November 2017 Somersworth Community Newsletter

City Connection
Proud Past, Bright Future

November

2017

November Meetings in Council Chambers


City Council Meetings (1 meeting in November and 1 meeting in December) Monday, November 6 at 6:30 pm Public Hearing on FY 17/18 Budget Monday, November 6 at 7:00 pm (Nov. City Council Meeting) Monday, December 4 at 7:00pm (Dec. City Council Meeting) Site Review Technical Committee Wednesday, November 1 at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 8 10:30 a.m. Zoning Board of Adjustment Wednesday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. School Board Meeting Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. Conservation Commission Wednesday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Wednesday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. Traffic Safety Committee Wednesday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m. Historic District Commission Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. To view Agendas of City Council meetings please visit City website www.somersworth.com/calendar/ ___________________ 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. ___________________ Stay in touch with City Happenings. Business Email List City e-Newsletter Recreation Department Join our mailing list

Riverwalk Foliage

The Mayor's Corner

Building a Community

It takes more than brick and mortar to build a community; it takes dedication, commitment, and love. It takes a willingness of hard work and effort towards the present yet foresight into the future. A true community is where each person's talents and individualism is celebrated, where all are welcomed and dreams are supported.

Each morning as the sunrises, with pride and resilience, the flag of our county waves, signaling the start of a new day throughout the Hilltop City. As it waves in the wind, the excitement of the team which our citizens have elected to the City Council and School Board is reaffirmed, focused on keeping Somersworth "On The Move!" With an equal level of excitement and dedication, behind the doors of City Hall and throughout every city department, is a highly trained and skilled staff dedicated to the fulfillment of our community reaching success.

We are a community, we are on the move, and we are achieving progress and greatness.

WE ARE SOMERSWORTH!

Mayor Dana Hilliard

From the Office of the Mayor

Somersworth Non-Profit Meet Up

Thursday November 9

Somersworth City Hall Council Chambers

6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

The primary reason for this meeting is to further foster community between the nonprofits that serve Somersworth. This is your chance to have other non-profits aware of you organization.

Please bring any relevant information about your nonprofit to share with other attendees these could include your mission statement, upcoming events, and lead representatives contact info.

If you are unable to attend personally please send a Representative from your organization. If this is not possible please send any relevant information to:

The Mayor's Office,

Somersworth City Hall,

1 Government Way,

Somersworth,

NH 03878

Or email [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you there and learning more about your non-profit.

Mayor's Fall & 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.

City of Somersworth

2017 Municipal Election

will be held on Tuesday
November 7, 2017
Polling Times:
8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Votes will be cast for:

Mayor
City Council, Wards 1-5
City Council, At-Large (4)
School Board, Wards 1-5
School Board, At-Large (4)
Moderator
Ward Clerk
Selectman

The Polling Places are:

Ward 1 - City Hall, One Government Way Ward 1 Ballot
Ward 2 - Summersworth Historical Museum, 157 Main Street Ward 2 Ballot
Ward 3 - Flanagan Center Gym, 25 Bartlett Avenue Ward 3 Ballot
Ward 4 - Charpentier Apartments, 28 Franklin Street Ward 4 Ballot
Ward 5 - Romeo J. Messier Building, 218 Main Street Ward 5 Ballot

Please note that the State of NH now requires voters to show identification when they vote. If they do not have identification they will be required to sign a certificate which is then sent to the State.

Voter Information

Residents want to register to vote, or make changes to their voter registration should stop by the City Clerk's Office.

Somersworth Election Officials Training is scheduled for Thursday, November 2 from 7:00-8:00pm to be held in the City Council Chambers in City Hall.

For more information please contact the City Clerks office at 692-9503 or City Clerk

Human Service Office is Seeking Donations

The 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

Somersworth Police Department

Coffee with a Cop

We had our inaugural Coffee With A Cop on Wednesday, October 4th at 7:00 am graciously sponsored by the Dunkin' Donuts at 89 Whitehouse Road. This was an informal event to meet our officers over a cup of coffee. It was a great turnout and we wish to thank those who stopped in to chat. We will be doing this again next year!

Somersworth Senior Picnic - Another Success

The Senior Picnic was held on Thursday, October 5th at the Flanagan Center celebrating our Somersworth Seniors. This event was sponsored by Somersworth Police, Fire and Recreation Departments, American Ambulance, Somersworth Housing, Strafford Nutrition Meals on Wheels and Somersworth Senior Center. We had about 100 residents come for lunch and be entertained by Senior Moments (part of the Seacoast Repertory Theatre). The barbeque lunch was prepared by Police and Fire and served by many volunteers including Councilmen Pepin and Dumont. Mayor Hilliard awarded our event King: Gary Meiklejohn and our event Queen: Antoinette Harvey gift certificates from the Senior Center.

This event would not be possible if it were not for many of our sponsors: Gagnon's Autobody, Somersworth Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Hilltop Fireworks, Somersworth Police Association and Somersworth Professional Firefighters. Many, many businesses helped us put on this event by donating items for this event: Connor Bottling, Favorite Foods, Westwind Flowers, Somersworth Vocational Education - Culinary Arts Program, Dunkin' Donuts, Target, Empire Beauty School, Breakfast at Laneys, and so many more.

Did you miss Drug Take Back Day?

We have a locked medication drop box in our station lobby that you can put your unused or expired prescription medications in at any time of the day or night.

SUBSTANCE MISUSE ASSISTANCE

We have a partnered with Avis Goodwin, Wentworth Douglass Hospital and volunteer Recovery Coaches to offer "Community Access to Recovery" aimed at providing help to those suffering from misuse disorders. Simply come into the police station and ask for assistance. We will arrange assistance for you.

FREE A.L.I.C.E Training for Businesses

We are offering FREE Active Shooter Training for any business in Somersworth. ALICE stands for Alert-Lockdown-Inform-Counter-Evacuate.

Contact Chief Kretschmar at [email protected] for more 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

Somersworth Crime Line :
You can leave anonymous information at 692-9111

With the clocks changing on November 5th, be sure that your smoke detector batteries and carbon monoxide detector batteries are changed as well. Operable smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are your first line of defense with regard to home fires.

The winter heating season is upon us. Your furnaces will be working hard again this year to keep your home warm so be certain that they are operating efficiently by scheduling an annual cleaning and servicing.

For those who heat by wood - your chimney should be cleaned annually as well. It is better to burn hot initially to burn off creosote that has accumulated in your chimney or stovepipe. But sometimes the thickness of the creosote is too much to effectively burn off and it causes a chimney fire. In older, unlined chimneys this is dangerous as the fire could spread to the inner walls of your home. It is best to check out your chimney before the beginning of the heating season to be certain it is clean and is not cracked inside which could lead to a house fire.

Non-vented space or kerosene heaters sometimes are used inside residences to provide limited area heating. These devices can produce carbon monoxide gas which can lead to death of occupants. Do NOT use unvented kerosene or propane space heaters inside your home.

Information from Public Works
692-4266

Metal/Electronics Curbside collection by Public Works crews will occur on Tuesday November 14, 2017. Residents should call by Monday, November 13, 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

Public Works Highway crews collected residential brush the week of November 20 through the 22nd. Residents need to call by Friday, November 17th to be placed on the pick-up list.

Bagged Leaves

Department Highway crews will collect bagged leaves the week of November 27 through December 1st. Residents should place their bagged leaves curbside on their regular trash pick-up day. Every effort will be made to collect the bagged leaves on the day of your normal trash collection. Bag volumes may require you leave the bags along the front of your property for pick up after these posted collection dates. The paper leaf bags can be purchased at grocery store chains, hardware stores, Home Depot.

Refer to the City website and FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about solid waste, recycling, bulky waste and electronic waste topics. www.somersworth.com

Public Works Improvements Continue...

The Department completed the improvements for Indigo Hill Road corridor from Main Street to High Street. The project included a new water line, new storm drainage sections, new sidewalk, and crosswalk and new pavement. The completed project is a significant improvement to past conditions and is example of a "Complete Streets" project where more than just the pavement is replaced.

Additionally road paving has occurred from mid-October and will go until mid-November. Typical work hours are from 7am-5pm; use of construction signage, police and flaggers are in use in the construction zones. Motorists are urged to use caution when paving work is occurring and or seek alternative routes. Also, the State DOT arranged to repave Green Street from the Dover town line to Indigo Hill Road in Somersworth.

Water Crews Work to Maintain Water Distribution Mains.

The Water Distribution crew maintains the City water mains, valves and hydrants and works to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of drinking water to the residents and businesses in the City. Water crews flush hydrants annually, respond to water main leaks and breaks and inspects backflow preventers on commercial accounts to ensure no contaminates from outside operations, is brought into the City's water mains.

The City's Water Treatment Plant and the Waste Water Treatment Plant are available for public tours for any interested groups or resident. Call the main office of Public Works and Utilities to schedule available times. (603) 692-4266.

City Street Light conversion to new LED Technology nearly complete

Over 95% of the City's street light fixtures have been converted to new LED technology. City staff has been working with Affinity LED of Dover New Hampshire on the comprehensive light replacement and upgrade project. Payback from the investment of the new lights is anticipated to be about 2 years. The City received a special incentive grant from Eversource to support the conversion and will be going on a new LED power rate that will lower the City's energy cost by approximately $50,000 annually.

Forest Glade Cemetery Receives Preservation Grant

The City received a $10,000 grant from the State Division of Historical Resources recently to upgrade and repair the entrance grates to the Chapel area of the Cemetery off of Maple Street. The grant funds will be used for hiring a specialized contractor to repair the metal gates, restore the granite posts and make other related repairs to a few sections of the main fencing adjacent to the entrance gate. Following City Council acceptance of the grant award, work is anticipated to occur this spring 2018.

Winter's Coming!!

Public Works crews have been working behind the scenes in preparation for the 2017-2018 winter season. Highway personnel have been preparing equipment, lining up salt and sand supplies and conducting snow plow route reviews with Department operators in preparation for the upcoming winter season. Look for future updates on the Department's winter response plans on the City's website.

Somersworth Library News

What is Somersworth Reading in November

Book Club Meeting is November 29 (5th Wednesday due to Thanksgiving)

"The Curious Charms" by Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

Don't miss this curiously charming debut! In this hauntingly beautiful story of love, loneliness and self-discovery, an endearing widower embarks on a life-changing adventure.

Sixty-nine-year-old Arthur Pepper lives a simple life. He gets out of bed at precisely 7:30 a.m., just as he did when his wife, Miriam, was alive. He dresses in the same gray slacks and mustard sweater vest, waters his fern, Frederica, and heads out to his garden.

But on the one-year anniversary of Miriam's death, something changes. Sorting through Miriam's possessions, Arthur finds an exquisite gold charm bracelet he's never seen before. What follows is a surprising and unforgettable odyssey that takes Arthur from London to Paris and as far as India in an epic quest to find out the truth about his wife's secret life before they met-a journey that leads him to find hope, healing and self-discovery in the most unexpected places.

Featuring an unforgettable cast of characters with big hearts and irresistible flaws, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is a joyous celebration of life's infinite possibilities.

Story Time Programs in October
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. October themes include Pumpkins, Autumn, Books, Halloween, and Moose. No registration is required. Call the library for further information.

The Fall Book Sale

The Friends of the Somersworth Public Library annual Fall Book Sale will begin at 9:00am on Saturday, October 28 through November 13th during regular library hours. There will be hardcover, soft cover and paperback books as well as DVDs and audio books. Beginning Tuesday, November 7th, take all you want and make a donation to the Friends. All proceeds will benefit the Somersworth Public Library.

Friends of the Somersworth Public Library Annual Meeting

Friends of the Somersworth Public Library will hold their annual meeting on October 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Library. Please join us for refreshments (made by the Library Director) and fun planning next year's activities. The meeting is open to all, come enjoy the community that supports the Library!

Fall Hours at the Library

The Library's hours have returned to a full day schedule of 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturdays.

If you have any questions, call the Library at 692-4587 or visit our website.

http://www.somersworth.com/departments-services/library/

Recreation Office Activities

Somersworth School Happenings

"Making Maple Syrup is a Year-Round Activity!"

(Daryl Dunbar, Somersworth Middle School Teacher)

In the spring of 2017, 8th Grade Middle School math teacher Daryl Dunbar made maple syrup in conjunction with SYC students as part of a woodworking Skill Zone class.

Can you make syrup at home? Statistics vary slightly, but on average one maple tree will produce 10 gallons of sap, which in turn will boil down to about 5 cups of finished maple syrup.

Here are a few basics from Mr. Dunbar on getting started:

Identify and prepare maple trees
Locate maple trees that are 8" inches in diameter.
Clear the underbrush from around the tree trunks.
Mark the trees with orange tape so that they can be easily found when the leaves are off.

With help from SYC Farm to School funding, and parent volunteers, more local syrup can be expected from this group in the future.

Let it Rain-Making Rain Barrels

Making Rain Barrels

Mr. Shane Chick's Building Trades students had some fun in the spring of 2017 putting their education to practical use once again, this time designing and building rain barrels out of industrial-sized olive containers.

The use of rain barrels is a wise one; when we collect rain water, our gardens don't suffer in times of drought, nor does our water bill! If you're interested in purchasing one to support our students, our schools, and your sustainability efforts, please contact Maureen Jackman at [email protected]

EVENTS AROUND THE CITY
MARK YOUR CALENDARS

SUMMERSWORTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM

The Somersworth Historical Society is always seeking new members. Membership fees are just $5 a year and all fees go towards keeping the museum doors open. You can also volunteer at the museum. Just drop in the museum during their new hours:

NEW HOURS (now open on Thursday's)

Thursday and Sunday 12.30 -3.30pm