Category: News

And I would walk 0.68 miles

According to a press release, the City of Manchester has updated its plans to build 0.68 miles of newly paved rail trail running northerly along the abandoned rail bed from where the South Manchester Rail Trail terminates at Queen City Avenue and this will be named the Central Manchester Rail Trail. The trail will offer easier access for pedestrians and bicyclists from Elm Street and Willow Street, with a raised bed and a more gradual slope from the streets components of the federally funded RAISE Manchester: Connecting Communities transportation infrastructure improvement project, according to the press release.

The Central Manchester Rail Trail will also serve as a central intersection of some of New Hampshire’s longest rail trails, such as the southern half of the Granite State Rail Trail, the east-west Rockingham Recreational Trail and Piscataquog Rail Trail, with construction projects to extend some of these trails already underway, according to the same release.

In a statement, RAISE Manchester Project Manager Kristen Clarke, PE, PTOE, traffic engineer for the Manchester Department of Public Works, said that “the Central Manchester Rail Trail along with other components of the RAISE Manchester project align with the city’s commitment to foster multi-modal transportation options and pedestrian-friendly connectivity, particularly for the neighborhoods where residents have the fewest vehicles and transportation options. This project not only creates a vital link between disconnected areas of the city, it also contributes to the broader network of rail trails across New Hampshire, offering residents and visitors alike an opportunity to explore our beautiful state while promoting active lifestyles.”

The Central Manchester Rail Trail project also involves the cleanup of an abandoned section of rail, and improves traffic flow at five traffic signals on Elm Street, according to the same release. For more information, visit raisemanchester.org.

$1M for Center

According to a press release, the Executive Council voted to approve $1 million in funding to assist in the building of the Mark Stebbins Community Center in Manchester, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In a statement, Gov. Chris Sununu said that “by breaking down silos and bringing nonprofits together under one roof, the Mark Stebbins Community Center carries on the philanthropic legacy of Mark Stebbins and represents the very best of New Hampshire. I applaud the nonprofit partners making this innovative vision a reality to better serve Manchester’s West Side. It’s all about the kids!”

The Mark Stebbins Community Center will be a multiservice nonprofit center that will bring critical services to children and families in the West Side of Manchester, which is home to 25 percent of the city’s population and will bring a myriad of nonprofit services into one location to serve the community, according to the same release.

The Center will work to provide affordable, walkable child care, after-school care, access to affordable health care, food access, community meeting space, and additional support and include the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, Amoskeag Health, Waypoint, Easterseals NH, Mental Health Care of Greater Manchester, Granite YMCA, Manchester Housing & Redevelopment Authority, Southern NH Services, Granite United Way and Catholic Charities of New Hampshire, according to the same release.

Mark Stebbins, a Manchester native, served as Chairman and CEO of PROCON, a New Hampshire-based design and construction firm, and was devoted to giving back to the Manchester community through his philanthropic work, according to the same release. The approved funds are for construction, which is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2025, the release said.

New Currier director

A recent press releaseannounced the appointment of Dr. Jordana Pomeroy as The Currier Museum’s new Director and CEO. She will officially begin her new role at the Currier on Sept. 1.

Pomeroy brings more than 30 years of museum experience to the Currier and has been committed to making art museums exciting destinations, with accessible art and education programs, according to the same release.Most recently, Pomeroy served as the Director of the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University in Miami, where she prioritized engagement across the city, including with hospitals and schools, the release said.

Pomeroy was also the Chief Curator at the National Museum of Women in the Arts for many years, where she focused on gender equity in arts and museums and her exhibitions and publications received critical acclaim for their groundbreaking approaches to scholarship and exhibition themes, according to the same release.

Paradise Point Nature Center in Hebron (290 North Shore Road) will open for the season on Friday, May 24, at 9 a.m. Visitors can rent a boat, check out exhibits, or hike the trail on opening day, according to the Center’s website. On Tuesday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, NH Audubon will host a guided paddle (choose canoe, kayak, or paddleboard) along the Newfound Lake Water Trail, free but with a fee for boat rental. Visit nhaudubon.org.

Tesla has broken ground on a new service center and dealership in Londonderry, according to a story on WMUR.com; the 50,000-square-foot facility will be the first Tesla service center in New Hampshire and will include eight charging stations, the story said.

Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.) will hold a showing of the recent Jason Statham movie The Beekeepers on Tuesday, May 28, at 1 p.m. The film is about his involvement with a clandestine organization, and not the fuzzy critters that make honey.

Property tax relief

According to a press release, New Hampshire homeowners may have the opportunity to receive property tax relief through the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration’s (NHDRA) Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief program, which distributed over $900,000 in tax relief to New Hampshire homeowners last year through the Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief program and has distributed more than $48 million since the program was established in 2002.

Those eligible are single homeowners making up to $37,000 per year and married homeowners making up to $47,000 per year. The maximum homestead value qualifying for an award is $220,000 and the deadline to apply for relief from the state is Sunday, June 30, according to the press release.

In a statement, NHDRA Commissioner Lindsey Stepp said, “The Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief program is a significant resource for qualified New Hampshire taxpayers statewide and we are working to make sure eligible homeowners are aware of this critical tax relief program.”

Other stipulations include owning a homestead subject to the State Education Property Tax and having resided in that homestead since April 1, 2023, according to the press release.

The NHDRA asks applicants to file claims using the NHDRA’s Granite Tax Connect (GTC) online portal at revenue.nh.gov/gtc. Paper applications are available for download at revenue.nh.gov/forms/low-moderate.htm. Older versions of the form will not be accepted, and applicants will be required to submit their individual income tax returns and final property tax bill for 2023 with the application. For specific tax-related questions residents can call Taxpayer Services at 230-5920 and residents who do not have internet access may request forms by calling NHDRA’s Forms Line at 230-5001 or by sending an email to [email protected], according to the same release.

Leave baby deer alone

According to a press release from New Hampshire Fish and Game, it is important for New Hampshire residents who see young deer by themselves and fear the worst to remember that the doe is usually not too far off and will most likely return to feed her newborn.
The majority of deer fawns are born in May and June. Adult deer are easily detected by predators due to their scent and large size, and for that reason the doe will spend extended periods away from her fawns to disassociate her scent from the fawns to help keep them safe from predators. During the first month of their life, she will only visit the fawn a few times a day to nurse quickly before leaving again, although typically not going too far away, according to the same release.

The best chance a young wild animal has to survive is in its natural environment under the care of its mother, so if you do encounter baby animals out in the wild, leave them there. If you suspect a fawn or other young wildlife has been abandoned or orphaned, contact the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department by emailing [email protected] or calling 271-2461 to initiate a report. Professionals can evaluate the situation.

If you do encounter animals on the trail, do not approach, pet or feed wildlife, and never remove any animal from its habitat, the release said. Only qualified people with special rehabilitator permits issued through the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department may take in and care for injured or orphaned wildlife. Improper care of injured or orphaned wildlife frequently leads to sickness or death and often the animals cannot be returned to the wild, according to the press release. A complete list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found at wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/rehabilitators.

Summer school

According to a press release, the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) will be offering two free classes this summer at any of New Hampshire’s seven community colleges with their new “Summer’s on Us” program, which covers tuition and academic fees for students who meet financial eligibility requirements and are registered for fall classes.

In a statement, Charles Lloyd, Vice Chancellor of CCSNH, said that “college is a personal investment of time and resources that can be very rewarding both personally and professionally … [and] through ‘Summer’s on Us’, we are making our own investment in New Hampshire students. Students juggle a lot these days between work, family and other commitments and a program like this helps to make college more affordable and attainable.”

To receive free classes, students must enroll for the fall at any of the seven community colleges for at least nine credits, which is about three classes, or use the two classes to complete an academic degree or certificate program in which they are currently enrolled, according to the same release.

Students will need to complete the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate financial need. Specific requirements of financial need will be determined by the colleges, and students are encouraged to reach out directly to the community college they plan to attend, according to the release.

Summer classes have multiple start dates between mid-May and August. Classes are available on site and online as well as hybrid, according to the release. More information can be found at CCSNH.edu/SummerOnUs.

The Concord Farmers Market held at the New Hampshire Statehouse (107 N. Main St.) on Saturday, May 18, starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at noon with more than 40 vendors selling an array of fresh and local goods, according to the website. Visit concordfarmersmarket.com.

Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., 624-6550, manchester.lib.nh.us) will hold a book sale on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. An average-sized grocery bag filled with materials will be $10, according to their website. They ask that participants bring their own bag, or they can provide a paper grocery bag if needed. Hardcover books are also available for $1.50 each, and most other materials are $1.

The Merrimack Valley Flute Choir will perform at Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.) on Thursday, May 16, at 7 p.m. The concert is “Fantastic Journey,” featuring original works with instruments that span the range of the flute family, from piccolos to bass flutes, according to the website. Visit nashualibrary.libcal.com/event/10830672.