January 2020
Strafford Regional Planning Commission Newsletter
|
|
Sledders at Wagon Hill Farm in Durham. (
Nancy O'Connor/SRPC Photo)
|
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season and the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. With only a couple of days of the new decade under our belts, I hope everyone is doing well with their new year resolutions and starting the new year off right. The slightly warmer weather has been nice too, reminding us that winter won't last forever.
Here at SRPC we are preparing for our regional workshop to gather input for upcoming regional planning documents, working with COAST and RPC to study the link between public transit and economic development in the Seacoast, and beginning to plan for the second statewide June commute challenge with CommuteSmart NH.
In this issue you will find information on the amount and effects of road salt use in New Hampshire, Nancy O' Connor's title change, grant opportunities in our 'grant corner' section, a study on lasting impacts of PFAS contamination at Pease Tradeport, planning events of interest, ways to get connected with the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast, and community happenings.
Until Next Month,
Shayna Sylvia
|
|
IN THIS ISSUE
Road Salt A Growing Issue in the Northeast
Staff News: Nancy's Title Change
Grant Corner
Study on Lasting Impacts of Pease PFAS
Planning Events of Interest
Get Connected with WHC
Community Happenings
|
STAFF SNAPSHOTS - November
|
Colin Lentz, senior transportation planner, and Rachel Dewey, data analyst, visit with SRPC alumni Lynn Cherry during a trip to D.C. for an FHWA/FTA workshop. (
SRPC Photo)
|
Christina Van Blake speaks during the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAP) annual meeting, attended by Nancy O'Connor, equity and engagement planner. (
SRPC Photo)
|
James Burdin, senior regional planner, and Jen Czysz, executive director attend the LA Philharmonic show in their off-time from the EPA Brownfields Conference. (
SRPC Photo)
|
|
Road Salt A Growing Issue in the Northeast
|
|
Plow truck in NH. (
Photo Courtesy of NHDES/Green SnowPro)
|
|
In recent weeks multiple news outlets across the United States reported on the effects of increased use of road salt, especially in the northeast. As
reported by USA Today
, "
The country used about 164,000 tons of road salt in 1940, U.S. Geological Survey data shows. It broke 1 million tons in 1954, 10 million in 1985, and now averages more than 24 million tons a year."
New Hampshire ranked fourth nationally for most salt used per mile of road lanes over the last four years at 25.1 tons, which could result in large adverse impacts after the snow has melted.
To combat the adverse effects of salt on the environment, on our road infrastructure (compromised bridge structural integrity), and on people's personal vehicles (think corrosion and rust) the NH Department of Environmental Services operates a Green SnowPro training program.
The Green SnowPro training program was set up to educate salt applicators on how to use salt properly and help protect NH's freshwater resources and is offered through the University of New Hampshire Technology Transfer Center.
Learn more from the NH Department of Environmental Services about the impacts of road salt and the state's Green SnowPro program
online
.
_____________________________________
|
|
Nancy O'Connor conducts outreach during Somersworth National Night Out event. (
SRPC Photo)
|
|
Nancy O'Connor Receives Title Change
In December, Strafford Regional Planning Commission staff participated in their annual work review and goal setting process. This included an update to staff job descriptions and for Nancy O'Connor a refined and more fitting title. Previously the program content coordinator, Nancy's new title is Equity and Engagement Planner. This title more closely aligns with the work Nancy has been doing with inclusive transportation outreach, public health and growing partnerships with local community organizations. We are excited to continue growth in some of these newer focus areas, like public health, with our new equity and engagement planner leading the way.
|
|
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Funding for the Broadband Reconnect Program - Due Mar. 16
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that it will fund another round of the Broadband Reconnect Program, an initiative to "offers unique federal financing and funding options in the form of loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America that don’t currently have sufficient access to broadband, defined by the law as 10 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream."
As explained on the USDA website, in 2020 "the USDA will make up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans."
They share, "Applications for this new round of funding will be accepted beginning January 31, 2020. All applications will be due no later than March 16, 2020."
Tufts Health Plan Foundation Funding
–
LOIs Due Jan. 24
The Tufts Health Plan Foundation is now accepting letters of intent for its Collaboration and Community Engagement and Systems and Best Practices programs. As explained on the Tufts Foundation website, the System and Best Practices program "funds activities in Health and Wellness, Workforce Development, Purposeful Engagement, and Field and Capacity Building that will:
- Improve or build systems to support healthy living with an emphasis on the systems that are serving older adults
- Bring organizations together to collaboratively achieve broader impact and change
- Scale efforts to address community needs."
For the Collaboration and Community Engagement program, funding supports, "
community leaders in their work with multiple stakeholders toward a common community goal" and "...
inclusive communities where older people are an asset."As explained on the website, "This work could include current or new activities that directly or indirectly lead to age-friendly communities and address barriers to success such as limited access to transportation or health care, ageist employment policies or other conditions that contribute to the social isolation of older people."
Learn more about the grants, and eligibility requirements
online
.
|
|
Study regarding historical well contamination effecting businesses at Pease Tradeport
|
|
In 2014 officials at the Pease Tradeport discovered that water originating from the Haven well, which supplied 10,000 workers and two daycare centers at the base, was contaminated with PFAS or polyfluorocarbons. PFAS, originated in 1950, were water and stain resistant, and were used in a variety of food packaging, clothing, non-stick cookware, furniture and even in firefighting foam. It was through this last item that the water at the Haven well was infected, as a result of fires
at the base.
Considering that the effect of PFAS on the human body are largely unknown, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) began testing affected individuals in 2015. Funding for these tests was secured by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and encouraged volunteers affected between 2004 and 2014 to provide urine and blood samples over time. Now that five years have passed since the first round of data collection, scientists are asking those who previously provided samples to again donate so changes in PFAS levels in blood over time can be tracked.
You may learn more about the testing
online
.
Eligible participants can enroll by calling the Pease Study call center at (603) 846-6192.
____________________________________
|
|
Planning Events of Interest
|
|
|
Public presentation and input session for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Joint Land Use Study - Tuesday, Jan. 7
The Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) between the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission will culminate its public outreach efforts with a final community input session on Tuesday, Jan 7. from 3 - 7 p.m. at the Kittery Community Center. Presentations will take place twice, once at 3:30 p.m., and once at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of this event is to provide outreach on the recommendations for improving regional traffic issues and lessening impacts on surrounding communities, and for engaging attendees to solicit feedback.
Piscataqua Science Cafe - Citizen Science: By the People Fro the People - Wednesday, Jan. 15
Join the Gundalow Company at the Portsmouth Brewery on Jan. 15 to hear about the opportunities for you to explore, enjoy, and protect from Coastal Research Volunteers, NH Sea Grant, and Nature Groupie!
This free event, which begins at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) will be moderated by NH Public Radio's Annie Ropeik, and is funded by the NOAA's Office for Coastal Management in conjunction with the NH Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program.
|
|
Get Connected with the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast
|
|
The Workforce Housing Coalition (WHC) of the Greater Seacoast is jumping into 2020 with new ways to connect and engage via social media. Executive Director, Sarah Wrightsman, recently created a Facebook group,
Workforce Housing Advocates in NH + ME
. This private group will be used for housing advocates to share resources, ideas, news, action alerts, etc. and is meant to become a space for some good conversation and learning.
Additionally, Sarah created a
google form
which will give people an opportunity to submit burning questions about workforce housing in NH. The WHC will answer the questions on its Facebook page every Friday!
|
|
UNH Hockey vs. Brown
Saturday, Jan. 4
7 – 10 p.m.
Whittemore Center
UNH will host Youth Night on Saturday, Jan. 4 as the Wildcats take on the Brown Bears. Young fans will enjoy activities in the lobby, a balloon artist and post-game autographs on the concourse. Plus, you can be entered for a chance to take a ride on a Zamboni! Learn more
online
.
|
|
Upcoming Reception -
Liese Gauthier: Abstract Thinking and Studley's Flower Garden: New Floral Design
Thursday, Jan. 9
6 – 8 p.m.
Rochester Museum of Fine Arts
The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts will feature a reception for two shows on Thursday, Jan. 9. Liese Gauthier's show, Abstract Thinking, will feature mixed-media abstract work, primarily
paintings made with acrylic paint, collage, spray paint, acrylic ink, graphite, crayon, and charcoal on hand built cradled wood panels.
Studley's,
a family-owned florist, garden center and landscape company, located in Rochester since 1928. They are known for creating original floral designs that are unique and unlike anything else in the area.
Studey's floral designs will be paired with a Picasso Estate Collection lithograph from a past exhibition in February 2014.
|
|
Community Ice Skating Party
Saturday, Jan. 18
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Christmas Dove
The Barrington PTA will host a community ice skating event on Saturday, Jan. 18. Head to the Christmas Dove Pond for fun for the whole family. This event is free.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
