What's New

Out of an abundance of caution against the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant of COVID-19, the Mayor-elect has determined that the Inauguration for the City Council, Police Commission, Fire Commission and School Board will be held outdoors on Monday, January 3, 2022. The abbreviated ceremony will take place at the 9/11 Memorial in the upper parking lot at City Hall, starting at 7 pm.

The Portsmouth NH 400th Executive Team held an organizational meeting of the Portsmouth NH 400th Task Force on September 2, 2021 and is forming sub-committee teams to begin planning for the city’s celebration in 2023. The Task Force is designed to support the Portsmouth NH 400th organization and guide signature events and projects, including a parade.

The Executive Team now includes:

Once again the Neighborhood Holiday Lights Contest received enthusiastic support, with 48 Portsmouth residents participating. Mayor Rick Becksted joined members of the Citywide Neighborhood Committee and the children who did the judging to announce the winners at the City Council meeting on Monday, December 20.  Winners will receive their gift cards in a letter from the Mayor.

The Foundation for Seacoast Health has announced their intent to sell the Community Campus building and surrounding 34 acres to the City of Portsmouth. Following a three-year strategic planning process and a goal to maintain its original vision as a multi-tenant non-profit center, while adding new resources to benefit the community, the Foundation has determined the City to be the ideal buyer to manage the Campus.

What is the “Evusheld” treatment and how does it work?

Evusheld is a pre-COVID protection option developed by AstraZeneca that combines two monoclonal antibodies (tixagevimab and cilgavimab) in one injection. In a study of persons who were at high risk of severe illness, hospitalization, or death from COVID-19 because they were immunocompromised or ineligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, Evusheld was shown to reduce the risk of developing COVID-19 compared to those who received a placebo.

As part of the continuing process to acquire the McIntyre Building, the US Government General Services Administration has given the City permission to use the parking lot behind the building, on the corner of Penhallow and Bow Streets, for public parking.

Mayor Rick Becksted has announced that the Grand Marshals for the 2021 Illuminated Holiday Parade & Food Drive on Saturday, December 4, 2021 are the “Project Planter Box” team – the students and advisors who designed, built and filled the wood planters that topped the street-dining barricades all summer. The Grand Marshals will lead the parade that kicks off the holiday season in Portsmouth.

Contractors for the City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works will begin work on a project to replace sewer force mains on Peirce Island on Monday, November 29, 2021, and continuing to June 2022. Construction and equipment on and adjacent to Peirce Island Road and on the Peirce Island Road Bridge will impede traffic, on an intermittent basis, on weekdays between 7 am and 6 pm.

Portsmouth NH 400, Inc. has revealed the logo for the anniversary celebration that will be used to denote official events, projects, programs and merchandise. The logo was designed as a pro-bono donation by Darci Creative of Portsmouth, with input from the Portsmouth NH 400 Executive Team and Task Force Management Team.