Sheltering-in-place and the consequences of Covid-19 impacted people in dramatically different ways. Without minimizing how devastating the pandemic was (and still is) to millions of people around the world, as with every major life event, silver linings are there for those who look for them. Some people just hunkered down and perhaps welcomed the slower pace; others found themselves going bonkers trying to homeschool their kids while working full-time from home with no social outlets. Regardless of where one found themselves along the sanity spectrum, how some people responded to counter the negative impact in their lives is evident among the stories and submissions to follow.

You may have seen Rowley Hazard and Madonna Gordon before Covid-19 forced us all to our respective homes. They make up the Mad Hazard Band (www.madhazardband.com) and have enjoyed performing for QLLA residents at various events at the Club, and for other appreciative audiences at venues around the Upper Valley and beyond over the past couple of years.

Rather than quiet their instruments or play to blank walls, the Mad Hazard Band took it outside.

“Madonna and I played and sang jazz, bossa nova and pop in Davidson’s Thursday nights all last fall and winter, now quieted by the virus. We have bookings through next fall all around the area but we can’t perform until the coast is clear,” emailed Rowley. “We have sent out some ‘virtual’ tunes, but one of our favorite ‘gigs’ was an impromptu back porch concert from our Dartmouth Place 5B deck one evening last week. People came out and listened and even danced ‘at a distance’ down below. It was a hoot!”

Quechee Cares

“Quechee Cares, represents the best of the Upper Valley in action for others,” said Michael Redmond, executive director of The Upper Valley Haven.  

Quechee Cares is a new fundraising endeavor from The Quechee Club community. They have raised over $27,000 during the month of May.  Over the years, members of The Quechee Club have been very generous with their volunteer time and donations, and Quechee Cares continues that tradition.

Charitable contributions were used to help the Upper Valley Haven, local Quechee restaurants, and frontline workers at DHMC. 

Donations were given to the Haven to fund the Food Shelf and other programs. In addition, Quechee Cares paid Quechee Pizza Chef and The Public House Pub to provide “thank-you meals” at DHMC and to supply meals to those in need through the Haven.  Nick Tsounakis, owner of Quechee Pizza Chef, stated, “We are grateful for Quechee Cares. Their efforts to support small businesses and people in need are what our community is all about.” Andrew Schain, owner of Public House, was amazed at the response from Quechee donors. “These are caring people who acted fast, and got food to those in need.”

Over the years, Quechee Club members have volunteered at local hospitals, Quechee Library, the Haven, local schools, VINS, Headrest, David’s House, Friends of Veterans, Listen, WISE and the Garden Club and community beautification to name just a few.  In addition, members have also been very active the past 10 years with the Quechee Elves, working closely with the Norwich-Hartford Holiday Baskets purchasing clothing and gifts for children in need. The Quechee Club members, in conjunction with QLLA Charities, have raised over $2.5 million in the past 35 years for CHaD.

And the People Stayed Home

QLLA resident, Lynn Luczkowski, emailed the Quechee Times on April 30th:

““I… wanted to share this beautiful poem by Kitty O’ Meara, who has a lovely take on our dealing with, and eventual recovery from, the Covid-19 pandemic…”