VOLUME 33, NUMBER 19 SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 FREE THE WEEKLY NEWS & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL OF MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY Making Strides For A Cause: Lisa ‘BB’ Brunelle has been Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – and making them count – for years ... A 2 Lumberjills At The Fair: Meet some of the women behind the flying axes and buzzing saws at Woodsmen’s Day at the Fryeburg Fair ... A6 MAILING LABEL A SALMON PRESS PUBLICATION • (603) 447-6336 • PUBLISHED IN CONWAY, NH SSTTOORRYY LLAANNDD Page Two “Where there's a smile & adventure around every corner!” She’s brought together a ‘Band of Bartenders’ to battle the disease Lisa ‘BB’ Brunelle is Making Strides Enjoy Against Breast Cancer By Linda Tucker down the road that ups those odds,” Lisa Outstanding Contributing Writer fervently hopes. BELOVED LOCAL RESIDENT and ISA “BB” BRUNELLE CAN’T Every year since learning of Loree’s friend to the Valley, Steve Eastman, who Family bring her sister back. Can’t share a diagnosis, Lisa has brought together 25 to waged his own valiant but ultimately losing Lgirls weekend with her, can’t relive a 30 bartenders and bar friends from Rhode war against invasive brain cancer, was a childhood memory. What she can do is Island, Massachusetts, and the Mount huge support to Lisa and her family. Entertainment! bring together a “Band of Bartenders” to Washington Valley to form “Bartenders for “Steve Eastman helped me through battle the disease that stole her sister, Loree Better Oncological Options for Breast most of my sister’s passing,” Lisa murmurs. Smith. Care Health Services.” “Losing him has been devastating. Steve For the past five years, Lisa has been the Upon hearing a radio spot about the was a great man. He did the amulets. You’ll top individual fundraiser and, for four out Making Strides Against Breast Cancer see them on a lot of people. There were of the last five years, her team has been the Walk, Lisa decided that she needed to par- five amulets that he and Stoney Morrell top team fundraiser at the North Conway ticipate in that for her sister. She’s had help came up with when Steve was diagnosed. American Cancer Society’s “Making with her team’s fundraising efforts from When I was down in Florida with my sis- Strides Against Breast Cancer” benefit corporate sponsors like Miller Lite and ter, Steve sent the amulets down, one for walk. Lisa individually has raised over Three Olives Vodka. Carl Farnum, from each of the five sisters. I have Belief on my $14,000 in the last four years and the team the Red Parka Pub, has done an outstand- amulet. I have to believe that every penny I almost $35,000. ing job getting donations. help raise is going to help somebody in “He’s been one of my bartenders from some way, shape or form.” LISA AND HER FAMILY the beginning. He walks all over Bartlett Although the death of Loree was devas- learned that Loree was diagnosed with soliciting funds. Amy Kutsenkow and tating to the family, there was one precious breast cancer five years ago. At the time, Lynn Ambler have also been among my moment that Lisa shared with her nephew. Loree was a 43-year-old mother of two top bartenders. “After Loree passed, her son Dalton young children, a daughter, age nine “I have a hugely motivated family who told me that he wasn’t brave enough to deal months, and a son, age five. also contribute,” says Lisa. “My siblings with his mother’s death. The amulets that “Everything was falling into place for and I were very, very hurt by Loree’s death. Steve had sent each had its own meaning: Loree. She had her little girl, she had her I don’t think any of us have recovered. Loree got Courage to face what was com- older boy. Everything was right where it That is all the more reason why we want to ing; our pseudo-sister Muffy got Strength should have been. Until this happened,” make sure that no one else has to go to stand by Loree; sister Lynn, got Faith, says Lisa. through this. I contribute to Making and Lee, who has a daughter of her own, Originally misdiagnosed with mastitis, Strides because 82 percent of the money got Hope for the rapid eradication of can- by the time the cancer was confirmed, raised goes directly to providing services cer. Loree’s illness had progressed to stage four. for cancer information, support, and “When 10-year-old Dalton told me that According to Lisa, the survival rate for research. There have been people there for he needed courage to face the future with- advanced stage four is only about 7 to 8 me to talk to. The American Cancer out his mother, I replied that I could give percent. Society provides a toll-free number that I him courage.” Auntie Lisa,’ he said, “Loree fought extremely hard for five think everyone in my family has taken ‘Courage isn’t something you can just pass years. There’s got to be something coming advantage of at one time or another.” around. It not something that comes out of a bottle.’” “Well,” I said, “there are some things I can do. I know I can’t pass it out of a bottle. But there are certain symbols and this was your mother’s: courage. I think Open weekends you need it now. You are the perfect person to have it. Because, you’re right, you are only, 9am to 5pm going to need it. This is what’s going to help you. You can just reach up, like I do, Saturdays, and touch it and that will help you through.” Being a 10-year-old boy, Dalton asked Sundays and suspiciously, “Is this a necklace?” “Noooo,” answered Lisa, “it’s an Columbus Day. amulet. It’s very cool. Necklace, not so cool; amulet, very cool. And he wears his. It makes him feel better.” With all your traditional favorite features, including the Farm Follies above: Lisa ‘BB’ Brunelle with Jen Reynolds and her daughter, Keiana and Cate Jones, two of Lisa’s former 6th grade students from her teaching days in RI. They come up every year to join her for the walk. show. right: Lisa receives Team Top Fundraiser award at the 2006 Making Strides event. (Courtesy Photos) On the Cover Inside Index Here’s to Millen Stadium! Lumberjills at the Fair Arts & Entertainment..............Page B1 Gov. John Lynch was on hand to Writer Sarah Earle tracked down a Calendar...................................Page B4 remember Gary Millen, his high school group of some of the lesser known stars teammate, during the dedication cere- at the Fryeburg Fair - the women who Entertainment..........................Page B6 mony for the Gary Millen Stadium at compete in the annual Woodsmen’s As The Wheels Turn .............Page B14 Kennett High School on Friday, Sept. Day. Page A6 On the Rockpile.....................Page B12 603-383-4186 19. The band played and the crowd of more than 1500 enthusiastic fans Arts & Entertainment Nooks & Crannies...................Page B9 Maria Muldaur will be performing at the Route 16, Glen, NH cheered, making the event a memorable Real Estate .............................Page A18 one for all. See Page B16. Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth on Sports ............................Pages B16 - 19 www.storylandnh.com (Josh Spaulding/Mountain Ear Photo) Oct. 4, hosted by A.C.T. See Page B1 Page A2 - The Mountain Ear, Thursday, September 25, 2008 Lisa stands (second from right) with a winning group of walkers at a pervious year’s Making Strides Against Breast Caner event. below: Mary Dunn, Event Chair for “Cancer doesn’t have just one victim. Making Strides 2007, and Lisa, who is They always talk about the cancer victim. reading a poem about breast cancer. There are twenty victims in my family Here.” Since Making Strides Against alone from one cancer death. We’ve got Breast Cancer began in New Hampshire in (Courtesy Photos) siblings, nieces, nephews, husband, chil- 1993, considerable progress has been made dren, and godchildren. There are all these against this disease. According to recent people whose lives were negatively affect- statistics provided by the American Cancer ed. It’s not just one person". Society, there has been a 3.5 percent per year decrease in incidence rates. Mortality KATHY METZ OF THE rates from breast cancer have steadily American Cancer Society provides these decreased in women since 1990, with larg- statistics: an estimated 182,460 new cases er decreases in women younger than 50 (a of invasive breast cancer are expected to be decrease of 3.3 percent per year) than in diagnosed in women in the United States those 50 and older (2.0 percent per year). during 2008. About 1,990 men in the These decreases represent progress in both United States will also be diagnosed in earlier detection and improved treatment. 2008. An estimated 40,930 breast cancer The American Cancer Society warns deaths, 40,480 women and 450 men, are that there is no guaranteed way to prevent expected in 2008. breast cancer, but a woman’s best overall “The focus seems to be on the sur- preventive health strategies include regular early because it can identify the disease vivors,” says Lisa. "Not everyone is a sur- mammograms, maintaining a healthy before physical symptoms develop, when vivor. That doesn’t make me bitter; that weight, engaging in regular physical activ- the disease is most treatable. Cancer" walk coordinator, is looking for just makes me more determined to do what ity and limiting alcohol consumption.