Vital Communities Spring 2018 Newsletter

SPRING 2018

BUILDING VITAL COMMUNITIES Our New Strategic Plan

LFA MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS: LaValley Building Supply, Chippers, Farm-Way

Teaming Up for a Healthy Vibrant Claremont

SPRING 2018 CONTENTS page

Letter from the Executive Director

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Working together, we make the Upper Valley region a great place to live, work, and play.

VitalCommunities.org 195 North Main Street White River Junction, VT 05001 Phone: 802.291.9100 Email: Info@VitalCommunities.org Staff: FirstName@VitalCommunities.org

Staff Tom Roberts, Executive Director, x101 Sarah Brock, Energy, x109 Rachel Darrow, Finance, Events, Corporate Relations, x115 Bethany Fleishman, Transportation, x111 Lauren Griswold, Valley Food & Farm, Valley Quest, Volunteers, x107 Paige Heverly, Transportation, Energy Adaptation, x114 Nancy LaRowe, Local First Alliance, Valley Food & Farm, x106 Elyse Payson, Executive Assistant, x104 Carole Petrillo, Bookkeeping, HR, x103 Allison Rogers Furbish, Communications, Database, x108 Beth Roy, Valley Food & Farm, x105 Rob Schultz, Leadership Upper Valley, x102 Becka Warren, Valley Food & Farm, x112

Board of Directors Barbara Barry, Woodstock, VT Clifton Below, Lebanon, NH Bill Geraghty, Hanover, NH Sally Kraft, Hanover, NH Jenny Levy, Norwich, VT Barry McCabe, West Hartford, VT Nancy Merrill, Lebanon, NH Rick Mills, South Strafford, NH Markell Ripps, East Thetford, VT Ron Shaiko, Hanover, NH Peter Thurber, Canaan, NH Dan Weinstein, Etna, NH Stan Williams, Norwich, VT Catherine Boyson and Rene Bystron, Revers Board Fellows, Tuck School of Business

pages

Short Takes

2–6 page

Making Efficiency Easier: The Green Real Estate Network

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Building Vital Communities

8–11 page

Farm to School in Action: Riverside Middle School

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Member Spotlights: LaValley Building Supply, Chippers, Farm-Way

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12–13 pages

Thank You, Volunteers

14–17 back cover

Upcoming Events on the cover

Edgewater Farm’s Anne Sprague carries zinnias to the Edgewater Farmstand on Route 12A in Plainfield. We found this great shot on Instagram, where you can connect with both organizations—look for @valleyfoodandfarm and @edgewaterfarm.

Editor: Allison Rogers Furbish Photography: Staff unless indicated otherwise • Jenny Sprague - cover

• Julia A. Reed - page 3

• Michael Sacca - page 2

• Molly Drummond - page 5 and 15 (both)

Printing: Compliments of Dartmouth Printing Company - Sheridan of Hanover, New Hampshire Design: Nomad Communications of White River Junction, Vermont

STAY CONNECTED WITH VITAL COMMUNITIES /valleyfoodandfarm

/VitalCommunities

#FlavorsoftheValley

Flav rs 17 Annual th

OF THE VALLEY

Meet Farmers & Chefs • Enjoy Tasty Samples • Buy Local Food

Dear Friends, In its first Sunday edition nearly 25 years ago, the Valley News published an editorial on “Regional Health”—how we maintain the identity of the Upper Valley even as the region evolves.

The editorial listed indicators of the region’s vitality—from the number of decentpaying jobs to the gallons of maple syrup produced—and suggested community members could develop that list and “perhaps a general strategy for protecting that which makes this area special” (Valley News, September 12, 1993).

SAVOR THE

Flav rs

Want to expand your palette of local foods this season? Come meet and eat at Flavors of the Valley, the Upper Valley’s premier local food tasting event! You’ll sample treats from more than 45 local vendors—enjoy fresh produce, artisan bread, award-winning cheeses, tasty jams, hand-crafted sweets...is your mouth watering yet? Connect with local producers, visit with neighbors, and buy some local goodies to take home. Join us at Flavors of the Valley!

Sunday, April 8, Hartford High School SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

That editorial, in part, inspired the great adventure that eventually became Vital Communities. Originally a project of the League of Women Voters, “the Upper Valley 2001 and Beyond” led to the range of work we do today, united by the notion of bringing people together to make positive change on issues that matter in this place we love.

In 2019 we’ll celebrate these past 25 years and look ahead to the next quartercentury, guided by a new strategic plan that calls us forward to fortify our convening role, extend our reach by geography, age, and socio-economic dimensions, and to strengthen our organization. You’ll see the beginnings of the next 25 years in the pages that follow.

If you have story of Vital Communities or a vision for our future, please share it with us!

Tom Roberts, Executive Director Tom@VitalCommunities.org 802.291.9100 x101

Spring 2018

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Short Takes

Teaching the Next Generation OF STEWARDS

GET CONNECTED with Discussion Lists Email discussion lists are a highly successful means of building community in many Upper Valley towns. If you want to know about concerts in town, what’s going on with the school budget, or where to find used snow tires or a set of new (to you) lawn furniture, your local discussion list is an easy, free way to tune in.

Our recent Watershed Quest Challenge encouraged people to write Valley Quests featuring their favorite stream, pond, river, waterfall, or wetland. More than 150 eager Quest-writers submitted their creations, including students from the Barnard Academy third- and fourthgrade combined class.

“The Watershed Challenge has been a perfect manifestation of our class's academic curriculum in seamless combination with our commitment to developing students as stewards of the natural world,” Barnard Academy teacher Megan Schindler wrote. “Questing has been an engaging integration of place-based learning that my third and fourth graders are sincerely proud of.

The Quest served as a celebration and culmination of our work with watersheds, mountain formation, erosion, trail maintenance, and stewardship. As a class, we spend as much time on Fridays as we can in the forest right out our classroom’s back door. At Barnard Academy, we believe that the best protectors of natural places are those who inherently identify with them. Thanks both to our time spent outdoors on Forest Fridays and to this invaluable experience Questing with Vital Communities and the White River Partnership, these students are developing into passionate stewards indeed.”

Our Watershed Quest Challenge was supported by the Vermont Department for Environmental Conservation.

Want to learn more about teaching with Quests?

Visit VitalCommunities.org/ValleyQuest or email Lauren@VitalCommunities.org.

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Michael Sacca (below) heard how successful discussion lists were in other nearby communities and set out to start one in Tunbridge. He was amazed at how effortless it was once he contacted Vital Communities and met with the staff and volunteers who support local lists. He started the Tunbridge list in the fall of 2017.

“I’m amazed and delighted by how we are gathering momentum. We have a good calendar section, and people are posting more frequently,” Michael said. “I know this sort of thing builds over time, so I’m patient.”

Learn more about starting a list in your town or connect to an existing list on our website: Vitalcommunities.org/DiscussionLists

Short Takes

EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF PRODUCE With spring at our doorstep, a new generation will soon experience the joy of farmers’ markets and their characteristic bounty and bustle. This year, at least eight Upper Valley farmers’ markets and farm stands will host Power of Produce (POP) Clubs.

Kids have so much fun with scavenger hunts, taste testing, and POP tokens to spend on the fresh, nutritious produce of their choosing. Now that’s the Power of Produce!

POP Clubs are popular at hundreds of farmers’ markets across the country. With support from the HNH Foundation and New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the New Hampshire Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, we’re helping more Upper Valley markets adopt this engaging program. We worked with the Newport Farmers’ Market, the Canaan Farmers and Artisans’ Market, and Edgewater Farmstand last year to start POP programs. Visit VitalCommunities.org/ POP for details about this year’s locations!

CLIP ‘N’ SAVE UPPER VALLEY SUMMER FARMERS’ MARKETS *market accepts EBT/SNAP

| omarket doubles EBT/SNAP

MONDAY

Bethel - 3-6 pm, Bethel Band Shell Common WEDNESDAY

Hanover - 3-6 pm, Dartmouth Green Woodstock* o - 3-6 pm, Woodstock Green THURSDAY

Royalton* - 3-6 pm, South Royalton Green Barnard Feast & Field - 4:30-7:30 pm, 1544 Royalton Tpk Lebanon* o - 4-7 pm, Lebanon Green FRIDAY

Greater (Bellows) Falls* o - 4-7 pm, Hetty Green Park Chelsea* o - 3-6 pm, Chelsea Green Hartland* o - 4-7 pm, Hartland Public Library fields

REMEMBER, THE VALLEY FOOD & FARM ONLINE GUIDE is your easy, mobile-friendly resource for finding local food in the Upper Valley. Use the quick search buttons for farmers’ markets, farm stands, Community Supported Agriculture, and pick your own. Connect to recipes and local food cooking tips.

Newport, NH* o - 3-6 pm, Newport Common SATURDAY

Claremont - 9 am-1 pm, Visitor Center Park, 14 N St Mt. Tom - 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Rte 12 N, Woodstock Norwich* o - 9 am-1 pm, Rte 5 S Randolph* o - 9 am-1 pm, Gifford Medical Center Springfield, VT* - 10 am-1 pm, Lower Clinton St Wilmot* o - 9 am-Noon, Wilmot Flat Green

VitalCommunities.org/Guide

Windsor* o - 11 am-2 pm, 51 Main St SUNDAY

Canaan - 10 am-1 pm, Canaan Common

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Short Takes

invest in efficiency:

WEATHERIZE! Vital Communities and volunteers in 11 Vermont and New Hampshire towns are deep into the second round of Weatherize Upper Valley.

Piermont, Orford, Lyme, Lebanon, Plainfield, and Cornish, New Hampshire, and Springfield, Chester, Woodstock, Pomfret, and Bridgewater, Vermont, are participating in the program through May.

Volunteer Steve Ladd helps kick off Weatherize Planfield-Cornish.

Weatherize encourages homeowners to invest in energy efficiency projects by teaming up community volunteers with certified contractors to provide professional home energy assessments, proposals, and quotes for completing efficiency work.

Last year we helped more than 100 homeowners make home energy improvements like air sealing and insulation—the two most costeffective ways to reduce heating bills, increase comfort, and use less energy.

Residents in the 11 towns can register to participate until March 31. Homeowners who sign weatherization contracts by May 31 will be entered into drawings for cash prizes up to $500 toward the cost of their energy improvements. Learn more and find helpful resources at VitalCommunities.org/Weatherize.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Get your Super Quest before the season even starts at this year’s Flavors of the Valley! Every year we create a Valley Quest challenge—a Super Quest featuring themed treasure hunts you can complete to win prizes. This year’s Super Quest includes winning submissions from our 2017 Watershed Quest Challenge. Expect a tour de force of vibrant streams, waterfalls, mill towns with history bursting at the seams, and more!

Get your copy at Flavors of the Valley on Sunday, April 8 (see back cover for details). Or find it on our website starting May 1: VitalCommunities.org/ SuperQuest. Quest on!

WHERE’S MY BUS? Have you ever wondered exactly when the nearest Advance Transit (AT) bus will arrive?

Wonder no more with AT’s real-time system that lets you see where the bus is and when you can catch a ride.

With support from the High Meadows Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, Vital Communities is partnering with Advance Transit on a two-year social marketing campaign to promote Advance Transit’s real-time bus system, which provides up-to-date arrival and departure times and makes it easy for riders to plan trips, make transfers, and identify busaccessible places in the Upper Valley.

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Keep an eye out for social media and other outreach featuring your bus-riding friends and neighbors, and email Bethany@VitalCommunities.org if you want to get involved!

Find the AT real-time system at AdvanceTransit.com.

Short Takes

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Short Takes

Build Your Network: Apply to Leadership Upper Valley

Continue Your Learning: Alumni Offerings

“Especially in community outreach engagement work, we have to really know the communities we are working in,” says Bella Stachowski.

“Leadership Upper Valley is the perfect avenue to learn about the many communities in the region.”

What could be better for Leadership Upper Valley (LUV) graduates than attending an alumni reception?

How about taking advantage of the continuous learning opportunities we’re now offering? We’re working with a group of motivated LUV alumni to develop options to expand your learning, get connected with other alumni, and take action to shape your community.

Bella, a member of the Community Health Improvement Team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, is one of 30 participants in the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2018 working together this year to deepen their knowledge of the region, build connections, and become stronger local leaders.

How could you better serve your community?

Want to explore that question with an engaging and inspiring group of peers and experts?

Apply for the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2019 by April 30.

VitalCommunities.org/LeadershipUpperValley

Twenty-five LUV alumni attended a panel discussion Deep Dive into Housing moderated by Upper Valley Haven Executive Director Sara Kobylenski earlier this year. Up next: • Neighborhood Conversations: Gather with LUV community members for an interesting conversation—topic provided. The first ones are set to take place in March in Thetford and Claremont.

• Alumni Co-learning program: A group of alumni will attend a presentation during Environment Day on May 9 and then have their own breakout session to explore the topic discussed.

Contact LUV Manager Rob Schultz for more information: Rob@VitalCommunities.org

Welcome, Rob Schultz!

“Vital Communities and Leadership Upper Valley create the space for some of the most important conversations and community organizing in the Upper Valley,” says Rob Schultz, our new Leadership Upper Valley Manager. Recently at Granite United Way and before that the Executive Director of COVER Home Repair for 10 years, Rob brings three decades’ experience working in community nonprofits. “This work gives voice to my passion for leadership development, my commitment to the Upper Valley as a great place to live and work, and my dedication to helping neighbors participate in the civic life of our community.”

“We are so fortunate to welcome Rob to our team,” says our Executive Director Tom Roberts.

“His deep commitment to the Upper Valley, his skill as an educator and connector, and his passion for truly living the mission of Vital Communities offer incredible value to both the program and the entire organization.”

Contact Rob any time at Rob@VitalCommunities.org.

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Green Real Estate Network

Panelists at our Green Real Estate Network launch included, left to right, Brent Mellen of Building Energy, Amy McClellan of Milne-Allen Appraisal Company, Dale Shriver of Twin State Inspections, Markell Ripps of Grossman & Ripps PLLC, Ken Wells of Mascoma Bank, and Buff McLaughry of Four Seasons Southeby’s International Realty, with Sarah Brock of Vital Communities moderating.

MAKING EFFICIENCY EASIER: The Green Real Estate Network On his way back from the American Society for Home Inspectors annual conference in January, Dale Shriver took some time out for a conversation about the Upper Valley’s new Green Real Estate Network, launched this year by Vital Communities.

Changing that “involves analyzing the whole process, It was timely, said Dale, owner of Etna-based Twin involving all the stakeholders, and developing State Inspections—home energy efficiency was a solutions,” says Dick. “We’re very much still in the big topic at the conference. “There’s conversation educational stage. Realtors, lenders, appraisers, happening everywhere,” he says. “Vital Communities builders, and home inspectors is already bringing the right could benefit from general people to the table. We’re moving “We want to provide commoneducation about energy efficiency.” in the right direction with it.” sense education for realtors, Members of the Green Real Vital Communities convened the buyers, and sellers and present Estate Network are working this Green Real Estate Network in home energy efficiency year to develop resources for real January to empower home buyers in a really positive and estate professionals so they can and sellers to understand home empowering light,” says Vital more effectively help buyers and energy costs—a major part of Communities Energy Program sellers consider energy efficiency. the total cost of home ownership Manager Sarah Brock. over time—and invest in energy Ultimately the Network hopes efficiency. It can be an especially to generate demand, precedent, attractive but daunting investment in the Upper and experimentation that help change the system Valley, where we have some of the nation’s oldest and and make energy efficiency a common and easy least efficient housing stock. investment, Sarah Brock, Vital Communities Energy Program Manager says. “It’s going to take policy Realtor Dick Dumez, with Four Seasons Sotheby’s shift and big change, but there are also things we can International Real Estate, says buyers and sellers do on a grassroots level that will create immediate are interested for philosophical reasons—a desire benefit for buyers and sellers in the Upper Valley.” to lessen environmental impacts—and for practical reasons—energy efficiency saves money, he says. But there are obstacles standing between consumers and Learn more and join the Network at “green real estate,” from a lack of information to the VitalCommunities.org/GreenRealEstate. limitations of our lending system.

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Broadening our Reach

BUILDING VITAL COMMUNITIES OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN Vital Communities began its work in the Upper Valley nearly 25 years ago, when a group of visionary women started bringing people together to think about the challenges we face as a region—and the power we can find in solving them together as a region.

This year we adopted a new strategic plan to guide our organization’s work over the next five years. Our three key priorities are informed by community interviews and surveys we conducted in 2017.

Bring People Together

More than 70 community members attended our first conversation exploring the idea of an Upper Valley food hub last September at King Arthur Flour in Norwich.

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Bringing people together to create connections and solutions is at the heart of Vital Communities’ approach. The impact of this approach is easy to see in projects like our Green Real Estate Network (see page 7) and community conversations like our exploration of an Upper Valley food hub. We’ll continue to host community conversations to identify issues that matter to the region and facilitate progress toward solutions. We seek to add unique value in the region by providing convening where others are not—and we’ll be working internally and throughout the Upper Valley to strengthen this role.

NEW EFFORTS Extend our Reach We work collaboratively with a broad range of community partners to create opportunities for everyone to contribute to and thrive in the Upper Valley. As we look to the future, we’re committed to finding ways to better engage and serve all within our region. We’ve already begun expanding our meaningful involvement geographically, with an exciting partnership in Claremont that will allow us to bolster community efforts already underway in the city (see page 10). We’re also committed to deepening our reflection and intentionality around who we serve and how, across the full economic spectrum, across social and cultural perspectives, and across age groups.

Workforce Housing For nearly 17 years, the Upper Valley Housing Coalition (UVHC) worked to promote balanced communities that provide an adequate supply of housing for the region’s workforce. From gatherings of business and community leaders to learn about and discuss workforce housing issues, to a design review process for developers, UVHC offered resources to help ensure that residents can live in the communities where they work.

When UVHC dissolved operations earlier this year, Vital Communities seemed like a natural place for some of that work to go. We’ll continue to steward this partnership of business, community, municipal, and nonprofit leaders focused on meeting the region’s workforce housing needs.

We’ll host the Spring Business Leaders Breakfast on Housing on May 11 in partnership with Twin Pines Housing Trust. Our Corporate Council of regional business leaders is also committed to making progress on workforce housing this year.

Artist’s rendering of the new Bridge and Main building in downtown White River Junction that will include retail spaces and workforce housing.

Josh Bushueff shows the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2018 around the Claremont Makerspace.

Strengthen Vital Communities In order to serve, connect, and inspire the Upper Valley community for many years to come, we also have to nurture the stability, vitality, and relevance of Vital Communities as an organization. Sustaining a strong and motivated community of volunteers and staff, clarifying our brand and messaging, and continuing to cultivate relationships that expand our available resources are among our goals.

Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup The Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup (UVAW) began in 2011 as a bi-state, multistakeholder group of leaders and partner organizations working to build climate-resilient communities in the Upper Valley. This winter, the Vital Communities board voted to provide backbone support for the group. We’ll offer administrative support and greater long-term stability so UVAW members can focus on their core work, which includes convening public forums on resiliency and preparedness to help communities plan for future extreme weather events. Learn more at VitalCommunities.org/UVAW or by contacting Paige@VitalCommunities.org.

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Broadening our Reach

Teaming Up for a

HEALTHY VIBRANT CLAREMONT A new partnership between Healthy Vibrant Claremont and Vital Communities aims to get more citizens involved in community efforts.

David Putnam has worked on Pleasant Street in Claremont since 1970, first as a photographer and then as owner of Claremont Custom Framing.

A school board member for 17 years, as well as a member or chair of half a dozen planningand zoning-related committees and currently a member of the Planning Board, “I have observed and experienced many changes in Claremont,” he says. “A lot of good changes have developed in the last 10 to 12 years. We now have a great opportunity to expand on our goals and objectives through a new relationship with Vital Communities.”

Several years ago David helped found Healthy Vibrant Claremont (HVC), a grassroots effort to explore the community’s ongoing issues and work with partners to find new ways forward.

David Putnam

“We’ve evolved into a really consistent, dependable, and diverse group of stakeholders energized about

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making Claremont a healthier place,” says Bella Stachowski, who started working with HVC as an AmeriCorps VISTA and continues in her position with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Community Health.

The new partnership will provide “the strategic and structural backing” Healthy Vibrant Claremont needs to move forward, Bella says.

Vital Communities staff are already connected in Claremont and the surrounding area. We worked with city staff on the energy section of Claremont’s new master plan.

We’ve helped bring local fruits and veggies to Claremont area kids and schools through the Upper Valley Farm to School Network and last year’s Power of Produce (POP) Club at the Newport Farmers’ Market. Our Leadership Upper Valley program studies economic development in the city and includes participants and presenters from the area each year.

FARM TO SCHOOL IN ACTION:

Riverside Middle School Riverside Middle School in Springfield, Vermont, is a beautiful example of the power of a school team working together.

We’re deepening our understanding of the challenges facing this part of our region, and of its unique assets and opportunities, too.

“We have the physical infrastructure, the bones for a vibrant downtown community— beautiful, historic buildings, some refurbished in awesome ways—employer assets like Red River Computers, the new makerspace, a community center, a park system, a renovated high school, and social capital. That’s such a huge asset—probably the most important,” Bella says. “No matter where you are, there’s someone near you who’s ready to jump in and help. But people need structure to be pulled into something—people are so ready to help when it’s made easy for them.”

This year’s priorities for the partnership are to explore how Vital Communities’ existing work can complement Claremont’s new master plan and to identify new opportunities for working together.

“People in the community with help from Healthy Vibrant Claremont and Vital Communities can start working on these things themselves,” David says. “First we have to identify ways people can help.”

Learn more about Healthy Vibrant Claremont and how you can get involved by emailing David Putnam at DavPutnam@Comcast.net.

The Riverside Middle School farm to school team at the Institute retreat in Shelburne, Vermont.

In 2017, staff and teachers from Riverside committed to developing a farm to school vision together with support from the year-long Northeast Farm to School Institute. The team spent three days in July at the Institute retreat assessing their current efforts, agreeing on a shared vision, and planning steps to implement this school year.

“At Springfield School District, we support a farm to school initiative that will foster positive student and community connections and be accessible to all students,” their vision reads in part. “Both in and outside of school we will provide handson experiences for students to grow food and develop lifelong gardening, processing, and cooking skills.”

Beth Roy, Vital Communities’ Farm to School Coordinator, is coaching the Riverside team through the Institute. “It is a privilege to work with this dedicated team and watch them flourish and expand their farm to school efforts,” says Beth. The team launched the school year with a farm to school cookout, switched to reusable cutlery, and implemented new composting measures in the cafeteria. They also applied for a Vermont Agency of Agriculture Farm to School Grant to finance an onsite compost system.

“It was a thrilling moment when Riverside was awarded $15,000 during a Farm to School Awareness Day ceremony at the State Capitol,” Beth says. “The school now has the resources needed to make their Summer Institute action plan a reality for the students at Riverside.” Congratulations Riverside Middle School!

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Member Spotlights

Local First Alliance

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT SP TLIGHT

Local First Alliance members offer products and service you can trust, and they strengthen our economy and community every day. Read about how three members make their impact in the Upper Valley, and find more Local First Alliance member businesses at VitalCommunities.org/LocalFirst.

LAVALLEY BUILDING SUPPLY - ECONOMIC ENGINE Contributing to a thriving local economy by creating good jobs and providing value for customers is the hallmark of a Local First Alliance business. When Harold LaValley, a life-long Claremont resident, opened his first store in Newport in 1962, he knew he wanted to create a business that was neighbor helping neighbor, offering affordable and efficient goods and services while supporting a thriving local economy.

Today LaValley Building Supply is the largest independently owned building materials supplier in Vermont and New Hampshire, with 10 LaValley and Middleton Building Supply stores and three manufacturing facilities.

LaValley’s is an important employer for the NewportClaremont region: It employs more than 180 people

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in Sullivan County at its manufacturing business Preferred Building Systems, which builds energy efficient modular homes, and a facility manufacturing trusses, doors, and panels. The family-owned business has created more than 400 stable jobs; most employees have been with the business for more than 10 years, and many are second-generation employees.

CHIPPERS - COMMUNITY SUPPORT Chippers trucks are a common sight in the Upper Valley as the company provides lawn, arboriculture, and land enhancement and gardening services to homeowners and businesses throughout the region.

What isn’t often seen is how much this Woodstock and Enfield business supports our communities through charitable giving.

Chippers sponsors dozens of community organizations each year including the Montshire Museum of Science, VINS, Northern Stage, the

Prouty, and the Upper Valley Haven, in addition to donating gift certificates for fundraising auctions and raffles.

Chippers employees also spend time serving the community through the Plant a Seed program, providing expert tree or lawn maintenance to nonprofits and communities.

“Chippers has been involved in our East End project since we started over eight years ago. Through their Plant a Seed program, they currently provide turf maintenance for the new riverfront park. They have been very supportive throughout the process of building the park, including knotweed remediation, brush clearing and tree removal.

They have provided woodchips and other material, too,” says Sally Miller, Executive Director of Sustainable Woodstock. “In this case, the Plant a Seed program has made a definite contribution to the beautification of our community.”

FARM-WAY - ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP The story of Farm-Way’s slow and steady growth is a lesson in hard-work, persistence, vision, and community commitment. Farm-Way started as a small grain store and now 34 years later is a destination with the apt motto, “Complete Outfitters for Man and Beast.” Owners Carol and Skip Metayer credit the store’s success to a focus on knowledgeable customer service, quality products, and commitment to community.

Environmental stewardship is an important aspect of supporting the community for the Metayers. As a Vermont Green Business partner, Farm-Way has made it a priority to reduce the store’s impact on the

environment in many ways, including being 100% solar powered, investing in brown-field reclamation, and seeking out vendors that reduce, reuse, and recycle. Learn more about this anchor for the Bradford, Vermont, community with the Farm-Way Valley Quest on our website or app!

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THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING! We’re grateful to those who have volunteered during the past year. If you’d like to learn more about volunteering for Vital Communities, please email Lauren@VitalCommunities.org.

Jason Achmoody Edward Adams Clay Adams Tish Aldom Watt Alexander Heather Alger Joan Allen Liane Allen Peggy Allen Danielle Allen Peter Allison Greg Ames Dana Arey Ellen Arnold Ariel Arwen Michelle Avila Prakriti Babu Rebecca Bailey Anne Baird Jacqui Baker Tim Ball Justin Barrett Barbara Barry Michael Barsanti Marianne Barton Sarah Barton Becky Basch

Sally Bellew Clif Below Mitze Bender Dot Benham John Benjamin Mary Berlejung Alice Berliner Roberta Berner Alan Berolzheimer Susan Berry Michael Binder Steven Bingel Bill Bittinger Brandy Blackinton Bill Blaiklock Mark Blanchard Jay Blodgett Peter Blodgett Stuart Blood Adam Blue Sarah Blum Jake Blum Don Blunt Barnes Boffey Lynn Bohi Michelle Boleski Mark Bolinger

Ervinna Djunarto works on a data entry project.

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Dave Bonta Caroline Borowy Mary Bouchard Paul Boucher Merilynn Bourne Luke Boyden Mary Boyle Cindy Brabant Daniel Brand Tim Brennan Tracy Bricchi James Britton Zachary Brock Eleanor Brondermajor David Brown Margaret Brown Emily Bryant Mary Bryant Noel Bryant Jessica Bullock Eric Bunge Maureen Burford Mitzie Burger Kerstin Burlingame Phil Bush Meghan Butts

Bill Cable Len Cadwallader Leigh Cameron Steve Campbell Conni Campbell Heather Cantagallo Leslie Carleton Lisa Cashdan Dean Cashman David Cate Jonathan Chaffee Kaitie ChakoianLifvergren Christina Chamberlain Megan Chapman Van Chesnut William Chidsey Stacey Chiocchio Steve Christy Delia Clark Stephanie Clark Cathee Clement Heather Clow Keith Coburn Judi Colla Michael Collins Joan Collison Linda Conrad Matt Coogan Kylie Cook Ted Cooley Linda Copp Tom Cormen Colin Cort Jamie Coughlin Dwayna Covey Brian Cummings Bobbi Dagger Gail Dahlstrom Daniel Dahmen Chris Damiani Brendan Dangelo Gary Daniels Heather Daniels Julian Darrow Scott Davison Robb Day

Phil Dechert Terri Decker Debra L. Diegoli Jordan Dill Gary Dir Ervinna Djunarto Joe Dombroski Jennifer Donovan Collen Doyle Molly Drummond Scot Drysdale Anthony Dube Nancy Dubosque Kate Duesterberg Dick Dumez Nancy DuMont Misty Dumont Julia Dundorf Carol Dunne Courtney Duquette Christine Dyke Ron Eberhardt Carol Edwards Gordon Ehret Philip Eller Alice Ely Glenn English Kate Epsen John Erickson Dianne Estes Jessie F Farnham Barbara Farnsworth Kristin Fauci Charlotte Faulkner Kyle Fisher F.X. Flinn Judith Flint Patricia Fowler Sharon Francis Edward Frazer Lois Frazer Richard Frick Carolyn Frye Stephen Furbish Amelia Furbish Michelle Gama Benjamin Gardner Emily Gardner

The list has been prepared with care.

However, if we’ve inadvertently omitted your name, please contact us.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR STACEY CHIOCCHIO We’re so grateful to our Vital Communities 2017 Volunteer of the Year, Stacey Chiocchio (left), whom we honored at our annual open house in December.

A 2012 Leadership Upper Valley graduate, Stacey is one of the program’s most enthusiastic leaders. She has served on and led both its recruiting committee and Board of Governors and plays an integral part in our inspiring Heroes & Leaders celebrations. She has also been an active participant in the Upper Valley Transportation Management Association for six years. Stacey even brings her enthusiasm and diligence to Flavors of the Valley each spring. A Grantham resident and manager of Hypertherm’s community service program, Stacey leads by strong example. Thank you, Stacey!

If you are interested in volunteering with Vital Communities, we would love to hear from you. Email Lauren@VitalCommunities.org or call 802.291.9100 x107.

Lynn Garfield David Gaudet Harsha Gavarna Cathy Geiger Kevin Geiger Hannah Gelroth Bill Geraghty Wayne Gersen Lucy Gibson John Gietl Selenda Giradin Dee Gish Sue Godin Sam Goldhar Carmen Gonier Phil Gonier Jen Grant Amy Grasmick Linda Gray Julia Griffin Arlene Guest

Jacqueline E. Guillette Ryan Haac Janet Miller Haines Joan Haley Vic Hall Marie Hanson Laurie Harding Byron Hathorn Rick Hausman Bob Haynes Rebecca Haynes Jenn Hayslett Reggie Hazel Doug Heavisides Michael Heeremans Randy Heller Jim Henderson Derek Herro Maggie Howard Heretakis

Weatherize Upper Valley volunteers

Alicia Hershberger Jamie Hess Lori Hibner Patricia Higgins Harvey D. Hill Karen Liot Hill

Michael Hillinger Deborah Hinman Lori Hirshfield Ron Hiser Sandra Hoeh Henry Homeyer

Geo Honigford Niko Horster Judith Howland Matt Hughes Birgit Humpert Biddy Irwin

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Thank You Volunteers Mara Isham Alex Jaccaci William Jenney Julia Johns Alan Johnson Andy Johnson Amber Johnston Stefanie Johnston Barbara Jones Kevin Jones Pam Joslin Amelia Kahl Linda Kahl Thomas L. Kahl Waad Kahouli Peggy Kannenstine Jeremy Katz Katherine Keating Karl Kemnitzer Meredith Kendall Nancy Kent Nick Kent Michael Kiess Curt Koehler Kelly Koloski Erika Konkel

Jen Kopf David Kotz John Kotz Tim Koumrian Eula Lee Kozma Sally Kraft Peter LaBelle Peter Labounty Steve Ladd Chris LaGrow Mindi Laine E.D.M. Landman John Larsson Beth Latchis David Lavie Ben Lavoie Jose Lazo Carola Lea Ariel Leclerc-Vanesse Cheryl Leiner Susanne Leiter Joanne Lendaro Jordana Levine Jenny Levy Norm Levy Richard Lewin

Valley Food & Farm Advisory Council member Birgit Humpert volunteers at the Newport Farmers’ Market POP Club.

Jon Liland Gary Loeb Lorie Loeb Brett Long Norwood Long Suzanne Long Zea Luce Betsy Luce Devin Lucero

JOIN THE TEAM! FROM FLAVORS OF THE VALLEY TO WEATHERIZE, DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS ARE AT THE CORE OF VITAL COMMUNITIES. We’re grateful to the hundreds of community members who support us so generously with their time and energy—and we’d love to add YOUR talents to the team! You could spend time outside this summer caretaking a nearby Valley Quest treasure box, help us update the Valley Food & Farm Online Guide, share your expertise as a member of a board or committee, set up tables at Flavors of the Valley…the list goes on.

Contact Lauren@VitalCommunities.org to learn how to get involved.

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VitalCommunities.org

John Lynch Betsy Lynd Denise Lyons Anna Mac Melissa Mackenzie Erin Madory Pam Mainville Emily Malnati Fergus Marshall Terry Martin Timothy Martin Aime Mason Larry Matteau Jim Maximowicz Barry McCabe Brigid McCarthy Elizabeth A. McClain Phebe McCosker Jim McCracken Mike McCrory Martha McDaniel Patricia McGovern Jeanie McIntyre Jane Kitchel McLaughlin Andrew McLaughlin Bruce “Buff” McLaughry Gail McPeek Lelia Mellen Scott Merrick John Merrigan Nancy Merrill Bob Merrill Peter Merritt Charlotte Metcalf John Miller

Ron Miller Sally Miller Sharon MillerDombroski Rick Mills Susan Mills Teri Minelli Whit Mitchell Corb Moister Brich Moltz Maggie MonroeCassel Tad Montgomery Melanie Moore Sheila Moran Martha Mott Jim Murray Lynn Murrell Joanne Needham David Nelson Bill Neukomm George Newcomb Kevin Niles Greg Norman Jim Nourse Timothy O’Dell Kevin O’Hara Lee Oliver Michelle Ollie John Olson Patrick O’Neill Mary Ormrod Jeff Ortakales Matt Osborn Scott Osgood Char Osterlund Jack O’Toole Gayle Ottman

Thank You Volunteers

Steve Glazer leads a Valley Quest workshop.

Evan Oxenham Natasha Payton Prudence Pease Eric Peirce Janet Peirce Laura Perez David Perlman Kevin Peterson Lizann Peyton Celeste Pfeiffer Jennifer Phipps Miranda Pizinger Bill Ploog Fred Pond Betty Robins Porter Monique Priestley Sylvia Provost Dawn Pullar Lisa Putnam Julie Puttgen Jake Quigley Allie Quinn Michael Quinn Carolyn Radisch Amanda Rafuse Zach Ralph Nikki Ranieri Jason Rasmussen Taylor Recknow Allan Reetz Denise Reitsma Andrea Rhodes Rachel Rhodes Ryan Richards Ira Richards Amy Richardson Larry Richburg Ashley Ricker Vanessa Riegler

Sarah Riley Leslie Rimmer Robert Rinaldi Markell Ripps Annabelle Roberts Joanne Roberts John Roberts Bonnie Robinson Benjamin Rogers Nichole Romano Randy Romike Tim Roper Betsy Rybeck Lynd Michael Sacca Robert Sand Guneet Sangha Chhoeun Sann Hope Saunders Kenneth Sawyer Mark Scarano Kate Schall Jennifer Schiffman Mark Schiffman Rob Schultz Barry Schuster Bruce Schwaegler Richard Seaman Rita Seto Ronald Shaiko Joanna Sharf Anne Silberfarb Laura Simon Karen Sinclair Karen Slayton Evan Smith George Smith Nancy Smith Stuart Smith Kim Smith

Becky Smith Vicki Smith Josh Spaulding Pooh Sprague Marcos Stafne Peter Stanley Peter Stein Daniel Steinberg Caroline Stern Kelly Stettner Suzanne Stofflet Judy Stone Brian Stroffolino Melissa Stroffolino Richard Svec Ben Swanson Ashley Swasey

Robert Sydney Eric Tadlock Janet Taylor Cindi Taylor Diane Taylor Steve Taylor Martha Tecca Kathi Terami Pete Thoenen Christina Thomas Fred Thomas Nancy Thornton Peter Thurber Elise Tillinghast Tig Tilllinghast Deborah Tinkham Bente Torjusen Victoria Traudt Inge Trebitz John Tunnicliffe John Tuthill Cynthia Twombly Molly Tyler Lisa Ulf Jill Vahey Archi Vamathevan Peter Van Oot Ben Van Vliet Amy VanderKooi Nicole Vecchi John Vogel Bob Walker Michelle Walker

Wilhelm Wanders Clementine Warren-Lutes Max Warren-Lutes David Watts Carol P. Weingeist Dan Weinstein Peter Welch Chris Wellington Ken Wells Hallie Whitcomb Joanna Whitcomb Douwe Wieberdink Nancy Wightman Jennifer Wilcox Devin Wilkie Kristi Wilkinson Jenny Williams Stan Williams Sally Wilson Karen Wilson Mundy Wilson Piper Andrew Winter Andrew Wood Clayton Wood Sheryl Wood Chuck Wooster Diana Wright Julia Lloyd Wright David Yesman Tom Yurkosky Pat Zacharski Gabe Zoerheide

Volunteers help unload vendor materials at Flavors of the Valley.

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195 North Main Street White River Junction, VT 05001 802.291.9100 VitalCommunities.org To correct your contact information or duplicate mailings, please contact Elyse@VitalCommunities.org or x104.

UPCOMING EVENTS WITH VITAL COMMUNITIES FLAVORS OF THE VALLEY: Welcome spring with the Upper Valley’s premier tasting event for locally grown and produced food. Meet local farmers and producers, sample delicious local treats, enjoy family activities, and more! Get the details and a discount when you pre-register at VitalCommunities.org/Flavors.

ANNUAL ENERGY COMMITTEE ROUNDTABLE: Network with other Upper Valley energy committees, hear updates on local energy initiatives, and learn how you can form an energy committee in your town!

For more information visit Vital Communities.org/ EnergyRoundtable.

when:

when:

Tuesday, May 8, 5–8 pm

where:

Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, VT

where:

Sunday, April 8, 11 am–3 pm Hartford High School, White River Jct., VT

LEADERSHIP UPPER VALLEY APPLICATION DEADLINE: Leadership Upper Valley is a great way to network with other community members, learn about key issues facing the Upper Valley, and grow as a leader. Learn more and apply by April 30 at VitalCommunities.org/LeadershipUpperValley. when:

Application deadline is Tuesday, April 30

VALLEY QUEST SEASON: Celebrate the treasures of the Upper Valley with Valley Quest! Find Quests, including our new Watershed Super Quest, at VitalCommunities.org/ValleyQuest.

SPRING BUSINESS LEADERS HOUSING BREAKFAST: Hosted by Vital Communities and Twin Pines Housing Trust, the breakfast offers a chance to network with other business leaders and receive an update on workforce housing and the real estate market. To register, email Rachel@VitalCommunities. org. when: where:

Friday, May 11, 7:30–9 am Fireside Inn & Suites, West Lebanon, NH

when:

May 1–November 1

NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK DAY: Look for Bike to Work events around the Upper Valley and get details at VitalCommunities.org/BiketoWork.

where:

Throughout the Upper Valley

when:

Friday, May 18

where:

Throughout the Upper Valley

HEROES & LEADERS DINNER: Honoring individuals who have served as longstanding stewards of our Upper Valley community, this inspiring evening benefits our Leadership Upper Valley program.

For more information or to reserve your seat, email Rob@VitalCommunities.org.

PIZZA ON THE PATIO AT KING ARTHUR FLOUR: Enjoy food from King Arthur Flour and The Skinny Pancake, entertainment, and more! 10% of the evening’s sales will benefit Vital Communities’ Valley Food & Farm program.

when:

Thursday, May 3, 5:30–9 pm

where:

when:

Friday, June 1, 4–7 pm

Quechee Club, Quechee, VT

where:

King Arthur Flour, Norwich, VT

Stay up to date with the latest happenings: Sign up for our e-newsletter at VitalCommunities.org/Newsletter and follow us on Facebook!