Local and regional news

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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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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.

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UPDATE FROM THE FRYEBURG FAIR

In the past few weeks the Lancaster, Sandwich and Stratham Fairs have been cancelled.  It’s not just because of the virus, some fairs depend on advanced advertising money and this year, with closed businesses, it’s just not happening. 

Fryeburg Fair’s website is counting down the days to the fair and today it reads 159. Going strong since 1851, it’s the largest agricultural fair in Maine and is attended by over 225,000 people yearly.  Over the years the nightly shows have brought in names like Charlie Daniels, Clint Black, Lady Antebellum.

The Fryeburg Fair has a different and stronger model but for its board of directors, it’s still a decision that has to be made in this its 170th year.   “At this point the Fryeburg Fair hopes to hold the fair in October but we recognize that there are a lot of variables involved and we at this point believe that we have until early June to make the call.  Unless something happens in the meantime that makes a call for us.  But right now we’re hopeful for a fair but we just don’t know what will happen between now and then.” says David Hastings, Vice President and Finance Director of the Fryeburg Fair.

Keep up to date with announcements by visiting www.fryeburgfair.org.

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MOUNT WASHINGTON RADIO GROUP SUPPORTS 2020 GRADUATES

Plans for 2020 graduations are on hold due to the lack of information about the states reopening for large gatherings but Mount Washington Radio Group’s stations Magic 104.5/98.1 and WMWV have come up with an innovative way for friends, family members and school faculty members to reach out to their graduates and celebrate with them.

Knowing how strong of a medium radio is to get messages out, the team at Mount Washington Radio Group saw a positive way they could serve their community.   With several high schools and many elementary schools, pre-schools, and colleges in Carroll County, Berlin and Gorham and Western Maine, there will be thousands of students graduating this spring in the WMWV and Magic listening area.

As soon as schools adopted the remote learning model for the rest of the year, the Mount Washington Radio Group’s team reached out to the community for their support.  Without hesitation, RWN Property Services, Profile Subaru, Grants Shop n Save, Mountain Center Physical Therapy, Northeast Credit Union, Zebs General Store, Veno’s Specialty Foods and Meats, Farm to Table/Yankee Smokehouse and Tyler Ryan Design/D J Graphyx answered the call to help.

The stations then set up a dedicated voicemail number where messages for graduates can be left.  Graduates themselves are also encouraged to leave messages for those who have helped them through the years.  The programming department will then take those messages and put them on WMWV and Magic 104 for everyone to hear as well as play song dedications.   On June 13th there will be a special, commercial free 3 hour party from 6-9 with a custom music playlist put together by DJ Graphyx.

If you would like to leave a voicemail for your 2020 graduate or have a special song dedication, please call 913-356-9145.  Messages will be aired between 6 am and 10 pm.

 

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DICK FICKE- A WHITE MOUNTAIN TREASURE- LEAVES THE VALLEY WITH A LEGACY OF SERVICE

If you ever met Dick Ficke, the first thing you’d notice was his kind eyes. After a conversation, you’d look back and realize how very interested he was in everything you had to say- this already brilliant man took the time to truly listen and learn whatever he could from what you had to contribute to the conversation. He really cared and you knew it. He will always be remembered as one of the good guys. This Colgate alumni and decorated retired Air Force Officer is going to be sorely missed.

Richard “Dick” Ficke of Bartlett passed away on April 20th at Maine Medical Center from from Kidney and heart failure complications. Dick was Born April 5, 1937 in Danbury, Connecticut. He met Annie in 2001 and they moved to the Mount Washington Valley.

Dick was passionate about the charities he served such as: Kiwanis Club of MWV, past president and Kiwanian Of The Year and Kiwanian District Lt. Governor. He was the president of the MWV Habitat for Humanity, SCORE’s Chapter Chair and his most cherished post-retirement role, “Head Elf” of Angels and Elves.

2013 brought Dick the title of one of the White Mountain Treasures and that year he was also awarded with the SCORE Leadership award. Two years later he was named the volunteer of the year by the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council.

In lieu of flowers, Dick asked that contributions be made to: MWV Habitat for Humanity, Kiwanis or Angels and Elves.

A military viewing and and Honors ceremony will be held in Newport, RI and a celebration of his life will be held later in the summer in Bartlett.

 

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CORONAVIRUS OR NOT, WE LOVE OUR PETS

What happens when your pet gets sick? The real question is, what do we do in a crisis like this?

Fryeburg Veterinarian Dr. Susan Simpkins says: “We’re seeing all the normal things that we would see; allergies start to tick up this time of year, GI issues, we’re seeing a lot of porcupine quills I think probably people are getting out there with their dogs, hiking.” With the importance of social distancing, pets of course allowed into the Fryeburg Veterinary Hospital but owners remain in their cars and the consults are done by phone. Dr. Simpkins goes on to explain: “Veterinarians and technicians work together to, you know, get an exam done and assess the animal, we then call the owner by phone, the veterinarian does, and discusses what we found in the exam and any recommended treatments.” She goes on to explain that it may take a few phone calls back and forth to truly understand what’s going on and determine the right treatment for the animal based on the conversation between the doctor and the animal owner.

Fryeburg Veterinary clinic is currently taking orders for medications, seasonal preventatives and prescription diets while still practicing social distancing. All deliveries are done curbside.

As the weather warms up, Dr. Simpkins urges you to protect your pet through the spring season and consider visits and or treatments for heartworm, fleas and ticks and other seasonal parasites.

Visit Dr. Simpkins and her veterinary family at FryeburgVet.com.

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Happy 50th Earth Day! <3

There are some positives to humans isolating, staying at home, consuming less and polluting less. On this, the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day we find ourselves in the middle of a pandemic. However in the midst of it, studies show that the earth is repairing itself and species are allowed to thrive. This is a good thing for us, for our children, for our future.

This year we have to celebrate either at home or at a distance from one another but there are many ways to do this. Here are a few ideas:

  • Spread some earth love online with home made projects, poems or songs. There are plenty of ideas on Pinterest of age appropriate crafts you can make. Pinterest also has some great starter lines for stories and poems… When you’re done, post them online for your friends and family to see what the earth means to you today. It’s guaranteed to bring awareness and smiles. We all miss each other and love the positive posts.
  • Learn something new. Learn about endangered species, how you can help them, volunteer or donate to organizations dedicated to saving them. Learn how the earth is healing because it’s less impacted by humans. Learn how to plant a tree, a garden a flower, anything living. Find out what it takes to make a bat house or a bird house.
  • Take the Earth Day Challenge: a 22 day series that gives you action items to protect the environment. They’re all online at the Earth Day Network. You can add your own actions with the hashtag #earthday2020
  • Join Columbia University’s webinar Saturday, April 25th “Understanding Environmental Justice and Community Health in light of Covid and Climate”.
  • Get on the NASA website for resources from across the agency sharing their wealth of knowledge through games, books, images, posters and programs. These are free to everyone.
  • Watch environmental films. For younger kids or kids at heart there’s The Lorax, Schoolhouse Rock, March of the Penguins, Bears and Wall-E for example. Other favorites include Our Planet, Food, Inc. as well as an Earth Day celebration on Turner Classics.
  • Check out the Smithsonian’s Earth Optimism Digital Summit– today through Sunday. It’s packed full of information, virtual workshops, video competitions, and panels on everything from sustainable food to protecting biodiversity.
  • Take the earth into consideration when you’re voting.
  • Hug a tree or just put your bare feet on the ground or your hands in the earth or your favorite river, stream or lake and listen quietly to the world around you.

Whatever you do today, it’s a celebration of the planet that houses us all. And just like we’re taking precautions now to protect one another, our families, our friends, our co-workers, strangers… let’s watch the affect and bring some of our care out of this and forward in the future to our Mother Earth.

“The earth is what we all have in common”. ~ Wendell Berry