Image - Winter 2023

culture • community • lifestyle image

The

Winter 2023/2024 vol. 18 no.4 $4.95

Wonders of Winter

W I N T E R

2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

MORGAN HILL BOOKSTORE

A TREASURE TROVE OF DISCOVERY

KATIE’S COOKIES

THEY’LL BRING OUT THE COOKIE MONSTER IN YOU

40 Marsh Meadow Rd., Bethel, VT (802) 234-9951

975 Lower Plain, Bradford, VT (802) 222-5280

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Hundreds of items on display and in stock in our new Outdoor Living Showroom Gozney pizza ovens AOG grills and Halo, Blackstone griddles

Big Green Egg

American Fyre Designs fire tables, urns & laterns Goldens’ Cast Iron, Solo & Breeo fire pits

Bromic & Sunstar patio heaters

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CONTENTS WINTER 2023/2024 FEATURES

32 | Morgan Hill Bookstore

An oasis of knowledge, entertainment, and communication.

by Susan Nye

40 | Keep Calm and Eat (Katie’s) Cookies

They’ll bring out the Cookie Monster in you.

by E. Senteio

62 | Méribel, France Full of surprises.

by Lisa Ballard

74 | Lebanon’s City Center Ballet

Celebrating 25 years of bringing magic to the Upper Valley.

by Mary Gow

74

Above: Backstage at the New England School of the Arts benefit concert. Photograph courtesy of City Center Ballet.

Right: A boardwalk to the slopes in Méribel-Mottaret.

Photograph by Lisa Ballard.

Cover: A horse and wagon from Billings Farm and Museum. Many places throughout New Hampshire and Vermont offer wintertime wagon and sleigh rides.

Photograph by Lars Blackmore.

14 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

page

62

30

82

88 CONTENTS | DEPARTMENTS 19 Editor’s Note 20 Contributors

82 Cooks’ Corner

Cozy dinners for winter nights.

by Susan Nye

22 Online Exclusives &

88 Community

24 Monthly Tidbits

by Pamela Brown

Business Directory

Seasonal facts, fun, and ideas.

30 Season’s Best ’Tis the Season.

54 Business Spotlight

Top Stitch Embroidery: A one-stop shop to promote your company.

by Pamela Brown

special advertising sections

A local nonprofit pays it forward.

50

93 The Pick

Calendar of local events.

Destination New London!

103 Advertisers Index

Shop, Dine & Support Local!

104 Celebrate the Moment Readers share their photos.

72

White River Junction, Vermont Eclectic Shopping, Theater & Music, Diverse Services

16 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

culture

•

community

•

lifestyle

Winter • 2023/2024

Mountain View Publishing, LLC 135 Lyme Road Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 867-9339 WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM

Publishers

Bob Frisch Cheryl Frisch Executive Editor

Deborah Thompson Associate Editor

Kristy Erickson

Creative Director/Design

Ellen Klempner-Béguin Advertising Design

Marston Creative Web Design

Locable

Inbound Marketing Manager

Erin Frisch Newton Advertising

Bob Frisch

Unwind, unplug, and chill out with our progressive treatments: Massage, Reiki, Aesthetic Medicine, and skin/body/face/nail care.

Shop on-trend jewelry, skin care, beauty, and luxe, giftable items in our boutique. Largest selection of organic baby & children’s apparel in the UV!

18 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

KEEP US POSTED: image magazine wants to hear from readers. Correspondence may be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, image 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755. Or email us at: dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com.

Advertising inquiries may be made by email to rcfrisch1@comcast.net. image is published quarterly by Mountain View Publishing, LLC © 2023/2024. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited. image magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Winter Warmth As the days grow shorter and the weather turns

colder, we focus on preparing for another holiday season. Young and old alike consider what to

write on their gift lists, and before we know it, the shopping season is in full swing. Remember to support local businesses!

I love this time of year for its traditions. After

savoring a Thanksgiving feast of turkey and all

the trimmings, we now look forward to gathering

family and friends around the table once again for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s P H OTO BY I A N R AYMO N D

celebrations. Who’s bringing the pies?

As you decorate, remember one rule: Minimalism has no place during this season, a time

when the usual motto “less is more” flips to “more is more.” There is no such thing as too

many lights, ornaments, garlands, and wreaths. Deck the halls and then deck them again

with another layer of red velvet ribbons and bows, gold lamé, and fresh balsam and fir tied with pine cones. Adding three more sets of miniature white lights will make anything

right. Light scores of red candles and fill your home with the joyous scent of the holidays— citrus, cinnamon, and cloves. I like to simmer orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and whole

cloves on the stovetop or in a small slow cooker. Just keep an eye on it and add more water if you need to.

I love the warmth and coziness of people’s homes during this season, so it’s always fun

to go visiting. Twinkling lights enhance home exteriors, Christmas trees grace every front window—each one more beautiful than the last—and blazing fireplaces invite us to relax

and visit over a mug of hot chocolate or spiced cider. During this special season, take time to remember those less fortunate and make a donation to your favorite local charity or food bank. Folks in the Upper Valley are caring and generous, and it’s heartwarming to be a part of a wonderful community where people come together to take care of neighbors in need.

The rest of the staff and I wish you a blessed holiday season, filled with family, friends,

and all the things you love. Enjoy!

Deborah Thompson Executive Editor dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com

LIKE US www.facebook.com/greateruppervalley.com

Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 19

ABOUT OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Pamela Brown, WRITER Pamela has been a journalist with Hearst Connecticut Media Group for 20 years, covering a wide spectrum of subjects, and has a monthly food column in Connecticut Magazine. When she steps away from the computer, Pamela enjoys vacationing in Woodstock, playing tennis, gardening, reading, and spending time with her beautiful da ghter lexis and adora le mini oldendoodle Rafa

Lisa Ballard, WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER A full-time freelance writer and photographer, Lisa is a graduate of Dartmouth College who resided in the Upper Valley for another 25 years. She is the author of 13 books, including Best Hikes with Dogs: New Hampshire and Vermont, Hiking the White Mountains, and Hiking the Green Mountains. She covers all types of travel, outdoor recreation, and conservation topics for over 25 magazines. www.LisaBallardOutdoors.com

Mary Gow, WRITER Mary holds the middle place in a family with three generations of women writers.

Best known for her award-winning history of science books for middle school students, she is also a regular contributor to regional magazines. She lives in Warren, Vermont.

20 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

Chantelle Neily, PHOTOGRAPHER Chantelle grew up in rural Vermont. At a young age she was introduced to photography, and was immediatel drawn to the excitement challenge and opportunities that each new photograph presented.

After receiving a BFA in Photography from Sage College of l an and a Certificate in rofessional Photography from Hallmark Institute of Photography, she moved back to the Upper Valley and started CPerry Photography.

 Susan Nye, WRITER A corporate dropout, Susan left a 20-year career in international sales and marketing for the fun, exi ilit and fear of self-employment. She is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and cook. Her blog (Around the Table at www.susannye word ress com is filled with her favorite recipes and stories about family and friendship.

When she’s not writing or cooking, Susan is skiing or snowshoeing near her New Hampshire home.

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VISIT US ONLINE Find Things to Do, Local Guides, Community Profiles, and other Online Exclusives! www.greateruppervalley.com is proudly brought to you by these local businesses.



 Tackling the Changing Real Estate Industry with Dolan Real Estate As we transition out of the pandemic and into the new normal, Anthony Dolan says this hasn’t changed what people are looking for.

Killington World Cup Foundation Awards Grants  he two local non rofits that received KWCF grants are the Lebanon Outing Club and Hanover’s Oak Hill.

 Custom-Designed and Sustainable: Local Company Is Leading the Way in Net-Zero Living Yankee Barn Homes partners with homeowners to help them achieve their dream of owning a net-zero home.

22 i m a g e •

Winter 2023/2024

ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY Check out these local businesses in our directory.

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For more information about how your business can get listed on our ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY or for other online advertising opportunities, contact Bob Frisch at (603) 867-9339 or email rcfrisch1@comcast.net.

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Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM •

23

DECEMBER

MONTHLY TIDBITS F A C T S , F U N & I D E A S A Sweet Symbol of the Season

A beautifully packaged box of perfect pears is a wonderful gift to give—and to receive! And for many people, the pear is a delicious symbol of the holiday season. In fact, pears have been a part of holiday lore since “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song was written in the late 18th century.

It’s national pear month, so regardless of whether you’re lucky enough to receive them as a gift, incorporate pears into your salads, desserts, oatmeal, smoothies, and more. Pears provide folate, vitamin A, niacin, potassium, fi er and ol henol antioxidants which protect against oxidative damage. But don’t peel your pears! The skin boasts up to six times more antioxidants than the esh

Easy Baked Pears These pears are healthy enough for breakfast and sweet enough for dessert!

Serves 2

4 1 ½ 2

pears, sliced in half lengthwise (scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon or melon baller) tsp ground cinnamon cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds Tbsp honey

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Slice a small piece off the ro nded side of each ear half so it will sit at Place pears in an oven-safe baking dish.

2. Sprinkle each pear with as much cinnamon as you’d like. Top each pear half with 1 to 2 teaspoons of chopped walnuts and lightly drizzle with honey.

3. Bake in a preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

The ears will still e firm t will ha e ex elled some juices during baking.

Here Comes Santa Paws During this season of giving, consider opening your heart to the four-legged members of our community by participating in Operation Santa Paws. Originally organized in 2001 to support local animal shelters, Operation Santa Paws is an annual

4. Serve warm with ice cream or allow to cool and serve with an extra drizzle of honey and vanilla yogurt.

campaign to remind animal lovers

Adapted from faithfullyglutenfree.com.

animal shelters with much-

everywhere to give throughout December and stock our local needed supplies. Check out the Upper Valley Humane Society’s Wish List page to see which items it needs most. Along with food, bedding, and toys, gift cards to oca

rocers, of ce and ui din

supply stores, and other retailers are also tremendously helpful.

Visit uvhs.org or call (603) 448-6888 for more information.

24 i m a g e •

Winter 2023/2024

Up Your Cookie Game

Is it even the holiday season without the smell of freshly baked cookies? December 4 is National Cookie Day, but many of us will be cranking out cookies all season long since they’re the perfect portable treat to gift and share. Whether you’re making a couple dozen to take to a family gathering, several dozen for a holiday party, or a batch of sugar cookies to decorate with the kids, you’ll want them to be perfectly baked and extra delicious. Here are a few tips:

• If the recipe says to chill your dough, do it! It’s tempting to skip this step, but chilling coo ie do gh in the fridge firms it up, which decreases the possibility of overspreading and enhances the a or t s o a to let the dough sit at room temperature for 10 minutes after you remove it from the fridge so it’s easier to handle and shape.

• If the recipe calls for room temperature butter and eggs, take the time to bring them to room temperature (about an hour). The ingredients will

emulsify much easier into batter, which creates a uniform texture.

• Don’t overmix your dough.

Cream the butter and sugar only as long as the recipe calls for. Whipping too much air into the dough will cause cookies to collapse as they bake.

• Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Coating your baking sheet with nonstick spray or butter creates a greasy foundation that causes excess spread. This step also encourages even browning.

• When it comes to baking time, keep an eye on the cookies. Every oven is different (a great reason to get an oven thermometer), and sometimes a recipe’s baking time will be way off. Cookies are done when the edges are set and slightly browned. The centers can look slightly underbaked if you want a softer cookie. For crisper cookies, bake a little longer until the centers appear set but the edges aren’t burned. Keep in mind that cookies continue to cook for a couple minutes as they cool on the baking sheet.

Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM •

25

MONTHLY TIDBITS |

JANUARY

Why Is January So Cold?

On the winter solstice, which is December 21 this year, the Earth reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun and we have the shortest

day of the year, or the fewest hours of sunlight.

After this, the days grow longer and we get more sunlight every day until we reach the

summer solstice. It would stand to reason that it would start getting warmer—so why is January

often the coldest month of the year? According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the atmosphere takes four to six weeks to catch up with the sun, so

the coldest weather is around late January, even though the sun is getting higher in the sky

and the sunlight lasts a bit longer. The same

phenomenon occurs in summer—the summer solstice is in June, yet the hottest part of the season is usually in late July.

The End of an Era On January 30, 1969, the Beatles held an impromptu live performance on the roof of the Apple Corps headquarters building in London. It was a cold day, and a bitter wind was blowing on the rooftop. They filmed the five-song, nine-take performance while fans and passersby gathered on the street below until the police shut it down.

It was the last time the Beatles ever performed in public.

26 i m a g e •

Winter 2023/2024

Encourage Teens to Read If you can’t remember the

and escape the real world.

last time you saw a teenager

nd studies nd that readin

reading a book or magazine,

throughout adolescence

you’re not alone. According to

continues to develop a variety

the American Psychological

of cognitive skills.

Association, less than 20

If your teenager loves

percent of teens report reading

to read (or needs some

a book, magazine, or newspaper

encouragement to start

daily for pleasure, while 80

reading more for pleasure),

percent say they use social

head to the Lebanon Library

media every day.

at 4pm on January 22 and

esearch nds that readin

February 26 for Books and

for pleasure in childhood and

Pizza. Teens can hang out

adolescence is linked to healthy

with fellow bookworms to

lifestyle behaviors, such as a

discuss the latest books

higher likelihood of following a

they’re excited about, eat

nutritious diet and lower odds

some pizza, and enjoy

of trying cigarettes or alcohol.

socializing with their peers.

Teens report that reading offers

For more information, visit

an opportunity to relax, learn,

leblibrary.com.

Common Can Be Beautiful!

The carnation the official ower of Jan ar ma seem a it m ndane after all carnations are inex ensi e and fo nd ear ro nd in an grocer store owe er it s worth ta ing a moment to a reciate these e er da ea ties Carnations are erennials nati e to the editerranean region Their stems can grow to e inches tall and the owers two to three inches wide with lots of sweet smelling etals Their formal name Dianthus comes from the ree word for hea enl ower Their nat ral color is a right in ish r le t the ha e een c lti ated in a rain ow of h es The re a s m ol of nconditional lo e so ic some of these long lasting looms for someone s ecial To ee carnations fresh change the water e er few da s and trim a arter inch from the stems each time o change the water

The Neighborhood at Hughes Ask about our new studio apartments, designed for an independent lifestyle.

r e h t a n i v w e n y z awaits! o c r u o Y Find a welcoming apartment, homemade meals, a vibrant community, and the peace of mind that comes when you don’t have to navigate winter’s challenges. A caring staff and a secure home is here for you at Harvest Hill.

Assisted Living

Peggy Cooper at 603-308-0475 or cooperm@apdmh.org Contact PeggyContact Cooper at 603-308-0475 or cooperm@apdmh.org | apdlifecare.org Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM •

27

MONTHLY TIDBITS |

FEBRUARY

“While it is February one can taste the full joys of anticipation.

Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch.”

–Patience Strong

Did You Know?

Destroy any mountain of snow with the best snow throwers on the market.

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Be My Valentine Handmade Valentine’s Day cards have been sent from admirers to sweethearts since the early 1600s.

Commercial cards appeared around 1800. Cards were usually sent anonymously. In 1849, Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts, started selling valentines that became so popular that she was called the “Mother of the American Valentine.” Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, Missouri, began mass producing valentines in 1913, and Valentine’s Day has been a popular cardgiving holiday ever since.

After Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown aired in 1975, many children sent Charlie Brown valentines out of sympathy, just as they had sent him sweets after It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was first broadcast. Charlie Brown doesn’t receive a single valentine in class, just a heart-shaped box that reads, “Forget it, kid!”

It’s a Leap Year!

Every four years a day is added to the calendar ear e r ar dding an extra da ee s o r calendar aligned with the astronomical seasons, since a year according to the Gregorian calendar is da s and a ear according to the arth s or it aro nd the s n is a roximatel da s itho t this extra da o r seasons wo ld eventually get out of sync. There are two rules for leap years: A year may be a leap year if it is evenly di isi le fo r and ears di isi le li e cannot e lea ears nless the are also di isi le li e

A Music-Filled February We all know that the right music can elevate our day, lift our mood, and improve our well-being. Music triggers a release of “feel-good” hormones that reduce stress and blood pressure. Sure, we can listen to music in the comfort of our own home. But there are ni e enefits to ex eriencing m sic li e Coming together in this comm nal form of m sic sharing magnifies ex eriences sa s ristin tewart oard certified m sic therapist and assistant director at the Louis Armstrong Department of Music Therapy at Mount Sinai. Live music “cultivates connection and feeling a part of a larger and potentially more meaningful whole.” Science shows that rhythm helps synchronize our minds and body movements, which increases our sense of community. This is a key component of well-being. ead to the o ins Center for the rts this month to share a m sical ex erience with the Upper Valley community. Enjoy Meklit on February 3, the Dartmouth Symphony rchestra and the Coast Ja rchestra on e r ar and artmo th College os el Choir on e r ar and artmo th College lee Cl on e r ar Visit hop.dartmouth.edu for more information. • 28 i m a g e •

Winter 2023/2024

Not Your Grandma’s Co-op, Or Are We?

th e

le a f

to support local

Look f

or

At the Co-op, we’re building something new while still sticking to the core values that started it all. Whether it’s the oodles of local products, our new rewards program that pays members back for shopping with us and supporting local, or the fact that once you’re a member, you’re part of the Co-op family for life! Think of it as your cool Grandma’s co-op for a new generation.

coopfoodstore.coop

Hanover | Lebanon | White River Jct.

82 Benning St. BLDG #4, W. Lebanon NH 03783

P r e m iu m

Wi n d o w s | D o o r s | Ha r d w a r e

1 - 8 0 0 - 4 4 5 - 6 3 9 3 • w w w . l o e w e n V TN H. c o m Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 29

SEASON’S BEST

‘TIS THE SEASON COME OUT AND CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON on December 2, 2023. Colburn Park will be the site for horse-drawn carriage rides and visits with your favorite Frozen characters from 3 to 5pm. Musical and choral performances begin at 4pm capped by the tree-lighting ceremony at 5:15pm.

Other activities include an arts and craft fair at Harvest Hill from 9am to 3pm and the Lebanon Women’s Club Holiday Bazaar at the Marion Carter Home from 9am to 4pm. DB Lights will present food trucks, craft vendors, a carnival ride, and games downtown from 12 to 6pm. Partners include APD – Harvest Hill, Lebanon Women’s Club Holiday Bazaar, DB Lights, AVA Gallery & Art Center, Upper Valley Music Center, and Lebanon Recreation, Arts, and Parks Department. More information is available online at lebanonnh.gov/1559/Tis-the-Season-LebanonsDowntown-Winter. •

30 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

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Morgan Hill Bookstore

an oasis of knowledge, entertainment, and communication

Jolie, who has worked at the store since the Miners bought it, scours the specials box for the store’s special orders.

32 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 33

The store’s entrance on Main Street in New London welcomes visitors.

T

hroughout the holidays and throughout the year, we give thanks for a local treasure—Morgan Hill Bookstore.

Cynics might view this small, independent bookstore, and others like it, as an archaic relic of a bygone era. But they’d be wrong. Bookstores are inviting citadels of civility and learning. They are intriguing treasure troves of discovery, mystery, adventure, and romance. They are exciting invitations to new and different fun and entertainment.

Chris and Anna Miner bought the bookstore about 10 years ago from cofounders and owners Connie Appel and Peggy Holliday. Chris had been working in telecom sales in Boston and was ready for a change. With a small vacation cottage in Sunapee, the Miners and their two young daughters were familiar with the area and were fans of Morgan Hill. “We imagined living life at a slower pace in a beautiful place,” says Chris. “We saw our daughters growing up in the bookstore and becoming two incredibly well-read little humans.” While indeed well read, the girls are no longer little. Christa is a college freshman and Ellie is a high school junior. After a short stint working full time at the store, Anna now helps out with some of the buying but has a day job in education.

34 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

Top: The store has many areas to explore. This view looks out from the children’s barn.

Bottom, far left: The store shelves offer hours of browsing pleasure.

Left: Owner Chris Miner.

LOCAL LOOT If you want to buy local but aren’t exactly sure what to get for that hard-to-buy-for friend or relative, look no further than Local Loot. The Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce will once again offer this popular program. Holiday shoppers can purchase universa ift certi cates that are ood year round at most chamber member businesses.

Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 35

Right: Customers can relax on comfy seating.

Below: Kids will enjoy the offerings in the children’s barn.

Opposite, top: A customer checks out with her treasures.

Below: Cookbooks make great gifts for the chef in your life.

MAKING CUSTOMERS HAPPY Most days, Morgan Hill bustles with warmth and positive energy. Particularly on Saturday and moreover during the holidays, you will find yourself surrounded by all sorts of interesting— and interested—people. Students, moms and dads with their young children, and seniors—no matter how hassled or harried they are when they come in, they always leave with a smile. Books just do that to people, especially when they are sold by helpful staff in a friendly environment.

An avid reader, Jolie Hughes joined the staff at Morgan Hill about the time the Miners bought the store. “I find tremendous pleasure in helping someone find just the right book,” she says. “A book that fits their current mood or helps fill a need. A book that will make them happy.” Jolie loves it when parents and grandparents bring children into the store. She says, “It’s wonderful that so many parents treat books almost like food—an important part of their children’s nutrition. You can see it in their faces and hear it in their voices. Children who love to read bring excitement and joy into the store . . . and life.”

36 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

TIPS FOR FORMING A BOOK CLUB

“I love what we do and everything about it.

Bookstores are about education, communication, and community. I love that we sell something that is good for you,” says Chris.

Chris freely and enthusiastically admits that he loves the bookstore. “I love what we do and everything about it. Bookstores are about education, communication, and community. I love that we sell something that is good for you,” he says. That’s not to say that running a brick-and-mortar store in the age of Amazon is without its challenges.

“We know that it’s cheaper for our customers to buy books online,” says Chris. However, buying online doesn’t come close to the experience of buying face to face in a friendly store in a small town.

“We’re avid readers and we explore a lot of different types of books and authors,” says Chris. Over time, Chris and his employees get to know their regulars, their preferences, and their favorites. Regulars as well as firsttime visitors are encouraged to ask questions and share their preferences. Newbie or longtime shopper, if you wander in for a look around, a staff member is sure to help you find your next favorite book or author.

In case you missed the meet and greet at Morgan Hill Bookstore in October and don’t want to wait until the next one comes around, here are some tips for forming a club of your own.

Decide what kinds of books you’d like to read. Fiction, non ction, history, science ction, true cri e, e oir, or a combination. Once you know what genre you’ll be reading, it will be easier to recruit and keep club members.

Decide the basic logistics but be open to change. Will you meet in the morning, afternoon, or evening? How often do you want to meet? o you want a ed day third Tuesday of the month) or play it by ear? What size group is too big or too small?

Pick a book, date, and time for the rst eetin and start spreading the word. Send out emails and text messages and chat with friends and neighbors at the supermarket and ost of ce. e the what you’re trying to put together and invite them to the inaugural meeting. If you can, nd a artner, so eone who shares your love of your chosen genre and is happy to help you spread the word.

Remember, you might think it’s a great idea but not everyone will agree. It could be your timing; some people can only meet in the evening, while others are only good in the afternoon or morning. Some readers stic to non ction and will have no interest in your chick-lit proposal. Others may already belong to a book club, even two, and can’t handle another. t s o ay if your rst meeting is only three or four people. If you want to expand, just keep spreading the word.

Be aware, after meeting a few times, the logistics might change and that’s okay.

Happy reading!

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Give the Gift of a Good Book

Chris offers a few suggestions to satisfy everyone on your holiday shopping list.

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright! by Fiona Waters and Britta Teckentrup (Poetry). A perfect book to introduce children to poetry while introducing them to something new daily.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (Kids, Holiday).

A classic story and Caldecott Medal winner.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Fantasy). A great fantasy tale where everyone has an agenda and the goal is graduate or die.

White Mountain Guide: AMC’s Comprehensive Guide to Hiking Trails in the White Mountain National Forest by Steven D. Smith and Mike Dickerman (Hiking). Everything you need for the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Maine.

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My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand (Memoir).

Nearly 1,000 pages discussing the 60-year career of an EGOT winner with one of the most recognizable voices of all time.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (Fiction). A story of faith and love as the only constant in a multigenerational story about our understanding of the rogress of medicine thro gh the sacrifice of ast generations.

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY While Morgan Hill can’t match online prices, they are happy to offer discounts to Colby-Sawyer College students and faculty as well as book clubs. Speaking of book clubs, this past October, the bookstore hosted a meet-and-greet mixer for anyone interested in forming or joining one. For anyone new to the area or pleased to discover some extra time on their hands, it was a lovely way for readers to connect. All book club purchases receive a 15 percent discount.

With the holidays fast approaching, Ashlee Rowley, executive director for Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce, suggests, “Now is a great time to support all things local!” The region is rich with artisans, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits. She says, “When you shop locally, $.68 out of every dollar spent stays in the community.” She adds, “We want our small businesses to thrive. Local businesses employ our neighbors, help our kids learn good work habits and skills, and support local initiatives, nonprofits, and events. Everyone benefits when the economy is vibrant and strong.”

Ashlee is one of the bookstore’s many enthusiastic supporters. “Morgan Hill Bookstore is a true local gem,” she says. “From the incredibly knowledgeable and friendly staff to the wide variety of books, toys, cards, locally made items, and quite literally hundreds of possible gifts for friends, family, colleagues, or even just you, it’s an absolute must-shop any time of year.”

Ashlee urges locals and visitors to spend some time in New London this holiday season. “With cozy cafés for breakfast, coffee, lunch, and dinner; great retail shops; and festive events, there isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be during the holidays. It’s a fantastic place to enjoy all that the season has to offer.” •

Morgan Hill Bookstore 253 Main Sreet New London, NH (603) 526-5850 www.morganhillbookstore.com

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BY E. SENTEIO 6 PHOTOGRAPHY BY PERRY SMITH

Keep Calm & Eat (Katie’s) Cookies THEY’LL BRING OUT THE COOKIE MONSTER IN YOU

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Katie Boardman of Katie’s Cookies.

Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 41

“Sometimes me think, what is friend? And then me say: a friend is someone to share last cookie with.” —Cookie Monster

Katie’s signature Chocolate Chip cookie. Photo courtesy of Katie’s Cookies.

“ARE YOU READY?” That’s what Katie Boardman’s

husband Casey asked her when he happened upon the perfect location for Katie’s Cookies in Lebanon, New Hampshire’s town center. “I’d been saying I wanted to open a cookie shop for years,” Katie says. “He called my bluff.”

Katie was a stay-at-home mom for 21 years, which she says “was always very important” to her. But as she enjoyed raising her six children, she was also biding her time. With her youngest child turning seven years old two days before the shop opened and her oldest turning 21 a week after opening, Katie knew the timing was just right.

Katie’s Cookies opened its doors in March. It was precisely when the aroma of freshly baked cookies drifted into the air around the Lebanon green.

The scent, better than any calling card, beckons customers to come inside.

“We start baking early in the morning and bake throughout the day.” Beth Robertson, who Katie says has been with her since the beginning, bakes with Katie. “The cookies we sell are made fresh the day you’re buying them.”

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Left: Part of the team: Lil Maughan, Kara Cantwell, Beth Robertson, Katie Boardman, Caroline Horak, and Kim Mender.

Bottom left: Baker Beth Robertson.

Center: Kara Cantwell, the face you’ll see when you visit Katie’s Cookies.

Right: Baker’s assistant Caroline Horak.

Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 43

Clockwise from top right: Customers can order one cookie, a dozen, or a few dozen. Shortbread Caramel Coconut and Blueberry ffin coo ies Beth ma es coo ie balls while Katie works in the background. The Katie’s Cookies menu changes weekly.

Chocolate Turtle cookies.

“Today me will live in the moment, unless it’s unpleasant in which case me will eat a cookie.” —Cookie Monster

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But it takes more than baking to make Katie’s cookies.

“We make everything we can from scratch. We whip our cream, make homemade caramel, use real cream cheese, and make all our buttercreams with real butter.” At Katie’s Cookies, it’s like “getting your mom or grandma’s cookies fresh and homemade.”

In fact, many recipes Katie uses are from women in her family. “I grew up around women who loved to bake.

There were always cookies around.” Katie was young when she learned to bake, and she was good at it. Yet, it wasn’t something she liked doing. She recalls how her mother would ask if she wanted to bake or do a chore, and Katie chose the chore. It wasn’t until she had children of her own, Katie says, “that I made it a priority for my kids to have real fresh food, so I just went back to my roots and started cooking and baking.”

SWEET THOUGHTS ABOUT COOKIES “Sometimes I’ll be trying to sleep, and I’ll say, ‘I have an idea!’” That’s only one of the ways Katie’s fantastical cookie flavors come into being. Depending on the day and season, these flavors may tantalize you from the menu: Banana Cream, Loaded Peanut Butter, Brown Sugar Maple, Boston Cream, Key Lime, Blueberries and Cream, Cake

Batter, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip, or Snickerdoodle. Katie tries to have at least one chocolate cookie, a fruit cookie, her signature chocolate chip cookie, and a random, unexpected flavor cookie on her weekly changing menu. The majority of offerings change from day to day.

One of the top sellers, the Better Than . . . cookie is made with a triple chocolate cookie, topped with caramel and whipped cream, then sprinkled with English toffee. Caramel, cream, and toffee are made from scratch. Another popular option is Blueberry Crisp: an oatmeal cookie with blueberry compote and cream on top. There’s also coconut caramel on a shortbread cookie. When she thinks about it, Katie laughs: “I don’t even know how to describe it. Cookie ideas just pop in there. I don’t have many spare thoughts right now. Most of my thoughts are cookie related.”

Katie’s Cookies Holiday Cookie Event Saturday, December 23, 2023 Family fun and freshly baked cookies! Katie’s Cookies will have sugar cookies cut out in the shapes of the season for kids to decorate for Santa. Bring your kids to Katie’s decorating party.

Icing and sprinkles provided!

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Katie says that while she and Beth are baking, they like to run through ideas. “We’re always thinking about what different flavors go well together. We might talk about a cake, like Black Forest, and how to make that into a cookie. I love banana cream pie, so I turned it into a cookie. I ask friends about their favorite birthday cakes. That’s how we came up with the German Chocolate cookie.”

There are also seasonal specials like the Strawberries and Cream cookie that Katie only sells when fresh strawberries are in season. There’s a fall menu filled with pumpkins, apple, and spice. There’s Peppermint Marshmallow on the upcoming winter holiday menu, as well as Red Velvet for Valentine’s Day. But Katie quickly points out that although her cookies are nice to look at, they’re “dessert, not decoration.”

With this cornucopia of cookies, what is Katie’s favorite? “I love chocolate chip cookies.” Katie’s not exactly sure why. It may be the simplicity or the memory of her children coming home from school and looking forward to having them with a glass of milk. Either way, no matter the day of the week or the season, Katie’s signature Chocolate Chip cookie always remains at the top of the menu.

A HAPPY SPACE “We love being an open bakery, so people can come to the counter and order one cookie, five, or a few dozen.” If you order one cookie, which is more of a mini dessert versus a snack, it will cost you $3.25; when you order a dozen or more, the price per cookie drops.

But Katie also bakes hundreds of cookies on request. “We do a lot of events.”

Katie has baked cookies for Dartmouth College and the hospital, weddings, birthdays, bridal showers, and corporate functions. Lately, she’s noticed a rise in requests for gluten-free cookies. “We bake with gluten-free ingredients and are very careful to avoid crossover, but I tell customers we are not a gluten-free environment.”

Whatever the occasion, if you need cookies, whether it’s a few hundred or one, Katie says, “We do it all.” But, she adds, “We don’t cater or deliver.” People can use DoorDash and 46 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

“No get upset, okay? Don’t get excited. Me not fussy—just give me box of cookies.” —Cookie Monster other delivery services, but they’ll miss out on the joy of visiting Katie’s Cookies.

“People are happy when they come into the shop. They come through the door, smell cookies baking, and all these good memories come flooding back and they’re happy. So I really enjoy meeting my community in such a happy space.”

CARING AND SHARING On the infrequent occasion when there are still cookies from the day before, Katie may sell them at a discount, “but we usually donate them,” Katie says. “We might bring some to the police station or fire department.

Sometimes, we just hand them out.” It’s one small way of saying thank you to a community she says welcomed her and her cookies.

That sense of community was something Katie first experienced at the annual Lebanon Farmers’ Market last year. It was her first foray into cookie sales in the area, but more importantly, her first real introduction to the Upper Valley community.

“I’ve lived here for six years. Coming from the military community, it was hard to get to know people, and being a stay-at-home mom gave me limited opportunities beyond my home and family.”

But at the farmers’ market, Katie says, “People were so kind. They shared about my cookies on social media to help get the word out. They told their friends and brought cookies to their coworkers.” Over the season, Katie says she had regular customers who would come at least once a week. “The community just really helped us to succeed.”

That sense of community support reinforced the dream of owning a cookie shop. In part, it’s what led to Katie’s Cookies opening its doors.

However, it was never Katie’s dream to open just any cookie shop. “I want a shop where everybody knows they’re welcome.

I want it to be a safe space for parents to bring their kids and not feel like they have to apologize for them being too loud.”

Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 47

Ellie, Katie’s youngest, seems to agree. You will often find her lending a hand at the shop.

“She knows how to use the register and will say, ‘Can I take your order?’” It surprises people, Katie says, but adds, “She’s gained a lot of self-confidence. Whatever Ellie does, we are watching over her shoulder.” As a mom, Katie says she knows the importance of having a place where kids can be kids and parents can feel good about it.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME Students and bicyclists, nurses and clerks, postal employees and retail workers, everyone is welcome. People may not come to Katie’s Cookies looking for quiet, but they may come to eat a cookie, drink a cup of Mocha Joe’s coffee, and use the Wi-Fi. There are tables for people to sit inside and breathe in the cookie-ness and atmosphere. Sometimes, small groups come for cookies and socializing. “We’re very proud that we are friendly people who welcome anyone who walks in our door. I think our customers feel that, and that’s why they come back.”

Going from stay-at-home mom to business owner and baker has been an extreme change for Katie, and it’s been a lot of hard work. Yet, she is surprised that she feels a bit proud of herself. “To be part of the community and for my shop to be succeeding—I just don’t even have the words. Customers come back, and they’re telling their friends! I had so many sleepless nights thinking about how many cookies I’d have to sell every single day to make this work. I feel so happy and proud of what we’ve created and proud of myself for doing it. It’s just an incredible feeling and a positive experience.” • Katie’s Cookies 2 West Park Street, Suite 104 Lebanon, NH (603) 727-4324

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- BARNS - CERTIFIED HOMES - GARAGES - SHEDS - RUN-IN SHEDS - GAZEBOS - ARENAS - PLAY STRUCTURES -

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The Elms Restaurant and Bar

374 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-2150 Mon–Fri 9am–4pm barknbathpetspa@gmail.com Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

353 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-2791 www.theelmrestaurant.com

Dog Grooming-Self Serve Wash-Boutique

at The New London Inn

Color Café 75 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 526-2727

Tue–Sat, Bar 4–10pm, Dining 5–9pm

Sunapee Shade and Blind

Peter Anderson Studio

New England Beauty & Wellness

75 Newport Road Suite 101 New London, NH (603) 526-2397 Cell (603) 748-5782 www.SunapeeShade.com

428 Main Street New London, NH (603) 229-2629 Mon–Fri 11am–4pm Or by appointment www.peterandersonstudio.com Peternh916@gmail.com

New London–Lebanon, NH (603) 877-0070 www.newenglandbeautyandwellness.com By appointment only Now offering salon services!

In-house baked goods made from scratch

All Eyes on You 9 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 748-3011 www.alleyesonyounh.com Follow us on instagram alleyesonyounh

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Grounds

The Refinery Restaurant & Market

374 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-6010

4 Mill Road Andover, NH (603) 977-0194 www.refinerynh.com

Baked goods, bagels, smoothies, and more!

Open 7 days a week Follow us on social media for updated hours!

Wed–Sat 12–9pm

Morgan Hill Bookstore

Optometrist On Premises

Timeless Kitchens

253 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-5850 www.MorganHillBookstore.com

255 Newport Road Unit E New London, NH (603) 526-6990

11 Pleasant Street New London, NH (603) 526-7866 www.timelesskitchen.com

Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 11am–3pm

Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9am–5pm Wed & Sat 9am–12pm Thu 9am–7pm

Stop by to see us making breads, croissants and bagels by hand daily.

12 Lovering Lane New London, NH (603) 526-2892 www.blueloonbakery.com Wed–Sun 8am–2pm Offering catering for weddings, parties, family gatherings, and business meetings.

GraceHill Construction

Hubert’s Family Outfitters

Millstone at 74 Main

Flash Photo NH

219 County Road New London, NH (603) 526-4032 www.Huberts.com

74 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 526-4201 www.74MainRestaurant.com

(603) 526-2400 flashphotonh.com digital@flashphotonh.com

Mon–Fri 9:30am–6pm Sat 9am–6pm Sun 10am–4pm

Mon–Sat 11:30am–9pm Sun 11am–9pm, Brunch 11am–2pm

Design, Printing, Packing & Shipping & More!

11 Pleasant Street New London, NH (603) 748-2804 www.gracehillco.com

Candita Clayton Gallery

210 Main Street New London, NH (401) 533-8825 Across the street from Tuckers www.canditaclaytongallery.com By appointment or by chance

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Foster’s Fine Jewelry 428 Main Street New London, NH (603) 252-0543 Text Angela Ear Piercing, Jewelry Repairs, Redesign New and Estate Jewelry Thu & Fri 10am–4pm, Sat 10am–2pm Or by appointment

Tatewell Gallery New London Shopping Center 257 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 526-2910 www.tatewellgallery.com Tue–Fri 10:30am–5:30pm, Sat 10:30am–4pm Open Mon 11/27–12/18, 10:30am–5:30pm

Floorcraft

Pizza Chef

231 NH Route 11 Wilmot, NH (603) 526-2600 www.FloorcraftNH.com

394 Main Street New London, NH (603) 526-9201 Mon–Thu 11am–9pm Fri–Sat 11am–10pm

Mon–Fri 8am–5pm Sat 8am–1pm

Closed Sun

Unleashed

Shop In Store or Online Curbside Pickup & Local Delivery Available 277 Newport Road New London, NH (603) 526-2088 www.UnleashedNH.com Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm Sat 9am–5pm, Closed Sun

Hugo Anderson MFA Artist/Curator

23 Jenny Lane New London, NH (310) 266-9904 www.hugoanderson.com Images available on website Represented by Candita Clayton Gallery

Sugar River Bank

Evelyn J’s Fish Market

Roberts Scarlett Pharmacy

Newport | Grantham | New London Sunapee | Warner | Concord Your Hometown Bank www.SugarRiverBank.com

1004 Lake Avenue Sunapee, NH (603) 865-5393

276 Newport Road The Gallery New London, NH (603) 526-2002 www.robertsscarlettpharmacy.com

Member FDIC - Equal Housing Lender

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Mon 1–6pm Tue–Sat 10am–6pm

Mon–Fri 9am–5pm Sat 9am–12pm

EUROPEAN FACE AND BODY STUDIO ANNEMARIE SCHMIDT, LE

& SCHMIDT PHYSICAL THERAPY CHRIS SCHMIDT, PT. FAAOMPT, CAFS

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed.

– Audrey Hepburn

FACE, SKIN & BODY CARE

MASSAGE THERAPY

Ionfusion, Ultra Sonic & Anti-Aging Facials Microdermabrasions Lash Lift & Extensions Brow & Lash Tinting Waxing Services Spray Tanning Make-up Applications

Customized Deep Tissue Swedish Sports Therapeutic Hot Stone Scalp Foot & Leg

We take COVID-19 and your protection seriously.

We have made several office improvements and implemented sensible safety precautions. We need your cooperation to be successful.

Please adhere to our new safety guidelines as stated on our website.

Chris & Annemarie Schmidt

PHYSICAL THERAPY Neuromusculoskeletal & Sports-specific Assessments Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Spine & Extremity Treatments Specific Joint Mobilizations & Manipulations Functional Exercise Soft Tissue Techniques Dry Needling Post-surgical & Tai Chi for Rehabilitation

70 South Main Street | Hanover, NH | 603-277-9075 | europeanfaceandbodystudio.com Second location for Schmidt PT: 3 Dunning Street | Claremont, NH | 603-542-9200 | schmidtphysicaltherapy.com

Owner Tracy Pelletier stands with items of clothing in an area of his showroom.

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

A ONE-STOP SHOP to Promote Your Company

TOP STITCH EMBROIDERY OFFERS CREATIVE BRANDED PRODUCTS ONE STITCH AT A TIME. FOR ALMOST 36 YEARS, that’s how Tracy Pelletier has approached his business. “I’m proud of the team we have and how much heart and soul they put into their craft,” says Tracy, owner of Top Stitch Embroidery in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

“I’m very humbled by the longevity we’ve had as a company serving not only those in our community but some national and well-known customers as well.”

Sponsored by

In today’s business world, branding is vital. “Early on, a name was usually enough for clients, whether a company name or a person’s name. Now, logos comprise a broad range. Most have the basic block name, but many have created elaborate designs that we address via embroidery, screen printing, or digital printing,” says Tracy.

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Below: Taking a break are Amanda, Kaye, Cody, Tracy, Mel, Bryce, and Kennedy.

APPAREL AND MUCH MORE Known as a premier market leader in the Upper Valley Region, Top Stitch is a full-service store providing embroidery, screen printing, digital printing, graphic design, and order fulfillment. It sells mostly apparel items from mill brands to household names, including Nike, Adidas, and The North Face. Promotional products, from pens and mugs to everything in between, are also available. “We try to be a onestop-shop for all the branding needs of our customers.”

For Tracy and his staff, meeting a customer’s expectations is imperative.

“We make sure the customer is well taken care of,” says Tracy. “We realize

we’re only as good as the last order we put out the door. The staff takes great pride in seeing a happy customer, especially if we see them wearing their product around town.”

INSPIRATION AND HAPPY CUSTOMERS Tracy’s foray into the business started at a sporting goods store that offered school team items with embroidered names and logos. “They were sending orders out of the area to have the embroidery done. At the time, my sister had a retail store that specialized in items for doctors and nurses, and she was receiving calls about personalizing their lab coats. She, too, was sending

Seniendu sandandem aut volupta comnist, optatec atiorem delique

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Clockwise from top left: manda finishes a hat order a e threads a machine el re s items for em roider Br ce a lies transfers is la s in the showroom n item with a com an logo is read to shi a e wor s on an em roider machine

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Above and opposite: No matter what the logo may be, Top Stitch can expertly add it to sweatshirts, jackets, hats, and more.

“It’s great to see the satisfaction on our customers’ faces—to us, that says we’ve done well.” this service out of the area to be completed,” explains Tracy. Inspiration struck and he purchased one two-head embroidery machine and asked if both businesses would funnel their work to him.

What started out as a small business in a garage with three customers has become a highly successful and wellrespected company in the industry with 13 employees. “I still do work for one of my original customers and, up until he retired a couple of years ago, another of our original customers.”

Overall, Tracy wants customers to feel valued. “We appreciate the opportunity to serve them and find it exciting to see new designs paired with new products to create a new look,” he says. “It’s great to see the satisfaction on our customers’ faces—to us, that says we’ve done well.”

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Tracy shares more about his business.

Why is branding important?

Branding tells a quick story about the company. By a quick glance you can tell what company it is, what they might offer for services or product, and color can range in emotion from confident to creative.

Most unique logo you’ve seen?

We’ve done many large back designs that take hours to run and have many great details within the full back logo.

Most interesting item you’ve embroidered?

We’ve done embroidery for well-known bands, MLB teams, NHL teams, and a president’s family, but we’re happy just to work on our craft each day.

Evan Pierce C: 201.401.4934 evan.pierce@fourseasonssir.com

Leah McLaughry C: 603.359.8622 leah.mclaughry@fourseasonssir.com

Pierce McLaughry

@piercemclaughrygroup

Group

piercemclaughrygroup.com

Whether you are looking to sell your cherished home or embark on finding a new home, we are well-connected and accomplished real estate professionals, here to help you navigate the complexities of the market, ensuring you get expert guidance every step of the way.

Reach out today and let’s kickstart your 2024 real estate dealings with confidence and success.

56 King Road | Hanover, NH | Sold

$2,300,000

383 Dogford Road | Hanover, NH | Sold

$2,000,000

106 East Road | Cornish, NH | Sold

$1,225,000

Facebook.com/Pierce McLaughry Group

31 Old Coach Road | Norwich, VT | Sold

$1,050,000 *TO CLOSE ON 11/1/23

17 1/2 Lebanon Street, Hanover, New Hampshire | Office: 603.643.6070 | FourSeasonsSIR.com | Each Office is Independently Owned & Operated.

Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 59

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Describe your business in one word.

Dependable. My father let me know you are only as good as your word. If you tell someone you are going to do something, you better do it.

What’s the best part of being a local business in Lebanon?

I feel like we’re carrying on the tradition of the “Lebanon” brand of the people who showed us how to be a good person, like my father Ed, who ran Ed’s Sunoco for about 30 years; the Vaniers; the Damrens; Terry LaCasse; Doug Falzarano; Jim Campbell; and many more. If you watched how they handled themselves, you learned success. Success can come in different measurements: a helping hand, monetary, or working in the field you enjoy. I thank those people for the education they provided and most likely didn’t know they were teaching us.

Tell us a fun fact about you.

I’ve had the same best friend for the last 50 years. • Top Stitch Embroidery 233 Mascoma Street Lebanon, NH (603) 448-2931 topstitchinc.com

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Visit Historic Woodstock this Winter

Méribel, France

BY LISA BALLARD

6

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA BALLARD | UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Full of surprises!

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Chalet on the slopes of the valley Méribel.

Ski Resort Méribel Village Center, France. © Nikolai Korzhov|Dreamstime.com

S

ometimes a ski trip is full of surprises, like the one I took at the end of last winter in Méribel, France. The first surprise was how absolutely lovely the resort looked as my rental car rolled through this historic mountain town at sunset. All of the French Alps are alpine eye candy, but Méribel is among the most enchanting, an all-natural beauty that hides her modern amenities under a mantle of oldworld mystique.

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Therein lies the second surprise, the amount of skiable terrain that is accessible from little Méribel Village. Located in the heart of Les Trois Vallees (the Three Valleys), it’s part of the largest interconnected ski region in the world. For $300, the cost of a six-day lift ticket, a skier can make tracks at Courchevel, Val Thorens, Les Meniures, and several other interconnected ski areas for a total of 232 square miles of skiable terrain.

LOOKING BACK A British colonel named Peter Lindsay, with help from the 1936 Olympic champion and renowned French ski instructor Emile Allais, is credited with raising the money, finding the location, buying the land, and building Méribel. During that tense pre-World War II era, Lindsay wanted to create a ski resort as an alternative to the established Austrian ski resorts that had become increasingly overrun by German Nazis.

Lindsay constructed several buildings and a lift called a teletraineau—a mechanical sled that carried 30 skiers at a time up a slope along a fixed cable. The base of the teletraineau was in a pasture on the edge of Mussillon (pronounce MOO-see-yon), a small farming community above the larger town of Les Allues. Mussillon was difficult for English-speaking skiers to pronounce, so Lindsay renamed his ski area Méribel, which is derived from the Latin words mirare (wonderful) and bel (nice).

The teletraineau opened for the winter of 1938, but operated for only one year. The war in Europe broke out in 1939, then Germany invaded France in 1940.

Germany occupied the region, and Méribel became a base for the Resistance.

Immediately after the war, Lindsay returned to Méribel to finish his ski area. He insisted that all of the hotels and homes had to be chalet-style and constructed from the local materials, specifically wood and stone with doublepitched slate rooves. The building code remains today, which is part Méribel’s aesthetic. Méribel exudes tradition, not glitz. It feels like a quaint mountain retreat, yet it’s a massive modern skiing mecca.

THE RICH, FAST, AND FAMOUS The actress Brigitte Bardot, who owned a home in Méribel, is credited with putting the resort on the proverbial map after she was photographed on its ski slopes during the 1960s. Since then, the resort has been a skiing and snowboarding destination for famous, 64 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

Opposite top: Méribel’s narrow, historic main street is a popular place to shop and dine.

Opposite bottom: An arch of lights is the gateway from the slopes to the main street in Méribel village.

This page: Slopeside chalets, constructed of native wood and stone, make this massive ski area feel warm and quaint. © Nikolai Korzhov|Dreamstime.com

Méribel exudes tradition, not glitz. It feels like a quaint mountain retreat, yet it’s a massive modern skiing mecca.

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Right: A race course set on the famous Roc de Fer trail.

Bottom, from left: The now-empty grandstands from the 2023 Alpine World Championships. A boardwalk to the slopes in Méribel-Mottaret.

discriminating vacationers like David Beckham, Emma Watson, George Clooney, and former French president Francois Mitterrand, whose brother also owned a chalet there. My third surprise was learning that, a decade ago, Formula One driving legend Michael Schumacher had a career-ending ski injury at Méribel. I planned to make it home in one piece.

Following my GPS, I puttered through town, watching for skiers crossing the road who had just come down an incredibly steep slope to my right—the Roc du Fer! Earlier in the winter, the 2023 Alpine Skiing World Championships had taken place on that very slope. It was a famous piste originally created for the women’s alpine events during the 1992 Winter Olympics in nearby Albertville. Americans Hilary Lindh and Diann Roffe both nabbed silver medals in that Olympics, in downhill and giant slalom respectively. Since then, Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin have garnered golds on this famous race hill in World Cup competition. And last winter, Shiffrin took home a gold and two silvers at the World Championships. I needed to ski it!

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SKIING THE ROC DE FER The windy mountain road disappeared into a tunnel, cutting off my view of the Roc de Fer. When I came out the other side, there were ski slopes but no village, another surprise. As it turned out, my hotel was not in Méribel Village, but a few kilometers higher up the road in Méribel-Mottaret. I didn’t realize Méribel was the name of three mountain enclaves at different elevations in the same valley. The third is Méribel Centre.

Mottaret is the highest.

By then, the sky had darkened, revealing a series of sculptures shaped by hundreds of Christmas tree lights. One looked like a sparkling heart, another like a glimmering deer, and a third like a bejeweled eagle taking off from an unseen perch—yet another delightful surprise! They reminded me of the animal-shaped trees at Disney World, except these were made from hundreds of tiny sparkles.

The next morning, I wasn’t sure where to start with so much skiable terrain. Les Trois Vallees has over 335 trails! However, I knew I wanted to make at least one run down the Roc de Fer, so that was as good a place to begin as any. I wondered if I could ski there.

My hotel was ski in, ski out, so I inquired at the bar, which also served as the breakfast buffet, front desk, and concierge.

“Oui,” replied the bartender, pouring me a strong espresso. “You just go down zee

MORE INFO Closest Airport: Geneva, Switzerland (two hours) or Lyon, France (two hours) Lodging: There are many hotels and shortterm rentals around Méribel. They are comparably priced to upmarket ski resort lodging in the USA. For budget travelers, stay in nearby Brides-les-Bains, which is connected by gondola to Méribel.

Language: Many locals speak English as the region still caters heavily to British skiers.

Elevation: The highest point is about 9,700 feet, much lower than many Rocky Mountain destinations, a plus if you’re prone to altitude sickness.

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Gondolas traverse the top of the valley at Méribel-Mottaret.

piste.” I took that to mean ski down on any trail from the hotel, and I would get there.

It was a long, easy run to from Mottaret to Méribel Village and a perfect warmup. I skied onto the Legends chairlift, then stared at the slope to my right as the chair rose higher and higher beside the famous trail. I imagined how many World Cup athletes had ridden this same chairlift over the years en route to glory or disappointment. I felt part of it by simply being there.

After getting off the Legends lift, I took another chair to the highest point at this part of the resort, also called the Roc de Fer. Roc de Fer is French for “iron rock.” Presumably the crags around the summit have iron in them, but World Cup racers must also have iron-like nerves to ski such a steep, undulating pitch at speeds over 85 miles per hour in downhill.

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Méribel-Mottaret panoramic valley view. © Andreas Bohrer | Dreamstime.com

Backcountry: There’s lots of it, particularly in nearby Courchevel, which is part of the Trois Vallees. Bring your skins and avalanche gear, and hire a guide to learn where the best couloirs and powder stashes are.

Lift Tickets: Lift tickets are cheap, especially on Saturdays, the changeover day. Epic pass holders get seven days.

More Info: les3vallees.com

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I had no intention of skiing even half that speed.

The Roc was groomed and wide. I hardly noticed the handful of other skiers on it. My skis fell into an enjoyable rhythm, left, right, left, right. The run was a series of pitches punctuated by several swooping turns. It was long, over a mile and a half, and dropped over 2,100 feet from the top to the bottom, but it didn’t feel like such a long drop until the last section of trail.

The final pitch to the bottom is an unrelenting plunge. I paused at the top of it to take it in. All of the races—slalom, GS, super G, and downhill—ended at the bottom in the same spot in front of an enormous grandstand. I tried to imagine what it would be like accelerating down such a slope, with tired legs and on a much harder surface than the forgiving packed powder that my skis now gripped.

I pushed off, making short, slalom-like turns, trying to control my speed, but the slope begged for more. As my speed picked up, I sensed a crowd of 20,000 cheering from the empty stands, like ski racing spirits who had come alive when someone like me glides through the spot where the finish line had been. To my surprise, a man approached me.

“Nice turns,” he said in French. “You ski like a racer.”

“Merci!” I replied. In fact, I had ski raced most of my life, but I had never skied the Roc de Fer. I looked up at it, and had yet another surprise, a tear of happiness at the chance to come to Méribel. During my trip, I skied numerous slopes throughout the Trois Vallees, but the Roc de Fer was a run I will always remember. •

The a thor in the finish area for the inter l m ics and the orld Cham ionshi s 70 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

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Scout Hair Design 129 South Main Street White River Junction, VT (802) 356-8123 www.scouthairdesign.com Tue–Fri 10am–7pm Sat 9am–4pm

Big Fatty’s BBQ Centrally located in White River Junction, Vermont, Big Fatty’s BBQ is the Upper Valley’s premiere barbecue and craft beer destination. Featuring freshly cooked meats and homemade sides, Big Fatty’s continues to delight locals and visitors alike. With live music every Friday and Saturday night, themed events, and tap-takeovers, there’s no shortage of entertainment! Want to take something home? Check out Big Fatty’s Crowler Pit, located right next door, to bring home Big Fatty’s merchandise and to stock up on all your favorite craft beer!

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Kathy’s Fancy Located on the corner of Church and North Main Street in White River Junction, Kathy’s Fancy is a shop filled with handpicked vintage and reimagined finds.

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Steven Thomas, Inc. Fine Arts & Antiques 85 Gates Street White River Junction, VT (802) 457-1764 www.woodblock-prints.com Fri–Sat 11am–4pm or by appointment

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CINDERELLA’S WALTZ.

CINDERELLA AND PRINCE CHARMING.

BY MARY GOW 6 PHOTOS COURTESY OF CIT Y CENTER BALLE T

Lebanon’s City Center Ballet CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF BRINGING MAGIC TO THE UPPER VALLEY Young dancers in a brand-new ballet company put on their pointe shoes and stepped onto the stage of the Lebanon Opera House in November, 1999, for their debut performance. They performed Etudes, excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, and more. The production was titled The Start of Something Big.

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As the title foretold, Lebanon’s City Center Ballet is indeed something big—big for the Upper Valley community and big for an entire generation of young dancers. For 25 years, the company has presented professional ballet productions at the Lebanon Opera House, sharing the precision and beauty of classical ballet with area audiences. Dedicated young dancers have studied, rehearsed, and performed with the company, learning technique, artistic expression, and the etiquette and work ethic of this 600-year-old art form.

This May, City Center Ballet celebrates its 25 years with a gala anniversary celebration. Like that first performance at the Lebanon Opera House, this one will feature selections. This time they are from the company’s own impressive repertoire. Current company members and guests will perform scenes from most if not all of their 13 ballets: Giselle, Coppélia, and Cinderella among them.

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Rehearsal for the upcoming Drosselmeyer’s Workshop in December.

Drosselmeyer’s Workshop, a Nutcracker Experience

City Center Ballet’s Clara’s Dream: A Nutcracker Story is often local childrens first introd ction to allet erformance n ann al tradition the com an s rod ction follows the ad ent res of o ng Clara and the tcrac er gi en to her magical ncle rosselme er t is choreogra hed Cit Center Ballet rtistic irector Jennifer Henderson.

This holida season Cit Center Ballet s home stage at the e anon era o se is not a aila le with the extensi e centennial reno ations still nderwa there anting to carr on the tradition Jennifer ex lains the decided to thin o t of the ox Teaming with the ower o se all Cit Center Ballet is resenting a two da holida extra agan a Drosselmeyer’s Workshop: A Nutcracker Experience. n the ower o se

all dancers erform ignettes from the allet t will allow o r a dience the o ort nit to e close to o r erformers as them estions and immerse themsel es in o r magical scenes sa s Jennifer cti ities incl ding a sca enger h nt and crafts are planned. e ho e to ring the same o and entertainment we alwa s ha e to o r comm nit nl this time the will get to ste inside the magic she says.

Drosselmeyer’s Workshop, a Nutcracker Experience at rda m

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78 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

THE NEXT LEVEL FOR DANCERS City Center Ballet is based in Lebanon on the mall with its sibling institution, the Lebanon Ballet School. Cofounded by dancers/dance educators Linda Copp and Ruth Meyer, City Center Ballet was launched in response to a need they saw in the area’s dance community. Linda, the owner and director of the Lebanon Ballet School, had founded the school in the mid 1980s. Soon, the school was flourishing with a range of classes.

“We had young people who were very talented and interested in going on and pursuing dance careers. But in order for them to be successful, they needed performance opportunities, so we were losing them to private schools—good places, but they were having to leave,” Linda explains. The performance company, which is a nonprofit entity, provides that next level for students.

With it, they could also expand students’ experience by bringing in professional dancers and choreographers from around the country and even internationally to perform with them.

The preprofessional program at Lebanon Ballet School and City Center Ballet go hand in hand. Dancers who achieve a high level of proficiency at the school may study in the preprofessional program. These students, ages 12 and up, take at least three classes each week—classes focused on clarity of classical movements and accuracy of ballet technique. These dancers may audition to perform with City Center Ballet. Those who are accepted spend 15 to 20 hours a week in classes and rehearsals.

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CREATING STORIES THROUGH DANCE The company presents two ballets each year, Clara’s Dream: A Nutcracker Story during the holiday season and a second production in May. The productions are stunning, with the dancers’ performances and exquisite costumes and sets.

Classic story ballets are a great fit for the company; their narratives appeal to audiences who are new to ballet as well as to afficionados. The annual spring selection is based on each year’s group of dancers. The Sleeping Beauty was their first, in 2000, and has been repeated several times. Alice in Wonderland, complete with dancing flamingos, a caterpillar, and lobsters, is among the more recent additions. The company performed Giselle, which is famously challenging, in 2013.

Jennifer Henderson, who is now City Center Ballet’s artistic director and is Linda Copp’s daughter, has been choreographing them since 2008. “I absolutely love creating stories through dance with my dancers. I love the evolution in the process,” she says.

Jennifer studied at Lebanon Ballet School since its inception and has danced, truly, all her life. Her mother remembers her getting up from her blanket on the floor of the studio and reaching up to the barre before she could walk. Jennifer joined the Lebanon Ballet School teaching staff in January 2003, and for several years was local rehearsal mistress for Albany Berkshire Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

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Approaching this anniversary, Jennifer says, “I find myself reflecting on all the memories and positive experiences young dancers have had while participating in our program. Their respect for the art form, the life skills and time management they learn, the importance of being responsible and dependable, their friendships, and performing at the level that they do.

That is not something that typical dance schools provide. They get a real professional experience working with real technical people in a real theater and working with professional artists and staff. It’s cool to watch and see their progression through the years.”

Some former members of City Center Ballet have gone on to professional careers in dance, but most do not. “It’s fascinating the areas they have gone into, but they are all very focused and driven people with love of ballet in their hearts,” Jennifer notes.

Looking ahead, Jennifer and Linda both note how they value being back with the dancers after the interruption of the pandemic. Ballet on Zoom is far removed from the experience in the studio. “We are supporting the young artists of our community and we look forward to continuing that mission,” says Jennifer. • City Center Ballet 22 Hanover Street Lebanon, NH (603) 448-9710 www.citycenterballet.org

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“There's no place like home for the holidays.”

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COOKS' CORNER

Cozy Dinners for Winter Nights WELCOME FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH DELICIOUS, WARMING MEALS

The holidays are a crazy, wonderful, hectic time. From late November to early January, we’re busy

with shopping, cooking and baking, decorating, and entertaining. It’s a happy time filled with family, friends, and good cheer. It can also be a stressful time if you let yourself overschedule, overspend, and overdo it on the decorations, food, and whatever else. So, why not pledge to keep it cozy and casual this year?

When it comes to the food, go for relaxed and delicious. Forget beef Wellington and turducken. Braised poultry, meats, and seafood are perfect for a crowd. For one thing, all or part of the dish can be made in advance. Second, your guests can serve themselves.

And finally, everyone loves a homey, slow-cooked meal—especially if they’ve been out skiing, skating, snowshoeing, or shopping all afternoon. You'll be singing praises for holiday braises.

From tree-trimming parties and neighborhood caroling to New Year’s Eve get-togethers and maybe even Super Bowl LVIII, let dinner bubble on the stove or in the oven while you enjoy time with family and friends. Happy holidays!

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83

COOKS' CORNER

Wine pairing

Lemon-Braised Chicken Thighs will pair best with a fresh and fruity white wine with good acidity, such as lemony unoaked chardonnay.

For Andouille Shrimp and Cheesy Polenta, something with high acidity and tannins will pair well and help to cut through the richness of the dish, like a zinfandel or grenache.

LEMON-BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS Serves 8

8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2½ lemons 1 cup chicken stock ½ cup dry white wine 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard 12 oz frozen pearl onions 12 whole garlic cloves, trimmed and peeled 2 tsp herbs de Provence Brown and wild rice mix or quinoa 1. Preheat the oven to 450°. Place a roasting pan large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer in the oven for 10 minutes.

2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the chicken, skin side down, in the hot roasting pan. Return the pan to the oven and roast the chicken at 450° for 15 minutes.

3. While the chicken roasts, put the juice of ½ lemon, stock, wine, and mustard in a bowl and whisk to combine. Add the onions and garlic, sprinkle with the herbs, season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.

4. Thinly slice the remaining lemons and discard any seeds.

5. Turn the chicken. Add the braising liquid, onions, and 84 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

garlic and top with the lemon slices. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° and return the pan to the oven. Adding more wine or stock if needed, cook until the chicken is golden and tender and the onions and garlic are soft and caramelized, about 1 hour.

6. While the chicken braises, prepare the rice or quinoa according to package directions.

7. Serve the chicken thighs in shallow bowls with rice or quinoa and generous scoops of onions, garlic, and lemon.

This dish can be made two or three days ahead. Adding more wine or stock if necessary, reheat at 350° for 30 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the chicken is warmed through.

ANDOUILLE SHRIMP AND CHEESY POLENTA Serves 8

Olive oil 12–16 oz andouille sausage, cut into quarters lengthwise and then into ½-inch pieces 1 onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped 1 tsp dried thyme ¼ tsp or to taste cayenne ¼ tsp smoked paprika Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup dry white wine 3 cups crushed tomatoes 2 cups shrimp or chicken stock 1 bay leaf 3 lb umbo shrimp, peeled and deveined Cheesy Polenta (recipe follows) 1. ightly coat a Dutch oven with olive oil and heat over medium-high. Add the sausage, onion, and carrot. Sprinkle with thyme, cayenne, and smoked paprika, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until the sausage is lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook two minutes more. Add the white wine and simmer until reduced by half.

2. Add the crushed tomatoes, stock, and bay leaf, stir to combine, and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.

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85

COOKS' CORNER Can be made ahead to this point, cooled to room temperature, covered, and refrigerated.

3. Raise the heat to medium-high and bring the sauce to a rapid simmer. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, about five minutes.

4. Spoon a mound of polenta into individual shallow bowls and top with shrimp and sauce.

Cheesy Polenta Serves 8

2 2 ½ 4–6 2

cups instant polenta Tbsp butter cup half & half oz grated Fontina cheese oz grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Prepare the polenta according to package directions. Add the butter, cream, and cheeses and stir until melted and well combined. Serve immediately.

BRAISED BEEF BOURGUIGNON Serves 8

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86 i m a g e •

Winter 2023/2024

3½ lb beef chuck Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 4 oz thick-cut bacon, roughly chopped 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped 3 carrots, peeled and finely chopped

3 stalks celery, finely chopped 2 tsp herbs de Provence ½ tsp smoked paprika ¼ tsp or to taste cayenne pepper 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup crushed tomatoes 4–6 cups dry red wine 3–4 cups chicken stock 1 bay leaf 1 lb mushrooms, sliced ½ cup sour cream 1 lb frozen pearl onions Thick slices of crusty bread 1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Season the beef with salt and pepper and let sit at room temperature while you cook the bacon.

2. Cook the bacon in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat until crisp and brown. Remove the bacon and reserve. Pour off any excess bacon fat and reserve.

3. Raise the heat to medium-high, add the beef, brown on all sides, and reserve.

4. Reduce the heat to medium. If necessary, add one or two tablespoons bacon fat to the pot (if you run out of bacon fat, substitute with olive oil).

Add the onion, carrot, and celery, sprinkle with herbs de Provence, smoked paprika, and cayenne, and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and sauté two to three minutes more.

5. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, wine, stock, and bay leaf. Return the beef and bacon to the stew pot, bring to a simmer, cover the pot, and transfer to the oven. Cook at 350° for an hour to an hour and a half.

6. Sauté the mushrooms in a little bacon fat or olive oil over mediumhigh heat until lightly browned.

7. While the mushrooms cook, put the sour cream in a small bowl. A few spoonfuls at time, add about a cup of hot braising liquid to the sour cream, stirring after each addition. Add the sour cream to the pot and gently stir to combine.

8. Add the mushrooms and pearl onions to the stew pot and stir gently to combine. Add more wine and/or stock if necessary. • Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM •

87

COMMUNITY

BY PAMELA BROWN Photos courtesy of Newport Service Organization

A LOCAL NONPROFIT

PAYS IT FORWARD NEWPORT SERVICE ORGANIZATION

Giving back to others is meaningful and rewarding. The dedicated members of

the Newport Service Organization (NSO) have always understood the importance of outreach and have been serving the community by raising funds to support health and safety-related causes in the Newport area. The Newport Thrift Shoppe, located at 37 John Stark Highway, serves as NSO’s fundraising arm for all donations and student scholarships.

“Since its inception, service has been in the forefront of the organization. Assisting health and safety nonprofits was, and continues to be, its mission,” says Maura Stetson, NSO historian. “The ladies of the Newport Service Organization live in a small town with many needs. When they give back to their community, they see direct results.”

MORE THAN A CENTURY OF SUPPORT The NSO traces its beginning to the Newport Hospital Aid in 1913. This group of women was instrumental in helping to purchase Newport Hospital’s first x-ray equipment in the 1930s. In 1976, their name was changed to the Newport Hospital Auxiliary, and upon Newport Hospital’s closure in 1990, the Newport Hospital Auxiliary made a decision to dissolve and reestablish as the Newport Service Organization, an independent, nonprofit, volunteer-based organization.

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Above: First anniversary of the NSO, 1991. Front row (from left): Bertha Colby, Kay McCrillis, Judy Fowler, and Mary Gulsesserian. Second row: Joyce Sielewicz, Polly Stoddard, Aileen Barcus, Dorothy Elhardt, and Cecile Riley. Back row: Lillian Koski, Kay Lee, Dorothy Flint, Florence Coleman, Jean Meinicoff, and Marie Bugbee.

Photo courtesy of Joyce Sielewicz.

Right: Maura Stetson, NSO historian and past president, and Shirlee Karr, Newport Thrift Shoppe manager.

Above: Bridget Coleman and Jennifer Root were excited to find fall decorations at the Thrift Shoppe. Right: Jeanne Fillebrown and Deborah Rumrill both commented on the Thrift Shoppe being well-stocked and clean, and they appreciate the reasonable prices.

Top left: Anjali Clarke, Christine Smith, and Stacey Hammerlind.

Above and right: Items are added to each department daily as new arrivals are received, checked, and marked. Clothing (men’s, women’s, and children’s), linens, games, toys, jewelry, and housewares are attractively displayed to make shopping easy and fun.

Left: Nancy Cadenhead visits the Kids Room and admires one of many items available for children.

Monetary grants are provided to local nonprofits and organizations. “We have to go into the history book for this.

When the Newport Hospital closed, the only health care one could receive was from the Newport ambulance service. All money raised by the NSO was donated to the ambulance service for equipment, training, and new ambulances,” explains Maura.

“As nonprofits were established to help serve the health needs of Newporters, the NSO has broadened its financial assistance.

Currently, most of the recipients of NSO grants are Newportbased or provide support to Newport residents.” In addition, the NSO provides financial support to some health care programs that serve the surrounding area or Sullivan County.

Some of the organization’s major contributions include

purchasing the first red ambulance in Newport (2008); providing funds for the Newport Health Center Building (2016); the Newport Senior Center Renovation (2018); the Sullivan County Nutrition Services Meals on Wheels (annually); scholarships (Newport youth) for the Rec Center Summer Camp (annually); and this year, it is pledging for the proposed Newport Community Recreation Center.

Since the 1970s, NSO scholarships have been traditionally awarded to Newport residents. Currently, recipients are either residents or students in Newport or an individual working in Newport and entering the health field. “The number of scholarships granted varies year to year. Recipients receive ongoing scholarships each semester if they are in good academic Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 89

COMMUNITY standing. Over the years the amount has been increased to reflect the rising cost of education,” says Maura, adding, “To be able to assist individuals with the cost of their education is very rewarding. To be cared for by an individual who has benefited from an NSO scholarship is indescribable; being a small town, they know the ladies and we know them.”

Kitchen and Bath Design Center Offering

17 Granite Place Enfield, NH 03748 • 603-632-9800 www.shakerhillgranite.com

HOME IS WHERE THE HEARTH IS

AFFORDABLE ITEMS FOR A GOOD CAUSE Since 1969, the volunteer-run Newport Thrift Shoppe has offered a wide selection of good-condition items for all ages, including clothes, jewelry, home decor, small appliances, housewares, toys, books, pet accessories, and oftentimes estate and new name-brand items. “We pretty much sell things that can be used in every room of the house,” says Shirlee Karr, seven-year shop manager and 12-year NSO member of the one-stop shop for affordable items and a place for the community to donate good quality items no longer needed or used. “It gives me a good feeling of worth that I’m able to give back to the community I’ve lived in most of my life and so love,” she says.

Shirlee also enjoys shopping at the Thrift Shoppe. “We’re very supportive of buying within the store. We who work here are like one big family, and the customers are like our second family. They call us by name and they’re very happy with our help.

It’s a good place. The community knows the good we do and appreciate it,” she says.

Maura agrees that the NSO serves a dual purpose for the ladies. “It’s a place of friendship and fellowship,” she says.

“It provides financial support for underfunded, much-needed services and financial aid to our next health care professionals. We are immensely proud to be able to assist them.” • Newport Thrift Shoppe 37 John Stark Highway Newport, NH (603) 863-2284

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92 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

Winter | 2 0 2 3 | 2 0 2 4

THE

PICK ar ts & en t er t ai n me n t

November 30–December 1, A Seussified Christmas Carol Through December 30 AVA’s Annual Holiday Exhibition AVA Gallery

Through December 23 Gallery of Gifts: Handmade for the Holidays in Newport Library Arts Center libraryartscenter.org Through December 30 AVA’s Annual Holiday Exhibition AVA Gallery avagallery.org

Through December 23, Gallery of Gifts: Handmade for the Holidays in Newport

Through December 31 A Christmas Carol On Christmas Eve, bad-tempered, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge thinks it’s business as usual. But unbeknownst to him, spirits are congregating to take him on a journey through his past, present, and future in this production reimagined by Producing Artistic Director Carol Dunne. Filled with music and laughter, A Christmas Carol reminds us that it is never too late for kindness and compassion.

Barrette Center for the Arts northernstage.org

November 30–December 1 A Seussified Christmas Carol A Seussified Christmas Carol is a comedy by Peter Bloedel. It’s a whimsical reinvention of Dickens’ most beloved Christmas story in wacky rhymed couplets. With zoot fruited juices and binka bird geese, from Bed-Headed Fred to Timmy Loo Hoo, this tale of glorious holiday cheer is similar to something Dr. Seuss might have come up with, if he ever had his way with the story.

Claremont Opera House, 7pm cohnh.org December, Mondays Crafternoon Join us in the community room for a funfilled afternoon of knitting, crocheting, and stitching. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a beginner, our group is open to everyone. Bring your own supplies and get ready to create something beautiful.

Kilton Library, 3pm leblibrary.com

Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 93

THE PICK

December 1–3, 8–10 The Psychic

December, Wednesdays Craft Pack Pick Up Every Wednesday Lebanon Public Library has free craft kits ready for pickup in the Children’s Room.

Lebanon Library, 10:30am–12pm leblibrary.com December, Fridays Jammin’ Jellybeans Welcome to Jammin’ Jellybeans, the coolest music program for kids aged two to six!

Here, we sing, play instruments, dance about, and just hang out with all our friends. Our music program is all about having fun and letting our imaginations soar.

Kilton Library, 10:30am leblibrary.com December, January, February, Mondays Toddler Storytime Lebanon Library, 10:30am leblibrary.com

Always made with fresh ingredients.

Real cream, real butter, made from scratch.

Visit Us! 2 West Park Street Suite 104 off the Lebanon Green.

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December, January, February, Wednesdays Baby Buzz Lebanon Join us at the Lebanon Library for songs, rhymes, and stories! Enjoy an interactive time with your little one that includes lots of fun and body movement. Clapping, singing, and prancing is encouraged!

Lebanon Library, 10:30am leblibrary.com December, January, February, Thursdays Baby Buzz Kilton Kilton Library, 10:30am leblibrary.com December 1–3, 8–10 The Psychic A down and out mystery writer, unable to pay his rent, hangs up a sign offering psychic readings in his window. To his surprise, he blurts out to his first customer, an attractive young woman, that her husband is

planning to kill her. Much to his alarm and confusion he soon finds himself embroiled in a string of bizarre and hilarious murders.

Bradford Academy oldchurchtheater.org December 2 Lions of Learning at the Library Every month, Mt. Lebanon elementary school teachers will be visiting the Kilton Public Library to bring their favorite stories to life. And the fun doesn’t stop there—we’ll have delicious cookies for everyone to enjoy!

Kilton Library, 2pm leblibrary.com December 2 Foreigners Journey Their repertoire of note-for-note classics by Foreigner and Journey provides a crowdpleasing night of unforgettable music, ready for singing along, jumping out of your seat to bounce and sway, or maybe even slow dancing (for those nostalgic for high school in the ‘80s). From power ballads like “Waiting for a Girl Like You” and “Open Arms” to anthems like “Hot Blooded” and “Any Way You Want It,” Foreigners Journey is more than a tribute band. They’re a time machine, and their energy is infectious.

Claremont Opera House, 8pm cohnh.org December 5, January 2, February 6 Writers Read The Lebanon Library is hosting an open mic for writers. Come to read, come to listen to local authors share their work.

Lebanon Library, 6:30pm leblibrary.com

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COMMERCIAL and RESIDENTIAL Professional Removal AND Exclusion of Wildlife: Squirrels • Chipmunks • Bats • Beavers • Skunks • Woodchucks Raccoons • Fox • Coyotes • Moles • Rats • Mice • Weasels December 2, Foreigners Journey Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 95

THE PICK

December 14 , A Little Lunch Music: Will Ogmundson, Piano December 6 Phoenix Yoga In collaboration with Phoenix and the Lebanon Public Libraries, we are offering free yoga classes.

The goal of these classes is to build a sober active community that fuels resilience and harnesses the transformational power of connection so that together we rise, recover, and live.

Kilton Library, 6pm leblibrary.com December 7 First Thursday Hike at The Fells The Fells, 11am thefells.org December 8, January 12, February 9 Slow Jam Upper Valley Music Center, 5:30pm uvmusic.org December 9 Upper Valley Traditional Music Jams A New England-style jam of acoustic musicians of many levels meeting to play traditional tunes of the Celtic, Canadian, old-time, and American genres.

Kilton Library, 3pm leblibrary.com December 12, January 9 Cookbook Book Club Share your love of cooking and try out new recipes with a fun and food-loving community!

Kilton Library, 5pm leblibrary.com December 14 A Little Lunch Music: Will Ogmundson, Piano Will Ogmundson, UVMC’s collaborative pianist, shares a concert of holiday music and original compositions.

Upper Valley Music Center, 12:30pm uvmusic.org 96 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

December 14, The Mudroom: Memories

rth Presents December 15, Revels No ur Midwinter Revels on To

December 14 The Mudroom: Memories Live storytelling.

AVA Gallery, 7pm avagallery.org December 15, 22, 29 Songs of the Season Get ready to embrace the holiday spirit with music, joy, and laughter at our Songs of the Season event!

Kilton Library, 10:30am leblibrary.com December 15, January 5, February 2 Chamber Music Parties – Adults These monthly sight-reading parties are free for the community. RSVP and our Chamber Music Coordinator will place participants in groups and select music so you can just show up and play!

Upper Valley Music Center, 5:30pm uvmusic.org Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 97

THE PICK

December 15–16, Eric Mintel Jazz Quartet – Back by Popular Demand: A Charlie Brown Christmas December 15 Revels North Presents Midwinter Revels on Tour Claremont Opera House, 7pm cohnh.org

We have recently remodeled!

Come on in and check out our new space!

We're still here on the mall in Lebanon, ready to Make you

Look Good, See Well, and Pay Less!!!

603.448.0030

Open 11am - 5pm, Monday - Friday 24 Hanover St, Lebanon, NH 03766

December 15–16 Eric Mintel Jazz Quartet – Back by Popular Demand: A Charlie Brown Christmas The Fleming Center at the New London Barn Playhouse, 8pm nlbarn.org December 17 Messiah Sing First Congregational Church of Lebanon, 3pm uvmusic.org

January 25, A Little Lunch Music: Alicia Casey, Violin, and Chenyu Wang, Piano 98 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

You are not alone.

domestic violence • sexual assault • stalking

We’re here for you. every hour, every day 866-348-WISE chat online at wiseuv.org WISE advocates are here for the Upper Valley every hour, every day.

We are completely confidential and survivor-centered. We can answer your questions, help you find resources, navigate systems, and support you as you think through what you want next for your life.

Call the crisis line or chat with us online.

January 24–February 11, Constellations follow us @WISEuv

January 10, February 14 Banned Book Club Kilton Library, 4pm leblibrary.com January 22, February 26 Books and Pizza Hey, teens! Do you love pizza? Do you love hanging out with fellow bookworms and discussing your latest literary obsessions? Well have we got the event for you!

Lebanon Library, 4pm leblibrary.com January 24–February 11 Constellations What if you’d made a different choice?

What if you’d said the thing that popped into your head just after you walked away? Nick Payne’s Olivier Award-winning modern romance Constellations follows Roland, a beekeeper, and Marianne, a scientist, from their first meeting through a multitude of possible futures.

Barrette Center for the Arts northernstage.org January 25 A Little Lunch Music: Alicia Casey, Violin, and Chenyu Wang, Piano Upper Valley Music Center, 12pm uvmusic.org Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 99

Hopkins Center for the Arts Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (603) 646-2422 www.hop.dartmouth.edu

For information, tickets, or pricing information, call (603) 646-2422 or visit hop.dartmouth.edu.

The Hop Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday, 10am–5pm.

January 9, Danbi Um & JIJI December 2 Hop Film: New York International Children’s Film Festival Join us for a program of audience favorite and award-winning shorts that are sure to inspire and delight all ages!

Loew Auditorium, 11am & 2pm December 9 Met Opera in HD: Florencia en el Amazonas Loew Auditorium, 1pm January 6 Met Opera in HD: Nabucco Loew Auditorium, 1pm January 9 Danbi Um & JIJI Church of Christ Dartmouth, 8pm January 12–14 Kristina Wong for Public Office Theater on Currier, 12, 7:30pm; 13 & 14, 2 & 7:30pm January 20–21 32 Sounds Loew Auditorium, 20, 3 & 7:30pm; 21, 3pm January 23 Sally Pinkas Rollins Chapel, 7:30pm January 26 Classical Smackdown Pre-Game Gathering Baker Berry Library, 6pm 100 i m a g e • W i n t e r 2 0 2 3 / 2 0 2 4

January 26, Frederic Chiu: Classical Smackdown January 26 Frederic Chiu: Classical Smackdown Rollins Chapel, 8pm January 27 HopStop Family Show: Frederic Chiu: Smackdown Claremont Creative Center, 11am January 27 Met Opera in HD: Carmen Loew Auditorium, 1pm January 30 Pre-Show Discussion: The Czech Memorial Torah Scrolls: 60 Years Later Loew Auditorium, 6pm January 31 Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi Church of Christ Dartmouth, 8pm February 3 Meklit Rollins Chapel, 8pm February 6 Johnny Gandelsman: This Is America: Part II Church of Christ Dartmouth, 7:30pm

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February 17–18 Winter 2024 Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra and the Coast Jazz Orchestra Rollins Chapel, 17, 8pm; 18, 2pm February 21 Winter 2024 Dartmouth College Gospel Choir Rollins Chapel, 8pm February 23 Winter 2024 Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble Bailey Hall, Cornell University 5:30pm February 25 Winter 2024 Dartmouth College Glee Club Baker Berry Library, 2pm

Find the Latest Issues of Here in Hanover, Image and Woodstock Magazine Explore Things To Do, Local Guides, and Community Prooles Enter our Free Contests to Win Great Local Prizes Discover Other Online Exclusives Find image at WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM • 101

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

www.tlcfamilyrc.org Phone: 603-542-1848

TLC partners with families and individuals as they learn new skills, connect to community resources and build resilience to thrive.

Serving NH residents in Sullivan and Lower Grafton Counties.

FAMILY SUPPORT

RECOVERY PROGRAMS

TLC Family Support

TLC Recovery Programs

Parenting is hard, we can help!

• New Moms Drop in Group • Infant Massage • Lactation Support • Workshops • Parents of kids up to 21 • Home Visiting Services

Recovery happens here!

• Peer Recovery Support • Recovery Support Groups • Multiple Program Options • Volunteer Opportunities

YOUTH PROGRAMS

RURAL OUTRIGHT TLC Rural Outright

TLC Youth Programs Got Questions? We have answers.

• Comprehensive sexuality education • Certified curriculm • Keeping bodies safe and healthy • Healthy Relationships • Honest answers for hard questions

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Your community, your voice • Education and outreach • Peer activities and events • Advocacy • Youth programs

Fall 2023 vol. 18 no.3 $4.95

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Fabulous Fall!

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Get listed on the www.greateruppervalley.com BUSINESS DIRECTORY and you will also be included on our printed list in every issue of image magazine (see page 23).

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Share the wonder of our beautiful area and the latest news all year long with an image gift subscription. Friends and family who have moved away from the area will be especially appreciative. Be sure to order a subscription for yourself, too!

Send a check for $19.95 for one year (4 issues) to image, 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH, 03755. Or conveniently pay online using PayPal at www.greateruppervalley.com.

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Find out how you can connect with our readers. It’s easy, inexpensive, and another way to reach an affluent and educated audience.

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Winter 2023/2024 vol. 18 no.4 $4.95

Wonders of Winter MORGAN HILL BOOKSTORE A TREASURE TROVE OF DISCOVERY

KATIE’S COOKIES

THEY’LL BRING OUT THE COOKIE MONSTER IN YOU

ADVERTISERS INDEX 3 Phase Landscaping 45 APD Lifecare 27 AVA Gallery and Art Center 24 All Eyes on You 50 Annemarie Schmidt European Face and Body Studio 53 Appletree Opticians 70 Baker Orthodontics 18 Bar Harbor Wealth Management 19 Bark N Bath Pet Spa 50 Barre Tile 80 Belletetes 8 Bennett Builders 81 Bethel Mills 1 Better Homes and Gardens/ The Milestone Team 70 Big Fatty’s BBQ 72 Blood’s Catering & Party Rentals 94 Blue Loon Bakery 51 Brown Furniture 21 & 54 C&S Pizza 73 Candita Clayton Gallery 51 Cape Air 39 Claremont Custom Framing 97 Claremont Financial Services 2 Claremont Spray Foam 9 Colonial Pharmacy 99 Color Café 50 Co-op Food Stores 29 Cota & Cota 26 Crown Point Cabinetry 13 Crown Point Select 31 Davis Frame 17 DeLeon Day Spa 18 Dolan Real Estate 91 Dr. Sam’s Eyecare 4 Dr. Neely-Hanover Orthodontics 69 Dutille’s Jewelry Design Studio 47 Eastern Propane & Oil 76 Elevation Clothing 61 & 67 Enfield Shaker Museum 71 Ennis Construction 60 Estate Wildlife Control 95 Evelyn J’s Fish Market 52 Eyeglass Outlet 98 Flash Photo 51 Floorcraft 52 Flourish Beauty Lab 72 Foster’s Fine Jewelry 52

Gilberte Interiors 11 GraceHill Construction 51 Grounds 50 Hanover Eyecare 92 Hanover Road Dental Health 58 Home Comfort Warehouse 90 Hubert’s Family Outfitters 51 Hugo Anderson Artist/Curator 52 Jeff Wilmot Painting & Wallpapering 96 Jenna Sievers Realtor 46 Junction Frame Shop 73 & 101 Kathy’s Fancy 72 Katie’s Cookies 94 Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce 67 Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice 69 LaValley Building Supply 58 Lebanon Airport 20 Lebanon Paint & Decorating 86 & 95 Library Arts Center 47 Little Istanbul 85 Loewen Windows 29 Love’s Bedding & Furniture 92 MJ Harrington Jewelers 87 Mascoma Bank Back cover Mascoma Dental 60 McGray & Nichols 77 Merten’s House 94 Millstone at 74 Main Restaurant 51 Morgan Hill Bookstore 51 Mt. Ascutney Hospital 87 NT Ferro Estate & Custom Jewelers 25 & 61 Nathan Wechsler 68 Nature Calls 20 New England Beauty & Wellness 50 New London Hospital 71 New London Opticians 51 Omer and Bob’s 100 Peter Anderson Studio 50 Pierce McLaughry Group 59 Pizza Chef 52 POST 72 Prospect Hill Antiques 81 Ramunto’s of Claremont 100 Real Property Options 78 Richard Electric 80 Roberts Scarlett Pharmacy 52 Rocky’s Ace Hardware 28 Saskadena Six 70

Scout Hair Design 72 Shaker Hill Granite 90 Simple Energy 5 Soake Pools 6 Springfield Medical Center Inside front cover Springfield Regional Development Corp. 91 Steven Thomas, Inc. 72 Sugar River Bank 48 & 52 Sugar River Kitchens, Bath & Flooring 68 Sunapee Cove 79 Sunapee Shade and Blind 50 TLC 102 Talbot Builders 26 Tatewell Gallery 52 Teaslewood Design 85 Terrigenous Landscape 101 The Cabinet en-Counter 98 The Carriage Shed 49 The Dorr Mill Store 96 The Elms at New London Inn 15 & 50 The Flying Goose Brew Pub 78 The Insurance Center 100 The Refinery Restaurant & Market 50 The Woodstock Gallery 61 Thyme Restaurant 73 Timberpeg 7 Timeless Kitchens 51 Tip Top Pottery 73 Top Stitch Embroidery 98 Torch Family Capital 23 Tuckerbox 73 Twin State Coins 99 Tyler, Simms & St. Sauveur 97 Unleashed 52 Upper Valley Business Alliance 28 Upper Valley Food Co-op 73 Upper Valley Music Center 48 Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry 86 Valley Artesian Well 12 Valley Regional Hospital 10 Vermont Cabinetry 38 Vermont Spirits Inside back cover WISE 99 White River Family Eyecare 92 Windsor Station 46 Woodstock Chamber of Commerce 61 Yankee Barn Homes 3

For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact Bob Frisch at (603) 867-9339 or email rcfrisch1@comcast.net.

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CELEBRATE THE MOMENT

The Racicot family gathering.

Lovell Newton celebrates his first birthday.

CELEBRATING YOU and YOURS this WINTER! Moments to remember with family and friends

Send photos of your special moments to dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com.

Joseph and Elizabeth Fecsko on their wedding day.

Nathan Boghosian Roth and Sarah De Vel Muller cut their wedding cake.

Addy Jones celebrates her birthday.

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Daphne, Caitlyn, and Courtney Lowe at college graduation.

Michael Burns and family enjoy apple picking.