UPDATES FROM LOCAL BUSINESS
From UpCountry Cleaning
Up Country Property Services is equipped with staff that have been fully trained within the CDC guidelines for the disinfection and sanitation of your home or business to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We are here to serve the Valley during this trying time. Please feel free to contact us to schedule an appointment or consultation of our services at 603-662-0645 (office) or contact Jeff Wildoner directly at 603-452-4775. Or contact our
Office Manager via email
From Minuteman Press
We are concerned about the safety of our customers and staff during the current corona virus crisis. Last week we instituted new cleaning policies using antibacterial cleaning solution recommended by the CDC. We will clean areas frequently throughout the day that customers come into contact with, including:
- Entryway doorknobs and handles
- Counter surfaces
- Pens, staplers, scissors, tape dispensers, and any other tools that may be used by our customers
Additionally, we will thoroughly clean the following at the end of each day:
- The credit card terminal, cash register, phone, keyboards and mouse
- Lobby tables and chairs
- Restrooms
We will take the temperature of every employee when they report for work and will send anyone home that is not feeling well or has a fever per CDC guidelines.
We are also minimizing contact between staff members and with customers to only what is required to perform our work. We will no longer require signatures on invoices when you pick up an order; likewise we will not require signatures on credit card slips. We will discontinue customer sales calls except in cases where the client requests it, choosing to conduct our sales efforts via email, phone, and our website. We will continue to deliver orders when requested; you can also request to have us load your order directly into your vehicle if you prefer not to come into our shop – just call to let us know you are here. if you prefer to pick up your order on your own schedule, you can request to have your order left in our after-hours delivery cabinet.
Finally, we are dividing our work into a day shift and afternoon shift, so that we have only the bare minimum staffing on site at any given time to maximize social distancing.
Thank you for your support of Minuteman Press. If we can be of service for you during these uncertain times, please don’t hesitate to call us.
From Visiting Nurse and Hospice
As we are all aware there is a shortage of hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and disinfectants; this could have dramatic consequences for many of our businesses as we look to providing services for the community. Recently the Governor has put some regulations in place that may cause some businesses to close temporarily to the public through mandate and some local businesses that are closing on their own during this time. We are looking to see if any of our fellow businesses have a supply of these products to donate or sell to us at a fair price so that we can continue to provide high quality health care services to folks without barriers or delays over the next few weeks.
Volunteers and COVID-19 as it pertains to Hospice and Palliative Care
Most volunteer visits should be cancelled as the current national and local efforts are to contain and reduce risk of spread of the virus by minimizing contact and we want you to focus on self-care and caring for your families at this time. Our clinical staff are continuing with visits but screening the people we see by phone prior to entry to the home. There are a few of you who are continuing with volunteer visits in more critical situations, and you will follow the same protocols that our clinical team do, which we will talk about first if we have not already. If you have an upcoming scheduled visit and have not already talked with me or contacted me to cancel it, please be in touch.
All meetings, (our monthly meeting next week), office based trainings, etc, are cancelled for now. IDT and Palliative Care Team meetings will be held via conference call rather than in person.
Please do not come to the office as we are reducing the flow of people in and out to reduce risk. Most of our clinical team and other staff are not coming into the office except for critical supplies needed for patients. If you need anything from the office, please let me know and we can trouble shoot. We may need to close the office completely in the near future, but we are not at that point yet.
As it pertains to Crossings
The intake sessions we had scheduled for the immediate weeks ahead are cancelled. I will contact families by phone for support. We will be exploring private Facebook group page or Zoom use for our existing groups. To be discussed later in the week. Spring session which was to start the first week of April will be delayed with more on that as it becomes clear.
Please call me with any questions. I'll be working mostly from home with exception of some visits. Julie 603-387-9798
From Northledge Technologies
In light of the health crisis - school & event closings in the Valley, and general health safety recommendations, we are reviewing our existing operating procedures, our current schedule, and we’re checking with customers to discuss what onsite work is necessary and safe for all concerned.
Though difficult, we realize that we cannot continue to operate with the high volume of onsite visits that we’re accustomed to, at least in the near future, and have decided to largely minimize customer site visits until further notice. We already assist a great deal of users remotely, but will enhance our remote support as best possible to compensate for a reduction of site visits and travel. This is especially difficult for us since we naturally enjoy seeing you, and feel that regular onsite visits give us all the best overall sense of technical issues and requirements, and their potential options and resolutions.
I hope that you’ll understand and accept our changes, and that you’ll assist us as needed while tending to your systems remotely. We also ask that you please inform us if a planned required onsite visit is not safe.
We are heartbroken to hear of all affected by the virus, and we seek to carefully and wisely work through a challenging situation.
We hope you stay safe & healthy
Sincerely,
Rob Casella, President, Northledge Technologies Inc.
From Eversource
As COVID-19 continues to impact communities across its service territory, Eversource is working to ensure safe, reliable service for customers during these challenging times while also protecting the health of its employees and customers. Beginning last week, the energy company implemented several measures to reduce in-person employee interaction in its facilities, including a work-from-home requirement for employees who can do so, as well as enhanced cleaning measures.
“We develop and update emergency response plans on an annual basis and are currently operating under our emergency pandemic plan,” said Eversource Chairman, President and CEO Jim Judge. “Among other things, this allows us to focus our resources where they are needed most—ensuring the smooth and stable operation of our electric, gas and water operations. We are an essential part of the communities we serve across New England, and as a provider of critical services, are committed to supporting our customers and employees during this uncertain time.”
As of last week, Eversource began taking measures to alleviate any financial concerns its customers may face:
- Suspending customer disconnections for nonpayment
- Assisting customers with financial programs, such as setting up a payment plan
- Reminding customers to download the mobile app which allows customers to check their account, pay their bill and much more at their convenience
- Warning customers of increased scam activity due to the COVID-19 outbreak—customers should be wary of any unsolicited calls that threaten to disconnect utility service and that demand payment by unusual means. Eversource will never ask for personal information over the phone in this manner and does not accept payments via gift cards or other common tools used by scammers. Also, as previously mentioned, disconnections for nonpayment have been suspended.
From an operational perspective, Eversource is:
- Continuing to plan for brief and targeted electric outages only when they are required to perform critical work to ensure reliability
- Reducing non-critical field work in our gas operations that requires access to homes or businesses
- Making sure all its field resources and support staff continue to be at the ready in the event of a storm or other disruption not related to COVID-19
Additionally, Eversource has enacted measures and guidelines for employees to ensure its workforce remains ready to serve customers and maintain its electric, gas, and water networks, including:
- Postponing employee travel, canceling large meetings and business gatherings
- Requiring employees who can work remotely to do so, reducing in-person interaction
- Creating new procedures—including cleaning protocols—so that employees who must work from our critical facilities can do so safely
Throughout this evolving situation, Eversource is committed to safeguarding the health and safety of its customers, employees and the communities it serves, and ensuring that it continues to reliably provide essential energy services.
Dear Municipal Officials & Emergency Responders,
Like you, Eversource is monitoring COVID-19 closely and working proactively to address the concerns of employees, customers and the communities we serve with one overarching goal: to ensure the continued safe, reliable and essential services that our customers need during this unprecedented time.
From UPS
COVID-19 is having a dramatic impact on our lives, businesses, and on supply chains.
I want to share an update on what UPS is doing to keep our customers and our people safe while continuing to deliver around the world.
UPS is following the guidance of global health experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We are reminding our employees about frequent hand washing, and we are regularly cleaning and disinfecting our facilities and equipment. Importantly, we are asking that our drivers, pilots, and other employees stay home from work if they feel sick.
Many people are asking the same question: is it safe to receive and handle a shipment? The WHO and CDC have stated that the likelihood of catching the COVID-19 virus by touching cardboard or other another shipping container is low.
From the outset, UPS has maintained delivery services except where limited by government restrictions. We have also worked in partnership with governments around the world to obtain exceptions that allow our shipments to continue in restricted areas.
UPS has long been a trusted partner in communities around the world. As with other global humanitarian crisis events, we are helping with relief related to COVID-19 and will continue to seek opportunities to assist our communities in need.
As this situation is evolving rapidly, we have created a
WEB PAGE
with information on how UPS is responding to COVID-19 and tools you can use during this time.
UPS’s network planning and operations teams are experienced with adapting to changing conditions, and are developing contingency plans to address potential sources of disruption in our air and ground networks.
Our teams are working to continue to serve the supply chain needs of businesses during this time, while keeping our employees and customers safe.
From Delta Dental and NH Center for Non-profits
Employees are primarily working remotely and will not be attending gatherings through April
SBA To Provide Disaster Loans
“The President took bold, decisive action to make our 30 million small businesses more resilient to Coronavirus-related economic disruptions. Small businesses are vital economic engines in every community and state, and they have helped make our economy the strongest in the world. Our Agency will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest disaster recovery loans to small businesses that have been severely impacted by the situation. Additionally, the SBA continues to assist small businesses with counseling and navigating their own preparedness plans through our network of 68 District Offices and numerous Resource Partners located around the country. The SBA will continue to provide every small business with the most effective and customer-focused response possible during these times of uncertainty.”
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for a small business. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
Process for Accessing SBA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Lending:
• The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
• Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
• SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance will coordinate with the state’s or territory’s Governor to submit the request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance.
• Once a declaration is made for designated areas within a state, the information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be made available to all affected communities.
• These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75 percent.
• SBA offers loans with long-term repayments to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.
• SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible.
