This City of Portsmouth Community Newsletter includes information about City­sponsored events, projects and special announcements. Visit www.cityofportsmouth.com to join the distribution list, or be removed. – City Manager John P. Bohenko THANKSGIVING SCHEDULES City offices, the Library and schools are closed Thursday (Nov. 25) and Friday (Nov. 26) for the Thanksgiving holiday. Schools dismiss early tomorrow (Wednesday), the Indoor Pool closes at 4 p.m., and the Library closes at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 24). All Rec Department facilities are closed on Thanksgiving. The Connie Bean Center and Indoor Pool are also closed Friday, but Spinnaker Point will be open. There are some changes to curbside collection due to the holiday: Thursday’s collection of solid waste and recycling takes place tomorrow (Wednesday) and there is no yard waste collection for the rest of this week. THANKSGIVING ADVICE Residents are urged to remember to be careful when dealing with fats, oils and grease (FOG) from meat, sauces, baking goods, cooking oil, lard, margarine, shortening, and butter, especially during the holiday season, in order to prevent having to call a plumber to remove the messy, greasy residues that can solidify and block pipes and sewer lines. Never pour oil or grease into a drain or toilet. Instead, scrape grease from cooking pans and food waste into a trash can. In the spirit of sustainability, residents can dispose of excess grease and fat that can be poured off by bringing it in a sealable container to the Recycling Center, where it can be poured into the designated yellow tank for eventual recycling/reuse as heating oil. The City’s Recycling Center is located behind the Public Works Department at 680 Peverly Hill Road. For recycling hours, see www.cityofportsmouth.com/publicworks/index.htm. THANKSGIVING WEEKEND MOVIES The Library will be showing two family movies during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, both at 1 p.m. in the Levenson Room. On Saturday (Nov. 27) the movie will be the PG­rated “Marmaduke Movie” about the lovable Great Dane and his experiences in a new neighborhood. On Sunday, the film is “Toy Story 3” with all the beloved Toy Story characters returning. A reminder: children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Contact: 766­1410. TREE LIGHTING & PARADE Everyone is invited to the annual Holiday Tree lighting ceremony and 2010 Illuminated Holiday Parade next Saturday, Dec. 4. The Market Square tree lighting begins at 5 p.m. with holiday music, followed by the countdown to the lighting that ushers in the start of the downtown holiday season. Floats, walking units, bands and, of course, Santa Claus will step off from Plaza 800 at 6 p.m. and travel through downtown. The route is at http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/mayor/index.htm. Streets closed to parking and/or traffic between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. will be listed at www.CityofPortsmouth.com. Postal patrons are urged to pick up their mail downtown by 4 p.m. Contact: 610­7281. HOLIDAY EVENTS PARKING A $3 flat­rate parking fee will be collected from each vehicle entering the High­Hanover Parking Garage on Saturday, December 4, between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Payment upon entry to the facility is expected to reduce delays for those leaving after the Tree Lighting, Holiday Parade and other downtown activities. HOLIDAY HELP The holiday season is rapidly approaching. The Welfare Department is collecting gift cards in small increments to distribute to local needy families again this year. More local families than ever are struggling just to meet their basic needs. The Welfare Department is expecting a greater number of requests for holiday help than ever before. Gift cards for $25 or less for area department stores, music stores, book stores, or movie theaters, will allow needy families to buy gifts for their children. This year the Welfare Department is concentrating their efforts toward assisting older children who are not served by other area holiday programs. Contact Ellen at 610­ 7267 or [email protected] for more info. TAX RATE SET The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration recently approved the City’s 2010 tax rate for Fiscal Year 2011 of $17.41 per $1,000 of valuation to raise the approximately $67 million in property taxes
necessary to fund the current budget. The rate, which is for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2010, represents an increase of 32 cents, or 1.8%, over last year’s rate of $17.09. The new rate is reflected in the first­half tax bill due Dec. 17, with the second half due June 1, 2011. Again this year, the City is providing an online tax calculator for residents to use to estimate their tax bills now. The assessed values for Fiscal Year 2011 also are available at www.cityofportsmouth.com. ANNUAL REPORT HONORS The City’s Annual Report recently received second place for Excellence in Annual Reports in the NH Local Government Center’s annual competition for its report for the 2009 budget year, marking the third consecutive year of honors. Prior to Fiscal Year 2005, there had been no annual report in Portsmouth for almost two decades. Portsmouth’s annual reports are online at www.cityofportsmouth.com/annualreport/index.htm. INDOOR POOL PROMOTIONS Holiday promotions are going on now at the Indoor Pool. Take advantage of $10 off swim lessons, $10 off Splash Passes and $25 waived Administrative fee. The pool will close at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 24) and is closed for Thanksgiving. There are no group swim lessons this week. Registration for the next set of swim lessons opens Dec. 13 for residents and Dec. 20 for non­residents. For more information, see www.cityofportsmouth.com/recreation/indoor.htm or contact: 427­1546. YOUTH BASKETBALL INFO Registration for boys in grades 7­12 and high school girls who want to play recreation league basketball this winter will be held next week between Nov. 29­December 3 at the Connie Bean Center from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Leagues are broken down into middle and high school divisions. The cost is $30 for residents and $50 for non­ residents from Newington, Newcastle, Rye and Greenland, only. Contact: 766­1483. The Connie Bean is now open on Sundays for open court basketball play from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children in grades K­5, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for middle and high school students. PHS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME The Division III football championship final game between Portsmouth High and Souhegan will be rebroadcast on local government access Channel 22 Thursday (Nov. 25) at noon and on Saturday (Nov. 27) at 7 p.m. Souhegan defeated Portsmouth, 24­21. WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN The City has submitted its final Wastewater Master Plan to the Environmental Protection Agency and the NH Department of Environmental Services for review. The plan calls for upgrading to secondary wastewater treatment within the existing fence line at Peirce Island by December 2017. The estimated cost will be approximately $30 million and the City believes a phased approach is the most cost­effective. Innovative technologies have been identified that have the potential to reduce the footprint of the upgrade requirements. In addition to the treatment plant upgrades, the Wastewater Master Plan outlines how the City plans to continue to implement its sewer separation program in targeted areas of Portsmouth. EXPLORER AWARDS Portsmouth Police Explorer Post 2609 received a number of awards at the recent 2010 Annual Exploring Division Recognition Dinner at the NH Police Academy in Concord. Cadet Lt. Richie Cady received the award for Outstanding Male Explorer of the Year and Cadet Cpt. Kyle Brake received the Leadership Award. The Post received the award for Community Service Post of the Year, recognizing its outstanding contribution to the community through public service. Anyone interested in joining the program for youth ages 14 to 20 should contact Officer Houde at 610­7601, or by email at [email protected]. “FALL FLICKS” The next movie in the Library’s “Fall Flicks” series is the Dec. 9 showing of the PG­13 movie “City of Your Final Destination” starring Laura Linney and Anthony Hopkins at 7 p.m. in the Levenson Room. In the 118­ minute film, 28­year­old Kansas University doctoral student Omar Razaghi wins a grant to write a biography of Latin American writer Jules Gund. Omar must get through to three people who were close to Gund: his brother, widow, and younger mistress so he can get authorization to write the biography. Contact: 427­1540.
CITYWIDE DECORATING The Portsmouth Holiday House Decorating Contest sponsored by the Portsmouth Citywide Neighborhood Committee is back! Neighborhood residents should submit their favorites by Dec. 13 to Steering Committee Chair Cristy Cardoso at [email protected]. On Tuesday, December 14, members of the Citywide Neighborhood Committee will travel Portsmouth to view and judge all homes on the Favorites list. Creativity is encouraged and residents are reminded to keep their holiday decorations plugged in for judging! On Dec. 15, Cardoso and municipal officials will announce the winners on Portsmouth Community Radio WSCA LP 106.1. Contact: [email protected] or 433­5059. LEGO ROBOTICS The Rec Department is offering two one­day sessions of Lego Robotics camp over the Christmas school vacation. Children in grades 2­7 are eligible to participate. Both sessions will be held on Monday, December 27. Cost is $25. Each session is limited to 16 students. Registration opens Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Connie Bean Center. For more info, see www.cityofportsmouth.com/recreation/programs­3.htm or call 766­1483. HOLIDAY CONCERTS The Middle School Concert is Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. in the Portsmouth High School auditorium (snow date Dec. 16). The All­City Concert is Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. in the PHS auditorium (snow date Dec. 22). LETTERS TO SANTA Santa is waiting to hear from your children! If they write to him between Dec. 1 and Dec. 19, Santa will send a letter in reply. Send letters to: Santa Claus at the North Pole, 135 Daniel Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801. Make sure your child’s letter includes a full name and return address so that Santa can write back! PARKING COUPONS With winter approaching, Portsmouth residents are urged to obtain coupons now that will allow them to pay just $3 if they park at the High­Hanover Parking Facility during snow emergencies and snow removal periods. Proof of residency is required to obtain the coupons from the Parking Office at City Hall (open 8 a.m.­4:30 p.m.). The coupons can be used only by the person to whom they are issued. Residents must present a coupon and show identification to the parking attendant to receive the $3 rate payable upon exiting the garage. Contact: 610­7229. “BUTTON UP NH” Residents can learn the basics of home energy use and loss, the value of a home energy audit, the short­term benefits of simple do­it­yourself weatherization, the long­term benefits of extensive energy retrofits, and the technical and financial resources available to make it happen on Dec. 9 at a “Button Up NH” event at Portsmouth High School. The City’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Sustainable Practices says the free event co­ hosted by Seacoast Area Renewable Energy Initiative (SEAREI) and Sustainable Portsmouth will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the PHS cafeteria. Contact: SEAREI at [email protected]. NEW SPINNAKER EQUIPMENT Come check out some of the new equipment that is now ready for use at the Spinnaker Point Adult Recreation Center. Stop by and see what you have been missing. For more information on Spinnaker Point, visit www.cityofportsmouth.com/recreation/spoint.htm or call 766­1483. ROADWORK Work continues on constructing new sanitary and storm sewers as part of the McDonough Street Area Reconstruction Project. Crews also are continuing to reconstruct a seawall on the south side of South Mill Street. State Street Reconstruction Project updates can be found at www.cityofportsmouth.com/projects/9.htm. Updates on the Bartlett & Islington Area Sewer Improvements can be found at www.cityofportsmouth.com/projects/6.htm. Contact: 766­1411. BOARD VACANCIES There are a number of vacancies on the City’s volunteer boards and commissions, including four openings on the Peirce Island Committee and two each on the Library Board of Trustees and Economic Development Commission. More info can be found at www.cityofportsmouth.com/cityclerk/boardscommissions.htm.
MEETINGS: To see a list of upcoming City­related meetings, agendas for future meetings and minutes of past meetings, always check the City’s Web site, www.CityofPortsmouth.com, or the Meetings Calendar at www.cityofportsmouth.com/calendar/2010/index.htm. SCHOOL CALENDARS: The School Department’s Activities Calendar for all schools is at www.cityofportsmouth.com/school/allschoolactivitiescalendar.htm. A link to the Portsmouth High sports schedule is at www.cityofportsmouth.com/school/phs/athlsch.htm. HOURS: Portsmouth City Hall (431­2000) is open from 8 a.m.­4:30 p.m. The School Department Central Office (431­ 5080) is open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Library hours are: 9 a.m.­9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.­5:30 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.­5 p.m. Saturday; and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The City of Portsmouth Community Newsletter is published by the City of Portsmouth. It is not intended to provide legal advice. It is a compilation of the best available information at the time of publication. Events may be subject to change without notice in the time between publication of this e­newsletter and the actual event. Whenever possible, changes will be posted on www.cityofportsmouth.com or on the local government cable Channel 22. To join the distribution list, or be removed, go to www.cityofportsmouth.com.