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Happy July,
I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July holiday and has been enjoying the summer so far. The weather has been gorgeous, although a little hot! We've had some nice weekends for outdoor activities, and there have been lots going on in the region and on the Seacoast. Whether you're looking to take in an outdoor movie in Prescott Park or visit an outdoor Farmers Market, there is never a shortage of outdoor fun!
Here at SRPC staffers began this summer's road surface management system (RSMS) assessments, sent the adopted 2017 CEDS Annual Update to the Economic Development Administration (EDA), have been working with regional communities on Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant submission, and have
successfully kicked off the new fiscal year
.
In this issue you'll learn about our new data collection intern, Monique Duchesne, how NHPA's Seven to Save Program is accepting nominations for its 2018 list, some "in case you missed it" news, SRPC's latest blog, a partner spotlight on COAST, planning events of interest, and community happenings.
Until next month,
Shayna Sylvia
Communications and Outreach Specialist
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SRPC welcomes Monique Duchesne, data collection intern
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Monique Duchesne started working as this year's data collection intern on May 11. Monique recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Community & Environmental Planning and a minor in Green Real Estate.
Her primary role at SRPC includes working with Stefanie Casella, data collection and analysis assistant, for the summer field work season. They will be working on traffic counts, culvert assessments, road surface management system (RSMS) assessments, and sidewalk assessments. You can keep up to date on where Stefanie and Monique are collecting data this summer by following the #datadaysofsummer hashtag on SRPC's
Facebook page and
Twitter account.
When Monique isn't at work she enjoys
spending time outdoors swimming, kayaking, hiking, and fishing with friends and family.
Please join us in welcoming Monique to Strafford Regional Planning Commission.
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Seven to Save program now accepting nominations
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Seven to Save projects in the Strafford region Source: SRPC
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Between 2006 and 2016, eight locations in the Strafford region received Seven to Save designations. As explained on its website, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance (NHPA) began the Seven to Save program in 2006 to "focus attention and resources on significant historic properties in New Hampshire that are threatened by neglect, deterioration, insufficient funds, inappropriate development, and/or insensitive public policy."
For answers to questions about the program, contact Andrew Cushing at
[email protected] or call the office at 603-224-2281.
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Dover Rising Waters Youth Art Contest
The Dover Rising Waters Committee is calling on young artists to help focus community members' attention on the risk of future flooding as sea levels rise and powerful storms become more frequent and more intense. The youth art contest now underway in the Garrison City is part of the multi-phase Dover Rising Waters project funded by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Coastal Program to raise public awareness of sea level rise and its effects.
The contest is open to children and youth up to age 18. The winner will be awarded a cash prize. Entries in the form of murals, other paintings, mixed media, sculptures, signs, projected art, internet-based platforms, and other formats are all welcome. Submissions will likely be displayed in Henry Law Park and at the Children's Museum of New Hampshire, popular locales near areas of the city likely to be affected by rising sea levels.
Young artists interested in proposing a project may do so with the consent of their legal guardian. SRPC is assisting the implementation of Dover Rising Waters, including the art contest. Submission materials are available on the SRPC website, https://bit.ly/2LOyToI.
Eligible artists who plan to submit a proposal should let Kyle Pimental, SRPC principal regional planner, know in an email (
[email protected]
) by 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 12. Completed proposals should be sent to
[email protected]
.
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Annual Meeting Press Release
SRPC distributed a press release about last week's Annual Luncheon on Tuesday, July 3. The release provided an overview of the successful meeting and thanked the Commissioners and guest for joining. The full write-up can be found at https://conta.cc/2IM931P.
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SRPC's latest blog post
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| Executive Director Jen Czysz congratulating Dover on its award Source: SRPC |
SRPC's most recent blog post focuses on the winner of the Annual Excellence Award presented at the SRPC Annual Luncheon. This year's recipient, Dover Community Planning and Development, was honored for several accomplishments including using innovative planning techniques when considering the effects of sea level rise on the Cochecho Waterfront Development project and receiving a TAP grant to upgrade and expand its community trail. The blog documents Dover's other accomplishments as well and can be found online at
https://bit.ly/2IWQF6C
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Partner Spotlight: Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST)
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Lots of exciting things are happening at COAST, including a system-wide re-timing of routes and an upcoming push to recruit volunteer drivers for COAST's new senior transportation service in Portsmouth.
As the region COAST serves has grown, increasing traffic volume has made it harder for buses to stay on-schedule. In response, COAST recently updated its bus schedules to make the regional bus service more attractive and to ensure that riders can reliably predict when buses will pick them up and drop them off at their destination. In early June, COAST held a series of public meetings to inform riders about the re-timing of all fixed-route bus services.
COAST will head to the Portsmouth Public Library on July 10 to sign up volunteer drivers for the Portsmouth Senior Transportation service. The new service will provide free medical transportation for Portsmouth residents who are at least 62 years old or have a disability. Volunteers will use their own vehicles to take riders to appointments within Portsmouth and up to 5 miles beyond the city limits, according to COAST. Similar services are already being offered successfully in other towns throughout the Strafford region and the Seacoast by nonprofit organizations such as Ready Rides and Transportation Assistance for Seacoast Citizens (TASC).
Drivers will be screened by COAST, must complete defensive driving and customer service training, and will be reimbursed $0.35 per mile to cover the cost of gas. Area residents with a good driving record, a clean car, and a little bit of free time are invited to attend the kick-off and learn more about the program. Join representatives of COAST and the city in the Portsmouth Public Library's Levenson Room on Tuesday, July 10, from 4 - 5:30 p.m. for refreshments and a presentation.
Read the full press release about the Portsmouth Senior Transportation program
here.
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Planning Events of Interest
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Save the Date for the Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association (NNECAPA) 2018 Conference
Registration is now open for Northern New England American Planning Association (NNECAPA) Annual Conference on Oct. 24-26. The location for this year's conference, Northport, Maine, offers a great setting to learn about "Defining Resiliency for Northern New England." Maine Association of Planners (MAP) will host the meeting in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Singer-songwriter Dar Williams will deliver the keynote address, speaking about her book "What I Found in a Thousand Towns," which considers why some towns flourish and others fail. More information about sessions and registration will be available soon, so continue to check the conference website at
https://nnecapa.org/conference/
.
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NHMA Webinar - Alien Invasion: Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species in Your Local Waterbodies
The NH Municipal Association (NHMA) will hold a webinar on preventing aquatic invasive species in local water bodies on Wednesday, Aug. 22, from noon to 1 p.m. The training is open to NHMA members and will be hosted by Amy Smagula, exotic species program coordinator with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services; Madison Selectman John Arruda; and Kelly Ainslee Buchanan, advocacy coordinator with the New Hampshire Lakes Association. The trio will discuss what cities and towns can do through the adoption of a local ordinance, education, and volunteer training to prevent exotic plant infestations in local waterbodies.
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Community happenings
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5 Hikes in 5 weeks, Creek Farm, Portsmouth, Saturday, July 7, 9 a.m.
WMUR-TV and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests have teamed up to lead a series of five hikes throughout the summer. The second hike will set off on Saturday, July 7, at 9 a.m. at the historic Creek Farm in Portsmouth. The hike will follow a 1.5-mile trail that offers views of Little Harbor.
More information can be found at:
Picnic in the Park, Jackson Landing Community Park, Wednesday, July 18, 6 - 7 p.m.
Durham Parks and Recreation will hold a Picnic in the Park on Wednesday, July 18. Pack a picnic dinner and join us for an evening at Jackson's Landing Playground to play and enjoy a live kid-friendly performance of Tolba & the Earthdiver by The Little Red Wagon from UNH. Participation is FREE!
2018 Sunflower Festival Dessert and Cocktail Party, Coppal House Farm, July 26, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Be one of the first to view the beautiful sunflowers at Coppal House Farm and enjoy some homemade Bloom'n Cow ice cream or a cocktail from Flagg Hill Distillery and Winery. There will also be live music and a silent auction to benefit Make-A-Wish NH. Tickets are $30 per person and include admission and ice cream. Beverages are available from a cash bar.
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If you know of anyone who may be interested in reading more about the information within this newsletter, please forward this on to them.
You may unsubscribe to this E-Bulletin anytime you wish.
Sincerely,
SRPC Staff
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