b'LETTER FROM LINDAIf this publication is your first introduction to Healthy Monadnock, welcome! You are about to learn of the manyCheshire Medical Center/ways the Monadnock Region is getting closer to ourDartmouth-Hitchcock KeeneCommunity Health Departmentorganizations goal to become the healthiest region in the580-590 Court Streetnation by the year 2020. Keene, New Hampshire 03431For those of you who already know us, you are awareUpdate 2015that Healthy Monadnock is involved in reaching that goal in various ways: through smoke-free policies, physical activityHealthy Monadnock Update is published breaks in schools, encouraging employers to create healthyonce every eighteen months. Healthy Monadnock is a community engagement workplaces, and so much more. initiative designed to foster and sustain But Healthy Monadnock is not about what we are doing. And this yearly publication is nota positive culture of health throughout about patting ourselves on the back. Because what we are doing is all about what YOU are doingCheshire County and the Monadnock Region. Founded and developed by the Cheshireindividually and collectively. Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene Individually, more of you have become Healthy Monadnock Champions. We are now nearlyin 2006, Healthy Monadnocks action plans 3,000 strong and growing! Becoming a Champion does not mean you are required to run a fullare being guided in the community by marathon or lose 100 pounds. Healthy Monadnock Champions are those who are taking simplethe Healthiest Community Advisory Board, a multi-sector coalition of 28 individuals steps to become healthier people or support others to become healthierthat means anythingrepresenting schools, organizations, from drinking more water and less sugary beverages, to walking five minutes during your lunchcoalitions and businesses. Learn more at: hour, to choosing healthy snacks. We believe that it is the simple steps that lead to profoundwww.healthymonadnock.org. lifestyle changes. Becoming a Healthy Monadnock Champion means you are ready and willing toHEALTHIEST COMMUNITY take that first step! Read more about what Individual Champions have accomplished starting onADVISORY BOARDAmy Bodwell, Citizens for Climate Protectionpage 6. Andy Bohannan, City of KeeneCollectively, the regions schools, organizations and businesses that have signed on to becomeBen Bramwell, The Church of Jesus Christ of Healthy Monadnock Organizational or School Champions have also made incredible strides thisLatter Day SaintsChristine Burke, Keene State CollegeJack Calhoun, Antioch University past year toward our goal. We applaud those achievements: From our county nursing home thatNew EnglandHarriet Davenport, SAU 29is putting more healthy food in its cafeteria menu; to the Keene schools that have adopted walkRo Dettleback, Keene State CollegeRudy and roll days to get more kids walking and biking to school; to all the areas businesses that haveFedrizzi, Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-listened to their employees and created dance parties, walking paths, exercise centers, lactationHitchcock KeeneDan Flynn, Monadnock Radio GroupStacy Gambrel, The Monadnock rooms and more (read more about our Organizational Champions on page 18). To date, we have 86ConservancyMaich Gardner, The Moving Organizational Champions and 19 School Championsand the numbers increase each month! CompanyMarylee Greaves, NH Department Healthy Monadnock could never do its work without the help, enthusiasm and cooperation ofof Health and Human ServicesEd Guyott, JGB CompanyJennifer Heinz, Anthem our Partners in Action that are helping us achieve our goals: Cheshire County Conservation District,Blue Cross/Blue ShieldMeg Henning, Monadnock Healthy Eating Active Living Initiative (MHEAL), Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth- Keene State CollegeDeb Hunter, Cheshire Hitchcock Keene, City of Keene, Advocates for Healthy Youth Coalition, Keene School District,Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock KeeneMaryanne Keating, Monadnock Healthy Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition, Monadnock Region Transportation ManagementEating Active LivingPolly Morris, Monadnock Association, and others. Healthy Monadnocks recent $1.1 million grant awarded by the Centers forVoices for PreventionChristine Parshall, UNH Disease Control will go a long way in the next three years in helping some ofCooperative ExtensionKelsey Plifka, Cheshire these Partners achieve our goal to become the healthiest region in theMedical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene Champions are Linda Rubin, Cheshire Medical Center/nation by the year 2020. Dartmouth Hitchcock KeeneAndrea Smart, So, if you havent done so already, join us! Become a Healthythose who are takingKeene Family YMCAKelly Steiner, Monadnock Monadnock Champion, encourage your childrens school or yoursimple steps toUnited WayPhil Suter, Greater Keene Chamber of CommerceSusy Thielen, Heading for Home workplace to become Champions as well. Visit our website and joinbecome healthier Tricia Wadleigh, Greater Monadnock Public us on social media. Because Healthy Monadnock is a cause thatHealth NetworkWayne Woolridge, SAU 29benefits us all. people. Phil Wyzik, Monadnock Family ServicesUPDATE PRODUCTION Yours in health, Editor: Marcia Passos DuffyLinda Rubin Contributing Writers: Robert Audette, Director, Healthy Community Initiative Katherine Cox, Nicole ColsonPhotography: Kelsey Plifka, Ed Thomas. Cover Photograph: Bill GnadeDesign: Dana Flewelling2 Healthy Monadnock Update 2015'