Many people reach a point in their lives when it becomes difficult to meet new people. Thankfully, Upper Valley Ultimate has been remedying this problem for decades by providing a third space to play Ultimate Frisbee. To clarify, “…in social theory, a ‘third space’ refers to a place, separate from home (first space) and work (second space), where people gather to socialize, relax, and build community. It’s a neutral ground for informal interactions, fostering a sense of belonging and connection.” (AI search summary) At Sachem Field in West Lebanon, over thirty people meet at 6pm on a Monday to throw the disc in a friendly pick-up game.

Becca Bates, a current Enfield resident who grew up in Lebanon, first found the group around two decades ago. She was looking for a place to meet friends and saw an ad in the paper for a co-ed Ultimate Frisbee league. When she asked if she could play, the group said yes, but she wasn’t sure if she was “in” until all of the players went to the Salt Hill Pub after the game. After ordering a Pabst Blue Ribbon in front of one of the regular players, she knew she was when someone said, “You’re a frisbee person if you’re ordering a PBR.”

It’s important to note – preferring specific adult beverages has never been necessary in attending the Upper Valley Ultimate group, as the group is welcoming to all. Attendees range from 16 years old to those in their 70s, though most are more centered around the middle of that age range. Though there are several residents from Lebanon and the surrounding Upper Valley area, some players drive over an hour to play, such as some from St. Johnsbury. Part of the reason for this is simple. Although other areas in the region have pickup games, this is one of the most well-attended groups, so there are always enough people to play.

Over the years, Bates has seen the group transform with a few different organizers, and even ran it herself for a few years. After COVID, she stopped running it, and now it is a committee-run group. A group of four sets up communication through emails and a Discord server, coordinating all sorts of logistics.

Beyond pick-up games, the Upper Valley Ultimate group hosts an additional league night during the summer. Teams are internally constructed within the group with co-ed teams of equal gender-mixing. One of the coordinators’ hardest jobs is making sure teams are balanced effectively for fair play. The latest summer league that just finished had four teams. Team names are typically constructed based on a theme, and this year’s was medieval professions: the Bladesmiths, the Shepherds, the Town Criers, and the Jesters.

Finals trophy – top and underside – the years reveal how far back the summer league goes.

Despite the league being a bit more involved, all games exude a casual hangout feel. Two Lebanon residents, Jeffy Wang and Lily Frappier, are two new attendees standing on the sidelines for the first time. When asked if they’ve ever played Ultimate Frisbee before, Frappier says she “played a little in high school” and Wang says, “I’ve thrown a disc before. Does that count?” Their lack of experience doesn’t seem to intimidate them either, as they each eagerly wait for their turn to play.

They both found out about the group from Adam Jones, an engineer and current Lebanon resident here on work rotation. Originally from London, England, he played Ultimate Frisbee regularly there, and he was shocked he could keep it up in Lebanon, NH. He found out about it from the Upper Valley Ultimate Facebook page and said it helped him meet other people in the area when he moved here this May.

Upper Valley Ultimate attendees stress that the group is for everyone, and a unique aspect of the sport that furthers this outlook is “the spirit of the game,” something that has, over time, been written directly into the rulebook. The gist is that players are encouraged to respect each other on the field, and games have no referees. Instead, when a foul is called, both players talk out the call and have to agree on its legitimacy, making it completely self-regulated. The rule furthers the inclusivity and community aspect of the sport.

In the last four years, the group found another way to be more inclusive by creating and running a separate women and nonbinary players’ night. The intention was for it to be a space for new players that was less intimidating. Originally, the group held practices and drills to increase the skills of these players, but this made it difficult for those who couldn’t make it every week. Eventually, coordinators shifted it to a separate pick-up night.

Though Sachem Field is perfect during the summer, fall makes the area less viable due to several school teams needing it for games. This is when the Upper Valley Ultimate group moves down to one night a week. Though still able to utilize the field for a time in the fall, when the weather turns, they meet inside and whittle down their games to a four-on-four player structure.

One of the greatest challenges the group has is spreading the word about the group. Though there are several returning members, a great deal of the members are transient, including students and medical residents at Dartmouth Hitchcock. Flyers have been utilized in the past, but most come to know about the group through the over 400-follower Upper Valley Ultimate Facebook page. The group is always looking for more players. Those interested can simply show up to a pickup game held on Monday or Wednesday at Sachem Field or reach out to the Facebook group for more information.

If you’re someone who’s looking for a way to be outside more frequently and meet new people, the Upper Valley Ultimate group is here for you. Whether you’re athletically inclined or not, the group stresses they’ve always been more about community-building than anything else. Though many argue about the vanishing “third space,” when you look around Sachem Field, you’ll find Upper Valley Ultimate is keeping it alive as those from all walks of life gather to play a friendly, casual game together.

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.”

Here in the Upper Valley, we are very lucky to have access to a wide range of resources, especially those that are found in unexpected places. The Lebanon Libraries are of course known for the literary resources that they offer, but now, the library has also become a destination for those who are most in need within our community.

A partnership between Dartmouth Health and Lebanon Public Libraries transpired from a direct need that the library staff found themselves facing on three separate occasions, during which a series of drug overdoses occurred outside of the library building. Both libraries – Lebanon Library and Kilton Library – are located near a frequently used Advanced Transit bus stop, so when these incidents arose, library staff didn’t know how to best handle the situation in this public setting.

Lauren Chambers, the senior community health partnership coordinator for Dartmouth Health, stepped in to train library staff firsthand on how to respond to a drug overdose situation. Chambers, who works with community partners to increase awareness of and access to substance use disorder services, puts a focus on care for affected individuals from prevention through recovery.

There were no fatalities during the incidents at the Lebanon Library, and EMTs and Lebanon Police responded quickly to the scene, though one victim suffered a fatal overdose during a later incident. After the incidents, library director Amy Lappin prioritized giving library staff the opportunity to receive firsthand training from Chambers. Training included demonstrations for the administration of a life-saving medication, known as “Narcan”, in the form of a nasal spray. Once administered, Narcan does nothing to further harm the victim of a drug overdose.

The library staff welcomed the training, and Lappin emphasized that the Narcan administration process is surprisingly, “so simple!” Chambers has returned to the library twice for staff training sessions, and now Lebanon Public Libraries will provide regular opioid-overdose response training, available for both new and long-term staff.

Narcan, the brand name for the medication Naloxone, is commonly used to reverse or significantly reduce the effects of opioids on the human body. The effect of Narcan, which helps counter shallow breathing, is felt within roughly two minutes of its administration. The medication blocks the effects of opioids for up to 90 minutes, and multiple doses may be required afterward. Usually, the victim is shocked and they are not thinking rationally when they come back into consciousness.

In one instance that Lappin witnessed, a man who appeared dead and who was administered Narcan by EMTs simply got up from the scene and got on his bus, refusing further medical treatment. Now both libraries offer ‘Naloxboxes’ provided by Dartmouth Health, which provide the medication publicly and discreetly with no questions asked. Basic hygiene kits are also available, provided by UVGEAR – another organization that supplies donation-based items like tents, deodorant, socks, wipes, and sleeping bags at no cost for the growing number of unhoused individuals in need within our community.

“People are hurting…addiction is definitely an issue here,” Lappin said. “We want to help however we can. Libraries are about providing whatever resources our community needs and so we do that. There is just a huge need for a variety of things and we are trying to do our part to help people.” The library is now installing lockers on their facilities for access to essential supplies available 24/7, including access to a porta potty located outside of the building.

This program, with funding from the NH Dept. of Health and Human Services and Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services (BDAS), provides vital resources for the community, helping to equip at-risk or concerned individuals with critical tools that can save lives. “People can and do recover when they are connected with the appropriate care and resources and have a support network in place,” Chambers said. “By installing Naloxboxes in community spaces – visible to all – it sends the clear message that the community, businesses, or organizations care about its residents and patrons and feel strongly that providing access to this life-saving tool is critically important.”

“The drug epidemic is real, and people need help regardless of what somebody in the community thinks about that,” Lappin said. “Nobody wants to watch somebody die in front of them. The overdoses that the librarians and I had to witness, it’s a horrific thing to watch and it’s even more horrific to feel helpless in it.”

Lebanon Public Libraries and Dartmouth Health make it a point to be present as a resource for the community in ways that are needed the most. Whether checking out a library book, taking the bus, or accessing a life-saving tool such as Narcan, the libraries serve a variety of needs within our community, without a hint of judgement.

Each year, drug and alcohol problems among employees result in the loss of productivity, profits, and a positive working environment for businesses and organizations. In the past, employees dealing with these issues might incur severe consequences from their employers, frequently resulting in termination, which often led to a further downhill spiral in their lives. However, in recent years, many forward-thinking companies and organizations are trying different approaches to support employees facing addiction problems.

One such company in the Upper Valley is the well-respected Hypertherm Associates. Stacey Chiocchio, the community citizenship manager at Hypertherm Associates, explains how this move towards assisting employees with addiction issues, termed a “recovery-friendly workplace”, began at the firm.

“Oftentimes, the way things start is with our associates,” says  Chiocchio. Associates (employees) realized that with the burgeoning opioid crisis affecting so many in New Hampshire and Vermont, the company needed to be proactive in response. So in the mid-2010s,  progress toward a recovery-friendly workplace was underway.

Removing the stigma associated with drug and alcohol problems and building a safe space for recovery at the company was the goal when they first addressed the issue, says Chiocchio. In doing this, the company sought outside support in the process, which included ideas from the Dartmouth Hitchcock Community Health team. Also playing a  major role in this effort is Hypertherm’s own HOPE Foundation. The Hypertherm HOPE Foundation continues to fund nonprofits in this space with programs focused on education to remove stigma and help support recovery.

Though the process of establishing a recovery-friendly work environment began in 2015, it continues to grow and evolve, Chiocchio says. “Every year we’ve added more and more strengths to the (effort)…it’s a journey.”

One key initiative at first was looking at past policies and protocols regarding employees with substance use disorders and then adapting them. In the past, when an employee was experiencing drug or alcohol problems related to work, “often it led to termination,” says Chiocchio. All agreed that this could no longer be the main option; “We needed to do better.” 

Doing better meant supporting these employees going through difficult times. That support includes helping the individual connect with a  licensed alcohol and drug counselor to create a plan. 

Many other company supported assets are now in place to help,  Chiocchio says. These include resource cards found in all of the restrooms, providing employees with a private space in which to learn about their options. The company has also trained associates, termed “champions,” within the company to provide information and resources for those in need. Recently, the company has installed a resource called a “Naloxbox” throughout each of their facilities. When opened, it notifies all that there is a lifesaving measure occurring. The box contains Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Any associate is able to open the box to administer this lifesaving drug.

“Through the actions we took, we created a recovery-friendly  workplace,” says Chiocchio.

The goal of creating a recovery friendly work environment is not unique to Hypertherm Associates. After Hypertherm began this program, the State of NH began its Recovery Friendly Work Initiative. According to information on the State’s website, “Untreated addiction costs New Hampshire’s economy $2.36 billion. 66% of that cost ($1.5 billion) is incurred by businesses in the form of impaired productivity and  absenteeism.”

The State site goes on further to say, “The Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative gives business owners the resources and support they need to foster a supportive environment that encourages the success of their employees in recovery.”

The State recognizes Hypertherm Associates as a partner in the  Initiative, along with many other companies and organizations throughout NH. The response to Hypertherm’s recovery friendly effort and initiatives among the staff has exceeded expectations, says Stacey Chiocchio. “This (effort), more than any other, has had such a dramatic effect in a positive way.”

Having this recovery based effort has to some extent changed the  culture at the company, Chiocchio points out. “We like to celebrate  milestones,” she says, such as employees reaching

25 years of service.  Though in the past, those celebrations would often take place at an  establishment where alcohol was served, such as a brewery. Changes to this were inevitable; “That doesn’t feel like it’s supporting all our associates,” says Chiocchio. In response, she says this year’s celebration took place at VINS as an alcohol free event, making it a more comfortable occasion for those in recovery. “We’re really proud of that pivot,” says Chiocchio.

Not only employees at the company benefit from this recovery initiative – family members do as well. “Some (employees) have family  members struggling, they feel supported, and they now feel that they can ask for help for those family members,” says Chiocchio.

Though many companies are realizing a recovery friendly work  environment is important, many more have yet to make that commitment. When asked what companies contemplating a move towards a recovery friendly workplace should do, Stacey Chiocchio offers blunt advice. “Be honest with yourself; don’t be in denial that you have substance abuse within your walls.” 

On a cold and snowy Earth Day, Thursday, April 22nd, Willing Hands and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center public health team rang in their third annual Farmacy Garden season. Despite the frigid temperature, a group of six volunteers attended. Guided by staff, the volunteers laid down rows of wood chips to delineate the vegetable beds.

Willing Hands Garden Manager, Mikey Van Siclen, radiates deep empathy and respect for the land. He stresses that soil may provide endless nutrients for us if we care for it properly. This entails a regenerative, soil-focused approach to growing fruits and vegetables.

“By building and maintaining healthy soil, managing water wisely, and increasing biodiversity, we work to enhance the overall health and production of this plot,” said Van Siclen. He added that the Willing Hands soil-focused practice enriches and preserves the subsoil network necessary to plant growth.

Alternatively, according to Van Siclen, industrial agricultural methods involve annual tillage, synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides – lethal to soil fertility. While these traditional farming practices may yield swift and successful growth in the short term, they inflict negative consequences to the land and ultimately, to people in the long run. With increasingly less fertile soil available in the world, there are fewer plots of land to farm and grow healthy food .

 “The traditional view is that soil is [just] dirt – an inert medium in which plants grow,” said Van Siclen. He adds that soil degradation not only depletes the soil’s nutrients but also ruins the biology critical to future plant growth. The result is that additional synthetic fertilizers are needed each year: a vicious cycle that further damages the land.

Willing Hands however firmly believes in the sustainable, regenerative, soil-focused methods they use to treat and care for the soil. They utilize natural fertilization, applying “compost and organic materials to feed soil biology,” to increase soil health and care for the ecosystem beneath the soils’ surface. Willing Hands adheres to low-disturbance methods, such as broadforking – a labor-intensive gardening method that loosens and aerates the soil in preparation for planting – versus tilling, which is faster but harms the roots, earthworms, and the microbial life in the subsoil. Broadforking allows the microscopic organisms that exist beneath the soil surface to live and thrive undisturbed.

“We are working to optimize soil conditions to increase soil fertility, as well as capture and store carbon in the ground,” said Van Siclen.

In other words, by making a sustainable investment in the land, they aim to produce large quantities of fresh, nutritious, organic produce that will reach more people in need.

Much as indigenous peoples lived in harmony with the land, not just from it, Willing Hands are committed to preserving the soil’s long-term health so that it will continue to provide food for future generations.

• • • • •

Through the Farmacy Garden, the public health team at DHMC is also working to increase awareness around food insecurity and decrease the stigma that surrounds this pervasive issue.

“Food insecurity – a lack of consistent access to adequate, nutritious foods – is impacting one out of six community members in our region since the pandemic started,” said public health advocate with DHMC, Chelsey R. Canavan.

Consistent with the beliefs of the Greek physician, Hippocrates, DHMC staff view food as medicine. Canavan and her team believe that diet and nutrition are vital, yet often overlooked parts of patient care. Planting this vegetable garden is a part of DHMC’s vision towards prevention, treatment, and recovery of severe health problems including, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Through the support of DHMC, Willing Hands, and volunteers, the Farmacy Garden will produce a veggie-lovers dream: an all-organic bounty of kale, collard greens, carrots, beets, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, onions, broccoli, and garlic. All of the produce will go directly to those suffering from food insecurity by way of the Willing Hands distribution system. Their network distributes to food pantries, partnering grocery stores, COOPs, and over 60 non-profit organizations in the Upper Valley region.

“Our goal here is to grow the most prolific, nutrient-dense crops possible – we want to maximize yields so that we can increase the amount we give back to the community,” said Van Siclen. With bright smiles, willing hands, and rows of seeds in the ground, this gardening crew is not only cultivating the soil, but also a greater sense of care, support, and connection to the community at large. n

These gardens could not flourish, progress, or exist without the help of so many dedicated volunteers from the Upper Valley community. If you would like to volunteer at the Farmacy Garden or other Willing Hands locations, please sign up in advance on the website: www.willinghands.org/help-us/volunteer.

When Peggy O’Neil became the executive director of WISE (Women’s Information Service) in 2003, the Lebanon, N.H., non-profit organization known for its work in assisting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, the organization was using a decades-old logo that showed a woman in silhouette, her face hidden from view. The image was consistent with society-wide attitudes toward the twin scourges of domestic and sexual violence – kept out of public view, and rarely spoken of.

“We know that secrecy and isolation breed domestic violence and sexual assault,” O’Neil said in a Zoom interview.

But shrouding these issues in secrecy and isolation is not the best way to combat a global public health problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 1 in 3 women, or 35% of women worldwide, have experienced “either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.”

So, in 2006, after consultation with the staff and the Upper Valley community, a new WISE logo and message were unveiled. No woman concealed in the shadows this time, but a simple declaration: end violence, share hope, change lives.

“It was more consistent with our intention to end domestic and sexual violence within our communities, including being more public about the issue,” said O’Neil.

This year marks WISE’s 50th anniversary. What began in Hanover as a career resource center for women has become a multi-faceted agency that provides services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence from 21 towns in New Hampshire and Vermont. Approximately 1,300 people annually turn to WISE for counseling and assistance. WISE offers safe housing for women leaving dangerous, abusive relationships, often accompanied by their children.

“Survivors don’t necessarily feel safe or comfortable in shelters or transitional housing. When you leave your home, you have to go someplace – and that place needs to be safe,” said Betsy Kohl, WISE’s communications and development director.

The WISE mandate is a broad one. WISE now owns three buildings in Lebanon: their offices at 38 Bank Street, a safe house (location undisclosed) and, most recently, they acquired an apartment building next to 38 Bank Street, which they are renovating for long-term housing.

WISE also provides financial and housing assistance, and support for people navigating the often intimidating, complex maze of law enforcement and the courts.

Since the early 1990s, WISE has brought educational programming into schools in the Upper Valley. With the hiring of a program director in 2008, WISE now serves four independent schools and nine public school districts in New Hampshire and Vermont, including Lebanon, Hanover, Thetford, Mascoma Valley and Windsor. The programs begin in elementary school and continue through high school.

The idea is to help younger people recognize the warning signs of not only physical abuse, but also, in this era of social media, the signs of bullying, stalking and coercive control.

“The prevention work they do is really unique. They’re trying to change the dynamics in young people,” said Tricia Spellman, a member of the WISE Board of Trustees since 2015, and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College.

WISE’s expansion has continued in other areas. In 1982, WISE had 22 volunteers; today, it has 106 trained female and male volunteers who work the 24-hour phone lines or correspond online or by text, and act as court observers and ambassadors to the community at large, said Kohl. When O’Neil took over the directorship, she estimates that WISE saw about 600 people a year; that number has more than doubled.

Those who have heard Ali Grace Rapetti sing and play her guitar will tell you she has the voice of an angel. Many will also point out that she very well may be heaven sent with her soothing and comforting offerings. As we all seek connection and solace during these socially-distanced times, Ms. Rapetti’s music therapy mission has earned her wings, as well.

Ali Grace Rapetti is a registered music t herapist who offers her services free of charge to those often overwhelmed by depression, sadness, loneliness or living in fear of contracting Covid-19 as the pandemic continues. You will see her often at senior living communities, hospitals, private homes and hospice settings around the Upper Valley.

“The Sunapee Visiting Nurses Association allows me, as part of my job, to complete community outreach. When used clinically, music has the ability to provide emotional comfort, spiritual support, family connection and acceptance and can even ameliorate physical symptoms. The direction we take is up to the patient and his or her needs and the songs we utilize are based on a patient’s personal preferences. Being able to provide therapeutic presence and a patient’s preferred music at the end of his or her life is an honor I don’t take lightly.”

Having Grace appear in a local venue can also amount to just a ‘plain old fashion’ outdoor or indoor concert for senior citizens such as her recent appearance at the Quail Hollow Senior Living Community in West Lebanon. A light hearted performance where she seeks song requests from days gone by to invoke pleasant memories is the goal in those settings. “Music therapy isn’t about performance – it isn’t music for music’s sake – it is using music to achieve a non-musical goal like coping with a terminal diagnosis, providing a safe space for emotional expression or reviewing significant memories, to name a few. I have been able to perform on national tours and in hallowed music concert halls, but there is nothing as rewarding and meaningful to me as being able to provide music therapy to a hospice patient.”

When you review this singing angel’s background, you may be more than impressed. It may take a while to list her qualifications so bear with it.

Grace Rapetti is the founder and director of Starling Creative Arts. She actively practices music therapy, teaches music lessons and performs music weekly around Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She holds graduate degrees in music from the Berklee College of Music and the University of Colorado at Boulder and has written and performed with legendary artists. She has sung and shared stages with Willie Nelson, Carole King, Bobby McFerrin, The Eagles, Annie Lennox and Western African sensation Angelique Kidjo. Grace was featured as the U.S. representative of the International Ensemble Women of The World. She has sung on the legendary stages of Carnegie Hall and the Blue Note in New York City. She has been featured in Rolling Stone magazine and on National Public Radio for her version of the Beck’s “Old Shanghai.” In June of 2016, she performed the National Anthem at the Democratic National Convention. Grace was also a five-year member of the remarkable Boston-based ensemble Women of The World. She is also co-founder of the non-profit organization Arts Education International. That organization offers community-based arts programs for orphaned, abandoned, and traumatized children.

That should give you a sense of a fraction of her accomplishments to date, but just how did this all come about? She has followed an amazing path along life’s journey. Grace explains: “I was born in Houston, Texas and bounced around between Colorado, Florida and Massachusetts and now New Hampshire. I currently live in a cottage on Lake Sunapee, NH and hope to remain there for the long haul. My interest in music dates as far back as my first memory listening to “Puff The Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary. I was never classically trained and no one ever told me I couldn’t sing or play, so I found solace, identity and fun in music. It wasn’t until I was sixteen that I picked up the guitar and started writing songs.”

So with all that musical background over the years selecting songs to comfort and entertain others, what does Grace consider her favorite song? What song would she like to hear when the end nears? The answer is a bit ironic! “I would like to hear “Angel” by Jimi Hendricks. It’s a journeying song and so comforting and beautiful to me. Another song I would select for comfort and beauty and joy is the Eva Cassidy version of “Fields of Gold.” Cassidy’s voice is a sonic catharsis – it calls forth deep emotion. My favorite current band is Wilco. Jeff Tweedy’s songwriting never fails to amaze me and the band has become so solid after decades of transition.”

So don’t forget, Upper Valley residents, as this pandemic continues to alter life styles and impacts all aspects of our lives, never forget the soothing benefits of music. Rest assured Grace is prepared to pick up her guitar and show you the way. Angels do exist.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For some, vacations abroad are spent on lavish cruises or sightseeing tours staged from behind the curtains of a comfortable hotel. But for Charlie Barker, this is missing the point of traveling. Once a firefighter, now a fire inspector with the Lebanon Fire Department, Charlie sees time abroad as an opportunity for adventure and all of the wonderful, unanticipated, and utterly real experiences that come along with it.

Charlie Barker presenting two Mexican fire fighters
with Lebanon Fire Department shirts

Most recently, this passion prompted him to join an aid trip to central Mexico run by John Markowitz. John, who works in the DHMC Emergency Department, has been going down to the area around Puebla City, Mexico to climb and to work with the Red Cross since 1999, and in that time he has done hands-on relief for various crises and established lasting friendships with local agents of change. This trip, he told me, had three purposes: to bring down equipment and supplies, to build bunk beds for a Red Cross station in Ciudad Serdan, and to get some climbing in if time permitted. For Charlie, it was the perfect combination.

“When John approached me,” he reflected, eyes lighting up, “I was like: Trip to Mexico? Do some work and get to hike a mountain? Yeah, yeah, let’s go!”

And Charlie, John insists, was exactly who he needed.

“It was Charlie who encouraged me to ask other firefighters to come,” John said, “and he asked if we could bring soccer balls and soccer shirts for the kids, and then Charlie talked to his mother, a former schoolteacher, and came back asking: ‘What about school supplies?’”

Volunteers in front of the ambulance, with Charlie at
the wheel

As soon as the team touched down in Mexico City, Charlie allowed his adventurous personality to take the reins, inspiring his peers to do lunch the local way, grabbing fresh fare from food trucks down the road. In Puebla the following day, he reveled in a chance to observe the Day of the Dead celebration, and to analyze the effects of the recent earthquake on the city. He shows me pictures of churches with no steeples, and of entire blocks of buildings braced to prevent collapse.

“For a firefighter,” he says, “this stuff is fascinating – to see what their people do for a disaster – because it’s different in every country.”

Stopping in at the Puebla City firehouse and its hospital revealed some of the more nuanced differences. Their equipment was similar but outdated, the hospital’s Emergency Department looking like the set for a 1950’s doctor drama, and the firehouse sporting old, mismatched bunker gear. Charlie proposed a future exchange between the two firehouses, but for the time being he settled for traded shirts from the Lebanon Fire Department with the Puebla crew in a show of camaraderie. Then it was off to the real work.

For the next 8 days the team established a home base out of an old soap factory in Tlachichuca, a small village at 8,000 ft. They distributed their supplies, aided the Red Cross in the construction of the bunk beds in Ciudad Serdan, and plotted a course to hike the gargantuan Mt. Orizaba.

Serdan is where all of the northbound trains pass, ridden by scores of Central American migrants fleeing oppressive, often deadly conditions in their home countries. When I asked Charlie what it was like seeing this on the ground, he told me the story of a boy who, when flung off a northbound train going 50mph, lost both of his feet at the ankles. “They’re gonna patch him up, and then send him right back,” said Charlie. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Charlie shares medical equipment and supplies that were
carried to the Red Cross in the city of Serdan, MX

But, he tells me, the experience was also eye-opening, allowing him to see the raw truth of a debate clouded by political agenda. “These are people,” he said. “All they want is a better shot at life, and I don’t think we here [in the US] often see it that way.”

On the final day, Charlie got up at 3:30am and hiked, with fellow Hanover firefighter Chris Sweitzer, halfway up the knees of Mt. Orizaba to an elevation of close to 14,500 ft. As the sun came up, Popo, an active volcano hoarding the horizon line, erupted with a cacophonous boom.

“It was awesome,” Charlie said.

John, who waited at a lower way station, echoed this sentiment, and lauded Charlie for his energy and enthusiasm, that day and every other.

“He helped make the trip,” John told me.

When I asked Charlie if he would ever do this again, or would recommend it to others, he flashed a genial smile.

“Definitely.”

As the opioid epidemic sweeps the nation, New Hampshire has become a focal point in the national consciousness. Many regional organizations are working to identify new approaches that address not only substance misuse, but also health and wellness. While many of these organizations focus on treatment and recovery, some have focused more on prevention and addressing community and cultural needs. Lebanon Partners United for Safety and Health (PUSH) is one such initiative.

PUSH is a partnership of community members, students, parents, and stakeholders in Lebanon. The group focuses on education, communication, networking, leadership development, and providing practical resources to promote greater health and safety for youth and their families. PUSH is especially concerned with the areas of substance misuse, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention and response. Their current initiatives are focused on reducing the harms from youth and young adult marijuana use in the Lebanon School District. One of the ways PUSH aims to achieve this goal is through improving community attachment for youth and young adults, as well as increasing access to healthy activities.

At the most recent meeting of PUSH, members discussed the issue that 64 percent of Lebanon youth say they are not utilizing community programs and services. As part of that discussion, the group brainstormed activities for youth, young adults, and families in Lebanon. As part of their work, however, the group discovered that there are already many free or low-cost activities and events that attract a wide range of ages.

Lebanon Recreation and Parks offers teen programming after school and during the summer and school breaks. The Summer Outdoor Adventures program offered Lebanon teens opportunities to spend their vacations rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking on the Connecticut River, stand up paddleboarding, and through-hiking the Appalachian Trail. In the winter, programming includes ski trips, ice fishing, and excursions to indoor adventures throughout the state. Meanwhile, the Lebanon Libraries offer teen book groups, hands-on computer building, free movies, and comic workshops. The library’s TechGirlz series was open to middle school girls this summer and offered workshops in podcasting, designing mobile apps, coding, and website design.

Given the teen programming already in place, PUSH’s next priority is finding ways to help youth overcome the barriers to accessing the plentiful programs throughout the city. Angie LeDuc, the Drug-Free Community Partnership Coordinator for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Community Health, says, “The goal of PUSH is to be a connector. We are looking to protect young people and help them feel understood and have a connection to their community.”

PUSH has meetings approximately every four weeks in locations throughout Lebanon and they are open to the public. The group welcomes new members. Members of PUSH have the chance to gain experience working on public health issues, network with other community members, and be a part of positive community change. For more information about joining the group or attending a meeting, visit uvalltogether.com or email Angie.M.Leduc@hitchcock.org