Robert Plante is the honorary chair of the Lebanon Great Strides Walk to cure cystic fibrosis (CF). He has been volunteering for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for 38 years. In that time, he’s raised more than $350,000 dollars to support research to find a cure for CF.

Robert Plante and Bill D’Amico, who met through the Special Olympics/Best Buddies program.

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, more than 40,000 people in the U.S. are living with CF. Plante became involved with the organization after his childhood friend Doug Jones, who was diagnosed with CF at the age of 13, passed away at the age of 43. Plante spoke at his funeral.

Bill D’Amico traveled to the Upper Valley from Golden, Colorado, for the event. He met Plante, who is a former Special Olympics athlete, 26 years ago through the Special Olympics and Best Buddies International partnership, which pairs volunteers with Special Olympics athletes who have aged out of or are no longer involved with the program. They first only corresponded by email, but received permission from the organization to meet in person in 2006. Since then, D’Amico has traveled to the Upper Valley each year for the Great Strides Walk.

What has been the most rewarding part of the Walk for D’Amico? “I just think that Robert’s consistency in doing this for 38 years and raising $10,000 a year, every year, all through the Upper Valley” he said. “It’s an amazing testament to the community here, and people that support this type of event. And Robert, specifically. He’s been the ambassador.”

More than 50 people participated in this year’s event, which took place on May 3 at the CCBA Pavillion in Lebanon. The 2026 Great Strides Walk raised $13,685, surpassing its $11,750 goal.

Robert Plante with volunteers and participants at the CCBA Pavillion.

Robert recruits neighbors and friends to join the walk every year, and he reaches out to local businesses to donate lunch for participants.

Paula Garvey of Amherst, New Hampshire, met Robert at a walk 15 or 20 years ago. She got involved because her daughter has cystic fibrosis. She said she and Robert talk every day on the phone. “Robert is the best part,” she said, adding that he brings people together. “He is why this walk happens. We’re all here to support Robert.”

The Wet Paint Players, Lebanon High School’s drama club, is  partnering with Upper Valley Circus Collective (UVCC) for its production of “Water for Elephants.” The show will be performed December 5-7 at Lebanon Opera House.

Set during the Great Depression and told through memories and flashbacks, this musical adaptation of the 2007 novel by Sara Gruen tells the story of student veterinarian Jacob Jankowski who joins a circus and falls in love.

Charli Swan

The show is brought to life through a mix of acting, vocals, choreography, and circus elements. For the past few months, the students have split their rehearsal times between Lebanon High School and Northern Lights Gymnastics in White River Junction.

“When I found out we had plenty of kids in the school that do circus, I got really excited,” said Shannon Aridgides, Lebanon High School’s music and theater teacher and the show’s director. “These kids really do circus. We’re talking silks and lyras and crazy acrobatic and aerial stuff.”

“Our coaches are amazing,” said Meg Tenney, director of Upper Valley Circus Collective. “We have a bit of a tag team. They’re all either professional performers or in a professional program themselves right now.” She said three coaches did the choreography for the first 10 weeks and two coaches will oversee safety and rigging changes. “We have a large team behind all of this.”

“Wet Paint Players has never partnered with another group like we are with UVCC,” said Ollie Hermanson, a senior at Lebanon High School and the show’s stage manager. “This is brand new, and it allows us to explore this territory and open up new opportunities in the future.”

Creating Community

Although this is the first collaboration between the Wet Paint Players and Upper Valley Circus Collective, many of the students in the show have been involved in theater or circus arts for years.

Blaise Yuan (pointing) playing August and Sam Smith (R) playing Jacob and cast

Junior Rachel Horak started attending circus camps when she was seven or eight years old. After a five-year break, she got involved again and is happy she did. “It’s my favorite place to be,” she said. “I love to move, and I love when people get to watch us and be amazed. It feels really cool.”

Sophomore Gardell Wetherington started in theater and then found circus at the age of 10. “I just like the idea of getting to do what I love and then sharing it with people who go to the show,” he said.

This is Blaise Yuan’s first theater production. “I do it because my friends are doing it,” he said. “And I thought it’d be fun.”

“Community is a really big part of it,” said Hermanson. “It’s such a tight knit community, we’ve become basically like family.”

Junior Caroline Cloud, who has been doing circus for nine years, agreed. “My favorite thing about rehearsals is getting to be with everyone,” she said. And her favorite part of performing? “Getting to show everyone what we worked so hard to do.”

A Pioneering Production

The high school version of Water for Elephants only recently became available for production in the fall of 2025, so Lebanon High School is one of the first schools to perform the show.

Abigail Tremblay and Blaise Yuan

The script offers suggestions for incorporating circus elements, but it also allows for a lot of freedom depending on a school’s available resources.

Aridgides said the first few pages of the script offer guidance for staging the show, but it’s not prescriptive. “It says this is a memory play, Mr. Jankowski is remembering things, so it can be abstract,” she explained. “We understand you’re a high school, we understand you’re all from different places with different opportunities. Maybe it’s your local gymnastics team, and that’s what you’re going to showcase… We do have circus people and, not only that, they’re good.”

“Do they say the silks or the lyra or the tumbling pass will be here? No, but it lends itself perfectly to it. It’s a perfect marriage,” said Susan Lamontagne, the show’s choreographer.

“I think it’s really, really cool that we get to do something new and especially something so cool that we get to invite the UVCC circus and get to work with them,” said Abigail Tremblay, a senior. “It’s a little challenging at times, though, with so little character studies, never having seen the show, and then not having many references to go off of. It’s a lot off the top of your head. A lot of research. I’m digging around for interviews on the actors and characters to work on certain scenes. But it also feels kind of special, and I really like that.”

Junior Sam Smith agreed. “Since the only people who have performed this were on Broadway, we don’t have a lot of information on how the show actually works, which is bad but it’s also good because we can make it our own,” he said. “Especially with all the circus stuff… we can do cool, special things because there’s no rules.”

The performers all have their favorite parts of the production.

For Tremblay, it’s the music. “I feel like there’s not enough folk and bluegrass on Broadway, especially not in high school shows,” she said. “I feel like it’s underrated. I love every single banjo moment in this piece, but I also like that it dips into a rocky feel sometimes when it gets angry. The composition is so amazing.”

“I really like to see how everything grows and grows and grows,” said Simon Trussell, a junior.  “We start out with nothing. Just like, what show is it going to be? Then we’re casting the actors, and we’re learning the songs, bringing in the props, getting the costumes, and then we’re getting on stage. And it’s really cool to see little by little how we’re building this whole show up from scratch more or less. That is awesome.”

“I’m so excited for the audience that isn’t really ready for the circus stuff to be so amazed,” said Horak. “I really hope it gets more enjoyment in circus in general, because I think circus is really cool.”

Something for Everyone

“I picked the show because once I knew we had the cast for it, it has something for everyone,” said Aridgides. “You can be someone who hates musicals and you can still have an awesome experience with the show.”

Meg Tenney, Shannon Aridgides, and Susan Lamontagne

Tenney has read the book twice and loves the story. “I’m the sappy one – as soon as the show starts, I’m going to cry,” she said. “The end of this show really gets me every time.”

Smith appreciates that the show allows many performers to take the spotlight. “Oftentimes with musicals it focuses on three or four people and everyone else is an ensemble, but I feel like in this musical there’s at least 10 people who all get their own song and get to show off how really good they are at acting,” he said.

“No matter what scene, no matter where you’re sitting, there’s something everyone will enjoy,” said Hermanson. He described a typical scene that includes dancing, singing, and circus, all while platforms and lighting are moving and changing. “Even if you’re not a theater lover, even if you’re not a circus lover, there’s something that you will enjoy on stage.”

Lamontagne said one of the most rewarding parts of this production has been working with the students. “Getting to work with kids that are young, relatively inexperienced and getting to teach them steps, musicality, characterisms, some of the things they’ve learned through circus, and watching their confidence in themselves grow, watching them start to create these characters and become the show – watching it build, for me, will always be the most wonderful thing to be a part of,” she said.

Many of the students in the show have been involved in theater or circus arts for years.

Presented by Lebanon High School’s Wet Paint Players and Upper Valley Circus Collective, Water for Elephants will be performed at Lebanon Opera House on Friday, December 5 at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 7 at 1 p.m. Tickets, by donation (suggested $5-10 per person), will be available at the door. Cash and check accepted.

For more information, visit: lebanonoperahouse.org/events/water-for-elephants.

Corinne Alfeld

After moving from Silver Spring, Maryland, to West Lebanon in 2021, Corinne Alfeld and her husband, Greg Ericksen, wanted to get involved in the community and learn more about their local government. The Lebanon Citizens Academy provided the perfect solution.

© Christopher Johnson

“Because New England states are run so differently from other states I’ve lived in, and because I was interested in how a small city operates, I jumped at the chance to participate in the Lebanon Citizens Academy,” said Alfeld. “After the first session, I was so excited about what I was learning that I convinced my husband to attend, as well.”

Participants met weekly to learn about different city departments, such as City Management, Library Services, Public Safety, and Recreation and Parks Services.

“It was a great group of people, mostly long-time residents but some newcomers, and a range of ages,” said Alfeld. “The employees of the City of Lebanon were all so knowledgeable about their areas. The expertise of the water management staff was especially impressive! And did you know that Lebanon has 99 miles of roads to upkeep?”

“I feel really lucky to live in a place with such dedicated city employees, who keep everything running smoothly,” Alfeld said. “Residents sometimes complain about things, but they don’t know how much work—including budgeting, planning, and implementation—goes into it. I remind myself of that every time I see road work or hydrant flushing going on around the city.”

© Christopher Johnson

Alfeld emphasized the importance of showing up to each session. “There is so much to learn, and the staff takes time to prepare and be there after hours to provide detailed information about what they do and how they help your city,” she said. “The second piece of advice is to ask questions! Sometimes the most interesting parts of the session were the staff’s answers to participant questions.”

After completing the 2024 Citizens Academy, Alfeld joined the West Lebanon Revitalization Committee in 2025, which has recently focused on repairs to the pipes, roads, and sidewalks on South Main Street. City residents are welcome to attend any of the various Lebanon committee meetings virtually or in person. A calendar and information about meeting access can be found at lebanonnh.gov/1359/Lebanon-Live-Meetings.

Andrew Faunce

Andrew volunteers for the city in many capacities in his retirement

Andrew Faunce was already involved in the local community in several ways when he enrolled in the Lebanon Citizens Academy, a series of educational, hands-on courses that provides residents with insight into city departments and civic affairs. He volunteers and is a member of the board at AVA Gallery and Art Center, he is chair of the Lebanon Planning Board, and he serves on the Lebanon Housing Task Force and the West Lebanon Revitalization Advisory Committee. “On my retirement, I became invested in volunteering for the city in any capacity that I can,” he said.

His participation in the Lebanon Citizens Academy gave him an even greater appreciation for how the local city government operates. “It really introduced me to how much a relatively small set of city staff does on behalf of the residents,” he said. “I have a tremendous respect for what’s offered here.”

Some of the highlights his cohort experienced included meeting with the Police Department and learning about the K-9 Unit, operating a fire hose and participating in a mock live fire drill with the Fire Department, and visiting the Solid Waste and Recycling Facility and creating a mini landfill out of clay, stones, sand and water.

© Christopher Johnson

In addition to learning about city operations, he also gained a better understanding of the people on the municipal team.

“There’s lots of ways that folks can not only learn about the departments, but also experience the sorts of things that the folks that work in those departments get to experience, and it just gives you a new perspective on some of your neighbors,” he said.

He noted that the Citizens Academy is a good way to learn more about issues affecting residents and to make contacts to check in with later on. “It’s an advantage of being in a relatively small community, where you can get to know the people that are making the decisions that affect your experience,” he said.

Faunce’s advice for other Lebanon residents considering the Citizens Academy? “If you’ve heard about it and are on the fence about it, by all means apply for it, commit to it,” he said. “It’s a really great experience.”

More information about joining the 2026 Citizens Academy can be found at lebanonnh.gov/220/About-Citizens-Academy.

On a warm sunny weeknight in August, a crowd of people gather at the horseshoe pits at Riverside Community Park on Glen Road in West Lebanon. Some people have folding lawn chairs, and others wield long metal hooks for picking up shoes. An enclosed bulletin board houses the weekly team lineup with each player’s average and total shoes thrown, scoresheets, and the club’s bylaws. The pitching platforms in the pits face each other, 40 feet apart. Each has a metal stake surrounded by sandy soil, a wooden backboard, and a cement slab. Laughter, cheers, and the clanking sounds of metal on metal ring out as horseshoes hit the stakes.

Everyone is relaxed and conversational. Sayward “Shep” Shepard, the league’s vice president, said his favorite part about the league is the camaraderie. “We’re friends for many, many years and when something happens with one of our members, whether it be the member or a family of the member, we all pitch in if we can,” he said. “We go to funerals. We step up and support the people we enjoy being with.”

“We’re like one big, happy family,” said Tom Schwarz, the league’s president.

“On top of the camaraderie, which I agree with you on, is the fact that we make jokes across the pits all night long,” added Rick Paul, the league’s secretary. “Because we all realized, yeah, do we want to play well? Do we get angry when we don’t play well? But in the end, we all have to go to work, we all have families, we all have that. And it’s just a game. Everybody shakes hands after a game.”

Why horseshoes?

The four offi cers of the league: (left to right) Shep, Tom Schwarz, Rick Paul, Foster Moodie

“Why not?” said Shep.

“Back in the day when we started, it was the only sport where you could get together like this. Cornhole wasn’t a thing. They were outlawing lawn darts,” said Rick. “I started playing at the age of 11 in my hometown of Belmont. When I came up here, right out of college, I met Shep and we started throwing in the White River league. That was 1985. A lot of us have been throwing a long time.”

The league has six teams of four people each, plus eight subs. The players bring their own horseshoes. “Everybody pretty much has their own shoes that they prefer to play with,” said Shep. Traditional-style horseshoes are flat on one side with three cleats on the other side, and are thrown through the air like a frisbee. Flip-style horseshoes have a reverse center “thumb cleat” and two end cleats, and are tossed end-over-end.

A game consists of 50 shoes thrown by two players and a match consists of four games, so each player throws 100 shoes total. Teams play in a round-robin format throughout the season. The league plays by National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) rules, unless they have incorporated changes into the league’s bylaws. Players shoot from 40 feet (the distance between stakes), with a few exceptions. Women can choose to shoot from 30 feet, as can players over the age of 65 or those who have a medical exemption.

Finding a Home in Lebanon

Many league members volunteered their time and skills to help build and prepare the horseshoe pits area (with Lebanon Rec’s permission) at Riverside Community Park.

The sign at Riverside Park says “Home of the Upper Valley Horseshoe League,” but since moving from White River Junction to Lebanon in the 1990s, the official name of the group is now the Lebanon Horseshoe League. Established in 1979, the league met at different venues, including Storrs Hill Ski Area, until it found its home at Riverside Park in 2002.

Shep said league members pitched in to build the horseshoe pit area in the park. “Lebanon Rec wanted to utilize this area, but they also wanted to put a skate park in,” said Shep. “So, I went to the town and talked to Lebanon Rec and I told them let me have the place and we’ll build it and we’ll take care of it.”

League members built the pits and volunteered to install lights and the cables to power them. “We had a lot of different occupations [among the players],” he said. “We had electricians, we had concrete guys, backhoe operators. We dug the ditches, ran all the wires out along there.”

Building Community

The league meets every week from the first Wednesday in May to the last Wednesday in August. They hold an end-of-year banquet with awards for the top two finishing teams, top high average players, top ladies’ average players, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, and the Art King Sportsperson of the Year.

The league currently has 24 regular shooters and eight to 10 subs. Anyone over the age of 16 can join the league. Most new members are recruited by word of mouth, but the league also has a social media committee that is working to bring more awareness to the league.

“We’d have a losing battle to cornhole,” said Rick. “Cornhole, I mean, you don’t have to throw metal objects, and instead of throwing from 30 or 40 feet, you throw from 27 feet.”

“It’s a family sport,” added Tom.

Shep credits the league’s sense of community with improving players’ skills. “The thing with players that are new to the league, it has some psychological effect, I think, because as people get more comfortable with the people they’re playing and the game – regardless of whether they’ve played the game for years – it’s getting used to the people,” he said. “And everybody gets along great. And once somebody gets along with people well, their numbers start going up.”

“What we’d like to instill in people’s minds is that this is a camaraderie,” said Shep. “Everybody gets along. It’s a well-controlled game and everybody’s welcome. [Ages] 16 and up, men, women. We’d like to fill up the horseshoe pits.”