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. The Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission, in partnership with Upper Valley HEAL and the City of Lebanon, organized parents around this issue. The study revealed that Lebanon was in need of play spaces for young children that are accessible by foot or by bicycle without the need of a car.

After receiving the results of the Safe Routes to Play study, the next step was to form a volunteer group of Lebanon residents to use the information from the study and continue the work. Lebanon Plays recruited a coalition of interested parents to work on the design and implementation of the project. The group’s role is to gather parents, grandparents, and others interested in improving the City’s playgrounds. Ideally those involved would serve as advocates by helping spread the word and, perhaps, even doing some of the work on the ground. While the group only meets for a couple hours per month, they are quickly accomplishing their goals.

They selected Colburn Park as the location for the new playground because there is so much family-friendly activity there already: summer concerts, the farmers market, the library, and countless community events. The Park is also walkable from several Lebanon neighborhoods and accessible by bus. Colburn Park is accessible all year round and already has picnic tables, many trees to provide shade, and public bathrooms nearby, making the area a natural choice as a location to create additional play space.

While there are several playgrounds in the neighborhood, none are designed to be safe for this younger age range. Moreover, many are housed within a school or private organization and aren’t always accessible to the public. In addition, while Colburn Park does have a small play area already, it is not big enough for all of the children that are frequently in the park for community events, nor does it have equipment geared toward younger children. In order to reduce the risk of injury to children ages five and under, the new playground may include features like low crawling and climbing space, ramps, steps, riding toys, tunnels, and open space. These features reduce the falling risks posed to small children on playgrounds designed for older children.

Paul Coats, Director of Lebanon Recreation and Parks, has been involved with Safe Routes to Play and Lebanon Plays since their inception and is a strong advocate for the projects. Coats said of the Recreation Department’s involvement, “We as a community are listening, your voice matters, and community activism matters. We have lots of playgrounds around the community but we don’t have them for children ages one to five years old. Now we know what we need to do, and Lebanon Plays is helping us launch into that process.”

As of the time of this writing, the group is looking at proposals from several companies for different playground designs. After selecting a design, the group will begin fundraising and generating community excitement for the new playground, culminating in a volunteer event to actually build the playground.

Coats is excited about the parent and community participation in the Lebanon Plays project, and about the opportunities it creates for the children of Lebanon to play safely and enjoy an active childhood close to home. “We’re creating an atmosphere where they get to go to a place that’s near their neighborhood to go out and play. And they reap all the benefits of going outside and exercising, but they get to call it play.”

For more information or to volunteer, email lebanonplays@gmail.com or contact Paul Coats at Lebanon Recreation and Parks.

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! He is in constant motion, following scents or chasing after birds or chipmunks – it’s definitely Obi’s happy place.”

What inspires Becky to be physically active? “In 2010, I had bariatric surgery to help me lose weight. After losing 175 pounds, I had my knee replaced in 2012, which made a huge difference in my ability to exercise. I have wanted a dog for a long time, and it made sense to bring Obi into my life for companionship and to have a reason to get outside and be more physically active.”  And Obi seems to enjoy their treks, meeting birds, other dogs, and humans along the way. Becky combines walks with Obi and a healthy diet, including a daily protein shake.

A Multi-Sport Lifestyle

As active couples go, Kristen and Paul Coats are a model of how to include physical activity in one’s daily life. Both have full-time jobs and volunteer for their church, yet they manage to fit in long-distance training runs and races, water sports, tennis, skiing, cycling, hiking and backpacking trips, and adventure travel around the world.

Kristen and Paul met playing competitive tennis in Atlanta in 2003. Paul had already moved to Lebanon to begin working as the Program Coordinator at the recreation and parks department, and Kristen arrived in 2005. With a busy work schedule as the Director of Recreation & Parks in Lebanon, Paul looks forward to workouts and recreational activities with Kristen. “We really enjoy each other’s company, and being physically active is a great way for us to spend quality time together.”

Kristen likes the fun aspect of their adventures together. “We encourage each other to be physically, emotionally, and spiritually fit, practicing healthy eating as well as living an active lifestyle. We usually have a small garden to grow some of our food, and love to cook healthy meals together.” Kristen works at The Haven as the Food and Wellness Coordinator, and previously served as the Community Health Partnership Coordinator at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

A Community of Champions

Thor’s Stone Athletic Club is not your average fitness club. Founded in 2009 by Carl Wallin, who coached Dartmouth throwers for 40 years and has held several national records in masters competitions, the club includes 39 active members from 17-92 years of age. The group trains daily at the Carter Community Building Association in Lebanon, and members compete regionally and nationally in throwing events, Olympic lifting, and powerlifting.

Carl describes his inspiration for starting Thor’s Stone Athletic Club as a desire to give back to the community. “I wanted to give back with something that I knew something about and thought I would be able to help people with. Anybody can join, but they have to compete. I’m a big believer in doing your best, and that’s really what it’s all about.”

Many of the members hold world records in their age groups. “We train together as a community, and everyone helps each other do their best.”

Valerie Thompson of Lebanon, 58, went from never competing in sports to throwing the hammer, shot put, and discus, and holds three world records in powerlifting. Two members can deadlift 300 pounds or more at age 77. “With the people I train, I have no sympathy for gender and age, and I push them as hard as I possibly can. I want them to keep getting stronger and better.”

According to Carl, “You can actually get stronger as you get older.” From 45 minutes to an hour is the optimal time to obtain the maximum training benefit, and members can usually complete a workout in that amount of time. Adds Carl, chuckling, “If they don’t talk a lot.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

When Livability.com named Lebanon, NH the #1 Best Small Town in America for 2015, Recreation & Parks Director Paul Coats revealed to the website’s editors one of the City’s little known charms, “Winters are tough up here, but I think most people embrace it.” As hard as it is to admit, the summer’s 90 degree days are becoming a distant memory, and embracing all forms of play on snow and ice is one way outdoor recreation enthusiasts survive the long, chilly winters in the Upper Valley.

Opportunities for winter fun and fitness are literally everywhere in Lebanon, a fact echoed by Coats to Livability.com. “In big cities you have to seek out these special parks that offer an oasis in the middle of a lot of sprawl. Here, most places are available for people to go and explore.” It’s true – snowshoeing and cross country skiing on the City’s many conservation properties, downhill skiing, sledding, and ski jumping at Storrs Hill, and indoor skating at the Hanover Improvement Society’s Campion Rink, have all been part of Lebanon’s rich winter sports history.

Now the thrill of skating outdoors under the full moon or on a bright, sunny day is getting a boost thanks to an energetic group of Lebanon citizens who want to help sustain Lebanon’s four season appeal. Members of the newly formed non-profit, Friends of Lebanon Recreation and Parks (FOLRP), have been working with Coats on designing fund raisers and identifying projects to improve Lebanon’s recreational amenities, starting with an upgrade to the City’s outdoor skating rink at Pat Walsh Park. “The Recreation and Parks Department has wanted to get a Friends group off the ground for a number of years, and we have finally rallied a few key people,” said Coats.

For decades, City staff and volunteers have provided outdoor skating rinks at various locations throughout the City, including Smith Field in West Lebanon, and Colburn Park. Hearty souls have used powerful fire hoses to flood the frozen turf after dark and throughout the day in sub-freezing temperatures, only to have the ice surface melt down during the annual January thaw. This has frustrated skating enthusiasts and the City. FOLRP hopes to change this pattern by raising funds to purchase a commercial ice rink system to provide more consistent skating opportunities throughout the winter season and reduce maintenance expenses in the department’s tight budget.

The $10,000 fundraising effort aims to provide a plastic liner to contain the ice, making it stronger and less likely to break down. A reusable set of rink-boards and protective kickboards surround the rink, and resurfacing the ice with a Zamboni-style machine will enhance the quality of ice. A warming hut may follow in the future. More than $3,000 has been raised to-date, primarily to honor the memory of Robert Harris, the former Chair of the Lebanon Recreation Commission, and a longtime sports enthusiast.

Kristin McGee, one of the group’s founders, says she got involved because she is committed to helping Lebanon provide more year ‘round recreation opportunities for kids. McGee hopes others will come forward with their own ideas to rally around. The former Dartmouth runner has three active children, and says there is growing interest in the new ice rink plan, which will be large enough to accommodate pick-up hockey games and open skating.

Last winter, FOLRP held a Community Skating Party to showcase its efforts and get children and families out on the ice. Providing hot chocolate, music and snacks made the frigid weather more bearable to the 60 skating enthusiasts who showed up. McGee, who is the group’s secretary, along with fellow Friends members, Joanne Oscadal, Bart Guetti, Tom O’Quinn, Frank Gould, and president Dave Hoskinson, hope to raise the balance of the funds in time to install the new rink system for the upcoming winter.

FOLRP was conceived as a way for Lebanon residents to get involved in ‘continuing the rich recreational opportunities’ in the City. Opportunities to participate include submitting ideas, joining the board, joining a work crew, and providing financial assistance or in-kind services. To learn more, visit the FOLRP website, Friendsoflebrec.org.

The kind of community involvement FOLRP is offering may be one factor that inspired Livability.com to cite engaged citizens who volunteer as one of the reasons for Lebanon’s #1 livability ranking. So, as we bid goodbye to another fabulous Upper Valley summer, now is your chance to step up and help FOLRP achieve its ambitious goals. And don’t forget to get your skates sharpened!

Few things are as rewarding as a good mountain bike ride. The only thing that could possibly make the experience even better is sharing it with someone else. It’s in that spirit of the shared adventure that local mountain bikers come together a couple of times a week from May through early November as conditions allow.

The rides are low key affairs, organized by local bike shops to spread the joy of riding and give recreational riders a good reason to get in the saddle for a couple of hours. Neither races nor fundraisers, there’s no sign up or fee required and everyone is invited and encouraged to join in.

Every Tuesday at 5PM, a dozen riders carpool from Omer & Bob’s shop in downtown Lebanon to trails in Lebanon, Cornish, Claremont, Newport, or beyond. One of the shop’s team of accomplished riders always leads the ride, and Jonathan Wilmot, who organizes the rides, says they’re intended to encourage people to get out on their bikes and to help riders discover and explore the trails of the Upper Valley with a knowledgeable guide.

Many of the participants are regulars, says Jonathan, others may be visitors from out of town or curious newcomers looking for something new to try. The two-hour ride is at a fairly mellow pace, and nobody will be dropped from the group – but trails are trails, notes Jonathan, and some level of fitness and comfort with riding will be required.

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm, Mason Racing (located on Mechanic Street just west of the Green), hosts group rides in the Boston Lot, starting from the Nature Walk trailhead off Pine Tree Cemetery Road. The 1500+ acres between Rt. 120, Rt. 10 and the interstate comprises land owned by the town of Lebanon and Dartmouth College. After turbulent years with the trails in limbo, the Upper Valley Mountain Bike Association (UVMBA) is now the designated steward of miles of “official” multi-use trails in the B-Lot, as it’s also known.

One beautiful spring evening the trailhead is a buzz of activity with riders busy pulling bikes off racks and donning helmets. Some have come with regular mountain bikes, others with the newer breed of “fat bikes” with massive 4” wide tires. The riders themselves come in all shapes, sizes and abilities, and as one early arrival waits for the rest of the group to get organized, he explains that these group rides are great opportunities to meet other riders of different abilities and to challenge oneself in good company.

John, from Enfield, has stopped by on his way home from work, as he has done consistently since he first discovered the group through a friend a couple of years ago. “The first time, I showed up on an old clunker, and there were all these guys on their fancy bikes. I made it three miles before I had to bail. I went out and got myself a new bike, and I’ve been riding with the group ever since.”

Jason Ouelette from Mason Racing, who organizes the rides and is an avid participant, says that a typical summer ride may have a turnout of 25 riders or more. They’ll usually split into a handful of self-selected groups of riders of similar abilities or ambition, who will then stick together for the evening on the trails. Some may do a leisurely 5-6 miles on the easier stuff, others 15 miles or more on all of the varied terrain that Boston Lot has to offer.

Most groups will ride for a couple of hours, finishing around dark. While some riders have made it a tradition to head to Salt hill Pub to celebrate their accomplishments and the afterglow of a good ride, others are content with the ride itself.

You can certainly ride trails on your own, and many appreciate the solitude. But there’s much to be said for the support and encouragement from a friendly group of peers, and they may show you trails you didn’t know existed, or motivate you to ride more often than you otherwise would.

True or False: Male and female athletes can compete in the same sport on a completely equal basis?
If you answered ‘false,’ you’ll have to take time to drop by the Carter Community Building Association’s (CCBA) Witherell Recreation Center gym in downtown Lebanon and take in an action-packed game of floor hockey.

Yes, floor hockey! Harken back to those days in grade school gym class when the instructor brought out two nets, placed them on opposite ends of the gymnasium floor, and handed you a hockey stick. Suddenly you were introduced to an indoor version of the rugged game of ice hockey without knowing how to skate. Perhaps that instruction turned you on to the popular game of field hockey. Maybe you had already taken to the street in front of your house and endured a fierce neighborhood game of street hockey.

Floor hockey combines all of those elements into one single, action-packed sport designed to place men and women on an even playing field. The Upper Valley Floor Hockey Association was introduced to the area by Grantham residents Jared and Becky Rhoads. Becky, a native of Rutland, Vt., grew up playing ice hockey with the boys and later became a standout player at the University of Vermont. Jared, a native of North Reading, Mass., played soccer, baseball, and was on the track team. This athletic couple were seeking something new they could participate in together.

“When we moved to Boston we thought it would be great to find a sport that we could do together as a couple,” Jared explained. “Becky convinced me to sign up for a floor hockey league and we loved it. Those leagues are difficult to find even in a big city like Boston, so when we moved to this area we approached the CCBA.”

Kevin Talcott, sports director of the CCBA, felt the introduction of floor hockey would be a welcome addition.

“We offer such a wide variety of activities here that it appeared that floor hockey would fit right in very nicely. Jared and Becky established a league and we reserved a basketball court on Wednesday nights for them, and it took off from there,” Talcott said.

While Jared loves the pure competitive nature of the game, he also admires the aerobic benefit of playing floor hockey.

“I’m one of those who likes to stay in great shape, but when doing so I have to compete. I can’t just ride a stationary bike or work out on a treadmill. This is an extremely rigorous sport that features non-stop action for two 25-minute halves. The game features four-on-four players on the court at one time. We don’t stop the action because there are no out-of-bounds plays. The clock keeps running!”

To that end, the rules require each team to have at least nine or 10 players so frequent substitutions can be made. The key element of that rule is that there be a minimum of one woman on the court from each team at all times. That has changed the style of play considerably.

“Having women on the teams has definitely held down the aggressive style of play that might develop if it was all men,” Jared added with a sly smile. “We have been considering making the rules have two women on the court at all times. More ladies are joining the league and are very necessary with all the subbing that goes on during the game.”

Rough play is discouraged right from the start and every game features a referee, but penalties are very rare. Establishing game etiquette was a key element to the success of the program.

“We find it kind of tones down that male testosterone thing,” Becky noted. “The women compete as fiercely as their male counterparts. It’s very enjoyable.”

Each player must wear eye protection, while shin guards and elbow pads are the order of the day. The majority of the players use modified or taped hockey sticks, and in place of a puck, a small, red plastic ball is used. The goalie for each team is padded from head to foot, with good reason. Most shots on goal are at point blank range.

The floor hockey league is entering its second year, and the league plans to play a nine-week schedule in all four seasons. To learn how to get involved, visit uvfloorhockey.com.

Before the car, there was the bicycle. As a mode of transportation, the bicycle is one of the most widely used vehicles in the world. According to industry analysts, bicycles outnumber cars by a two to one margin.

So it stands to reason that as the City of Lebanon advances the idea of the Mascoma River Greenway, a bicycle and pedestrian trail connection between Lebanon and West Lebanon, people are excited. So excited, in fact, that of the $2.2 million needed to deck four bridges, install signage, and pave the four-mile pathway, an amazing $1.6 million has been raised in just two years from private donations, City investments, grants, and sponsorships.

How is this possible? For starters, it takes patience and perseverance. Back in 1998, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail was established to develop the 23-mile Northern Rail Trail from Lebanon to Andover. This effort laid the groundwork for a culture of recreational trail use, recruiting volunteers, and negotiating with state agencies overseeing the corridor. The Lebanon Rotary Club joined the party at the same time with its String of Pearls vision of “a riverfront trail system connecting public parks.”

The City entered the picture in 2003 with a cooperative agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to maintain a short section of the trail for recreational use. Five years later, the City established the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition and committed $50,000 to develop a Mascoma River Greenway Action Plan. Armed with cost estimates and a vision for the health, economic, conservation, and transportation benefits of the proposed Greenway, the Coalition got to work. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Under the leadership of Frank Gould, a retired educator and former Chair of the Lebanon Recreation Commission, and Lebanon Director of Recreation & Parks Paul Coats, the project continues to gain momentum and is on track for completion in 2016.

“It is tremendous to be able to utilize the rail corridor again to provide Lebanon with a connection between east and west, and to create markers highlighting the Northern Railroad’s significance to Lebanon’s history, connecting the past with the present,” said Gould.

The Upper Valley Trails Alliance and Upper Valley Healthy Eating Active Living Partnership have provided technical assistance and small grants to the effort.

The Mascoma River Greenway, or MRG as it’s known locally, is one of more than 1,850 converted rail trails in the country, according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit advocacy group. Rail trails are used for commuting, recreation, tourism, economic development, and of course, to improve your health.

Economists have analyzed these things and report revenues from overnight stays, entertainment, food, and bike rentals in the hundreds of millions of dollars for destination trails like the C & O Canal Trail in Maryland, the Burlington Bike Path in Vermont, and the Confederation Trail in Canada. Having ridden all of these trails, I can vouch for the appeal of ice cream stands, a decent dinner, a reputable bike shop, and a comfortable bed on a long distance recreational ride. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to support the local economy.

There’s a lot to be said for moving under your own steam, even if only for 10 minutes a day, according to researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana. That’s about how long it takes to get up from your desk in downtown Lebanon and walk to one of the many access points along the Northern Rail Trail or the current Greenway segment extending from High Street to the Slayton Hill Bridge. At the very least, one can enjoy the benefit of unplugging from computers and cell phones to check out the natural beauty, cultural history, and soothing sounds of the Mascoma River.

But one of the greatest outcomes of the work of the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition will most certainly be offering up a walkable and bikeable connection between the communities of Lebanon and West Lebanon, and the more than 50 school, work, and play destinations accessible along the corridor. As Victor Hugo said, “There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.” Three cheers for the Mascoma River Greenway Coalition and the City of Lebanon for paving the way to help more people live an active lifestyle. Learn more, donate, or volunteer for the Mascoma River Greenway project at mascomagreenway.com.

Our daily transportation decisions have major impacts on our personal health and the wellness of our communities. Places that design streets to encourage walking and biking inevitably get people active and out of their cars. A robust transit system encourages good public health because it gets people walking to bus stops. Buses also help us breathe easier. They produce 95 percent less carbon monoxide, 92 percent fewer volatile organic compounds, and 45 percent less carbon dioxide than private automobiles, according to the American Public Health Association.

Thankfully, Lebanon residents have many options to use public transportation or take a safe walking or biking trip. Advance Transit provides frequent connections to places to shop, work, and play throughout Lebanon and the Upper Valley “core” towns. Need to get to Dartmouth Hitchcock for work or an appointment? Advance Transit’s Blue Route provides a quick, fifteen-minute ride from Downtown Lebanon an astonishing thirty times per day. Perhaps you want to get into downtown Hanover to walk around and do some shopping. Hop on an Orange Route bus in front of the Kilton Library, and you’ll be there in ten minutes.

Thetford resident Stacey Glazer says Advance Transit is particularly helpful on days when she carpools. “Last year, I carpooled into the office twice a week and took the Orange to Hanover where I met my daughter for yoga class at the Dartmouth gym. After class we would drive home together. Advance Transit helped us have one fewer car in the household.”

If you’re commuting into Lebanon from further away, you might be able to use a longer-distance bus to get to work. Connecticut River Transit provides rides from communities along I-91 south to major employers, including Dartmouth Hitchcock, Dartmouth College, Hypertherm, Fuji-Dimatix, and the VA Medical Center. Stagecoach provides similar services from I-91 North and I-89 North in Vermont. If you feel tired and stressed from a long commute, chances are a bus ride could help you feel more relaxed and ready for your workday.

Lebanon’s resources for biking and walking are getting better each year. Area residents have for years enjoyed the Northern Rail Trail, an off-road biking and walking path that runs from Lebanon through Enfield to southern New Hampshire. Now, the City is working to extend this trail into West Lebanon through the Mascoma River Greenway project. This exciting, four-mile project will run all the way to the Vermont border and provide approximately half of Lebanon residents a connection within a mile of their homes.

Walking to work is a great option in many parts of town. Nate Miller lives and works near Lebanon’s Colburn Park, and he enjoys many benefits from walking to his job as Executive Director of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission. “I’ve walked to work nearly every day for the past eight years. Not only is it good exercise, but it’s also good for the wallet. My fiancée and I save thousands of dollars each year because we don’t need to own a second vehicle.”

To the north of downtown, the Mount Support multi-use path provides a safe way to access Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon High School, Timberwood Commons, and other residential areas. Paved in 2012, the separated path gives cyclists and walkers an option to go north and south in the Route 120 area without having to travel on the four-lane state highway itself. Advance Transit has also adjusted its Blue Route to accommodate the new residential developments along Mount Support Road.

These many improvements have not gone unnoticed. Last year, the Upper Valley Transportation Management Association recognized the City of Lebanon as the winner of its “Municipal Project of the Year” award, saying Lebanon received the award for many projects that are helping to build a strong transportation network. Continue to look for great new ways to bike, walk, and take the bus around Lebanon – the city is on the path to a great transportation future!

This issue of The Lebanon Times spans an interesting season here in the Upper Valley, covering February through April, the time when we transition from the cold and gray of winter to beginnings of the warmth and verdure of spring. It truly feels like a season of renewal: We’ve survived another winter of snow and below-freezing weather, and we’re possessed of a new, hopeful energy that only comes with this particular season.

Each person welcomes the spring in her own way. Me, I go outside as the snow melts and take “litter-picking walks,” collecting the trash suddenly so evident at the sides of the roads. Although I wish it didn’t have to be done, I feel good contributing a little something to the refreshing of the landscape – and getting outside into the fresh spring air after the long winter (when, admittedly, I probably spend a bit too much time sitting by the woodstove).

How do other Lebanon neighbors honor the arrival of spring?

Nicole Cormen

“I welcome spring as I do every season, outdoors looking for signs of change on the landscape. Most of these signs occur gradually, but a few really punctuate the start of spring: the quacking of wood frogs, the return of red-winged blackbirds, the blooming of snowdrops, crocuses, and beaked hazelnut. There’s something new out there every day, and even the awakened blackflies are welcome – till they start biting, of course.”

 

Paul Coats

“I do love spring. I grew up in Georgia where we didn’t have much of a winter, and I used to take spring for granted. But you earn it here, and there’s so much to appreciate about having made it through a long winter. The explosion of green that comes out is one of my favorite things. I almost appreciate it more than fall foliage, going from no color to so much color. My wife Kristen and I enjoy getting into a canoe or kayak when the ice breaks. It’s quiet, and it’s something we can do together at the same pace. We like to grab a picnic when we get a nice warm day and we can go hang out by a brook and sit in the sun. That’s like a rite of passage. We’re not bundled up in jackets. We can just enjoy warmth and see all that new growth.”

Courtney Rogers

“By mid-April, the days are already getting warmer, but there is always one day when I just know that the warm weather is really on its way. On that day, I put up my storm windows and pull down the screens, in preparation for the summer ahead. From that day forward, I sleep with my bedroom window open, albeit under a pile of blankets, so that I can feel the air getting warmer, night by night. Each May (usually Mother’s Day weekend), my mom and I take a trip to Edgewater Farm to pick out flowers for our porches and decks, and I pick up vegetable plants for my garden. Once I get them home, I go to work planting my garden, repotting my plants, and making my deck into a plant jungle. When all my work is done, and I have blisters on my hands and dirt under my fingernails, I like to sit among my plants, sipping a glass of wine in the warm spring air, waiting for the first firebug to make its appearance.”

Dave Nelson

“I have a project that I look forward to every spring. Being a photographer, I love to go out in the fields and woods and capture those first moments of spring. The attached photo is an illustration. The very first crocus of Spring! Wow! Being out there with camera in hand lifts my spirits as I see everything coming back to life. Hope springs eternal as the saying goes. Also, just the smell of spring makes my spirits soar. It’s kind of spiritual!”

 

Tonya Gibbs

“I love spring! After the long winter here, I love noticing and photographing the first bulbs popping through the snow. I start planning my vegetable garden. I like to take walks on the sunny days. On rainy days I’ll start sorting through things and put stuff aside for a garage sale or a donation to the Listen thrift shop. This year I might be a little distracted – my son graduates from college this spring and my daughter from high school!”

 

Jesse Barrows

“I look forward every year to the return of the wild ramps (wild leeks) and fiddleheads. These are the first gifts of spring from the earth, and they also remind us that usually by Mother’s Day we will find the first morel mushroom. We love when nature wakes up from its winter’s rest; it draws us out from our hibernation, awakened and refreshed!”

From its early years hosting a few loyal vendors to today’s thriving marketplace with more than 40 booths, the Lebanon Farmers’ Market has become a genuine, year-round Upper Valley institution.

I recently visited the Lebanon Farmers’ Market in a steady downpour, intent on buying local corn for dinner and to see who I might run into.

While the rain inspired fewer customers to visit the market, I appreciated having the extra time to speak with the vendors. I ended up buying not only corn on the cob, but homemade cookies, freshly popped kettle corn, and a hand thrown pottery bowl.

I often eat dinner at the market, with its diverse and healthy selection of prepared foods originating in Pakistan, France, Egypt, Africa, Greece, Argentina, and Thailand. And delicious wood-fired pizzas with fresh veggies are made to order – the choices to eat well at the Lebanon Farmers’ Market are virtually unlimited.

The social aspect of shopping at farmers’ markets is often overlooked, but talking directly to the region’s local fruit and vegetable growers, artisans, and international cast of prepared food vendors is the primary reason I like to shop at farmers’ markets. I visited with local vendors selling maple syrup products, frozen yogurt, artisan cheese and soaps, and perennial plants.

Founded in 2003, the Lebanon Farmers’ Market was initially funded by grants from the Valley Food and Farm program at Vital Communities and the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the City of Lebanon Recreation and Parks Department. The market was intentionally scheduled for Thursdays to avoid conflicts with the Norwich and Enfield farmers’ markets, a strategy which also maximized vendor participation.

Within several years, farmers’ markets were started in Hanover, Claremont, and Newport, aligning with a USDA-calculated national trend of a 200 percent increase in the number of farmers’ markets over the past two decades. This translates to more than 5,275 farmers’ markets currently operating in the U.S. today, with more than 60 operating across New Hampshire.

While many new markets operate with the vendors taking turns at scheduling, negotiating contracts, and accounting, Lebanon city officials supported hiring a part-time market coordinator from the beginning so the vendors could focus on generating a loyal customer base.

Decisions on where to hold the market (Colburn Park in downtown Lebanon), vendor fees, insurance, promotion, and market rules were well researched to create a successful, sustainable market. Even the definition of a farmers’ market was explored, which suggested that a true farmers’ market consists of roughly 60 percent agricultural products, and 40 percent in the art, craft, and prepared food categories.

If you are looking for organic produce, the cost of buying organic food directly from a local farmer is generally less expensive than at the grocery store. A report by the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of Vermont compared the cost of selected organic vegetables purchased at a farmers’ market with the same organic vegetables purchased from a co-op and conventional grocery store. Every fruit and vegetable compared was less expensive except potatoes. This makes a great case for buying vegetables and fruits at the farmers’ market and freezing them for use throughout the winter for long-term savings on your grocery bill – not to mention the comfort of knowing where your food comes from.

Amy Miller, the market’s longtime coordinator, has introduced several innovations that make it convenient for customers to buy market goods. A program supporting EBT, or Electronic Benefit Transfer, serves customers needing public assistance and provides the opportunity to purchase fresh produce. No cash? No problem. You can swipe your debit or credit card with a vendor to get ‘market coins’ worth $5 each to spend throughout the market. Vendors give you cash back in change, and turn in their coins throughout the summer to receive reimbursement.

One initiative that took several years to achieve, but has been wildly successful, is a partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center to operate a satellite market on site at the hospital. Four Upper Valley farms share the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables to hospital employees on “Fresh Veggie Fridays,” with plans to offer cooking classes in how to use the vegetables seasonally.

Most markets have a community booth available to nonprofit organizations that want to promote their good works, and Lebanon’s market is no exception. I spoke briefly with Frank Gould, who attends almost every market to tell the story of the Mascoma River Greenway, a planned bicycle and pedestrian pathway connecting Lebanon and West Lebanon. Frank patiently recites the goals of the project, shows visitors a map depicting the route of the greenway, and signs people up to volunteer for fundraising, trail clearing, public relations, and other tasks.

The Lebanon Farmers’ Market is a great place to bring the entire family, including kids of all ages. Live entertainment is offered each week, and AVA Gallery often has art activities available for children. The community atmosphere is infectious as people bring blankets to spread out near the music to enjoy a market picnic. Children meet their friends old and new and dance or just giggle. After the market closes, there is live music in the historic band shell at the other end of the park.

In an interview with the coordinators of the Upper Valley Healthy Eating Partnership, a program of the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth, Amy Miller spoke of the Lebanon Farmers’ Market success.

“We are fortunate to have farmers and artisans throughout the Upper Valley who are willing to bring their goods to market,” said Miller. “The trend is definitely catching on and each year more and more towns are hosting markets. These events offer not only fresh food, crafts and entertainment, but create a central gathering place for friends and neighbors. For children, the markets are a dynamic incubator for exploring fresh local products, meeting local farmers, and appreciating the cyclical nature of farming—lessons to last a lifetime.”

To further ink its position as a place where the ‘cool’ people go, the market has more than 800 ‘likes’ on its Facebook page, and favorable comments on food-specific websites and blogs including Fodor’s, Chow, US Travel, and Offbeat Eats.

So join other ‘buy local’ converts and check out the Lebanon Farmers’ Market. Consider choosing a rainy day – the vendors will appreciate the business, and you’ll be supporting a uniquely local institution.