The Baker administration on Tuesday night announced its adoption of new federal guidance governing isolation and quarantine periods for people infected with COVID-19 or exposed to the virus.
“The Department of Public Health is adopting updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding isolation and quarantine periods for the general population, effective immediately,” said Department of Public Health spokesperson Katheleen Conti. “For the general public, this updated guidance shortens the recommended time for isolation and quarantine from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others.”
The CDC issued its updated guidance on Monday, saying the change was “motivated by science” demonstrating that the majority of COVID-19 transmission “occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after.”
“The Omicron variant is spreading quickly and has the potential to impact all facets of our society,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Monday. “CDC’s updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives. Prevention is our best option: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial and high community transmission, and take a test before you gather.”
State public health officials said they are reviewing updated CDC guidance regarding isolation and quarantine for health care workers and “will have more to share soon.”
The adoption of the updated guidance comes as the state’s testing infrastructure is overwhelmed, with people waiting in long lines, stores running out of rapid tests, and the cost of tests creating additional obstacles. Infections are soaring and the numbers largely do not reflect cases confirmed through rapid tests.
With K-12 students on holiday break, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley has not announced yet whether he will extend the state’s school mask mandate, which is scheduled to end on Jan. 15.
“The medical community’s asked for some additional time so that we have better facts on the ground. They’re learning a lot very quickly about the omicron variant. We’ll wait and see, and see what the situation looks like in early January for a decision,” Riley said on Dec. 17.
Several schools have met state vaccination thresholds and dropped their mask mandates, but state public health officials have also issued a general advisory recommending that people wear masks in indoor public spaces.
In gratitude for the support shown from the local community EXIT New Options Real Estate real estate brokerage recently collected gifts for NCMAR Holiday Helping Hands. Every Holiday the Realtor Board, gathers lists from Seniors, Homeless, Veterans and Childrens services organizations. This season NCMAR helped 234 children, seniors, and adults with gifts. EXIT New Options Real Estate with IC Federal Credit Union helped provide toys, clothing, and books for 52 children!
Head Elves Do It Again!
“We appreciate being a part of this wonderful community and welcome the opportunity to give back,” says Denise Wortman & Susan Wright, Owners of EXIT New Options Real Estate.
About EXIT Realty: EXIT Realty is a company founded and built on human potential. A full service, forward-thinking, real estate franchisor with offices across North America, EXIT has to-date paid out more than a half a billion dollars in single-level residual income to its associates. The Expert Marketing Suite™ including geolocation Smart Sign™ technology gives sellers an edge in a competitive marketplace. A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund, and to-date, $6 million has been allocated to charity. For more information, please visit www.exitrealty.com y www.joinexitrealty.com.
EXIT New Options Real Estate is located at 12 Main St. For more information, please call 978-852-7955 or visit our website www.exitnewoptions.com.
This Advisory has been updated as of December 21, 2021.
COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine boosters are highly effective at protecting against serious illness, hospitalization and death and every individual who is eligible and works, studies or resides in Massachusetts is strongly urged to get vaccinated and boosted. The Department of Public Health urges all eligible residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19 because vaccination provides the most effective protection from severe illness associated with COVID-19.
In response to the spread of the Delta variant and the emerging Omicron variant, the Department of Public Health now advises that all residents, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home). The DPH particularly urges this recommendation if you have a weakened immune system, or if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
Your primary care physician can advise you whether you are at increased risk. Information from the Centers for Disease Control regarding the conditions that may put you at increased risk can be found here:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html.
All people in Massachusetts (regardless of vaccination status) are required to continue wearing face coverings in certain settings, including transportation and health care facilities. Please see www.mass.gov/maskrules for a complete list of venues where face coverings have remained mandatory since May 29, 2021.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s current mask requirement and Policy on Vaccination Rate Threshold issued on September 27th, 2021 is not impacted by this advisory. As a result of the most comprehensive and robust school testing program in the country, with 99% of public, collaborative and charter districts enrolled, Massachusetts elementary and secondary schools remain open and safe for children and youth to engage in learning, with over 325,000 school days saved. Only schools who can demonstrate they have high vaccination rates of over 80% of all individuals vaccinated are able to remove masks for vaccinated individuals upon a written attestation.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108-4619
For individuals who are not fully vaccinated, it is especially important that you wear a face covering or mask any time you are indoors and not in your own home to reduce the chance that you may spread COVID-19 to other people. People who show no symptoms of illness may still be able to spread COVID-19.
An individual is fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. However, if a fully vaccinated individual becomes symptomatic, they should be tested and wear a mask until receiving test results.
When you wear a face covering or cloth mask, it should:
· Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face,
· Be secured with ties or ear loops,
· Include multiple layers of fabric,
· Allow for breathing without restriction, and
· Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape. For more information, please refer to the CDC at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
This advisory may change based on public health data and further guidance from the CDC.
Mount Wachusett Community College, with generous support from the Shannon Grant, has launched a new program aiming to connect with students and provide them with support, coaching and workshops in academic, employment, and life readiness. The program is intended for high school seniors and HiSet participants or graduates who are interested in attending MWCC in the fall for either credit degree or certificate programs, or non-credit training programs.
Once accepted into the program, students will participate in various workshops including study strategy techniques, selecting college courses, completing career assessments, building self-esteem, preparing to transition to college, college admissions procedures, and completing financial aid forms.
“Through this program, I’ll be providing coaching, accountability and training to students,” noted Senior Success Program manager, local personal growth and development specialist, and MWCC outreach counselor Maria Vazquez. “I work to make sure these students are getting what they need through the completion of their senior year, on through the summer, and into their first semester at the Mount. My goal is to ensure that they are reaching their full potential.”
Students must reside in Fitchburg, Leominster or Gardner, be a first-generation college student, and meet one or more other risk factors (low-income, single parent household, etc.) in order to be eligible. Individuals interested in the program can visit mwcc.edu/senior-success to complete the application questionnaire.
About the Shannon Grant
Funded by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research, the Charles E. Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Shannon) is modeled after the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Comprehensive Gang Model. Shannon is a multi-sector approach used to address a community’s gang and youth violence problem. Each community receiving Shannon funding demonstrates the presence of risk factors for youth and gang violence.
Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts (ASNCM), which serves as the region’s Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors: Susan McCarthy, Director of the Pepperell Council on Aging; Michael Ellis, Director of the Gardner Senior Center; and Ellen Birchander, Graduate Program Director, Management of Aging Services Program, University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Lori A. Richardson, Chief Executive Officer of ASNCM commented, “We are excited to have Susan, Mike and Ellen, each a proven leader in aging services join our Board of Directors. Their unique and tremendous practical experience will support our mission of providing comprehensive information and quality services so that older people, individuals with disabilities and their families are empowered to make personalized choices to ensure a life of dignity, safety and respect.”
ASNCM is also pleased to announce the appointment of new Clerk, Jennifer Conrad. Current Board Officers include President Christine Dixon; Vice President, Peter MacDonald; Treasurer, William McSheehy; Mary Mathieu, Julie Johnson, Esq., and Donald Parker.
To learn more about the Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts—including programs and services being offered, ways you can donate or volunteer, please visit www.AgingServicesMA.org or contact David Ginisi, Chief Marketing Officer, at (978) 466-1571 or by email at .
In North Central Massachusetts, we are fortunate to have three excellent health care organizations providing quality care and services to the more than 275,000 residents who call our region home. Even with their great reputation, our region’s hospitals are experiencing challenges with staffing shortages and retention, responding to the unique needs of an aging population and providing increased mental health services, all of which are compounded with a global pandemic. But, despite these challenges, our hospitals are rising above, providing unique opportunities for recruitment and retention while investing in their facilities and giving back to their communities.
In September, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce released the results of our Regional Economic Development Plan, which placed health care as one of the top industries with a strong market to retain and expand toward the future.
“We certainly have market strength in the region,” said Steve Roach, President, HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital. “Health care is one of the most interesting business models because people will always need health care, but we are also at the mercy of an extremely tight labor market.”
Roach leads HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, a full service, acute care 163-bed community hospital serving North Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. He said the hospital is navigating the recent COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which is putting an already tight labor market to its breaking point. “We are looking at our staffing levels to ensure our nurses are performing at the top of their game and also researching alternative staffing models to provide the continuity of care the community expects and deserves from our hospital,” he added.
Nashoba Valley Medical Center employees
Even with the renovated Emergency Department opening in 2019, which resulted in a total of 42 beds up from 24 beds, Roach said the hospital is continually over capacity due to mental health cases in the emergency room waiting for a bed at another facility. “We will always be here to provide care to all of our patients, and we are working daily to resolve these challenges,” he said. “We want our patients to receive treatment and care as quickly as we can.”
Heywood Hospital is also experiencing staffing challenges; however, Winfield S. Brown, President and CEO, said the hospital has a variety of strategies in place to retain its dedicated staff and improve the overall health of the community despite the challenges from the pandemic.
A non-profit, community-owned 134-bed hospital located in Gardner, Heywood Hospital welcomed 60 new staff members in various roles in September and is also offering sign-on bonuses for certain positions. “We see health care as a growth market for the region and we are growing as a health care system while also identifying ways to improve economy and equality among our workforce,” said Brown.
In addition to being unique in size and geography, Brown said the hospital has relationships with local colleges and universities to provide development opportunities to current employees while also filling the talent pipeline for years to come. In fact, Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) partners with Heywood Hospital to provide 40 to 50 students a training ground for practicum in pharmacy and radiology technology. And, through a workforce development grant with MWCC, Heywood Hospital can have up to 20 employees who are interested in pursuing a clinical track for nursing obtain education at the college with clinical experience at the hospital.
For current employees, the hospital has a variety of strategies in place to retain staff, such as providing a robust award and recognition program and daily “huddles” for staff to check-in with each other. “We have the hardest working staff around and we need to make sure they feel appreciated, understood and heard,” said Brown. “We established a President’s Advisory Council to learn the staff’s pulse on the institution and we listen and then act to make sure our employees know we heard their feedback.”
Heywood Hospital also boasts a robust behavioral health services program, with 20 geriatric psychiatric beds and a partial outpatient program that provides up to 40 participants with mental health support. In November, the hospital received approval from the Public Health Council to begin construction of a new surgical pavilion, which will replace the existing operating room suite built in the 1960s. The pavilion will include six operating rooms, support state-of-the-art technology and provide an exceptional patient experience. “Our patients deserve first-class health care in a first-class facility,” added Brown.
Nashoba Valley Medical Center, a community hospital serving 16 communities in North Central Massachusetts, experienced tremendous growth this year as more people chose to obtain health care locally during the pandemic instead of going into the city.
Sal Perla, DrPH, President and CEO of Nashoba Valley Medical Center, said as the hospital experiences an increase in patient capacity, it is responding by growing its physician roster. “This year, we’ve expanded the Steward Medical Group in all of our locations,” said Perla. “We’ve recruited ten medical doctors this year, including a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, several new primary care physicians and several other sub-specialists.”
HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital community based initiatives
While the use of emergency room services increased by 11 percent in 2021, Perla said the hospital has the lowest wait times in the region, which he attributes to a website where those seeking care can check on current wait times in the emergency department. “We are so proud of our staff,” added Perla. “And our five-star patient satisfaction results on Google prove that we are creating sustainable care models that reinforce our dedication to quality of care.” In fact, Perla said approximately 25 percent of their patients hail from the Leominster and Fitchburg area. Perla is also thrilled to announce that Nashoba Valley Medical Center earned an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for fall 2021. This national distinction recognizes the hospital’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and error in the hospital.
With a niche in physical therapy, the medical center welcomes approximately 100 patients a day to its aquatics center in Groton for total joint replacement therapy. Recently, Nashoba Valley Medical Center was recognized with a 5-star rating for treatment of hip fracture and pneumonia outcomes by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems. Additionally, the medical center reports that its GI center is performing colonoscopies and endoscopies within 1-2 weeks of initial requests which helps in the aid of detection of early stages of cancer.
Although the Regional Economic Development Plan reported that health care offers a variety of wages, with more than half of the 17,000 region health care workers paid less than $55,000 annually, Perla said the medical center instituted a minimum wage of $15 per hour in 2019.
As the aging population continues to increase in the region, all of the hospitals stand ready to provide care and services to keep individuals at home as long as possible. Nashoba is proud to offer a 20-bed geriatric-psychiatric inpatient behavioral/medical unit which addresses higher level of care for individuals with Dementia/Alzheimer’s associated disease.
Roach said HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital is well-equipped to respond to the needs of the aging population as the hospital operates HealthAlliance Home Health & Hospice (HAHHH), which aims to keep patients in their own homes. “We can offer a level of care, comfort and compassion and are available to assist 24/7 with physical and emotional support,” added Roach. “We want our community to age in home versus aging in nursing homes.”
Perla agrees. “We are learning about the future every day,” he said. “We want to make sure people can retire and live out their years where they want to be and need to be.”
In spite of the challenges and opportunities our hospitals must face now and in the coming years, all of the hospitals remain committed as engaged members of their respective communities.
Heywood Hospital ICU Nurses
At Heywood Hospital, Brown said they are dedicated to improving the health of the community, with special consideration of disadvantaged populations, by working collaboratively with community partners to increase prevention efforts, address social determinants of health, and improve access to care. Their Backpack Food Program supports more than 400 youth and their families with nutritious, non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food choices over the weekend. “The Backpack programs provide more than just food,” said Brown. “They also bring a sense of security economic empowerment, healthy food access and social inclusion for children.”
HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital recently invested more than $700,000 to fund community-based initiatives to support the urgent health challenges presented by food insecurity, substance abuse and workforce development. In 2019, the hospital also provided an investment of $750,000 in the Fitchburg Arts Community, a 62-unit mixed housing project on the site of the former BF Brown School in downtown Fitchburg to aid in the pre-development phase of the project.
And, as a public health doctor, Perla is giving back to the community through volunteering and expertise as an epidemiologist to local businesses and organizations to ensure a safe environment for social gatherinDgs during the pandemic. “As a public health doctor, my job is to improve public health above all else,” said Perla. “By providing risk assessments via surveys to help businesses thrive lowers the risk and establishes a comfort level and safe environment based on the survey feedback from the participants.”
The pulse of any community rests on the trust it places in its residents and institutions. Through calm times and crisis, North Central Massachusetts’ array of healthcare systems, administrators and physicians stand ready to keep that pulse alive and help it thrive. Their dedication and investment go far beyond business and hits at the heart of what makes this region a great place to live and work: people caring for people working together, not just to survive but to thrive.
The Fall continues to be one of the busiest times when it comes to legislative engagement and advocacy on behalf of our members at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. In September, over 80 local, state, and federal officials and candidates engaged our members during our Annual Legislative and Candidates Reception at the Chocksett Inn in Sterling. The municipal elections earlier this month saw the region’s three mayors successfully fend off challengers while new blood was appointed to all three city councils. Fitchburg resident Sally Cragin mounted a successful run for Councilor-At-Large, while Derrick Cruz won the seat for Ward 6; Gardner saw City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas move up to Councilor-At-Large and Dana Heath fill her seat in Ward 2; while in Leominster, Todd Deacon became the newest Councilor-At-Large and Bill Brady was elected to Ward 1. The Chamber will continue to engage these newly elected officials with regards to Chamber activities and priorities.
In addition to discussions with our newly elected city officials, the Chamber continues to monitor municipal affairs across the region. Monthly mayor’s meetings with Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale and Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella have resumed, and a joint meeting including Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson is scheduled for December. In October, the Fitchburg City Council voted in favor of maintaining the single tax rate. Data presented by the Assessor’s office indicated investment in the City is helping it to continue to diversify its tax base. Earlier this month, the Chamber ventured out to Sterling for a presentation on broadband internet now being offered by the Sterling Municipal Light Department. The new broadband offering will serve as a great economic development tool to attract businesses to their main artery through town, and will also prove to be a benefit for area residents.
After months of negotiations in Washington D.C., the House passed their $1.2 trillion-dollar infrastructure bill that includes $550 billion in new federal investments to the country’s infrastructure over the next 5 years including funds for airports, bridges, mass transit, ports, rail, roads, and waterways. Sixty-five billion has been set aside for investments aimed at improving America’s broadband infrastructure, and additional dollars have been set aside to improve the electric grid and water systems. Prior to its passage, Congressman Jim McGovern and Congresswoman Lori Trahan engaged the region’s officials and Chamber members during the annual Congressional Luncheon. After being held virtually last year due to the pandemic, the two spoke to a full room at Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg about a number of issues impacting our members including the infrastructure bill, the American Rescue Plan, taxes and political division.
On Beacon Hill, the House and Senate developed their $3.82 billion ARPA spending proposals. The two versions had some common ground on two major areas including a $500 million payment toward the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, half the amount requests by Governor Charlie Baker, and a $500 million program to offer one-time bonuses to low-income essential workers who continued to provide in-person services during the COVID-19 crisis. Despite those commonalities, the bills differed too much for an agreement to be reached in conference committee before the end of formal session, and as of this writing, no compromise has been reached. The Chamber spent time advocating with the region’s delegation in both branches on workforce development, tourism recovery and education priorities. We also advocated for multiple initiatives contained in the Uno del norte central regional economic development plan including the proposed business investment fund and education compact, the latter of which made it into the Senate version.
U.S. Census data released earlier this year was used to develop proposed redistricting maps for the House, Senate, and Congressional Districts. On a statewide level, population increases led to House and Senate representation shifting further eastward. The 27 communities represented by the Chamber and its affiliates will retain the same total amount of state representation, however, there will be some shifts within who falls into each district. On the federal level, Chamber members will continue to be represented by both Congressman Jim McGovern and Congresswoman Lori Trahan.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Travis Condon, the Chamber’s public affairs manager, at 978.353.7600, ext. 224; or via email at .
The Chamber is pleased to announce the addition of Rebecca Beaton and Stephen Sugar to our economic development team.
Beaton joins the staff in the position of Vice President of Lending where she will be responsible for helping to manage the lending and technical assistance programs offered through the Chamber’s economic development arm, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. She joins the Chamber from Fidelity Bank where she served as Vice President and Small Business Relationship Manager. Her prior experience also includes work with Colonial Cooperative Bank in Gardner, Clinton Savings Bank and Spencer Savings Bank. She holds a Master’s Degree in Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Clark University. She is active in the community, including serving on the Board of Directors for GAAMHA, Inc.; Gardner Square Two, Inc.; and the Greater Gardner Chamber.
Sugar will support the Chamber’s lending efforts on a part-time basis. He joins the Chamber team after recently retiring from Main Street Bank, where he served as a Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending. He has over thirty years of experience in underwriting and managing business loans. He is a graduate of Franklin Pierce University and has a record of community service, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Nashoba Valley Chamber and as a past member of the Finance Committee for the Town of Pepperell. He currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of the Devens Historical Museum.
“We are thrilled to welcome these two talented professionals to our team.” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber. “Rebecca and Steve will be a great resource to the business community as we look to expand our programs and help support new and existing small businesses in the region.”
The Chamber’s economic development affiliate, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), completed its fiscal year on September 30, 2021. The NCMDC works in partnership with local banks, credit unions, chambers of commerce and area nonprofits to support emerging microenterprises, small businesses, and community projects in North Central Massachusetts with loans and technical assistance. The NCMDC provided a total of 84 loans during the year totaling $1,755,253 which helped retain or create a total of 158 jobs. These included 20 conventional microloans totaling $915,200 and 64 loans under round 2 of SBA’s Payroll Protection Program for $840,053.62. The average size of the loans was $20,895 with the smallest loan at $2,296 and the largest at $150,000. The conventional microloans were leveraged by another $717,500 in financing from local banks and credit unions and $229,242 in equity from borrowers. The demographic breakdown for the conventional loans was 38% to minorities; 24% to immigrants; 29% to women; and 81% to low and moderate income. Demographic breakdown for PPP loans was 53% to minorities; 58% were to women; and 64% to low and moderate income. During the year, the NCMDC also provided 2,399 hours of direct technical assistance to start-up and existing small businesses and hosted several successful workshops and forums in partnership with the Chamber.
Since the microloan program was established in the 1990s, the NCMDC has provided a cumulative total of 313 microloans totaling $10,132,302.00 which have helped create 647 jobs and retain another 300 jobs. The numbers do not include any fixed asset loans (SBA 504 loans) made during the early history of the NCMDC. When factoring in these loans, the NCMDC has made over $22 million in loans.
The NCMDC is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) program and is a micro-loan intermediary for the U.S. Small Business Administration.
IC Federal Credit Union just recently celebrated their 93rd birthday on October 24, 2021, and, as a happy birthday gift to themselves, they just recently underwent a rebranding process over the summer.
IC Feder Credit Union was founded in 1928 as a member-owned, non-profit institution, chartered to encourage savings by offering a fair return on deposits; in turn used to offer low-cost loans.
Over the years, the mission of IC Federal Credit Union has stayed the same: to improve the well-being of their members by providing innovative products and services while promoting member education and community support through a team of caring, knowledgeable and empowered professionals.
“We want to be there step-by-step with our members and truly partner in the journey,” said Christopher Hendry, President and CEO of IC Federal Credit Union. “We’re not just a transactional organization. If we are not focusing on the member, then it’s very easy for them to go somewhere else.”
IC Federal Credit Union focuses on engaging their members and the life of what they do, and empowering their adventures moving forward, whether virtual or in-person.
Commercially, IC Federal Credit Union assists local businesses and organizations, informing them of their product options such as business lending for new equipment, or purchasing a piece of land and assisting in funding.
For the residential members, this means building a better relationship together and letting them know that IC Federal Credit Union has those products albeit personal or car loans, credit cards, and more.
With their new branding – new logo, new colors, and new focus – IC Federal Credit Union is able to provide support to their members online and in-person, as well as mobile on the go.
“The online and mobile experience should feel the same way we treat members in person,” Hendry stated, “so we’re launching new programs and products in the coming months for our members.”
The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t slowed down IC Federal Credit Union either.
“The interesting part of all of this is that it showed us that a virtual workforce is doable,” said Hendry. “We realized that it does work – either fully remote or hybrid – and gives our team a better balance in life. It’s opened up our minds and we continue to find unique ways to keep the business moving forward.”
Hendry added, “We are excited to continue our part and impact our community to let them know we are there for them and help however we can. We want to be a part of this community and couldn’t do that without the help of the [North Central Massachusetts] Chamber [of Commerce].”
He also mentioned that the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce provides opportunities that IC Federal appreciates and hope that more businesses and organization take advantage of said opportunities.
“The [North Central Massachusetts] Chamber of Commerce brings thought leaders together to see where the region is and should be headed,” said Hendry. “It’s a great opportunity to see your footprint in your own backyard.”
IC Federal Credit Union is fully open to the public to walk-in and no appointment is needed. Find out more about IC Federal Credit Union by visiting their website at https://www.iccreditunion.org/, or visiting in person at one of the branch locations.
With Massachusetts in the midst of another COVID-19 surge, daily confirmed infections have returned to levels not seen since mid-January, before any of the three vaccines were available to the general public.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) reported 5,402 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, and hospitalizations climbed to 1,204, with 252 patients in intensive care units and 144 on ventilators.
The spike in infections arrives as colder temperatures have pushed more people indoors, people gather for the holidays, and as vaccinated and unvaccinated residents return to many of traditional activities they took part in before the pandemic.
The Omicron variant, which has been detected in Massachusetts, adds a new unknown to the equation as Gov. Charlie Baker continues to urge people to get vaccinated, including booster shots, and some officials seek a return to indoor masking where it is not currently required.
On June 25, the seven-day average of new cases was 64.1. It now stands at 3,309, as high as it’s been since late January. The 4.99 percent test positivity rate reported by the DPH is also as high as it’s been since Jan. 23, with 120,207 new tests recorded on Wednesday.
The Baker administration has taken steps to address the overcrowding of hospitals by requiring providers with limited available bed capacity to curtail non-essential procedures. Hospitals have seen a nearly 134 percent increase in COVID-19 admissions over the past month, with 515 patients reported as hospitalized with the virus on Nov. 8. DPH reported 12 new deaths on Wednesday, after reporting 51 deaths Tuesday, and the total confirmed deaths from the pandemic to date stand at 19,163.
More than a third of the patients currently in the hospital with COVID-19, or 417, were fully vaccinated when they became infected, according to DPH. The state reports 4,949,714 residents have been fully vaccinated with either two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one shot of Johnson & Johnson, or about 70 percent of the total population. Another 1,346,965 booster doses have been administered.
The Joint Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management plans a hearing next Thursday to examine the state of the pandemic in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts is exploring the future of natural gas used in homes and businesses and by large commercial and industrial customers. We’d like your thoughts.
Whether you live in Massachusetts or run a business here, the future of natural gas impacts us all. That’s why we would like your input on a plan to ensure a safe, reliable, and equitable transition to the future of energy in our state.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) directed the Massachusetts gas companies to explore pathways for a clean energy future – for you and our future generations. This includes the critical goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Our part in achieving “net zero” includes removing the same amount of greenhouse gases we produce or avoiding them altogether through new technologies, to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change. These new technologies could impact home appliances like heating systems, boilers, gas stoves, and water heaters and a variety of commercial and industrial equipment that use natural gas. That’s a big job, and one that needs the public’s support and input to succeed.
Here’s how to share ideas and get involved:
Attend a live webinar to learn more and provide your feedback. Please register below for one of the sessions to reserve your spot, attendance is limited.
