Local and regional news

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LOCALS URGE GOVERNOR SUNUNU TO ROLL BACK THE OPENING OF CAMPGROUNDS

With visitors already refusing to comply with the stay at home orders of their states and coming to the Mount Washington Valley to visit and recreate, the local concern over an influx of campers is not outrageous. Ski areas and outdoor attractions in the White Mountain National Forest have needed to close for this very reason. In fact, if you’re a member of the AMC 4,000 footer club and you’re looking to bag a peak, it won’t count right now.

Last week after his decision to close NH schools, Sununu said “The asymptomatic transmission of this virus is very prevalent” he continues, “You could have an entire classroom of kids passing COVID back and forth without a single symptom, without a sniffle.” This leaves some locals baffled about his decision to let campgrounds that can collectively handle thousands of guests open as usual.

In an opinion article written today by Jeb Bradley for the Concord Monitor Senator Bradley offers this: “We should decrease the risk of visitors traveling from virus hot spots coming to campgrounds in our state while the virus can be spread and supply chain shortages occur in supermarkets. Large venues will not be open quickly. Smaller gatherings should continue during a phased opening of our state as we are not going to flip a switch from one day to the next.”

For weeks locals in the Mount Washington Valley and surrounding areas have been urging governor Sununu to reconsider campgrounds as essential businesses and keep them closed until COVID-19 is under control in many of the urban areas campers may be coming from. There has been a petition from the officials in Conway to the governor with no response. State Representative Steve Woodcock explains: “The biggest thing is we don’t need to take an unnecessary chance by allowing folks to congregate in large numbers in campgrounds”. He goes on to say that the current stay at home order is what people should be following. Representative Woodcock explains that “we’re just not there yet” and that his concern is that with out of town guests congregating in larger numbers at these campgrounds, both campers and locals are more at risk of contracting the virus.

Governor Sununu’s stay at home order is due to end in two weeks on May 4th.

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VAUGHAN FOOD PANTRY RAMPS UP OPERATIONS TO SERVE THE MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY

Approximately six weeks ago the Vaughan Food Pantry quickly adapted to the evolution of safety measures and operational methods in response to the pandemic. Jennifer Perkins, Administrator of Vaughan Community services goes on to say; “The way we distribute food, that’s the first change. People used to come into a common area and (we would) give them to them individually. Now, we pre-package all of our items. They are given, perhaps in some cases, more food than they want or items that they don’t want. But they are receiving them because we pre-package our bags”. All of the items in those bags are wiped down with disinfectant by Vaughan volunteers. She goes on to explain that there are no more visitors to the interior of the food pantry and that all pick-ups are done curbside.

In addition to a change in purchasing, packaging and pick up procedures, there is a temporary hiatus on food donations to the food pantry making monetary donations to support them during the COVID-19 crisis even more important. To make a donation that will support the work of the food pantry one hundred percent, please visit: www.vaughannh.org.

If you are experiencing food insecurity, you are encouraged to visit the Vaughan Community Services food pantry at 2076 White Mountain Highway in North Conway. It is open Tuesdays from 12:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. and on Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. until 2:45 p.m .

For more information about local food pantries, please visit: www.211nh.org.

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Fields of Ambrosia Gives Back to the Community By Donating Soaps & Hand Wash to Vaughn Community Services

Deb Jasien of Fields of Ambrosia and one of the proud members of the White Mountain Independents called in to the Magic Morning Show today and spoke with Gino all about her store’s efforts to give back to the community in this time of need through Vaughn Community Services and teaming up with Grant’s Shop & Save. They also discussed why shopping local now is more important than ever and what we can look forward to in the Spring and Summer when this is all over and done with. Deb says it best look toward the future with hope NOT fear. Listen below!

 

For more information and to shop with Fields of Ambrosia please visit FIELDSOFAMBROSIA.COM

 

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Captain Nathan Noyes nominated to lead New Hampshire State Police

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Gov. Chris Sununu is nominating Capt. Nathan Noyes to lead the New Hampshire State Police. Sununu was nominating Noyes at Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting. Noyes is commander of a field operations bureau in the state police. He has served as a state trooper since 2001, previously holding the ranks of troop commander, assistant troop commander, patrol supervisor, and trooper. Noyes has received several honors, including the Congressional Law Enforcement Award. The council will likely hold a confirmation vote on Noyes on April 8. He would succeed Col. Christopher Wagner, who retired after spending 25 years with the state police. 

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NH is Seeking Volunteers Who Can Help with Surging Cases of COVID-19

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire is seeking volunteers, both medical and non-medical, who can help deal with surging cases of the new coronavirus in the state. Volunteers needed include licensed, as well as retired, doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, administrative, transportation, information technology, and security professionals. They can register online at www.nhresponds.org, a site that was created to get help with emergency situations following 9/11. Also, Gov. Chris Sununu said the coronavirus situation in New Hampshire doesn’t yet warrant a stay-at-home order, he said, “We’re not there today.”

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First Granite Stater Dies of COVID-19

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire officials have announced the first death from the coronavirus. State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said Monday the Hillsborough County man was over the age of 60 and had multiple chronic health conditions. He died over the weekend. More than 100 people in the state have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. About a dozen have been hospitalized. Also, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that Southern New Hampshire University will be the first of eight “clinical flex areas” set up around the state where COVID-19 patients who no longer need acute treatment can recover.

For the complete story click here.

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New Hampshire Restaurants are Granted Temporary Authorization for Take Out or Delivery of Beer and Wine

Governor Chris Sununu has allowed restaurants and bars that have an on-premise license from the New Hampshire State Liquor Commission to temporarily sell wine and beer as part of their newly mandated takeout service.

 “This emergency order will allow for patrons to also order beer and wine from their favorite restaurants when ordering pickup or delivery.” said Sununu. The order shall remain in effect until April 6th, 2020. Read Executive Order 2020-4  below…