Manager's Weekly Memo

DATE: November 13, 2009

CIP #35 - U.S. ROUTE 3 CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS: With the completion of the new granite curbing, the contractor will continue to focus on construction of the sidewalks along both sides of the North State Street corridor. Paving of the sidewalks and driveway aprons should occur over the next two weeks. The masonry subcontractor is expected on-site at the end of next week to begin raising the catch basins and manhole frames to base grade for the winter. Delays can be expected due to one-lane traffic conditions on North State Street from Sewalls Falls Road to Knight Street. As always, the public’s patience is appreciated as we work to complete the remaining construction prior to the onset of winter.

SHOULDERS WIDENED TO ENHANCE BICYCLE TRAVEL:  As part of this year's street-repaving projects on Clinton Street, Pleasant Street and North Main Street, new pavement markings have been designed to allow wider shoulder areas to better accommodate bicycle travel.  New bicycle lane markings have also been introduced along Clinton Street, between South Spring Street and South Fruit Street, to keep vehicles using right-turn lanes separated from, and to the right of, the bicycle lanes.  Similar markings will also be provided at the newly-reconfigured intersection of Fisherville Road and Sewalls Falls Road.

These improvements result from the ongoing collaboration between Engineering Services and General Services to use regularly-programmed street repaving projects as an opportunity to reconfigure pavement marking lines to better facilitate bicycle travel.  In most cases, existing pavement width is maintained; previously over-wide traffic lanes are narrowed slightly and the extra width is used for wider shoulders, enhancing safety for bicycle travel.

INTERSECTION LANE-USE CHANGES:  Lane-use changes are being made at three downtown Concord intersections to better facilitate traffic volumes that have grown over the years.  Changes include revised pavement markings, signs and select signal faces at the following intersections:

• South Main/Storrs/Perley Street Intersection:  The Storrs Street approach to the traffic signal at South Main Street will be revised to allow left-turns onto South Main Street to be made from either the left or right lane on Storrs Street.
   
• North Main/I-393/Bouton Street Intersection:  The North Main Street northbound approach to the traffic signal at I-393 and Bouton Street will be revised to provide two right-turn only lanes onto I-393.  The left-most of the three northbound approach lanes will be for traffic bearing left onto Bouton Street (US Route 3 North) or continuing straight onto Old North Main Street.
   
• N. Main/Washington Street:  The Washington Street approach to North Main Street will be revised to allow left-turns to be made onto North Main Street from either the left or right lane on Washington Street.

CIP #440 – SCHOOL STREET RETAINING WALL: The railing has been received from the manufacturer and is being installed by the contractor. The installation should be complete by the end of this week. With the installation of this railing, the project will be complete.

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU EXTENDS OFFICE HOURS:  The Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau has increased the number of hours that it is open to the public by 30%.  The office is now open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.  The extended hours will permit residents to obtain car seat safety checks, have their wood or pellet stoves inspected, or consult in person or by phone with the fire prevention staff at hours more convenient to them.  The extended hours were made possible through schedule changes, without the need for additional personnel or overtime.  Please call 225-8651 to make an appointment or to inquire about fire prevention services. 

FIRE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES: During the week of November 1st, Fire Prevention staff presented two Public Education programs, delivered two fire extinguisher training classes, installed three car seats, performed one fire drill, performed 18 field inspections and completed four fire protection consults.

2009 ELIZABETH YATES AWARD: The Concord Public Library invites the public to a reception in the Children’s Room on Sunday, November 15th, at 2:00 PM, at which time the Concord Public Library Foundation will present the 2009 Elizabeth Yates Award to two recipients, Cris Sokol and Autumn Van Sice.

For 16 years, Cris Sokol has worked as the Concord Public Library’s Children’s Librarian. During her tenure she has delighted countless Concord children with her storytelling and songs. She has inspired creativity with crafts and puppetry and presented children’s programs with imagination and enthusiasm. Autumn Van Sice has been an advocate of children’s literature in creating and sustaining the Concord Public Library Foundation’s Books for Babies program. She has also volunteered her time at children’s programs and has supported the Library as a board member of the Library Foundation.

The Elizabeth Yates Award was begun in 1994 to honor an individual in the greater Concord area who is actively engaged in inspiring young people to read. As this year’s winners, Ms. Sokol and Ms. Van Sice will each have the opportunity to help select $500 worth of books to add to the Children’s Room collection. Their names will be placed on bookplates in each book and will be inscribed on the Elizabeth Yates Award plaque, which hangs in the Children’s Room. The reception will include presentations by each recipient, music and light refreshments. For more information, call 225-8670.

PAWS FOR PAGES: "Paws for Pages" will begin on Thursday, November 19th, from 3:30-5:00 PM, in the Children’s Room at the Library.  Paws for Pages is a program designed to help kids improve their reading and communication skills.  Lily, a chocolate Labrador Retriever, and her handlers Janet Ulbrich and Amelia Ramsey, will be available in the Children’s Room the first and third Thursday of each month, from 3:30-5:00 PM, to listen as children read to her. Lily is certified through Therapy Dogs International and is a calm, gentle dog who loves people.  Children who attend will each have 15 minutes of Lily’s undivided attention.

CONCORD READS: The final 2009 Concord Reads program will take place on Thursday, November 19th, from 7:00-8:15 PM at the Salvation Army, 58 Clinton Street.  "Paying It Forward in Your Own Backyard," a panel discussion on the "pay it forward" theme will feature people who have received services from a local organization and then have been trained to volunteer with that organization and help others.

FRIENDS OF THE AUDI LAUNCH FLYSPACE PROJECT: The Friends of the Audi have launched the theatre’s last major renovation effort – the Flyspace Project. They have contracted with a rigging company to replace the "historic" hemp and pinrail with a modern mechanized system, which will provide a safer, more efficient rigging system capable of supporting more complex productions. The Project is budgeted at $200,000 and the Friends propose to raise the money through donations, without any paid staff or tax dollars, as they’ve done for the past 19 years, raising and investing over $1 million in the City-owned theatre. Every donor will be noted on a butterfly tag and the tags will decorate the lobby walls this season. Thanks to the generous support of Southwest Airlines, a drawing will be held at a special springtime show for one donor to win two unrestricted roundtrip tickets. As with their "One Brick at a Time" effort, which built the reception lobby, the Friends are seeking thousands of small donations to reach their goal. An anonymous challenger will match every donation made in 2009. Contributions may be sent to Friends of the Audi – Flyspace, P.O. Box 652, Concord, NH 03302. Information and donation forms are available at www.theaudi.org. For further information, call 225-2164.