We'll be celebrating the 20th annual Penacook Tree Lighting on Wednesday, December 3 at Boudreau Square on Village Street. Attendees can assemble around 5:30 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.
PVA Annual Meeting
The PVA will hold its Annual Meeting on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 6:30 pm at the Penacook Elementary School Library, 60 Village St. Please come provide your input on Penacook, its businesses, and what direction we should take to make Penacook the community you'd like to see in the future.
Our guest speaker to lead this discussion is John Christ, the UNH Extension's Community and Economic Development Field Specialist in Merrimack County. The PVA has begun work with UNH Extension and their Community Business Engagement Program.
The Program is designed to help understand needs, challenges, and opportunities for local businesses, identify key insights, strengthen business community connections and communication, and implement actionable strategies to strengthen the local economy. The end product will be a UNH-created project report with actionable items identifying business opportunities and obstacles; UNH will also be providing assistance carrying out future actions.
This effort should provide valuable information during the creation of Concord's new City Master Plan, which will start sometime next year. The Master Plan sets overall and specific goals for the decades to come.
Carbon Monoxide Awareness
As New Hampshire prepares for the upcoming winter season, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is encouraging residents to take simple but critical steps to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Install CO alarms outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home.
Have your heating system serviced annually.
Never run generators indoors or in enclosed spaces.
If your CO alarm sounds, evacuate immediately, then call 911.
More information is available from the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office or at the Fire Department.
Canal Street Riverfront Park official opening!
Save the date for the official opening of the Canal Street Riverfront Park on Wednesday, August 13, at 5:30 pm. Enjoy some pizza from Chiefs and ice cream from Sweet Dreamz, then stick around for the 6:30 pm concert by UP at the pavilion.
Community Meeting
City Councilors Michele Horne and Brent Todd are hosting a Penacook community meeting on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Penacook Library & Activity Center with NH Senator Tara Reardon and NH House Representative Tracy Bricchi.
Community Drive/High Street traffic issues
The City's Traffic Operations Committee (TOC) met in May to follow up on the Community Drive and High Street traffic concerns. Speed limits are posted as 25 mph. Speed data collected for Community Drive between Shaw Street and Dolphin Street during this past April showed the average speed of 27 mph, with 85% of vehicles traveling 33 mph or less. Speed data on High Street, between Hardy Avenue and Brodeur Street for April also showed an average speed of 27 mph, with 85% of vehicles traveling at 35 mph or less. This indicates there is a small population of drivers traveling at speeds that are 10 mph over the limit. Concord Police continued directed patrols on these roads and concluded that generally vehicles were obeying the speed limits. They also installed the radar trailer that operated from April 28 to May 15.
TOC discussed conducting a campaign with Merrimack Valley School District (MVSD) students to discuss safe driving. TOC agreed that they support continued enforcement efforts to reduce the speed in the area, but did not support stop signs to regulate speed, as that is not recognized as a proper use of the signs. They also did not support installing bump outs due to the narrowness of the roadways. Restricting High Street or Community Drive to local traffic only would require further study and input from MVSD.
Neighbors who observe unsafe driving behaviors are encouraged to provide both the license plate number and a description of the vehicle to Police, who will follow up based on that information.
Penacook Library receives design award
The Penacook Library & Activity Center/Penacook Community Center was recently recognized by PlanNH with a 2025 Merit Award for Excellence in Design, Planning, and Development. This was one of four projects recognized by PlanNH in the State.
PlanNH is a nonprofit organization formed in 1989 with a focus on community design and the built environment and their impacts on the health and vibrancy of a city, town, or neighborhood.
Hoyt Electrical Works 121st anniversary
Congratulations on another business anniversary coming up—the 121st year of Hoyt Electrical Instrument Works on July 1. They continue to manufacture a variety of electrical products right here in Penacook, including analog and digital electric meters.
Morrill Farm Dairy 100th Anniversary
Happy birthday to Morrill Farm Dairy, celebrating its 100th year in business on Saturday, July 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 33 Penacook Street with an open farm event.
Stop by to wander around the farm, and pick up some of their fresh fruits and vegetables, local meats, honey, jams, jellies, and more. More information about the farm, and how to donate to the Society for the Protection of NH Forests to help preserve this community asset, can be found here: https://www.forestsociety.org/farming-future-help-protect-morrill-dairy-farm-merrimack-river.
Penacook Historical Society Family Fun Day
The Penacook Historical Society is hosting their annual Family Fun Day and Open Barn on Saturday, July 19, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., 11 Penacook Street, Penacook. The historic 1790 Rolfe Barn will be open to the public, on display will be several Concord Coach vehicles, and there'll be games and activities for all ages. Ice cream and hot dogs will be available from Sweet Dreamz in Penacook.
Upcoming Concerts!
The Summer Music Series, presented by Walker Lecture Series, City of Concord, and Concord Parks & Rec., has planned free concerts at our new Canal Street Riverfront Park, Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m:
July 16: Lucas Gallo & the Guise
July 23: Crawl Space
August 6: TBA
August 13: UP
A free Nevers Band concert will be held in Rolfe Park on July 15 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Earth Day Conversation
An Earth Day Community Conversation will be held Monday, April 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the City Wide Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road. Various Concord Departments and Committees will provide updates on sustainability and clean energy initiatives, including the siting of significant solar projects within the City. There will be opportunities for citizen community input and comment, and guest speakers will include Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander.
Coffee with the Mayor in Penacook
The next Coffee with the Mayor is scheduled from 9:00 – 10:00 am Saturday, April 19, at the Exit 17 Market Basket Cafe in Penacook. It's a great opportunity to speak directly to the Mayor about city issues.
Summer Concert Series funding for Canal St Riverfront Park
Funding from the Walker Lecture Series for the City's Free Summer Concert Series specifically adds $2,000 for concerts in Penacook this summer at the new Canal Street Riverfront Park. We're hoping for an early summer official grand opening of the park. More to come soon.
Rolfe Park safety/traffic meeting follow-up
Thanks also to everyone who attended the Rolfe Park safety and traffic meeting on March 11. Notes are available here: https://concordnh.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14014971&GUID=50C4A213-3E94-4E34-ADF4-F557D298555F. The notes were referred by Council last night to the City's Traffic Operations Committee for further discussion of the traffic concerns listed. Police officers have been conducting directed patrols in and around Community Drive, and data collected on the speed/driving observed by the officers will be shared with the Committee.
Neighbors who observe unsafe driving behaviors can provide both the license plate number and a description of the vehicle to Police, who will follow up based on that information.
Riverside Park meeting
Thank you to everyone who participated in the April 10 meeting regarding Riverside Park. You provided insightful and helpful information and opinions. Next steps include the consultant GPI incorporating your recommendations into a revised plan, which will be presented during another public meeting to be held later this year.
FY2026 Budget Hearings scheduled
The schedule was accepted for public meetings regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Meetings will be held at 5:30 pm in Council Chambers, 37 Green Street, on the following dates:
May 19 (discussing Police, Fire, General Services, General Government)
May 22 (Library, Parks & Rec, Human Services, CIP projects, TIF Districts)
June 2 (Special Revenue Funds, such as Airport, Parking, Arena, Golf Course; and Enterprise Funds, water and wastewater)
June 5 to vote on approval
The draft budget will be released May 9.
Memorial Day parade
The PVA Events Committee is planning the fourth annual Memorial Day Parade in Penacook, which will take place on Sunday, May 25, at 10:00 a.m.
Local businesses and organizations, including school clubs, are invited to participate and march in the parade. If you want to march with us, please email Cindi Jacques at nhfairgirl18@gmail.com.
If you're interested in volunteering to assist either in planning the parade or with the many tasks needed on the day of the parade, please attend any of our organizational meetings at the Penacook Elementary School Media Center, 60 Village Street:
Wednesday, April 16, at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 30, at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 14, at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 21, at 6:00 p.m.
If you cannot attend any of the meetings but still want to help, please contact Cindi Jacques at nhfairgirl18@gmail.com. There is always plenty to do, and we can use your help!
Walker Lecture concerts at Canal Street Riverfront Park
The City successfully received a grant from the Walker Lecture fund to enable concerts at our Canal Street Riverfront Park. More details to follow, including the announcement of the official grand opening of the park.
Riverside Park information meeting
The City will be hosting a public information meeting on Thursday, April 10, at 6:00 pm regarding plans to renovate Riverside Park on Tanner Street (behind Strings and Things); we'll meet at the Penacook Elementary School cafeteria, 60 Village Street. GPI, the consultant assisting with this project, also designed our new Canal Street Riverfront Park. At this meeting, we'll get an assessment of current park conditions and possibilities for added amenities. This is your chance to give input on preliminary design concepts.
Outline for Riverside Park in Penacook, NH.