Bundle up and welcome the holiday season with a Yuletide Bonfire at Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House from 4 to 6 pm on Saturday, December 4. The celebration will include a variety of holiday traditions and customs, including a Yule log lighting, seasonal music, and poetry readings. Light refreshments will be served, including mulled cider and hot chocolate.

This outdoor, family-friendly activity is free and open to the public. In the event of rain, unfortunately it will be cancelled. The Colonel Paul Wentworth House is located on Water Street in Rollinsford, NH and is maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH) as an educational and cultural center for the community. For more information, consult the ARCH website at www.paulwentworthhouse.org or send an email to paulwentworthhouse@gmail.com.

Rochester, NH: Cornerstone VNA will be hosting a 4-week Virtual Holiday Grief Support Group for adults. The goal of the group is to help individuals cope with feelings of grief, loss, and sadness, which can be especially challenging during the holiday season. The Holiday Grief Support Group will take place on Wednesdays, beginning December 1, from 3:00 pm until 4:30 pm and will continue to meet on Dec 8, 15, and 22.

According to Rev. Maureen E. Steer, MDiv, Holistic Disciplines Coordinator, “As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 world of loss and change, it is more important than ever to gather to support one another.” Any grieving individual can join the support group from a computer, tablet, or smartphone at https://www.gotomeet.me/MaureenSteer. For more information contact 603-994-6976.

Cornerstone VNA currently serves Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap and Carroll Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine. The team at Cornerstone VNA provides award-winning care and support through five distinct programs: Home Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Life Care-Private Duty and Community Care. For 108 years, Cornerstone VNA has been committed to bringing services to people of all ages so that families can stay together at home, even when facing the challenges of aging, surgical recovery, chronic or life-threatening illnesses or end-of-life care. To learn more about Cornerstone VNA, visit www.cornerstonevna.org or call 800-691-1133

DOVER, N.H. – Wentworth-Douglass Hospital received a near-perfect score in the 2020 CDC Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) Survey – scoring a 97, well above national and state averages.

The survey is conducted about every two years and assesses maternity care practices at hospitals nationwide, focusing on specific areas of maternity care related to how babies are fed, including immediate postpartum care, feeding practices, and feeding education.

Out of 10 categories that were surveyed, Wentworth-Douglass received perfect scores of “100” in most.

“Wentworth-Douglass is a Baby-Friendly Hospital, meaning we are committed to helping mothers achieve breastfeeding goals. More than 80 percent of mothers here begin breastfeeding, a rate that is well above the national standards. Our care doesn’t end when families leave the hospital. Our board-certified lactation consultants are available to continue offering support,” said Nicole Pendenza, BSN, RNC-NIC, Assistant Vice President of Women’s and Children's Services. “The high scores achieved in the mPINC survey are a testament to the care our professionals offer every family who delivers here.”

Over 1,400 babies will be born this year at Wentworth-Douglass’ Birth Center, making it the most popular on the Seacoast with moms-to-be. It is also a Gold Certified Safe Sleep Hospital for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep.

To learn more about Wentworth-Douglass Hospital’s Women’s and Children’s Center, visit https://www.wdhospital.org/wdh/services-and-specialties/women-and-childrens-center.

Dear friend,  Today the House passed the Build Back Better Act. This legislation will lower taxes for New Hampshire families, bring down the cost of everyday expenses including child care and prescription drugs, invest in our workforce, small businesses, and manufacturers, and improve services for veterans. It addresses these and other critical issues in a fiscally responsible way - it is fully paid for and doesn't raise taxes on small businesses or people making less than $400,000. And it will reduce the deficit by $112 billion over a decade. In America, ensuring our families can succeed should not be a lofty goal. And while there is more work to come, today we started a process to ensure that Granite State families can succeed and thrive.  Click here to learn more about this legislation. Delivering Heating Assistance for Granite State Households As the weather grows colder, it is vital that we quickly make heating assistance available to New Hampshire families. That is why I'm pleased that federal heating funds are arriving at a critical time to help New Hampshire families as winter arrives. Earlier this month, I announced that New Hampshire would be receiving $25 million in federal  funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). I urged the Biden Administration to take this kind of action to ensure our families' needs are met throughout the winter. No Granite Stater should be forced to choose between heating their homes and making ends meet, and we must continue working to ensure that the needs of Granite Staters are met this winter. Learn more about my efforts to help Granite Staters heat their homes. Funding for New Hampshire Law Enforcement  This week, I announced that New Hampshire will receive $500,000 through DOJ’s Community Oriented Policing (COPS) Hiring grant program. The COPS Hiring program supports state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies’ ability to hire, preserve and/or rehire law enforcement officers and increase community policing efforts. New Hampshire law enforcement is among the best in the nation, and I've been committed to securing all resources available to support their work and ensure the highest standards and best practices are in place. This grant will allow local departments to hire additional officers and increase community policing efforts. These federal funds could not come at a more important time as we continue to deal with COVID-19 and related issues, including the continuing epidemic of addiction and substance misuse. Federal Funds for Manchester Infrastructure Projects On Tuesday, I helped announce that Manchester will receive $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to transform its South Millyard area and improve the movement of people and goods at the center of the Queen City. This game-changing federal grant will do more than fund key infrastructure and transportation projects in Manchester - it will make a down payment on creating the kind of bright future that is possible when we make smart, forward-looking investments that create jobs, spur economic development, and improve quality of life. Manchester is New Hampshire’s largest city, home to the largest airport in Northern New England, and is a cultural and economic hub for surrounding communities. This RAISE grant project will serve the city, its residents, and those in surrounding communities, and I'm pleased that I was able to help deliver these funds to my hometown.  Click here to read more. $10 Million for Manchester & Lebanon Airports to Support Pandemic Operations On Thursday, I helped announce $9,786,943 in federal funds for Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and Lebanon Municipal Airport. This funding comes from Airport Rescue Grants funded under the American Rescue Plan Act to help airports prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport will receive $8,735,862 and Lebanon Municipal Airport will receive $1,051,081. The COVID-19 pandemic required us to refrain from traveling and take new precautions when using mass transportation, including airplanes. Our regional airports, which are a critical piece of our state and local economies, were severely impacted by these changes. I’m excited Manchester Airport will receive these funds to ensure they can continue to respond to and recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about this funding.

• SBA Announces Updated Guidance Regarding Applicant Deadlines for COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
• What others are doing for #smallbiz

SBA Announces Updated Guidance Regarding Applicant Deadlines for COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced updated guidance for COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program applicants to better serve small business owners in need, while funding remains available. Since its inception, the COVID EIDL program, a federal disaster relief loan designed to better serve and support our small business communities still reeling from the pandemic, especially hard-hit sectors such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels, has approved nearly $300 billion in relief aid. Specifically, the following updated guidance is being provided:

• EIDL loan and Targeted Advance applications will be accepted until December 31 and will continue to be processed after this date until funds are exhausted.
• Supplemental Targeted Advance applications will be accepted until December 31; however, the SBA may be unable to process some Supplemental Targeted Advance applications submitted near the December 31 deadline due to legal requirements. The SBA cannot continue to process Supplemental Targeted Advance applications after December 31 and strongly encourages eligible small businesses to apply by December 10 to ensure adequate processing time.
• Borrowers can request increases up to their maximum eligible loan amount for up to two years after their loan origination date, or until the funds are exhausted, whichever is soonest.
• The SBA will accept and review reconsideration and appeal requests for COVID EIDL applications received on or before December 31 if the reconsideration/appeal is received within the timeframes in the regulation. This means six months from the date of decline for reconsiderations and 30 days from the date of reconsideration decline for appeals – unless funding is no longer available.

See Entire Press Release Here

“The COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs still have billions of dollars available to help small businesses hard hit by the pandemic. More than 3.8 million businesses employing more than 20 million people have found financial relief through SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans,” said Patrick Kelley, Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Capital Access. “Key enhancements have been made to the loan program that will help our nation’s businesses recover and get back on track.”

What others are doing for #smallbiz

Fourth Annual Innovate NH Entrepreneurship Forum

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan is hosting the annual Innovate New Hampshire Entrepreneurship Forum – a virtual discussion highlighting some of the best and brightest of the Granite State. This year’s event will feature a roundtable of NH business and community leaders sharing their experiences and thoughts on innovation in our state. November 23, 9:30am RSVP here

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses 

is a philanthropic, no-cost MBA-level program for small businesses that links learning to action. Through the program, participants will gain practical skills in topics such as negotiation, marketing, and employee management that can immediately be put into action. In addition, they will receive the tools and professional support to develop a strategic and customized growth plan that will take their business to the next level.

Deadline for applications: December 10. Information can be found at the link below or contact Chuck Neild, cneild@ccsnh.edu or (603) 206-8187 with questions. Apply Now: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

Thanksgiving is a time of appreciation and reflection — share your gratitude for an exceptional businesswoman this holiday season. The deadline to submit nominations for NH Business Review's 2022 Outstanding Women in Business awards is approaching! Help us celebrate the strong business women who not only excel in their profession, but also serve as leaders and role models in the community. For more information

DOVER, N.H. –Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has received five-star grades for their treatment of heart failure and pneumonia, according to research released by a major healthcare data company last month.

Healthgrades utilized Medicare patient data from 2018-2020 and independently analyzed each short-term acute care hospital in the country - roughly 4,500 hospitals.

This is the eighth consecutive year Wentworth-Douglass has received the honor for its treatment of pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs by viruses or bacteria.

The American Red Cross also honored the hospital in 2021 for its commitment to managing heart failure, with its “Silver Plus Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure Quality Achievement Award”.

Earlier this year, Healthgrades awarded the hospital honors for its overall patient experience (for the eighth consecutive year, placing the hospital among the top 5% nationwide) and for excellence in pulmonary care (second consecutive year) as well.

 

About Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (wdhospital.org) is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit charitable health care organization located in Dover, New Hampshire with a 115-year history of compassionate care and innovation. A member of the Mass General Brigham system, Wentworth-Douglass is strategically located in the heart of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine, which it has served since 1906. The organization is a family of more than 3,500 employees, including more than 400 physicians and advanced practice providers dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of the region’s residents and visitors. The organization includes a 178-bed hospital, more than 30 primary and specialty provider practices and clinic sites, multiple express and prompt care facilities, an ambulatory surgery center, several medical office buildings, The Works Family Health and Fitness Center, and the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation.

 

 

PORTSMOUTH / SOMERSWORTH – Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth and Families First Health & Support Center in Portsmouth recently welcomed three new primary-care providers. 

Jessica Fortin, MD, earned her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester and then completed her residency at the Sutter Sacramento Family Medicine Residency Program in California. In addition to being a primary-care provider for patients of all ages at Goodwin Community Health, she is a core faculty member of the Graduate Medical Education program at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, working closely with the resident physicians who are based at Goodwin. She also provides inpatient care at Portsmouth Regional Hospital as part of the residency program.

Emily Grattan, FNP-C, received her Family Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate from the University of New Hampshire, as well as her master of science degree in nursing. She did her clinical rotations ad Goodwin Community Health and Families First. She is now working toward a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at UNH. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, she worked as a nurse on the medical-surgical unit at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover. She sees adult patients at Families First.

Lauren Koczela, PA-C, earned her physician assistant degree from the University of New England in Portland last May. Her training included clinical rotations in family medicine at Goodwin Community Health and a private practice in Massachusetts, as well as rotations in internal medicine, emergency medicine, orthopedics, surgery, cardiology and telemedicine. She also has extensive experience in cardiac testing and rehab through her work as a cardiac stress technician and practice assistant at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. She sees new patients of all ages at Goodwin Community Health.

For information about becoming a patient of Jessica Fortin, Emily Grattan or Lauren Koczela, call Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth at (603) 749-2346, call Families First in Portsmouth at (603) 422-8208, or visit www.GetCommunityHealth.org and tap “Become a Patient.” Telehealth as well as in-person visits are available, depending on the patient’s needs.

 

Families First and Goodwin are part of Greater Seacoast Community Health, a network of community health centers providing primary care, pediatrics, dental care, prenatal care, behavioral health counseling, substance use disorder treatment, mobile health services, WIC, social work services, a pharmacy, parenting classes, playgroups and home visiting. The network also includes Lilac City Pediatrics in Rochester, the Strafford County Public Health Network and SOS Recovery Community Organization. Services are open to everyone and aim to be respectful, recovery-friendly, LGBTQ-affirming and trauma-informed. For more information, visit GetCommunityHealth.org.

 

Concord, NH – Today Governor Chris Sununu and the New Hampshire Department of Energy announced an increase in benefit amounts for the New Hampshire Fuel Assistance Program due to highly inflated national energy costs.  This year, the New Hampshire Department of Energy is increasing benefit amounts by 60% over last winter for most beneficiaries. Benefits will range from $253 to $2,520, up from $158 to $1,575 last winter.

“Ensuring Granite Staters can keep warm this winter is among the most pressing issues facing our state,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “Due to a nationwide spike in energy prices, we are taking steps to help those in need. If you are struggling to pay for home heating costs or know someone who is, help is just a phone call away.”

The Fuel Assistance Program provides qualifying New Hampshire households with grants to assist with home heating costs. The benefit amounts for qualifying households are determined based on a wide variety of factors including income, household size, housing type, and fuel type.

“Increased energy costs represent a heavy burden for all Granite Staters, especially for low-income households,” said Interim Energy Commissioner Jared Chicoine. “In light of the growing national inflation and dramatic projected increases in heating fuels, the New Hampshire Department of Energy is increasing the benefit ranges for the Fuel Assistance Program. This benefit increase will help make sure that low income Granite Staters can keep their homes warm this winter.”

The Fuel Assistance Program is the New Hampshire arm of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that is funded through the US Department of Health and Human Services. The Program serves households making up to 60% of the State Median Income figure.

If you or someone you know is having difficulty paying for home heating fuel or utilities, please call your local Community Action Agency. If you need help locating the agency in your area, click on CAPNH.org/cap-lookup or call 211 for additional information.

PORTSMOUTH NH and SOMERSWORTH NH – The Northeast Delta Dental Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to support access to dental care at Families First Health & Support Center in Portsmouth and Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth. The Foundation has been supporting these programs since 2003.

Both dental centers provide preventive, restorative and emergency dental care within community health centers where patients also have access to medical and behavioral health care and family services. Patients who don’t have dental insurance and meet income-eligibility guidelines are offered a sliding-fee discount. The centers project serving 3,800 Seacoast residents this year.

“In New Hampshire, there is no adult Medicaid benefit for dental care other than emergency extractions,” said Janet Laatsch, CEO of Greater Seacoast Community Health, which operates both dental centers. “This grant from Northeast Delta Dental’s Foundation will help us make sure that adults who have Medicaid coverage and others who lack dental insurance can get the preventive and restorative oral health care that is so important to their overall health and employability.”

“Our Foundation’s mission is to increase access to and the quality of oral health care for all,” explained Jennifer McGrath, Manager, Foundation & Marketing Initiatives. “We are proud to partner with Greater Seacoars Community Health to provide those in need with expanded dental services.” Visit nedelta.com to learn more.

 

Families First and Goodwin are part of Greater Seacoast Community Health, a network of community health centers providing primary care, pediatrics, dental care, prenatal care, behavioral health counseling, substance use disorder treatment, mobile health services, WIC, social work services, a pharmacy, parenting classes, playgroups and home visiting. The network also includes Lilac City Pediatrics in Rochester, the Strafford County Public Health Network and SOS Recovery Community Organization. Services are open to everyone and aim to be respectful, recovery-friendly, LGBTQ-affirming and trauma-informed. For more information, visit GetCommunityHealth.org.

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Caption: Northeast Delta Dental Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to support access to dental care at Families First Health and Support Center in Portsmouth and Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth. Dr. Gregory Fredette, pictured with a patient, works at both dental centers.

DOVER, N.H. – Seacoast patients will benefit from the only Advanced Heart Failure Clinic in the region, thanks to a new collaboration between Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

 

The clinic, which is now open at the Wentworth-Douglass Center for Heart Health in Portsmouth, provides comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and nurses working together to determine the best line of treatment for patients with heart failure.

 

Picture attached: Left to Right: Christine Oliveira, APRN, MSN, CHFN – Heart Failure Nurse Practitioner, Hilary Niesuchouski, RN, BSN, PCCN, CHFN – Heart Failure Nurse Navigator, Nilay Sutaria, MD – Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist, Chelsea Shea, BSN, RN, CCRN, PCCN – Perdiem Heart Failure Nurse Navigator, Kimberly Chapman, MS, RN, CNL, PCCN-K, CHFN – Heart Failure Program Manager

“This work alongside Mass General offers our patients the comfort of staying close to home, while continuing to receive the best possible care in a setting they’re familiar with,” said Denise Palumbo, RN, DNP, assistant vice president of Cardiovascular Services at Wentworth-Douglass.

 

Dr. Nilay Sutaria, a Mass General Hospital advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist, will serve as Wentworth-Douglass’ advanced heart failure medical director. He will work closely with patients and referring physicians to introduce preventative early treatment measures that will help patients delay or avoid hospitalization.

 

“With an increasing number of people diagnosed with heart failure, the Advanced Heart Failure clinic at Wentworth-Douglass aims to help patients receive the care they need to improve their lives,” Sutaria said.

 

To learn more about Wentworth-Douglass Hospital’s Center for Heart Health visit https://www.wdhospital.org/wdh/services-and-specialties/cardiac-care.

About Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (wdhospital.org) is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit charitable health care organization located in Dover, New Hampshire with a 115-year history of compassionate care and innovation. A member of the Mass General Brigham system, Wentworth-Douglass is strategically located in the heart of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine, which it has served since 1906. The organization is a family of more than 3,500 employees, including more than 400 physicians and advanced practice providers dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of the region’s residents and visitors. The organization includes a 178-bed hospital, more than 30 primary and specialty provider practices and clinic sites, multiple express and prompt care facilities, an ambulatory surgery center, several medical office buildings, The Works Family Health and Fitness Center, and the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation.

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