really passionate about is the threat of oil drilling in our national parks.” Georgia is leaning toward studying political science after graduation.

As far as her inspiration for getting involved in SSF, Georgia cites her love of the Upper Valley area and Lebanon in particular. “I love where I live. It’s a great community to grow up in and people really love Lebanon,” she says. “I like growing up in a small town environment, and I really appreciate the city’s efforts to support sustainability and also arts and culture.”