CCL Weekly Update – 4/14/2022

We’re back with Lyme’s Day of Service and Green Up Day on May 7th!

In 2020, our spring “Days and Days of Service”, addressed early in the pandemic mitigation efforts, and we missed the energy of volunteers helping out across town on one day. Last year, we organized outdoor service projects and road clean-up on one big day, limiting the size of volunteer teams to follow Covid safety protocols. This year, it will be a more traditional Day of Service and Green Up Day, as always, paying attention to everyone’s safety. Plans for refreshments/picnic lunch are coming together. More information to come! We will feel the spirit of the Lyme Community! 

Would you like to help complete neighbors’ projects (if large, broken into 2-hour slots)?
Click here to sign up now.  
*More projects will continue to be added too, so please check back! 

Would you like to help Green Up Lyme roads?
Click here to sign up now.

Do you or someone you know have a project that could use some generous helping hands? Do you have questions or suggestions? Please contact shelby@cclyme.org or 802-468-7776.

Adding to the spirit of the Lyme community as spring emerges, this is a special weekend for neighbors of several faiths. Happy Easter, Chag Pesach Sameach, and Ramadan Mubarak to all who celebrate!

All my best, Shelby

802-468-7776 (cell)
shelby@cclyme.org
www.cclyme.org

News and Notes:

Come visit us! 

Starting this month, we will have regular weekly office hours at the Lyme Center Academy Building Mondays through Thursdays 9-11am. Please give us a call or send us an email to schedule an appointment outside of these open office hours. We’d love to meet with you! 603-795-0603 / info@cclyme.org

Mindful Photography Gathering POSTPONED to SUNDAY, MAY 22nd.

To include those who have been traveling this week, we have rescheduled this gathering to Sunday, May 22nd from 4-5:30pm meeting in the CCL Living Room. Click here for more information. 

April is…

Stress Awareness Month. Are you aware that there’s some stress out there? We are too! This April, we’ll be offering lots of tips, resources, and opportunities to shed some stress together. You’ll see a few of those items below, in this week’s Wellness Wednesday, the highlighted Aging Resource Center series for family care partners, and more in the “Coming Up” section below.

NEW!! We have a new and evolving Self-Care CCL webpage, where you can explore upcoming events and programs and access previous posts related to self-care. Click here to see the page.

Humor Month. Did you know that laughter is one way to reduce stress, and offers several other health benefits? You can watch a brief overview from the Mayo Clinic here to learn more about the health benefits of laughter. Turns out the phrase “laughter is the best medicine”  has some truth!

This week’s joke of the week comes from Parade.com.

“Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert?

                … because she was already stuffed!”

We’ll share a new joke each week. If you have one to share please email shelby@cclyme.org or call 603-795-0603. We’d love to share a laugh with you!

National Garden Month. Starting to think about our gardens is a warming thought! Garden-themed programs are in the works, so please stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, enjoy this virtual tour of one of Shelby’s favorite places, the beautiful Longwood Gardens.

Weekly health and well-being tips, resources, and recipes …

Monday’s Menu. Growing up in an area with a large Portuguese population, Shelby’s Easter season always meant bakeries offered Folar Da Pascoa (Portuguese Easter sweet bread). She has shared this nostalgic recipe in hopes you will consider enjoying it with friends and family. The recipe comes from Maggie May Schill of Justapinch.com. You can view this week’s Monday’s Menu here. Aproveitar! (Enjoy!)

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. As we welcome Spring’s more mild weather and longer days it’s time to think about the infamous Spring Cleaning! Whether you love it or hate it, it turns out there are some wellness benefits. See this week’s Wellness Wednesday post 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.

A Note from Happy Feet Foot Clinic There will be no clinic from June 2nd until the 14th of July. For more information, call 802-296-1112 or email coordinator Nancy Allison.

Orford Senior Center April Newsletter

Our partner organization, Orford Senior Center (serving Lyme), has shared their April Menu here, and the April Newsletter here. Please review their website here for the most up-to date information. They offer programs, weekly Grab ‘n Go meals, daily Meals on Wheels home delivered meals, and more. As you plan for next month, you can view the

Aging Resource Center (ARC) April  Newsletter

The Dartmouth Aging Resource Center, is offering an ongoing series of virtual programs. With a variety of offerings, there is sure to be something you’ll enjoy! See their April programs here. 

ARC Program Highlight: Self-Care Sampler for Family Care Partners a 6-week Zoom series. Thursdays, April 28 to June 2, 2022 10am to 11:30am Deadra Ashton, M.Div., BCC

Caring for someone you love can sometimes be lonely and exhausting – but it doesn’t always have to be that way. In this class you will meet others who are walking the same path.

Together we will explore concrete ways to replenish energy and lift spirits through supportive conversations and a variety of self-care practices:

  • Mindfulness
  • Mindful Drawing
  • Finding Strength and Balance through Movement
  • Health Prevention and Promotion 

This 6-week virtual program was created for family caregivers to provide a variety of evidence-based self-care practices. These practices can help improve mental and physical health by relieving stress. Sessions will take place once a week for 90 minutes. Each will start with a centering exercise and focus on a new form of self-care.

This class is part of a research project. If you choose to participate you will be asked to:

  • Complete a pre and post survey about your level of stress
  • Commit to attending all 6 class sessions

For more information or to sign up, please call (603) 653-3460 or email Annaliese.E.Volckaert@hitchcock.org

This program is sponsored by a generous grant from CIGNA Civic Affairs and Community Engagement. You will receive a zoom link for the program 60 minutes before the class is scheduled.  

Covid Update

Vaccination. Many people over 50 are now eligible for a second booster shot. Please visit vaccines.gov for more information on eligibility. Overall, the best protection for the vast majority of us continues to be vaccination. Whether it’s your first or second dose or a booster, at Vaccines.gov, you can search for vaccination locations and make an appointment. It’s quick and easy these days.

Mobile Vaccine Clinic in Lyme: April 20th, noon to 5pm at Lyme Fire Station, 41 High St. All vaccines, First and Second doses, third doses, first and second boosters for eligible candidates. Bring vaccine card with you if you have one, and identification to confirm. Parental permission required for those under 18 yrs.

Testing. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. All households can order 4 more. The tests are completely free.  Please use this link: https://www.covidtests.gov/ They’ll ship as supplies are available. There are other sources of test kits. 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.

For up-to-date information on testing, vaccines, and more in New Hampshire, visit www.covid19.nh.gov.

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. As conditions are changing, keep your mask along to wear it inside when requested 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

Get involved! Our new neighbors appreciate help with rides, opportunities to practice English, occasional meals, and simple, warm connection with neighbors. Thanks to so many who have been a part of the welcome so far. If you would like to join in, please contact Martha Tecca (martha.tecca@gmail.com, 603-795-0603). She helps coordinate the Lyme/Upper Valley Neighborhood Support Team, partnering with Ascentria Care Services, a state resettlement office. Financial support is needed, and the needs will grow as more evacuees are welcomed to our shores. CCL launched the Welcome Fund to help. Donations to the CCL Welcome Fund support Afghan evacuees in Lyme and across the Upper Valley, and others displaced by challenging circumstances. Go to cclyme.org/donate or mail a check to CCL at PO Box 127 Lyme, NH 03768. 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 Monday through Thursday from 9am – 11am, and by appointment. 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. 

We are pleased to pass on news shared by Lyme organizations.

This Week

  • Easter Services:
  • Passover with the Upper Valley Jewish Community  
  • Lyme Food Pantry CCL hosts the distribution 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 starting at noon. To make an appointment contact Stephanie at carney.steph@gmail.com or by phone at 603-795-2419. Learn more here.
  • Lyme Chess Club returns! Beginning Thursday, April 21, 2:15-3:15pm at Converse Free Library: 7 sessions, April 21 to June 2 – ALL AGES ARE WELCOME! Hosted by Matthew Greenway of Lyme, sessions usually start with strategy discussion and tactics, followed by plenty of chess games! Sessions take place in the library’s Meeting Room. RSVP, space is limited to 12 participants per session: greenwaypaintings@gmail.com

Save the date! 

  • Stress Awareness Month Program. We will learn about the physiological impacts of stress along with how to utilize stress reduction strategies. For more information please contact shelby@cclyme.org/  603-795-0603. To register for this program, please click here. With speaker Samuel Standard, PhD. April 27 from 7pm – 8pm via Zoom.
  • Stress Reduction Retreat. We are looking to plan a stress reduction retreat where we can gather with neighbors and engage in different stress reduction practices.  If you would like to be a part of this event, either offering a stress reduction demonstration OR are interested in being a participant please contact shelby@cclyme.org/ 603-795-0603. Understanding interest will be very helpful as we move forward in planning this retreat. Date and time TBD. Stay tuned for more information.
  • “May the Fourth Be With You” Star Wars Celebration! Wednesday, May 4, 3-7pm Converse Free Library offers programs and a Star Wars movie. Cosponsored with CommunityCare of Lyme. Details TBA; save the date!
  • Lyme’s Day of Service and Green Up Day – Saturday, May 7th.  Could you use a hand this year for a Day of Service Project? Could you lend a hand this year to a neighbor? Would you like to be involved in the planning process?  We’d love to hear from you! info@cclyme.org / 603-795-0603. “Many hands make light work!” To sign up for a project, please see this week’s introduction for links.
  • Mindful Photography Gathering. Sunday, May 22 from 4-5:30pm (Postponed from 4/14). The focus is on noticing the world around you by thoughtfully capturing a limited number of photos as opposed to a regular photo shoot where the objective might be to capture hundreds. Bring whatever camera you have- your smartphone, a point & shoot, a DSLR, or mirrorless. Shelby and Stephanie of CommunityCare of Lyme will be your hosts. Open to all levels. Meeting in the CommunityCare of Lyme Living Room. Email shelby@cclyme.org or call 603-795-0603 for more information. Registration is required to help us best plan for this program. Please let us know if you will join us by Friday, May 20th at noon.

*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.