CCL Weekly Update – 2/17/22
…I couldn’t help but admire the clouds.
Driving south one afternoon this week I couldn’t help but admire the clouds. It’s been a favored pastime for our family for a long time. If you look carefully, you can see amazing creatures up there! On this particular day, the clouds were without form…just light and wispy and different, sailing along a beautiful blue mid-winter sky. It took me a while to figure out what was different. And it drove me nuts, so rather than cause a crisis on Route 10, I pulled over to study things more carefully. And there it was….. wisps of color flying with the winds carrying the clouds. Vibrant and tiny diffused rainbows that looked like fairies flitting about, appearing in different places at different times, dancing in time with the rhythms of the sky. It was absolutely fascinating ….and I was late for my appointment. But, how often do we get to see the sun fairies?
I’m sure there’s a scientific, perfectly boring explanation for this phenomenon. I don’t want to know it. I want to revel in my good fortune to actually see such fun nature.
Life seems to be full of things like the sun fairy’s… few as intriguing, but still those things that flit in and out of our routines, creating awe and sometimes consternation. These can often be a nice diversion on a difficult day. So now, in a day with angst and frustration, I take time to appreciate my diversions –whether it’s a sun fairy, a rainbow, a child playing, a pet needing attention or the privilege of having good people in my world, I’m happy for the diversions that get me through the harder times.
May your daily diversions be ones of beauty and peace for your heart.
May your daily diversions be ones of beauty and peace for your heart.
News and Notes:
Heartfelt Appreciation to retiring Lyme Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Mundy!
Mike provided tremendous expertise and support to our community for many years. CommunityCare of Lyme extends our appreciation and well wishes as he heads toward a different kind of excitement and some well-deserved relaxation in his life.
Heartfelt Welcome to newly appointed Lyme Volunteer Fire Chief Aaron Rich!
Although Aaron has been kicking around Lyme for many years, his appointment as Fire Chief is a new addition to his extensive reportrare. Many of us have welcomed him as he’s responded to our request for help and his knowledge of Lyme and her people is comforting. Thanks for taking this on, Aaron.
And certainly, SINCERE THANKS to all the volunteers who spend personal time, energy, resources and often take great risks to help us when we need it!
We could use your input!
Information for new neighbors. CommunityCare of Lyme is working to create an online resource and printable document for our new neighbors, offering a Lymie’s guide to the area. We’d love your feedbackon your favorite places for good food and good fun! It will only take a few moments of your time, and the impact for our new neighbors is priceless!
February is …
International Friendship Month. As we move to International Friendship month, here are just a few ideas on how you might consider celebrating:
- Make a video containing photos, stories, songs etc. that have meaning for you and your friends. Share it with them through email or social media. (We’d love to see it too! shelby@cclyme.org)
- Set up a time to reconnect with a friend you haven’t spoken with recently. Meet in person, or schedule a Zoom call. Not too comfortable with Zoom? Did you know that the Aging Resource Center (ARC) through DHMC offers a regularly scheduled “Zoom Practice Space with Tech Coach”? Check out their calendar here to see upcoming dates, and to register.
- Send your friend a Thinking of You note in the mail. Afterall, who doesn’t like seeing a personal card in their mailbox? Much more exciting than another bill! CommunityCare of Lyme has notecards available, and we are warmly welcoming you – our friends and neighbors – to visit us in our cozy living room. Please call to make sure someone is in the office. 603-795-0603
- Attend an event with CCL this month to connect with friends, and meet new ones! We have Reiki with Stephanie Carney in the CCL office on Wednesday afternoons, the Food Pantry on Tuesdays and the Foot Clinic on Thursdays. You can also give us a call at any time for warm conversation: 603-795-0603.
- If you would like to help welcome new Afghan neighbors, please let Martha know. 603-795-0603.
Black History Month. This month we’re fortunate enough to collaborate with the Lyme Historians who have so generously shared research and resources about Black History in Lyme. We’re creating a slideshow, which will be available on our website by the end of the month. We will highlight Fast Facts about Black History in Lyme courtesy of the Lyme Historians.
You can learn more local history by visiting the Lyme Historian’s Website here: https://lymehistorians.wordpress.com/
You can learn more about Black history in New Hampshire by visiting the Black Heritage Trail NH here:
https://blackheritagetrailnh.org/
Bird Feeding Month. In 2021, we offered information on a DIY bird feeder to support our feathered friends during one of winter’s bleakest months. Here is an upcoming opportunity to be a citizen scientist and hugely help garner vital information on birds in our area:
- This weekend: February 18th – 21st – Great Backyard Bird Count this is a global event where you can connect with nature in a safe way, and help gather vital information as a citizen scientist. Their website has tons of resources for birders of all levels of experience, including phone apps to help you most effectively engage in the bird count.
Weekly health and well-being tips, resources, and recipes …
Monday’s Menu. If you have an original recipe OR a recipe you have adapted that you would love to share please email me at shelby@cclyme.org
Click here to see all the Monday’s Menu recipes.
Wellness Wednesday. For this week’s Wellness Wednesday posting, Laurie Veillette, PsyD has submitted You Are Not Your Thoughts – Because You Are Not A Banana, Adapted from The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris. This week’s post offers an impactful message with a splash of humor. Please enjoy here.
See all Wellness Wednesday posts here.
If you have a wellness topic you would like to share about OR would love to learn more about, please contact shelby@cclyme.org.
From Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dartmouth College:
“We are seeking input from community members for two projects to improve lung cancer screening
and treatment If you are 50-80 years old, have smoked in the last 15 yrs, & live within 30 miles of DHMC, we want to hear from you!
There are 2 activities for you to potentially get involved:
- We are conducting interviews (by Zoom or phone) with local community members to hear what they think about lung cancer screening and how to make it easier to get screened. The input received will help us design a community campaign about lung cancer screening. The interview will take up to 1 hour.
- We are hosting a one-time Zoom meeting called a Community Engagement Studio to get feedback on a lung cancer research study. During this small group meeting, we will present briefly about a research study and get feedback on how we can make the study better for patients. We are not asking anyone to join the study. The meeting will take up to 2 hours.
Participants will receive a $50 gift card for each activity.
If you are interested in participating in either (or both!) of these activities, please complete this interest form to let us know about you. We will be in touch soon to let you know if we’re able to schedule you for either activity.
If you have any questions, please contact us at NCCC.Community.Outreach@dartmouth.edu
Learn more and to register go to: https://tinyurl.com/LungInterview [tinyurl.com] ”
Orford Senior Center February Newsletter
Our partner organization, Orford Senior Center (serving Lyme), has shared their February newsletter here. They offer programs, weekly Grab ‘n Go meals, daily Meals on Wheels, home delivered meals. Please review their website here for the most up-to date information.
Covid Update
For up-to-date information on testing, vaccines, and more in New Hampshire, visit www.covid19.nh.gov.
Testing. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Please use this link: https://www.covidtests.gov/
There are more sources of test kits all the time. If you have extra tests that you might like to share, please contact Lyme’s Emergency Management Director, Margaret Caudill-Slosberg, at lymeeoc@lymenh.gov or CCL by responding to this email or by calling 603-795-0603.
Vaccination. Overall, the best protection for the vast majority of us continues to be vaccination – either initial dose(s) or a booster, if you’re eligible. Seek your doctor’s advice if you have any questions about how the current recommendations affect you. At Vaccines.gov, you can search for vaccination locations and make an appointment. You can also schedule directly with retailers, such as Walmart and CVS. New sites and new practices are happening all the time. A little patience will go a long way!
Upcoming vaccination clinics:
Walk-in Clinics. Offered by State & Regional Public Health at the Old JC Penny Site – Rote 12A, near Kohl’s. Tuesdays during February from 9:30am – 2pm. Fridays during February from 12 noon – 6pm. Bring personal identification and your vaccine card, and wear a mask. Boosters for those 6 months out from primary vaccine series, age 12 years and older. Clinic will vaccinate all eligible, 5 yrs and older. Moderna, Pfizer and J&J available.
Click here for statewide NH Mobile Vaccine Clinic Dates,Times & Locations
Stay safe: Let’s all do our best to stay safe and keep others safe, while lifting spirits with healthy ways to stay active and involved. Keep your mask along, and wear it inside or when safe distancing isn’t possible.
Contact CCL if you would like help navigating the system or have questions, and we’ll do our best to get you the most up-to-date answers and help you may need. Email help@cclyme.org or call 603-795-0603.
Extending a Warm Upper Valley Welcome
In Lyme and across the Upper Valley, many are working together to ease a very difficult transition in some wonderful families’ lives. If you would like to be involved, please contact Martha (martha.tecca@gmail.com, 603-795-0603). Donations to the CCL Welcome Fund support displaced Afghans in Lyme and across the Upper Valley and new Lyme families with urgent needs. Go to cclyme.org/donate or mail a check to CCL at PO Box 127 Lyme, NH. Please note that your donation is for the Welcome Fund.
We are here. Every Day. 603-795-0603 or help@cclyme.org.
Reach out when you or someone you care about needs a hand. If you could use information, help, a listening ear or ways to bring someone else joy, contact us at 603-795-0603 or help@CCLyme.org. Our phone is answered every day, usually in person. Our welcoming living room in the Lyme Center Academy is a terrific place to relax, read, visit with friends, or meet with a CCL team member. It is now open often during the week and by appointment. Give us a call to confirm times. Be in touch, any time. You’ll reach a friendly voice, a little (or a lot of) help, and creative, safe ways to be involved.
Coming up:
There is a LOT going on out there! Check out the Lyme Events Calendar (a selection of events from lots of calendars), the Valley News Calendar (especially for all kinds of arts in the area, but lots more), Lyme organizations (see several links at the end of this message) or the Aging Resource Center for ideas.
Lyme is happening!
We are pleased to pass on news shared by Lyme organizations.
- Post Pond Ice Rink. Stop by to skate! Be sure to check the Listserv for updates on the rink’s status as it relates to weather & maintenance. If you missed The ice rink maintenance crew’s Listserv post, review it here. There is a lot of information on how to safely and responsibly enjoy this community amenity.
- Lyme Congregational Church. Sunday worship is at 10:30am. Bring a mask. ALL WELCOME! Go to lymecc.org for more information.
- Lyme Food Pantry. CCL hosts every Tuesday at 1pm at Lyme Congregational Church. Call ahead to let us know what you’d like, or just stop by. DELIVERY AVAILABLE.
- FREE Reiki with Stephanie Carney at the CCL office. Weekly. Wednesdays at noon. To make an appointment contact Stephanie at carney.steph@gmail.com or by phone at 603-795-2419. Learn more here.
- Happy Feet Clinic. CCL hosts three Thursdays a month at the Lyme Center Academy Building. Appointment required. Expert foot care with nurse Susan Hannah Rose. Call 802-296-1112 0r email nancyallison23@gmail.com to schedule a time. *Please be aware, there is a waitlist at this time. We would be glad to add you, though it may be some time before we can book an appointment with Susan. We’re happy to help you explore options in the meantime.
- Those Guys. An informal Lyme service organization. Monthly breakfast meetings on the first Wednesday of the month. For more information, email Those.Guys.of.Lyme@Gmail.com.
- Lyme Library. Please visit the library website for current information on hours and programs.
*NOTE: For any event that’s not online, please be prepared with a mask and clean hands. Safety guidance, and hosts’ comfort continues to evolve.
Check out the Lyme Events Calendar for a full listing of upcoming events selected for Lyme and neighboring communities.
Calendar information is gathered from multiple sources, including:
Lyme and other local listservs
Lyme Library Calendar
Lyme Community and Church Newsletter
Lyme School Events Listing
Town of Lyme Website
Daybreak Upper Valley daily newsletter Click to subscribe
Valley News online calendar
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Aging Resource Center
Please share any additions or edits to calendar items, so that we can include them in the online calendar.
We are here for you.
When you seek information, help, or ways to help others, contact us.
The Lyme Community Help Line:
call 795-0603 or email Help@CCLyme.org
Connection to resources you need now to stay active, involved, and well.
Lyme Food Pantry or prepared meals. Deliveries or errands. Help around home.
Just a chat. You name it.
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