The Walpole Clarion

The roll-out of the NH Covid-19 Vaccination sign-up began Friday with those 65 and over receiving a CDC email early Saturday. This email was confusing (many of us trashed it as SPAM), and then a NH State email arrived telling how to navigate the CDC site to obtain an appointment for a vaccination. But it has been troublesome for many.

If you are 65 and older and are having trouble getting your COVID-19 vaccination scheduled through the CDC website, we can help you.  We have a number of volunteers who have figured out how to successfully complete the application and scheduling. Give us a call at 756-4861 — Tara for the River Valley Seniors at Home.

COVID by the Numbers—January 24 Edition from Representative Lucy Weber — In Walpole, the cumulative number of reported cases to date in Walpole is 91, up from 84 on the 17^th.  The number of currently active cases has come down from a high of 30 active cases on January 12, to 21 on January 17, and now to 15 on January 24.

COVID by the Numbers—January 17 Edition
We’re #1!

Unfortunately, being #1 is not always a Good Thing.  Until very recently, Cheshire County had a very low rate of COVID infection as expressed as a rate of cases per 100,000 population.  As of January 1, the rate per 100,000 in Cheshire County was 22.5, third lowest in the state.  As of today, just 17 days later, it is 64.0, the highest in the state.  Currently, the state average is 53.3.

Here in Walpole, we started 2021 with 6 active cases in town, and a cumulative total of 37 cases in Walpole since the start of the pandemic.  On January 17, there are 21currently active cases in town, and the cumulative total has rocketed up to 84.  The total number of cases in Walpole has more than doubled in 17 days, with 47 new cases in town since the beginning of the year.  Nearly 56% of the total cases in Walpole have been reported in the last 17 days.  So what happened?  Well, presumably, Christmas happened, and family gatherings.  The good news?  There is some—the 21 currently active cases is actually down from a high of 30 cases on January 12.

Countywide, we went from 142 active cases on January 1 to 425 active cases on January 17.  The cumulative total of Cheshire County cases was 1,263 at the beginning of the year; now the cumulative total is 1,910.  Nearly 34% of the total cases in Cheshire County have been reported since the beginning of he year.

Statewide, the numbers are not going up as fast as they are in Walpole or in Cheshire County.  The active cases rose from 5.919 to 6,387.  The total number of cases statewide went from 44,028 to 56,864.  Just over 22% of the statewide cases have been reported since the beginning of the year.  The statewide hospitalization numbers are actually coming down.  There were 317 in hospital on January 1, and after reaching an all-time  high of 335 on January 2, we are back down to 243 as January 17.

The number of lives lost to COVID in New Hampshire went from 759 to 933, so over 18% of the total deaths statewide have come in the last 17 days.  2 souls have just left us from Cheshire County.

There is hope on the horizon, with vaccines scheduled to become available to new groups of people.  However, as we await the start of phase 1-b, remember that realistically, there will still be a long wait for some of those newly eligible.  The NH Department of Health and Human Services estimates that there are 300,000 people in phase 1-b.  As of the Thursday press conference, we were told that NH was receiving an average of 17,500 doses of vaccine each week.  With each person needing two doses, at this rate it is going to take a long time to vaccinate all those eligible who want to receive the vaccine.  My post of January 14 outlines what we know as of now about the rollout of phase 1-b.

So please keep on taking good care of yourselves.  Redouble your efforts.  Wear your masks.  Keep your distance.  Wash your hands.  Avoid large groups.  Avoid close contact in small groups of those not in your household.  Be careful out there, now more than ever.

Keep well.
~Representative Lucy Weber
603-499-0282
Lwmcv@comcast.net

NH COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for Those Aged 65 and Older, and Others
Governor’s Press Conference January 14, 2021

At his press conference today, Governor Sununu described the rollout of the next phase of COVID-19 vaccines.  Please be aware that this is my best effort at notetaking—I have not had materials for review, so there may be inaccuracies.  It is also clear that there will be more information coming out as time goes on.

Phase 1-b  has been redefined, and will start on January 26.  Phase 1-b now includes the following groups:

• All persons 65 or older (This is a change from the earlier 75 or older.)
• Persons who are medically vulnerable, including parents of children under 16 who are medically vulnerable.  (Chilldren under 16 currently cannot get vaccine.)
• Persons living in institutions for those with developmental disabilities
• Corrections officers

How it will work.  There will be a web site to register for vaccination.  The site is www.vaccines.nh.gov .

The site will go live on January 22 for persons 65 or older. Vaccination appointments will start January 26.

Here is what you do:

• If you are over 65, you visit the web site and register as being 65 or older, and wanting to be vaccinated.
• When your turn comes, you will receive an email from the web site with a link for you to select a vaccination location and tie that works for you.
• Visit that link and pick your location and time
• Turn up for your vaccination with proof of your birth date showing that you are 65 or over.
• If you are under 65 and medically fragile, or are the parent of a medically fragile child under 16, contact your primary care provider and if you have 2 of the medical conditions that are identified , your primary care provider will notify the registration site.  The site will send you and email to register for a locations and time, and you can proceed as above.
• If you do not have internet access, contact 211 to get help registering.
• If you have had COVID-19, if you are past the infectious stage, you may get the vaccine if you are in a qualified group, unless you received monoclonal antibody therapy, in which case you must wait 90 days before being vaccinated.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions.

First of all, NH is currently getting about 17,000 doses of vaccine per week.  It is going to take a lot of time to get to everyone.

Second, the Governor did not say, and no one at the press conference asked, how they are going to manage appointments for the second dose of vaccine.  I have heard that some people who have received a first shot are currently having difficulty getting an appointment for a second shot.  I will try to find out how that is being managed, but I have no more information about how that will take place.

More information when I find it out.  In the meantime, and even after you have been vaccinated, wear your mask, keep your distance, wash your hands, and keep well.

~Representative Lucy Weber
603-499-0282
Lwmcv@comcast.net

My printer was a tad ahead, and the January CLARION will be in the mail this afternoon (29 December). So, now also on-line is the January issue

You may click on this link – https://thewalpoleclarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/clarion-jan21-topress.pdf or on the front page below to see this issue.

Stay safe and stay well – Happy New Year, yours RAY

Galloway Real Estate is again sponsoring its LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS CONTEST. Judging will be done 21 or 22 December, depending upon the weather, and winners announced on the Galloway Real Estate Facebook page. To help you get “in the holiday spirit,” you may wish to take an evening drive and see the entries. The home entries are listed in an order for you to easily plan a route without back tracking

HOME ENTRIES

1453 County Road
427 County Rd
23 Fanny Mason Lane
704 River Road
11 High Street
80 High Street
125 Prospect Hill
768 Valley Road
4 Eaton Rd off Valley Road
26 Alstead Center Road
94 Sand Hill Road
192 Upper Walpole Road
94 Upper Walpole Road
4 Birch Street, North Walpole
3 Birch Street, North Walpole

Below, a 2019 entry on Main Street

BUSINESS ENTRANTS

Diamond Pizza
Mascoma Bank
Village Blooms

Enjoy your holiday drive. Judges have been selected by Galloway Real Estate, but if you have favorite, call the Galloway office — 756-3661 — and let them know which display you think is best. Your opinion counts, and could break any ties.

Happy Holidays, RAY BOAS, Publisher, The Walpole Clarion

With over 12 inches of snow, and more falling, the Town plow trucks having a very hard time getting around. On behalf of the Highway Department, the Selectboard asks you stay off the roads, both driving and parking.

Here is the snow ordinance created in 2002 by the Selectboard.

Town of Walpole Parking Ordinance
2002-01: Under Section II, A, 1, d

No person, except a person operating an emergency vehicle, shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended,

(i)  at any place where and when parking has been prohibited during the winter season pursuant to a notice issued by the Board of Selectmen to facilitate snow plowing or snow or ice removal within the Town of Walpole, which notice has been published by order of the Board of Selectmen in a newspaper of general circulation and posted at the places where minutes of Selectman’s meetings are ordinarily posted (Prohibited Parking); or

(ii) for more than two hours during a major storm (which in the case of a snowstorm shall be a storm with a snowfall of six inches or more)(Prohibited Parking); and

in order to facilitate such snow plowing or snow or ice removal, any vehicle parked in violation of this paragraph (d) may be towed by wrecker at the owner’s expense and risk whenever the Road Agent or police authorities so determine.

Be smart, stay safe, and stay well – thank you, Ray Boas, Publisher

Again this year Galloway Real Estate is sponsoring a contest to brighten up around Walpole with prizes and trophies awarded in two categories – residential and business. So, click on the image ( or this link ) for more information, get your entry form, and start decorating. Happy Holidays, yours, RAY BOAS, Publisher

COVID by the Numbers – November 29 Edition

Hello, everyone.  I’m a little late with the current report, but that is because the NH Department of Health and Human Services is a bit behind with their numbers, both because of the Thanksgiving holiday, and also because the numbers just keep on going up.

The good news is that Walpole still has only had 11 total cases, up 2 from last week, and now has 8 confirmed active cases.  That is pretty much the best news in a very mixed week.

In Cheshire County, there were 127 new cases this week. (DHHS still has not finished compiling the cases reported Saturday.)  That is up from 72 last week, and is four times the weekly total from the beginning of the month.

The 7 day moving average of cases per 100,000 in Cheshire County has gone from 3.0 at the beginning of the month to 18.0 last week, to 34.6 as of November 27.

Here is where the active cases are located:  Keene-87; Jaffrey-16; Rindge-15; Swanzey-11; Chesterfield-9; Winchester-9; Walpole-8.   Towns with 1-4 active cases:  Westmoreland, Hinsdale, Fitzwilliam, Troy, Marlborough, Nelson, Sullivan, Stoddard, and Surry.  Currently, seven towns have 0 active cases:  Alstead, Marlow, Gilsum, Stoddard, Harrisville, Dublin, and Roxbury.  While some towns are actually doing better, the cases in Keene have doubled in a week.

The statewide number of new confirmed cases this week is actually down just a tad from last week, but then there are those still untabulated cases from Saturday, so let’s say the statewide moving average is stable at 2949 new cases, for a  daily average of 421.3.

Nationally, the number of cases per 100,000 has gone from 51 to 52, so that is slowing down. The other troubling number for the state is that our hospitalizations have gone from 116 to 146, higher than at any other time. This next week will begin to show us the effects of Thanksgiving holiday travel on the numbers, so stay tuned.

Wear your mask, keep your distance, wash your hands,
and be careful out there. Keep well
Representative Lucy Weber lwmcv@comcast.net 603-499-0282

The Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s and Selectboard Offices
remain open to the public by appointment.

The Walpole Town Hall is closed for large group and committee/board/commission meetings starting on Monday, Nov. 30^th. The Selectboard will be meeting via Zoom starting on Dec. 3^rd.

The Selectboard Office’s phone number is 603-756-3672 for questions and scheduling appointments.

To reach the Town Clerk/Tax Collector, call 603-756-3514. For those interested in online vehicle registration renewals, visit walpolenh.us and visit the Town Clerk/Tax Collectors webpage to find the EReg icon and link.

Water/sewer and property tax payments can be dropped off anytime
during business hours without an appointment.
Knock on the door and/or call to hand off these payments.

Sarah Downing – Manager of Administration

A tad early, but with my printer’s holiday schedule I picked up the December CLARION today, and your hardcopy is at the post office to be delivered. So, I thought I would post the on-line PDF now so you may enjoy some reading while basting your Thanksgiving Day turkey or otherwise relaxing.

Not many events to share (maybe none) but a nice variety of articles I hope you do enjoy. Please note on page two a “new service” that I have added to the CLARION website – links to on-line “Walpole Town Resources.” Take a look, and if you have a qualifying resource do send it along to me.

CLICK ON THIS LINK
FOR THE DECEMBER 2020 ISSUE

COVID-19 – GETTING WORSE. I am concerned as you should be, and have severely limited my time out of the safety of my home. Please follow essential guidelines: wear your mask, socially distance, and keep you hands clean, and away from your face.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING and
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR
STAY SAFE, and STAY WELL
RAY BOAS, Publisher