Seeking Flu Information? Looking For a Flu Shot?

Second group of at-risk populations now eligible for H1N1 vaccine

Toll-free 211 line now has information about vaccine clinics and other H1N1-related topics

More H1N1 vaccine has become available, so the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has expanded the state's H1N1 vaccination program. The following higher-risk groups are now eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine:

• People caring for or living with infants younger than 6 months old, including parents, siblings, and daycare providers.
• Partners of pregnant women.
• All children 6 months to 4 years old.
• People 18-24 years old with underlying medical conditions.

"First-tier" groups still eligible

People in the first tier of eligibles who haven't yet been vaccinated can still receive the vaccine:

• Health care workers and first responders with direct patient contact.
• Pregnant women.
• Children 6 months to 18 years old with chronic medical conditions.

Officials expect enough vaccine for the third-tier higher-risk group--adults 25-64 with chronic health conditions--to arrive in the state sometime before the end of the year.

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Energy Answers: Call 1-877-398-4769 with your energy-related questions

1-877-398-4769, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m, or email anytime.
Looking for energy answers?

Today's media-saturated environments bombard us with so many messages about energy, it's hard to know what to believe and how best to invest our energy dollars.

Our research has told us that New Hampshire residents are out there looking for information about tightening up their homes, buying more energy-efficient appliances, investigating renewable energy sources, and taking advantage of government financial incentives for making energy improvements.

In the process, they're running into a lot of misinformation and conflicting messages. Some have fallen prey to scams.

UNH Cooperative Extension's Energy Answers program can help

We've staffed our toll-free Info Line in Manchester with volunteers trained to answer energy-related questions or refer callers to experts and other outside resources who can.

Energy Answers aims to empower decision-making by connecting callers with the best New Hampshire-specific information from experienced energy professionals throughout the state.

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GPS Goes to the Dogs

Workshop trains small-town K-9 officers to assess and document dogs' skills

Twenty K-9 handlers and their dogs gathered October 26 at the NH Police K-9 Academy in Newington for a workshop on using geospatial technology to assess the scent-tracking skills of the dogs.

"It was the first time I'd worked with police officers and the first time I'd worked with a group who had such specific ideas about what they wanted me to do. It went extremely well," says Shane Bradt, UNH Cooperative Extension geospatial technology specialist, who taught the workshop.

"We had gorgeous weather and a lot of fun. The group made tremendous strides in their use of GPS and their mapping skills."

Police K-9 Academy supports small-town K-9 units
The New Hampshire Police K-9 Academy, a nationally accredited K-9 training site on the grounds of the Pease Air Force National Guard base, allows small-town K-9 units to train by holding training sessions every Monday year-'round.

"Most towns can't afford to be without an officer for the 12 weeks it takes to go through the State Police K-9 training," says Mark Ericson, who chairs the board of the Working Dog Foundation, a non-profit that founded, operates, maintains, and raises funds for the Academy.

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