Here in Hanover - Fall 2025

HANOVER

and neighboring communities

PICK A PUMPKIN

VISIT CEDAR CIRCLE FARM AND EDUCATION CENTER

THE IVY EDIT For the Latest Fall Fashions

INFORMATION BOOTH ON THE GREEN Kind Folks Assist Visitors

and neighboring communities

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

Ad Design Melanie Marston

Web Design Locable

Inbound Marketing Manager Erin Frisch Newton

Advertising Ryan Frisch

KEEP US POSTED. Here in Hanover wants to hear from readers. Correspondence may be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, Here in Hanover, 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755. Or email us at: dthompson@ mountainviewpublishing.com. Advertising inquires may be made by email to ryanfrisch@ mountainviewpublishing.com. Here in Hanover is published quarterly by Mountain View Publishing, LLC ©2025. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited. Here in Hanover accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.

Enchanting Autumn

As the vibrant colors of fall foliage surround us, we’re reminded of our gratitude for nature’s beauty, and we’re inspired by our local landscapes. We welcome the season’s traditions as children return to school, we create new looks for Halloween costumes, and we celebrate a bountiful harvest by coming together to savor a Thanksgiving feast.

First for fall is a stop at Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center to choose the perfect pumpkin. Whether you’re carving a jack-o’-lantern or arranging a colorful grouping for your front porch, you’ll find thousands of options at the farm. The whole family will enjoy their annual Pumpkin Festival on October 12. Find out more beginning on page 32. The fun continues in the town of Norwich, Vermont, with many events for Halloween on the schedule. Read about the festivities on page 36.

If you’re new in town or just visiting Hanover, stop by the Information Booth on the Green. Dartmouth alumni do a great job manning the booth, and they’re happy to meet you and send you off in the right direction (page 44). Are you wanting to refresh your wardrobe for the season? Head for The Ivy Edit, where Allison Smith and her staff will help you select your new favorite fall fashions (page 50). After a day of shopping in town, satisfy your appetite at Han Fusion restaurant on Lebanon Street (page 62). You’ll enjoy authentic Chinese food prepared by Tom Liang and his expert chefs. I’ll have the Three Pepper Spicy Chicken, please!

Join us in sending best wishes to The Family Place, one of the first parent-child centers in the country, as they celebrate their 40th anniversary (page 78). The organization offers many services, including parental support and education, home visits, playgroups, information and referrals, early childhood services, and more. Visit their website often (familyplacevt.org) for upcoming events in observance of four outstanding decades of assisting families.

Wherever your travels take you this fall, keep in touch with the latest news and events at www.greateruppervalley.com. Take time to appreciate this fleeting, beautiful season, cherish your loved ones, and show kindness to all. Enjoy!

Deborah Thompson Executive Editor dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com

www.greateruppervalley.com/facebook

p Lars Blackmore, photographer

Lars grew up in Denmark and has worked as a photojournalist since the early 1990s, covering everything from concerts to conflicts on assignment for the Associated Press, Save the Children, and others. Now based in Norwich, Vermont, with his wife and two kids, he combines photography and writing assignments with graduate work at Dartmouth College.

p Chantelle Neily, photographer

Chantelle grew up in rural Vermont. At a young age she was introduced to photography and was immediately drawn to the opportunities that each new photograph presented. After receiving a BFA in Photography from Sage College of Albany and a Certificate in Professional Photography from Hallmark Institute of Photography, she moved back to the Upper Valley and started CPerry Photography.

p Corey Burdick, writer

Corey is a writer and a graduate of Mount Holyoke College who holds a WSET Level 2 certification from the Vermont Wine School. When she isn’t writing or cooking up something delicious with locally sourced foods, you can find her hiking or testing the best vegan treats she can find. Her work has appeared in Edible Green Mountains, Edible Capital District, The Burlington Free Press, and Local Banquet Magazine

p Susan Nye, writer

While you can find her work in magazines throughout New England, Susan lives, eats, cooks, and writes in New Hampshire. She shares many of her favorite stories about family, friendship, and food on her awardwinning blog, Around the Table, at www.susannye.wordpress.com.

p Mike Morin, writer

Mike is a columnist and 50-year radio and TV personality, and in the past decade has written three books, including his career memoir, a book on the history of the famed Red Arrow Diner, and another on modern history of candlepin bowling. He is the 2013 recipient of the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.

p Kelly Sennott, writer

Kelly has written for The Concord Monitor, AMC Outdoors Magazine, and The Hippo and she is an alum of the University of New Hampshire’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program. She currently works in various Upper Valley libraries and lives in Lebanon, New Hampshire, with her husband and son.

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Indulge in Local Foods During Dinner in the Orchard 

For a memorable date night or fun meal with friends, Riverview Farms is holding several more Dinner in the Orchard events through the fall.

 Spirit Halloween Coming to West Lebanon

Spirit Halloween is known for its abundance of costumes, decor, and accessories. Open now until Halloween is over.

 Upper Valley Rideshares

If you’re looking for a carpool buddy, a ride to the airport, or a safe ride home after partying, there are several rideshare options in the Upper Valley.

ONLINE ADVERTISERS INDEX

3 PHASE LANDSCAPING, LLC

ALIGN INN VERMONT

BARTON INSURANCE AGENCY

BELLETETES

CALDWELL LAW

CAPPADOCIA CAFE

CARPENTER & MAIN

CHAPMAN’S GENERAL STORE

COLBY INSURANCE GROUP

CO-OP FOOD STORES

COPELAND FURNITURE

CROSSROADS ACADEMY

DARTMOUTH AUTHENTIC

DATAMANN

DB LANDSCAPING

DESIGNER GOLD

DOLAN REAL ESTATE

DR. NEELY-HANOVER ORTHODONTICS

DUTILLE’S JEWELRY DESIGN STUDIO

EYEGLASS OUTLET

FOLEY BROTHERS BREWING

FORE-U GOLF CENTER

GILBERTE INTERIORS

HANOVER EYECARE

HUBERT’S FAMILY OUTFITTERS

IVY IV AESTHETICS

JEFF WILMOT PAINTING & WALLPAPERING, INC.

LAVALLEY BUILDING SUPPLY

LITTLE ISTANBUL

LOCABLE

MARTHA E. DIEBOLD REAL ESTATE

MB PRO LANDSCAPE DESIGN

MORNINGSIDE FLIGHT PARK

MVP MARINE

NEWPORT GOLF CLUB

POWERHOUSE MALL

RAMUNTO’S OF CLAREMONT

RICHARD ELECTRIC

RIVER ROAD VETERINARY CLINIC

RODD ROOFING

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL EVENTS

STATELINE SPORTS

THE FLYING GOOSE

THE GILDED EDGE

THE HANOVER INN AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

THE PUBLIC HOUSE

THE WORKS CAFÉ

TOP STITCH

TUCKERBOX

UPPER VALLEY BUSINESS ALLIANCE

VALLEY REGIONAL HOSPITAL

VILLAGE PIZZA

VINS

WHITE RIVER FAMILY EYECARE WISE

WOODSTOCK AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WOODSTOCK INN & RESORT

For more information about how your business can get listed on our ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY or for other online advertising opportunities, contact Ryan Frisch at 518-365-0030 or email ryanfrisch@mountainviewpublishing.com.

around & about | people, places, and events

by cassie horner

INNOVATIVE BUILDING

Derek Diedricksen Tree Houses and More

There is something intriguing about the idea of tree houses, small houses, and other inventive structures. Derek Diedricksen has known this since he was a kid growing up in Madison, Connecticut, where he, his brother, and neighborhood kids had easy access to the enchanted world of the swamp. It was there they played games and built platforms from salvaged materials on stable bits of land.

In some ways, nothing has changed, except he has grown up and his building abilities have grown exponentially to match his imagination. In his latest book, Tree Houses Within Reach: 30 Lofty Cabins, Playhouses, and Getaways You Can Actually Build, he shares building plans, building techniques, and some of his philosophy of this creative process.

Derek’s father was a woodworking teacher when Derek was in middle school and high school. He built a platform when Derek was a kid from which people could see Long Island Sound. “It was a secret space, an escape,” Derek says. “I have never brought up the subject of tree houses and had someone say ‘ugh.’”

The mission of Tree Houses Within Reach is straightforward: Derek got tired of seeing shows and books about “mansion tree houses” built with crews of 12 and a $200,000 budget. “What happened to accessible, simple, affordable tree houses? I wanted a kid with a lawn mowing business to be able to build a tree house,” he says.

A full-out tiny house takes about 1,000 hours to build, versus a tree house that takes a week or less. “I build a mix of both,” Derek says. “I want to make something neat, closed in, and fun.” Sometimes people come to him with a specific location and trust him to build something wonderful. Sometimes people have a tree house idea they want him to build. His builds are for kids and adults, ranging from a backyard office to a place to read or spend the night.

After graduating from Northeastern University, Derek detoured mostly away from building for seven years when he was a DJ for the rock station WBCN. In 2002, he bought a house with a backyard and scavenged for materials to build a tree house for fun. That led him to create a blog, where he realized how many other people were excited by the same thing. He published a book of sketches for a variety of structures and was rewarded

A full-out tiny house takes about 1,000 hours to build, versus a tree house that takes a week or less. “I build a mix of both,” Derek says.

Above: Attendees of a tiny house summer camp who built a project in Vermont. Derek teaches once a year on his 10-acre spread. Find out more and register at relaxshacks.com.

Right: A small A-frame type tree house built in the Catskills. Derek's son Jonas, who helped with the build, relaxes inside the tree house.

Far right: A Connecticut shoreline tree house features a flip-open front panel.

with a spread in ReadyMade magazine and a three-page spread in the Sunday edition of The New York Times

Derek expanded on his ideas to create a Tiny House Summer Camp for about 30 people on a 10-acre property in Orleans, Vermont. The camp is for adults with a focus on building. Now in its 14th year, the camp has 14 structures hidden in the woods. Campers learn building techniques that enable them to build their own structures on their own locations. The four-day event includes talks, demos, and activities.

In addition to Tree Houses Within Reach, Derek has published other books, including Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts: And Whatever the Heck Else We Could Squeeze in Here and Microshelters, his biggest seller that has been printed in Japanese and appeared on Michelle Obama’s summer reading list.

For more information about Derek and his books, visit Facebook. For camp information, visit relaxshacks.com. t

Mink Brook Nature Preserve Trails

The 21st century brings lifestyles of stress and overcommitment.

An important part of the mission of the Hanover Conservancy’s 112-acre Mink Brook Nature Preserve is to offer people the chance to unwind, even if briefly. “We have found that an hour spent walking a trail in nature is the best medicine for peace of mind,” says Adair Mulligan, executive director. “People out there are often grabbing a breath before returning to work. Mink Brook Nature Preserve is located within walking distance of Hanover, so it is easy for people to reach.” Other people seek out the site when they are in Lebanon visiting loved ones being treated at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. The trail counter records about 25,000 people annually enjoying the trails.

The property was acquired in 1999 by the Hanover Conservancy working with the Upper Valley Land Trust and other partners. Mink Brook is the largest stream in Hanover. It is a tributary of the Connecticut River and has an 18-square-mile watershed that begins on Moose Mountain. “To protect Etna Village against flooding, a lot of land protection work has been done above it,” Adair says. To date, the Conservancy has helped protect over 1,000 acres and continues to work on more.

Opposite top left : Mink Brook is Hanover’s largest stream. Center from top: Hanover Conservancy staff, volunteers, and key project participants gather after celebrating the newly restored trail crossing. The 80-foot, 5-ton log traveled through downtown Hanover from Oak Hill, where it had been cut to make way for ski trails. Conservancy volunteers put over 200 hours into creating a safe crossing over the brook. This page from top: The Quinn Trail is just right for legs of any length. The Norman Overlook, named for Bob Norman, who founded the Conservancy and led its project to acquire the Preserve, offers a place for quiet contemplation. People enjoy the Preserve’s trails at all seasons.

“The place has been revered by Native Americans for thousands of years and remains an important place in their community,” Adair says. “We respect that and we honor them.”

In 2003, the Conservancy purchased and protected the 140-acre Moose Mountain at the brook’s source. “It has great trails,” Adair says. “People can visit Mink Brook from stem to stern. There is an ecological thread running through it.” Most of Mink Brook and the aptly named Trout Brook, which joins Mink Brook in the Preserve near the Lebanon/Hanover border, offer highly ranked Eastern brook trout habitat.

Mink Brook Nature Preserve offers a network of trails. On the downtown Hanover side is the Quinn Trail, named for the family whose major support helped protect the land. It connects with the Tanzi Tract owned by the Town of Hanover. On the south side, trails connect to surrounding neighborhoods and Indian Ridge in Lebanon.

“We have found that an hour spent walking a trail in nature is the best medicine for peace of mind.”

— Adair Mulligan, executive director

around & about

Maintaining the trails relies on community participation. In 2023, Conservancy volunteers built a beautiful footbridge across Mink Brook with the support of area businesses and Dartmouth College. Made of one 80-foot log, it is a natural link for trail users.

The Preserve has its own corps of volunteers led by Conservancy staff. Years of work to restore native vegetation and improve habitat with funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has paid off on this former farmland. A new pollinator garden is underway. Mink Brook Nature Preserve has a dedicated stewardship fund, reflecting its importance to the community. There are also public events such as wildflower scavenger hunts and a bilingual walk for families with young children.

Maps of the Mink Brook Nature Preserve trails are available at the kiosk at the trailhead and on the website. Visit hanoverconservancy.org for more information about the trails, directions to the Preserve, and self-guided hikes of the month to download. t

FAMILY FUN

Cedar Circle Farm Pumpkin Festival

Fall is pumpkin season, and Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center’s 20th annual Pumpkin Festival on Sunday, October 12, in East Thetford, Vermont, is a great way to celebrate. The farm is open that day from 10am to 3pm, with food from the farm’s kitchen and outside vendors, live music, an enchanted forest area featuring games and interactive crafts, hay bales for climbing, a tractor display, horse-drawn wagon rides, and even a raptor visit from friends at VINS!

Of course, a highlight of the day is pumpkin picking. With access to the farm’s pick-your-own organic pumpkin patch, guests can delight in picking however many pumpkins they’d like— payment is calculated by weight.

The event typically draws nearly 1,000 people. “It’s a wonderful way to enjoy all the magic of fall in Vermont and to celebrate the harvest season. It’s fun and festive for all ages” says Development Director Tracey Saunders. “In many ways, it’s also our way of saying thank you to the broader community for their continued support.”

The event is made possible with the help of many volunteers. Shift times vary from a few hours to half-day and full-day roles. Interested in joining the fun? Register to volunteer at cedarcirclefarm.org/pumpkin-festival.

In addition to the support of volunteers, as a nonprofit organization, Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center relies on the generosity of individuals and sponsors to sustain its programs and fulfill its mission: to provide agricultural education and training to children, parents, educators, farmers, consumers, students, and other members of the public. The goal is to promote organic, regenerative farming and support a more localized food economy.

A colorful pumpkin harvest. Cedar Circle Farmgrown pumpkins are placed in a field of cover crop for easy, safe access. The Upper Valley Music Center performs for visitors to the Enchanted Forest. Visitors choose their pumpkins.

Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center’s 20th Annual Pumpkin Festival Sunday, October 12 10am-3pm East Thetford, Vermont

Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center is in its 25th year of organic farming and was established as a nonprofit in 2020. They grow a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and flowers, some of which are available for pick-your-own fun throughout the season. The farm stand is open daily from May to October, and four days a week in November and December. Visitors will find fresh produce in the farm stand, as well as other items prepared by the farm’s on-site kitchen and sourced from Cedar Circle’s fields. The Education Center offers many activities, including summer and school vacation (February and April) camps. Workshops are popular with kids and adults of all ages. The fall session of the beloved Cooking for Middle Schoolers series, held in the farm kitchen, is open for registration now, and Cedar Circle’s website hosts a list of upcoming workshops for

all ages. Community members might attend sessions about seed-saving techniques, how to cook Cool Dinners for Hot Nights, or gardening tips. The Little Farmers program is held on Tuesdays and Sundays and is geared toward children ages two to five and their caregivers. Kids might harvest vegetables, catch bugs, and run through the sprinklers on a hot summer day. Financial support and scholarships are available for all programs. The Teen Farm Fellowship program inspires high school students to learn about agriculture through hands-on, paid work.

To explore year-round activities at Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center, visit cedarcirclefarm.org. You’ll also find seasonal recipes, educational materials, and fun at-home activities for the whole family. t

Halloween fun begins in Norwich A G houlish G A therin G

Join the Halloween celebration in Norwich, Vermont, where more than 500 people come into town for the festivities. The season’s events begin with pumpkin carving on Saturday, October 26 from 3 to 5pm at Tracy Hall.

On Sunday, October 27, wear your costume and meet your friends for the NorWitchy Woods Walk from 2 to 4pm. Several local organizations offer candy to trick-or-treaters. Register for the walk at norwichvt.myrec.com.

The Norwich Recreation Department coordinates with the Norwich Inn, the Norwich Fire Department’s Support Team, Dan & Whit’s, the Norwich Congregational Church, the Norwich Community Collaborative, and Miss Lani’s Art Studio to produce a map outlining the times and locations of events for the evening. The map is available at Tracy Hall starting in mid-September.

For Halloween on October 31, the evening begins with cider, hot chocolate, and cookies at the Norwich Inn from 3:30 to 4:30pm. The next stop is Miss Lani’s Children’s Art Studio, the Norwich Fire Department’s Hot Dog Open House, and the Norwich Community Collaborative on Main Street. The Norwich Congregational Church offers soup and bread from 5 to 7pm.

For more information, contact Norwich Recreation Department at (802) 649-1419.

1. Innkeeper Dave Burtonbush and family welcome trick-or-treaters. 2. Roscoe Orner as a pirate. 3. Adeline Manning as a vampire.

4. Nate Reid as a SWAT team member. 5. Dan & Whit's staff Laura Hodge as Raggedy Ann and Caroline Gollub as a Día de los Muertos figure.

6. The Smith family heads out on Main Street.

7. Members of the Norwich Fire Department Support Team. 8. Two friends at the Norwich Inn. 9. Demo Sofranas makes sure that everyone crosses Main Street safely. 10.

www.uppervalleybaroque.org

There are many reasons to look forward to fall—changing leaves, crisp mornings, and all that the harvest season brings. Here at The Norwich Bookstore, we look forward to this time of year for another reason too: More books come out in the fall than at any other time of year.

The following list is overflowing with excellent novels, memoirs, and books on history and the future. There are a few cookbooks and some surefire hits for the young readers in your life. And, we’re especially excited for new books from locals like Gesine Bullock-Prado and the King Arthur Baking Company! This list, while extensive, barely scratches the surface of the pile of new releases we’re excited about over the next few months. Come on into the shop to find out what else is new!

A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar

(Available October 14)

Looking Forward to Fall Reading

NEW PICKS FROM THE NORWICH BOOKSTORE

Heart the Lover by Lily King

(Available September 30)

The acclaimed author of A Burning returns with a searing new novel set over the course of a single week, in which the theft of a purse sets two families at dire odds in a near-future Kolkata, India.

The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson (Available October 14)

National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Adam Johnson (The Orphan Master’s Son) turns his pen to a truly epic story, the tale of a girl who rises to become Queen of the Tongan Empire. Early readers have compared this stunning historical novel to Wolf Hall, The Covenant of Water, and even War and Peace.

A surprise visit brings the past crashing back to the narrator of this masterful new novel from Lily King, author of Writers & Lovers. As she returns to a world, and a younger self, she left behind, she must reckon with the lasting impacts of first love.

King Sorrow by Joe Hill (Available October 21)

One of the contemporary masters of classic horror is back with his first novel in nearly a decade, and it’s a doozie—six friends, students at a college in Maine, attempt to escape a sticky situation by summoning an ancient dragon to do their bidding.

The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves (Available September 30)

Detective Jimmy Perez is back, now living

on the Orkney Islands and investigating the suspicious death of one of his oldest friends in this latest mystery from the beloved Ann Cleeves.

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

Robert Langdon, the Harvard symbology professor best remembered from The Da Vinci Code, travels to Prague to attend a lecture and ends up in a high-stakes race against time to save a groundbreaking manuscript.

We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution by Jill Lepore What else can I say? One of our greatest living historians tackles a colossal, essential subject: the story of the Constitution. There are a lot of great history books coming out this fall, but this is perhaps the most hotly anticipated.

Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization by Bill McKibben

Legendary Vermont-based environmentalist Bill McKibben makes a sweeping yet practical case for solar energy in this new book.

Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach

The one and only Mary Roach dives into the fascinating and bizarre science of replacing parts of the human body, from hearts to eyes to prosthetic limbs. And really, nobody can dive into a subject like this quite like Mary Roach.

Next of Kin: A Memoir by Gabrielle Hamilton (Available October 14)

Renowned chef and restaurateur Gabrielle Hamilton, whose memoir Blood, Bones, and Butter is a perennial staff favorite here, returns with an even more personal memoir, stepping a little farther out of the kitchen as she explores the troubled legacy of her family.

Finding My Way: A Memoir by Malala Yousafzai

(Available October 21)

Malala Yousafzai became an international icon at age 15, and she’s rarely been out of the spotlight since. How does a person navigate the ups and downs of young adulthood—from failing exams to falling in love to finding your true identity—when that person happens to be the youngest-ever

recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize?

In this warm, candid memoir, Yousafzai “reintroduces” herself to the world.

Sweet & Salty! King Arthur Baking Company’s Cookbook for Young Bakers (Available September 30)

Kids love to bake, and it’s about time there was a top-notch cookbook aimed especially at young bakers. It’s hard to think of better folks to create such a thing than our very own Upper Valley favorites, King Arthur Baking Company! Preorder a copy of this book, featuring over 100 recipes, from The Norwich Bookstore and receive exclusive goodies while supplies last!

My Harvest Kitchen: 100+ Recipes to Savor the Seasons by Gesine Bullock-Prado

Local chef and farm-to-table expert Gesine Bullock-Prado turns her attention to one of our favorite times of the year in this gorgeous yet approachable cookbook, featuring autumnal recipes for every occasion and practical tips for eating locally.

Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love by Samin Nosrat

We’re big fans of Samin Nosrat, author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, here at The Norwich Bookstore, and we can’t wait for this new cookbook in which she shares delicious, inventive recipes any home chef can tackle— all of them created with an eye toward building community and sharing love through food.

If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall

In this charming picture book, beloved author and illustrator Sophie Blackall (Farmhouse, If I Were a Horse) tells the story of two playmates imagining they are dogs. One is excited to jump and wrestle, wag tails, and do tricks. The other would rather be a duck instead. But can dogs and ducks play together?

Dory Fantasmagory: Center of the Universe by Abby Hanlon (Available October 7)

Find out why Dory Fantasmagory is one of our favorite kids’ book characters in this hilarious early chapter book, the latest installment in a long-running series. This time, Dory joins the soccer team—but her new friend Valentina is way better at soccer, and Dory is jealous. So she enlists a little magic from her Fairy Godmother . . . and maybe accidentally opens up a portal to outer space. How’s she going to get out of this one?

The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

In this follow-up to last year’s runaway hit Impossible Creatures, Christopher Forrester is summoned back to the Archipelago, which readers know from his last adventure, but finds that all is not well—and it’s up to him, his friends, and a few magical creatures to get to the bottom of it. t

DARTMOUTH GREEN INFORMATION BOOTH

While some might claim that New York’s Times Square is the “crossroads of the world,” two Dartmouth graduates might suggest otherwise. Dartmouth

Green’s crushed-stone walkways could easily wear that unofficial title, based on both alums’ decades of manning the Information Booth on the Green’s eastern edge at College Street.

John Engelman, ’68, and Mike Gonnerman, ’65, serve as volunteers who answer questions from visitors and are both also comanagers, scheduling the other 15 volunteers who meet and greet visitors from May through October.

Early on, the college decided that the paying positions would transition to volunteer spots. Eventually, Sphinx, a senior society foundation, stepped in to cover costs needed to keep the service and booth going. The current white kiosk structure was designed by Dartmouth College architect Nelson Aldrich and was built in 1957. It occupies a tiny plot of the Green’s five acres and part of the college’s overall 269-acre main campus. Mike Gonnerman, an economics major with a minor in Spanish, claims there has even been interest from a potential buyer of the building. “In fact, at that time, there was one volunteer who offered to buy and pay for the booth, but the college wasn’t interested in selling it,” he says.

VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR

John Engelman, a government major, enjoys his time meeting the unpredictable stream of people, most of whom have questions about the school. “I have a lot of time on my hands, and this helps keep me out of trouble,” he jokes. “I’ve been doing this for, I don’t know, 20, 25 years now. It’s a lot of fun because you meet people literally from all over the world and there’s nothing a Dartmouth alum likes to do better than wax nostalgic about Dartmouth College.”

Each on-duty volunteer keeps a written record of where each visitor is from and the nature of their query. Thousands visit every year from dozens of foreign lands and of course the United States, according to Mike. “I had a fellow come up one day and said, ‘It gets cold up here.’ He was from California and he said his son was going to want to try out for the football team. And he said, ‘How do they get here when it’s snowy?’ I said, ‘Well, they take buses.’ He didn’t know that you could take buses in the snow in New Hampshire.”

“I’ve been doing this for, I don’t know, 20, 25 years now. It’s a lot of fun because you meet people literally from all over the world and there’s nothing a Dartmouth alum likes to do better than wax nostalgic about Dartmouth College.”

John Engelman, ’68

Thousands visit every year from dozens of foreign lands and of course the United States, according to Mike. “I had a fellow come up one day and said, ‘It gets cold up here.’ He was from California and he said his son was going to want to try out for the football team. And he said, ‘How

do they get here when it’s snowy?’ I said, ‘Well, they take buses.’ He didn’t know that you could take buses in the snow in New Hampshire.”

Mike Gonnerman, ’65

Bob Ross and Mike Gonnerman assist a guest.

BOOTH SUMMARY For May and June 2025

INFO SPANNING THE CENTURY

Then there are questions about Dr. Seuss, who attended Dartmouth College, class of 1925. If you were to ask John about the famed children’s author’s time on campus, you’d get a story you may never have heard. “So, his [real] name was Theodore Geisel and he wrote for the Dartmouth humor magazine, the Jack-O-Lantern, now known as the Jacko. And at one point, he was sanctioned by the college for some kind of [inappropriate public behavior]. One of his punishments was he could no longer write for the Jack-O-Lantern [which he had been doing] under the name Geisel, but he used his mother’s maiden name, Seuss, and submitted articles for the Jacko under that name. And that is, as I understand it, how his pen name became Dr. Seuss,” John claims.

Among the many photos in the Info Booth archives is that of a Dr. Seuss character, a Lorax doll. “There was a stump on the corner of Main Street and Wheelock, which is right across from the street from the Hanover Inn,” John explains. “It’s the busiest corner in town. The tree apparently was diseased and they took it down and somebody put a Lorax there,” as in the Dr. Suess book on trees and the environment.

The Dartmouth College Information Booth is, as you’d expect, very dog friendly. A bowl of fresh water is always at the ready and some frequent canine visitors literally walk into the booth looking for a dog biscuit that they know is waiting for them.

Volunteers are often asked about the Appalachian Trail, which goes right through Hanover. “We also have Trail Angels who are local residents who help the hikers,” Mike adds. “They provide meals for the hikers and showers and a place to sleep and will drive them to appointments and so forth. In the post office, there’s a place where Appalachian Trail hikers’ mail is dropped in the corner.”

AND OF COURSE, ANIMAL HOUSE

While most guests ask questions about needed information, Animal House anecdotes have been known to slip out on occasion, as the bawdy ’70s college movie was fictionally set at Dartmouth College. John recalls when a family and their collegebound daughter stopped at the booth to talk and the dad said, “My wife and my daughter are on the college tour. I didn’t want to take it. The only thing I really wanted to see was Animal House.”

“And it so happened that I was a member of the fraternity that inspired National Lampoon’s Animal House. So I sent him over to the fraternity, told him how to get in, told him that if any of the undergraduate members questioned him being there to mention my name. If they didn’t stone him to death, they would welcome him. About 15 minutes later he came back and I said, ‘Well, what do you think of the fraternity?’ He said, ‘It was very nice. And the young men in the fraternity were very, very courteous and very helpful, but it didn’t look anything like the house in the movie.’ I had to explain to him that the movie was filmed at the University of Washington and it was an old, dilapidated house that was eventually torn down and it was not filmed here, and he was terribly disappointed.”

John was also quick to point out none of the flick’s frat-boy characters were inspired by him, confessing, “The fellow who wrote Animal House was a member of the class of 1963 and that was before I arrived at Dartmouth.” For more information, contact the Dartmouth College Alumni Office, (603) 646-2258. t

by Pamela Brown | photography by CPerry Photography

Get Inspired at THE IVY EDIT

FABULOUS FINDS IN THE HEART OF HANOVER

Youthful, stylish, and comfortable not only describe the clothing at The Ivy Edit but also how women feel wearing them. “Whether you’re shopping for something specific or looking to treat yourself, my boutique is a space where women can feel inspired and completely themselves,” says Allison Smith, owner of The Ivy Edit on South Main Street in the heart of downtown Hanover. “My mission is to help women feel confident in what they wear and who they are. I also value connecting and building genuine relationships with them. It makes shopping more fun for everyone.”

EMBRACING THE LOCALS

The shop offers a thoughtfully curated mix of women’s clothing and accessories. “We carry casual, everyday items such as jeans and T-shirts, formal wear like prom and college dresses, and seasonal items, such as bathing suits. We also feature jewelry and fun accessories to elevate an outfit,” Allison says.

Some of the top brands the shop carries include Levi’s, Free People, Cotton Candy LA, and LoveShackFancy, a high-end brand she recently brought into the store. This year, popular items include Levi’s low-loose denim with a boot-cut leg, Free People tank tops, denim miniskirts, Cotton Candy LA strapless silk mini dresses, and Emi Jay hair clips.

The Ivy Edit is located less than a mile from Dartmouth College, and much of its customer base is Dartmouth students. “We try to offer Dartmouth green clothing or accessories. I like to find unique things you wouldn’t find at the Dartmouth Co-op,” says Allison, who also hosts shopping events for Dartmouth students (mainly sororities) and everyone. “When you book a shopping event here, we offer a 15 percent discount and provide drinks and snacks,” she says.

A PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE

To keep the shop fresh and exciting, Allison receives new inventory weekly and remerchandises the store every few months with changing color schemes and floor displays. “We keep the space seasonally refreshed, often changing the layout and color story to give regular visitors something new to experience. This helps frequent shoppers see things they may have missed the last time they

were in,” says Allison. To expand her customer base, she started a small but growing men’s clothing section. “Since there isn’t much in Hanover for men’s clothing besides J.Crew, I try to bring in more of a streetwear style to differentiate ourselves from what’s available.”

Offering a personalized shopping experience is a top priority. “I want everyone to feel confident, appreciated, and cared for. I care about building relationships. Whether it’s helping someone find the perfect dress for a big event, brightening their day with something they love, or offering my honest opinion, I make every interaction personable and thoughtful,” says Allison, who has created a bright, colorful, and inviting atmosphere for people of all ages. “From the moment you walk in, the boutique feels like a space designed for you—welcoming and fun, but with a sophisticated edge. It’s the kind of place where you can browse casually with a friend, get honest styling advice if you want it, or pop in for inspiration. The music is upbeat and the vibe is always friendly.” You might also see Riva the Maltipoo, the shop’s mascot. “She’s my cutest accessory. I love coordinating her collars and leashes to complement my outfits.”

A BORN ENTREPRENEUR

Allison comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Her parents, Scott and Kim Smith, own the Red Wagon Toy Co. in Woodstock; Woodstock Scoops and Hanover Scoops ice cream shops; and 37 Central Clothiers, The Ivy Edit’s sister shop in Woodstock that also carries women’s clothing and accessories. “I come from a family full of entrepreneurs on both sides, so I was born to be one,” says Allison, who has always been an integral part of the businesses, whether tagging items at the toy store as a youngster or being a buyer for the clothing shop as an adult. “In 2019, when I was finishing college at the University

Center: Allison with her parents, Kim and Scott Smith. Right from top: New fall arrivals are offering mixed neutrals. The store carries a wide range of the latest fashions, just right for browsing.

of Vermont, we realized there was more of a demand for a younger style that was missing in Hanover. I wanted to do something similar to what my parents did once I finished college—own my own business.” After graduating in 2021, The Ivy Edit became her career.

Allison and her mother Kim collaborated with Hannah Utter, a student athlete from Dartmouth, to help them design a new logo for the rebrand. Since the shop was an extension of 37 Central Clothiers, Allison suggested the idea of an “edit” to keep a tie between the stores. “Being in an Ivy League town and focusing on our younger customers, we made a special edit curated for college students and agreed to go with The Ivy Edit by 37 Central Clothiers. When moving into our new dream space in June of 2024, we decided to shorten the name because The Ivy Edit became its own brand after a few years,” says Allison, who appreciates the community and support among businesses in Hanover.

Allison’s parents remain her biggest influences. “My mom taught me everything about this business. Her passion and drive as an entrepreneur, owning four-plus businesses, push and inspire me to be the best I can be every day. Her hardworking demeanor has been passed down to me, and I’m grateful to have her as my mom and business partner,” she says, acknowledging her father’s impact on her technology and DIY skills. “Learning everything there is to know about business and working with both my parents has been an incredible experience. They’ve been my biggest supporters. Without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to be where I am today. I can’t wait to see what the next few years bring for us.” t

The Ivy Edit

35 South Main Street #101 Hanover, NH

(603) 277-9147

theivyedit.com

Half-Step Beer & Wine

Come on down to Half-Step Beer & Wine in Norwich! We’re your source for thoughtfully selected craft beer, wine, hard cider, and nonalcoholic options. We believe that buying a bottle of wine or four-pack of beer should be an approachable experience. That’s why our motto is “practicality over pretension.” We put a lot of thought, time, and tasting when choosing our products, so you can guarantee that whatever beer, wine, or cider you choose will taste great! We look forward to helping you find your next favorite beer, wine, or cider!

289 Main Street Norwich, VT (802) 649-1970

Hanover Scoops Ice Cream Shop

Hanover Scoops features locally made, farm to cone, hard and softserve ice cream. Enjoy a selection of house-favorite flavors or mix it up with a featured seasonal delight. Scoops is a full-service ice cream shop offering milkshakes, sundaes, and sweet, salty treats. Scoops is found in the heart of Hanover, next to the Nugget Theatre.

Visit their other location, Woodstock Scoops, in the village of Woodstock, Vermont.

57 South Main Street Hanover, NH Instagram @hanoverscoops

Johnson Audiology

Better hearing is directly linked to better relationships, more self-confidence, and even brain health. Hearing well is about being an active, connected part of your world. Sometimes, the answer is as simple as a hearing aid. Other times, it’s less obvious. That’s why we start the conversation by talking about you. We want to understand what’s going on in your life. And as doctors of audiology, we listen to you from that professional perspective to give you a more connected life through better hearing. Want to know more? Give us a call. We’re ready to listen.

2 Dorrance Place

Hanover, NH (603) 643-4327

www.JohnsonAudiologyhearing.com

35 South Main Street Hanover, NH (603) 277-9147 www.theivyedit.com

The Ivy Edit

The Ivy Edit is the “trendy sister” of the popular 37 Central Clothiers in Woodstock, Vermont. It’s flirty, fashion forward, and fun. Whether you’re looking for a specialoccasion dress, going-out top, or just a great pair of Levi’s, you will find it there. Ivy also has an expanding selection of footwear. Follow them on Instagram @ the_ivy_edit.

3 Lebanon Street (Second Floor) Hanover, NH (603) 277-9659

thefourthplacehanover.com

Wed–Fri 2–11pm, Sat–Sun 11am–11pm (or later)

Extended Hours during Summers and Holiday Season

Matt Brown Fine Art

The Fourth Place

The Fourth Place is a free community space for everyone who loves games, comics, and geek culture— with a free board game café all the time, and over 50 totally free public events per month! That includes at least two board game nights and two Magic: The Gathering events per week, free RPG adventures, three monthly book clubs, Pokémon, Scrabble, Star Wars: Unlimited, wargames, crafting and painting, and so much more! Plus we have a summer day camp and after school clubs.

Event Calendar: 4th.me/events

Youth Programs: 4th.me/youth

Pro GM RPG Campaigns: tavernsandtowers.com

The MBFA gallery features artwork, crafts, and books by residents (past and present) of Lyme, New Hampshire and Thetford, Vermont: paintings, prints, poetry, and pottery, photographs and floor cloths, cards, jewelry, woodenware, ceramics, and syrup. Through November 15 we show our 7th annual Wild about Watercolor exhibit.

Visit our gallery website for more info.

1 Main Street, On the Common Lyme, NH (603) 795-4855 www.mbrownfa.com

Fri 10am–5pm & Sat 10am–3pm or by chance or appointment

Danielle Bencze Owner/licensed esthetician

Glowen Day Spa

Step into a realm of pure tranquility and let your worries fade away at Glowen Day Spa. Experience a personalized journey toward rejuvenation and glowing skin through the power of Celluma and microcurrent treatments. Enhance your eyes’ allure effortlessly with our lash lift and tint, while personalized skin peels and hydrodermabrasion unveil your skin’s true potential, leaving it radiant and youthful. Beyond skin-deep treatments, we offer the transformative practice of reiki healing, where your body and soul are nourished and replenished.

We utilize high-quality products designed to give you the ultimate luxurious spa experience thoughtfully priced to ensure luxury is accessible to all. Everyone deserves a pampered, personalized experience. Book your rejuvenating experience today and let Danielle pamper you from head to toe and embrace the glow that lies within.

18 On the Common Lyme, NH (603) 212-8216 www.glowendayspa.com

Lemon Tree Gifts

Distinctive

Gifts,

Jewelry & Home Décor

Visit the Upper Valley’s premiere gift shop where you’ll find a little something for everyone! Discover an array of treasures, including unique Dartmouth items, New Hampshire and Vermont mementos, maple syrup and candy, toys and games for all ages, bath and body, jewelry, candles, men’s and baby gifts, comfy throws, and much more! We offer shipping and complimentary local area delivery options. We look forward to being part of your Hanover shopping experience!

Don’t forget to visit us in our PowerHouse Mall location across from L.L.Bean!

28 South Main Street (next to Lou’s) Hanover, NH (603) 643-5388

Lemon Tree Gifts of Hanover

Open Daily

188 South Main Street, Unit 110 White River Junction, VT (802) 899-0405

www.putnamsvineyard.com

Tue–Sat 8am–10pm, Sun 8am–9pm

Putnam’s vine/yard

SHOP DRINK LEARN. Located in a historic Vermont railyard, the Putnam’s vine/ yard secret garden is the perfect place to catch up with friends or find a quiet spot to relax with a great book and glass of wine. We are family friendly with an assortment of wooden toys, and we serve nonalcoholic beverages including specialty coffee and imported artisanal teas. Check out the Event Calendar on our website for upcoming Wine School & Vine School Classes, as well as PopUps from local food purveyors and artists. Stop by every weekend between 10am and 4pm for brunch!

Walt & Ernie’s Barbershop

Walt & Ernie’s is your neighborhood barbershop, located just off Main Street in the heart of Hanover, New Hampshire. Proudly serving the Dartmouth and Upper Valley community since 1938, our friendly, professional team delivers quality haircuts and beard trims in an authentic four-chair barbershop experience. Rich in Dartmouth College and Hanover history, Walt & Ernie’s offers quality haircuts with friendly service. The hairstyles may have changed, but the true barbershop experience has stayed the same! Walk-ins and appointments are welcome.

New Location!

42 South Main Street

Hanover, NH

(603) 359-8064

www.waltanderniesbarbershop.com

Mon, Wed & Thu 9am–5pm Tue & Fri 7:30am–5pm

The Gilded Edge

Visit Us at Our New Location

An award-winning custom picture framing shop offering options for every budget, from ready-made frames and the new “Frugal Framing” line to full custom, hand-finished frames that are works of art themselves. We have received our 15th consecutive “Best of the Best” picture framers in the Upper Valley!

69 Hanover Street Lebanon, NH (603) 643-2884

www.gildededgeframing.com 100% By appointment only. Appointments available. Wed–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–5pm

Honey Field Farm Stand & Greenhouses

Eat organic with us this season!

Our farm stand and greenhouses are open through Halloween with:

• Certified organic fresh produce

• House plants, succulents, and cacti

• Fresh bouquets and pick-your-own flowers

Check for updated hours on our website at www.honeyfieldfarmvt.com.

55 Butternut Road Norwich, VT (802) 649-1500

www.honeyfieldfarmvt.com

The Norwich Bookstore

Located in the heart of Norwich, Vermont, just five minutes from the Dartmouth College Campus, The Norwich Bookstore is a vibrant, general-interest bookstore serving the Upper Valley since 1994. Known for our community programming, author events, and personalized staff recommendations, we strive to embody the spirit of cooperation, diversity, and independent thought seen throughout our community. Whether you’re seeking that one book everyone’s talking about, greeting cards for every occasion, book club picks, or simply your next favorite read, we’re here to help!

291 Main Street, Norwich, VT (802) 649-1114

www.norwichbookstore.com

Mon–Sat, 9am–6pm, Sun 11am–5pm Instagram: @norwichbookstore

Twisted Scissors

With 20 years of experience, Twisted Scissors brings professional, affordable style to Hanover’s residents and Dartmouth students alike. Offering the latest styles and cuts for men, women, and children, the studio blends skill with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Relax to your favorite music, enjoy great conversation, and leave looking—and feeling—your best. Call for an appointment, walk-ins welcome!

53 South Main Street Hanover, NH (603) 277-9842

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Dartmouth

Osher at Dartmouth is a volunteer, noncredit continuing-education program for adults. We offer a wide variety of courses and events throughout the year, with opportunities to participate both in person and online. Check our website for our 2025 Fall Term courses!

Visit osher.dartmouth.edu for more information.

1 Court Street, Suite 380

Lebanon, NH (603) 646-0154

osher.dartmouth.edu

Mon–Thu 8:30am–4:30pm, Fri 8:30am–1pm

The restaurant features three dining rooms with 25 tables and 120 seats.

From near right: Tom prepares a dish in the kitchen. Karaoke rooms are available for friends to meet for a fun evening.

Gather Friends and Family at HAN FUSION

Tom Liang, longtime restaurant professional and coowner of Han Fusion Asian restaurant in Hanover, New Hampshire, is no stranger to the space where his restaurant found its home in July of 2019. It started when Tom’s business partner saw a space for rent in Hanover after he sold his restaurant in Greenfield, Massachusetts. It turns out that the space had been owned by Tom’s uncle 30 years prior and he had worked there himself in his 20s. Tom notes, “The space chose us, and we officially opened September 22, 2019.”

The name Han was originally derived from the Han dynasty. “At first, we were going to name the restaurant Han Kitchen,” Tom says, “but we really liked the idea of having more variety of Asian-style cuisine, so we used Han Fusion instead.”

A Rocky Start

Originally from Taiwan, Tom came to the United States at age 15. Upon his arrival, he lived in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he also went to college at UMass Amherst and studied hotel and restaurant management. He has been working in restaurants since he was a teenager in every role possible, from bussing tables and washing dishes to becoming a sushi chef.

According to Tom, when Han Fusion first opened, they offered Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese menu items including authentic cuisines. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic arrived just a few months shy of their opening.

“Business was pretty much in survival mode from 2020 to 2021,” Tom says. “If there wasn’t a government providing PPP loans and breaks on rent, we would have closed the door for good. We had to take out the whole sushi menu because we didn’t have enough employees to maintain everything on the menu. We started dinein service again in 2022, when the government took out the mask requirement and business finally started to pick up again. I felt like that’s when we really started.”

The Menu and Cocktails

Tom says Han Fusion has slowly built up their reputation as a spot for authentic Chinese food. They offer two pages of authentic dishes on their menu featuring duck, pork, and chicken in various entrees as well as roasted pork buns. Chinese food staples familiar to most people are also available, such as General Tso’s chicken, beef with broccoli, and pork fried rice. The most popular dishes include threespice chicken and an authentic fish fillet served in Sichuan chili sauce with Sichuan peppercorn. Many of the dishes at Han Fusion have been brought in by original and current head chef Michael Liang (no relation to Tom), who is also originally from Taiwan.

Tom says, “Michael’s son went to the same high school as I did. I knew him back then, but we didn’t really get to know each other well until we worked together in the same restaurant. He has been a head chef for more than 30 years. Therefore, when I got this space for Han Fusion, I asked him to become the head chef.”

The cocktails at Han Fusion are fresh. The menu features a selection of mai tais, the traditional Scorpion Bowl (an assortment of rums, gin, vodka, and fruit juices served in a large bowl with straws designed for sharing), sake, Japanese and Chinese beer, and margaritas with fresh-squeezed lime juice. Several regional beers are also available

Left top and bottom: Heidi lights a Scorpion Bowl. Tom chats with customers.

Below: The young girls are frequent diners at the restaurant and are enjoying Spicy Wok with Lamb. Server Janni Xia picks up an order. Ethan Lian, one of the main chefs (left), cooks while Ken Liang prepares dishes for serving.

such as Zero Gravity Green State lager from Burlington, Vermont, and Stoneface IPA from New Hampshire.

Karaoke: A Recent Fun Addition

Last year there was a vacant space in the building where the restaurant is located. When the building owner approached Tom to see if he might be interested, Tom initially thought he would use the 800-square-foot space for storage, but after talking with a lot of students about having to drive an hour simply to go bowling and leaning into his knowledge of karaoke rooms from growing up in Taiwan, he decided to convert the space into three karaoke rooms. Tom began offering the private karaoke rooms in April of 2025. So far, the rooms have been most popular with students, but Tom hopes that will change once more people become aware of them.

Individuals can call and reserve one of three karaoke spaces. Each accommodates from 10 up to 16 people. The prices depend upon whether one reserves their event for before or after 5pm and how many hours of fun they would like.

Tom says he could see the karaoke rooms being booked and used for any kind of celebration, including company holiday gatherings. The best part is that food and drink right from Han Fusion is available as well. Whether you visit for the authentic cuisine, the karaoke, or both, Han Fusion is not to be missed on your trip to Hanover. t

Han Fusion Restaurant

3 Lebanon Street, Suite 15 Hanover, NH

(603) 643-8888 or (603) 643-8889 hanfusionnh.com

Tue–Thu 11:30am–9pm Fri & Sat 11:30am–9:30pm Sun 12–9pm Closed Mon

Karaoke: Tue–Thu 12–10pm Fri & Sat 12–11pm Sun 12–9pm Call for pricing and reservations

story and photography by Lisa Ballard

THE Cal l of the Wild

IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

If you’ve never heard an elk bugle during the fall, you haven’t lived life to its fullest. Like the searching yodel of a loon or the mournful howl of a wolf, the macho bugle of an elk is truly one of the iconic calls of the wild. I remember the first time I heard an elk bugle. I was in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) in September 2011. It was my first visit to this 265,873-acre wildlife sanctuary about 60 miles north of Denver, Colorado. I heard the elk before I saw it. The reverberating sound touched something deep in my soul.

I was in RMNP to photograph elk. Colorado boasts the largest elk herd in the world, with more than 300,000 of them roaming its meadows and mountains. Up to 3,000 elk shelter in RMNP at any time during the spring, summer, and fall. It’s a refuge, not only for elk, but also 65 other mammals, including bighorn sheep, moose, mule deer, and endangered pika, which is why it’s a mecca for wildlife watchers and photographers like me.

Just after entering the east side of RMNP near Estes Park, I paused by a large field on the side of Trail Ridge Road, the 48-mile route that travels from Estes Park over the Continental Divide to Grand Lake on the west side of the park. In the middle of the field, an enormous bull elk tended his harem of a dozen cow elk. The cows grazed on the golden grass while the bull kept watch, bowing its head now and again to push a cow back to the herd if it strayed too far.

Below:

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

From mid-May through mid-October, RMNP uses a timed entry system to control traffic in the park. Reserve an entry time on the park’s website.

Like all national parks, RMNP charges an entrance fee per car. Options include a one-day pass, seven consecutive days, RMNP annual pass, or an America the Beautiful Pass. All passes are available at the entrance gates.

Be prepared for colder temperatures, wind, and possible snow, especially at higher elevations, even in midsummer.

Trail Ridge Road closes when poor weather creates unsafe road conditions. Always check the road report.

If you find a baby animal, leave it. It has not been abandoned.

Keep your distance around wild animals, about 75 feet (the length of two school buses) away from deer, elk, and bighorn sheep. Double that for moose and bears.

Bring binoculars, a spotting scope, or a camera with a telephoto lens to get a better look at distant animals.

Don’t feed the animals. It’s illegal. What’s more, human food is not nutritious for them and it habituates them to people as a food source, which can lead to an expensive relocation, or worse, euthanizing the animal.

If you see a sick or injured animal, contact a park ranger. Do not try to help it!

Pets, including emotional support animals, are prohibited on all trails, tundra, meadows, or in visitors’ centers in RMNP.

Clockwise from top left: A bighorn ewe nurses her lamb. A lone bull elk bugles among a patch of trees. Two bulls graze side by side in late summer prior to the rut.

Opposite, top left: The author assesses the snow at the high point of Trail Ridge Road in early June.

Top right: A nature photographer takes pictures of wild irises along a seasonal stream.

Bottom: A coyote hunts for mice as the snow melts in the late spring.

Then I heard the bugle again. As I steadied my camera, the bull stretched his neck and released a haunting bellow. It started low and gravelly, as steam from the 1,000-pound animal’s hot breath wafted into the near-freezing air. As the bull exhaled, his cry surged in volume and pitch, filling the valley. At the height of it, the bull made three staccato grunts, then his air ran out, leaving a moment of dead silence as far as the ear could hear.

Bull elk bugle from about mid-September through mid-October in the Rocky Mountains. It’s a mating call used to attract cow elk and to tell other bulls to keep away. It’s an evocative, unforgettable sound. Maybe that’s why I keep going back to RMNP.

History of the Park

The United Stated government acquired the land that’s now RMNP in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase, but early explorers and fur trappers largely skirted the region due to the wall of 12,000- to 14,000-foot mountains at its core. Even Stephen Long, the explorer for whom Longs Peak (14,250 feet), the highest point in the park, is named, avoided the inhospitable snowcapped barrier during his 1820 expedition.

In 1868, John Wesley Powell and several local guides made the first-known ascent of Longs Peak, the most northern 14,000-footer in Colorado. Shortly after that, as the West was settled by homesteaders, miners, and loggers, tourism steadily increased, too. An array of small-time innkeepers built roads and trails into what’s now RMNP, which they used to lead visitors into the high country. In

1915, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Rocky Mountain National Park Act, formally creating the national park.

After World War I, the small mom-and-pop lodges that speckled the foothills could no longer handle the influx of people. Park rangers upgraded what paths and facilities they could, but it was the formation of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s that finally gave the park the buildings, trails, and roads that are there today, including Trail Ridge Road, the park’s signature drive.

Trail Ridge Road

Driving Trail Ridge Road is an experience just for the diversity of ecosystems it passes through, from the lowland meadow where I heard my first bull elk bugle, up through aspen groves with their golden autumn glow, and then into the alpine zone. The road climbs 4,000 vertical feet. It’s the highest fully paved road in the United States, with 11 miles above tree line and cresting at 12,183 feet above sea level.

“It is hard to describe what a sensation this new road is going to make,” said Horace Albright, director of the National Park Service in 1931, during the road’s construction. “You will have the whole sweep of the Rockies before you in all directions.” And you’ll see elk.

Watching Wildlife

I visited RMNP for the second time during the summer of 2013 with my fiancé Jack. From Estes Park, we drove up Trail Ridge Road into the alpine, stopping periodically to take photos of elk and other wildlife. As I ogled the rugged Rockies that welled up around us, Jack suddenly veered into a pullout. “Grab your camera!” he urged with excitement. A herd of cow elk with their calves was coming over a ridgeline. We clicked joyfully at the scene, then continued upward.

Before long, we parked again. This time we stayed in the car, which is normally the best place to watch wildlife. The animals are less likely to spook or become aggressive. This time a small group of bull elk, their antlers covered in velvet, the protective fuzzy tissue that provides the blood flow for antler growth, grazed placidly on the tundra. Two of the bulls playfully practiced sparring with each other, then pulled apart to nibble the low-growing plants. “They won’t be quite so friendly to each other in September,” observed Jack as he pulled back onto the road.

Less than a mile later, we pulled over yet again, this time by a large patch of leftover snow from the previous winter. Several other young bulls sparred with each other, kicking up snow as their antlers briefly locked. We felt like proverbial flies on the wall, but in

this case, it was a massive, windswept plateau. What a treat to witness such strong, regal creatures doing what they naturally do!

Horseback Riding in the Park Jack and I are now married. We return to RMNP every couple of years to photograph wildlife, especially elk. Sometimes the weather is spectacular. Other times, it’s snowing. Regardless, having a peek into the elk world is always a memorable experience.

Our most recent trip into RMNP was just last spring. It was my first time entering the park from Grand Lake on the west side of park. It was also my first time driving the entire length of Trail Ridge Road. It was an unplanned opportunity. In the past, we had always used the east entrance and turned around near the Continental Divide to head back the way we had come.

In late May, we were guests at Arapaho Valley Ranch, a comfortable basecamp for mountain- and water-based outdoor adventures near Grand Lake. Trail Ridge Road was still closed for the winter when we arrived. We hadn’t planned to visit RMNP on this

trip to Colorado. Instead, we packed our schedule with fly-fishing, boating on Grand Lake, hiking, and horseback riding.

To my surprise, I spent my afternoon on a horse in RMNP. The outfitter, Winding River Resort, was permitted to run trail rides in the park. It was the typical guest ranch ride, with eight pokey horses ambling nose to tail on a welltrodden path. Our route went through an area burned by wildfire in 2020. Though the forest floor was green, the blackened trunks of limbless trees surrounded us, some still standing and others fallen in a haphazard jumble.

“Hey, in the back! Get ready with your camera,” shouted our guide. “There’s a baby elk calf lying next to the trail.” I was on the horse at the back of the string. I readied my camera as I searched the spaces between the charred fallen timber. Click! I only had time for one shot as my horse passed by a newborn elk calf curled up in its log crib only inches from the path. It was nearly invisible, thanks to its spots and silky brown fur. Mother elk hide their newborns to feed or to evade predators. The calf, which is believed to have virtually no scent, instinctively knows to lie still. What a rare opportunity!

The next day we got word that Trail Ridge Road was open. For the first time, I had the chance to drive the entire length of it. Ironically, we didn’t see elk, but we did see mule deer, coyotes, and songbirds. The wildflowers at lower elevations colored the vistas with yellows, reds, and blues. Mother Nature never disappoints in RMNP. Perhaps that’s her way of inviting us back in the fall to hear the elk bugle again. t

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Rocky Mountain National Park: nps.gov/romo

Arapaho Valley Ranch (lodging near Grand Lake): arapahovalleyranch.com

Winding River Resort (horseback riding in RMNP): windingriverresort.com

by Kelly Sennott

Empowering Families

THE FAMILY PLACE CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

If you’re an Upper Valley parent, then you’ve probably seen The Family Place around town—even if, at the time, you didn’t realize it. Staff from the Norwich-based parent-child center are constantly in the community: They host monthly playgroups at the Hartland Library and Montshire Museum, and they’re regularly at local events, from parades to pizza nights to their very own annual Gingerbread Festival.

Ask the participating families and they’ll probably tell you The Family Place is a treasure trove, housing an early intervention program and playground meetups, toilet training seminars and nursing support, and anything and everything you might want as a new parent. The past few years, numbers in program attendance and requests for their services have increased.

But Stephanie Slayton, executive director at The Family Place, would like to see even more people walking through their doors. In honor of the nonprofit’s 40th anniversary, staff members are working hard to spread the word, with new advertising initiatives and pop-up events all over the Upper Valley, starting in September.

“We know there are families in our service area that are not accessing services they can really benefit from,” Stephanie says. “Our big effort this year is to make sure that people know about us, who we serve, and how they can get involved.”

ADAPTING WITH THE TIMES

In the late ’80s, Vermont became the first in the country to sponsor parent-child centers, The Family Place (originally founded in 1985) being one of them. Parent-child centers exist in other states, but Stephanie says many aren’t state funded or as well supported and collaborative as Vermont’s. For them, being small is an advantage; directors don’t have to travel far to meet monthly and discuss what they’re seeing in their respective communities, which is important to staying relevant.

Today, there are 15 parent-child centers in Vermont, and collectively, their goal is to offer families eight core services: parent support, parent education, concrete (material/financial) support, home visits, playgroups, information and referrals, early childhood services, and community development.

Back when teen pregnancy was up, The Family Place’s early childhood education program was created to help pregnant or parenting teens acquire childcare while they attended school. These days, teen pregnancy is down, so the parent-child center network has been looking at other community needs, with recent efforts resulting in funding for a tobacco and vaping cessation program for pregnant and parenting families.

“I think what’s nice about parent-child centers in general is that they’re able to be adaptable to the changing needs of the community,” Stephanie says. “We’re always looking at, what is the landscape that families are having to navigate? And how can we support them to have the best possible outcomes for children?”

FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING

The Family Place campus comprises three buildings, the first of which is a friendly yellow one that could be a home, with a front awning and dormer windows. Inside, Stephanie takes me on a tour, starting with its early childhood education classrooms.

In one, kids eat lunch family-style at a small table, a setup favored by the staff nutritionist, who’s been helping the children overcome picky eating. “They’ve found the kids are eating a lot more different foods, and they do things like pass plates to their neighbors,” Stephanie says.

Left: Staff convene monthly to learn about upcoming initiatives across the organization, share updates about their programs, and offer appreciation for the work their colleagues do to support families in the Upper Valley community.

Bottom left: Staff connect with each other during an employee appreciation barbecue hosted by Executive Director Stephanie Slayton and The Family Place’s board of directors.

Board

Employees Logging 10+ Years

The Family Place is proud of their staff longevity.

Lisa Banks Development Coordinator 11 years

Kelly French Early Intervention Program Supervisor 19 years

Sasha Garfinkle Operations Manager 12 years

Julie Gaudette Recent Special Investigation Unit/Child Advocacy Center Director 15 years

Hugh MacArthur Facilities Manager 10 years

Tonya McMurray Clinical Services Director 17 years

Helene Meloche Program Director 19 years

Sarah Schneider Speech-Language Pathologist 18 years

Lori Stever Parent Education Coordinator 20 years

Kim Toland Early Care and Education Program Director 10 years

Kelly Wallace Director of Home Visiting Children’s Integrated Services Coordinator, Hartford Region 28 years

“I learned about all that The Family Place does, from their mental health services for children and adults to parent education and their Welcome Baby Bags. All the different things they do really help families of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds thrive in those early years.”

Jessica Cowen, a parent and former practitioner.

Then she points out the rooms reserved for the different kinds of therapy offered here, including early intervention, which, because of its state contract, The Family Place can offer to area families at no cost. We pass by a large, fenced-in playground with slides and sandboxes, seesaws and water tables, and follow a short path to another building, which is under construction. Stephanie buzzes us in what appears to be a side entrance. This is where most community events happen, like toddler art classes courtesy of Artistree and music programs with the Upper Valley Music Center. It’s also where families who’ve experienced trauma or need childcare financial assistance might go.

She says the goal of the renovation is to create a more welcoming and less confusing entrance that’s staffed by people who can offer immediate help, particularly with financial matters like Medicaid enrollment, which more families are needing assistance with due to federal funding changes.

EMPOWERING FAMILIES

One of the things that makes The Family Place so helpful for families is that they do a lot; in some ways, it’s like a one-stop shop. Jessica Cowen, a parent and former practitioner, says she’d known about The Family Place through her professional work but didn’t understand its full scope until her baby exhibited signs of gross motor delays.

40TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

For information on what The Family Place offers and to learn about its upcoming pop-up events for its 40th anniversary, visit familyplacevt.org or call (802) 649-3268.

When her son began receiving at-home physical and speech therapy through The Family Place, she learned more about the nonprofit, and was struck by how much they do.

“I learned about all that The Family Place does, from their mental health services for children and adults to parent education and their Welcome Baby Bags. All the different things they do really help families of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds thrive in those early years,” says Jessica, who’s now a regular at their playgroups and treasurer of their Family Advisory Committee.

Stephanie, who has been at The Family Place since 2023, says what she loves about this work is helping families from the start. In the beginning of her career, she was a middle and high school special education teacher, often feeling that by the times the kids hit her classroom, many opportunities to support healthy growth and development had already been missed.

Here their work empowers parents— and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and whoever else comprises a child’s village— to build toolkits so they can help children thrive. “Your child doesn’t have to be diagnosed with anything for parenting to feel really hard,” Stephanie says. “I have three children myself, and parenting is definitely the hardest job I’ve ever had. I love that I get to work for an agency that is there to support parents and lift up families.”

There are services and programs here for everyone, no matter your child’s ability, no matter your socioeconomic status. If their demand increases or if the needs of the community change, The Family Place will continue to pivot and adapt, like they have for the past 40 years. t

With kids’ soccer games, trips to the dump or hardware store (or both), and leaves to rake, fall Saturdays can be busy, busy, busy. No matter how long your to-do list, find some time to connect with family and friends. A taco party is a great way to have some fun together without a whole lot of fuss and bother.

Make-your-own tacos with chicken and a variety of fun toppings and pot of black beans are both hearty and delicious after a long day out and about. An added advantage: Almost everything can be prepared in advance, leaving you free to enjoy your company. When you’re ready to eat, set the food out and let everyone create taco magic.

Chips, salsa, and guacamole are always a hit, and for dessert try ice cream and spiced-up chocolate sauce as your quick and easy backup. How do you spice up chocolate sauce? Simple: Whisk a little espresso powder, cinnamon, and chili powder into a jar of your favorite chocolate sauce and heat on low.

There’s nothing quite like the fall in northern New England. Be sure to enjoy every minute of it, surrounded by magnificent foliage, beautiful family, and dear friends. Buen provecho!

smart cooking

TEQUILA-LIME CHICKEN TACOS

Serves 8

4 cloves garlic

2 Tbsp seeded and minced jalapeno 1-inch chunk red onion

1 tsp cumin

½ tsp smoked paprika

Zest and juice of 2 limes

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

¾ cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems

½ cup tequila

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

16 (6-inch) corn or flour tortillas Olive oil

1. Put the garlic, jalapeno, onion, cumin, paprika, and lime zest in a blender or small food processor, season with salt and pepper, and pulse to chop and combine. Add the lime juice and cilantro and process until smooth. Add the tequila and process until well combined.

2. Put the chicken in a shallow baking dish, add the marinade, and flip the chicken to coat. Flipping two or three times, marinate for at least an hour and up to overnight.

3. Preheat the oven to 350°. Wrap the tortillas in foil and warm in the oven for about 10 minutes.

4. Lightly coat one or two skillets with olive oil and heat over medium-high. Lift the chicken thighs from the marinade and place them in the skillet(s) in a single layer, and cook for 2 minutes. Turn the chicken, transfer to the oven, and bake at 350° for 5 to 8 minutes or until an instant read thermometer registers 160 to 165°. Alternatively, you can grill the chicken over medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes per side.

5. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let sit for about 5 minutes before cutting into half-inch slices. Serve with warm tortillas and your favorite salsas and toppings.

BEER-BRAISED BLACK BEANS AND CORN

Serves 8–12

Olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

1 carrot, finely chopped

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1–2 Tbsp (to taste) minced jalapeno

1–2 Tbsp (to taste) chipotle in adobo puree

2 tsp dried Italian herbs

1½ tsp ground cumin

½ tsp smoked paprika

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

6 cups cooked black beans*

2–3 cups chicken stock or broth

1½ cups (1 bottle) beer, preferably dark beer

¼ cup espresso or strong coffee

1 bay leaf

1 Tbsp brown sugar

¾ cup sour cream

4–6 cups fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels

Your favorite white or brown rice, cooked and hot (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly coat a large casserole dish with olive oil and heat over medium. Add the onion, carrot, bell pepper, celery, garlic, jalapeno, and chipotle, sprinkle with the herbs and spices, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until the onion is translucent.

2. Add the beans, stock, beer, espresso, bay leaf, and brown sugar and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer, transfer to the oven, and cook at 350° for 30 minutes.

3. Put the sour cream in a bowl, a little at a

time and, stirring after each addition, add 2 cups hot beans and liquid. Add the sour cream mixture to the pot, stir to combine, and cook for 30 minutes more. Stir in the corn kernels and return to the oven and cook until piping hot and bubbling, about 10 minutes.

4. Serve with or without rice and your favorite salsas and toppings. The beans are even better if made ahead. Cool to room temperature, cover, and store in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Adding more stock if necessary, reheat at 350° until hot and bubbling.

*For 6 cups cooked black beans, cook 1 pound dried black beans according to package directions or rinse and drain 3 (15-ounce) cans.

ROASTED CHIPOTLE

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SALSA

Serves 8–12

2 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1–2 Tbsp or to taste seeded and minced jalapeno

1 Tbsp or to taste chipotle puree*

1 tsp cumin

½ tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp dried sage

1 tsp dried thyme

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Olive oil

Apple cider vinegar

1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Put the squash, onion, garlic, jalapeno, and chipotle puree on a rimmed baking sheet and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the spices and

smart cooking

herbs, season with salt and pepper, and toss again. Drizzle with enough olive oil and vinegar to lightly coat and toss to coat.

2. Tossing and stirring at the halfway point, roast until tender and lightly browned, about 45 minutes.

3. Transfer to a serving dish and serve warm or at room temperature.

Can be made in advance. Cool to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.

QUICK PICKLED CABBAGE

Makes about 1½ quarts

16 oz your favorite coleslaw mix

1 red onion, quartered and thinly sliced

2–3 cloves garlic, minced

1–2 Tbsp or to taste seeded and minced jalapeno

2 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp kosher salt

1 tsp dried oregano or Italian herbs

¼ tsp freshly ground pepper

1–3 bay leaves

1 cup apple cider vinegar

Additional Toppings and Garnishes for Tacos and Black Beans

Diced avocado

Diced fresh or roasted cherry tomatoes

Shredded cheddar cheese or crumbled queso

fresco

Sour cream

Toasted pumpkin seeds

Chopped and toasted walnuts

Cilantro leaves

Thinly sliced scallions

Thinly sliced jalapeno or serrano chilies

1. Put the cabbage, onion, garlic, and jalapeno in a large bowl and toss to combine. Add the sugar, salt, herbs, and ground pepper and toss again.

2. Transfer the vegetables to 1 to 3 pint and/ or quart mason jars and add a bay leaf to each jar.

3. Put the vinegar in a bowl or measuring cup, add 1½ cups water, and whisk to combine. Add the liquid to the vegetables, cover, and shake to combine. If necessary, add a little more vinegar and water to cover the vegetables.

Lime wedges

Your favorite hot sauce

How to Make Chipotle Puree

1 can (any size) chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

Transfer the peppers and adobo sauce to a small food processor and process until smooth. Store in a clean glass jar in the refrigerator.

4. Shaking once or twice, refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer to a serving dish. Can be made in advance. Refrigerate any leftovers in the brine for up to 2 months. t

by katherine p. cox

“Crepey, thin skin is primarily caused by a loss of collagen and elastin, ultraviolet light damage, and dehydration that causes the dermis to thin."

Crepey Skin?

SOLUTIONS FOR TONING AND TIGHTENING YOUR UPPER ARMS

AGE ISN’T THE ONLY FACTOR FOR THAT CREPEY, WRINKLY SKIN on the upper arms. UV exposure over time, weight loss, and lack of exercise, which contributes to a decline in muscle mass, are also contributing factors. However, a regimen of high-quality skin care featuring retinol products and diligent sun protection can help smooth the skin, but it won’t happen overnight.

“Crepey, thin skin is primarily caused by a loss of collagen and elastin, ultraviolet light damage, and dehydration that causes the dermis to thin,” says Dr. Andre Berger, cosmetic surgeon and founder of the Rejuvalife Vitality Institute in Beverly Hills. He says there are a variety of ways to tackle this, including at-home treatments, medical-grade treatments, and in-office procedures.

START WITH TOPICAL TREATMENTS

“Topical treatments can improve the elasticity and texture of the skin, but they need to be used consistently for 10 to 12 weeks to show any real improvement. If you start it, don’t give it up for at least three months,” Dr. Berger says. Prescription retinoids such as tretinoin cream come in several strengths: 0.025 percent to .05 percent. “These are derivatives of vitamin A. Retin A is a prescription retinoid that stimulates your fibroblasts (that produce collagen and elastin) and increase the thickness of the dermis. It will help to reduce fine wrinkling and improve the texture and tone of the skin. You’ve got to use it with a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 to protect against photosensitivity.”

Retinoid products are generally used only at night, followed by a sunblock during the day. “You see results typically after 10 to 12 weeks. It’s not immediate, but it’s pretty fast.” After that the frequency can be adjusted from daily use, Dr. Berger says. Some reactions, such as redness and flakiness, just show it’s working, he says. It’s usually dose related. “You might start off once a day and then reduce the dose to every other day or twice a week.”

Dr. Berger continues, “Medicalgrade retinol body creams are a little less irritating than the tretinoins, but they still improve the firmness of the skin and turnover of the cells, so they’re excellent for people who want a doctorrecommended treatment without a prescription.” Some examples include Alastin TransFORM Body Treatment, Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion, and SkinMedica Retinol Complex. Exfoliating lotions that contain alphahydroxy acid help dissolve dead cells and improve the penetration of the products. “They also attract moisture to hydrate skin and stimulate remodeling of the dermis,” Dr. Beger adds.

ADDITIONAL AT-HOME OPTIONS

Peptide and growth factor-based firming creams are another category of home care. “They support your extracellular matrix generation. The extracellular matrix is like the glue that holds all tissue together plus other cells that produce the necessary components for healthy, youthful skin, so when you support it, it helps tighten the skin.” Some studies show improvement in the skin in as little as four weeks, Dr. Berger says. Examples include StriVectin Crepe Control, Revision Skincare BodiFirm, and SkinMedica Firm & Tone Lotion.

Moisturizers with hyaluronic acid and ceramides are another at-home topical treatment used to combat crepey skin, as they improve hydration and plump up thin skin. “Check the labels,” Dr. Berger advises. “Buy a moisturizer that contains multimolecular hyaluronic acid and ceramide-rich moisturizers.”

IN-OFFICE PROCEDURES

If at-home treatments are not enough, in-office procedures offer more significant collagen stimulation, skin tightening, and remodeling of the skin surface.

“Radiofrequency microneedling combines deep microneedling with thermal radiofrequency energy that heats the tissue to stimulate the formation of new collagen. It’s ideal for the arms,” Dr. Berger says. “It requires three to four sessions spaced at least six weeks apart. Results peak at about three to six months. Results last one to one and a half years. Downtime is two to three days of redness.”

Ultrasound-based skin tightening is another procedure that focuses ultrasound waves to the dermis to contract and lift the tissues. “It’s FDA approved for lifting lax skin on the arms, face, and neck.” There’s minimal downtime and usually one session may be enough with a follow-up in about six months, he says. Injectable biostimulators are another

option that stimulates collagen and elastin to treat crepiness. One or two sessions spaced two months apart with results building up over three to four months provide improvement that lasts 12 to 18 months, Dr. Berger says. Biostimulating hyaluronic acid not only stimulates collagen but also hydrates and lasts six to nine months. Laser resurfacing is used for more advanced crepey skin to trigger collagen renewal.

SURGICAL OPTIONS

For more advanced cases, there are surgical options. Brachioplasty, or an arm lift, surgically removes excess skin from the upper arms and tightens the underlying structures. It’s best suited for patients who have severe skin laxity from massive weight loss. Recovery can take two to three weeks and up to six weeks for full arm activity.

“The older you get, the more your dermis has been attacked. The older you get, the thinner your skin,” Dr. Berger says. Along with the treatments mentioned here, you can prevent crepiness from getting worse with lifestyle prevention strategies, he says. Daily sunblock even indoors is essential, along with a diet that’s rich in protein and antioxidants; vitamins A, C, and E; and collagen peptides. Adequate hydration is important as well. Maintain your muscle tone with resistance training as the loss of muscle volume contributes to skin laxity. t

For more from Dr. Berger, see his book The Beverly Hills Anti-Aging Prescription.

THE HOOD MUSEUM OF ART | @ DARTMOUTH

COLLEGE

FALL EVENTS

The Hood Museum of Art is free and open to all. Public programs are free unless otherwise noted. Hours: Wednesday, 11am–5pm; Thursday and Friday, 11am–8pm; Saturday, 1–5pm. For information, visit hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu or call (603) 646-2808.

Join us for lectures with scholars and discussions with artists. Contribute to important conversations on current issues and take a closer look at works in the collection. We can’t wait to see you in the galleries!

Ongoing

Always Already: Abstraction in the United States

Abstraction in North America predates the founding of the United States by thousands of years. Picking up this story in the 19th century, AlwaysAlready celebrates diverse approaches to color, geometry, and composition.

Ongoing

Stone, Sand, and Clay: Connecting Cultures in the Ancient Mediterranean

How did common materials—stone, sand, and clay—serve as the foundations for artmaking in the ancient world? In this exhibition, objects that have never been on view in the Hood Museum’s galleries join familiar favorites in an exploration of the museum’s deep collection of ancient Mediterranean art.

On view through September 28

Monet: Reimagining the French Landscape

This exhibition highlights two landscape paintings by Claude Monet, the seminal French painter of the late 19th century. Through quick strokes of brightly colored paint, Monet prompted his audiences to take a new look at the French landscape.

On view through October 4

Attitude of Coexistence: Non-Humans in East Asian Art

In East Asian art, non-human subjects such as deities, mythological beings, natural phenomena, animals, and everyday objects have long been represented with agency, coexisting alongside their human counterparts. Featuring objects from the Hood Museum’s East Asian art collection from past to present, Attitude of

Coexistence explores how art offers an opportunity to experience this inclusive and collaborative attitude toward non-human subjects.

On view through November 28, 2026

From Mastodon to Mosaic: Building an Academic Art Collection in America

This exhibition investigates how ancient art from around the globe became part of the academic and aesthetic life of the college. Incorporating a timeline and paired with archival material, the exhibition complements the exhibition Stone, Sand, and Clay: Connecting Cultures in the Ancient Mediterranean and was developed as part of the Hood Museum’s 40th anniversary year.

On view through January 10, 2026

Beyond the Bouquet: Arranging Flowers in American Art

Inspired by flowers, North American artists working across time, cultural traditions, and artistic styles have embraced floral beauty in the natural world.

FALL EVENTS

September 24

Hood Highlights Tour

Join us for in-person tours of selected works in the museum galleries. Tours meet in the Russo Atrium five minutes prior to the start time. No registration necessary.

12:30–1:30pm

October 3

A Space for Dialogue Gallery Talk: Hidden Histories: Art, Provenance, and the Nazi Era

This talk will provide insight into the Hood Museum’s Nazi-era provenance research initiative. While the exhibited artworks span diverse time periods and media, they are united by significant gaps in their ownership histories as well as their connections to dealers who sold looted art. By examining these red flags in provenance, this exhibition explores the ethical complexities of art acquisition and stewardship.

4–4:45pm

October 4

Maker Drop-In

Drop in to the Russo Atrium to try painting with handmade botanical pigments. All materials are free, and instruction is provided. For all ages and no experience necessary.

1–4pm

October 4

Special Tour: Pigments: Making Color from Ancient Assyria to Renaissance Europe

Join curators Ashley Offill and Elizabeth Rice Mattison for a gallery tour that explores how artists have created a whole spectrum of colors from Antiquity through the Renaissance. No registration is required, but space is limited.

2–3pm

October 9–11

International Association for Visual Culture Conference: Kinship.Abolition. Freedom

The International Association for Visual Culture conference at Dartmouth will take place both at the College and online on the occasion of the Hood Museum of Art’s exhibition Visual Kinship, on view September to December 2025. See the museum’s website for details.

FALL EVENTS

October 22

Conversations And Connections: Illustrating Antiquity

Join exhibition curator Ashley Offill and Glynnis Fawkes, archeological illustrator and instructor at the Center for Cartoon Studies, for a discussion about archaeology, the ancient world, and innovative ways modern audiences can gain insight into the past.

12:30–1:30pm

October 25

Hood Highlights Tour

Join us for in-person tours of selected works in the museum galleries. Tours meet in the Russo Atrium five minutes prior to the start time. No registration necessary.

2–3pm

November 7

A Space for Dialogue Gallery Talk: Separation Perfected Inspired by theorist Guy Debord’s 1967 book Society of the Spectacle, this talk will examine the paradox of our hyperconnected yet isolating world. Through works spanning from the Industrial Revolution to the digital age, the exhibition questions how technology and capitalism have transformed visibility into a commodity, promoting exposure over authentic interaction, and invites viewers to reflect on what may be lost in a world where connection is abundant, yet true presence remains elusive.

4–4:45pm

November 19

Hood Highlights Tour

Join us for in-person tours of selected works in the museum galleries. Tours meet in the Russo Atrium five minutes prior to the start time. No registration necessary.

12:30–1:30pm

November 20

Adult Workshop: Expressive Writing: Revolution and Its Aftershocks

Joni Cole of the Writer’s Center of WRJ will co-lead this expressive writing workshop with Hood Museum educator Neely McNulty. In a supportive environment, you will explore different techniques for engaging with visual art through writing. We will take our inspiration from the exhibition Revolution and Its Aftershocks. No previous experience is required. Space is limited. Please register on our website.

6–7:30pm

HOPKINS CENTER

FOR THE ARTS @ DARTMOUTH COLLEGE hop.dartmouth.edu

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

September 24–27

Touki Delphine: Firebird Daryl Roth Studio Theater, 7:30pm; Sat 2pm

September 27

HopStop Family Film & Workshop: Pixar Shorts & Animation Creation Loew Auditorium, 11am

October 16

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: Satisfied Film Screening Loew Auditorium, 7:30pm

October 17

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: Dedication Ceremony

October 17

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: An Evening with Renee Elise Goldsberry Spaulding Auditorium, 8pm

FALL EVENTS

October 18

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: Connecting with Balance with Pilobolus

Daryl Roth Studio Theater, 9:30am

October 18

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: Arts District Open House

October 18

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: Champagne Brunch for Hop Members and Community Campaign Supporters

Top of the Hop, 10am

October 18

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: Arts Are Essential

The Moore Theater, 11am

October 18

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: A HopStop Family Workshop: Pilobolus

Alphabet Dance

Daryl Roth Studio Theater, 11am

October 18

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: Community Lunch on the Dartmouth Green

Dartmouth Green, 12pm

October 18

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: Fireside Chat with Shonda Rhimes ’91 and Mindy Kaling ’01 The Moore Theater, 2pm

October 18

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration: Jazz Happy Hour

Daryl and Steven Roth Wing, 4pm

October 18

We Are Water: A Northeast Celebration: Yo-Yo Ma, Jeremy Dutcher, Mali Obomsawin, and Chris Newell

Spaulding Auditorium, 8pm

October 19

Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration:

Site-Specific Adventure with Pilobolus Hopkins Center, 3pm

October 25

Met Opera in HD: La Sonnambula Spaulding Auditorium, 1pm

October 25

Arts Integration Showcase

Daryl Roth Studio Theater, 2pm

October 30

Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble: Pacho Flores & Hector Molina

Spaulding Auditorium, 7:30pm

November 2

Dartmouth College Glee Club Rollins Chapel, 2pm

November 6

Dartmouth College Gospel Choir Spaulding Auditorium, 7:30pm

November 8

Coast Jazz Orchestra Daryl Roth Studio Theater 7:30pm

November 9

Met Opera in HD: La Boheme Spaulding Auditorium, 1pm

November 11

Dartmouth Dance Showcase The Moore Theater, 7:30pm

November 15

Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra Spaulding Auditorium, 7:30pm

November 18

Handel Society

Spaulding Auditorium, 7:30pm

November 22

Met Opera in HD: Arabella Spaulding Auditorium, 1pm t

Montshire Museum of Science

One Montshire Road, Norwich, VT (802) 649-2200, montshire.org

HAPPENINGS | FALL 2025

Exhibit: Timber Tumble

It’s an auditory experience, it’s an interactive playscape, and it’s a meditative sculpture park all in one. This outdoor exhibition was created using natural and found materials sourced entirely from the Montshire’s 110-acre property. Timber Tumble features hand-made and roughhewn switchbacks, spirals, raceways, and ball runs that are designed to engage all senses and encourage calm.

Exhibit: Wonder Woods

Wonder Woods is specially designed to ignite the curiosity and support the development of the museum’s youngest visitors—children ages 5 and under. Informed by the latest research on early childhood development, this permanent, 600-square-foot, multilevel learning space is designed to foster an early love and interest in STEM learning (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) as it aims to help children become confident lifelong learners.

Exhibit: Bubbles:ScienceinSoap

Delight in experimenting with surface tension, concocting new ways to create a bubble, crafting a foam sculpture, and injecting a bubble with mist.

Exhibit: Solve It! Puzzles, Math & Problem-Solving

Energize your brain and spark your imagination as you quest to solve hands-on puzzles and games.

Exhibit: DiscoveringtheNaturalWorld

Featuring real tools of scientific research, DiscoveringtheNaturalWorld makes learning about living plants and animals an interactive process that will surprise and delight.

Exhibit: Air Works

Air Works, featuring a dazzling array of interactive exhibits, helps to flex engineering muscles, strengthen the understanding of core scientific concepts, and spark the imaginations of all ages.

Exhibit: Life in Local Waters

See fish, frogs, and turtles native to the New England region. Each aquarium is representative of a different freshwater habitat. From toads to turtles, crayfish to trout, view native species close up.

Exhibit: Glow Room

Experiment with ultraviolet light, visit with friendly dinosaurs, and design with a vivid array of neon colors in the new interactive Instagrammable dark space.

Hands-On Science Activities

Every day is different! You may get to hold a fossil or make a parachute, build an electric circuit, or use a microscope! Visit montshire.org for dates and times. 11am & 3pm

September 20

Montshh . . . Montshire Sensory Hour 9am

Etna Library 130 Etna Road Etna, NH (603) 643-3116 www.etna-library.org

Mondays Lego Builders Club 3:30pm

1st & 3rd Tuesdays Arts & Crafts Club 3:30pm

2nd & 4th Tuesdays Knitting & Needlecrafters Group 2:30pm

1st Wednesdays Cookbook Club 12pm

2nd Wednesdays Universal Yums 3:30pm

3rd Wednesdays Stories with Scooter 2:30pm

4th Wednesdays Etna Library Book Group 7pm

Thursdays Story Time 4:30pm

1st Fridays Movie Night at the Library 5:30pm

October 6

Redcoats & Rebels: NH and the American Revolution Trumbull Hall (195 Etna Rd), 5:30pm

October 25 Haunted Story Walk 6:30pm

November 26 Pie Sale 9am

The Fourth Place

3 Lebanon Street (Second Floor) Hanover, NH thefourthplacehanover.com

Tuesdays Member Hours 4:30–11pm

Wednesdays New Comic Book Day 2–5pm

1st Wednesday Upper Valley Young Professionals Game Night 6pm 2nd Wednesday Wargames & Card Games 6pm

3rd Wednesday Prototype Board Game Night 6–10pm

4th Wednesday Wingspan and Nature Games 6pm

Thursdays Magic: Commander Night 4–11pm

Thursdays Board Game Night 6–10pm Fridays Star Wars: Unlimited 5–11pm

1st Friday Friday Night Magic: Standard 4–11pm

2nd Friday Friday Night Magic: Draft 4–11pm

3rd Friday Friday Night Magic: Pauper 4–11pm

Hikes for Every Month of the Year!

Download full directions for your own self-guided hike around Hanover—where to go, what you’ll see, plus a glimpse into the backstory. Access each hike on your phone (if cell service allows) or print the PDF version to take with you. Visit Hanover Conservancy’s website, hanoverconservancy.org/hike-of-themonth, for more information.

September Huntington Hill North Loop

1.3 miles round-trip

Old Highway 38 & Hudson Farm

2.6 miles round-trip

Paine Road in the Trescott Lands 2 miles round-trip

Slade Brook Watershed Trails

1.1 miles round-trip

Trescott/Paine/AT Loop, 3.4-miles

October

Camp Brook Valley Loop, 2 miles

General’s Trail, 2.3 miles round-trip

New Trails and Old Names at Balch Hill 1.1-mile loop

Old & New Etna Loop, 4.5 miles

November

Brook/River/Garden Loop, 2.2 miles

Kendal Riverfront Park and Rinker-Steele Natural Area, 1.2-mile loop

Oak Hill: Up, Down, Roundabout 3 miles round-trip

Pine Park Perambulation, 3 miles round-trip Rinker-Steele Natural Area, 2 miles round-trip

4th Friday Friday Night Magic: Modern 4–11pm

5th Friday Friday Night Magic: Star 4–11pm

Saturdays Multiplayer Video Games 6–11pm

Saturdays Pathfinder Society 6pm

2nd Saturday Crafting Time 3pm

3rd Saturday Blood on the Clocktower 6–11pm

4th Saturday Pride Game Night 6pm

Howe Library 13 South Street Hanover, NH (603) 643-4120 www.howelibrary.org

Sundays Family Afternoon 12–5pm

Sundays Learn & Play: One Piece Card Game 3–6pm

1st & 3rd Sundays Taverns & Towers Game 1:30–6pm

2nd Sunday

Manga & Comic Book Clubs 3pm

3rd Sunday Upper Valley Scrabble Club 4–8pm

4th Sunday Pokemon 2pm

4th Sunday Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club 3pm

September 26, October 24, November 28

Star Wars Unlimited: Monthly Sealed Event! 6–11pm

September 27, October 25, November 22

Up-Air Valley: Smash Bros. League at The Fourth Place 1–6pm

October 1, November 5

Upper Valley Young Professionals Game Night 6–10pm

October 3–5, November 7–9 RPG Weekend

October 4, November 4

Community Appreciation Day 10–10:30am

October 11, November 8 Mario Kart Night 6–11pm

Wednesdays

Chess Club Mayer Room, 6pm

September 20, October 4, 18, November 1, 15, 29

Adult Dungeons and Dragons Murray Room, Session I: 10am, Session II: 1pm

October 2

Horror Stories: A Book Group Aldrich Room, 6:30pm

October 4, 18, November 1, 15

Upper Valley Traditional Music Jam Mayer Room, 3pm

October 10

Family Art Night Mayer Room, 4pm

October 11, November 8

Memory Café Mayer Room, 10:30am

October 14

Books and Lunch on Tuesdays Aldrich Room, 12pm

October 25

Zombie Barbies Children’s Program Room, 2pm

November 16

Poetry as Presence: Fall 7pm

Norwich’s Vandalized Bible— Mending the Spaces Between

Norwich Women Crafting the Future

Exhibit: A Few of Our Favorite Things: Treasures from the Collection

Norwich Historical Society norwichhistory.org

Online Exhibit: Mad for Mid-Century Modern Norwich Historical Society norwichhistory.org

Online Exhibit: Norwich’s Vandalized Bible—Mending the Spaces Between Norwich Historical Society norwichhistory.org

Online Exhibit: Norwich Women Crafting the Future

Norwich Historical Society norwichhistory.org

Online Exhibit: Poets and the Past Norwich Historical Society norwichhistory.org

Mondays

Story Time with Beth!

The Norwich Bookstore, 10am norwichbookstore.com

September 18

Peter Orner in Conversation with Liniers: The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter

The Norwich Bookstore, 7pm norwichbookstore.com

September 23

Julie Seido Nelson: Practicing Safe Zen The Norwich Bookstore, 7pm norwichbookstore.com

September 27

Annual Harvest Festival Enfield Shaker Museum, 11am–4pm shakermuseum.org

September 30

Tim Weed: The Afterlife Project

The Norwich Bookstore, 7pm norwichbookstore.com

October 4

Rosemary Gladstar In-Person Talk Enfield Shaker Museum shakermuseum.org

October 5

Garden Tour with Rosemary Enfield Shaker Museum shakermuseum.org

October 7

Danny Dover: Flamingo Nation The Norwich Bookstore, 7pm norwichbookstore.com

October 8

An Evening with David Sedaris

Lebanon Opera House, 7pm norwichbookstore.com

November 8

Gesine Bullock-Prado: My Harvest Kitchen The Norwich Bookstore, 7pm norwichbookstore.com

get connected

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HERE’S HOW!

Call Ryan Frisch at (518) 365-0030 or email ryanfrisch@mountainviewpublishing.com. 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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HANOVER

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ADVERTISERS INDEX | FALL 2025

3 Phase Landscaping. LLC 74

AVA Gallery and Art Center 26

Anichini 5

Baker Orthodontics 18

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust 19

Belletetes 27

Bethel Mills 75

Black House Real Estate 4

Carpet Mill 10

Carson Wealth/Fisher Financial 67

Cota & Cota 83

Crossroads Academy 78

Crown Point Cabinetry 3

Crown Point Select 57

DRM 95

Dartmouth Authentic 21

Designer Gold 23

Donald J. Neely, DMD, MSD – Hanover Orthodontics 43

Doyle and Loughman Wealth Management Group 1

Dr. Alla Devitskaya 39

Dutille’s Jewelry Design Studio 41

Foremost Builders 101

GR Porter & Sons, Inc. 76

Gilberte Interiors 17

Glowen Day Spa 59

Half-Step Beer & Wine 58

Hanover Inn 83

Hanover Road Dental Health 67

Hanover Scoops 58

Hanover Terrace 30

Higgerson & Co. 11

Hill Opticians & Gallagher Eyecare 87

Hillside Builders, LLC 42

Honey Field Farm Stand & Greenhouses 61

Hood Museum of Art 42

Indigo 90

Ivy IV Aesthetics 66

JMH Wealth Management, LLC 101

Jeff Wilmot Painting & Wallpapering, Inc. 95

Johnson Audiology 58

Kendal at Hanover 97

Landshapes 56

LaValley Building Supply 6

Law Office of Margaret A. Jacobs 87

Lemon Tree Gifts 60

LindeMac Real Estate Inside back cover

Little Havana 97

Lyme Road Dental 2

Martha E. Diebold Real Estate Inside front cover

Matt Brown Fine Art 59

Montcalm Golf Club 56

Mudge Greeley Architects 97

NT Ferro Estate & Custom Jewelers 31

Nefertiti Nails & Spa 90

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Dartmouth 61

Peraza Dermatology Group 8

Putnam’s vine/yard 60

Real Broker, LLC 35

Renewal by Andersen 43

River Road Veterinary Clinic 66

Rousseau & Ross Back cover

Samyn-D’Elia Architects 15

Shaker Hill Granite Company 49

Simple Energy 34

Simply Beeutiful Events 87

Snyder Donegan Real Estate Group 7

Sweetland Farm 18

Systems Plus 30

The Fourth Place 59

The Gilded Edge 60

The Ivy Edit 58

The Lyme Inn 76

The Norwich Bookstore 61

The Tea House 77

Twisted Scissors 61

Upper Valley Baroque 39

Valley Floors 88

Verani Realty 9

WISE 91

Walt & Ernie’s Barbershop 60

White River Family Eyecare/Hanover Eyecare 93

Williamson Group 13

Willing Hands 41

Woodstock Inn & Resort 91

Yankee Barn Homes 12

hanover talks

by mike morin

Meet Ian Struckhoff

Owner of The Fourth Place

You use the fabled Boston’s Cheers bar to illustrate your warmth and welcoming vibe.

I am probably dating myself, but I grew up on the TV show and I always liked the slogan, so sometimes I say The Fourth Place is “Where everybody knows your game!” The whole mission of The Fourth Place has always been to create that feeling in a more wholesome and inclusive space.

Give us a few examples of the free games and events on any given day.

Just today: a preview adventure for an upcoming roleplaying game, folks playing board games, our free weekly Pathfinder adventure (a Dungeons & Dragons spin-off), and our weekly video game night. We have events for collectible card games like Magic, Pokémon, and Star Wars: Unlimited; two board game nights every week; three book clubs; crafting workshops; and even movie nights at the Nugget. Find them all at 4th.me/ events and the events section of Here in Hanover.

In your welcoming culture of inclusivity,you talk about“geek culture.”

I first imagined The Fourth Place as a space where people who got told they were “weird” could feel at home. When I was a kid, being into “geeky” things like superhero comics, video

games, Dungeons & Dragons, anime, or science fiction could get you bullied. Now they’re more popular, but people can still be cruel about differences, so I realized that to make a community space for everyone, we need to work to be actively inclusive.

How does D&D stay so popular?

D&D is the most famous tabletop roleplaying game. Roleplaying games are a way for people to tell a story together—the dice and rules just enable collaboration, so we can pretend together fairly. I remember my mother hesitating about me playing D&D as a kid. I said, “Would you rather I play Nintendo alone, climb a tree in the woods, or tell a story together with my friends?” She got it.

WhenyouareawayfromTheFourthPlace,howdoyou celebrate living in the UpperValley?

I visit old favorites like Howe Library, Mascoma Lake, the Colatina Exit (my first restaurant), or the Nugget (for movie nights); newer favorites like Tacos Y Tequila and Tuckerbox; get sweet treats at Scoops, My Brigadeiro, and Red Kite; and frequent other community-oriented spaces like Still North, Sawtooth, and the Main Street Museum. We were losing places, but they are coming back! t