RUMFORD – Just take the time to relax.

That was the underlying message provided by Dr. Angella Roberts, an in-town chiropractor who brought ideas on how to defuse stress, particularly as the holidays draw near, to the River Valley Healthy Community Coalition Wednesday afternoon.

“Coping with stress all starts in the head,” she said. “Positive thinking will get you a long way.”

She also walked the group through a relaxation technique that is almost guaranteed to slow the pulse rate and give a feeling of peace and quietude.

It all starts with sitting comfortably, turning down the lights, and tuning out the noise – and eliminating thoughts of what must be done, what’s waiting for action. Just relax, she said.

With eyes closed, body comfortable and a clear mind, slowly breath in and out. Slowly and in turn, contract each muscle, hold, then release. This is for every muscle from the tip of the toes to the neck.

“Stress is a choice,” she said. “We can choose to be happy or sad. If life gets hectic, ask what you can do, then do what can be done right now.”

Also at the board meeting, Project NOW coordinator Carol Emery said a group of teens has organized to try to get the town to change a policy that so far has allowed smoking at the ballfields and other recreation areas in Andover.

“We were very well received by selectmen and they agreed to take the matter under consideration,” said Emery.

Project NOW works to eliminate smoking among youth and others and is funded by the tobacco settlement money.

Kim Sequoia, coordinator of One Maine, another subgroup of the coalition, said she is also working with the recreation departments of Rumford and Mexico to try to make the same changes in the ballfields and other activity areas of each town.