Category: News

Bonnie Anderson and Hailee Galandak-Cochran Earn “Unsung Hero” Title!

In an effort to recognize the inspired, positive action happening every day in the community, Greater Falls Connections (GFC) is excited to announce that both Bonnie Anderson and Hailee Galandak-Cochran have earned the 2018 Active Community Engagement (A.C.E.) Award. Recipients of this award are the unsung heroes within our community who foster positive change and are dedicated to creating safe, healthy and fun options for youth, families and the community at large. The awards were presented by the staff members of Greater Falls Connections, Laura Schairbaum, Deb Witkus, and Scott Sharland, at the Annual GFC BBQ on August 2 at the Rockingham Recreation Center.

Anderson, the Founder and Executive Director of the BF Community Bike Project, has been providing fun and community-oriented activities for both youth and adults since 2012. She is also a Planning Commissioner for the town of Rockingham. The mission of the Bike Project is to provide community access to bicycles and bike repair skills, encouraging safe bicycling as a means of affordable transportation, self-sufficiency and overall wellness.

Former A.C.E. winner Mike Malick nominated Anderson for the award. According to Malick, “Bonnie has been helping all kinds of people, and she has helped many people get active. She has taken her time to develop a program that reaches out to many of the folks in the area who have no money and she helps them with a simple thing, ‘Transportation in the means of a bike.’ This makes people feel they belong.”

Anderson was also nominated in 2017 by Ellen Taetzsch, who said, “I see her everywhere. She always has a smile, is willing to help out with community events, and she is a great role model!”

Galandak-Cochran is the Director and AmeriCorps member of the Friends For Change youth group of Bellows Falls. She was nominated by Marty Gallagher, Kara Lescord, Kiernon Galandak, and Susan Williams. Friends for Change is a youth club that, “believes everyone’s voice has a right to be heard. We learn by playing and making our own decisions. We are active in our community and are learning to become positive leaders.”

Gallagher said, “Hailee saw a need in the community and addressed it. When Boys and Girls club pulled their funding for the Bellows Falls group she saw that there was still a need in this community for the youth to have a safe space. Starting from scratch, she built Friends For Change. She engaged the help of others, got the kids themselves on board, and created a new and very unique non-profit. She made it look easy and never seemed to lose her drive to reach her goal. All the while going to school and working. She seems to have an endless drive. I think she fully embodied all that the ACE award entails.”

Galandak-Cochran has volunteered for the GFC coalition for several years. She helps facilitate the weekly AATI (Advanced Above The Influence) youth group meetings and has helped members learn more about youth-led, democratic organizations. Following the closure of the Bellows Falls Boys & Girls Club in June 2016, Galandak-Cochran put in an immeasurable number of volunteer hours to help create the Friends For Change (FFC) youth group, which has resulted in a number of great leadership opportunities for youth in our community, especially youth who have faced trauma.

During the presentation of the award, a number of youth and community members who have been affected by Anderson and Galandak-Cochran’s work spoke about the impact on their lives. Dan Gabry, youth leader at Friends for Change and AATI member, said, “They are both intelligent and they both deserve this award.”

There were a record eight nominees for this year’s award, and Galandak-Cochran and Anderson rose to the top, based on the voting of former ACE Award winners and GFC staff members. The other worthy nominees were Linda James, Superintendent Chris Kibbe, Molly Oglesby, Officer Josh Paulette, John Bohannon, and Principal Keith Nemlich. The efforts of these community members has made the Greater Falls area a better place to live.

Galandak-Cochran and Anderson join Sam Fletcher, Sam Maskell, Christine Bullard, Barbara Ternes, Ryan Stoodley, Mike Malick, and Gina DeCampo as A.C.E. Award winners.

Congratulations to Gina DeCampo for winning our 2017 ACE Award.

In an effort to recognize the inspired, positive action happening every day, Greater Falls Connections (GFC) is excited to announce Gina DeCampo of Bellows Falls as the recipient of the 2017 Active Community Engagement (A.C.E.) Award. Recipients of this award are the unsung heroes within our community who foster positive change and are dedicated to creating safe, healthy and fun options for youth, families and the community at large.

DeCampo, a volunteer firefighter with Saxtons River Fire Department and also a volunteer with GFC’s Advanced Above The Influence (AATI) youth group, was announced as the latest recipient of the A.C.E. Award by Greater Falls Connections at the annual GFC BBQ at the Rockingham Rec Center on July 27. The staff members of Greater Falls Connections, Laura Schairbaum, Deb Witkus, and Scott Sharland, presented the award to DeCampo. She was awarded for being a strong role model and mentor for the youth of the community.

DeCampo has volunteered for the GFC coalition for several years. She helps facilitate weekly AATI youth group meetings and has helped members learn more about youth mental health first aid to prevent substance abuse, suicide, and depression. She has been a key part of planning and running the annual Park-A-Palooza community block party in June. Following the closure of the Bellows Falls Boys & Girls Club in June 2016, DeCampo began volunteering with the Friends For Change (FFC) youth group, which has been creating a new club for area youth. Besides working directly with the youth members, she has spearheaded recruiting additional volunteers for the club.

According to Schairbaum, “Gina gives selflessly to so many things seen and unseen, and cares deeply about the youth in this community. We are so grateful for all that she does and her strong commitment to everything she is a part of.” DeCampo accepted the award and stated, “If I could tell you only one thing, it would be if you walk by someone on the street who may be struggling, say hello and give them your smile, it will make a huge difference.” DeCampo was nominated by both Emma Wetherby and Hailee Galandak-Cochran. According to Galandak-Cochran, “Gina is committed to building a better community and is passionate about keeping our youth safe. She cares deeply about connecting with young people who need support. She goes above and beyond to create a safe place for the most vulnerable in our community.”

For this year’s award, DeCampo faced strong competition from several other nominees: Bonnie Anderson from the Bellows Falls Community Bike Project, Doreen Stoodley from the Great Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce, Emily Petretti from FFC and GFC; the staff members of Our Place Drop-in Center, led by Lisa Pitcher, were also nominated. DeCampo joins Sam Fletcher, Sam Maskell, Christine Bullard, Barbara Ternes, Ryan Stoodley, and Mike Malick as A.C.E. Award winners. The A.C.E. Award is sponsored by Greater Falls Connections.

The holiday season can be a fantastic, festive time. It can be a time for us to slow down, reconnect with the people we care about, and reflect on the year gone by. The holidays can also be overwhelming. Stress caused by work, school, strained relationships, or finances can certainly take a toll.

Some might turn toward drugs or alcohol to cope, or some might already be quietly struggling with a substance addiction. More than 22 million Americans over the age of 12 are dealing with substance dependence, according to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

What follows are some tips we can all use during the holidays to alleviate the collective stress, decrease substance use, and support those coping with an addiction:

• Knowing the triggers: It’s helpful to know the particular event, circumstance, situation or feeling that might trigger the use of substances. Crisis, anxiety, isolation or stress are but a few of the most severe.
• The stress, or anticipation of stress, during the holidays might be heightened by fear of confrontation, fear of financial challenges, or fear of how to hide substance use.
• Knowing these triggers can help to avoid situations, or to prepare ahead of time. Additionally, understanding the triggers and reducing the level of stress during the holidays can dramatically improve our mental well-being and prevent substance use and abuse.
• Signs of use: It can be awfully tricky for parents, friends, and relatives to know if a loved one or friend is using or abusing alcohol or other drugs.
• If you are concerned that someone you know might be using or abusing drugs, here are a few things to be aware of:
  • Sharp or sudden change in mood.
  • Defensiveness;
  • Withdrawal;
  • Smell of substances such as alcohol or marijuana, or strong fragrances to cover up the odor.
  • While use does not necessarily mean that one is abusing a substance, sudden shifts in behavior might be cause for concern.
• Be that solid friend or relative: How can we help prevent the use of substances or support someone struggling with addiction during the holidays? There are numerous ways to be there for your family and friends.
• Above all, use open, honest communication. Listen and be free of judgment. Be comforting and compassionate. Make a few calls and compile a few websites or blogs for him or her.
• Be sure to lock or secure all your prescription medications. It helps to count your prescriptions, especially if you are having guests over to your home.
• During the holidays, plan meals and activities with no or limited alcohol. In general, limit availability during the holidays, and always provide non-alcoholic options.
• On that note, come up with physical activities to keep people moving and active. Go for walks, snowshoe, or build snow forts. (With recent weather, tossing the football around or going for a bike ride might be more realistic.)
• Play games or watch movies together. (Try a raging game of charades, or make some popcorn and turn on A Christmas Story.)
• Finally, make sure everyone eats well and gets plenty of sleep.

Laugh, listen, converse and connect. Happy holidays!

All summer long, we are encouraging parents to speak to their teens about alcohol. Simply fill out the form below.

Take the “Teen Brains Matter” Promise!

BECAUSE THE TEEN BRAIN IS PRONE TO ADDICTION: *

I will talk to my teen about the dangers of drinking alcohol.

BECAUSE THE TEEN BRAIN IS LIKELY TO FORGET: *

I will remind them about the rules and expectations.

BECAUSE THE TEEN BRAIN IS HARD-WIRED TO TAKE RISKS: *

I will make sure all parties include adult supervision.

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