New Board Members for Public Health Council

Lebanon — The board of directors of the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley elected three new members and re-elected its chair during its annual meeting last month.

Dan Fraser, Nicole LaBombard and Laura Cody McNaughton all joined the council board at the meeting. Fraser is from Norwich, where runs his family’s business, Dan & Whit’s General Store, and serves on several local boards. LaBombard, of Lebanon, works as a community health partnership coordinator at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Community Health. Cody McNaughton is the district director for the Vermont Department of Health’s district office in White River Junction.

Julia Griffin, Hanover town manager, was elected to her second term as board chair, and departing board member Mardee Laumann, of Enfield, was recognized for her contributions to the council’s work.

Alice Ely, executive director of the council, presented highlights from the past year, including a pilot project on oral health screening in New Hampshire, which led to the expansion of the Ottauquechee Health Foundation’s Smiles Project to serve both sides of the Connecticut River. The council also conducted an evaluation of several summer meals programs for children and hosted five flu clinics in rural communities, providing more than 1,100 vaccines.

Joanne Conroy, CEO and president of Dartmouth-Hitchcock, was the guest speaker and more than 50 community members attended the meeting. The next meeting of the Public Health Council is Jan. 19, from 9 to 11 a.m., at Hypertherm, 71 Heater Road in Lebanon. All meetings are open to the public.