Bill signing

Gov. Chris Sununu signed a number of bills into law on July 28, according to a press release, including SB 215, which aims to address the national shortage of nurses by allowing fully qualified individuals to join the workforce and contribute their nursing skills across various settings; SB 268, which allows for pre-hospital treatment and transportation for supporting K9 members of law enforcement, search and rescue and military operations, ensuring that the animals receive the necessary resources for their health and safety while serving and protecting the communities; SB 161, which aims to provide clean energy benefits to low-income families who have been particularly impacted by inflation and high energy costs, to facilitate a fair and equitable energy transition for all residents; and HB 249, which establishes regulatory standards for the pet insurance industry and allows restaurant owners to keep their companion dogs on the premises. Gov. Sununu vetoed one bill, according to the release; SB 42 would have allowed interest-free loans to be provided to individuals who received benefits they were not eligible for due to manipulating the system. In response to the veto, New Hampshire Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis and Deputy Commissioner Richard Lavers expressed appreciation for the governor’s decision, stating that it is crucial to discourage such behavior and uphold honesty and integrity in the program.

Help for kids

Granite VNA is reintroducing the “Helping Heal with Others” (H2O) program, providing support for grieving children ages 6 to 18 and their families. According to a press release, the monthly program offers coping skills and peer support, aiding children in experiencing and processing grief. Led by agency staff and volunteers, the sessions incorporate age-appropriate creative activities, pet therapy and stress management techniques to encourage healing. Concurrently, the program offers supportive sessions for accompanying parents and caregivers. A drop-in information session will take place on Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH in Concord. From Sept. 9, 2023, to June 8, 2024, H2O will run on the second Saturday of each month. The program is offered at no charge, and participants will receive lunch during each session. To register, call 224-4093, ext. 82822, or visit granitevna.org.

Consumer help

The New Hampshire Insurance Department’s Consumer Services Unit has released its statistics for Fiscal Year 2023, revealing a record-breaking recovery of approximately $6 million for New Hampshire consumers. Throughout the year, the unit processed 1,078 consumer complaint investigations, 4,086 assistance requests and 88 applications for external health review, according to a press release. The unit’s mission is centered around educating, navigating and investigating to assist residents with insurance-related issues. Consumers can contact the Consumer Services unit for assistance and guidance on insurance matters by calling 271‐2261 or by email at [email protected].

Dental assistants

Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) is addressing the community’s dental health concerns by partnering with the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center (HACTC) to offer scholarships for their new dental assisting program. According to a press release, the program is an online certificate program that provides hands-on work experience as dental assistant trainees with participating dental offices and aims to increase the local dental workforce and improve access to dental care. Students interested in the program can contact Aron Tomlinson at [email protected] or calling 802-359-4752.

Firefighter grants

The New Hampshire delegation, including Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, has announced more tha $700,000 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program funding for fire departments in rural New Hampshire towns, including Errol, New Hampton, Surry and Warren. According to a press release, the grants will be used to enhance the safety and training of firefighters and to purchase necessary equipment, such as a tanker vehicle, firefighter turnout gear, vehicle extrication equipment and firefighter breathing apparatus.

Certification

Joshua Mann, Chief of Operations, Radio Communications Maintenance for the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Emergency Services and Communications, has achieved the Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) designation, a prestigious initiative aimed at elevating professionalism and recognizing excellence in the public safety communications industry. According to a press release, the program, established in 2016, consists of two 12-week online courses and a 10-day capstone seminar at APCO headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida, focused on equipping participants with essential skills to lead organizations in the complex and ever-changing environment of public safety agencies

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH) has announced the return of the Collaborative Regional Alliances for Farmer Training (CRAFT) of Farming for its fifth season. According to a press release, the program features on-farm workshops in summer and early fall, aimed at building farming skills and fostering community among local growers, aspiring farmers and consumers. The 2023 CRAFT season starts at Callie’s Creamery, an organic micro-dairy in Peterborough, on Thursday, Aug. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. The workshop, focused on intensive rotational grazing and grassland management, is open to all, with free admission for farmers, farm workers and NOFA members, and a sliding scale fee of $5 to $15 for other attendees. Register at nofanh.org/craft.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) will begin work on a bridge replacement project on Route 107 in Deerfield at Freese’s Pond on Aug. 7. According to a press release, the work will require a full closure of the section for 30 days, with detours for southbound and northbound traffic. This is part of a larger $975,000 effort to replace the bridge, which is expected to be completed by Nov. 3, 2023.

The Upper Room in Derry is providing backpacks filled with school supplies for the new academic year. According to a press release, families enrolled in Upper Room programs can register to receive backpacks in late August. The organization is seeking donations of backpacks, folders, notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, highlighters, index cards and loose-leaf paper. Around 75 to 100 children will benefit from the annual backpack distribution day. Donations can be dropped off at The Upper Room’s front desk on Tsienneto Road until Aug. 21.