Category: News

Covid-19 news

State health officials announced 585 new positive cases of Covid-19 on May 13. The state averaged 524 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, an 8 percent increase compared to the week before. As of May 13 there were 31 people being treated for Covid in state hospitals.

Child care

The Department of Health and Human Services will use an additional $29 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support child care providers, families and businesses impacted by the pandemic, making the total amount of funding that has been invested in the state’s child care sector more than $142 million since the beginning of the pandemic. According to a press release, plans for improving child care in the state include strengthening the child care workforce; partnerships with businesses and employers; a child care capacity building; and equitable access to affordable, quality child care. “Access to quality child care has been a critical touchpoint during the Covid-19 pandemic,” DHHS Associate Commissioner Christine Santaniello said in the release. “Since March of 2020, we have worked … to keep child care centers open so that parents can continue to work and maintain their families’ financial stability. Making continued investments will help us build a better child care system, allowing more families to afford quality care, and ensuring equitable access to child care for all New Hampshire families.”

Primary deadlines

The deadline to change your party affiliation before the New Hampshire state primary election is May 31, according to a press release from New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan. Voters who want to change their party affiliation can do so by contacting their local town or city clerk, or at any scheduled meeting of their local supervisors of the checklist. Voters can check their status on the Secretary of State’s Voter Information Lookup page at app.sos.nh.gov if they’re unsure of their party affiliation. Voters who have not declared a party affiliation may vote in the state primary, which will take place Sept. 13, but they must choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot on the day of the election and will remain a registered member of that party unless they submit a signed request to the supervisors of the checklist to return to an undeclared status before leaving the polling place, the release said.

Scanlan also issued a reminder that the filing period for candidacy for the state primary election and general election is June 1 to June 10. Those who want to file for office but aren’t registered voters in their town must register no later than May 31, and registered voters who want to file for nomination must be registered as a member of that party, the release said. For more information on the filing period, candidacy fees and qualifications for office, visit sos.nh.gov.

Apprentices & LNAs

ApprenticeshipNH, the Community College System of New Hampshire, Catholic Medical Center and Elliot Health System have collaborated to launch a registered apprenticeship program designed to cultivate talent in nursing, tech and support roles at The Elliot and CMC. According to a press release, the “earn while you learn” approach will give participants a chance to engage in classroom learning and on-the-job training while being in a paid position. “I can’t recall a point in my career when it has been this challenging to fill these positions,” Karen Schoch, Director of Organizational Development at Catholic Medical Center, said in the release. “A program like this not only helps us place people in critically important positions, it also removes barriers for people who want to pursue a health care career.” A Healthcare Career Fair at Manchester Community College will be held Thursday, May 19, from 1 to 6 p.m., and anyone interested in entering the health care workforce through a paid registered apprenticeship program is encouraged to attend.

Meanwhile, the New Hampshire Needs Caregivers! initiative has launched Healthcare Heroes in the Making, which will recruit, train and place high school students across the state as licensed nursing assistants to fill critical in-demand positions. According to a press release, the program pays for training and licensing costs and requires 110 hours of time and is open to high schools across the state; so far, 16 schools and 72 students have been approved to participate.

Earlier this month, John Askew of Derry won the 2022 9-Ball Shootout Pool Championship — and a cash and prize package worth $10,000 — in Las Vegas. According to a press release, Askew was one of nearly 6,000 pool players in the country who attempted to qualify for the American Poolplayers Association’s 9-Ball Shootout and one of 518 who advanced to the national finals. Askew is a member of the local APA League, the release said.

The Goodwill store on John E. Devine Drive in Manchester celebrated its grand re-opening on May 14. According to a press release, the store has been renovated to include smoother checkout lanes, a Handpicked Boutique where shoppers can find quality merchandise and more items for sale. The nonprofit’s revenues go toward its mission to support those in need.

The new school superintendent who was selected by the Nashua Board of Education is not able to be certified in New Hampshire as was expected, and he will not be able to serve the district, according to a press release. Stephen Linkous is certified as a school superintendent in Kansas, and it was assumed that there is reciprocity between Kansas and New Hampshire, the release said, but there is not, and Linkous can’t be certified in New Hampshire. Linkous had already started transitioning to the role, and the Board of Education voiced its appreciation for his efforts.

Covid-19 news

State health officials reported 267 new cases of Covid-19 on May 9. The state averaged 516 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, a 31 percent increase from the week before. As of May 9 there were 20 hospitalizations statewide.

Homelessness report

Last week, the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness released its annual report on the State of Homelessness in New Hampshire. According to a press release, the report shows that the number of unsheltered homeless people more than doubled across the state from 2020 to 2021, with 4,682 total unduplicated individuals and people in families experiencing homelessness in the 2021 calendar year – “likely because of the pandemic’s impact over the two fiscal years.” There were some successes, like 17 percent less family homelessness, “likely due to the comprehensive homeless prevention programs implemented utilizing the significant infusion of federal Covid-19 resources in NH.” The report was compiled using data from state and federal sources, including the Homeless Management Information System and the State of New Hampshire Official Point-In-Time Count (conducted on Jan. 23, 2021, the Point-in-Time Count identified 1,491 people, including children, who were homeless during a 24-hour timeframe). “It is important to understand the underlying impact that the pandemic has had on people experiencing homelessness in New Hampshire. This knowledge, along with this report’s clear picture of who the homeless population is in our state, lends itself to identifying where our energy should be placed — what policy changes, funding investments, and program recommendations should be considered,” Stephanie Savard, Director of the NHCEH, said in the release. Meanwhile, a new study from NHCEH and the University of NH School of Social Work is currently underway exploring the perceptions and experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Color who currently or formerly experienced homelessness in a predominantly white rural state, the release said.

DHHS website

The decade-old New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services website has been redesigned with new and enhanced customer-centric features so visitors can more easily find the information they need. According to a press release, the dhhs.nh.gov address will remain the same, but there will be new site features like an easy-to-use search function with tags and categories, and a “How Can I Help You” box prominently displayed on the homepage, with a list of most requested topics. Dropdown menus feature popular programs and services, and new sections include Apply for Assistance, Doing Business with DHHS, and Reports, Regulations & Statistics. Enhanced accessibility options include the ability to change text size, make the cursor larger and change the contrast, text spacing and font, and the site can be translated into any language supported by Google Translate. The first DHHS logo was created as part of the website redesign and shows a person surrounded by the supports and services the department provides.

AED awareness

The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Emergency Services and Communications has partnered with PulsePoint to improve and update the state’s AED registry. According to a press release, an automated external defibrillator, which delivers an electric shock to the heart, can be deployed by anyone and can help keep a heart attack victim alive until treatment arrives. In 2012, the state established an AED registry and further required the registration of all AEDs in the state, in part to identify fixed-location AEDs based on associated telephone numbers for inclusion in the Enhanced 9-1-1 system’s database. But nearly 80 percent of all calls to 9-1-1 now come from cell phones, and those callers need to be directed to an AED associated with their location. With PulsePoint, registered AEDs can be displayed on a map visible to telecommunicators taking 9-1-1 calls, so they can get the caller to a nearby AED, and PulsePoint’s data integrates with software that guides telecommunicators by providing medical instructions that can be relayed to the caller. Anyone deploying an AED in New Hampshire is required by law to register it with the Division of Emergency Services and Communications.

Road project meeting

A public Alternatives Meeting about intersection improvements at South Willow Street and Weston Road in Manchester will be held Wednesday, May 18, at 6 p.m. at the Department of Public Works at 475 Valley St., Manchester. According to a press release, HDR Inc., the city’s consultant, will discuss the project’s purpose and recommended improvements. The main purpose of the meeting is to present the identified alternatives, the pros and cons of each, and a detailed narrative of why the proposed action best meets the project’s purpose. Comments will be collected on the project’s objectives, proposed design alternatives and recommended action for the intersection improvements.

The Honorable Jane E. Young was sworn in on May 2 as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire. According to a press release, Chief U.S. District Judge Landya McCafferty administered the oath of office at the federal courthouse in Concord. Young served as the Deputy Attorney General for the New Hampshire Department of Justice from 2018 to 2022 and has held various leadership positions in the office since she joined in 1992, the release said.

The First Parish Church in East Derry will be selling military flags and patriotic flowers the weekends of May 21 and May 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by the church parking lot at 47 E. Derry Road. According to a press release, all donations will go toward the rehabilitation of the 275-year-old building.

Dr. Norman W. Crisp Elementary School in Nashua has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Children’s Literacy Foundation, which will go toward books for classrooms and students as well as author visits and other special literacy-based events that encourage reading for knowledge and pleasure. According to a press release, the grant is awarded to elementary and middle schools serving pre-K through grade 6 that have demonstrated a commitment to literacy and creative ideas for celebrating reading and writing.