Water, water everywhere
According to a press release, Gov. Sununu signed SB 393 into law, which makes an appropriation to the Department of Environmental Services to fund regional drinking water infrastructure of $6.5 million, which brings the total the state has spent on clean drinking water to more than $350 million since 2017.
The funding provided by SB 393 initiates Phase 2 of the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project, according to the press release, and includes the design of all ancillary projects needed, construction of chemical feeds at existing water storage tanks in Derry and Salem, and potentially increasing the amount of water available from Manchester Water Works’ drinking water reservoir, which is a major source of water for the region.
Communities and water systems in southern New Hampshire have cooperated in the regional management of water resources and collectively coordinated to construct Phase 1 of the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Supply Interconnection Project, which provides one million gallons per day of drinking water supply to southern New Hampshire communities, and now the communities have an agreement in place to increase water supply to 3.13 million gallons per day as part of the project’s second phase, according to the release.
In a statement, NHDES Commissioner Rober Scott said that “investing in regional drinking water infrastructure in southern New Hampshire is critical to address the occurrence of widespread PFAS contamination, reoccurring droughts and increased water demands.The state and water systems in southern New Hampshire have worked very hard to improve the resiliency and reliability of water supply in southern New Hampshire by cooperating in the regional management of water resources. This additional funding is critical in continuing this work.”
Visit des.nh.gov for more information.
Space news
According to a press release, the University of New Hampshire announced the launch of a Space Technology Hub, a first-of-its-kind center in the region that will provide cutting-edge space expertise and equipment to the burgeoning commercial space sector.
In a statement, Réka Winslow, director for the Space Technology Hub, said, “We are thrilled to be launching the Space Technology Hub, which will connect the resources at UNH with the rapidly developing New Space industry, thereby accelerating the growth of the space economy in the Northeast.”
The Space Technology Hub will help fulfill critical needs in the rapidly growing commercial space sector, and UNH has already partnered with Hanover, N.H.-based engineering and research firm Creare to test space instruments that are ultimately destined for Saturn’s largest moon. The company needed access to a local facility that could simulate the space environment, and UNH’s thermal vacuum chamber met their stringent requirements, according to the release.
The thermal vacuum chamber along with other cutting-edge equipment, clean rooms, skilled engineers and specialists who can lend their space mission expertise are all part of the Space Technology Hub, according to the release.
UNH researchers have partnered with NASA and other agencies over the past 60 years on more than 100 space and rocket missions to investigate space phenomena such as gamma rays and neutron stars, as well as to learn more about the sun’s influence on Earth and its atmosphere, according to the release.
Visit eos.unh.edu/space-science-center/space-technology-hub.
Celebrating Smokey
According to a press release, Gov. Sununu has proclaimed Sunday, Aug. 4, to Saturday, Aug. 10, “Smokey Bear Week” in the Granite State coinciding with Smokey’s 80th birthday on Friday, Aug. 9, highlighting the importance of wildfire prevention across New Hampshire.
Events and programs are taking place statewide to help celebrate Smokey’s milestone birthday and to continue sharing his well-known message that “only you can prevent wildfires,” according to the same release.
On Aug. 7, Smokey will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Youth Camp Day when the New Hampshire Fisher Cats play the Erie Seawolves at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, according to the same release.
In a statement, Forest Ranger Nathan Blanchard of the New Hampshire Forest Protection Bureau said “we’re also very excited that this summer the Forest Protection Bureau has teamed up with the New Hampshire State Library and libraries across the state to help Smokey promote the joy of reading while teaching children about wildfire prevention.”
The Forest Service’s Smokey Bear’s Reading Challenge provides a reading list of books for all ages that address not only wildfire prevention but also science and outdoor recreation. The list, along with activities and incentives for achieving self-set reading goals, can be downloaded from smokeybear.com/individuals-reading-challenge, and the national program runs through Nov. 28.
New Hampshire has experienced an average of 285 wildfires affecting 221 acres annually over the last 20 years, according to the release. Anyone wishing to have an outdoor fire in New Hampshire must obtain a state fire permit in advance from their local fire department; they may also be obtained online at nhfirepermit.com, the release said.
NH Antiques week kicks off Sunday, Aug. 4, with the Granite State Antiques Show from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Granite Town Plaza in Milford. On Monday, Aug. 5, the Deerfield Antiques Show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Deerfield Fair Grounds. On Tuesday, Aug. 6, head to the Americana Celebration Antiques Show at the Everett Arena in Concord from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Antiques in Manchester fair runs Wednesday, Aug. 7, and Thursday, Aug. 8, at Saint Anselm College and then the big show, the 67th Annual New Hampshire Antiques Show, kicks off Thursday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and runs through Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Doubletree By Hilton Manchester Downtown. Get all the information for these events at antiquesweeknh.com.
Join author Cathy Stefanec Ogren and illustrator Alexandra Thompson for storytime for the launch of their new book The Little Red Chair at Bookery, 844 Elm St. in Manchester, on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit bookerymht.com
The Driven to Read Bookmobile will be at Livingston Park in Manchester on Monday, Aug. 5, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Bookmobile, hosted by Manchester City Library and Manchester School District, will be making stops throughout the city until Aug. 9. Visit manchester.lib.nh.us or call the library at 624-6550, ext. 7628, for details.
