Wendy O'Connell
‘Before recovery, I never lived’
A trained recovery coach at Turning Point of Windham County and an emergency coach at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Vanessa Santana is a person in long-term recovery who works with folks whose lives are affected by addiction.
During this pandemic, she also created a new outdoor program - Adventures in Recovery - for Turning Point.
A barn for the birds — and a coffin
Wildlife rehabilitator, artist, and educator Fred Homer discusses nature, life, and mortality
Fred Homer is a jack of all trades and a master of many, though he might be blushing at that description. A wildlife rehabilitator, Fred has created a haven for injured animals in need of care and a safe place to recuperate. Fred has really created a sanctuary on...
Compassionate creativity everywhere
Kali Quinn’s artistic journey takes her from theater to an exploration of the creative spirit everywhere, from medical schools to a van on an 11,000-mile road trip to discover and nurture an artistic vision
Kali Quinn is a goldmine of creativity. Whether performing, teaching, mentoring, or facilitating, she brings her artistry and skills as a creative doula to so many different venues, including Sandglass Theater, New England Center for the Circus Arts, Brown University medical school, and Full Circle Festival, to name just...
More
‘I know that no one wants to be hungry. I know no one wants to be an addict. No one.’
I recently interviewed Melvin Harris, who was born in Birmingham, Ala., and he's been in the area for about 10 years. He worked for a while at C & S Wholesale Grocers and Vermont Bread Company, but then he found himself homeless, living in abandoned houses and sleeping under bridges. But now he is a resident of the Great River Terrace, a supportive housing community on Putney Road on the site of the former Lamplighter Motel at 1336 Putney Rd.
Objects sought and found
Paul Bowen is a sculptor, printmaker, and master of assemblage from found objects. His work is in both public and private collections, and he has exhibited worldwide in galleries and museums, including the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center. Bowen was born in Wales, lived in Provincetown, Mass., for 30 years, and now resides with his wife, Pamela Mandell, in Williamsville. From 1972 to 1974, he was a Hoffberger Fellow at the Maryland Institute in Baltimore, and from 1977 to 1979...
Former librarian saddened by RFPL conflicts, supports efforts of her former colleagues
It is with disbelief and great sadness that I've followed the unfolding of the Rockingham Free Public Library's current saga. As a former librarian at this wonderful library, my experience there was one of great camaraderie, collaboration, and mutual respect. My former colleagues (all of whom are currently still there) worked together as a team, fully supporting our director, Célina Houlné, the most hard-working, dedicated, and honest boss one could wish for. We were committed to our jobs, our workplace,