COVID-19 UPDATES

Important Town InformationImportant Area InformationImportant State & National InformationBusinesses Serving Our CommunityOrganizations Serving Our CommunityWe’re All in this Together!

Important Town Information

Andover Town Hall is closed to the public until further notice, and all events, functions, and meetings are cancelled. You can reach the Town Office at 735-5332 or TAdmin@nullandover-nh.gov; the Town Clerk and Tax Collector at 735-5018 or TCTC@nullandover-nh.gov. Motor vehicle registrations and tax payments can be made online here, and there is no charge for ACH transactions. The Town website at Andover-NH.gov will be updated as new information becomes available.

Andover Select Board: “During this unsettled time, the Board will meet as necessary, and those meetings will be posted at least 24 hours in advance.”

Andover Fire Department, Andover Emergency Medical Services, and Andover Police Department are conducting business as usual. “We ask people to check in on their neighbors and the elderly.” Check their website often for updates.

Andover Library and Bachelder Library are open by appointment only. More information on their website here.

Andover Transfer Station will remain open on Wednesdays 7 AM to 6 PM and Saturdays 7 AM to 5 PM. But for the safety of employees and the public, only metal, glass, and mixed paper will be recycled until further notice. Aluminum, plastic, and corrugated cardboard all go into the hopper now.

Andover School District (SAU 46 for AE/MS and MVHS) maintains a page of updates here.

Our local Forest Fire Wardens can still issue fire permits, but for the sake of social distancing, the NH Forest Protection Bureau urges people to use the state’s online fire permit system instead. A $3 fee applies.

Important Area Information

New London Hospital is closed to visitors until further notice. Exceptions: those visiting patients receiving end-of-life care; and one adult may accompany a child or dependent adult to an appointment or to the Emergency Department. The hospital provides details and updates here.

Dartmouth-Hitchcock maintains an information page here. It also has a COVID-19 hotline at 650-1818.

If you don’t have a doctor, call NH Department of Health and Human Services at 211.

Important State and National Information

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Service’s overall COVID-19 information site is here. Its COVID-19 Dashboard for statistics about the pandemic in New Hampshire, its towns, and its schools is here

WMUR is maintaining a very comprehensive summary of the progression of COVID-19 in New Hampshire here.

All of the State’s emergency orders are here. From NH Public Health Services: How to Monitor Yourself and Self-Quarantine for COVID-19. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at CDC.gov has many, many pages of valuable information about many aspects of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen maintains a page of links to many sources of state and federal help for individuals, families, and businesses here.

Businesses Serving Our Community

JJ’s Market: Jen Braley says that if you need anything at the market but aren’t comfortable going into the store, call ahead at 735-5406 and they’ll gladly bring your items out to you, including orders from the deli. They’ll even deliver to your home, if you prefer. Keep up-to-date on what they have in stock here.

Pizza Chef in Andover is open for call-ahead take-out orders. Their website is here.

Blackwater Junction Restaurant is open for limited indoor dining. Visit their Facebook page here.

The Kitchen at 46 Main Street has opened its new drive-through window. More here on how Chef Michael and crew are helping the community cope with COVID-19.

The Refinery offers call-ahead take-out and limited indoor dining. Details on their website here.

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust on Lawrence Street is open with “best practices to ensure the continued safety of our employees and customers.” Updates will appear here.

Colonial Pharmacy offers drive-up prescription services and home delivery. Details on their website here.

Hannaford To-Go services have resumed, with a number of significant restrictions. Details on its updates page here. Get a pick-up time slot, then place your order online here. Franklin Hannaford offers the service, but not New London.

NH Liquor & Wine Outlet in New London will remain open, though with modified hours. Details here.

NH Electric Co-op is suspending late payment charges and service disconnections for nonpayment. For more information about NHEC’s response to the crisis, visit their COVID-19 page here.

TDS: Any family with school children in need of internet service may call 888-225-5837 to request free 60 days of service. Current lead times are within one week, so call sooner rather than later.

Lake Sunapee Chamber of Commerce has an extensive list of links to resources and information that businesses need now and will need in the aftermath of COVID-19. You’ll find it on the home page of their website here.

Organizations Serving Our Community

In general, it’s safe to assume that all non-essential activities of all organizations serving our community are cancelled.

Andover Community Hub is closed until further notice. More information at TheAndoverHub@nullgmail.com or 735-5509.

Andover Service Club Thrift & Gift Shop is closed until further notice.

Wilmot Community Association has canceled or postponed all “large events” for the rest of March and April. Small events and private events may or may not proceed … details and updates here.

Colby-Sawyer College has extended online classes through the end of the school year and postponed Commencement. It maintains a page of updates here.

COA’s Chapin Senior Center in New London is open and transportation services are offered on a modified schedule. Details, and a good list of area resources if you need help, is here.

South Danbury Church: To keep abreast of what is or isn’t cancelled, visit their Facebook page or e-mail them at SouthDanburyChurch@nullgmail.com or text them at 491-3196.

John Hay Estate at The Fells in Newbury is closed, though they note, “We always welcome walkers and hikers to enjoy the grounds and trails.”

The NH Center for Nonprofits has a page of useful links for nonprofits trying to navigate the current crisis or struggling to deal with the financial impact.

We’re All in This Together!

Much of this information has been gathered by the good folks at the Andover Community Hub, TheAndoverHub@nullgmail.com or 735-5509.

Andover Service Club members have offered to do errands or shopping for those who must remain at home. Contact Sandra Graves at 735-5511 or JGraves@nulltds.net to arrange for the help you need.

Andover Community Hub has collected much useful information about local food sources here and about local people making (or needing) masks here.

Need groceries or prescriptions picked up and delivered?   There’s a start-up small business in town run by Hailey Makechnie, a college student home In Andover during the shut-down, and offering pick-up and delivery of groceries and drugstore items to local folks.  NHGroceryDelivery@nullgmail.com

Need some help with computer questions such as setting up an e-mail account or Zoom account, setting up an internet connection, loading and starting up a video conference, etc?  Doug Phelps is willing to help. Give him a call on his cell phone at 802-310-1045.

For basic computer help, mostly for Apple products, Mark Vashro can help over the phone or through email. Give him a call on Saturdays, 9 to 11 AM at (203) 903-2166; or e-mail him anytime at MarkVashro@nullgmail.com. He’ll get back to you as soon as he can.  

Need someone to do grocery shopping for you? Paul Currier is happy to shop for folks at Franklin Hannafords on Thursday mornings when he’s there anyway.  He can be reached at 735-5280 or PCurrier@nulltds.net. Paul also suggests that the best way for someone to get help shopping is to go to the Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners website at KNPnh.org and fill out an online “Neighbors Needing Help” form. KNP will get the request to the volunteer closest to you or most available to provide the help you need.  

Self-employed and need some help applying for Payroll Protection Plan? Talk to someone you know at the local bank or contact Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners at KNPnh.org or 317-5900, ext. 1 to have a volunteer walk you through the application process. This is essentially a loan equivalent for up to eight weeks of “average monthly payroll” and if used for living expenses is then entirely forgiven after the eight weeks. But the process can be a bit confusing, apparently.  

Need to find a WiFi hotspot around town? Xfinity WiFi hotspots will be available for free to anyone who needs them to keep connected during this shut-down.  Customers and non-customers can find the exact locations – there are at least ten around Andover – at wifi.Xfinity.com

Before you donate to a cause related to the COVID-19 outbreak, read this from the NH Department of Justice about the rise of COVID-19 charitable scams.