Boat slip applications, Santa's Castle returns: Community news update
Community Action Partnership of Strafford County wins housing award
PORTSMOUTH — The Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast honored Community Action Partnership of Strafford County with its 2022 Housing Leadership Award during a ceremony last week.
The Workforce Housing Coalition annually recognizes housing leaders making a difference in the community. CAPSC was recognized for its dedication to helping people stay in their homes and off the streets, according to CAPSC Director of Community Services Dan Clark.
“It is truly an honor to receive this award and to be recognized by the coalition for the work that our team is doing,” said Clark. “Just as much of an honor, however, is to be in the position to be able to help so many people. The work we are doing is such a small part of the larger solution that is needed, but it has such a meaningful impact on people. While we wish the need for this type of support wasn’t as great as it is, we are proud to be able to help.”
The Workforce Housing Coalition honored CAPSC during its annual celebration and awards night on Dec. 1 at the One Hundred Club in Portsmouth.
During the event, Bangor Savings Bank received this year’s Business Leadership Award, the Town of Exeter was named the Municipal Leadership Award winner, the Portsmouth Housing Authority was honored with the Visionary Leadership Award, and Jay Childs was named Volunteer of the Year.
For more information on how to access CAPSC’s programs and services, please visit straffordcap.org. To donate to CAPSC and help us help our community, please visit straffordcap.org/annual-campaign.
Santa’s Castle returns to Dover
DOVER — Dover Youth to Youth is hosting its 15th annual Santa’s Castle at the McConnell Center in downtown Dover for three days during the Christmas season. Each night children and their families will be able to walk through several rooms in Santa’s Castle and meet Santa and many of his elves.
Youth to Youth students acting as elves will guide visitors through Rudolph’s stable, Santa’s toy room, Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen and other parts of the Castle. The tour culminates with a visit with Santa. Along the tour, children will be entertained by the elves and will collect small gifts in each room. Families are welcome to bring a camera and take pictures or video during the tour, and with Santa.
During the first weekend, the event will be held on Friday, Dec. 16, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 17, from 2 to 6:30 pm. The Castle will conclude on Friday, Dec. 23, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. In order to attend, pre-registration is required. Groups making a reservation must be no larger than six and include family members only. To increase everyone’s safety, groups attending will be spaced out more than in past years. To make a reservation visit: http://dovery2y.org/newsevents/santas-castle/
Santa’s Castle is designed for children ages nine and under, but the whole family is invited. The cost is a flat fee of $25 per reservation. Proceeds support the drug and alcohol prevention activities of Dover Youth to Youth. Entrance to Santa’s Castle will be from the Saint Thomas Street side of the McConnell Center (Door #7). Parking is available in the parking lot located behind the Dover Public Library and on the street by the Dover District Court.
For additional information, go to the Dover Santa’s Castle Facebook page, Youth to Youth’s web site at www.DoverY2Y.org or call the Dover Police Department’s Community Outreach Bureau at 603-516-1501.
Portsmouth now accepting applications for seasonal boat slips at Prescott Park Docks
PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth Clerk’s Office is now accepting applications for the seasonal boat slips at the Prescott Park docks. The application period is now through Jan. 5, 2023 at 4 p.m. To download the application package, go to: cityofportsmouth.com/sites
Each year, twelve boat slips are made available for seasonal rental. Slips are first awarded to Portsmouth residents in a lottery drawing on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 at 9 a.m. If there are any slips available after the Portsmouth Resident drawing, a second lottery is then held for non-residents. Notification will be sent out to the successful applicants who have been selected immediately after the drawing on Jan. 6.
In addition to the seasonal slip rentals, dock space is also available at Prescott Park for transient docking during the boating season, April 2 through Nov. 1, 2023. For more information about rates and policies go to the city website Prescott Park page: cityofportsmouth.com/prescottpark/prescott-park-docks.
Rochester Elks No. 1393 donates $4,000 to Share Fund
ROCHESTER — On Wednesday, Dec. 7, Matt Sanborn, Exalted Ruler, and Norm Gervais, Lodge Secretary / Lodge Elks National Foundation Chair from the Rochester, NH Elks Lodge No. 1393, presented the Rochester Share Fund with a check for $4,000. This donation was made possible by a Beacon Grant obtained from the Elks National Foundation. Accepting the donation were Share Fund Representatives Skip Smith, Executive Director, and Jerry Rainville, chairman of the Board of Directors.
The SHARE Fund reaches out to neighbors in our community who are in need of help during difficult times, provides innovative program services to guide families on a path to self-sufficiency, and refers them to other agencies and resources when eligible, thus maximizing aid. One of the programs administered by the SHARE Fund is Gerry’s Emergency Food Pantry. Last year the pantry saw a 93% increase in households served by the pantry.
The SHARE Fund began nearly 30 years ago as an outreach ministry of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Rochester and has been an emergency as well as essential service provider for low-income residents struggling to meet their basic needs.
In 2008, the SHARE Fund became an independent 501(c)3 public charity non-profit, managed by its Executive Director and Board of Directors.
In 2020, the Somersworth Share Fund became part of our organization. The SHARE Fund serves neighbors from Wakefield to Farmington, Rochester to Somersworth, all with care and support to be a hand up not just a hand out in times of need. SHARE Fund provides assistance with clothing, diapers, and food for our neighbors in need. Our coaching and guidance allows families to become financially self-sufficient, lessening the burden on other local and regional support services. The SHARE Fund addresses pressing financial crises by offering assistance with basic needs of food, affordable housing, utilities, clothing, and medical needs. These are the fundamental needs that every person deserves, regardless of race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, disability, age, gender, or sexual orientation. SHARE Fund does all of this through its dedicated team of three part-time employees, over 30 volunteers, and with the financial support of local government, civic organizations, businesses, and individuals.
For more info about the Share Fund and the Elks, visit sharefund.org/programsandservices and elks.org.
Seacoast Science Center receives New England Museum Association Excellence Award
RYE — Seacoast Science Center announces that it was selected as a 2022 recipient of a New England Museum Association Excellence Award, chosen for its newly opened exhibition, Our Dynamic Gulf of Maine: A Place of Urgency and Hope.
“We are honored to receive this recognition,” said Jim Chase, chief executive officer. “The Gulf of Maine is a vibrant and productive ecosystem, yet it is particularly impacted by climate change and is warming faster than most of the world's oceans. By showcasing the Gulf's astounding beauty and biodiversity, and sharing stories of the implications of climate change and mediation efforts taking place, our goal is to evoke a deep appreciation for this ecosystem and motivate people to take action to preserve and protect the Gulf of Maine and World Ocean.”
The concept, interpretation and fabrication of Our Dynamic Gulf of Maine—from plumbing to lighting—was done in house by SSC staff. Multidisciplinary architecture and design firm, Winter Holben, was a close partner helping to bring SSC’s conceptual vision to life, leading the architectural renovation of the highly complex space and developing the experiential design of the exhibit itself.
Beyond a dramatic new entryway, visitors encounter a compelling expanse of complimentary colors. Deep blue walls and glowing tanks emulate our cold, underwater marine environment while vibrant oranges represent the growing presence and urgency of warming temperatures. Waves flow through the exhibit as shapes on the walls and forms in the furniture—currents connecting all of these elements in a cohesive way. The tanks, the true focal point of the exhibit, are now staged as a unified system of whimsical walls and three-sided encasements.
Through curated moments like The Lobster Trap teaching station, Adrift in the Deep beautiful jellyfish, and Cashes Ledge: Crown Jewel of the Gulf of Maine, which highlights this biological hotspot that supports a plethora of life unlike anywhere else in the Gulf, the exhibit educates and delights both children and adults.
Special thanks go to Davis Conservation Foundation, Partners Bank, UNH Sea Grant, and the individuals and SSC Board of Directors, who generously supported this project. Thanks also go to Gaia Live, GetMaineLobster.com, Perch Design Studio, Portsmouth Quality Flooring, University of New Hampshire School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, and Winter Holben Architecture + Design for generously donating time and services.
For more information about the architectural and experiential design of this project, visit www.winterholben.com/work/project/gulf-of-maine. For more information and tickets to the center, www.seacoastsciencecenter.org.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Boat slip applications, Santa's Castle returns: Community news update
