New Hampshire seniors receive diploma on mountain top
A look at coronavirus-related developments around New England beyond Connecticut on Saturday.
New Hampshire
It’s all downhill from here for New Hampshire high school seniors who got their diplomas atop a mountain before riding a chairlift back to the ski area’s base.
With high school graduation ceremonies in jeopardy because of the coronavirus pandemic, Kennett High School in North Conway principal Kevin Carpenter says he wanted to use the community’s resources to make the best of a horrible situation. Cranmore Mountain ski resort offered its services at no cost for Saturday’s ceremony.
The 174 seniors each were allowed to have four guests join them for a 10-minute ride on the chairlift to the mountain summit, where they got their diploma and were photographed.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island is offering landlords a financial incentive to rent property to those without homes during the pandemic.
A new state program gives landlords a $2,000 bonus for the first rental unit they make available for someone experiencing homelessness, and they can receive $500 for each additional unit.
Gov. Gina Raimondo said the state provides housing vouchers to those in need, but many struggle to find landlords willing to rent to them. She’s calling on landlords to pledge at least 100 rental units by July 1.
“Right now, there are many housing-insecure Rhode Islanders that need a safe place to stay,” the Democratic governor said in a statement. “Homelessness is always devastating, but all the more so during a global pandemic.”
The program is being coordinated by United Way, which will help match renters and landlords.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is resuming road tests for new drivers whose exams were canceled because of the pandemic, and it’s offering a new online test for those seeking a learner’s permit.
The agency says it’s contacting customers to reschedule appointments that had previously been arranged for March, April or May. Under new safety protocols, the tests will be provided only in state or driving school vehicles, which will be cleaned after each test.
New applicants won’t be allowed to take tests until all canceled appointments have been rescheduled.
The agency is also allowing teenagers to take a home version of the state’s learner’s permit test. Customers must make an appointment at a registry service center and then take the online test at home within 60 days.
Maine
New cases of COVID-19 in Maine increased by 36, but no new deaths have been reported, state health officials said Saturday.
Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 2,757 total cases statewide, with 29 patients in hospitals.
The number of deaths from the virus remained at 100, officials said. WMTW-TV reports it marks the fourth consecutive day with no new COVID-19 deaths in Maine.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and lead to death.
Vermont
The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles is restarting its motorcycle permit and endorsement testing in a phased approach this week. Commissioner Wanda Minoli said starting Monday the public may start scheduling to take the written test for a motorcycle permit and the skills test for a motorcycle endorsement to be added to their license.
“Vermonters now have the opportunity to obtain their motorcycle permit or endorsement and enjoy Vermont’s motorcycle riding season safely,” she said Friday in a written statement.
Written learner’s permit testing will be available at Agency of Transportation training center in Berlin Monday and Friday. Motorcycle skills testing for the motorcycle endorsement will take place in the agency’s training center parking lot on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All transactions and appointments take place in an open space facility and offices will remain closed to the public, she said.