CCL Weekly Update – 3/19/2021

Lessons of Spring – Imperfect, Simple, and Transient

“This difficult year has taught me to embrace simplicity … I have surrounded myself with simple and comforting experiences and items.  I learned to lean into the realization that everything is impermanent and incomplete and to remain open to living in the moment … Letting go, without regrets or sorrow at what was lost but with a deep appreciation for the opportunity to experience joy and beauty, is truly a gift and requires practice.”

– Lori Fortini, Program Leader, Dartmouth Aging Resource Center

CommunityCare of Lyme strives to connect, share, and lift up the really extraordinary work and simple acts of kindness all around us. Like letting go, staying open to and connected with the flood of offers and resources also requires practice. It helps sustain us through transience, and it generates our deep appreciation for the gift of that sometimes overwhelming bounty. 

We have often promoted the good work and wide ranging health, education, and social-engagement programming of Dartmouth’s Aging Resource Center. This week, I am sharing the gift of Lori’s warm and wise words from her weekly ARC message. She has so beautifully captured this moment in time for me, and from what we’ve been hearing, I believe it will resonate with many, of all ages. The snippets here are just a taste. Here’s a link to Lori’s full message, including upcoming ARC programming and ongoing resources. 

This has been a week with enormous transitions and deep losses for people very close to us, in Lyme and beyond. We are experiencing sadness, a wash of beautiful memories, and also a sense of promise for the future. Friends, we send our love, prayers for peace and strength, and an always-open invitation to call on us. 

May we continue to find delight in the simple imperfect beauty of our lives and accept that nothing lasts forever.

– Lori Fortini

With gratitude for the love and wisdom that graces our community,
Martha

Martha Tecca
603-795-0603 (CCL main line)
martha@cclyme.org
www.cclyme.org

News and Notes:

Vaccination update.

Phase 2a is eligible now. Phase 2b scheduling opens on Monday at 8am. CDC guidance has changed. After the seemingly everlasting sameness of life with Covid among us, we’re ready for this “neverlastingness”, right? Systems are new, and recommendations are evolving. If you’re newly eligible, the scheduling system has changed, but you access it in the same way: go to vaccines.nh.gov and register. You will be sent a link and instructions to schedule your appointment. Margaret Caudill-Slosberg (“EOC Lyme” on the Listserv) continues to channel news and guidance, drawn from her close contact with the community and those at the heart of New Hampshire’s vaccination planning team. Watch for her emails. Also watch for public announcements across media. Call 603-795-0603 or email help@cclyme.org if you have questions or need any help getting – or getting to – your appointment. We’re in touch with Margaret and regional vaccination planning teams. 

“The Beauty of Birds” – Now on (virtual) display!

The Beauty of Birds is a virtual art exhibition where the subject of each work is birds, with students from the Lyme School also sharing fabulous artwork based on their habitats. We are very excited about all the works we’ve received both in our open category, and through our Lyme School collaboration. More information here.

Important Dates:

Virtual exhibit: NOW through 4/15. Two pages of exhibits are live now on Matt Brown Fine Art’s website. View the open exhibit, with submissions from across the community, and view works by Lyme School students. 

Vote the work from each (fun) category that best demonstrates that category: NOW through 3/28. We’ve had so many beautiful works submitted we have broken down voting into two stages. Read more about voting.

Zoom Award celebration: Wed. 4/7 at 6pm. All welcome. Details to come!

Still have questions? Email shelby@cclyme.org or call 802-468-7776. 

NEW! Monday’s Menu 

Embrace holistic health and wellness with recipes for quick, fun and healthy weeknight meals. Click here to read this week’s recipe, Chickpea Noodle Soup, submitted by Anna Pippin, MSHN. Thank you to those who have emailed us to say you’ve given this recipe a try already! We’d love to hear from you when you make this recipe. Would you like to submit a recipe for Monday’s Menu? Please contact shelby@cclyme.org.

Wellness Wednesdays

Tips and resources to support and encourage wellness in all aspects of our lives. Click here to read this week’s post offering “A Brief Self-Compassion Break”, by Laurie Veillette, PsyD. You’ll be able to watch this new initiative grow on our website at cclyme.org/wellness-wednesdays.  If you have a wellness tip or resource you would like to share, please contact shelby@cclyme.org.

March Craftiness – Semi Finals Bracket!

We’re doing our own version of March Madness, highlighting popular crafts in brackets going head-to-head for your votes! This week we continue March Craftiness with the Semi- Finals. You can vote by clicking here. Votes are due Sundays with results being posted each Monday. At the time of this posting, we have a VERY close race, so please vote! You might be the vote to help break the tie. Please read more here, and track your favorite craft’s path to victory! 

Those Guys Tent Rentals

Those Guys will once again be renting their tents for this coming outdoor season. This, of course, will hinge on the continued improvement in the safety reached for outdoor gatherings vis-a-vis the pandemic. Tent rental reservations can be made by contacting Frank Gould via email, fagould58@gmail.com. Leave your name, phone number, physical address, date of reservation. Frank will reply with the reservation details of setup and takedown.

Tent rental fees
1 tent in Lyme……………. $250
2 tents in Lyme…………….. $450
1 tent outside Lyme………….. $325
2 tents outside Lyme………… $475

Age Doesn’t Define You – “Young” or “Old”

On Thursday, the WHO Global Report on Ageism was released. It is notable that in other places in the world, ageism against younger people is more prevalent than ageism against older people. The harm is universal and collective. Watch and share this short (less than 2 minutes) video. 

Martha Tecca is part of the NH “Reframing Aging” initiative, tasked with sharing research and encouraging conversation about our own attitudes and experiences with groups across the state. Of course, she’s eager to involve YOU! We’ll be in touch with opportunities to participate in this conversation. Contact martha@cclyme.org to learn more.

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 make someone else feel really good, contact us at 603-795-0603 or help@CCLyme.org. We partner with organizations and generous volunteers to connect you with just the right resources and opportunities to get involved, in Lyme and in nearby communities: Deliveries or errands. Groceries or meals. Health and wellbeing boosts. Handy help around home. Ways to stay warm and connected. A little help problem-solving. Tech support. You name it.

Coming up: 

You can find events and fun activities to enjoy virtually, outside, or following Covid-safe protocols. Check out the Lyme Events Calendar, the Valley News Calendar, or the Aging Resource Center  for ideas. The calendars include lots of free and by-donation food and meals every week.

This week, don’t miss:

  • Friday (3/19) The full exhibit is online and you can begin voting for your favorites: All are invited to participate! Details at The Beauty of Birds, virtual art exhibition.
  • Tuesday (3/23 at 1pm: Lyme Food Pantry Fresh Produce and Staples Pick-up or Delivery. We are now located at Lyme Congregational Church. All who ask can receive a box of non-perishable items and fresh produce from Willing Hands, Pete & Gerry’s Eggs, and the USDA. Gift cards for other groceries and prepared meals are available. Boxes of food may be ordered ahead, and if we’re asked for something special we’ll do our best to make it available. There is plenty. Contact us at 795-0603 or help@cclyme.org.
  • Wednesday (3/24) at 6:30pm: Painting with Pastels, a Zoom art gathering with Beth McGee. You may know Beth from her work at local schools and the AVA Gallery. No experience required! The class will last approximately one hour. Donations will be gratefully accepted to cover costs and support future programming, suggested donation is $10. Read more on our first virtual Painting with Pastels event here.  To register and receive the Zoom link, contact shelby@cclyme.org or call 802–468-7776.  

Save the Date:

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.
You name it.

Click here to check out the Lyme Events Calendar
Things are happening!