For many Somersworth residents, Malley Farm is simply a place where they go to drop off unwanted leaves and grass clippings. But for a select group of women, it is a place that offers hope.
If you’ve ever been down to the “farm,” as many of us call it, you have likely driven straight past the old farmhouse without a thought. That humble farmhouse houses a local organization: Sobers Sisters Recovery.
SSR has been in operation at the farmhouse since 2016. The property, which belongs to the city, was leased to the nonprofit organization at a time when we were in the height of the opioid crisis locally and across the entire country. Four and a half years later as COVID-19 has affected us all, the opioid crisis has taken something of a back seat in terms of the attention it gets, but for the men and women in the trenches, the struggle to recover from substance abuse disorder has not gone away.
According to Mone Cassier, co-founder and executive director of SSR, since its humble beginning, SSR has serviced 70-plus women with a success rate around 50%. In order to be accepted to SSR, an applicant must commit to a stay at the farmhouse of at least six months, agree to work and pay rent each week, as well as other conditions for staying in the house and program. According to Mone, “Everyone that has lived at SSR for any length of time is considered a part of the SSR alumni family.”
Like many organizations, the pandemic has had an effect on the daily operations of the house, but Mone says the program is now back on track and the house is filled to capacity, with each of the residents working within local recovery friendly businesses.
As September is National Recovery Month, I asked Mone how the public could help the program. Her reply is one worth repeating in full in my opinion, “The public could help by knowing we are all in this together! Be willing to learn more about what type of service we provide and how substance use disorder can affect all of us. Love each other, and tell each other as much as possible. Recovery is possible and it is an amazing way to live.
So next time you go to the ‘farm” to drop off your leaves or brush, you will hopefully give a second look at the farmhouse, which has been refurbished both inside and out since it’s former life as the Malley Farm Boys Home. For more information, go to sober-sisters.org.
I just want to mention here, that if you don’t have transport but have leaves this fall, Somerworth public works will offer its usual pick up options during the week of Oct. 19-23, with bagged leaves pick up taking place the following week of Oct. 26-30. So be sure to mark your calendars.
Wow, when I think about it, it’s hard to believe that we are almost in October and I’m sure I’m not alone in that thought. Halloween is just around the corner but in a sense you can experience Halloween all year round here in Somersworth thanks to the imagination and passion of the owner of the 1886 Barbershop, Jessie Van Deinse. Even before you step into the 4 Main St. business, you get a sense things are not going to be exactly what you might at a typical barbershop.
The window displays are always imaginative and always arouse attention anytime of the year. Jessie’s main mode of transport can often be found parked on Main Street: a very stylish 1994 Hearse. Step into the shop itself and you could be mistaken for thinking you have taken a step back in a time.
You see, Jessie happily mixes his fascination for the macabre, curious and darn right odd with the professionalism of his work. As a barber, Jessie takes pride in each and every haircut. One thing is for sure, you will never be bored. It seems every nook and cranny is packed full of Jessie’s other passions, which include funeral parlors, churches and any oddity that simply takes his fancy.
Jessie and his crew of three are happy to offer services such as classic haircuts, skin fades and straight razor hot towel shaves. At present an appointment is required per the state regulations and you can discover more at 1886barbershop.com.
That’s it for this week but I will be back. In the meantime, stay safe and above all be kind to each other as we are all in this together.
This article first appeared in Fosters Daily Democrat on September 21st, 2020.