Rye Reflections: NEW CASTLE SALTINES<br />Illustrated bites of Island news

NEW CASTLE SALTINES
Illustrated bites of Island news

Jim Cerny, reporting and photography

School business … Public occurrences … Open houses … Christmas fair … Piscataqua ship spotting … Winter scenes … Quick index to back issues

School business …

This marks the middle of the annual budget cycle for the New Castle School Board as they prepare to bring forth their budget to the Town Budget Committee, in preparation for public voting in March.

The proposed operating budget is $1,984,784 — which is a 5.63% increase, driven by mandated costs, such as more students tuitioned to Portsmouth High School and at a higher rate. This increase translates into an additional $0.35/thousand on the tax rate, or $350 on a $1 million dollar assessment.

After extended discussion of space needs in recent meetings, at which the School Board considered various alternatives for a modular classroom and whether there is need for more detailed planning, the Board decided to spend the next year developing a plan to present to voters in 2011, with the model of the recently completed Safety Building process in mind.

Remember the School Board meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at the Maude H. Trefethen school, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Maude H. Trefethen elementary school.

School safety is an issue getting a lot of attention, with renewed police presence to enforce the 15 mph speed limit at the beginning and end of the school day. And plans are nearly complete to implement a crossing guard at the crosswalk in front of the school on Cranfield Street. Dave McGuckin has been the sparkplug for the effort, with the school scheduling the guards, the guards to be drawn from PTO volunteers and trained by Police Chief Don White.

return to top of page

Public occurrences …

Islands vote. The Back Channel Islands (aka Casso Islands) were overwhelmingly approved for purchase by voice vote at the special town meeting on December 1 at a cost of $150,000. The additional $33,000 to cover transaction fees has been privately raised and Brian Hart, of the Southeast Land Trust, reports that the conservation easement has been recorded.
SWA. The New Castle selectmen voted to join the Southeast Watershed Alliance (SWA), a group established by SB 168 in the last legislative session, to study New Hampshire coastal water resources, such as collective planning for wastewater and stormwater treatment. This is a successor to the repealed Estuary Alliance for Sewage Treatment (aka EAST or "Big Pipe"), but notably without its powers of taxation and eminent domain. At present Rye has not voted to join.
Library gift. The Children's Literacy Foundation made a grant of $2,000 to the New Castle library, as described in this separate report.
Fort Stark input. In December the Department of Parks and Recreation solicited input to their revised ten-year strategic plan for the Parks. New Castle includes two parks, the Fort Constitution Historic Site and the Fort Stark Historic Site. Despite the work of the Fort Stark Brigade for the last three years, it was not on the list of supporting groups — a written description of the efforts was submitted and we expect a formal memorandum of agreement to be completed sometime in 2010.
Energy. The New Castle Energy Committee will meet on January 21, to catch up on recent events — call chairperson Sandra Bisset (431-2060) for details if you are not on the mailing list. New Castle received a Municipal Energy Assistant Program (MEAP) grant and that will be used to do a formal energy audit of Town Hall. The Energy Committee is working with the School Board to seek a block grant for replacement of the school boiler and for solar panels for electricity.

return to top of page

Open houses …

On Saturday, December 12, 9:00 a.m.-noon, there was an open house for the new town safety building that houses the fire and police departments. Then, on the afternoon of December 16, Henrys' Market and the Town Library both held open houses for the holidays. Several of "the usual suspects" were seen enjoying the holidays!

Fire truck decorated for the holidays.

Walter Liff.

Nancy Amazeen.

Joan Lockhart.

Henrys' Market window with revelers inside.

return to top of page

Church Christmas Fair …

The Women's Guild of the Congregational Church held the annual Christmas Fair on December 5 and it was packed with attractive seasonal items, many of them made by local artists, artisans, and just plain clever people! The fair grossed over $16,000.

Forest of driftwood trees. Click on picture for a larger image.

Maggie Kennedy.

Donna Kearns.

George Almgren.

Flying bird house.

return to top of page

Piscataqua ship spotting …

Frostbite sailors with Eli Slater in the lead on a Sunday in December. (Jonathan Taft photo)

Frostbite sailors maintain their winter schedule of Sunday sailing. After experimenting with alternative locations in Rye Harbor and Fort Stark, they are back to the back channel area between Goat Island and the Wentworth Hotel.

Coast Guard cutter "Tahoma" heading for its berth at the Shipyard. (Michael Donovan photo)

The 270-foot medium endurance Coast Guard cutter Tahoma (WMEC 908) is homeported at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and its white hull is a striking sight on a sunny day.

The salt ship "Star Alabama" leaving – click image for a larger version.

The Star Alabama (IMO 8221777) was built in 1985, has a 30,204 DWT capacity, and is owned and managed by the Grieg Shipping Group, registered in Bergen, Norway.

The bulk carrier "Tsuru" passing through the Memorial Bridge – click image for a larger version.

The Tsuru (IMO 7374230) was built in 1974, making it one of the older bulk carriers seen on the Piscataqua. It has a 38,678 DWT capacity and is owned by SMT Gdynia Ltd of Pomorskie, Poland, registered in Nassau, Bahamas.