Eastman’s winter wellness program kicks off January 1st, and who doesn’t need motivation? Even those of us with the best of intentions get sidetracked. Now there’s a fun and easy way to track your progress and meet your fitness goals.

One of the hottest free apps available for your iPhone is Runkeeper. It not only tracks your daily activities by activity type, but provides all sorts of cool charts and graphs. You can track up to 14 different activity types: cross country skiing, running, cycling, walking, hiking, skiing, rowing, etc. So, how does it work?

A few weeks ago, my husband, Dan, and I decided to explore the trail to Cole Pond through Eastman. We headed out to the parking lot at Hilltop Drive and located the trailhead. I started the app, set the activity to “Hiking” and made sure the iPhone’s GPS was set to “On.”  I put the phone in my pocket and started up the path. Every so often, a voice from within the depths of my jacket would tell me how far I had gone and what my pace was. When we stopped to admire a view or grab a sip of water, I set the app to “Pause.” (The trick is to remember to “Resume” when you start hiking again.)

When you complete the activity, just save it with a name and it automatically pushes it to your online account at Runkeeper, where you can keep a journal of your activities. Here is a visual of the round-trip hike to Cole Pond. (You can click the image to enlarge.) Notice the mileage chart as well as the elevation and pace chart for the round-trip hike. You can see that it saves the date, time, distance, calories and more!

Within a few minutes of completing the hike, I found a message in my Inbox: “This is a RunKeeper FitnessAlert to let you know that you achieved the following milestones with your most recent hiking activity: Farthest distance.” Wow! Instant recognition and feedback before I even arrived back home

With Runkeeper, you can even set up a list of local users and invite your friends!  Create your own “Street Team.”

If you’d like to participate in Eastman’s Winter Wellness Program, and possibly win a trip to Cape Cod!, contact Recreation for details, 863-6772, or download information from our website.

Photo by Michael Sandman

Eastman Community Association is first and foremost an environmentally friendly community, so it was with great pride that we learned that the New Hampshire Green Building Council named our South Cove Activity Center the 2011 NH Sustainable Building of the Year.

This LEED Gold Certified building was designed by Warrenstreet Architects from Concord, NH and constructed by Milestone Construction from Concord, NH. This building opened in 2009, utilizing regional New Hampshire materials in construction and reducing energy consumption by more than 34%. The building is designed and located to fit into the natural surroundings of Eastman and maximize conservation land.

The center replaced three separate structures that were built by the original developer in the 1970s. It houses the Recreation Department and has a pool, fitness center, several meeting rooms, a catering kitchen, wireless internet and more.

You can view more photos of South Cove Activity Center on-line, and contact Lorie McClory at lorie@eastmannh.org to schedule a tour of this award-winning building.

The Eastman Loppet for David’s House will be a day-long, fun-filled event for the entire family, featuring groomed loops of various distances for classic or skate skiers, and a separate snowshoe course. Upon completion, there will be a party for everyone with food, drink, awards and music.

Participants choose to start anytime between 9 a.m. and noon, depending on the length of the trail or trails they choose. Although this is an untimed event, participants must be done by 4 p.m.

All finishers will receive their own official Loppet cowbell and a homemade “Trollhouse” cookie in addition to a great day on the trails, food, drink and music. The first 100 people to turn in a minimum of $250 in pledges for David’s House will get a fabulous Skida fleece-lined, nordic hat.

All participants are asked to raise a minimum amount to participate: adults 18 and older, $75; kids 5-17, $25; families, $125; and kids younger than 5 are free with a participating adult. Each participant will be sent a donation page for fundraising with their confirmation email.

For more information, including links to the trail descriptions, estimated completion times, a list of FAQs, and a link to on-line registration, visit http://www.davids-house.org/loppet.

Eastman is a four-season, residential and recreational community. Eastman Golf Links, Eastman Cross Country Center and Bistro Nouveau at Eastman are all open to the public. For more information, visit our website or call 603-863-4240.

David’s House provides a home-away-from-home and support for families with children receiving treatment through Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

By Laureen Caponigro

If Norman Rockwell were searching for the perfect backdrop for one of his poignant Americana masterpieces, where white-capped rivers wind along roadsides, still lakes reflect white birch and needled pines, or distant mountaintops in magenta hues greet a cobalt sky, he would set his easel in Grantham, New Hampshire.

If you’re lucky enough to have family who lives there, may I recommend a visit during fall foliage? Imagine all this beauty, colored in shades of fiery orange and Tuscany red, paired with the smell of a wood stove burning on a crisp starry night… It’s almost a sensory overload!

Eastman, the community where my folks live, is designed specifically for those who enjoy outdoor activities. There are miles of manicured walking trails around a lake, swimming, canoeing, kayaking and cross country skiing on site, and downhill slopes 25 minutes away. Not a lot of excitement other than a passing moose or hungry black bear lurking about at night. The nearby town is small and very quiet, so when my mother eagerly suggested taking me to see the “Village People,” it definitely caught my attention.

It’s a tradition the town started a few years ago; every October, the town’s activity committee works with local businesses to decorate straw men to display along the streets. She said articles have been written about them.  OK… that peaked my curiosity.

Usually, October decorations consist of carved pumpkins, baskets of gourds with corn-husk bundles, ghosts, black cats and witches flying off on old whisk brooms. I grabbed my camera , anticipating that this may be something I haven’t seen.

As we approached town, I caught the first glimpse, there… standing along the roadside were… “The Village People.”

I jumped from the car and ran to the closest, human-sized character, mesmerized as I studied each detail. Its charming, happy face with round, rosy cheeks and a bucktooth smile was painted on a burlap bag. It was cleverly posed in a bubble bath, rollers in her straw hair dripping in soap suds. I was enthralled with the thoughtful attention and creativity put into this display. Other characters were engaged in activities such as riding bikes, sitting on a horse, grilling, climbing down a ladder to elope… I was not disappointed.

I darted back and forth across busy street, snapping pictures with a big grin and eyes as large as candy apples. I felt like a child on an Easter egg hunt, as the locals casually went about their business.

For a brief time I was captivated, imagining what my own character’s escapades might entail. They weren’t the scary, ghoulish, threatening images we have come to expect in October in preparation for Halloween. No blood, brains or hairy hands reaching from a grave. This little town created an atmosphere of tranquility and well-being, a perfect place to welcome fall.

Although my visit was brief, and I’m home now in Florida, my friends and I have chuckled over the photographs of the crazy cast of stuffed characters from Grantham, New Hampshire. I’d like to share them with you, and hope they inspire, delight or simply make you smile.

A scarecrow skiier welcomes people to Eastman each October.

By Lynn Kisselbach

What a weekend!  The weather was absolutely perfect.  Old Mom Nature came through with crystal clear blue skies, fantastic foliage, and temperatures reminiscent of summertime.   Add in the Fall Fest activities at Eastman, an extra day off, and a 20^th wedding anniversary, and I have no idea what could top that!

Saturday’s Fall Fest activities included an apple pie bake-off, hay rides, apple dumpling making, and a host of other things for the entire family.  I heard that the judging of the apple pies was once again a tough decision.  (I’m going to have to figure out how to get on the judging panel.)

We went for a long paddle and enjoyed watching the loons.  I was surprised they were still here until I did a little more studying of their habits.  Since they are cold water birds, I imagine they’ll stick around a little longer before heading south for the winter.  I watched one of the two “teenagers” travel across the lake with one of the parents.  Dozens of other kayakers and even one sailboat were out enjoying the weather.  I even caught a youngster jumping from the rocks into the water near East Cove.  Impressive!

On Saturday night, we celebrated out 20^th wedding anniversary with a trip to the Inn at Pleasant Lake for dinner.  It is a special place, with a very pretty setting.  The food was fantastic, and the service impeccable.  There are many very good restaurants in the area, but I think this one is my new favorite.  Check it out on your next special occasion!

The weekend also included many long walks, checking out areas we hadn’t gotten to – there are so many at Eastman.  The roads and trails around Eastman are a nice place to walk this time of year.  It’s quiet, and the foliage is spectacular.

We all know what comes next (weather-wise), so I’m trying to enjoy every minute of this fantastic fall weather.  Of course, that doesn’t stop me from thinking about (and preparing for) cross-country skiing season!

Pumpkin carving was one of many fun events at Fall Festival

By Randy, Melissa, Ben and Olivia Britton

Well, it may be called the “Fall Festival,” but you would have thought it was a summer day from the absolutely gorgeous weather last Saturday at South Cove! You couldn’t have picked better weather, and everyone there seemed to be having a terrific time – whatever chill there was at 10:00 when it began soon melted away, along with everyone’s jackets.

It was truly a joy to scoop the insides out of a pumpkin without risk of frozen fingers and chattering teeth!   Parents and children alike were actually coming outside to warm up – enjoying the hay ride, looking at the geese flying overhead, and helping squeeze some of Amy’s fresh-pressed apple cider. Inside, the kids enjoyed making apple dumplings and apple pizza with Charlie and his crew (coffee for the grownups, donuts for everyone!), followed by crafts and lunch of PB&J and grilled cheese. Take time to look at some great photos from this wonderful event.

There were 11 entries in this year’s Apple Pie Bake-Off, which was won by Marilyn Lyons. Pies from Peggy Hammer and Andy Taylor placed second and third, respectively. Pie sales raised $111 for the Eastman Charitable Foundation.

The Recreation staff and volunteers once again did a truly outstanding job, and you could tell from the smiles on their faces that the fun everyone was having was contagious.  Thanks to everyone involved for yet another memorable Fall Festival!

I haven’t mentioned one of my favorite activities at Eastman!  Hiking trails abound both on the property and adjacent.  One of my favorite hikes is the trail that goes around the lake.  Last weekend, while the temperatures were comfortable and the skies the most amazing shade of blue, I decided to head out and revisit this hike.

The trail has a broad mix of terrain and is hilly in many spots, but the views are wonderful.  Not far from East Cove, I stopped on an outcropping to see if I could catch any activity in the beaver lodge.  No luck, but the sun was warm as it danced on the lake, so I enjoyed the view for several minutes.

On to South Cove, where it was noticeably quieter than over the summer.  The lake temperatures have dropped enough that even the most intrepid swimmers might think twice before jumping in.  From South Cove, I took the trail to the West Cove beaches, which were also much quieter.  The view back down the lake was really nice.  This part of the trail is wider and, while hilly, it’s the easiest part of the trail to navigate.

My favorite portion of the trail explores the back eddies of the lake and is certainly the “trail less traveled.”  It takes you through several habitats that you wouldn’t normally see from the lake and you get some nice glimpses of the beautiful homes tucked in the woods.

With many of the birds already migrating to warmer climes, it was a quiet hike, but just so lovely.  I stopped for some water and a snack (the hike takes about 3.5 hours) about halfway and just took in the views.  In the distance I could see Mt. Sunapee and the ski trails that will beckon downhill skiers this winter.  A lone hawk flew above.

From there, I continued on the trail and arrived at North Cove, a nice beach nestled in a small cove.  Again, there were no swimmers, but I noticed some kayakers enjoying the sunshine and warm temperatures.  From there, it was back to East Cove to complete the loop.

If you haven’t been to this beautiful hike, I highly recommend it!

The 5K is a scenic, hilly course on paved and unpaved roads. The two-mile walk is an out-and-back, wooded trail. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the activity center, and the race starts at 11 a.m.  Individual registration is $15, and families (parents and dependent children ages 18 and younger) can participate for $32. All fees include the awards lunch. On-line registration is available.

Since its inception, the Turkey Trot has provided thousands of dollars in food and gift cards to needy families through social services agencies in Grantham, Enfield and Springfield, the three communities that make up Eastman, as well as Newport.

Eastman is a four-season, residential and recreational community. Eastman Golf Links, Eastman Cross Country Center and Bistro Nouveau at Eastman are all open to the public. For more information on the event, contact Eastman Recreation at 603-863-6772.

A week – a whole week!  I couldn’t wait.  My husband was not so sure what he would do with himself for a week.  My list was long, and I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to come close to doing all that I wanted.  Vacation loomed big on the calendar, especially since this is the only one I was taking this year, due to a job change.

I came armed with books, golf clubs, sneakers, hiking boots, swim suits, but NO work suits!  We had a couple rainy days that allowed us to curl up and read, nap and just be lazy.  I also got to try out the new gym and pool at South Cove, which is well equipped.

Golf was also on the plan for vacation.  While my game needs some work (ok, I’m a total duffer), I loved the course – it’s so pretty.  And the driving range and putting green are available to help me work on my game.  It was a most enjoyable time, even if I still can’t hit the ball straight!

We didn’t venture too far, but did get over to Sunapee Harbor.  We spent a delightful afternoon perusing the shops and waterfront, and having supper on the deck at the Anchorage restaurant.  It is a very nice spot to people watch.

I think my favorite part of the vacation was swimming in the lake and spending time on the beach visiting with friends we’ve made at Eastman.  It was lazy, relaxing and most enjoyable.  For me, swimming in a clean, safe lake is one of the big reasons we’re at Eastman.  I love to swim, and the lake affords me that opportunity, without fear of wayward boats or other watercraft.

As our week came to an end, I did get my husband to admit that he had the best summer vacation in years, and that he wasn’t bored at all.  In fact, I’m pretty sure his “to do” list didn’t get completely accomplished either.   I guess that means that we’ll have more adventures soon.  After all, summer doesn’t end in August!

Having now spent a year at Eastman, and having been here through all four seasons, I have noticed (quite naturally) an uptick in traffic and activity in the summer time.  So when I was driving along Road Round Lake last week and commented on the traffic, my visitor darn near busted a gut laughing.

His perspective is Boston, so seeing three cars on the road ahead of us doesn’t even come close to the traffic he sees.  But it made me stop and appreciate the rural setting of Eastman.  And yes, seeing three or four cars in a short time span does constitute the “busy season” here.  I’m sure I’ll miss the activity come January.