Concord Area Transit (CAT) is pleased to announce it will provide free round-trip transportation to The Windmill Family Restaurant, 172 Loudon Rd, on Thanksgiving Day to help Concord residents in need of transportation get to the annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Call CAT in advance to reserve a seat at 603-225-1989, and ask for the Thanksgiving Day shuttle. The Windmill wants everyone to be able to enjoy a good Thanksgiving meal, regardless of income status. They're also accepting cash and pie donations, and volunteers interested in helping can call 603-225-0600.
Planning Board meeting December 21 for new Penacook Community Center
The Concord Planning Board set a public hearing for December 21 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers, 37 Green St, to receive input on the Boys and Girls Club of Central NH's proposal to construct a new community and day care center at 76 Community Drive. At its November 16 meeting, the Planning Board decided that the application is complete; all related documents are available here. If you wish to provide input but can't attend the meeting you can send your comments to hshank@concordnh.gov.
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of local residents raising funds and planning construction of the Penacook Youth Center at the Community Drive location, as noted on the Penacook NH Yesterday & Today Facebook page. We were fortunate then as we are to this day to have community members provide their vision, support and volunteer time to help enrich our village. However, the current Penacook Community Center buildings are in a state beyond reasonable repair and reuse, and the proposal calls for demolition of all existing buildings and construction of a new, 8,900 square foot, single-story building. Construction would begin in spring 2023, and the facility would be completed in late spring / early summer 2024.
City Council meeting December 12 for new Branch Library
At its November 14 meeting, City Council set a public hearing for December 12 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers, 37 Green St, to receive input on establishing a new Penacook Branch Library and Community Center, by appropriating $1,300,000 for the acquisition of real estate to be developed at 76 Community Drive. Documents related to the public hearing are available here. If you wish to provide input but can't attend the meeting you can send your comments to cityclerk@concordnh.gov.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of converting 1,080 square feet of space at the former Penacook Police Station at 3 Merrimack St. to house the Penacook Branch Library. It's a cozy and charming space, however, the City is faced with potentially $900,000 of total estimated renovation costs to the building, which even if repaired would still have limitations as to size, accessibility, and parking. There has been an ongoing but unsuccessful search for property acquisition suitable for a branch move. There have been public input meetings and much discussion over the past several years as to the preferred path forward. The community has consistently expressed interest in maintaining a bricks and mortar branch, rather than a bookmobile or temporary structure.
The current proposal is for the City to own about 1,470 square feet of space to house the library, and for meeting space and public use. Included would be kitchen facilities and bathrooms. If approved, the City Manager would enter into a purchase and sale agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Central NH to acquire a portion of the new building to be constructed. Also included is authorization to sell 3 Merrimack St., which is assessed for $330,900, with a deed restriction to ensure that the historic 1899 building would be preserved. To accommodate parking for a new use, a small, vacant City lot at Sanders and Merrimack Streets, assessed at $16,600, would also be sold.
PVA Tree Lighting on December 7
November 29 [update]:
Due to inclement weather, the PVA has changed the date for the 17th Annual Penacook Tree Lighting to Wednesday, December 7, at 6:00 pm at Boudreau Square on Village Street. Attendees can assemble around 5:30 pm to hear carols and singing featuring the Penacook Elementary School Chorus, the Merrimack Valley High School Holiday Ensemble Band, and the Blanchard Family Singers, and watch Santa arrive courtesy of the Concord Fire Department.
November 7:
The PVA will be hosting the 17th Annual Penacook Tree Lighting event on Wednesday, November 30 at Boudreau Square on Village Street. Folks can start to 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.
Christmas tree in Penacook, NH.
PVA Annual Meeting on December 8
Everyone is invited to our Annual Meeting, with guest speaker Matt Walsh, Concord's Director of Redevelopment, Downtown Services & Special Projects, on Thursday December 8 at 7:00 pm at the Penacook Elementary School cafeteria. The following projects are planned to be discussed:
Canal St Park Update (final design, grant & permitting update)
Penacook Landing Phase 2 Update (site work for the second apartment building is underway)
Whitney Rd development (including Merchants Way and additional projects in development permitting)
Spring / Summer 2023 Paving Program for Penacook Village (preliminary overview)
Election day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Check out your voter registration status, polling location, and sample ballot at the Secretary of State website:
https://app.sos.nh.gov/viphome
Forum with local candidates
Thanks to the participants and attendees of the PVA's state election forum: pictured left to right, Rep. Art Ellison, Rep Steve Shurtleff, Jessica Wheeler-Russell, Rep. Connie Lane, PVA Board member Christine Miller, Sen. Becky Whitley, John Corrigan. [Not pictured, Executive Council candidate Harold French.]
Phase 2 of the Penacook Landing apartments
The Caleb Group has just closed on its financing package for Phase 2 of the Penacook Landing Project located at 35 Canal Street, to allow construction of a new 20,000SF building featuring 20 new apartments (18 of which will be affordable units). In addition to adding much-needed housing to our community, the project will generate $107,515 in permitting revenues for the City and approximately $45,000 in property tax revenues annually.
The new park is in design phase based on community input received at the June public meeting. Watch here for more details on the next meeting.
Lilac Street/Borough Road Intersection meeting
A public meeting to discuss proposed improvements to the Lilac Street/Borough Road Intersection will be held at 6:00 pm on October 6, 2022 at the Penacook Elementary School cafeteria, 60 Village St. The proposed plan involves removal of the existing “slip lane” at the intersection. Changing the current intersection will improve pedestrian and motor vehicle safety by eliminating high speed turns, and improving sight distance. Construction is scheduled for Spring / Summer 2023.
Additional meetings will be coming to discuss with residents the paving work planned for eighteen additional Penacook streets. Abutters will be sent meeting notices by mail from the City. Watch this space for further information.
Extended Penacook Library hours
Starting October 4, the Penacook Branch Library will be open on Tuesdays from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, and Thursdays 12 noon to 5:00 pm. Please support our local branch!
Ambulances for the Penacook Station of the Concord Fire Department
On Saturday, October 1, at 9 a.m., the Concord Fire Department is celebrating the arrival of a new ambulance (no. 4) and the return of Ambulance 5 to the Penacook Fire Station at the Manor Fire Station at 46 Village Street in Penacook.
Forum With the Candidates for the NH State Legislature
On Wednesday, October 19, the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire and the Penacook Village Association will be sponsoring a forum with the candidates for state House Districts 1, 15, 16, and 28 and state Senate District 15. The forum will be held at the Merrimack Valley High School Library and moderated by the League’s state president, Liz Tentarelli.
The forum will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. The high school library will open at 6:30 so candidates and voters can meet and chat before the forum.
Candidates will be introduced and give a brief opening statement, and there will be a question and answer session. Bring your written questions for the candidates with you to the forum.
The forum will be taped by ConcordTV and will be available a few days after the forum on the League’s website, at http://lwvnh.org/candidate-forums-and-debates/, and the Penacook Village Association’s website, at https://www.penacook.org/.
Merrimack Valley Schools Community Meeting
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.