When we can link ourselves with our past, we more fully appreciate who we are today and how we got here. We seem to need to travel our historical path in order to continue on our present – leading to the future – path.

One way we do this is to explore what an ancestor might have been ‘made of,’ to see if we find similar traits in ourselves.

There is a small, beautiful brick building in downtown Lebanon on the Green that you have driven by hundreds of times, and may have even felt you were being watched. You were! By a silent figure – a lonely sentinel, a Union soldier – standing guard in front of this building nestled between Rogers House and Roy’s Auto Service.

In 1958-1959, when Lebanon changed its structure from a town to a city, the building had deteriorated badly and was in much need of major repairs. There was discussion of possibly needing to tear it down and putting a business on the site. This did not sit well with the veterans of Lebanon and other people who had great feelings about saving and preserving this sacred building. So, this group, along with Robert Leavitt, former city historian, approached the City Council to oppose this. Leavitt had it declared An Historic Building – thus it was saved!

Displaying the musket donated by Bill Lapan (left), are Richard Courtermanche and Bob Therrien.

Terri Dudley was Mayor of the City of Lebanon from 1999-2000, and a member of the NH Legislature 2000-2006. She understood the value of preserving the building for veterans as her husband, Roger Dudley (92 this July), had served in WWII as a medic in the Army in the South Pacific theater.

Terri told me that Bob Leavitt had written a book, Lebanon, New Hampshire, in Pictures, in two volumes, 1997, published by Whitman Publishing for the Lebanon Historical Society. She said that these books have quite a lot of information regarding the Memorial Building, including the magnificent stained glass windows.

There are also two narrated videos of about 25 minutes each produced by CATV. Go to www.lebnh.net/home/about-lebanon/lebanon-veterans and find Soldiers Memorial Building – Parts 1 and 2. These give you the stories of six of the veterans memorialized by these stained glass windows.

In May of 2014, the Lebanon City Council established the positions of guardian and deputy guardian of the building. The present guardian is Bob L. Therrien, who was interviewed for this article. Bob is a US Navy veteran, 1970-1975, and a retired Lebanon police officer. He said with much feeling, “It is an honor for me to do this.”

A plaque on the wall just inside the front door of this building gives a brief account of its history, and following is the wording taken from the plaque exactly as printed:
“The Patriotic Organizations and their Home in Lebanon, N.H.
(Prepared by Lucy J. Comings, Secretary Corps 62.)

With the exception of the town hall the first public building to be erected in Lebanon was the Soldier’s Memorial Building on North Park Street.

From time to time after the close of the war the question of a Memorial to the veterans of the civil war was discussed but it was not until August 25th, 1881, that the first steps were taken towards having a Soldiers’ Memorial Building with tablets in the second story as a monument and the first story to be used as a town library. N. H. Randlett, Ferdinand Davis, Alpheus W. Baker, Jesse E. Dewey, O. W. Baldwin, O. J. Much more, A. W. Shapleigh, W. S. Carter were the first ones to draw up and sign an agreement to pay $20.00 each towards such a building. The building committee were Frank C. Churchill, Alpheus W. Baker and Ferdinand Davis [the architect]. They met with many obstacles in connection with the work but on May 30th, 1886, the cornerstone was laid by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New Hampshire. The town appropriated $3580 toward the building and the remainder was raised in various ways by the people of the town, old and young working together for this purpose. The building was dedicated July 4th, 1890, and was one of the largest gatherings that Lebanon had ever seen.

The Lebanon Soldier’s Memorial Building was the first to be erected in New Hampshire and was deeded to the town with the following conditions: “That these premises shall be forever preserved for a Soldiers’ Memorial, for a Free Public Library, and for a place of meeting for veteran soldiers, and sons of veterans, and for only such purposes as shall preserve the memory of patriots and teach coming generations loyalty and devotion to their country.”

The library was moved to the new building in 1909 since which the whole building has been used by the patriotic organizations. In 1915 W. S. Carter placed glass cases in the lower room for the preservation of relics which may be placed there at any time. A number of the shelves have been filled and anyone will find these curious articles an interesting study and well worth a visit to this room.”

Richard Courtemanche, assistant guardian, who participated in this interview, is also a veteran who served in the European Theater in WWII as Army Infantry. He turned 90 on April 6. He owned a barbershop downtown that burned in the Lebanon fire, but continued his business nearby.

Through the efforts of many volunteers, and after much restoration, the building was preserved and re-opened to the public in 2008 and over 4,000 people have visited to date. This summer it will be open to the public on Thursday evenings during the hours of the Lebanon Farmers’ Market; also Memorial Day, Alumni Day on June 11, July 4th and Veterans Day.

The building is City-owned, and cared for under the Department of Public Works. It is available for veterans groups to hold meetings, and special tours, by contacting Bob Therrien at 603-252-5155.

Among the volunteers are Gary Ward, of the McKinley Camp 9, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, reenactors who meet in the building; Fran Hanchett, who researched and identified many Lebanon Civil War soldiers in Lebanon cemeteries for the purpose of putting markers on their (until now unmarked) graves; Ed Ashey, City Historian; Annette Scott, Dan Downes, Everett Farnsworth, Ted Guay, Mayor Georgia Tuttle, and many other dedicated people.

Soldiers Memorial Building sits snuggly at the right of Rogers House.

Displays in cases downstairs honor the memories of veterans of many wars with memorabilia beginning with the French & Indian War, through the Revolutionary War, Mexican War, Civil War, World Wars I and II,

Korean War, Vietnam War, and the present War on Terrorism (Afganistan, Gulf, etc.).

Bill LaPan, retired Lebanon Fire Captain, recently donated a 1766 Charleyville 69 caliber Musket. If you have artifacts and family memorabilia pertaining to veterans that you would like to add to this collection, please contact Bob Therrien.

The upstairs room is a consecrated chapel where veterans can lie in state and have funeral services. There are marble memorial tablets on the walls of this room, engraved with the names of Lebanon soldiers who served in the Civil War.

The six stained glass windows were donated over time by various civic organizations in honor of someone who died in the Civil War. The windows had been badly damaged due to hurricanes and age, and were sent to a professional for releading and restoration in time for the reopening in 2008.

You are encouraged and welcome to visit, volunteer, or bring a group. You may find that your own grandfather might be memorialized (DeCato, Baker, Miller, Kimball). Spend some quiet time contemplating not only the items and beauty of the structure itself, but also appreciating why it is there – to educate and teach us of the sacrifices of veterans, to keep it as a living memorial, and to preserve and protect the memories of those brave veterans who contributed, and are still contributing, much and sometimes all, to keep us free and safe and able to enjoy our beautiful land.      For this, we thank you!

Jonathan Verge Returns to Lebanon and Performing Arts in the Upper Valley

I met Jonathan Verge on the first day of first grade at School Street School. I remember that he was the new kid and he had somehow poked himself in the eye with a pencil. Mrs. Lerner asked me to escort him to the nurse’s office, and we’ve been friends ever since.

Jonathan recently returned to the Upper Valley after more than a decade away pursuing a theater career in New York and Chicago, working as an actor for years and later deciding he’s better suited to the director’s role.

Now he’s bringing his talents back to his home community, acting in this season’s North Country Community Theater production of The Secret Garden and working on an exciting project of his own—The Gatherwool Theatre Company, a new professional company he’s building in White River Junction.

“My love for musicals started way back with North Country Community Theater. I played L’il Joe Harper in Tom Sawyer: The Musical at the Lebanon Opera House 23 years ago,” Jonathan said.

He returned to the Upper Valley from Chicago last year with a plan to stay with his parents awhile and prepare for graduate school—but as he reconnected with old friends from the Upper Valley arts community, his vision for the Gatherwool quickly came to life. And while the project hasn’t come together as quickly or easily as he’d dreamed it would, he’s excited to be discovering new things about himself and the place he’s coming to call home again.

“To set out on this new adventure doing the type and quality of work I want to do, and to be able to give it back to the community that gave it to me is thrilling. It feels very serendipitous.”

Jonathan launched the Gatherwool’s first show at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction in February. Working with professional actors from the Upper Valley, New York, and beyond, his goal is to “produce intimate and thought-provoking musical theater of the highest caliber.”

Though their first show, Songs from an Unmade Bed, met excellent reviews, they weren’t filling enough seats—so Jonathan is taking some time to rework his strategy and prepare for a bigger opening in October with a more familiar musical: Little Shop of Horrors.

“We’re ‘going back to the text,’” Jonathan says of his interpretation as the artistic director of the Gatherwool’s productions. “The piece says something really strong about what we’re willing to give for our 15 minutes of fame. We’re telling the deeper story that is there, offering a new take on a familiar show.”

The new take includes three songs that were cut from the original Broadway production, he said, because they were deemed too dark. Jonathan’s excited to go there.

As a way to prime the Upper Valley audience for the big show in the fall, the Gatherwool will be popping up this summer at gathering places and businesses around the region with songs and brief performances.

“We want to give people a taste of the talent we’re bringing to the table,” he said.

Back in the day

And Jonathan is bringing his own talent to the table this summer, too, with his leading role as Archibald Craven in North Country Community Theater’s production of The Secret Garden.

“It’s very cathartic and very full-circle for me having started my career with them two decades ago,” he said.

Although he stopped performing years ago, Jonathan said Archibald Craven is a role he’s dreamed of playing. The musical score by Lucy Simon is “beautiful, lush, vocal butter,” he said—in his estimation one of the best in musical theater. And the role lets him use his “big opera voice” and play a brooding rather than funny character—a new exercise for him, he said.

“I’m excited to be working with really talented people, many of whom are also coming back to the stage for the first time in a long time,” he said. “I’m getting back to my roots, bringing the love of theater to other people.”

After being gone for so many years, Jonathan said he has a clear sense of excitement being back in the Upper Valley—there’s a lot here that he never knew about or that didn’t exist when last he lived here, like the Parish Players and Shaker Bridge Theater, and the many weekly farmers’ markets.

Clint Carter, Erin Kukla, Eric Love and Stuart Williams in Gatherwool’s premiere of Songs From an Unmade Bed

“I’m being reintroduced to the area as an adult, knowing a lot more about what I want in my life,” he said.  “I’ve come to really understand that what I’m trying to build is a very long-term thing. There’s still a lifetime ahead of me.”

Robert Plante

Robert Plante has walked over 7,500 miles during the past 27 years, raising more than $300,000 for cystic fibrosis research. That means he has taken about 13,200,000. Each step was taken with great dedication and purpose, because of his desire to assure that there would someday be a cure for a disease that most of us are barely aware of.

Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and progressively limiting the ability to breathe. There are about 30,000 people in the USA (70,000 people worldwide) today, with around 1,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

In the 1950s, children with CF rarely lived long enough to attend elementary school. Today, the median survival age is around 40. New England is very fortunate to have four cystic fibrosis clinics. DHMC is an accredited CF Clinic with a full team of specialists, including a dietician, social worker, pulmonary specialist and a physician. All newborns are now being tested for CF with a simple “sweat” test. People with CF have a higher sodium (salt) content than people without it.

Robert grew up in Lebanon and graduated LHS in 1966. He first became aware of this disease in 1983 when he learned that his dear friend, Doug Jones, was dealing with it. Doug passed away 24 years ago at age 43. Throughout his life, Robert has unselfishly donated many hours of volunteer work, therefore it was not unusual that 27 years ago Robert and his friend Cathy Ross, whose twin sons Christopher and Michael were affected by cystic fibrosis, first became volunteers with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

For his dedication, former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation have recognized Robert’s accomplishments and dedication. Robert and Cathy held their first CFF fund-raising event “Great Strides” in 1989 with about 20 people participating. Robert now works closely with a development director at the CFF who manages the walks and puts on these events.

This year’s Great Strides event is on May 21 at Storrs Pond in Hanover beginning with sign-up at 10 a.m. There will be a 5k walk around the pond, a 3-mile run, children’s activities, food, and more. There is no set entry fee – donations are the key! Raise more than $100 and receive a t-shirt. This year’s event honors the memory of Michael Ross, who, sadly, passed away last November at age 32.

So, beginning in the next few weeks, you might catch a glimpse of Robert walking around the Upper Valley inviting donations and encouraging people to participate. And, he’ll be adding steps to his 13,200,000 every day until May 21.

May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month and your opportunity to learn more about this life-threatening, genetic disease. Visit Robert’s website at www.fightcf.cff.org/goto/robertswalkers where you can learn more about this local event, join his team, sign up to walk, form your own team, volunteer at the event, and much more. You may also call Robert at 448-5352.

To get the “big picture”regarding cystic fibrosis, visit www.cff.org, call Lindsay at 800-757-0203, or email newengland.cff.org.

Lebanon resident, Dan Hopkins, founder of GrassTracks Safaris

School administrators take note: Those assembly speakers you find to address a hall full of fidgety students can indeed change lives. Dan Hopkins is living proof. His new business, GrassTrack Safaris, has its roots in one of those assemblies.

Now living in Lebanon, Dan grew up in Rumford, Maine. In the early 1980s an assembly lecture (by Charles Darwin’s great-grandson) introduced him to African game and environment. The explorer suggested that Dan and a friend accompany him on his next trip, which seemed like pie in the sky. But relatives from LA who worked in commercial aviation insisted he should not miss this opportunity. After the eight-week, “bare-bones and sometimes kind of disorganized” trip to South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana, Dan was hooked. The enormous landscape, the game seen at close quarters, the people he met, the air and climate, even the smells—everything was different. “I’d never been out of Maine before,” he recalls with his easy smile.

Dan began to calculate how he could organize his life so as to return to those captivating terrains, people, and creatures—and introduce them to others. Rather than becoming a cog in a large travel company—it’d become just a job, he says—Dan studied the sciences that brought him to the Upper Valley for a biotech job with Glycofi at Centerra.

A camping safari

The idea of running trips did not die, however. “I knew nothing about the travel industry,” Dan says, recalling his 2010 trip to the New York Times travel expo. “It was huge, high-end booths everywhere, and people asked me, ‘Who’s your operator?’ and I said ‘What’s an operator?’” Operators are the people who run the trips in Africa, locals who arrange permits, transit, meals—in fact, exactly the folks he’s been trying to connect with. Eventually he met two men from Botswana who were tour operators trying to find an agent.

One step at a time, Dan built the connections and knowledge he’d need to run a tour business. He went multiple times to southern Africa to try trips with different operators, at different levels of fanciness; he made presentations to groups of potential travelers; and he set up a course with Osher@Dartmouth, a Lifelong Learning program, culminating in a trip to Botswana. Now he’s starting to get repeat clients. Who would not want to see the beyond-gigantic red sand dunes of Namibia, or fabled Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River—the falls are twice as high as Niagara, and twice as wide as Horseshoe Falls? And in between are game parks, and local villages where Dan’s trip operators have connections. Trips may stop in a village, or travelers may walk to school with some of the children.

The dining tent

Tourism offers local people an opportunity to enhance their subsistence farming, and gives them a stake in protecting the animals, an important issue, since animals straying from a park may damage crops. The training program for a guide’s license is rigorous and long, but produces guides with detailed knowledge of their area’s natural history, as well as of functional concerns like safety. Scary stories come out of Africa, admits Dan, but areas where he tours are quite safe. When the Ebola virus made news in Sierra Leone and its neighbors, he got a lot of worried questions, “but Africa is big,” he says. “That area is closer to Europe than to southern Africa.” ” Addressing another concern he adds, “I’ve made 10 or 11 trips to Africa, and I’ve only seen one snake. It was crossing the road.”

Dan has specialized in organizing trips for adventurous travelers who want to get close to the land, people, and animals. Most of his trips involve camping in remote sites. On some trips you pitch your own tent and help with cooking; on others, extra staff people take care of these chores. Helping out, and staying in tents rather than game lodges cuts costs. There are different levels available, says Dan, but for around $1600 for 8 days, “you can see the same animals as people paying $10,000.”

Daily game-viewing excursions usually take place in open Land Cruisers, with six to eight people, including the guide. Some trips also feature walking expeditions, for fine-scale observation. Special-interest trips are available; Dan is working with Bill Shepard of Thetford, a noted local birder, to set up a birding trip.

Upper Valley locals on safari with Dan pose in front of a Baobab Tree.

Grantham’s Barb Jones went to Botswana with GrassTrack Safaris and she’s heading back for a Namibia trip. “What I remember most,” she says, “is how we hurry in our daily lives, but there we’d spend lots of time just watching animals, seeing what they did. It was amazingly relaxing.” Other aspects of the trip required energy. “If I could add to the list of preparations and things to bring that the company gave us, I’d say to climb rock walls at a gym, because the vehicles are so high. You climb to get into them!” Barb also advises an arm exercise: raising and lowering a pair of binoculars again and again. And practicing squatting, for behind-a-bush trips. Her final recommendation is a comic warning about game drive travel: she suggests going through a car wash with the windows down to simulate branches poking into the Land Cruiser in tight places. Some surprises are best left for the safari itself!

The amount of research just to find local operators, to say nothing of sorting out the good ones, intimidates most anyone who would like to travel to Africa. Dan aims to remove barriers. “I’m trying to show people you can go into the wilderness in Africa and not spend a fortune.”

Lauren Whittlesey

Last spring, my husband and I decided to join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm. We had talked about it for a few years and finally decided to take the plunge. Last year was different for us, because we were feeding a hungry toddler and suddenly our food choices were affecting another person, too.

The concept behind a CSA is simple: consumers join the farm in the spring, paying for their entire season’s produce in advance, often at a modest discount. Then every week they receive a basket of delicious, local, seasonal food. Some farms even partner with local workplaces, so that members get their produce delivered to their desks each week –a great option for busy families!

We selected Sunrise Farm in nearby White River Junction so that our daughter could see where her food is grown and so I could get to know our farmers and fellow CSA members at the on-farm pickups.

Our first visit to the farm.

We easily convinced another family on our street in West Lebanon to split a share with us so that we wouldn’t have more than we needed and to keep our costs low for our growing family. I had always thought of a CSA share as a luxury but quickly realized just how easily it fit into our budget. We soon discovered that a half-share was plenty for our needs and only cost around $12 per week. I was already spending more than that on produce at the grocery store! Each week we wound up with more than enough fresh veggies to enjoy with all our meals and even put some in the freezer for the winter months.

Our neighbor Isaiah visits the sheep on the farm (note that they are both making the same face!)

From our very first visit to the farm, I knew we had made the right choice. We were invited to wander, explore, and ask questions. My daughter loved visiting the baby chicks in the barn where we picked up our veggies, swinging in the hammock on the porch, and admiring the flower garden. Throughout the summer we picked our own raspberries, blueberries, green beans, herbs, and peas. We often made an outing of picking up our produce; we went together with our neighbors, visited the livestock, and enjoyed long walks in the summer sunshine. On beautiful warm days, visits to the farm became a weekly reminder of why we decided to raise kids in the Upper Valley.

One of the things that surprised me the most was how quickly we adapted our cooking and eating habits to include the vegetables that were available from the farm. We got an email each week telling us about the harvest and often recommending recipes. If I felt stuck, I could turn to the internet to help me find a tasty way to serve veggies I had never encountered before. My husband and I both learned to be more creative and more flexible with our cooking. We learned to make parsnip fries, kale chips, and garlicky rainbow chard, among many others. We may never have tried new or unusual veggies from the grocery store or the farmers markets, but through our CSA share we discovered some delicious new family favorites.

These raspberries may not have made it home!

My toddler surprised all of us by trying lots of new foods, too. Since she loved going to the farm, she soon discovered that she loved eating from the farm. We all ate more vegetables than we would have without our CSA share – a habit that I hope lasts a lifetime.

We’re looking forward to continuing this new family tradition and spending another summer wandering the farm, enjoying our favorite fresh produce, and testing out some new recipes. Even though it feels early to be thinking about summer vegetables, now is the time to check out what the local farms are offering and sign up for your share! I’m putting my check in the mail and counting the days until we’re back in the warm sunshine on the farm.

100 Years and Still Going Strong

I sat down recently with Paul Boucher, President of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, who spoke at length about his 17 years at the “helm.” But, the first thing he said was startling! “When I retire in June, I hope the next president has as much passion for the job as I feel I had!” I guess we assumed he would be at the helm for a very long time. However, even though retirement was looming, his heart, mind, and energy were still very enthusiastically engaged with Chamber activities.

First, he wanted us to understand the solid foundation upon which the Chamber had been built and how it remains strong today.

On February 9, 1916, “a public meeting was held in the court room to organize a Chamber of Commerce…” (from Granite State Free Press, Feb. 11, 1916).

On February 23, 1917, the first Annual Meeting of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce was held in the courtroom with 75 members present. Frank U. Bell was the first president.

Paul Boucher was president during 1985-86, the 70th year of the Chamber. He presided over the Annual Meeting at which he commented on much of the history and the people who had been part of it. Many past presidents were at this celebration, among them being Don Ross, Jim Canto, Clark Griffiths, Tom Bascetta, Terri Dudley, Lloyd Bennett and Barry Schuster.

Norris Cotton, a prominent figure who was president of the Chamber from 1940 to 1941, and also a lawyer, became a US Senator in 1946. During his over-50-year membership in the Chamber, much was accomplished. One major event was a Chamber-sponsored reception in the Lower Town Hall honoring him, with more than 600 people attending, including Governor Charles Dale and many other dignitaries. Senator Cotton was made a lifetime member of the Chamber.

Every other year the Lebanon Chamber hosts the Governor’s Luncheon at the Fireside. The 2013 luncheon featured Governor Lynch who gave the State of the State address with about 100 people attending. L-R: Jim Hurst, Chairman of the Board, Lebanon Chamber; Paul, Governor Lynch, Tom Byrne, Chairman of the Board for Hanover Chamber.

In 1946, President George F. Richardson, Jr., worked hard to gain bus service between Lebanon and Enfield, to serve the Mascoma Lake area during the summer resort season. Membership of the Chamber was 204 that year, and dues were either $5 or $10 a year, depending on the size of the business! But Richardson recommended that dues be raised to $25-$30 per year as those in Claremont.

During 1964-1968, there was much trial – and pain – for the Chamber: the fire in 1964, the building of I-89, and much growth, all of which contributed to the challenges of the presidents during that time which included Ben Hirsch, Ken Murphy, Brad Alden, and Gordon Sargent. President Hirsch  started the system which overlapped terms for Directors, which is still used.

Another building block laid by President Jim Canto (1978) was that the Chamber must have a fixed office and director to properly serve the community. Canto also hatched the idea of the Home and Trade Show, first held at the Sheraton in West Lebanon.

Paul and his wife Karen came to Lebanon in 1971 from Claremont where he worked at the Indian Head Bank. His association with the Chamber began in 1979 while working at the National Bank of Lebanon (now Citizens) – 37 years ago! He became a member of the Chamber Board and was elected President from 1985-1986.

Jim Wechsler, Executive Director, presenting the Citizen of the Year award to Terri Dudley in 1994

In 1999, he was elected as the first full-time Director of the Chamber, and after 17 years of constant service, now operates under the title of President and CEO.

I asked Mr. Boucher how the Chamber has managed to last for 100 years. He said, “Continuity and dedicated Directors and Presidents. For example, Matt Brown served for 27 years, and Debbie Carter for 18. Jim Wechsler served for 22 years as Director, and I have now served for 17 years. Only two people in the State have served longer: Tim Sink of Concord’s Chamber with 22 years, and Laura Ring of Rochester Chamber with 33 years.”

Just a few of the many accomplishments that President Boucher has overseen are:

• Established the Leadership of the Upper Valley in 2006. The idea came from the Concord Chamber, when Ron Biron (past president of Lebanon College), Slewinski and Hurst, went through the Leadership Institute of NH (still going), and encouraged Paul to look into it. Biron and Boucher researched how Concord had established theirs and thus it began. There were nine people in the beginning and now the numbers are in the upper 20s. It is now led by Vital Communities. For one full day a month for nine months, people learn about economic development, communications, the arts, government, and more. It encourages people to understand and participate in their local communities… how to join a local board, run for office, or get involved in town government.
• Established an Economic Vitality Commission, made up of the president of the Chamber (now Paul), two directors of the Chamber, the City manager, the Mayor and five business leaders. Its purpose is to open the lines of communication regarding Lebanon’s economic health and growth. The Commission meets for one hour each month.
• Wings & Wheels was the brainchild of Drew Nelson, Chairman of the Board, and Paul. It is a daylong family event held at the Lebanon Airport and showcases airplanes of all vintages and classic cars. Local organizations participate, and there is much entertainment such as a police dog demonstration, display of fire trucks, plane rides, kids’games, food, entertainment, tours of the Airport, and more.
• The Information Booth was established in Colburn Park across from the Library and Post Office. It is open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day and is staffed by volunteers from the Lebanon Senior Center. Members of the Chamber place their brochures and information there for visitors to pick up.
• Lebanon College. Paul served for nine years on the Lebanon College Board. During his five years as Chairman, the College found its permanent home on the Mall when Donald Wenz was President of the College. Note: This spring, a new occupant of the site will be River Valley Community College.
• Since 1964, the Chamber has sponsored awarding a Citizen of the Year and a Business of the Year.

Aerial view of Lebanon

Paul also serves on the Board of the Grafton County Economic Development Council that began in 1997. He is the last of the charter members. The Council provides loans and grant to Lebanon businesses.

In October of 2016, the 100th Annual Meeting will be held and you can bet Paul will have his hand in the planning.

So, when you hear, or ask, the question “What’s in it for me and why should I join the Chamber?”consider all of the following reasons stated by Paul: By joining the Chamber, your business will be:

• Promoted by having our fully staffed office make referrals when people call asking for advice or guidance. Members are also promoted in the monthly newsletter, on the website, Facebook, Business After Hours, networking, social events, and more.
• Educated with forums and workshops at which professionals in many fields are invited to speak.
• Represented by bringing your questions and concerns regarding any issues needing attention as a group to the attention of City Hall.

And, as another service, members are welcome to put their printed materials in the Chamber office for people to pick up.

Paul, his son Christopher, 10, and Martin Corcoran, President 1987-88, setting up the Sno Kone equipment during the Bike Race around the downtown area.

The Mission of the Greater Lebanon Chamber of Commerce is: “To continually strive to provide a leadership role through the business community in advocating community growth and economic development while improving a balanced quality of life for the Upper Valley.”

“Show me a community with an active Chamber of Commerce, and I’ll show you a progressive community!” stated Frank Hough, President in 1948, and who often closed his meetings with that statement.

Thus spans one hundred years of uninterrupted service for the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce.

The Greater Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce serves Lebanon, West Lebanon, Canaan, Enfield, Plainfield and Meriden, New Hampshire.

You are welcome to stop in and visit the Chamber at 2 South Park Street, The Willis House, on the corner of South Park and School Street in downtown Lebanon.

To learn more about the Chamber and Membership, contact them in any of the following ways: P. O. Box 97, Lebanon, NH 03755 Telephone: (603) 448-1203 Fax: (603) 448-6489.

More Than Just a Grocery Store

Imagine the year 1936. The average annual salary was $1,730, if you were fortunate enough to have a job. You could buy a loaf of bread for 8¢, a pound of hamburger for 12 ¢, and rent was $24 per month. The Great Depression was in full swing, and times were hard. There was no television, only newspapers and radio.

Yet here in the Upper Valley, a collective of 17 Dartmouth professors and their spouses found the inspiration to establish the Hanover Consumer’s Club in an effort to save money by cooperatively purchasing food and fuel. One of the first of many cooperatives created in the U.S. based on the principles of education, community improvement, and democracy, the group sold more than $9,000 worth of goods in its first year of operation.

Fast forward 80 years to the Co-op as we know it today. A three-store operation, with annual sales topping $70 million and 400 employees, the Co-op is more than just a chain of grocery stores. According to Allan Reetz, Director of Communications, the Co-op has remained true to the founders’ ideals. The Co-op’s growth and success is a result of a commitment to the “…needs of the greater community. It is not a private club created for the sole use of a few. The founders knew that when they opened their club to new members and their cooperative to all shoppers – member or not.”

Willing Hands

The Co-op takes a multi-faceted approach to meeting its mission of serving the greater good. The Board produces an annual “Scorecard” with statistics on the organization’s impact, available on its website. Willing Hands, a local food distribution non-profit receives more than 231,000 pounds (that’s 115 tons) of food each year. Collectively, local farmers and food producers sold almost $8 million worth of goods to the Co-op stores, giving a whole new meaning to the ‘buy local’ philosophy. “I’ve had many farmers tell me that they would not have made it in farming if it weren’t for the Co-op Food Stores. We churn more money back into the local economy than any locally-owned retailer I can think of through our purchases,” says Reetz.

Like many Upper Valley businesses, Co-op employees are paid to volunteer in their communities up to 8 hours annually at local non-profits like the Haven, Habitat for Humanity, and SPARK Community Center. Between volunteerism and local charitable giving, event sponsorships, and in-kind donations, more than $75,000 was distributed throughout the Upper Valley during 2014. The Hanover Cooperative Community Fund supports non-profits in the Upper Valley and throughout New England to the tune of $340,000 in contributions since its founding in 2001. And recently, the Co-op initiated a program called “Food for All” to provide food for members who need it. Serving the greater good extends to environmental sustainability as well, from recycling electronic waste (35,000 pounds in 2014) to installing a solar hot water system to reduce energy costs.

Electronic waste recycling

To mark the 80-year journey from 1936 to 2016, the Co-op is offering one-of-a-kind products including a citrus and sage cheese being produced by Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company in South Woodstock, VT and later this year, a special beer made by Woodstock Station Inn and Brewery in Woodstock, NH brewed using fairly traded Equal Exchange coffee beans.

And sure, a loaf of bread from a local baker costs a bit more than 8¢, but isn’t it worth it to support your neighbor in the spirit of serving the greater good?

Catherine calms an owl

Those of us who have visited or read about wild animal rehabilitation centers generally understand that the people behind the scenes are doing some pretty incredible work. The amount of training these individuals have to undergo in order to be able to care for wild animals is intensive. There is often the dangerous potential for animals to react fearfully if they are not used to humans. There are sad stories that go along with the work, and sometimes it’s hard to let those stories go.

What is often forgotten is the part played by everyday citizens, the ones who take time out of their busy schedules to bring in these injured animals. When I began to write about Saint Francis Wild Bird Hospital in Lyme, NH and the work that Catherine Greenleaf does there, I was focused on her; but when I asked her to tell me her favorite rehabilitation story, it was not about her:

“I think my favorite story has to be the one about Harley, the Broadwing Hawk. His situation shows how kind people can be when they find an injured animal. It was 4th of July weekend several years ago, and a man was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, breezing down Rte. 4 in Canaan, and all of a sudden a hawk flew into the front fender of his bike. The man turned just in time to see the hawk get flung across the road and into the bushes.

“He pulled over and stopped and then scooped up the badly injured hawk, and with one hand driving the motorcycle and the other hand holding the hawk, he somehow made it to my bird hospital. Harley had a severe head injury, and it took months for him to recover, but he recovered completely and was released the following spring. That act of kindness on the part of the motorcycle rider is the inspiration that keeps me going in what I do.”

A Barn Swallow who got trapped in a fly strip

Catherine with a Belted Kingfisher who flew into a window

Saint Francis Wild Bird Hospital in Lyme, NH is not necessarily the first wildlife hospital Upper Valley residents think of when they come across an injured bird, but Saint Francis has rescued over 1,400 birds since its inception in 2007. They are also licensed to take snakes and turtles, although Catherine noted that she has yet to have anyone bring in a snake.

A Great Horned Owl who was caught in a leg hold trap

It’s clear that working with birds is Catherine’s passion, one that gives back almost as much as she puts in. When asked to pick a favorite type of bird to work with she answered:

“It’s really hard to pick a favorite. I would say hawks and owls, ravens and crows, and loons. There’s a kind of holy presence about these birds, about all birds, actually, but these birds in particular for some reason. They are the ultimate in primal wildness; and they exude an intelligence that we as humans have yet to tap into.”

Sewing machine has been retrofitted as a treadle machine so it doesn’t need power.

I’d been thinking about Haiti even before the [2010] earthquake, looking for avenues to do something useful down there,” says Lebanon’s Janet Hall. “The earthquake just broke my heart.” Before long, she made her way to the island nation, to the village of Sous Savanne, near the epicenter of the quake. “People were living under blankets and tarps, because they were afraid that what was left would fall,” she recalls. Janet was inspired to organize the Regenesis Project, a non-profit whose “goal is to work alongside of hardworking individuals to help them develop a sustainable income.”

With the encouragement and participation of her Christian community in Lebanon, Janet, whose career has largely been in food service, is finding a market for crafts produced by a handful of Haitians. It’s a challenging task on many levels. “When you go down there and work, you have to take your western mindset and flush it down the toilet,” she explains, adding that schedules go on relaxed and flexible “Haitian time.” She accepts that “you have to work with them where they’re at.” She does not seek to force people into her vision of how they should be. She visits Haiti at least twice a year, bringing back handbags, paintings, and paper-bead jewelry for sale.

Janet is comfortable working on a small scale. “I’m not out to save the world,” she says, “but if I can help one or two people get from point A to point B….” Regenesis currently works with about a dozen people in the town of 400. Many Haitian women are single parents, prisoners of a cultural breakdown where husbands wander, returning home occasionally (and sometimes siring another child). “There are very few traditional married couples raising kids,” Janet notes, adding that in spite of the difficulty of obtaining birth control—a trip to the clinic is an all-day matter, and the Depo shots are not free—she’s seen some changes in birthrates since she started visiting.

In Sous Savanne Janet has collaborated with volunteers from Hope Force International, a Christian disaster relief group. HFI has focused on building reinforced homes to replace collapsed ones. “Houses are the size of a bedroom in the States,” says Janet. Most of life happens outdoors, except for sleeping and storage. In the rainy season storms tend to drop a lot of water quickly and then move on. Travel is hard, and heat and humidity levels surprise New Englanders.

Dan Drye, also of Lebanon, serves on the board of Regenesis. He’s went down to Haiti last December, his first trip there, though he lived in Mexico for six months. “It’s a similar feel because of the abject poverty,” he says, “but it’s a very different culture.” He can see that Regenesis is making a difference, small though it may be. “The people we work with have a positive outlook on the business aspect,” he notes, “and they’ve been able to encourage others in the village. He and the rest of the Regenesis board are looking ahead for more projects. It would be easy, Dan says, to saturate the market for paper bead jewelry. What should be next? A Haitian chemical engineer has expressed interest in helping develop soaps and shampoos that villagers can manufacture. Disposable products could be the way to go.

To see Regenesis crafts, and pictures of participants, visit www.regenesisproject.org.

A Photographer to the Music Legends

Photographer John Lee

At age 71, professional photographer John Lee is now retired and living at the Quail Hollow Senior Living Community in West Lebanon, NH. When he sits down to reminisce about his fascinating career as a professional photographer, musician and graphic designer, he not only invokes fond memories, but shares stunning photographs of some of the giants of the music industry.

After working in Nashville, Tennessee for 37 years John had established himself as the “go-to guy” when it came to photographing the national music scene and its giant super stars. Who else could state that they had lunch with the late Elvis Presley and his manager Colonel Tom Parker? How about the ability to call Country Western music legend Willy Nelson a personal friend? It was a breath-taking career that often took more turns than a Vermont scenic back road.

“I always had an interest in photography and considered it a real art form,” John explained. “I completed Art School at the New Phoenix School of Design in New York and got hired as a graphic designer by IBM at their corporate headquarters in Armonk, N.Y. While doing that, I got drafted into the United States Army where I was assigned as photographer for their various publications. While stationed in Germany, I was assigned five photographers to oversee.”

Upon completion of his military obligation, John’s love of music and photography took him straight to Nashville. It was a solid decision.

“While in the Army, I had been doing some freelance work with my photography and established contacts in the music business. I would photograph concerts and contribute to music publications. It wasn’t just Country Western performers that I concentrated on, but Rock ’n Roll, as well. I had the opportunity to photograph the Rolling Stones and The Who in concert, among others. That started to open doors.”

Once John became a fixture in the Nashville music scene, he quickly discovered that reaching out to the management of these famous entertainers was a formidable task with numerous obstacles. Basically, it boiled down to who you knew and how connected you became.

“The funny thing about the people who managed these music stars was the fact that they didn’t always put a lot of emphasis on the actual talent of a photographer. They would have friends that knew someone who took photos to do the work as a favor. Frankly, a lot of that work was terrible. I got established by selling my work to musical publications like the Country Music Magazine or the Vintage Guitar Magazine. That made all the difference in the world. People got to see my talent published and would ask specifically for me.”

There is a saying in life that “timing is everything.” John can relate to that old axiom. His arrival on the Nashville music scene coincided with the rapid rise in popularity of Country Western Music and the Rock ’n Roll scene as well.

“Things were happening so quickly in the music business that the demand for photographs for magazine articles and publicity purposes was staggering. Frankly speaking, a lot of the photographers on the scene were not very well-trained. My work had become established and it spoke for itself.”

John’s photographic skills were not restricted to music personalities. Auto racing had always been a passion, as well, and he allowed his camera to lead the way. He had the opportunity to record on film some of the legendary early NASCAR drivers and his pursuit of “the need for speed” helped him capture a memorable portrait of the incomparable Formula One driver, Jackie Stewart, who hailed from Dumbarton, Scotland. Stewart had set a record for Grand Prix wins with 27 before he retired.

John Lee photographed Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, among many other music stars.

“I had a love for auto racing for a long time,” John explained. It was an exciting sport to photograph. Most of the events took place on weekends so that allowed me to travel and photograph these events. Again, my work started to get noticed in this field, as well, and opened up many more doors.”

While John’s photography speaks volumes about the man, it does not paint a complete picture of his overall talents. He is also an accomplished musician, and living in Nashville only fostered his love of music.

“I played the drums and also taught myself to play the five-stringed banjo. I got pretty good on the banjo. But remember now, I was in Nashville, the center of Country Western music! I was surrounded by people who were making some pretty good music at the time. I still really enjoy music, but I think my photography carried me a lot further.”

After talking with John, one comes away with the impression that, without a doubt, the talented photographer and musician completed a fascinating career that many would envy. The burning question that arises quickly, how did he end up living in the Lebanon, NH area? He is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and his work carried him on a long journey.

“I have always loved New England and the lifestyle it offers. I often came up here on my own just to soak in the atmosphere. My son John moved to this region and I followed so I could be near family. I’ve been here 15 years and absolutely love the Upper Valley and what it has to offer. This is a great place to call home.”