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SOMERSWORTH Despite the economic pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city granted more building permits in 2020 than any previous year in its history, according to city staff. After years of watching people and developers get priced out of cities like Portsmouth and Dover, but at the same time seeing those folks go around Somersworth to Rochester and elsewhere, city employees and officials see this as a sign that growth and change are taking root in the Hilltop City. And quickly. “We’ve never had building permits of this magnitude. It’s impossible,” longtime Code Enforcement Officer Tim Metivier said last week in the middle of a busy day of inspections. “Probably 10 of the 12 months (last year), we kept breaking records. Like, ‘Wow, we processed this many?’ and I’d look back in my data and see we’ve never done this many. And then the same would be true the next month.” ....
Working with our readers to strengthen our communities Great things happen when a news organization works in harmony with readers in the communities it serves. The annual Gift of Warmth campaign, which provides heating assistance to our region’s most vulnerable the elderly, the sick, those who have lost jobs or whose families are in crisis shows the positive power of the harmonious relationship Seacoast Media Group shares with its readers. During the Gift of Warmth campaign, men and women who have been helped by the community action programs of Rockingham and Strafford counties share their stories with our readers, explain how they came to be in need of a little assistance to stay warm during the winter months, and year after year, without fail, our generous and warm-hearted readers have responded. ....
SOMERSWORTH With heavy snowfall in the upcoming week’s forecast, and public uncertainty about the future of the Tri-Cities’ emergency warming center still accumulating, the cities’ mayors say they’re firm in their commitment the facility will continue to serve the region’s increasing houseless population. Dover Mayor Bob Carrier, Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley and Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard all insisted in separate interviews this past week during an eventful week for the center that the center isn’t going away and the primary criteria for its activation moving forward will be life-threatening cold. “As to how we go forward, I think whatever we’re gonna to do, we’re gonna have a way to guarantee that our folks who are not sheltered have a place to get to in freezing cold weather,” said McCarley. “Period. End of story.” ....
SOMERSWORTH The Tri-Cities’ new emergency warming center served nine people during a bitter, snow-swept first night Wednesday. While people sheltered at the 30 Willand Drive center said they appreciated the reprieve, they also said it served to remind them the greater Seacoast area still lacks more permanent and direct strategies to address causes of the region’s homelessness crisis. “This is doing nothing but stopping them from dying,” said Christopher Smart, a 35-year-old Dover resident who was among the first to arrive when the center opened at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Dover, Somersworth and Rochester created the regional center, operating it with Strafford County’s arm of the Integrated Delivery Network and help from local social service agencies and volunteers, to provide a walk-in, overnight facility during periods of life safety risk and extreme cold weather emergencies. ....
Tri-Cities opening $1 million shelter: Here s the plan SOMERSWORTH The Tri-Cities will operate their new $1 million emergency overnight warming center Wednesday night and Thursday night, a few days earlier than they planned, due to a life-threatening winter storm expected to hit the Seacoast on Wednesday. Dover, Rochester and Somersworth leaders, area emergency management directors and Strafford County officials made the decision just before noon on Tuesday, accelerating plans that previously eyed Sunday, Dec. 20, as the center’s opening date. “Clearly, this is life safety stuff,” said Dr. Tory Jennison, director of population health for the county’s Integrated Delivery Network. “We’re not 100% ready, but this is a priority.” ....