Please visit our
COVID-19 Page
which includes links to area resources for both individuals and businesses as well as a listing of area businesses hours of operation.
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Financial Assistance Options
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To extend a helping hand to small businesses suffering from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – in partnership with Vistaprint and a coalition of supporting companies, foundations, and philanthropic donors – is working to provide financial relief through the Save Small Business Fund.
The Fund is providing $5,000 in short-term relief to employers across the United States, including chambers of commerce. These one-time supplemental cash grants are for businesses that have between 3 and 20 employees and operate in an economically vulnerable community; which Claremont and many surrounding communities are considered.
The grant application will go live on Monday, April 20 at 3:00 PM ET. To learn more about the Save Small Business Fund and to apply for a grant, visit
savesmallbusiness.com
.
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NH Nonprofit Response Fund
The NH CDFA is working with the Business Finance Authority and the NH Center for Nonprofits to create the NH Nonprofit Response Fund to help NH’s nonprofit sector respond to COVID-19. Funds to nonprofits to fund working capital, equipment and program delivery and expansion with a maximum award of $100,000 for working capital, equipment purchases and programming expenses. The NH Nonprofit Response Fund will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the front lines of the outbreak and nonprofits supporting the most vulnerable individuals and families directly impacted. The CDFA and BFA will administer loans including deferred loans to qualified nonprofits. The application
is available here
and applications will be accepted starting April 13
th
. Funds will be released on a rolling basis as funds are raised, continuing throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis. More information can be found
here
.
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Sam Adams/Greg Hill Foundation Restaurant Strong Grants
Full time (30 hours or more, can be multiple restaurants) restaurant employees who are currently out of work are eligible to apply for the Sam Adams/Greg Hill Foundation Restaurant Strong grants.
Qualifications:
- Completed Application Form
- Full-time employees (Minimum of 30 hours total per week, can be multiple restaurants)
- Employed for 3 months or longer at the same location
- Worked in a restaurant, bar, cafe or nightclub located in; (Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont)
- Submit the last two full-time (30 hour) pay stubs
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Attention COVID-19 Impacted Organizations in the Greater Sullivan County NH Area:
At a special meeting of the Sullivan County Board of Commissioners (BOC), BOC members approved the receipt of a generous $30,000 grant award from Dartmouth-Hitchcock (Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital). Sullivan County will act as fiscal agent for these funds and is committed to an expedited release process to support community organizations struggling with new constraints due to pandemic response. These monies, under the oversight of the Greater Sullivan County COVID-19 Community Response Coalition, a newly formed multi-stakeholder group comprised of membership from numerous Sullivan county based community organizations, county and municipal governance administrators and others.
Initial available funds will be used to support organizations addressing 3 major areas of concern in the Greater Sullivan County service region due to COVID-19 response:
1. Access and Expansion of Technology/ Telecommuting Needs for Organizations and Schools
2. Medical Supplies for First Responders and Healthcare
3. Essential Worker
We are encouraging all community support organizations in need to complete a request and apply regardless if the needs requested fall outside of the major areas of concern noted above. The Community Response Coalition is working to determine the broader needs of the community to access additional funds.
DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
! If you would like to make a financial donation or volunteer during this time, please contact me via email or phone info below, and let us know how you’d like to help. Thank you!
Sharon Callum | Administrative Assistant
County Manager & Board of Commissioners Offices
Sullivan County NH, 14 Main Street, Newport NH 03773
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Webinars and Workshops Provided by Area Organizations
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Space on Main is offering my next online leadership workshop on Monday April 20, 2020, 5:30 – 7:00 pm. The topic is "Building Effective Teams and Being an Effective Team Member." Teamwork is critical to business and organizational success, yet often teams operate with suboptimal effectiveness and team members who are underutilized or even frustrated.
This workshop will explore methods to create team cohesion and support a positive team work climate, including tips to both lead teams and ways to effectively contribute as a team member. Each participant will be given a Personal Leadership Development Worksheet to develop a plan to strengthen individual team building skills.
For more information and registration
.
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Information from Senator Shaheen's Office
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NH Attorney General’s Office:
·The Absentee Voting COVID-19 Memorandum issued by Secretary of State William M. Gardner and Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald can be found
here
.
·The NH Attorney General's COVID-19 scam alert regarding aging adults can be found
here
.
Funding for Victims of Domestic Violence:
On Monday, Senator Shaheen joined Senator Hassan and a bipartisan group of their colleagues in sending a letter to Senate leadership and appropriators requesting that additional funding and critical provisions to support the victims of family violence, domestic violence and dating violence be included in the anticipated fourth coronavirus (COVID-19) legislative package. More information can be found
here
and the full letter is available
here
.
U.S. Department of Labor Resources:
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has compiled COVID-19 resources
here
.
CDBG Funds:
The CARES Act provided $5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to enable states, counties and cities to respond to COVID-19 and associated economic and housing impacts, including the expansion of community health facilities, child care centers, food banks and senior services. New Hampshire will receive approximately $7.5 million in total, of which $5.4 million will be administered through the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA), with smaller amounts provided directly to Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, Dover and Rochester. Our office has reached out to HUD for clarification about the use of supplemental CDBG to confirm that small businesses and nonprofits that have applied for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program can still access CDGB funds. HUD has confirmed that a small business or nonprofit can receive both forms of relief without seeing an impact on eligibility for either program. More information about the supplemental CDBG funds can be found
here
and
here
Shaheen and Hassan Call for Boosted Lifeline Assistance Funding To Keep Americans Connected
“As our financial, educational, social, civic, and healthcare needs become more dependent on the internet during this crisis, Congress must commit to ensuring that no one loses connectivity.”
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) sent a letter with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and 24 of their colleagues calling on congressional leadership to commit at least $1 billion in funding for the Lifeline program in future coronavirus relief to meet the new connectivity needs of Americans. Since 1985, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s Lifeline program has made basic internet and telephone service more affordable for low-income Americans.
“The Coronavirus and resulting public safety measures taken by states, municipalities, and vigilant citizens are a resounding demonstration of the importance of Lifeline and other FCC universal service programs,”
the Senators wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
“Already, Lifeline provides millions of Americans with essential connections by providing free or discounted broadband and voice services. This meaningful assistance is needed now more than ever. Social distancing, school closures, layoffs, and shelter-in-place rules have spurred a dramatic new reliance on telework, distance education, online employment, and telehealth. No one should have to put their health at risk, lose employment, lose access to education, or face isolation because they cannot afford broadband.”
With tens of millions of Americans now working from home, going to school virtually, and using telehealth services, the Senators emphasized this funding is critically needed to improve the program’s level of service, expand choice of eligible broadband providers, and meet the surge of demand. The funding would also allow Lifeline to better advertise and process applications, so that Americans know this program is available to help them stay connected.
Senators Shaheen and Hassan have been working across the aisle to ensure that Granite Staters are able to access critical online services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, Shaheen and Hassan
sent a letter
calling on Lifeline internet service providers to deliver better mobile internet service for low-income Americans impacted by the pandemic. Senators Shaheen and Hassan
joined a bipartisan group
of their colleagues in urging the FCC to increase support to health care providers through the Rural Health Care Program to help them deliver and expand telehealth services for rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators also joined their colleagues
in calling on the FCC
to help provide Wi-Fi hotspots or devices with Wi-Fi capability to students who lack internet access at home.
Additionally, Senator Hassan has worked to fix the FCC’s flawed broadband coverage maps and expand broadband coverage to underserved areas. Senator Hassan
successfully called on
the FCC to extend the deadline for communities to challenge the accuracy of broadband coverage maps. Senator Hassan also joined in
sending a bipartisan letter
to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai advocating for an additional public feedback mechanism that would utilize crowdsourced data to empower consumers and states to help inform broadband coverage maps and report any lack of broadband access to the FCC. In December, Senators Shaheen and Hassan joined their colleagues to urge the FCC to
prioritize sustainable rural broadband networks
as the FCC considers new rules in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund proceeding.
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Bar Harbor Bank and Trust is here to serve customers during the COVID-19 crisis
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Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has helped our customers navigate many financial crises and economic downturns over the last 133 years. We are committed to serving our customers and supporting them as we navigate through the COVID-19 crisis. We recognize each customer need is unique, and we will continue to provide personalized, individual service and support. If you are experiencing financial difficulties due to COVID-19, we are here to help. Give us a call at 888-853-7100.
Our local branches are open and here to serve you. Our locations with drive ups are available to assist you with your regular transactions at the drive up window. Our branch lobbies are also open by appointment to assist you with any transactions that cannot be handled at the drive up.
Claremont Branch Phone Number: 603-542-4288
Claremont Branch Hours: Monday - Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday & Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm and Saturday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The drive up is available for regular transactions and lobby appointments are available for needs that cannot be handled at the drive up. Please call the branch directly to make an appointment with a banker.
24/7 Remote Banking options: We are proud to provide our customers with many tools to allow them to complete their banking without leaving the safety of their home. We offer online banking (online carrier fees may apply), mobile banking with mobile deposit (mobile carrier fees may apply), telephone banking, and more. Additionally, our locations boast Smart ATMs that allow customers to withdraw money and deposit checks. Don’t want to use cash? Consider using your Bar Harbor Bank & Trust debit card with Contactless Payment Technology, just tap and pay. Visit our
website to learn more.
Home mortgage payment relief: If you are wondering what your mortgage payment relief options are as a homeowner, please contact our Customer Service Center at 888-853-7100. They will connect you with a dedicated team member who will work with you to review all of the options available and build a solution for your particular situation.
Business loan payment relief: If you are a business customer or business owner wondering what your loan payment relief options are, we encourage you to connect with one of our Commercial Bankers. They can discuss the different options available, including the SBA Paycheck Protection Program, and will develop a solution specifically for your needs. Contact one of our branches or our Customer Service Center at 888-853-7100 to get connected with a Commercial Banker.
Cash management solutions: Running your business during this time of social distancing can present challenges and we are here to provide solutions. We can help answer your questions about FDIC insurance, Credit Card Processing, depositing checks remotely, moving money electronically, and more. We offer a variety of products and services to help you run your business remotely, securely and efficiently. Simply give us a call at 888-853-7100 and ask to be connected to our Treasury Services Group.
Beware of scams: Be aware of specific coronavirus related scam information by visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s website. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust will never ask you for your personal information without your prompting.
We are here to help. Many of our employees are working remotely to minimize face-to-face contact. Those employees can be contacted directly or by calling our Customer Service Center, which remains open and is ready to assist you. Simply call 1-888-853-7100. Be safe and be well. We are here for you. You can learn more about our response to
coronavirus here.
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BHB&T Adds Walk-Up Teller Service to Newport Location
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Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has added walk-up teller windows to our Newport, Nashua, and Peterborough, New Hampshire, branches to increase service capacity for customers. To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and accordance with New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu’s “stay-at-home” order, all Bar Harbor Bank & Trust in New Hampshire locations transitioned to drive-up and lobby by-appointment only services last month. These three locations do not have drive-up windows, the Bank built and installed exterior walk-up teller windows to help customers complete their in-person banking transactions in the safest manner possible.
“Our customers’ physical and financial wellbeing is our top priority. We have had to adjust our branch operations in response to COVID-19 and, in the case of these three branches, find new ways to safely offer a solution to help our customers who are not able to make it to a drive-up location,” said Bar Harbor Bank & Trust President and CEO Curtis C. Simard. “By building new walk-up teller windows in Newport, Nashua, and Peterborough, we can serve customers and more importantly still protect the health and safety of our customers and employees.”
New Hampshire branch locations with walk-up teller services, which are available during normal lobby hours, are:
- Newport – 9 Main Street, 603-865-6165
- Nashua - 188 Main Street, 603-882-2700
- Peterborough – 2 Main Street, 603-924-7440
The walk-up teller windows have been built into existing access points and offer the same level of security, including bullet proof glass and camera surveillance, which can be found in the bank lobbies. The Bank has also added visual cues to help customers maintain social distancing. The walk-up windows are ideal for transactions such as account openings, deposits, transfers, loan payments, and more.
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Effective March 24, 2020 the Valley Regional COVID Hotline phones,
603-542-7850, will be answered from 8a-12p. Any patient that meets the criteria for testing will be given a testing time slot between 12p-4p.
This will be 7 days per week.
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New Community Disscussion List
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Vital Communities is launching a new Community Discussion List (CDL) or list-serv, to create a forum for businesses and those involved in the Upper Valley economy to share ideas, resources, challenges, successes, and other information during this economic emergency. This list is open to all businesses, organizations, community-builders, and economic development service providers who want to participate and work together for a vital Upper Valley economy.
As we all adapt to social isolation, CDLs (list-servs) can provide a central space to share resources, information, and support. We are stronger together and the hope is that this new CDL will make it easier to engage, connect, and share during this crisis in support of our Upper Valley businesses and economy.
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There are opportunities for people who can start working part or full-time. They are hiring
immediately
to help support three critical areas:
-
Environmental Services
(a clean, safe environment has never been more important. Gain direct experience in infection prevention and proper sanitation practices)
-
Food and Nutrition
(provide our care teams and our patients the nutrition they need to be well)
-
Facilities/Engineering
(join our team of plumbers, electricians, HVAC, mechanics, plant operators, and management)
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To inform the development of this
Plan
, UVLSRPC is currently conducting a brief survey on traveling in the NH Route 12A highway corridor:
https://transportationplan-uvlsrpc.hub.arcgis.com/
. There is also an interactive map that residents can use to mark specific locations on the roadway network where there is a transportation issue or not. There are other surveys focusing on other major highway corridors in the region (e.g., US Route 4) that residents are welcome to take as well.
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West Central Behavior Health
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What We’re Doing To Help
These are unsettling times for our clients, our staff, and all of us involved in healthcare service delivery. Given our focus on mental health, our present objectives are to protect the health and safety of our staff and our clients. This means our Senior Leadership Team is meeting regularly (via videoconferencing) to assess and respond to daily changes locally, state-wide, and at the national level. Our offices remain open at this time, but staffing is reduced due to our initiative to encourage people to work from home whenever possible. Clients, please consult with your clinician or team to talk about video conferencing or phone conferencing. We are here. Please call on us.
Our current agency goals in this time of COVID-19 include:
- Use of telehealth and telephone to deliver services to clients whenever possible and as soon as possible.
- Minimizing face-to-face contact between work colleagues and between staff and clients.
- Working from home whenever possible to eliminate the spread of the virus.
- Increased cleaning of our facilities.
- Encouraging social distancing and good hygiene habits like frequent hand washing.
- Postponing events or activities for larger group gatherings.
- Posting regular updates on our website and on our Facebook page: @WestCentralBehavioralHealth
- Proactively reaching out to clients who need our help and support now, more than ever.
In a time where nothing feels normal or routine, we are striving to ensure that we continue our services to clients and implement, no matter how temporary, a creative and effective means to do so. The only way for us to remain available to our clients is to ensure our own staff's physical and emotional safety. Technology and tools for telehealth are being disseminated to establish as many options as possible for remote work.
West Central staff are pulling together to maintain their steadfast commitment to our mission. It is not easy in times like these when the landscape changes daily. Yet we’re making continual adjustments to be nimble, and to react quickly as information and resources change. Above all, staying healthy while delivering essential services to our clients drives our efforts.
How to Cope During This Stressful Time
Remain calm and know that the entire health system is working to respond and keep all of us safe.
Coping with stress and anxiety during the outbreak may be difficult.
To learn about Coronavirus symptoms and how to protect yourself, visit the CDC website at:
https://www.cdc.gov
.
For continuously updated local information, visit the NH DHHS website at:
We are all doing our best during this unprecedented and stressful time. We remain dedicated to our clients and our mission to provide mental illness and substance use disorder treatment to individuals, families, and our communities while helping to reduce the stigma associated with these conditions.
Thank you. Stay healthy. Practice social distancing. Please wash your hands often.
Our Emergency Services crisis team is taking calls at:
1-800-564-2578
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Stevens High School Alumni Association News
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Notes from the SHS Alumni President
Hello to my fellow alumni,
I sincerely hope everyone is staying healthy and safe during this horrendous
Coronavirus Pandemic. We are in this for the long haul, and we will all pull
through this together and move on to better times.
While we wait, I thought I would update everyone that we are doing what we can to help during this crisis.
We are starting to get in 2nd, 3rd and 4th year applications for scholarship
awards. The deadline has been extended to the end of April so please if you
are going on to college and need help, get those applications to us. It may not
be as much this year but we will do the best we can to help as many students
as we can. The meeting may have to be done somehow remotely this year and more than likely if candidates receive an award, it will be thru the mail.
The monthly meeting April 15th is cancelled. At this time we don’t know
about the May meeting or if we will have a meeting in June.
The newsletter is at the printer and should be at Quality(our mailing service)
for labeling, sorting and mailing within the next three weeks. There is a form asking for suggestions for a theme for 2021. This is a special year for Stevens
Alumni, 150 years, so we should have a theme that will incorporate this span. Such as Stevens High School Alumni celebrates 150 years, Then and Now, just a thought. Any more ideas for themes?
The annual newsletter is now posted on the website so that those of you who
have computer access can read it sooner instead of waiting for “snail-mail”
This is the first year in the history of Stevens Alumni that we have cancelled all Alumni Weekend events. It is sad, but let’s not dwell on that and move on to working on the 150th celebration, June 12, 2021, and ways to make it bigger
and better than ever.
We are looking to help in any way we can during this epic time of need for so many. We have offered our help to schools if they are in need of supplies,
assistance, school needs to help with the remote learning program. We
have sent some small print jobs to Doolittle’s Print Service. We will probably want some 150th celebration banners. We can discuss what we want them to
look like and have them done during this slower period of time and eliminate a last minute rush for us. Another idea to think about is to have some tee
shirts done with a 150th logo on them. These could also be done early.
I will try to get another update out in a few weeks either thru the website,
Facebook or newspapers to keep everyone aware of alumni news. In the meantime, if you have thoughts or ideas to share, please let me know either by
phone 603-504-5702 or email
nhsno@comcast.net
.
If you have parade questions contact Parade Chairman,
Dick Girard at 603-543-6398 email
dick@goldencrossamb.com
Stay safe, stay well!!
Doug,
President, SHS Alumni
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Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival Rescheduled for September 11-13
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As thousands of entertainment gatherings and events have been cancelled or postponed around the country due to the COVID-19, the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce (HACC) has announced the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Craft and Music Festival, the longest running hot air balloon festival in New England, is rescheduled its June 19-21 event to the weekend of September 11-13.
“After celebrating our 40
th
anniversary last year with record breaking crowds gathered, we felt it was in the best interest, health and safety of the community, our volunteers and sponsors and all who have come to enjoy this annual event, that we reschedule the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Craft and Music Festival until September due to the COVID-19 virus,” said P.J. Skehan, executive director of the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce (HACC).
Over the years, thousands flock to central Vermont for the annual Father’s Day weekend gathering where more than 20 balloonists headline a regular schedule of five flights slated throughout the weekend and additional tethered rides during the day. Entertainers, musicians, artists and food vendors, are also on site to serve the annual celebration.
According to Skehan, a number of balloonists, entertainers and vendors have committed to participating at the September date.
“We respect and align with the guidelines set forth by the Governor as well as the health care professionals” added Skehan. “This is disappointing but just as our community, sponsors, volunteers and town officials come together each year to make this a benchmark event, we must rally to work through these uncertain times. It’s challenging moments like these that epitomize what we can endure and achieve when our community comes together.”
THE HARTFORD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (HACC)
hosts the Quechee Balloon Festival and helps area businesses succeed with a mission to enhance the economic environment. Through networking, events, savings programs, and disseminating information HACC offers member businesses an advantage in the marketplace. HACC, in collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers and the VT Department of Forests Parks and Recreation, also manages and staffs the Quechee Gorge Visitor center which is part of the 612-acre Quechee Gorge State Park that welcomes over 100,00 visitors yearly from all parts of the globe. For more information
visit
, call 802.295.7900 or
email
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Message from the Chamber Director
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Like many of you I am working remotely in order to do my part of social distancing. I can be reached by phone (603-543-1296) or
email and will continue working to enhance, promote and support economic stability and growth in our community.
I invite you, individuals, businesses and organizations, to reach out to me with any questions, comments or concerns you might have. If I don't have the answers I will do my absolute best to find them for you.
In addition to standard phone service the Chamber also has Zoom video conferencing available if you'd like to connect face to face while maintaining social distancing.
While we all navigate these uncertain times lets all remember to be kind.
Elyse Crossman, Executive Director
Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce
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If you'd like to have an item appear in the newsletter please
email it by noon on Monday to appear in that week's regular issue. If you've previously submitted an item you didn't see in this issue please resend it. With many cancellations we decided to not include any items that were not received in the last five days. We apologize for the inconvenience but hope you can understand that we only want to share current up to date information.
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Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce | 24 Opera House Sq. Claremont, NH 03743
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