June 2019
Strafford Regional Planning Commission Newsletter
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Pedestrian Bridge at Hanson Pines in Rochester. (
Photo courtesy of Shayna Sylvia
)
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Happy June,
The countdown is on! Only two more weeks until it is officially summer. While the weather hasn't been the warmest this week, it looks like the weekend will be bringing some sun and 70
° weather! Also, we have lots of fun outdoor events to look forward to like food truck festivals, fairs, and farmers markets!
Here at SRPC we are finalizing the Barrington Natural Resources Assessment, engaging businesses to log their sustainable trips in the first week of the pilot statewide CommuteSmart NH challenge, and reviewing geographic data with communities to assist with Census 2020 data collection .
In this issue you’ll read about exciting local events in our "Community Spotlight" section, our latest blog in the "Get to Know Team SRPC" series, planning events of interest, SRPC's annual luncheon, opportunities for public input, an opening on our data collection team, and community happenings.
Until Next Month,
Shayna Sylvia
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IN THIS ISSUE
Community Spotlight
SRPC's Latest Blog
Planning Events of Interest
2019 Annual Luncheon Invitation
Opportunities for Public Input
SRPC Hires for Data Collection Intern
Community Happenings
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Public workshop for the Complete Streets 108 project held in Somersworth on May 2. ( SRPC
Photo.
)
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NHPA Brownbag Series: Municipal Regulations for Tiny Homes event on May 10. (
SRPC Photo
)
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Senior Transportation Planner Colin Lentz rides his bike to work during the CommuteSMART Seacoast B2B challenge! (
SRPC Photo
)
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L to R: Julian Long accepts the Municipal Leadership Award on behalf of the City of Rochester at the Workforce Housing Coalition Annual Meeting (
photo courtesy of Laura Harper Lake, REDC)
, the whale's tail sculpture being installed on the roof of the Dover Indoor Pool (
photo courtesy of Gary Bannon, Dover Recreation),
and the view from Birch Ridge in New Durham (
photo courtesy of Southeast Land Trust).
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The
City of Rochester
recently received two honors, one at the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast's (WHCGS) annual meeting and awards ceremony, and one the Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI) Annual Planning and Zoning Conference. Sarah Wrightsman, executive director of the WHCGS presented the City of Rochester with the Municipal Leadership Award based on its hard work on the Downtown Rochester Housing Workshop last fall. At the OSI conference, Rochester was recognized for sending the most attendees from a municipality to the conference over its 25 year history.
The
City of Dover
has been working to incorporate more public art in its downtown, and recently installed a 26-foot stainless steel sculpture of a whale's tail on the roof of the indoor pool. This piece was created to compliment the new playground beside Henry Law Park, and was sculpted by Dale Rogers of Haverhill, MA. Check it out next time you’re in the downtown area!
In the
Town of New Durham
2000+ acres are being conserved along the Merrymeeting Lake. Three organizations came together to make this happen, the Southeast Land Trust (SELT), Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG), and the Merrymeeting Lake Association (MMLA). This area of land, the Burch Ridge Community Forest, provides area for recreation, wildlife habitat, and is important for protecting water quality. Learn more about the project
online
.
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Colin Lentz, senior transportation planner, at the summit of
Mt. Kearsarge
. (Photo courtesy of Colin Lentz)
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SRPC's most recent blog is the third in a new series, "Getting to Know Team SRPC." Over the course of this blog series each SRPC staff member will be featured. The blogs will include insight into what each staffer does at SRPC, their favorite projects and some other fun facts about each employee.
The third blog in the series features Colin Lentz, senior transportation planner.
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Planning Events of Interest
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The Beaches Conference: Our Maine and New Hampshire Beaches and Coast
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Jun. 13, 2019
The Beaches Conference works to provide continuing opportunities for exchange of the most current information among beach and coastal stakeholders with diverse interests in order to facilitate informed decision-making. We invite you to join us in celebrating beach monitoring and stewardship, building strong partnerships, and taking informed action on coastal issues.
The conference themes for this year's event include:
- What makes for a healthy beach system?
- Implementing coastal projects to support people and environment
- What’s in the water? (i.e. bacteria, toxic contaminants, stormwater, etc.)
- Coastal regulation for municipalities
- Impacts of marine plastics and litter
- Harvesting from the sea: interactions with other uses
- What’s happening with marine animals?
- Planning for climate uncertainty using the best science
- Public participation in coastal science
- Coastal access for multiple uses
- The culture, history, and economics of our beaches
- Flooding, Erosion, and Storms: preparing and responding
Reweaving the Social Fabric of Our Communities
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Jun. 25, 2019
Join the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) for an engaging symposium on “Reweaving the Social Fabric of Our Communities” through improving the social infrastructure and connectivity within New Hampshire communities.
Attendees will hear a keynote address from Lewis M. Feldstein, a nationally recognized, New Hampshire-based expert in civic engagement and community development. Mr. Feldstein has helped shape the landscape of New Hampshire communities through his substantial work leading the NH Charitable Foundation for 24 years and much more.
Attendees will also hear from those who have led successful community-based initiatives to make a positive impact on places and organizations that shape our engagement with and connection to our communities.
Have an idea or vision for strengthening social infrastructure and connections in your community? Big or small, NH CDFA wants to hear about it! Interested attendees have the opportunity to share their idea with an audience and the chance to apply for one of three grants of up to $2,500 to get up and running, select “Apply for Idea Exchange” when registering.
Deadline for registering your idea for the Idea Exchange is Wednesday, June 12. Additional details on the Idea Exchange and grant opportunity can be found
here
.
NH CDFA will pre-select the top submissions to present. Those chosen will have two minutes during the symposium to share their ideas. Audience members will then have the opportunity to connect with Idea Exchange presenters and share advice to help them grow their vision.
Space is limited.
Registration
for the event will close by Friday, June 21 or once capacity is met.
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Annual Luncheon header image. (
SRPC Photo).
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Please join SRPC for our annual luncheon to be held at the Community Education Conference Center at Frisbie Memorial Hospital on Thursday, Jun. 27!
This year’s meeting will feature a panel of experts who will offer three unique perspectives on integrated planning for the future from the lenses of conservation, housing, and transportation. Panelists will discuss the nexus between the three, and the importance of planning for the future with each of these elements in mind.
Learn more, or register
online
.
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Opportunities for Public Input
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Joint Land Use Study Survey
The Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) released a public engagement survey with an emphasis on local and regional transportation. The JLUS is a collaborative planning effort between the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Town of Kittery and the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) to protect and preserve military readiness while supporting continued community growth and economic development. The study area includes Kittery and Portsmouth specifically, as well as the general region incorporating York, Strafford and Rockingham counties.
Feedback in this survey will inform recommendations developed in the final JLUS report. These may include changes to policy, recommended funding sources for transportation projects and improvements, or recommended follow-on studies.
The survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete and all responses are confidential. The survey can be accessed
online
.
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Strafford Transportation Planning Survey
Strafford Regional Planning Commission, serving as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), released its 2020 Metro Plan survey in May. This survey will help staffers understand the needs and challenges of the transportation network from the best source possible - the people that live and work in the region every day and use the system most!
The survey is
online
, and responses will be used to update to the current Metro Plan, the comprehensive transportation plan for our region, which reviews existing transportation infrastructure, goals, and strategies to look at where the region will be in the year 2045. The plan also informs programming of projects and funds to best meet the needs of our region.
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SRPC Hires for Data Collection Intern
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Current SRPC field work team (
SRPC graphic)
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Strafford Regional Planning Commission seeks a temporary Data Collection Intern to support transportation planning activities. This position provides an opportunity to work with a collaborative team focused on using technology and data to inform regional and statewide decision-makers. The successful candidate will assist with data collection, report writing, and map creation services.
For more information about the Commission, visit our
website
.
View the full posting
online
.
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Beer, Music & History at the Woodman Museum
Sunday, Jun. 9
4 – 7 p.m.
Woodman Museum
182 Central Ave., Dover,
Enjoy the music of The Soggy Po Boys and Liz & Dan Faiella and the delicious beer and food offerings of Bad Lab Beer Co. on June 9th from 4-7pm! The Woodman Museum’s four historic buildings will all be open for exploration!
Admission is $5 per guest.
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'Matilda the Musical' at the Rochester Opera House
Friday, Jun. 14 & reoccurring dates
7:30 p.m.
Rochester Opera House
31 Wakefield Street
Head on over to the Rochester Opera House to enjoy t
he story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is a captivating masterpiece that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life.
Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs Matilda is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages around the world
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Strawberry Festival
Saturday, Jun. 29
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
197 Main St.
South Berwick, ME
For forty-three consecutive years, hundreds of volunteers from the community of South Berwick, have come together for this locale centered tradition. As always, official Festival activities will take place only within the boundaries of Central School, located on Main Street, in the center of town.
Strawberry shortcakes have always been a favorite of the Festival and the order line typically wends across the front lawn of Central school. The volunteer staff will begin serving at 9:00am and continue until we run out of supplies.
The greater portion of the courtyard is ringed by a huge section of food booths offering items such as fruit cups and smoothies, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and cold drinks, fried dough, lobster rolls, and entire BBQ chic
ken meals. In addition to shortcakes and cheesecakes
There will be a community pancake breakfast from 6:00 – 10:00 a.m.
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