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.… Read More

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.… Read More

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.… Read More

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.… Read More

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.… Read More

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.

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.… Read More

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.… Read More

A coalition of Lebanon parents is working to make play space more accessible to young children, especially those under the age of five. The Lebanon Plays project has two primary objectives: create play spaces that are accessible to families on foot, bike, or public transit, and create play spaces that are safe and fun for the youngest Lebanon residents.

The initiative sprang out of the Safe Routes to Play initiative, a year-long study funded by the Healthy New Hampshire (HNH) Foundation and Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Safe Routes to Play seeks to improve the safety and ease of biking and walking to recreational areas for young children and their families.… Read More

When Dogs Walk Their Humans

When Becky Luce goes out for a walk these days, she is always accompanied by her faithful companion, the erstwhile Brittany, Obi. Since he joined the Luce family last winter, Becky and Obi have explored the hills and dales of the Upper Valley collecting dirt and mud, and enjoying the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle.

One of their favorite treks is the Hanover Center portion of the Appalachian Trail in Etna, which they love to explore, especially with their friend, Lisa and her Brittany, Obi’s Aunt Maggie. “For every step I take, Obi runs at least 5!… Read More

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!… Read More