Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell sits down at his desk, types up a city memo and emails it over to us. Then, we print it here. No shenanigans, no monkey business, just a city memo. Didn’t see that coming, did you?!
poll position
Hey, go vote!
Polling hours within the city on general election day will be 7 a.m.– 7 p.m, Aspell writes. Residents will vote at one of 10 polling locations. Polling locations are assigned to residents based on their home address. If you are unsure of your home address, contact one of the people wandering the streets incessantly leaving political paraphernalia in your mailbox. They obviously know where you live. Concord’s polling locations are as follows:
- Ward 1: Immaculate Conception Church, 9 Bonney St. (Penacook)
- Ward 2: West Congregational Church, 499 N. State St.
- Ward 3: Beaver Meadow Golf Course, 40 Sewalls Falls Road.
- Ward 4: St. Peter’s Parish Hall, 135 N. State St.
- Ward 5: Green Street Community Center, 39 Green St.
- Ward 6: St. John’s Activity Center, South Main Street
- Ward 7: West Street Ward House, 41 West St.
- Ward 8: Bektash Temple, 189 Pembroke Road.
- Ward 9: Havenwood, 33 Christian Ave.
- Ward 10: Broken Ground School, Portsmouth Street.
Absentee ballots for the general election are available from the city clerk’s office. Residents who are unable to vote at the polls on election day, due to absence from town or physical disability, may obtain an absentee ballot. To request an absentee ballot, write to or appear at the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 41 Green St., Concord, NH 03301. For a signed photo of Tom Aspell, write to Aspellicious, 123 Tom Tom Drive, Aspell Town USA. You must be registered to vote prior to casting an absentee ballot. The last day to register to vote prior to the Nov. 6 election is Oct. 26. Residents may register to vote at the city clerk’s office during normal business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday evenings until 6 p.m. There will be no registration during abnormal business hours. Residents with election questions should contact the City Clerk’s office at 225- 8500 or via email at cityclerk@concordnh.gov.
Trick!
No, wait, treat!
Candy-getting times Halloween trick-or-treating will take place in Penacook on Oct. 30 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and in Concord on Oct. 31 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., Aspell writes. Aspell will be attending both, dressed as a city manager. Accidents and mishaps increase dramatically when children trick-or-treat. Parents should keep in mind these trick-or-treating safety tips to make sure the only howls are those of fun. Apply reflective tape to Halloween costumes. This is particularly easy if you are going trick-or-treating as reflective tape. Always trick-or-treat in groups, accompanied by an adult. Children dressed as adults don’t count. Adults dressed as children are just plain weird. Stay on the sidewalks and out of the streets. Cross only at intersections and designated crosswalks. Cross at your own peril if dressed as 90s rap group Kris Kross. Only visit well-lit houses, and don’t enter any houses unless you know the people. This latter warning is valuable on days that aren’t Halloween, as well. Don’t eat any candy until it’s inspected for tampering. After it passes, though, definitely eat candy.
smooth(er) sailing
Detour is pretty sweet
Storm sewer infrastructure on the Route 3/North State Street corridor will continue to be replaced this week from Penacook Street to Granite Avenue, Aspell writes. The southbound Rumford Street detour has been performing well, with little to no traffic backup occurring. The detour’s performance is being evaluated by a team of experienced detour scouts, and if the success continues, the detour could be drafted No. 1 overall. With the base pavement placed in the Call Street to Curtice Avenue section, granite curbing will be set this week. Minor traffic delays are expected in this area. Is a minor traffic delay like a minor concussion? They both kind of hurt your brain a little. Striping and pavement markings will be done from Hutchins Street to Abbottville Road and Palm Street to Curtice Avenue.
