CCL Weekly Update – 6/16/22
June 21st, 5:06am – a special dawn.
I believe it suffices to say that the last 2+ years have brought about unique challenges and equally unique successes. Many things through the pandemic have changed for me personally, for the Upper Valley, for our country, and for the world. Some of these changes have been positive: regularly scheduled Zoom dates with international friends, spending more time outside, an increased emphasis on mindfulness, and focusing on what I have to be grateful for. Some of these changes have been really trying: limited opportunity to see friends and family in person, favorite businesses closing due to staffing shortages, etc.
With these changes – both positive and negative – I have made a challenge for myself, and I hope you’ll consider joining me as you’re able. My pledges are simple: Find something to be grateful for in each experience (even the negative/challenging ones). Say yes; be open to new experiences. Live!
It’s been easy to find excuses not to push myself outside of my comfort zone. To do some of the things I’ve been telling myself I’d do, because …“Covid”. One thing that’s been on my list of things to do for years is to watch both the sunrise and sunset during the Summer Solstice. In keeping my pledge to myself, I’ll be setting my alarm early on Tuesday to watch the sunrise with my dogs. (Probably while drinking a very large coffee). I realize in many ways this is a simple thing, and yet I’ve never followed through on checking this off my list of things to experience. It’s time for me, as I begin a new life in Lyme.
Maybe it’s time for you too to take in a special, long day of light? I hope you consider joining me in watching the sunrise over Lyme at 5:06am on Tuesday.
… on the Summer Solstice,
a commitment to a new day.
News and Notes:
Juneteenth – a celebration of African American freedom, education, and achievement
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, and now, a federal holiday. It is observed on June 19th, with the Federal Holiday this year on Monday, June 20th. Learn more at Juneteenth.com. Join in a local Juneteenth in Hartford on Saturday 3:30-5:30pm and Celebration of Freedom in Lebanon on Sunday at 5pm. Eat the Culture is holding a Juneteenth Joy virtual event on the 20th at 7:30pm, with entertainment, a cocktail demo, reflections, and some favorite food creators. ETC’s mission is to empower the content creators, storytellers, and tastemakers that champion black foodways.
Current help requests
A few neighbors would love a hand with home projects. This week’s highlight: Stacking Firewood.
If you can help in the next several days, please let us know at help@cclyme.org or call 603-795-0603.
Covid update
There remain many active Covid cases in Lyme and neighboring communities.
Please Stay safe: Though infection numbers are fluctuating, guidance has been consistent. Simple precautions help keep us safe when we’re at risk of Covid (and other virus or bacteria spread) spread: Mouth and nose covering, physical distance, and hand washing. Please keep a mask along to wear it inside when requested or when safe distancing isn’t possible.
Though you personally may be unlikely to get very sick, if you test positive it is – at the very least – a pain; and you’ve got a responsibility to keep others safe. You must isolate for at least 5 days, which might mean missing work and adding stress, if not sickness, to the lives of those with whom you live, work, and play.
Vaccination. After FDA advisory recommendations, an announcement is likely this weekend encouraging shots for children as young as 6 months old, with two vaccine options. At Vaccines.gov it’s quick and easy to search for vaccine locations and make an appointment.
Testing. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 8 FREE at-home COVID-19 tests (This is a 3rd offer!) Go to www.covidtests.gov/. They’ll ship as supplies are available. See a previous Wellness Wednesday post for most testing resources and other covid safety links and programs.
Quarantine and isolation. The CDC website has a calculator that allows you to enter details about your situation and helps you make a quick call about how long you should stay away from others, based on the CDC’s published guidelines. This will be most helpful if your symptoms are past. The Lyme Parish Nurses are able to help if you have quarantine or other questions about staying safe and healthy. Call 603-795-2850 x 3, or email lymeparishnurse@gmail.com. They respond to messages within 24 hours.
For up-to-date information on testing, vaccines, and more in New Hampshire, visit www.covid19.nh.gov. Note that Upper Valley locations in Vermont can also serve NH residents.
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.
June is …
LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Love is Love. Learn more about Pride Month by viewing this ABC interview with Sam Ames, director of advocacy and government affairs at The Trevor Project. (June 1, 2022)
Queen City Pride. Events scheduled throughout Pride Week in Manchester, NH. The week culminates in the first Pride Parade in Manchester this Saturday, June 18th.
TLC Rural Pride 2022 Celebration and BBQ in Claremont, Saturday, June 18th from Noon – 3pm. Games, Resource Fair, Activities and Face Painting! Arrowhead Recreation Center.
Converse Free Library has curated a book list for Pride in celebration of Rainbow Book Month™.
Each week this Pride Month CCL will share resources. Please let us know about events or information you would like us to include.
National Great Outdoors Month. We will focus on different ways to enjoy the great outdoors each week as part of our Wellness Wednesday initiative. We’d love to hear from you as we add to our “summer bucket list” of outdoor activities to enjoy in and around the Upper Valley.
How about trying something new? Enjoy the outdoors this month with the Utility Club’s Free Qi Gong Class Series! Meeting Tuesdays at 5pm at Post Pond. Learn more here.
Aging in Community
Dartmouth Aging Resource Center (“ARC”, throughout the Lyme Events Calendar) has an amazing array of programs, activities, and supports. Here’s a link to this week’s ARC newsletter. You can subscribe.
The Orford Senior Center (serving Orford and Lyme) programming is expanding! On-site bingo, followed by a meal! Weekly Grab ‘n Go and daily home delivered meals. Use the following links for more information: June newsletter, menu, book club, and ongoing Grafton County Senior Citizens Council activities. For more information or to sign up for meals or activities, contact Eileen Nickles, OSC coordinator: 603-353-9107 or enickles@gcscc.org.
Weekly health and well-being tips, resources, and recipes
Monday’s Menu. For a summer treat that you can enjoy in 3 steps and 20 minutes, see this week’s Monday’s Menu recipe, California Avocado Pistachio Ice Cream, from the California Avocado Commission. I hope you enjoy this week’s Monday’s Menu post!
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. This week we explore intergenerational friendships: how they’re formed, along with their health and well-being benefits. See this week’s post Howdy, Neighbor! – Wellness Wednesday.
If you have a wellness topic you would like to share about OR would love to learn more about, please contact shelby@cclyme.org. See all Wellness Wednesday posts here.
Extending a warm Upper Valley welcome
Help set up a new home for a family working through asylum. If you have household items to offer for a 2-bedroom apartment, please reply to this email or contact Martha (see below) for more details.
Financial support is needed for our new Afghan neighbors, especially. The family’s summer camp and childcare needs are great, even with extraordinary babycare volunteers and friendly play dates. With driver’s licenses nearly in hand, the family and the men will both be in need of car insurance. Donations to the CCL Welcome Fund support Afghan evacuees 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.
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.
Those Guys Tent Rentals!
Those Guys are renting their tents for this outdoor season. As always, funds raised through this effort are distributed to community organizations. This post includes all the details. We are extremely grateful for Those Guys’ support. What a crew!
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:
Check out the Lyme Events Calendar, the Valley News Calendar, Lyme organizations (see several links at the end of this message) or the Aging Resource Center for more ideas.
We are pleased to pass on news shared by Lyme organizations.
This Week
Please check the Listserv or call the event organizer. Due to the community spread of Covid, things are changing regularly.
Specials
- TONIGHT Thursday, June 16th. Ross McIntyre reads from his memoir. At 7pm, Ross reads in the old corn crib at 34 Lamphire Hill Lane. Call Ross with questions, bring a folding chair.
- Saturday, June 18th. Juneteenth in Hartford 3:30-5:30pm at Lyman Park. Speeches and entertainment, including JAG productions, and powerful local DEI leaders. Food and beverages.
- Saturday, June 18th. Queen City Pride Manchester, NH.
- Saturday, June 18th. Rural Pride Claremont, NH
- Sunday, June 19th. Father’s Day. Juneteenth.
- Sunday, June 19th. Skip Matthews Memorial Run. Colburn Park, Lebanon. 1 mile fun run/walk 9am. 4 mile run at 10am.
- Sunday, June 19th. Juneteenth – A Celebration of Freedom The City of Lebanon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission invites the community to join us in the City’s inaugural Juneteenth celebration on June 19, 2022, at 5:00pm in Colburn Park, downtown Lebanon. The program will include musical performances, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, and a presentation about formerly enslaved people who resided in Lebanon and the abolitionist movement in our community. Traditional red punch and red velvet cake will be served.
- Tuesday, June 21st. Summer Solstice – 5:06am – 8:34pm
Ongoing
- Tuesdays at 1pm. Lyme Food Pantry at 1pm CCL hosts the distribution every Tuesday at Lyme Congregational Church. Call ahead to order, or just stop by. DELIVERY AVAILABLE.
- Tuesday afternoons. Pardon my Garden Lyme Gardeners visit local gardens. This week (6/21) visit Lynn & Tim Cook, Lyme, 4-7. Click the event link for address and details about the program. Questions about Lyme Gardeners? Please contact Anne Baird.
- Tuesdays at 5pm throughout June. Free Qi Gong at Post Pond, made possible by the Utility Club.
- Wednesday afternoons. FREE Reiki with Stephanie Carney in the CCL Living Room at the Lyme Center Academy Building. For an appointment. Contact carney.steph@gmail.com or 603-795-2419.
- Wednesdays 11am-2pm, Saturdays 10am-1pm. Lyme Historians Exhibit – Trains: Transportation, Trade, & Toys. At the Historians Museum.
- Thursdays. Bingo 9-10:30am, Grab-N-Stay (or Grab-N-Go) Meal 11am at the Orford Senior Center. Please call to make your reservation: 603-353-9107 or email enickles@gcscc.org. All participants must sign in and sign out; masks optional. Contact CCL if you could use a ride. Meal delivery is available.
Save the date!
- Monday, July 18th. Lawn Party Luncheon 11am – 1pm at the Teccas’ home in Orford. Join CommunityCare of Lyme and the Orford Senior Center for our annual community gathering overlooking the beautiful Connecticut River. Would you like to help with food or logistics? We have fun! Contact shelby@cclyme.org or call 603- 795-0603.
- Saturday, August 6th. Thai Dinner fundraiser. Paphanh and generous volunteers prepare an amazing meal, with proceeds to CommunityCare of Lyme and the Lyme Congregational Church.
- Saturday, September 24th. 2022 Lyme Health and Wellness Fair. A big day!! Lots more to come.
All of these events require many helping hands. If you would love to volunteer,
or be a part of an event planning committee please contact shelby@cclyme.org / 802-468-7776.
Thank you for your consideration!
*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
Daybreak Upper Valley daily newsletter Click to subscribe
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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