Category: News

Covid-19 update	As of June 28	As of July 2
Total cases statewide	99,455	99,555
Total current infections statewide	155	181
Total deaths statewide	1,371	1,372
New cases	126 (June 22 to June 28)	100 (June 29 to July 2)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	25	38
Current infections: Merrimack County	11	12
Current infections: Rockingham County	35	42

Covid-19 news

On June 30, Gov. Chris Sununu announced in a press release that both the State Emergency Operations Center and the Joint Information Center, both in operation since March 2020, would close at 4 p.m. that afternoon. “With minimal community transmission, we no longer find ourselves in an immediate emergency situation,” Sununu said in a statement. According to the release, ongoing pandemic operations will transition to the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services.

State health officials announced 35 new positive cases of Covid-19 in New Hampshire on July 2. The state averaged 25 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, a 25-percent increase compared to the previous week. Covid vaccinations, meanwhile, were at 55 percent statewide as of July 2.

Voter law

The 2107 voter registration law that created a new process for people to prove they are residents of New Hampshire if they registered to vote within 30 days of an election or on Election Day has been struck down by the New Hampshire Supreme Court. According to a press release, the court agreed with a Superior Court ruling that the new process is confusing, could deter people from registering and voting and “imposes unreasonable burdens on the right to vote.” The decision was a unanimous 4-0 vote. After the ruling, Gov. Chris Sununu issued the following statement: “It’s disappointing that these common-sense reforms were not supported by our Supreme Court, but we have to respect their decision and I encourage the Legislature to take the court’s opinion into account and continue working to make common-sense reforms to ensure the integrity of New Hampshire’s elections.”

Diversity council

On June 29, 10 members of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion sent a collective resignation letter to Gov. Chris Sununu. “On June 25, 2021, you signed into law a provision that aims to censor conversations essential to advancing equity and inclusion in our state, specifically for those within our public education systems, and all state employees. This will directly impact those who are working with some of our state’s most vulnerable populations, including educators, child welfare workers, and law enforcement,” the letter read. The 10 members, who make up more than half of the council, said the new law conflicts with Council’s purpose of finding ways to combat discrimination and advance diversity and inclusion. “Given your willingness to sign this damaging provision and make it law, we are no longer able to serve as your advisors,” the letter read. According to a June 29 report from WMUR, that provision was titled, “Right to Freedom From Discrimination in Public Workplaces and Education” and was authored by Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro. He said in early June the provision focused on “strengthening protections for people of all characteristics — gender identity, sexual orientation, age, sex, creed, color, race, family situation, marital situation, disabilities either mental or physical, national origin or religion,” and that it was crafted carefully to ensure that it would not ban workplace sensitivity training addressing race, sexual orientation or other personal characteristics, nor does it restrict state university system and community college system faculty from teaching or discussing the historical existence of discrimination, the WMUR report said. Bradley said the amendment asserts that “no one is inherently superior or inferior. So we say it’s discrimination if you say, if you instruct, if you teach that someone is inferior or superior,” according to WMUR. But Democrats on the council say the language is discriminatory. According to their resignation letter, they sent letters to Sununu asking him to oppose the provision and requesting a meeting with him to discuss possible alternatives. Once the bill passed with the provision as written by Bradley, the following members resigned: Dr. Dottie Morris, Devon Chaffee, Maria Devlin, Sharon Harris, James Maggiore, Dr. Salman Malik, Dr. James Morse, Pawn Nitichan, Sheriff Eliezer Rivera and Allyson Ryder. “It should not be taken lightly that nearly every member of the Council that is not part of your administration is resigning today,” the letter said.

Insurance fraud

In the past 12 months, the New Hampshire Insurance Department investigated 18 insurance fraud cases and submitted them for criminal prosecution. According to a press release, the fraud cases included false claims related to food poisoning, disability claims, workers’ compensation claims, buying policies “after” the losses and misrepresenting the date and time to get coverage, mysterious disappearance of jewelry, and numerous fake medical records. Deputy Commissioner D.J. Bettencourt said in the release that the main mission of the department is to protect consumers from insurance fraud, which leads to higher premiums. When a person attempts to obtain a benefit they are not entitled to, or when an insurer knowingly denies someone’s legitimate claim, it is considered insurance fraud. The insurance department investigates these cases once the victim files a consumer complaint form, or when an insurance company reports a suspicious claim.

Child advocates wanted

As CASA of New Hampshire prepares for an anticipated increase in the rate of reported abused and neglected children once school is back in session, the organization is offering learning and training opportunities for anyone interested in being a volunteer advocate. According to a press release, these sessions, which are being held throughout the summer, will prepare new volunteers to begin providing support this fall. “Over the past 16 months, CASA staff has been concerned about the impact the pandemic has had on children who’ve experienced abuse and neglect, shielded from the watchful eyes of teachers and other caregivers,” Carolyn Cote, CASA’s communications director, said in the release. “We’ve seen many instances where the stressors that challenge families, including substance misuse, mental health and domestic violence, have been amplified during the past year.” Virtual information sessions are being held twice a month over the summer, on Wednesdays, July 14, July 21 and Aug. 11, at 5:30 p.m. and on Aug. 25 at 12:30 p.m. New volunteer training sessions are all virtual. The summer training session is a combination of day and evening hours, and it runs for six weeks beginning July 14. The first fall training session is daytime only, running twice a week for five weeks beginning Sept. 13. Applications should be submitted two weeks before the first day of training to allow adequate time for the interview and acceptance process. Visit casanh.org to find out more or to apply.

Catholic Medical Center in Manchester has named Alex Walker as the new president and CEO of CMC. According to a press release, Walker will take over the position left by Dr. Joseph Pepe, who retired after 31 years at CMC, starting out as a primary care physician in 1990 and becoming CEO in 2012. Walker was most recently executive vice president and chief operating officer of CMC, the release said.

The Community College System of New Hampshire announced last week that Dr. Mark Rubinstein will be its next chancellor. He is currently president of Granite State College in Concord, according to a press release, and his new job will begin Sept. 1, when current chancellor Dr. Susan Huard retires.

The Nashua International Sculpture Symposium will unveil its 1000 Origami Peace Cranes for Nashua project on Thursday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the atrium at St. Joseph Hospital. The community is welcome to attend and enjoy food, drinks and music, according to the event’s Facebook page, and to view the paper cranes, which were folded by hundreds of local participants of all ages.

Covid-19 update	As of June 21	As of June 28
Total cases statewide	99,329	99,455
Total current infections statewide	196	155
Total deaths statewide	1,367	1,371
New cases	186 (June 15 to June 21)	126 (June 22 to June 28)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	55	25
Current infections: Merrimack County	13	11
Current infections: Rockingham County	32	35

Covid-19 news

State health officials announced 19 new positive cases of Covid-19 in New Hampshire on June 28. The state averaged 21 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period (June 22 to June 28), a 10-percent decrease compared to the previous week.

As of June 28, just over 730,000 Granite Staters — roughly 53.9 percent of the state’s population — were fully vaccinated. State-run vaccination sites were set to close on June 30, but vaccine doses are still available at hundreds of locations statewide, including at many hospitals, pharmacies, outpatient offices and community health centers.

The United States Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit filed by the State of New Hampshire against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, according to a June 28 report from WMUR, over income taxes collected from roughly 80,000 Granite Staters working from home for Massachusetts companies during the pandemic.

“This decision will have lasting ramifications for thousands of Granite State residents,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement on June 28 following the ruling.

State budget passed

On June 25, Gov. Chris Sununu signed HB 1 and HB 2 into law and issued the following statement: “Historic tax cuts, property tax relief, and Paid Family Medical Leave delivered all in one sweeping action is a win for every citizen and family in this state.” House Speaker Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) applauded the actions, saying in a statement that the House passed a “historic budget that is balanced and fiscally responsible,” and that “Republicans delivered on tax cuts, reduced spending, education freedom, much needed mental health services and more without raising taxes or increasing spending.” NH House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) said in a statement that the budget includes more than $170 million in tax cuts and is “a major win for every single taxpayer in this state.” Democrats in the House disagreed. Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord), ranking Democrat on the House Finance Committee, said in a statement that the budget does not meet the needs of constituents and that cuts to vital programs and services will hurt the state’s most vulnerable residents. House Democratic Leader Renny Cushing (D-Hampton) said in a statement that the budget “harms our state by cutting education funding, raising property taxes, and forcing right-wing ideology on the people of New Hampshire.”

New Hampshire’s kids

Several state departments have recently announced programs and services designed to promote the quality of life of children and families throughout the state.

Mental health at camp: Community mental health centers in New Hampshire will be offering services at camps throughout the state this summer. According to a press release, the Department of Education and the Community Behavioral Health Association are using Covid-19 response funds to provide mental health training to camp counselors and will be on site offering mental health services at many camps in the state as well. These services are part of the Department of Education’s Rekindling Curiosity: Every Kid Goes to Camp program, which offers camp tuition support in an effort to get more kids outside and participating in normal activities to counteract some of the negative effects of the pandemic, the release said. The 10 community mental health centers in the state will each designate staff members to be on site at camps on a weekly basis, and camp counselors ages 14 and older will receive training to address basic mental health issues as well as any mental health crises that may arise.

Stabilizing child care: The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will use federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act to launch several new initiatives in the next few weeks, according to a press release, including stabilization grants to child care programs, workforce recruitment and retention efforts, and market rate increases for the NH Child Care Scholarship Program. All of the initiatives are designed to help residents who need access to child care return to work. According to the release, they include child care stabilization grants open to all licensed and enrolled license-exempt child care providers beginning July 12; child care scholarship increases for families enrolled in the NH Child Care Scholarship Program beginning July 12; child care workforce recruitment and retention efforts; a child care virtual job board; a pre-apprenticeship program to provide experience for people interested in a career in child care; and Open Your Home to Child Care, which will help people who are interested in becoming family child care providers and license-exempt home providers navigate the start-up process.

Charter school grants: The 2020-2021 federal charter school grant competition is now underway, with applications being accepted until 4 p.m. on July 22, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education. The grant funds will be used to start new public charter schools or to replicate and expand existing high-quality public charter schools and are being made available as part of the five-year, $46 million grant award the state received from the U.S. Department of Education in 2019. Over the next four years, the funds will aid in the creation of 20 new public charter schools and strengthen the existing charter school oversight infrastructure. According to the release, many of the state’s chartered public schools currently have long wait lists for student enrollment. Priority funds will be given to schools that target disadvantaged and at-risk student populations or that offer highly innovative models for advancing student achievement in a given field.

On Saturday, July 3, 13 New Hampshire communities will host readings of Frederick Douglass’ famous speech in which he asked, “What to the slave is your Fourth of July?” Hosted by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, the readings will be held most locally in Concord, Hopkinton, Nashua, Manchester and Warner. For exact times and locations, visit blackheritagetrailnh.org or call 570-8469.

There’s a new splash pad and playground in Manchester. According to a press release, on June 25 the water features were turned on for the first time during an opening ceremony at Sheehan-Basquil Park Splash Pad and Playground, located at 297 Maple St.

A mosquito batch collected in Bow last week tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. It’s the first time JCV has been found in mosquitoes in New Hampshire, though there have been a few cases in humans, including in Bow in 2020. Testing mosquitoes for JCV has not been part of routine surveillance until this year, the release said.

The Nashua Board of Education announced on June 28 that Dr. Garth McKinney will continue to serve as Superintendent of Schools on an extended interim basis. The board sent a message to all district families and staff informing them that McKinney, who has served as interim superintendent since late January while former Superintendent Jahmal Mosley transitioned to a new job in Massachusetts, will continue in his role until June 30, 2022.

Covid-19 update	As of June 14	As of June 21
Total cases statewide	99,143	99,329
Total current infections statewide	280	196
Total deaths statewide	1,363	1,367
New cases	202 (June 8 to June 14)	186 (June 15 to June 21)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	80	55
Current infections: Merrimack County	28	13
Current infections: Rockingham County	26	32

Covid-19 news

Gov. Chris Sununu began the state’s Covid-19 briefing on June 17 by announcing it would be the final weekly scheduled press conference. Future briefings will be held on an “as-needed basis.”

Due to a continued downward trend in positive cases and deaths from Covid-19 in New Hampshire, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan announced during the press conference that the state will be updating its guidance for face mask use. “We are now recommending that asymptomatic persons, that’s people who do not have symptoms or are not showing symptoms of Covid-19, can choose to go without face masks in most indoor and outdoor locations, particularly lower-risk settings,” he said. Businesses and organizations can still require face masks for people to enter their facilities, and, under federal regulations, health care facilities still require them as well. “As the numbers continue to decrease, the goal is to be able to pull back on use of some of these mitigation measures, particularly over the summer, when use of some things like face masks may be more difficult,” Chan said.

Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, also announced that the state will no longer conduct contact tracing for Covid-19 exposures in community settings outside of people’s homes. “We will still continue to require quarantine for people who live in the same household as a person with Covid-19,” she said, “and we’re going to continue to respond to any suspected outbreaks.”

Plummeting unemployment

Last week the May 2021 jobs report was released by New Hampshire Employment Security, showing that the state’s unemployment rate has dropped below the pre-pandemic unemployment rate of 2.7 percent in March 2020 to 2.5 percent now. According to a press release, it is one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and one of the lowest in the history of the Granite State. As part of its effort to help rebound from the highest levels of unemployment during the height of the pandemic, New Hampshire Employment Security has already held 21 virtual job fairs that have connected 8,702 job-seekers with 862 employers. “Such low unemployment rates are no accident, but are the result of a continued effort to provide businesses with the flexibility needed to grow, while providing individuals with the incentives and resources needed to return to work,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement after the May report was released.

DMV update

Last week an update of a comprehensive review of the state Division of Motor Vehicles was released, showing some of the steps that the DMV has taken since the review was issued in 2019.

The review was ordered after the crash in Randolph that killed seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club and the revelation that a backlog within the Massachusetts DMV system had led to a failure to suspend the license of the truck driver at fault, according to a press release. To ensure that New Hampshire would never be in a similar situation, the review provided short-term and long-term recommendations to improve its processes. One of the recommendations that was fulfilled earlier this month was implementing the State to State Verification Service, making New Hampshire the 34th state to use that service, which helps facilitate the exchange of convictions with other states, the release said. Other improvements include ensuring that processing times have remained current and without backlog; creating an Electronic Exchange of Records with Massachusetts, for notifications related to convictions and withdrawals; implementing the Commercial Driver Disqualification system, which allows the DMV to initiate immediate disqualification of commercial drivers and/or commercial motor carriers; online ticket payment and online not guilty pleas. According to the release, the DMV is also in the process of rolling out Online Motor Vehicle Record Requests and E-Crash and E-Ticketsystems to local police departments so that more of the tickets and accident reports received by the DMV will be electronic.

Help for students

Students whose learning was negatively impacted by the pandemic will find help in the YES! Program, according to the New Hampshire Department of Education. Last week the department announced that it will use $2 million of the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund from the CARES Act to support the program, which will provide direct relief to families in need in the form of scholarships. “Student academic performance data coming out of the pandemic will be different than normal,” Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut said in the release. “Some students thrived in pandemic learning, especially through strong home supports and the exercise of greater individual agency in their own education. Other students had difficulty accessing their education, often because of a lack of appropriate resources or an instructional model that was not conducive to their learning needs.” He said the YES! Program will engage students based on where they are and help them flourish without being stigmatized. There are three categories for scholarships, according to the release. In Category 1, eligible students are public school students who are at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level or with a disability. The scholarship amount is $1,000 and can be used for tutoring provided by department-certified educators or special education therapies and services provided by department-certified special education teachers or licensed therapists. In Category 2, eligible students are private/non-public school students (new or current) who are at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level or with a disability. The scholarship amount is $5,000 and can be used for tuition and fees at department-approved private schools. In Category 3, eligible students are private/non-public school students at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level, and they will receive $2,500 for tuition and fees at department-approved private schools.

The New Hampshire Telephone Museum in Warner will open its 2021 program series on Friday, June 25, with a virtual discussion that will explore whether privacy is dead. According to a press release, there will be online discussions each month, and the museum is also featuring a special exhibit on railroad communications. Visit NHTelephoneMuseum.org for details on virtual programming and in-person visits.

The Brentwood portion of Route 125 will be dedicated as the Officer Stephen Arkell Memorial Highway at a July 1 ceremony. According to a press release, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, Congressman Chris Pappas and Gov. Chris Sununu will be at the ceremony, which will be held at Swasey Central School at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. Arkell was shot and killed in 2014 after responding to a domestic dispute; he was a member of the Brentwood Police Department for 17 years, the release said.

Club Richelieu of Nashua will host a ceremony on Thursday, June 24, at 11 a.m. in Renaissance Park (Le Parc de la Renaissance Francaise) near the Nashua River on Water Street to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the statue that depicts a French-Canadian textile mill worker, and her son. According to club president Eric Drouart, the event will also highlight a new mural in the park with the portraits of eight Franco-American personalities, several of whom were active in fundraising for the statue.

Covid-19 update	As of June 7	As of June 14
Total cases statewide	98,941	99,143
Total current infections statewide	353	280
Total deaths statewide	1,357	1,363
New cases	215 (May 31 to June 7)	202 (June 8 to June 14)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	93	80
Current infections: Merrimack County	32	28
Current infections: Rockingham County	50	26

Covid-19 news

New Hampshire is on the brink of 100,000 overall confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic first began, but cases continue to be on a sharp decline. During the state’s most recent public health update on June 10, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said New Hampshire has averaged approximately 50 new infections per day over the previous week, with the average test positivity rate 1.6 percent. “Community transmission statewide continues to decrease,” Chan said. “A majority of our counties throughout the state are either now in a minimal, or a low or a moderate level of community transmission.”

The state has also now crossed the threshold of more than half of its population being fully vaccinated — 52.3 percent as of June 14 — or just over 700,000 people. “At this point, our supply is exceeding the demand, and there’s plenty of vaccine available,” Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, said later during the press conference. “There are over 450 locations now across New Hampshire that [have] access to the vaccine. This includes our hospitals, pharmacies, some outpatient provider offices, community health centers, as well as those community clinics that are being run by our local health departments and the Public Health Networks.”

Also during this press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that the Covid-19 state of emergency, in place for more than 15 months, would end at midnight on June 11. “The state will continue to remain at work under what we call a ‘public health incident,’” he said. “We have been for quite some time and that will stay in effect, and that’s necessary for Health and Human Services to employ staff and volunteers as needed.” Sununu originally declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic in mid-March 2020.

Budget approved

Manchester’s fiscal health and economic outlook are strong, Mayor Joyce Craig said in a statement last week, after the city’s FY2022 budget was adopted by the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen by a vote of 9-4, and after the city’s final FY2021 general fund expenditure and revenue forecast was released, showing an expected operating surplus of $2,928,500. Meanwhile, according to a press release, the Assessor’s Office is projecting $73.3 million in new valuation since December 2020, as a result of new construction. “In the last year, we’ve endured challenges some of us never thought possible,” Craig said in the statement. “With this budget, we are beginning to rebuild.” The budget also includes a 1.87-percent property tax increase, pushing the tax rate from $24.66 to $25.12, the release said. That increase equates to $4.2 million, with approximately $2.2 million allocated to the city and $2 million allocated to the schools.

No super yet

On June 8, the Nashua Board of Education sent out a letter thanking everyone in the community who contributed time and input to help find the next Superintendent of Schools for the Nashua School District, and announcing that the position is still vacant. “Regrettably, the Board was unable to reach consensus on the hiring of a candidate and, therefore, will be suspending the search until a later date,” the letter said. The board will continue to work with search consultants BWP and Associates and will communicate further information in the near future.

Staying substance-free

Creating Connections NH is bringing its Alternative Peer Groups to Nashua and Manchester. According to a press release, the groups offer youth with substance use disorders opportunities to engage in fun activities while developing healthy strategies and building relationships to maintain their recovery. The groups are led by young adults with experience in recovery, who are also trained to help youth maintain recovery despite the stresses of adolescence and young adulthood. Starting this month, Revive Recovery Center in Nashua will offer Alternative Peer Group activities for middle and high school youth every Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. and a Parenting in Recovery group on Fridays from 4 to 5 p.m., while Hope for NH Recovery in Manchester will offer Saturday group activities from 10 a.m. to noon. According to the release, the Creating Connections NH Project is a collaboration between the NH Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health and the Institute on Disability at UNH and is designed to support youth and young adults ages 12 to 25. The 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed that more than 26 percent of New Hampshire high school students smoke marijuana, 14 percent binge drink and 33 percent use electronic vaping products, the release said.

Affordable housing

On June 15, the Manchester Department of Planning and Community Development announced a Request for Proposals for $4.7 million to develop new affordable housing units in the city – a $3.7 million increase in funding for affordable housing projects that was originally allocated in the Mayor’s FY22 budget. According to a press release, these additional funds are from the federal HOME program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is the most funding that Manchester has allocated to affordable housing development since the HOME program was created more than 30 years ago. The funds will help create housing for individuals/families making between 30 percent and 80 percent of the Area Median Family Income, and require that these individuals not pay more than 30 percent of their annual income on total housing costs, the release said. Proposals are encouraged to include commercial space, market-rate residential units, public green space and public art, and are due July 16, at which time the requests will be reviewed by a selection committee that will then make recommendations to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for final approval, according to the release.

Molly Reckford, 28, who learned how to row at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, will compete on the U.S. Olympics rowing team in the lightweight women’s double, according to a June 11 report from WMUR. The Dartmouth College grad will head to Tokyo for the games this summer.

The fourth annual Pride Flag Raising will be held at Manchester City Hall on Friday, June 18, at noon. According to a press release, the event will be led by members of Queen City Pride and Mayor Joyce Craig.

On June 11, the daring jumping spider was signed into law as the official state spider of New Hampshire. According to a press release, Gov. Chris Sununu signed the bill at the Hollis Primary School with third-graders from the environmental science class that championed the bill.

The Nashua Public Library is supplying kids 18 and younger with free bag lunches throughout summer vacation. According to a press release, the program started June 16, and lunches are available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (except Monday, July 5). Bags of nonperishable food are also available, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food can be picked up by asking a staff member or using curbside pickup; no ID or registration is required.

Covid-19 update	As of May 30	As of June 7
Total cases statewide	98,726	98,941
Total current infections statewide	476	353
Total deaths statewide	1,353	1,357
New cases	377 (May 25 to May 30)	215 (May 31 to June 7)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	136	93
Current infections: Merrimack County	38	32
Current infections: Rockingham County	75	50

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on June 3, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that there was a daily average of between 50 and 60 new daily infections of Covid-19 in New Hampshire over the previous week, numbers that are “substantially down” from the peak of the most recent surge of cases over the winter, when averages were between 800 and 900. “We’re making great progress in bringing the number of new infections down,” Chan said. “Our test-positivity rate over the last week has averaged under 2 percent.”

More than 660,000 people in the Granite State, or just under 50 percent of the population, are now fully vaccinated as of June 3, according to Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services. “The state-run fixed sites are now closed for new people wanting to get vaccinated,” Daly said. “However, they will continue to provide those second-dose vaccinations through June … and there are many other locations to get vaccinated, either through hospitals, pharmacies, community health centers and community clinics run by our local health departments and the Public Health Networks.”

Later during the press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu announced plans for a few new Covid-related relief funds for certain business sectors in the state. They include a lodging relief program, a live venue assistance program, and a recoupment relief program for businesses that applied for grants but ended up experiencing better-than-anticipated revenues in 2020. “If you’re on the line to repay money back to the state, and really back to the federal government, they can now deduct Covid-related expenses to offset what they owe,” Sununu said. “So we’re creating a new program to allow these businesses to keep money, and we do that by allowing them to show us what their costs of Covid were.”

When asked about the United States-Canada border, and Canada’s role in New Hampshire’s tourism season, Sununu said that it “definitely has to be open.” The border remains closed to nonessential travel through at least June 21. “I understand Canada is way behind the United States in terms of vaccine distribution. In fact, if we have extra vaccine, I’m more than willing to give it to Canada. … We’re waiting to hear from the president,” Sununu said.

Psychiatric beds

As of June 7, New Hampshire had no adults in hospital emergency departments waiting for inpatient psychiatric treatment for the first time since the pandemic began. According to a press release, the Department of Health and Human Services has been following an executive order made by Gov. Chris Sununu on May 13 to implement immediate solutions that give New Hampshire residents experiencing a mental health crisis timely and appropriate medical care. This has included offering long-term care facilities a $45,000 per bed incentive to accept geropsychiatric patients from New Hampshire Hospital or the Glencliff Home, which has created an additional 25 beds at New Hampshire Hospital, the release said. The long-term plan will require increased community-based services; in the next month DHHS will present contracts to the Executive Council for mobile crisis response for all populations, contracting with children’s residential providers to provide continuum of care. The department will also continue its work to implement the 10-Year Mental Health Plan to further address barriers to mental health care, the release said.

School survey

Parents, educators and community members are being asked to take the 603 Bright Futures Survey, which was created to give the New Hampshire Department of Education insight into people’s thoughts on school districts’ responses to the pandemic, and how this past year’s experience should influence plans for fall learning. According to a press release, a similar survey last spring regarding remote learning and the return to school generated more than 56,000 responses, which helped the state create its K-12 Back to School Guidance plan. The 603 Bright Futures Survey is now open and will stay open until June 30. For families with children in K-12, preschool and private schools, the survey can be taken at bit.ly/nhdoefamily. For staff in public and private schools, the survey is at bit.ly/nhdoestaff. And for community members without children in local schools, the survey can be found at bit.ly/nhdoecommunity.

Help for Hampton

Hampton will have more help from the state to help keep the beach town safe this summer, according to a press release from the Department of Safety. Additional resources are being made available to the town to assist with operations, as part of a collaboration between local, county and state law enforcement agencies. There will be more patrols along the beach and surrounding roads, the release said, and the increased police presence is meant to keep large crowds safe and maintain a welcoming environment. “Travel is expected to be at record levels this summer across the country and New Hampshire, and Hampton is no exception,” Hampton Police Chief David Hobbs said in the release. “We are incredibly grateful for the collaboration between the New Hampshire State Police, county law enforcement, and the Hampton Police Department to ensure that visitors and residents enjoy all that Hampton has to offer this summer.”

More produce

Families participating in the NH Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program will be able to buy more fruits and vegetables this summer. According to a press release, the state is providing a temporary increase in benefits specifically for produce, provided by the US Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The program, which typically allocates a monthly stipend of $9 per child and $11 per mother for the purchase of fruits and vegetables, will temporarily provide $35 per person each month from June through September. WIC participants will be able to use the funds to purchase more fresh, canned, and frozen fruits and vegetables through 158 participating vendors across the state. The stipend will automatically be added to the eWIC benefit card, the release said.

The Contoocook Railroad Museum Visitor Center will be able to open for summertime hours, through Labor Day, thanks to a grant from the Kearsarge Area Chamber of Commerce. According to a press release, the site includes the historic 1849 depot, the world’s oldest surviving railroad covered bridge, a 1907 Pullman Coach car and a late 1800s section house, and it is located next to the Contoocook River in Village Square in Contoocook.

After being closed for nearly 60 years, the Lakeport Opera House in Laconia will be opening for the first performance in six decades, according to a press release. The Flutie Brothers Band, featuring former NFL star Doug Flutie and his brother Darren, will perform Saturday, June 12, at 8 p.m.

The Manchester Health Department, located at 1528 Elm St., is offering free walk-in vaccination clinics on Mondays from 9 to 11 a.m. and Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. for ages 12 and up. According to a press release, the clinics were scheduled to begin June 9. No appointment is necessary, and all three vaccine types will be available while supplies last.

The Southern New Hampshire Comic Bash will host the 2021 Nashua Comic Book Festival: Free Admission Special Edition on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Holiday Inn (9 Northeastern Boulevard, Nashua). According to the event website, there will be plenty of boxes of comic books, original comic art and comic-related collectibles. Masks will be required for all attendees and vendors. See nashuacomicfest.com.

Covid-19 update	As of May 24	As of May 30
Total cases statewide	98,349	98,726
Total current infections statewide	411	476
Total deaths statewide	1,344	1,353
New cases	575 (May 18 to May 24)	377 (May 25 to May 30)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	124	136
Current infections: Merrimack County	36	38
Current infections: Rockingham County	82	75

Covid-19 news

New cases of Covid-19 continue to be on a sharp decline in the Granite State. According to daily public health updates from the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, there was an average of 71 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period available (May 24 to May 30). That’s a decrease of about 37 percent compared to the previous seven-day period.

On May 28, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Executive Order 2021-10, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to the pandemic for another 14 days through at least June 11. It’s the 21st extension he has issued since declaring a state of emergency in March 2020.

State-managed fixed vaccination sites across New Hampshire have now closed to first-dose appointments, according to a press release from DHHS. As of June 1, each of the state-run sites is now only providing second-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations. There are more than 350 other locations across the state, including many hospitals and pharmacies, that will continue to administer first-dose appointments. According to the release, all of the state-managed sites will close on June 30.

District settlement

The United States Department of Justice announced last week a settlement agreement with the Nashua School District, following the department’s investigation into the district’s English language learner programs. According to a press release, the department “found widespread failures to provide these students with the instruction and support they need to learn English and participate fully in school.” The department commended the district for entering into the agreement and noted that the district was cooperative throughout the investigation and is committed to improving its programs and practices. According to the agreement, the Nashua School District will: Identify English learners and enroll them in appropriate classes; provide ESL instruction to all English learnear students, including students with disabilities; ensure the district has enough teachers certified to teach English as a second language; train teachers of academic core subjects like math, science and social studies on how to help English learner students understand the content; train school principals on how to evaluate teachers of English learner students; communicate school-related information in a language that Limited English Proficient parents can understand; and monitor students’ progress and the effectiveness of the English learner programs. The Justice Department will monitor the district for three full school years, the release said.

Mask lawsuit

In other school litigation, two local school districts are being sued by students’ parents who say their mask requirements are illegal. According to a May 28 report from WMUR, the parents are asking for an emergency order to prevent the districts from requiring students to wear face masks. The parents’ attorney, Robert Fojo, has filed two separate civil lawsuits against SAU 41, Hollis-Brookline, and SAU 25, Bedford, the latter for which he is also a plaintiff. According to the report, the lawsuits say that masks restrict breathing and have caused the plaintiffs’ children to develop acne and rashes on their faces, and as well as anxiety and headaches. Fojo said in the report that the mask requirement goes against a statute that prohibits any kind of restraint or behavior control technique. “Parents are exasperated and exhausted with these requirements. … It’s completely unnecessary and frankly, it’s akin to a form of child abuse,” Fojo said in the report. According to the report, Bedford requires masks in school, but they are not required at lunch, recess or for outdoor activities, and teachers provide mask breaks throughout the day, while Hollis-Brookline requires masks indoors and outdoors when social distancing cannot be met, and it also provides periodic mask breaks. Superintendents said they could not comment on pending litigation. A hearing for the Hollis-Brookline lawsuit is scheduled for June 4 and for Bedford’s on June 11, the report said.

Money saved

New Hampshire’s soup kitchens, food pantries, emergency shelters, family crisis centers and after-school programs will save a combined $400,000 each year as of June 1, when the New Hampshire Food Bank eliminated shared maintenance fees. It has been a long-time goal, according to a press release; as a Feeding America food bank, the New Hampshire Food Bank had charged its partner agencies a per-pound fee to cover the cost of warehousing and distributing food, with the fee set by Feeding America (currently 19 cents per pound). Now, with the help of many donors, those shared maintenance fees will be eliminated permanently, allowing the New Hampshire Food Bank’s 400+ partnering food pantries, neighborhood centers, low-income housing sites, senior nutrition centers, family crisis centers, hospices, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and day care centers to enhance their operations with the money they save.

DrugFreeNH

In light of Covid-19’s impact on substance misuse, The Partnership @DrugFreeNH (The Partnership) has restructured its organization and priorities and has relaunched it website, drugfreenh.org, which now provides up-to-date information and resources for individuals and families struggling with the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. According to a press release, New Hampshire American Medical Response released a report in May showing that overdose numbers are rising in Nashua and Manchester, and first responders are facing the new challenge of people ingesting dangerous mixtures of drugs, such as opioids and methamphetamine. The Partnership’s website offers current alcohol and other drug prevention information for individuals, schools, parents, health care providers, young adults, or anyone who works with or is interested in NH youth, and the I need Help Resource Page lists numerous supports and services. The Partnership is also launching a series of events over the coming months, including planning and advisory meetings, as well as training opportunities. If you’re interested in joining The Partnership, visit drugfreenh.org/contact-us.

Manchester is hosting a community clean-up along the downtown railroad on Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to a press release, the city’s Department of Public Works will begin on Bedford Street east of the Mill Girl Stairs and at the parking lot on the corner of Granite and Canal streets. Trash bags and gloves will be provided.

The National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils announced last week that three more New Hampshire schools will receive new $100,000 fitness centers as part of the Foundation’s Don’t Quit! Campaign. According to a press release, Londonderry Middle School, Portsmouth Middle School and the Groveton School in Groveton will unveil the fitness centers during ribbon-cutting ceremonies this fall.

On June 4, several local communities will host blood drives from noon to 6 p.m. According to a press release, drives will be held at the Milford Masonic Temple (30 Mt. Vernon St.), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (105 Wind Song Ave., Manchester), Bishop Peterson Hall (37 Main St., Salem) and IBEW Local 490 (48 Airport Road, Concord). Covid-vaccinated people can donate, and in most cases there is no waiting period. Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS to register.

The Nashua Public Library announced last week that library patrons can now use their cards to check out four free passes to a Nashua Silver Knights home game at Holman Stadium. Passes can be reserved at nashualibrary.org.