The Merrimack Valley School District Board is holding a community meeting Thursday, October 13 at 7 p.m. (immediately following the Parent Teacher Group meeting) at the Penacook Elementary School Library. The Board's goal is to receive open feedback from Penacook families and community members on PES and the MVSD. They want to hear about strengths, challenges, opportunities, dreams and questions. This will also be an opportunity to learn about some great things that are happening around the MVSD and share some ideas about how the community might get involved.
Primary election information
Absentee ballots for the September 13, 2022 State Primary Election are available from the City Clerk’s Office. Residents who are unable to vote at the polls on Election Day may request an absentee ballot from the City Clerk’s Office (603-225-8500 or via email at cityclerk@concordnh.gov.) which is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with extended hours until 6:00 pm on Thursdays. You must be registered to vote prior to casting an absentee ballot. September 6, 2022 is the last day residents may register to vote prior to Election Day.
New Market Basket opens August 26
The new Exit 17 Penacook Market Basket at 15 Merchants Way, will be opening on August 26 at 7:00 am. The NH Liquor Store has been open for almost two weeks now. For a sneak preview of the supermarket interior while under construction you can see some photos here. Bus service to the area should be starting soon.
PVA meeting on Monitor Way development site meeting
On August 10, the Penacook Village Association held a public meeting to discuss potential plans for the development of 100-acre property formerly owned by the Concord Monitor/Newspapers of New England. The video from the meeting is now available.
NH State Primary Election is September 13, 2022
The New Hampshire State Primary Election Day is Tuesday, September 13, 2022. Polls within the City of Concord are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
You may register at your polling place on election day. Before the election, the last day to register is the last meeting of the Supervisors of the Checklist. By law, the supervisors meet once, 6-13 days before each state election. Check your town/city website, or call your clerk's office for the date, time, and location of the Supervisor's meeting. Click here for a list of town/city clerks and their contact information.
More information about registering to vote can be found on the NH Department of State FAQ, the NH Department of State website, and the Voter Information Lookup dashboard.
Most residents in Penacook are in Ward 1, but some are in Ward 2. Check your district and polling location.
Public meeting on August 10
The Penacook Village Association will hold a public meeting Wednesday, August 10 at 6:30 pm for a community discussion on potential plans for development of approximately 100 acres of property formerly owned by the Concord Monitor/Newspapers of New England, located in Penacook. The meeting will be held at the Penacook Elementary School cafeteria, 60 Village Street. Developer Kevin Lacasse of New England Family Housing and Ed Roberge of the engineering firm Stantec will present concepts and designs for discussion, input, and questions.
I-93 Bow-Concord highway expansion project
There will also be a Transportation Policy Advisory Committee meeting with NHDOT on Tuesday August 9, 2022 at 6:30 pm in the City Council Chambers to discuss the I-93 Bow-Concord highway expansion project. This will be an opportunity for the public to receive a presentation from NHDOT and participate in an open discussion with their representatives and with design architects McFarland Johnson about their most recent updates to the project, including proposed changes to Exits 13 and 14.
Meeting on Concord's proposed zoning changes
Concord City will hold meetings next month to provide information on Concord's proposed zoning changes. Visit https://www.concordnext.info/ for the draft plan and meeting schedule. A primary goal of the changes is to allow for more multi-family development to occur, and to make it easier for residents to add dwelling units to their properties. This will be discussed in the Phase 1 sessions planned for August 9, 11 and 16. The Phase 2 discussions on August 2 and 4 will highlight what some future development in Concord may look like by examining four sample sites.
Penacook Community Center and Library update
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central NH has received $450,000 in tax credit funds from the NH Community Development Finance Authority to transform the Penacook Community Center into a 7,500 square foot childcare and youth development center. This funding will provide a big boost to this important project. The plans remain to relocate the Penacook Library Branch at the new Community Center. Note that the Branch at its current location has expanded hours of Saturdays 9am-noon, Mondays 2:30-8:30pm, and Wednesdays 2:30-5:30 pm.
Shout-out to our Fire Department first responders
Special mention to the firefighters who were on duty this past Sunday afternoon, braving the sweltering 97 degree heat with full gear to put out a 3-alarm fire in the woods off Blackwater Road. CFD had trouble locating the fire at first, but thanks to local residents were able to pinpoint the location. The fire would have undoubtedly spread without fast action and volunteer support. Thanks to all involved!
Concord Fire Department update
Concord Fire Department reports they are still on track to have Ambulance 5 running out of the Manor Station by October 1st. This was the target goal set and expressed to the City Council. CFD has conditional job offers signed and are working through the various background check processes for the prospective employees. Following that, the new employees will be onboarded and start their recruit school and other initial training.
Canal Street Riverfront Park
On June 20th a public meeting was held in Penacook to provide information and receive input on the possible designs for a new riverfront park on Canal St at Penacook Landing (the former Allied Tannery site). For more information or comments, contact Matt Walsh, mwalsh@concordnh.gov. We expect another meeting sometime in September for input on the final draft design.
Materials from the presentation are available on the City’s website.
Presentation on the Canal Street Riverfront Park at the community meeting. Courtesy of ConcordTV.
2022 Penacook Memorial Day Parade
Concord TV has posted a video from the Memorial Day parade in Penacook on May 30, 2022, on its YouTube channel.
Completion of apartments at Penacook Landing
Construction of phase 2 of Penacook Landing is anticipated to begin in summer/fall this year and will take approximately 10 months to complete. This will add 20 apartments to the existing 34 and will conclude the project.
Penacook Historical Society's Open Barn event
Mark your calendars for the Penacook Historical Society's Open Barn event on Sunday, June 5th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. This event is free (cancelled if raining). On display at the 1790 Rolfe Barn, 11 Penacook Street, will be a wide array of 19th century Concord coaches, wagons, sleighs, and other unique vehicles from the Abbot-Downing Historical Society's collection.
Design Meeting for New Riverfront Park on Canal Street
You are invited to attend a design information and input session for Riverfront Park on June 20th at 6:30 p.m. at the Penacook Elementary School cafeteria, 60 Village St., sponsored by the City and the Penacook Village Association. You’ll have a chance to see the proposed plans and share your ideas with the project team for the new Canal Street Riverfront Park at Penacook Landing, the former Allied Leather Tannery site. This park is a project the City has discussed with residents since the 1980's. With funds coming from the Penacook Village TIF District and external sources of funding, there is no tax increase associated with building the new park.
City Budget proposes return of ambulance to Manor Station
The City of Concord has released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2023, and included is additional Fire Department staff and a new ambulance, which would allow the return of ambulance service from Manor Station. In total, 85% of our city taxes pay for the operations of the fire, police, and general services departments. Other items in the budget for Penacook include improved LED lighting at Rolfe Park and improvements to Riverside Park on Tanner Street.
Survey Opportunity for Regional Housing Needs Assessment
The Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission (CNHRPC) is conducting a Regional Housing Needs Assessment update in 2022, an in-depth study of our region’s housing needs across all income levels. In concert with the state and other NH regions, they’re researching data and community ideas, and a key component of this is obtaining local feedback through their housing surveys.
Results from online surveys will provide CNHRPC with key anonymous research data to help report back how housing issues are impacting the Central NH Region communities and what types of strategies are needed. Please help out by taking one of the surveys:
Penacook Memorial Day Parade
There are plans underway for a Penacook Memorial Day Parade on Sunday May 29 at 10:00 am. The route will start at Merrimack Valley High School to Village St. north to Boudreau Square and end at the Washington St. School.
Hats off to Irene Ortega and Cindi Jaques for spearheading all the volunteers who are assisting to make this happen. If you would like to participate, either in the parade or to help with the event, write to penacookvillageassoc@gmail.com.
There are costs of more than $1,000 to hold this event, so any donations (tax deductible) are appreciated and can be sent to us at Penacook Village Association, P.O. Box 6174, Penacook, NH 03303.
Join us for our 2022 Memorial Day parade!
Penacook Community Center replacement
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Concord will be hosting a meeting on Tuesday, March 22nd at 5:30 pm, at 55 Bradley Street, to discuss plans for replacement of the Penacook Community Center. At the meeting will be Team Engineering, the design team, and Frank Lemay of Milestone Construction to present information on the status of design, and get feedback. Boys & Girls Club has raised $1.5 million of the estimated $4 million for this project. An audit of all structures on the property determined that all three buildings will need to be demolished, including the main building. Though this would mean losing the original youth center built by the community, the revitalization efforts will allow for improvements to parking, playgrounds, and green space. Providing youth services close and convenient to Penacook families will enable parents to stay in the labor force and encourage the healthy development of our youngest Penacook residents.