| December Meetings in Council Chambers at City Hall |
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City Council Meetings
(1 meeting in December)
Monday, December 4 at 7:00 pm
6:00 pm Workshop
Presentation by Wright Pierce Engineering regarding Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades
Site Review Technical Committee
Wednesday, December 6 at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m.
School Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Planning Board
Wednesday, December 20 at 6:30 p.m.
Historic District Commission
Thursday, December 28 at 7:00 p.m.
To view Agendas of City Council meetings please visit City website
www.somersworth.com/calendar/
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City of Somersworth
City Hall
One Government Way
Somersworth, NH 03878
(603) 692-9555
City Hall Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday
City Hall is open until
6:00 p.m.
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 Stay in touch with City Happenings.
- Business Email List
- City e-Newsletter
- Recreation Department
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| Photo courtesy of Jenne Holmes |
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The Mayor's Corner
The Message in Winter
Most of our lives is like driving through the fog, our vision is distorted. With each bend in the road, we continue to struggle to focus, our anxiety level raised as we become overwhelmed with the fear of the unknown. If only the fog was lifted, the inner voice repeats, I could navigate my path and all obstacles with a clearer vision. Yet, foggy nights tend to remind us; remind us of how, on the clearest day, with the bluest sky, and a traffic free road, we continue down the path of life often missing the signs which guide us towards inner happiness, balance and peace.
We are a community, we are on the move, and we are achieving progress and greatness.
WE ARE SOMERSWORTH!
Mayor Dana Hilliard
Mayor's Winter
Office Hours
Monday: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
People are welcomed to stop by during these times. Or, if you prefer, you can make an appointment by calling Brenda at 692-9503 or email Brenda.
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Welcome Robin Comstock, Economic Development Manager
The end of the year brings with it positioning our City well for 2018 with the hiring of the newest member of the team. With this end of the year edition of our newsletter, we are pleased to introduce to you Robin Comstock, our new Economic Development Manager.
Robin brings with her extensive experience in the area of community and economic development. Her background includes being the CEO of three New Hampshire Chambers of Commerce that include Dover, Portsmouth, and Manchester. Most recently, Robin served community as the Executive Director of the Seacoast Workforce Hosing Coalition representing 54 communities in the three counties of New Hampshire and Maine.
Robin will be connecting with business owners in the near future to discuss the NH Department of Transportation Complete Streets project on Route 108, as well as exciting development initiatives such as Economic Revitalization Zone Tax Credits and the Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive. If you've got a few moments stop in to see her! Her door is always open, and that she is as anxious to meet you, as work with you in the days to come.
More information about Robin's background and experience can be found at linked-in, but also know her door is always open, and that she is as anxious to meet you, and work with you in the days to come. Please swing by and say hello, introduce yourself, and begin a great relationship with the newest member of our team.
Interim Report on the Preparation of the
"Ten Year Transportation Plan"
In December, the Executive Council, with the assistance of the Department of Transportation ("DOT"), will adopt a new Ten Year Transportation Plan ("Plan") that will then be considered by the Governor and presented to the Legislature in January. The Plan determines our infrastructure improvements for the next ten years. The Council has conducted public hearings in all five districts. The Governor will not hold additional hearings, but the Legislature will and vigilance will be important.
Interim Report on the Preparation of the Ten Year Transportation Plan
The entire Development Services team wishes you a very
Happy Holiday Season!
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Human Service Office is Seeking Donations
T
he Human Services Department is seeking donations of personal and household items. High priority items include diapers, baby wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, all types of soap, feminine products, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.
We are also looking for donations of warm clothing, such as gloves, scarves and hats.
Please bring your donations to the Human Service Office located in
City Hall, One Government Way, Somersworth
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A message from the Sustainability Committee....
Cold weather and longer nights have arrived, meaning higher energy bills and a higher impact on the environment. Here are a couple programs that can help minimize the sting:
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is a national program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The program is designed to engage consumers in the highest form of home improvement: making homes safe, healthy, and energy efficient. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR challenges the traditional approach to home improvement because it evaluates the entire house including its systems and their interactivity to identify solutions that satisfy homeowners. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR offers homeowners qualified contractors who have been trained to evaluate the entire home and offer tested solutions that have improved hundreds of thousands of homes.
NHSaves (
http://www.nhsaves.com) is a collaboration of New Hampshire's electric and natural gas utilities working with the NH Public Utilities Commission and other interested parties to provide NH customers with information, incentives, and support designed to save energy, reduce costs, and protect our environment statewide.
The Sustainability Committee helps the city reduce its environmental footprint and its bottom line, and works to make sure Somersworth is prepared for the future - taking into consideration hidden costs, resilience to severe weather events and climate change, and making Somersworth a better place to live. The Committee has two open seats for the community at large and/or the local business community, as well as a seat for a Middle School, High School or college student resident of Somersworth. Please consider joining us. You will be surprised at the amount of difference you can make at the local level. See our web page for details.
http://www.somersworth.com/departments-services/board-and-committees/sustainability-committee. Contact Scott Orzechowski (Chair) for more information.
[email protected] Thanks!
A message from the Conservation Commission...
The Conservation Commission has two open seats and one open alternate seat. We can use new members! The Commission reviews applications for conditional use permits and forwards their comments to the Planning Board for final review. The Commission may also review State Dredge and Fill and State Wetlands applications. The Commission is also responsible to attend periodic workshop meetings and site walks, work with other groups and organizations interested in natural resources in the City and be involved with conservation easement monitoring and land acquisition.
For more information on duties of Conservation Commission members, please stop by the Development Services Department at City Hall or call the Planning Office at 692-9519 or email Tracy Gora at
[email protected] or Scott Orzechowski (Chair) at
[email protected].
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 Hilltop Teacher/Author Book Event
Somersworth High School English teacher Stephen MacKenzie will be at the Somersworth Public Library on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 6:00 pm to talk about his book "Adam. A Story of Life and Death...and Love." Published by AMITY Publications, Barrington, NH, MacKenzie's book is the story about one of his students who died in a car crash just three months after graduation in 2004. Open to the public, the event will include readings from the book as well as a Q&A period and discussion about why, as a teacher, MacKenzie felt it was important to share Adam's story. A book signing will be held at the conclusion of the event.
 Patricia Francoeur Art Exhibit
Somersworth artist and art teacher Patricia (Pat) Francoeur will exhibit her paintings at the Somersworth Public Library through the month of December. The exhibit will open on December 5, 2017 at 11:00AM. The paintings will be throughout the building, including a special collection of paintings of Somersworth. The artist has been active in the arts for most of her life. She gave private art lessons for 45 years and taught an adult course at Somersworth High School for 29 years. As an active member of the Great Bay Art Association (GBAA), York Art Association (YAA), and Durham Art Association (DAA), Pat participates in many group shows and has often been a demonstrator. Open to the public, the exhibit may be viewed during the library's regular hours of 11:00AM to 7:00PM Tuesday - Thursday, and 9:00AM to 5:00PM Friday - Saturday.
What Somersworth Is Reading in December
In December the group does not read a specific book. The group will meet on December 27 at 7PM to discuss other books the members have read throughout the previous year. The next book for discussion will be available at that meeting, and light refreshments will be served. Stop by; pick up a copy of the first book for 2018, then join the group on January 24, 2018 at 7:00PM for an interesting hour.
Story Time Programs in December
The Children's Room weekly Story Time Programs are on Tuesday at 6:00pm, Wednesday at 11:15am and Friday at 10:00 am. The story time program includes several stories and an easy craft or activity based on weekly themes. December themes include Winter and Christmas. There will be a holiday break in the story time schedule from December 19 - January 9, 2018. No registration is required. Call the library for further information.
Holiday Closings
The library will be closed Monday, December 25, and Tuesday, December 26 for Christmas, and Monday January 1, 2018 for the New Year's holiday.
We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!
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Somersworth Police Department
Thank You:
As we enter the holiday season, we would like to take a moment to give thanks and to tell our community how much we value their support. Throughout the year, we have citizens drop off baked goods, plant flowers and tend the area around our sign, send notes of thanks, as well as many who do a bit more. We can only say "Thank you!"
2018 Alarm Permit Renewal Notices
will be mailed out in December. If you own a fire alarm or security system alarm, ordinances require you to obtain a permit. To renew your permit the fee is $10.00 if paid before the end of January, 2018 or $20.00 after. If the alarm is for a residence and you are 65 or older, your permit is free. If you have questions, please call Karen at the Somersworth Police Department at 841-2917 or email: [email protected].
Snow Emergencies/Winter Parking Ban
Snow Emergencies can be called at any time, day or night. During Snow Emergencies, a Parking Ban is in effect. Always be aware of overnight weather forecasts and have alternative parking plans when snow is predicted. Your vehicle can be towed during a Snow Emergency and you will have to pay the tow charge to get it back. The purpose of the parking ban is to enable Public Works to safely maintain the roads. This means sometimes there will be a Snow Emergency declared even when it is no longer snowing. Snow emergencies are announced on the following stations: WTSN, WOKQ, WERZ, WSHK, WHEB, WMUR Channel 9 and Local Cable Station Channel 22. You may also call the Winter Ban Hot Line at 692-9131 or t
o receive news of parking bans via email, go to
www.Somersworth.com
and click "Subscribe-City Email"
Somersworth Police Department also uses our Facebook page to give important community information and we send out Nixle alerts for parking bans and other important information to cell phones and emails. You can sign up for Nixle at
www.Nixle.com
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Avoid the parking ticket and the tow (at your expense) by paying attention to snow emergency information.
Somersworth Police Department also utilizes Facebook page to provide important community information.
We also send out Nixle alerts for parking bans and other important information to cell phones and emails. You can sign up for Nixle at
www.Nixle.com
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Somersworth Crime Line
:
You can leave anonymous information at 692-9111
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HOLIDAY FIRE SAFETY
Please Remember these Fire Safety Practices during the Holiday Season.
NATURAL TREES
Cut the bottom trunk a few inches so it absorbs water better - always keep water in the stand! Keep the tree away from heat sources like radiators and electric heaters as it will dry out faster. Do not use open flames around a live tree. As soon as the needles dry up and fall off in quantity, remove the tree from your home.
CANDLES
Candles are festive and give the home that holiday aroma, but they can be deadly.
Always use them in non-combustible containers that are tip-resistant. Do not place them near other combustibles such as draperies, paper products, etc. Extinguish the candles before you leave the house or go to bed.
EXTENSION CORDS
Many fires during the holidays are caused by electrical malfunctions. Use extension cords properly rated for the current load that you intend to run through them. Use special "outside" waterproof cords for decorations on the exterior of your home or yard. Do NOT overload electrical outlets as this can heat internal wiring in the walls and cause a fire.
FIREPLACES/WOODSTOVES
Do NOT place the ashes in plastic containers or the garbage - safely dispose of them outside and away from buildings or other combustibles. Ashes can stay hot for 24 hours or more. Keep wood and other combustibles at least three (3) feet away from stoves or fireplaces. Remember to open your flue/damper control before lighting a fire in the fireplace.
GENERAL SAFETY
Be sure that your smoke detectors are operational and you have working fire extinguishers. Insure that your family has an "escape plan" from your home with a meeting place and practice it.
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Information from Public Works
692-4266
December Holiday Solid Waste Collection Schedule -delayed
Christmas Day is Monday December 25 and a reminder that the City recognizes this holiday as an observed Holiday. This will result in your collection day moved to the following day. Therefore Monday's collection will occur on Tuesday, Tuesday's collection will be observed on Wednesday and Wednesday's collection will occur on Thursday of that week.
Reminder the next Metal/Electronics Curbside Collection
by Public Works crews will occur on Tuesday December 12, 2017. Residents are to call by Monday, December 11, 2017 to be placed on the pick-up list. Use of bulky waste/metal waste stickers is required and can be purchased at City Hall, City Clerk/Treasurer office, (cash or check) and at the DPW building at 18 Lilac Lane, (check only ).
Brush pick up update:
Public Works Highway crews collected residential brush the week of November 20 through the 22nd. Brush set out volumes were higher than normal due to the October 30, 2017 wind storm, and may require Highway personnel to collect remaining reserved brush and tree limbs in early December. The Department may need to collect uncollected bagged leaves from the end of November into early December as well.
Road Paving Work completed. Building for today, planning for tomorrow. Paving work was recently completed on Blackwater Road from Rte. 108 to High Street, Maple Street from Blackwater Road to Linden Street, Rocky Hill Road, from Otis Road to Winter Street, Hillside Street, Winter Street from Rocky Hill Road to Market Street, Green Street from Franklin Street to Washington Street, and spot repairs on Tates Brook Road, High Street (Verona to Bartlett Street) and Salmon Falls Road. All of these streets experience relatively high traffic volumes and motorists and cyclists alike will appreciate the improved road surfaces.
Future work:
The City is a recipient of a $789,200 State Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) Grant for specific pedestrian improvements on City streets. The project involves pedestrian enhancements on High Street from W. High to Memorial Drive/Franklin Street; High Street Pedestrian Crossing at Franklin Street, Memorial Drive sidewalk improvements, multi-use path between Maplewood Elementary School and the Middle School, and a new sidewalk on Cemetery Road.
In addition, engineering firm of Wright -Pierce will be working on street design and engineering work on three ( 3 ) streets, including Main Street from John Parsons Road to Indigo Hill Road, Constitutional Way and Cemetery Road from Maple Street to W. High Street. The design will address replacement of utilities including water, sewer and storm drain lines, new sidewalks, street lighting and landscaping and new pavement.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Improvement Update
City Council will hear a presentation, on recommended capacity improvements needed at the City's WWTF in a workshop on Monday December 4, 2017 at 6pm, at the Somersworth City Hall Council Chambers. The City's project engineer, Wright Pierce Engineering will give the presentation. City officials and the engineering firm of Wright Pierce have been involved with designing improvements to the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) in order to meet current and projected growth in the City.
 Neighboring Community Shares Bucket Truck with City Crews
The Town of Farmington recently agreed to share its bucket truck with the City's Highway staff to help with installation of downtown holiday banners and Christmas decorations. Highway crews put the truck to good use during late November by safely and efficiently installing holiday decorations on downtown street lights, setting up the annual Christmas tree and conducted selected tree trimming. This is an outstanding example of municipal resource sharing and the City greatly appreciates the cooperation and assistance from Farmington officials.
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Recreation Office Activities
Recreation Volunteer Opportunities!
Community members and friends we need your help! We have special events coming up that takes the help from several volunteers to facilitate. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, build relationships, earn volunteer hours, and so much more. We have many different volunteer tasks so please reach out to see if there's something you can help with. If you have any special skills please reach out as we're always looking for new and creative ways to improve our special events. This is also a great way for high school students to receive volunteer hours.
Upcoming Recreation Special Event Dates:
Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt
Friday, December 8th
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Somersworth High School Football Field
Volunteer tasks needed: decorating, set-up/break-down, hiding candy canes, line attendants, hot cocoa & treat station, and more.
Father/Daughter Valentine's Dance
Thursday, February 8th
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Volunteer tasks needed: decorating, set-up/break-down, concession line, registration, and more.
Easter Egg-Stravaganza Egg Hunt
Friday, March 30th
4:30 p.m.
Millenium Park- 99 Stackpole Road
Volunteer tasks needed: decorating, set-up/break-down, hiding Easter Eggs, line attendants, and more!!
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EVENTS AROUND THE CITY
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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"All I want for Christmas is..."
Berwick/Somersworth
Christmas Parade & Winter Gala
Saturday 12/2/2017 2:30-5:00pm
Somersworth Main Street & Library Plaza
Parade Kicks Off at 2:30pm
Fireworks at 4:30pm
Annual Lighting of the City Christmas Tree at 4:50pm
Watch the parade live in Downtown Berwick & Somersworth, or here on Channel 22!
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 25th Annual Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday, December 2
The Somersworth Festival Association will be sponsoring the
25th Holiday Craft Fair at Somersworth High School on December 2 from 9am to 3pm. It is one of the largest craft fairs in the area. The craft fair will feature over 150 of the best crafters in New England. Lots of free parking where you will be able to shop from our talented crafters to your heart's content. Delicious food will be served by the Festival Association volunteers offering both breakfast and lunch at reasonable prices. Come and spend the day with us and do all of your Christmas shopping..
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Somersworth Lions Club Presents
The Annual Somerworth/Berwick
Senior Christmas Party
Monday, December 4: 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Dinner will be served at 4:45 p.m.
Flanagan Community Center, 25 Bartlett Avenue, Somersworth
Turkey Dinner with all the Trimmings and Festivities!
Free transportation is being provided by the Somersworth Housing Authority. A bus from Homemakers Health Services will start picking up at 3:30 and drop off after the party at the following locations:
- Preservation Park (Main Street)
- Charpentier Apartments (corner of Franklin St. & Green St.)
- Fillion Terrace (Washington St.)
- Queensbury Mill (Market St.)
- Parkview Terrace
- Albert Jack Labonte Complex (Maple St.)
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City Hall Closed for the Christmas and New Year's Day Holiday
City Hall will be closed on Monday, December 25 and Tuesday, December 26 for the Christmas Holiday
City Hall will also be closed on Monday, January 1 for
New Year's Day.
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Quality Service, Quality Schools
Quality Somersworth
Vision 2020
"We Believe in Somersworth"
Proud Past, Bright Future
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