Charlestown Transportation Plan

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

 

The team tasked with updating the Transportation portion of the Charlestown Master Plan will meet Monday August 17 from 5:00 to 6:30PM.

  • sullivan1What: Transportation Task Force Work Session
  • Where: Community Room 26 Railroad St., Charlestown, NH 03603
  • When: August 17 at 5:00PM

Agenda

  1. Open
  2. Review of existing plan
  3. Identify obsolete sections/information
  4. Discussion of previous goals
  5. Public Input
  6. Set next meeting
  7. Close

Click to access transportation-adopted-12-4-07.pdf

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Update Aug 14 – Youth and Charity Sports

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

100 Masks

Someone was concerned about the new 100 person mask rule affecting sporting events. As an example, if 200 participants show up for a charity run, are they supposed to run with masks on? From the Governor’s office:

“During the run, they do not need to wear masks and that would conform to the Amateur and Youth Sports Guidance.  That Guidance does recommend social distancing during the event as much as possible. And yes, before and after, people need to be in face coverings, including spectators, if there are 100 people there.”

So, if you have 100+ people outside, they need to be spread out and not climbing over each other to get to the beer cooler.I you have 100 people standing together as audience members at a concert, yes masks are needed.

Click to access guidance-amateur-youth-sports.pdf

I was also asked who enforces the orders. The Division of Public Health is the enforcing authority. Non-compliant businesses and entities can be fined. Just be glad you don’t have to wear suits and ties in August like the old days.

sports01-052420

Schools could switch to remote learning if COVID-19 outbreaks occur, governor says

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-coronavirus-update-august-13-2020/33595429

State issues guidance to lift visitation restrictions at some long-term care facilities

https://www.wmur.com/article/state-issues-guidance-to-lift-visitation-restrictions-at-some-long-term-care-facilities/33600563

2 more COVID-19 deaths announced in NH; 34 more cases confirmed

https://www.wmur.com/article/2-more-covid-19-deaths-announced-in-nh-34-more-cases-confirmed/33598345

Nursing homes to allow indoor visits, hairdressers

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/nursing-homes-to-allow-indoor-visits-hairdressers/article_f26c0b19-9280-56f6-9a5d-ea4492277fd7.html?block_id=897573

Dartmouth-Hitchcock starts study of new Covid-19 testing kit

https://www.nhbr.com/dartmouth-hitchcock-starts-study-of-new-covid-19-testing-kit/

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 13th, 2020

On Thursday, August 13, 2020, DHHS announced 34 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,921 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, there are four individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 53% being female and 47% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (9), Merrimack (5), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (3), and Belknap (2) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (9) and Nashua (6).

Hospitalizations

No new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 705 (10%) of 6,921 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Five of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

DHHS has also announced two additional deaths related to COVID-19.

  •  2 female residents of Merrimack County, 60 years of age and older

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

  • Belknap 119
  • Carroll 95
  • Cheshire 103
  • Coos 17
  • Grafton 105
  • Hillsborough – Other 1,252
  • Hillsborough – Manchester 1849
  • Hillsborough – Nashua 790
  • Merrimack 472
  • Rockingham 1712
  • Strafford 363
  • Sullivan 44

Map of Cumulative Positive CasesMap of Current Positive CasesriskSummary

New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report

(data updated August 13th, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 6,921

  • Recovered 6,190 (89%)
  • Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 422 (6%)
  • Total Current COVID-19 Cases 309
  • Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 705 (10%)
  • Current Hospitalizations 15

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 181,616
  • Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
  • Laboratory Tests 28,351
  • Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 39,228
  • Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 522
  • Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 2,825

Number of Specimens Tested by Date of Report to NH DHHS

Information above, and archived daily updates are available here: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/news/updates.htm

Regional Information (total positive test results, deaths)

Look-back period is 1 week.

NH: 6,921 positive test results 422 deaths  (1 week ago: 6,742 positive test results 419 deaths) (+179/+3)

MA: 122,423  positive test results 8790 deaths (1 week ago: 119,874  positive test results 8691 deaths) (+2549/+99)

ME: 4,089 positive test results 126 deaths (1 week ago: 3,997 positive test results 124 deaths)

VT: 1,445 positive test results 58 deaths (1 week ago: 1,445 positive test results 58 deaths)

CT:  50,782  positive test results 4,450 deaths (1 week ago: 50,245  positive test results 4,437 deaths)

RI: 20,240 positive test results 1,019 deaths (1 week ago: 18,950 positive test results 1,014 deaths)

NY:  428,155 positive test results 32,399 deaths (1 week ago: 423,637 positive test results 32,294 deaths) (+4,518/+105)

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

VLACS Update

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Dear Students and Guardians,

In 2019 we received approximately 2,000 enrollment requests from mid-July to mid-August. This year, we’ve processed almost 15,000 enrollment requests during the same period. Given the unpredictable nature of this pandemic, we are dealing with two major enrollment problems.

  1. It’s difficult to forecast how many of the 15,000 enrollment requests will become enabled students during the next six weeks, which could have a significant effect on our staffing and budget.
  2. To meet the demands of this enrollment surge, in addition to the sixty instructors that we’ve hired since July 1, we are hiring and training new instructors and support staff. For these reasons, we are closing enrollment for all waitlisted courses. When our capacity increases to eliminate the waitlist in a particular course, it will be re-opened.

What is open and what is closed?

  • Elementary:  All courses are closed.
  • Middle School:  Some middle school courses are open.
  • High School:  Most high school courses are open.
  • Adult Education: All courses are open.

Please see our learning catalog for the most up-to-date information.

https://vlacs.org/

FAQs

 

Q: What does “closed” mean.
A: Students will not be able to enroll in courses designated as closed. When our capacity increases and waitlists are eliminated for a particular course, it will be reopened.

 

Q: How long will course registrations be closed?
A: It’s hard to forecast. Some course waitlists may be quickly eliminated, and the courses reopened while others may take weeks to resolve, especially at the elementary level. When our capacity increases and waitlists are eliminated for a particular course, it will be reopened.

 

Q: If a student is currently on a waitlist, will they be activated at some point?
A: Yes. We’re working on a way to provide approximate activation dates to students.

 

Q: Are you still accepting applications to become a full-time student at VLACS?
A: Yes, at the middle and high school levels.

 

Q: What if a course enrollment is not available on the opening day at my local school?
A: Please contact your local school for an answer to this question. One option is that students can focus on other courses they are enrolled in while waiting for seats to open.

 

Q: Are you hiring new instructors to expand your capacity?
A: Yes, we have hired 60 new instructors since July 1, and we are now advertising for another group of elementary, middle, and high school instructors.

 

Q: Is there a limit to the number of courses that a student who is full-time at another school or homeschooled can complete at VLACS?
A: Yes, part-time VLACS students (i.e., students not enrolled as VLACS full-time students) may earn up to six credits between July 1 and June 30.

 

Q: Does VLACS follow a traditional academic year calendar?
A: No, students may enroll in a course at any time, work throughout the year, and progress at a pace that meets their academic needs.

 

Q: Can students withdraw from a VLACS course?
A: Yes, at any time.

vlacs

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment