LEBANON, NH,  The Prouty – named in memory of patient Audrey Prouty – is the biggest charity challenge north of Boston. This long-standing event takes place in Hanover, New Hampshire, and raises money for groundbreaking cancer research and important patient supportive services at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC). Over its life of 37 years, the event has raised more than $36 million for this NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the few serving a rural population. Serving, this year, as honorary co-chairs are Greg Tsongalis, PhD, and Carin Reynolds, JD

Gregory J. Tsongalis, PhD, HCLD is a Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the Director of the Laboratory for Clinical Genomics and Advanced Technology (CGAT) at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Tsongalis’ research has focused on a biomarker discovery that can be translated into new diagnostic tests using novel technologies. This research is made possible by funds from The Prouty and has led to investigations such as miRNA analysis for cancer detection, analysis of cell free DNA in patients’ blood for gene markers of cancer, and development of nanofluidic devices for capturing cancer makers in blood samples.
“The Prouty is a premier event in the Upper Valley that builds upon our sense of community to deliver a united response in the battle against cancer, a disease that impacts all of us in one way or another. It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we come together.” – Gregory J. Tsongalis, PhD

Carin Reynolds co-founded Row The Prouty and is a long-time Upper Valley rower, coach, and organizer whose intellectual property law practice funds her true passions. Carin participated in her first Prouty in 2007, with her daughter Cate, as members of the inaugural Friends of Hanover Crew Prouty team. Carin started the Friends of Upper Valley Rowing Foundation-Lebanon Crew Prouty team in 2012; since then, the team has raised over $650,000.
The Norris Cotton Cancer Center and The Prouty took on new meaning for Carin late in 2011 when her daughter, Cate, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The family witnessed first-hand the dedication and compassion of the staff and benefited from Prouty fundraising dollars that go toward direct patient and family support services. Following a successful course of treatment, Cate has remained cancer-free since 2012. Cate was a 2012 Prouty Hero, and although she was unable to row in the inaugural event, she participated as a coxswain motivating her crew (often by singing) throughout the grueling 20-mile row. Says, Reynolds, “I couldn’t be more committed to The Prouty or this Cancer Center – they saved my daughter’s life.”

Steven D. Leach, MD, director of Norris Cotton Cancer Center, will be doing the Prouty Ultimate for the second time. “The money raised by The Prouty provides nearly 50% of our discretionary cancer center budget,” says Leach. “It makes our research and patient supportive services possible. When we reviewed the statistics for Prouty pilot projects (small grants given to fund innovative research ideas) we discovered that for every dollar invested, over time we received an average of $23 in additional funding from outside sources. That’s an incredible return on the investment our community makes in itself through The Prouty, and a testament to the creativity and high impact of our science. It is all made possible by our participants and their commitment to putting an end to cancer.”
The Prouty draws more than 4,000 participants from as many as 38 states and five foreign countries to bike (20-, 35-, 50-, 65-, 77-, or 100-mile routes); walk (3k, 5k, and 10k residential and wooded routes; scull or sweep 5, 10, 15, or 20 miles on the gorgeous Connecticut River; or golf 18 holes at the beautiful Hanover Country Club. New this year, participants can do The Prouty Xtra Mile, completing two events on Saturday. People can also participate as a Prouty Virtual (doing your Prouty event anywhere or anytime doing anything you like as long as you raise money for The Prouty!).
The Prouty Ultimate – the premier two-day, 200 mile bike ride – begins in Hanover, NH, on Friday, July 12, and cycles through the glorious Vermont countryside on Day One, and then the Prouty Century route on Day 2 (or any of the other Prouty routes including the 65-mile Gravel Metric Century route for the experienced cyclist that encompasses some gravel, hard-pack, and road riding).
Prouty Day: When done with their Prouty events, people come back to the event site (the Richmond Middle School at 63 Lyme Road, Hanover), and enjoy the all-day Prouty party. Food, live music, a chill tent, the Discover NCCC tent, and lots of fun and camaraderie are to be found all day till 4pm. The Friday night before The Prouty, participants come to the event site to check in and take part in a delicious, complimentary pasta dinner from Lui Lui served with a side of live jazz, from 5-8pm.
Eighty-nine cents of every dollar raised by The Prouty goes directly to support patient supportive services and cancer research at NCCC, one of just 49 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation and the only NCI-designated center north of Boston and east of Buffalo. The center significantly impacts the health of a largely rural and often underserved population, providing outstanding services to people in need.
Over the past 37 years, more than $36 million has been raised through The Prouty to support cancer research and patient supportive services.
For more information and to register, go to: http://www.TheProuty.org

L-R Corrina Carr, Robert Tobin, and Jayme Charbono

Lebanon NH -On April 22, 2019, Lebanon Police and the NH Drug Task Force were investigating drug offenses at the Fireside Inn in West Lebanon. Officers observed what appeared to be drug transactions and made contact with a female, later identified as Corrina Carr from Springfield, VT. Carr provided a false name and attempted to flee the area on foot, and was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. Carr had drug paraphernalia in her possession and was found to have an electronic bench warrant.
Further investigation led to Officers making contact with Jayme Charbono and Robert Tobin, both from Lebanon, NH. Both parties were being investigated for possession and sales of heroin. K-9 Officer Jeremy Perkins and his partner K-9 Blesk conducted an exterior sniff of two hotel rooms and several vehicles associated with Carr, Charbono, and Tobin. K-9 Blesk indicated positive alerts, which led to several search warrants being granted for the vehicles and hotel rooms. Tobin was found to have approximately 200 bags of heroin on his person.
Carr was charged with Disobeying an Officer and Resisting Arrest or Detention, both Class A Misdemeanors, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Violation, and the electronic bench warrant. Carr was released on personal recognizance bail and is to appear in the Lebanon District Court on June 24, 2019.
Charbono was charged with Sales of a Controlled Drug, a Class B Felony, and Resisting Arrest or Detention, Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Obstruction of Government Administration, all Class A Misdemeanors. Charbono was released on personal recognizance bail and is to appear in the Grafton County Superior Court on May 6, 2019.
Tobin was charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute, a Class B Felony. Tobin, who is on Probation, was arraigned on April 23, 2019, and is being held at the Grafton County House of Corrections.
Additional charges are forthcoming.

Lyme NH – The NH Fish and Game Commission’s highest honor, the Ellis R. Hatch Junior Award of Excellence, was awarded to Ben Kilham, the founder of the Kilham Bear Center. Kilham founded the Center for orphaned bear cubs in 1993 and is now known as a worldwide expert on bear rehabilitation. The Kilham Bear Center serves as a model for wildlife rehabilitation centers throughout the United States and beyond. Kilham was recently asked to help the Chinese government with their National Panda Recovery Program.

Kilham became interested in bears when he encountered an injured and orphaned cub in 1992. Over 25 years of studying black bears has contributed greatly to Kilham’s knowledge of their behavior, and he has worked cooperatively with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department on research projects related to the ecology, reproductive success, survival, social behavior, and rehabilitative success of black bears. He also works to educate the public on how to co-exist with bears while promoting bear conservation worldwide.

The Kilham Bear Center initially worked with only one or two cubs annually, but by 2012 the Center received 30 cubs, including some from Vermont and Massachusetts. Ben is the only licensed bear rehabilitator in New Hampshire. Currently, the Kilham Center is caring for 63 cubs, most of which arrived this past fall.

Ben Kilham accepted the award with his wife, Debbie, and said, “We appreciate the award. I got started when Don Normandeau [former Director at NH Fish and Game] gave me my first permit. Jim Paine [former NH Fish and Game Commissioner and a veterinarian] gave me the opportunity to study bear behavior that wouldn’t have taken place otherwise. Fish and Game at the time was interested in home ranges and populations of bears, but my approach was to find out how they behave.”

Kilham is helped in his mission by his sister Phoebe and his wife Debbie.

Lebanon NH – The Lebanon Solid Waste Division is evaluating options to extend the disposal capacity of the Lebanon Landfill located on 12A in West Lebanon. The current permitted capacity of the landfill is 10 years. Additional disposal capacity is being considered. It is agreed by many that the best way to extend the usable life of a landfill is to put less stuff in it.

Currently, approximately 20% of landfill waste is construction and demolition waste (C&D).

C&D is waste generated when remodeling or constructing a house, building, or structure. It is typically made up of items such as dimensional lumber, plywood, siding, roofing material, bricks, concrete, and flooring material.

With a focus to extend the disposal capacity of the Lebanon landfill, AS OF MAY 1, 2019, and until further notice, the Lebanon Solid Waste Facility will discontinue the acceptance of C&D waste. We understand that this may be an inconvenience for some. Please know that there are three options available for C&D disposal/recycling in the Upper Valley:

• The Town of Hartford Recycling Center; Rt 5 in Hartford, VT
• Casella Transfer Station; Labombard St in Lebanon, NH
• Hammond Grind and Recycling; Rt 4 in Canaan, NH

A letter explaining the change in operation has been mailed to all Solid Waste commercial account holders. If you have any questions about this change, please contact Marc Morgan at 603-442-6210 or by email at marc.morgan@lebanonnh.gov.

Lebanon NH -A 23-year-old Grantham woman is charged with felony possession and intent to sell cocaine and crack cocaine in Lebanon. Lebanon Police say on Wednesday afternoon two officers observed a suspicious vehicle parked on Hanover Street with several people inside.

Officers Emily Winslow and Tyler Hewes employed police K-9 Kymba who alerted officers to the presence of drugs.

Police arrested the driver Amy Guyette after finding 32 grams of cocaine and 6 grams of crack cocaine, $255 in cash and an electronic scale in a subsequent search.

Guyette was released on personal recognizance bail with a citation ordering her to appear on April 29th to answer the charges in Grafton County Superior Court

Lebanon NH – Lebanon is scheduled to receive $570,000 for the demolition of
buildings in the Westboro Yard.

Yesterday, Lebanon Mayor, Suzanne M. Prentiss participated in a press
conference held by Governor Sununu at the State House in Concord about
the $570,000 the Governor has placed in his proposed State budget for
the demolition of the buildings in the Westboro Yard.
Westboro Railroad yard at one time was a major hub for freight and
passenger trains, including a turntable, maintenance building, and a
large bunkhouse for railroad workers. The line ran between Boston,
Mass. and Montreal, Canada.
Mayor Prentiss has led the effort to obtain funding from Governor
Sununu in the State budget to demolish the buildings. The buildings
are owned by the NH Department of Transportation and are in poor
condition. Westboro Rail Yard is part of the West Lebanon Central
Business District and described in the Lebanon Master Plan as the
district’s “single greatest obstacle and its greatest opportunity.”
Westboro Rail Yard was also discussed during the March 6th Lebanon
City Council Meeting.

New London NH – Colby-Sawyer College’s undergraduate nursing program has been recognized as #1 in New Hampshire by RegisteredNursing.org after the group analyzed 15 programs in the state. Colby-Sawyer led the pack with a score of 98.85.

The annual registered nursing program rankings are based on current and past first-time National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam pass rates. In 2018, for the third year in a row, 100 percent of Colby-Sawyer’s undergraduate nursing students passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt. Nursing programs were also assessed on several factors that represent how well a program supports students toward licensure and beyond.

Colby-Sawyer’s nursing program, as described by RegisteredNursing.org, “molds nursing students into high-quality nurses who are committed to improving the quality of care throughout the profession and judiciously use their leadership and communication skills to improve community health.”

“We are very proud of this recognition,” Joan G. Loftus, dean of Colby-Sawyer’s School of Nursing and Health Professions said. “The success of our nursing program is built on the foundation of a strong curriculum, highly qualified nursing faculty and exceptional clinical experiences at our Dartmouth-Hitchcock partnership sites.”

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a registered nurse in New Hampshire is $67,190 and New Hampshire Employment Security projects an average of 491 registered nursing job openings each year.

The New Hampshire RN ranking can be found here: https://www.registerednursing.org/state/new-hampshire/#rankings

by Kate Seamans, College Communications