Category: Q&A

Project to bring connections, improved walkability to Manch

RAISE Manchester is a $30 million transportation infrastructure project in Manchester funded in part by a $25 million federal RAISE grant. Kristen Clarke, project manager and Manchester Department of Public Works traffic engineer, discussed the project following a public informational meeting held for residents and business owners. Visit raisemanchester.org.

How long has RAISE Manchester been in the works?

The first time we applied for the grant was in 2019. There were some planning efforts that happened leading up to that as well. We applied for the grant in 2019 and 2020 and were not successful and then won the grant in 2021.

What are RAISE grants awarded for?

The grant is [awarded] through the U.S. DOT. RAISE stands for Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity. There are several key items that they’re looking for, which are how we’re improving mobility and congestion and how we’re creating new development opportunities using infrastructure.

What are the elements of the project?

There are four different elements of the grant that are all semi-interconnected. First, there’s the Granite Street and Commercial Street intersection, where we’re going to be building a pedestrian bridge over Granite Street. Then, where South Commercial Street currently dead-ends by the Fisher Cats ballpark, we’re going to be building a bridge over the active rail line that will connect over to Elm Street at Gas Street. Then we’re going to be building a rail trail on the abandoned rail trail corridor from Queen City Avenue up to that Elm and Gas Street intersection. The last piece is the reconfiguration of the South Willow Street and Queen City Avenue intersection from a signalized intersection into a peanut-shaped roundabout.

What are some of the problems that RAISE Manchester aims to address?

The biggest things are we’re looking at how to reconnect the south Millyard area back over to Elm Street across the rail line in hopes that it’ll help spur some redevelopment and extend downtown south of Granite Street. We’re also looking at [improving] safety and traffic congestion by providing alternative ways in and out of downtown.

How are you able to predict what changes will make the biggest impact?

Part of it is looking at where the bottlenecks are happening today. We know that, getting into the city on the Granite Street quarter, there’s a lot of congestion, especially if there’s a ballgame or an event at the SNHU Arena or if a train is coming through there. So that’s where we started looking at where we could create more options.

How much of this plan is confirmed and how much is still developing?

The four elements as presented in the grant application are required to be complete; they have to be done in some fashion based on the stipulations of the grant. The width of the road or the exact alignment of it can change, and that part is still not set in stone. We are in the preliminary design phase right now, which we’re hoping to wrap up over the next couple of months. Then, the final design phase will go on for about another year.

What does that design process look like?

There are three bridges that are part of this project, so a big piece of the design is actually doing all the structural analysis to design the bridges. That’s what takes the longest of all of it.

What is the timeline?

All in all, we have to be ready for all the design to be done by September 2024, and all construction must be completed by September 2029. We’re not sure about the [order of the] stages and which would happen first. A contractor might choose to do multiple of them at the same time. We can’t know yet.

What was the response at the public meeting?

Overall, the response was positive, and people were excited. They wondered how we’ve gone this long without a lot of these projects in place. We did get some great comments from the bike and pedestrian communities on different things that we should explore to see if there were better ways to accommodate bikes and pedestrians. … We’re really excited about it. If people have ideas, we’re happy for them to share their comments through our website, raisemanchester.org, or get in touch with us. We want to make sure that if there’s something someone wants to see, and there’s a way that we can accommodate it, we look into it.

Featured photo: The biggest part of RAISE Manchester will be a new South Commercial Street Extension. Courtesy photo.

Prepping the beard & putting on bells for the season

Santa Mark (Marc Nozell in the off season) gives us a look at what it’s like to wear the big red suit.

How did you first get into being Santa?

I used to be Santa for our six kids back around the turn of the century with a suit my wife picked up at a yard sale. But I didn’t get back into it until about five years ago. My sons in their 20s were doing a No Shave November and had pretty sad beards, so I wanted to show them how it was done. Turns out it came in thick and all white. My wife and I were at the Nashua Winter Holiday Stroll and I wore a Santa cap. We noticed little kids pointing and asking their parents about if I was Santa. We ran into a local booker of Santas who pointed me to the New England Santa Society and their Santa Camp. From then on, I was hooked.

How do you get into character?

Pretty straightforward: I make sure all the tools of the trade are in my bag — copies of the classic books ‘Twas the Night before Christmas and the newer Are You Grumpy, Santa? by Gregg Spiridellis; mini candy canes; Santa wooden nickels; a special Santa Spray for the beard that some people may mistake for diluted peppermint essential oil; an extra pair of white gloves; and jingle bells for making a grand entrance. Then, suit up — pants, jacket, faux-fur lined boots and the wide leather belt complete with three magical keys and yet more bells. After brushing out the beard to make it fuller, I then apply some beard cream to curl up the mustache to look a bit like a smile. I’ve been blessed with naturally full and chubby cheeks and only need a pinch or two to make them a little bit more rosy.

Is there a Mrs. Claus? Does she ever join you?

There is the person I’m married to, but portraying Mrs. Claus isn’t her cup of tea. There is a performer in my town who sometimes comes along as Mrs. Ginger Claus. The New England Santa Society is encouraging including a Mrs. C. when people are looking for a Santa.

Is the beard real?

Yup! You can’t be a member of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas if you don’t. I’m not kidding; when you join you need to provide a headshot showing a beard. I keep a beard year-round, and Dec. 25 I traditionally trim back down only to grow it out again in August.

What is the funniest thing a kid has ever said to you?

This year, there was a request for a real unicorn, but I had to explain that Santa can’t deliver live animals anymore because the elves don’t want to deal with the poop that gets in the sleigh. Another little one wanted just handcuffs. His parents were quick to explain he already had the rest of the cops-and-robbers toys.

What is the most asked-for Christmas present?

Legos are always popular, and there are lots of requests for L.O.L. dolls.

How do your virtual visits work?

In 2020, I started to do virtual visits with children. Through my website, parents sign up for a 15-minute visit with Santa and provide some background information including if they have an Elf on the Shelf and any particular family traditions. After having remote learning for school, the kids were pretty comfortable meeting virtually over the computer. We talk about the usual stuff you do in person. Sometimes Santa, with some assistance from the parents, will hide an early little gift somewhere in their house.

What do you love most about being Santa?

There are some children who know in their heart they are talking to the real Santa. They look in my eyes and are very sincere as we talk. I call them the true believers, and they make me love to keep this season as magical as possible for them for as long as possible.

Five favorites
Favorite Christmas song: Either “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” or John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).”
Favorite cookie: Whatever cookies are left out for me, but you can never go wrong with sugar cookies.
Favorite Christmas movie: I’m tempted to say Die Hard, but my favorite is the 1991 animated Father Christmas by the makers of “The Snowman,” written by Raymond Briggs.
Favorite winter activity: Spreading joy and happiness. Starting right after Thanksgiving, my weekends are packed with parades, family and company holiday parties, photo shoots, visiting daycares and country clubs — no rest until after Christmas Eve.
Favorite holiday aroma: Cinnamon — in cookies, pies and mulled cider.

Featured photo: Santa Mark. Courtesy photo.