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STAY AT HOME 2.0 NEW HAMPSHIRE FLEXES FOR THE ECONOMY

Despite the still active stay at home order, Governor Sununu announced today that there will be certain sectors of the state that will be allowed to service the communities in a larger capacity.  Sununu said that these businesses are not required to open but should they want to, there have been guidelines put together by a large task force with safety being the first priority.

Beginning now, hospitals will be able to schedule time sensitive procedures and surgeries.  The types of procedures mentioned during the conference were MRI’s, CT Scans, knee and hip replacements for chronic pain and biopsies.   Please reach out to your provider for more information.

Campgrounds can open immediately and only for New Hampshire residents and members of private campgrounds.  There will be additional physical distancing restrictions in place.

Interior state parks can remain open and health and safety guidelines can be found online.  However the governor is keeping beaches closed due to their close proximity to Massachusetts and the chance of spreading the virus through out of state visitors.

Manufacturing is still considered an essential industry and no additional restrictions were mentioned during the conference however, the state will continue to provide guidance for safety.

On May 11th, the state of New Hampshire will provide guidance to allow golf courses to open in a limited capacity.  Like campgrounds, golf courses will only be opened to New Hampshire residence and with restrictions.  Golfing itself won’t look any different but there won’t be any clubhouses open and food and beverage service will have its own restrictions.

Also beginning the 11th, barber shops and salons will be allowed to resume operations with strict guidelines surrounding the number of occupants allowed in the building, appointments will be available by reservation only for simple cuts and coloring.  Face coverings will be required for the client and stylist.

Drive-in movie theaters will also be allowed to open beginning the 11th.  There will be guidelines for proper social distancing, no congregating in the bathrooms, or other areas and like golf, food and beverage will have its own set of rules to follow.

Last thing we can expect to see reopening is retail establishments on the 11th.  Face coverings will be required for employees.  Strict sanitation guidelines have been put forth.  Social distancing practices will also be required.

May 18th will bring us the opening of outdoor seating for restaurants.  The outdoor fresh air seating will be a safer step for restaurants and New Hampshire residents should people traveling from other states be patronizing the restaurants.  The governor saw it as a way to ease into the reopening of this category and hopes that cities and towns will go easy on their own restrictions so that restaurants can get creative about where to seat guests outside.  Tables must be 6 feet apart, there can be no more than 6 in a party, face coverings must be worn by servers and restaurants need to follow all DPH and NHRLA regulations.

For more information on the above and the detailed guidelines that are in place until May 31st, please visit NH.gov.

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The White Mountain Independent Discounted Gift Certificate Sale Starts Tomorrow at 9AM SHARP! Set Your Alarm Now!

SET YOUR ALARMS! The White Mountain Independents are kicking off their 30% OFF Online Gift Certificate Sale tomorrow, May 2nd, at 9am sharp!

Today with Gino and The Magic Morning Show, Greg Vander Veer from The Christmas Loft called in to tell us about the reasons to shop local(now more than ever) and why you should take advantage on this fantastic offer. Mother’s Day, Graduations, and Father’s Day are right around the corner. Plus, our local stores need out support and we need to save money, so this is great way to do both. Check out the interview below!

(NOTE: We have received reports of audio issues from iPhone users, please let us know if you have any issues and what platform you are listening on at office@wmwv.com – Thank you for your understanding!)

 

Remember… TOMORROW MORNING AT 9AM SHARP! These gift certificates will go fast so do not wait! Get a $25 Gift Certificate for $17.50 for over 20 stores! Give back to this great community that we all know and love!

Go to WHITEMOUNTAININDEPENDENTS.COM for more details and to buy your gift certificates!

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NEW MUSIC: Marshmello & Halsey – Be Kind

Marshmello and Halsey have teamed up for a BRAND NEW SONG called “Be Kind”. According to Billboard; It feels like a lifetime since Halsey arrived in the big league via her collaboration with another EDM act The Chainsmokers, on 2016’s “Closer.” Click below to listen to the song and enjoy the lyric video.

For the FULL BILLBOARD ARTICLE CLICK HERE.

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MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN NORTH CONWAY SPEAKS ABOUT PLANS TO RESUME “NORMAL”OPERATIONS

In the past 24 hours, the state has reported 44 new cases and 6 new deaths from COVID-19.  Tim Kershner, Director of Relations and public affairs joined the team at Memorial Hospital in January of last year; coming to us from Penn State University where he served as their Director of strategic communications. 

Since March he has had quite the experience with his new job.  Taking steps toward a new unknown normal is tricky and here’s what he has to say:  “Memorial Hospital is going to follow the recommendations from the CDC and the New Hampshire Department of Health when we start to look at reopening.  But I can tell you that when we do release our plans for resuming operations,   patients can look to be welcomed back in phases with procedures and surgeries where further delay could cause some adverse consequences taking the highest priority.”  Knowing patients are still having troubles unrelated to Coronavirus is a serious concern.

Tim Kershner has been dedicated to our health system even before he arrived and his quote from the mainehealth.org website shows his enthusiasm for our community and the strength of Memorial Hospital.  “Memorial Hospital is an organization that has long delivered great care, and coming here to tell that story and keep the organization connected to its patients and the larger community is a tremendous opportunity,” said Kershner. “With the backing of MaineHealth, the region’s premier health system, the future is very bright here, and I’m excited to be a part of it.” 

Kershner is now part of history in the Mount Washington Valley.  He is currently using local media outlets to relay information and help our community.   In an informative recent interview on WMWV’s drive time segment, his colleagues President Art Mathisen and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Matthew Dunn and Emergency Management Coordinator Will Owen were available to let the Mount Washington Valley know what we can expect at this time from the hospital.  They go on to explain that they’re doing everything they can that’s clinically safe for patients who walk in the door in urgent or essential matters.  That current patient concerns are also theirs, even now.

But how do we move forward?  Tim Kershner goes on: “We do expect that when we start to resume normal operations, we’ll do it in phases, with the realization that COVID-19 will be part of our lives for some time to come.”    

NH is waiting until tomorrow to get Governor Sununu’s orders regarding the the extention of New Hampshire’s  emergency orders.  In theory, public health officials are ready to preform  1,500 test per-day and that the addition of five new testing sites would make that possible.  He also notes the growing cases in Massachusetts , the outbreaks in Salem and Dover senior facilities but says that the percentage of positive cases is only improving. 

Stay tuned for more details.

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SAU20 Superintendent David Backler Says He Couldn’t Be More Proud Of His Staff and Students During This Time

Superintendent David Backler called in to the Magic Morning Show to discuss “remote learning” and how it’s been going for SAU20 up in Gorham, NH. Superintendent Backler talked with Gino about the beginning process and how pleased he was with his staff on how they handled getting everything up and running. They also talked about the response of the students and staff when it comes to the transition and how the meal program for SAU20 has been working . Superintendent Backler told us that there is a plan in the works for the end of the school year at SAU20 however nothing is set is stone. When it comes to graduation and the Class of 2020, he explained that they would like to do at least something small for them on the actual graduation date which is June 5th, but it still being worked out.  Give the interview a listen below.

(NOTE: We have received reports of audio issues from iPhone users, please let us know if you have any issues and what platform you are listening on at office@wmwv.com – Thank you for your understanding!)

 

To learn more about the SAU 20 who provides administrative support for the educational professionals in the school districts of Dummer, Errol, Milan, and The Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative go to SAU20.ORG

 

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The Cold River Radio Show is Staying Connected to the Valley Using Patreon

Jonathan Sarty, local musician and creator of The Cold River Radio Show talked with Roy Prescott yesterday all about how the Cold River Radio team has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Jonathan explained that obviously all of his LIVE shows had to be cancelled or postponed, however he’s been using this time to focus on some other projects that he’s always wanted to do and has really learned a lot when it comes the “streaming” world now that he has created a Patreon. Click below to listen to the interview.

(NOTE: We have received reports of audio issues from iPhone users, please let us know if you have any issues and what platform you are listening on at office@wmwv.com – Thank you for your understanding!)

 

For more information about the Cold River Radio Show and the Patreon please go to COLDRIVERRADIO.COM

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THE NORTH CONWAY VISITING NURSE HOME CARE AND HOSPICE CONTINUES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY

There are many heroes in our area and the Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice of North Conway employs many of them including Sandra Ruka, Executive Director.  She says it’s a whole new world for the non-profit and its employees.  “Coronavirus has definitely affected all our operations from office staff to clinical.  We have very much a reduced workforce in the office.  Everyone else is working remotely. Our clinicians are pretty much all working out seeing patients.”  Sandra goes on to explain that the business itself hasn’t been affected by the virus; and that they’re fortunate to have kept their same level of service without turning anyone away for home service or hospice care.  “However it is a vastly different world with everybody working remotely and following all the guidelines that we need to to protect our staff and our patients.”

The Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice provides a huge array of services from skilled nursing and home maker related duties to physical, occupational and speech therapy to end of life care.  The need to visit client homes is inevitable.  It’s one thing to practice social distancing, but what happens when home visits need to happen despite the pandemic?  And what happens, especially, if Coronavirus is detected in the residence?

Executive Director Ruka outlines for us the protocol for Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice staff is to make those visits wearing full protective PPE gear and they help the families of the patients too.  “Thanks to the effort of an amazing group of volunteers we’ve been able to provide cloth masks to all our patients and their family members.”   Yesterday the organization’s  first “dream team” started making an emergency supply of Tyvek protective gowns to ensure the safety of the clinical staff and clients. 

In a recent post on the Visiting Nurse Home Care Hospice of Carroll County they thank their staff with the following message: “Thankful for our amazing staff selflessly serving the home care needs of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We celebrate and recognize the contributions of the nurses, home health aides, homemakers, support staff, social workers, therapists, and hospice workers who continue to provide care to clients in their homes and in keeping the office running smoothly.  We would also like to extend our thanks to the volunteers who have made hundreds of masks to keep our staff and clients safe.  We thank them for fulfilling our mission in these most difficult times, providing exceptional home health care enabling independent living and quality of life for our clients and their families.”

For more information about the Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice organization, please visit: www.vnhch.org.