November 6, 2020
Strafford Regional Planning Commission Newsletter
The finished mural in the Rochester Community Center hallway. (SRPC photo)
Greetings,

Well, it's official - WINTER IS COMING. We have turned back the clocks, and the Christmas music in most grocery and department stores is now on a constant loop. In addition to daylight savings time, this week marked election day. While we still wait for the final election results, we can reflect on how awesome the record breaking voter turnout was across the U.S.! In order to distract myself from checking the election results every half hour, I've turned my focus to a countdown to turkey, stuffing and family time, as I reflect on what I'm thankful for this holiday season - won't you join me?
 
Here at SRPC we are regularly convening two new subcommittees focused on recycling and resiliency, finishing up a week of turning movement counts along Route 125 for the City of Rochester, and planning for CommuteSmart Seacoast's winter Conquer the Cold challenge with partners at Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC).

In this issue you will find information on the planning concept 'superblocks', SRPC's latest blog feature on GIS planner Jackson Rand, planning events of interest, SRPC's newest staff member Natalie Moles, SRPC's partners at the Strafford County Public Health Network, a recently published article co-authored by outreach planning staff Nancy and Shayna with colleague James Vayo from Southern NH Planning Commission, tips for the 2020 King Tide Photo Contest, upcoming SRPC webinars in out "In Case You Missed It" section, and community happenings.

Until Next Month, 
 
Shayna Sylvia 
IN THIS ISSUE
Superblocks [VIDEO]
SRPC's Latest Blog: Get to Know Jackson Rand
Planning Events of Interest
SRPC Welcomes Natalie Moles
Community Spotlight: SCPHN
SRPC Featured in NHMA's Town & City Magazine
2020 King Tide Photo Contest Tips and Tricks
In Case You Missed It: SRPC Upcoming Webinars
Community Happenings
STAFF SNAPSHOTS - OCTOBER
SRPC joined COAST staff, board members, planners, and NH Executive Council candidate Cinde Warmington at the COAST headquarters to discuss COAST services and the impact of COVID-19. (SRPC photo)
SRPC staff carve pumpkins during a social distance gathering. (SRPC photo) 
Superblocks: How Barcelona is taking city streets back from Cars
In September 2016 Vox Media featured a story and video describing the concept of superblocks. Superblocks are an "...urban-planning idea out of Barcelona, Spain, that would reclaim streets from cars and transform them into walkable, mixed-used public spaces."¹

The video (shown above) and accompanying article provide the details of the successful case study that began in 2008 in Barcelona, and the included discussion on the many benefits including improved air quality.

A follow-up article from 2019 further justifies the use of superblocks and drives the question as to whether this would work in the U.S.

These articles were research and written by David Roberts, a writer for VOX focused on energy and climate change.
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SRPC's Latest Blog
SRPC's most recent blog is the sixth in the "Getting to Know Team SRPC" series. Each SRPC staff member will be featured over the course of this blog series. The blogs include insight into what each staffer does at SRPC, their favorite projects and some other fun facts about each employee.  

The most recent in the series features Jackson Rand, GIS planner. 

Jack has worked for SRPC since September 2019 (see 'Staff News' feature). Learn more by reading his blog feature
Planning Events of Interest
Connection Entrepreneurial Communities Conference - Monday, Nov. 9 to Friday, Nov. 13, 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

University Extension professionals in eight states have planned a virtual conference for individuals and groups who support local entrepreneurs. If you assist entrepreneurs and small businesses in your community, you will not want to miss this opportunity!

The Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (Virtual) Conference will bring together people from across the nation that support entrepreneurs in their local communities. Join us and learn best practices from business leaders, entrepreneurs, economic developers, decision makers, and others working to build up their communities, one business at a time.

Register online.

Using Recycled Content Materials in Road & Infrastructure Projects Virtual Workshop - Monday, Nov. 16 - Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1 - 4 p.m.

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) and the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA), in partnership with NRRA, MRRA, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Transportation, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and Department of Transportation, and the New Hampshire Technology Transfer Center, are offering virtual workshop about using recycled content in road and infrastructure projects.

This workshop, which will be from 1 - 4 on November 16 and November 17, will provide attendees with new insights and examples of practical applications. Presenters will address:

  • Plastic corrugated drainage pipes with recycled content
  • Ground asphalt for roads
  • Use of crumb rubber in roads
  • Processed glass aggregate (PGA)

The registration fee for the workshop is $75; with a deadline of Nov. 13.

View the agenda here.

Learn more, or register online.
Staff News
SRPC Welcomes Natalie Moles 

Natalie Moles started in her position as Economic Recovery Coordinator on Monday, Nov. 2. This position was created at SRPC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is a two-year contract position funded through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) CARES Act. 

Natalie graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015 with a dual degree in Environmental Studies and City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning.  Most recently Natalie worked as the catering/sales manager at Wentworth by the Sea, and in addition has prior experience in real estate and had legislative and planning internships while living in Virginia.

In her new role, Natalie will work closely with SRPC’s dedicated planning staff to implement the EDA CARES Act grant by providing direct technical assistance to member communities, stakeholders, and businesses on issues related to economic development, economic resiliency, and adaptive strategies in response to COVID-19. She will deliver professional planning and technical expertise through direct communications and constituent services with SRPC municipalities and the business community. 

When Natalie is not working, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and exploring small communities and towns around New England.  

Join us in welcoming Natalie!
Community Spotlight: Partner Edition
The Strafford County Public Health Network (SCPHN) is an important stakeholder with which Strafford Regional Planning Commission has been growing a partnership with over the last five plus years. Prior regional planner Liz Durfee originally represented SRPC on the SCPHN's Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC). This role is now filled by Nancy O' Conner, equity and engagement planner.

The SCPHN represents Dover, Rochester, Durham, Somersworth, Barrington, Farmington, Milton, Lee, Strafford, New Durham, Rollinsford, Middleton, Madbury, and the University of New Hampshire in improving the health, wellness, and quality of life for all individuals in Strafford County. The staff and volunteers that work as part of SCPHN strive to build one integrated system of community members, businesses, and health organizations working together to address public health needs.

Based out of Goodwin Community Health, the SCPHN also includes Families First and Lilac City Pediatric, under the umbrella of Greater Seacoast Community Health.

The SCPHN's advisory board, the Public Health Advisory Council (PHAC) meets regularly and holds two larger all partner meetings each year.

For its upcoming All Partner Meeting the SCPHN is addressing a theme of "Rising with Resilience and is looking for presenters. The meeting will take place on Friday, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Presentations topics and speakers are traditionally chosen by the SCPHN, but this year members are looking to use the meeting as an opportunity for organizations, coalitions, individuals or groups to discuss their work!

SCPHN is looking for presentations about a topic, program, or initiative related to public health including but not limited to:

  • Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Stigma
  • COVID-19 Impact/Programs
  • Racial Inequality/Justice
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resiliency, Trauma Informed Care/Practices, Wellness
  • Substance Use Disorder (Prevention, Intervention, Treatment, Harm Reduction, Recovery)
  • Homelessness/Housing, Transportation, Childcare, Education

Proposal are due Nov. 16, and can be submitted online.
SRPC Featured in NHMA's Town and City Magazine
SRPC communications and outreach planner and engagement planner Shayna Sylvia and equity and engagement planner Nancy O'Connor recently partnered with James Vayo, project manager with Southern NH Planning Commission, to write an article on "Innovations in Community Engagement.

This article was published in the NH Municipal Association's (NHMA) Town and City publication, in a section referred to as the "NH Association of Regional Planning Commission Corner". The article details new approaches to outreach taken by both SRPC and SNHPC both prior, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

View the article on the NHMA website.
2020 King Tide Photo Contest Tips and Tricks
The 2020 King Tide photo contest is only one week away, with this year's king tides taking place between Saturday, Nov. 14 -Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Each year the Coastal Adaptation Workgroup invites citizens to grab their cameras and document extreme high tides during its annual King Tide Photo Contest to raise awareness of New Hampshire’s rising tides. Photographing King Tides is an effective way to help coastal communities identify areas prone to flooding, visualize potential impacts of sea-level rise, and plan for the future.

For this year's contest CAW changed its submission categories and will award winners in one of three categories - Atlantic, Great Bay, and Creative. Photos showcasing the vulnerability of people, places, and things impacted by high tide flooding in Portsmouth, New Castle, Rye, North Hampton, Hampton Falls, Hampton and Seabrook will be entered into the Atlantic category, while those in Newington, Greenland, Stratham, Exeter, Madbury, Durham, Dover, and Rollinsford will be entered into the Great Bay category. Entries should be posted on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the #kingtidenh2020, and then #greatbay or #atlantic, respectively.

The third option, the creative category, encourages digital content in either geographic area, and can include options like aerial photos, videos, time-lapses, before and after comparisons, memes, etc. Aerial photos will only be entered into the creative category. Similar to submissions in the other categories, content should be shared on social media with the #kingtidenh2020 and #creative.

For suggested locations, view the map created by CAW.

View the complete rules, including directions for submittal if you do not have social media, at https://www.nhcaw.org/kingtidenh2020/.
In Case You Missed It
ArcGIS Online Mapping Tutorials with GIS Planner Jackson Rand
Join SRPC GIS Planner Jackson Rand for a demonstration of SRPC's new ArcOnline mapping tools. Starting with a review of SRPC's ArcOnline homepage, Jackson will explain how to use the new online and interactive Standard Maps, Open Data Portal, and Tax Parcel Viewer (the replacement for SRPC's prior MapGeo platform). Jackson will then lead participants through an exercise to create their own floodplain map for the regional community of their choosing using SRPC's ArcOnline tools.

This tutorial will take place at two different times, offering flexibility with work and board meeting schedules for those interested. The two sessions will take place on Nov. 23 from 3-4:30 p.m. and on Dec. 2 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. 

These sessions will also be recorded for those unable to attend in-person.

Contact Shayna Sylvia, communications and outreach planner, with any questions at srpc@strafford.org.
Permit Streamlining Training Webinar for Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVSE) Installations
Position your town for EV infrastructure investments!
 
On Friday, Nov. 13 at 10 AM, Strafford Regional Planning Commission will host a special webinar on permitting EV charging stations.
 
This special online training is geared towards NH Code Enforcement Officials, Electrical Inspectors, RPC Commissioners and staff, and other municipal and technical Staff.

Presenters include:

  • Jessica Wilcox, Granite State Clean Cities Coordinator at the NH Department of Environmental Services
  • James Penfold, Co-founder of EV LaunchPad
  • Sean Tully, EV Infrastructure Project Lead for Eversource’s Make Ready Program in Massachusetts 

Jessica, James and Sean will be providing practical planning and permitting best practices to help towns and cities best position themselves for EV infrastructure investments.

Learn more and register online.
Community Happenings
Great Bay Services Trail Tale
Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Walk the Dover Community Trail to support Great Bay Services. Along the route read signs and scan QR codes to learn more about the story of GBS and how our clients are a valuable and integrated part of our communities. The QR codes link to interviews with GBS guardians, clients and staff who talk about the many aspects of Great Bay Services.

Learn more online.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Friday, Nov. 13, 7 - 10 p.m.

Join Southeast Land Trust for its' virtual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. This fundraising event is intended to inspire attendees with short, but mighty films that speak to the environmental concerns and celebrations of our planet.

SELT's volunteer film committee has hand-picked a program from the award-winning films curated by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) and national Wild & Scenic Film Festival and they cannot wait to share it with attendees.

A raffle will be held with fabulous prizes! Event tickets are $20 per person and all proceeds support SELT’s land conservation work.

Purchase tickets here.
Rollinsford Winter Farmers Market
Nov. 21 & various dates

Seacoast Local’s first winter farmers market at the Wentworth Greenhouses will take place on Nov. 21. Markets are going to look a lot different this year due to the changes made to keep sellers and customers as safe as possible.

Seacoast Eat Local is strongly recommending that customers make an appointment to attend the market, though it is not mandatory,

They will be releasing appointment links 1 week prior to the corresponding market on their website and via their newsletter and social media.

Learn more about the market, and procedures online.