Good news! Starting March 10 the Penacook Branch Library will reopen Thursdays from noon to 5:00 pm. There will be two library staff on duty. The hope is that this schedule can expand once additional staff become available. There remain the significant repair issues facing the current branch building, but the hope is a plan can be devised to continue branch service to Penacook. Look here for future info on when the opportunity for public input on options becomes available.
Local history enthusiast and PVA member named Hometown Hero
Long-time Penacook resident and Penacook Historical Society and PVA member Althea Barton was named as one of Concord Monitor’s Hometown Heroes.
Congratulations, Althea!
https://www.concordmonitor.com/Althea-Barton-helps-keep-Concord-history-intact-45266440
Tree Lighting 2021
Tree lighting in Penacook, NH, on December 1, 2021.
PVA Annual Meeting video
Historic preservation projects and partnerships
A number of preservation projects and partnerships are happening in Penacook.
Thanks go to the Merrimack Valley School District who has just completed renovation to the hose tower and bell on the historic Pioneer Engine House on Washington Street.
The Abbot Downing Historical Society has partnered with the Penacook Historical Society, resulting in some historic Concord Coach vehicles being housed at 1790 Rolfe Barn.
Whitney Road development
Progress on Merchants Way at Whitney Road is continuing, with the contractor scheduled to install electrical conduit to feed two new street lights at the roundabout on Whitney Road. The road will be graded in preparation for paving the week of November 22. Traffic will be reduced to alternating one-way on Whitney Road. Steel framing has started on the retail space adjacent to Market Basket. Solar panel installation continues on the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet.
Penacook Branch Library
Concord Library Director Todd Fabian has reported that the Penacook Branch Library will remain closed due to the facility limitations that prevent providing a safe environment for staff and patrons. Meanwhile, the turnout was great this summer when Library staff were able to safely trial outdoor story times at Rolfe Park. There are plans to try to figure out a creative way to provide services in the winter. Property near Penacook Village that becomes available has been visited for a new Penacook branch location, but nothing suitable has been found.
With this backdrop the City is facing potentially over $450,000 of repairs to the existing branch building, which even if repaired has limitations as to size, accessibility, and parking. The costs include:
Boiler and piping abatement/replacement = $40,000
Ramp replacement and repair of other accessibility issues = $120,000
Roof replacement = $125,000
Chimney repair = $10,000
HVAC repairs = $45,000
General building repairs = $117,000
An independent assessment was conducted outlining some of these costs, which you can read here. The Library Trustees will be discussing this at their December 6th meeting. They will make a recommendation on the best path forward, which the City Council will then discuss. Look for an update before the plan reaches that point.
Penacook Tree Lighting 2021
The Penacook Village Association will be hosting the 16th annual Penacook Tree Lighting ceremony on Wednesday December 1 at Boudreau Square on Village Street. Attendees should start assembling around 5:45 pm to hear carols and singing featuring the Penacook Elementary School Chorus and Blanchard Family Singers, and watch Santa arrive courtesy of the Concord Fire Department.
Penacook Church Gets Help From Volunteers
With a change in leadership, Living Hope Community Church in Penacook got a boost and a facelift! Read the Concord Monitor article by Benjamin Domaingue.
Concord Coaches Find Temporary Home in Penacook
Eight of the original 19th century Concord coaches were moved to their temporary home at the Rolfe Barn on Penacook Street. Read the article on the Concord Monitor by Ray Duckler.
PVA 2021 Annual Meeting
The PVA will hold its annual meeting on Monday, November 29, at 6:30 pm at the Penacook Elementary School cafeteria. The special guest speaker will be Matt Walsh, Director of Redevelopment/Downtown Services/Special Projects, who will discuss the status of the Merchants Way development at Whitney Road/Exit 17, the Penacook Landing apartments phases 1 and 2, the CATCH Rosemary's Way apartments, and the design for a new city riverfront park at the Penacook Landing site.
Masks are required to attend this event, in accordance with the rules of the Merrimack Valley School District.
Concord City Elections on November 2
Check out who’s on the ballot based on your address at https://ballotpedia.org/Sample_Ballot_Lookup and see the sample ballots at the City Clerk’s Office website, https://www.concordnh.gov/1708/Nov-2-2021-Sample-Ballots.
Find out where your polling place is at https://www.concordnh.gov/884/Polling-Locations-Hours.
More information about registering and voting at the City Clerk’s Office, at https://www.concordnh.gov/880/Elections-Voter-Info.
Application for Making Matters NH grant
At the September 13th City Council meeting, a resolution was approved for Making Matters NH authorizing the City Manager to submit an application and accept and appropriate grant proceeds of up to $25,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds to conduct a needs assessment and feasibility study for entrepreneurial and small business technical support services.
Making Matters will use the Planning Grant to hire an external consultant that will assess the current resources and support systems available to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Capital Region and evaluate the current resource gaps. They will then work with the consultant to develop a plan for additional entrepreneur and small business-focused resources and programming that will best support existing businesses, with the goal of increasing new business creation and growth in the region. Making Matters is home to eleven artists and small businesses and has approximately forty users of its makerspace. They offer Penacook residents a 20% discount for membership.
Potential new cable provider for Concord
A special City Council meeting was held on September 20th with Atlantic Broadband, who are proposing to become the cable service provider by installing, constructing, and operating a cable television system in Concord. The public hearing input period will remain open until October 4. Anyone who wants to submit input can email it to cityclerk@concordnh.gov.
If you missed the meeting, you can watch it on the City's YouTube channel.
Proposed renaming of Columbus Day holiday
At the September 13th City Council meeting, Ward 10 Councilor Zandra Rice-Hawkins proposed changing the name of the Columbus Day Holiday to Indigenous People's Day. A draft ordinance will be presented to Council at the October 12th meeting, where this will likely be set for a public hearing at the November 8th meeting. You can submit your opinions at cityclerk@concordnh.gov where they will be placed in the public record.
CATCH Housing accepting applications
More progress has been made at CATCH's Rosemary's Way housing on Village Street. CATCH informs they are getting closer to move-in dates, and applications are available on their website: https://www.alliancenh.com/ (please use the Central Affordable Application).
You can also call CATCH at 603-223-0810 if you have questions about the property or would like an application mailed. More than 80 packets were mailed out last week, so, as expected, there is great demand and interest in the available units.
Development of Market Basket in Penacook continues to proceed
Great progress on the Market Basket and NH Liquor Store construction has been made, and beginning as early as this Tuesday, logging and clearing operations will begin in preparation for construction of the roundabout traffic improvements. The clearing work should not impact travel on Whitney or Hoit Roads. We anticipate the Market Basket will be open late spring/early summer next year.
Four-Way Stop Signs To Be Installed
The Concord City Council has approved the installation of 4-way stop signs for the intersection of Bog, Horse Hill, Carter Hill, and River Roads. Given a recent accident at this intersection, it was determined the stop signs will help improve safety and hopefully reduce future collisions.
Construction at the New Market Basket in Penacook
Construction for the new Market Basket supermarket and NH State liquor store at Whitney Road is progressing very well. Check out the Facebook page Supermarket at Exit 17 for future updates.
Road Repairs for Penacook Expected Next Year
This year's street maintenance program will focus on the downtown Concord area, but we can expect in the following year reclamation, drainage, and paving work for the following streets in Penacook: Barnett, Bonney, Brodeur, Bye, Canal (from Village Street to Community Drive), Dolphin, Hardy Avenue, Lawrence, Lilac, MacCoy, Merrimack, Shaw, Stark, Steeple View, Summer, Sweatt, Tanner, Webster Place (Elm Street to town line), and Winter.