Press Releases/What’s New

The City’s Tax Office will be unable to process any motor vehicle transactions on Friday, October 6, 2017, through Tuesday, October 10, 2017, due to the State’s implementation of a new computer system (VISION) within the NH Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles. The Tax Office will be open for other transactions during normal business hours on these business days and will resume processing motor vehicle transactions on Wednesday, October 11, 2017.

At approximately 12:27 A.M. on October 6, 2017 (Friday Morning) Portsmouth Police were called to the McDonald’s at 1000 Lafayette Road for the report of an Armed Robbery.  An employee of McDonalds reported being approached in the parking lot after locking up the business by a male with a handgun.  With the gun pointed at the employee the suspect demanded to be let into the restaurant.  The suspect was not able to get back into the restaurant and ultimately took personal belongings from the employee.   

Mayor Jack Blalock has declared October 5th to be Energy Efficiency Day in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Portsmouth now joins a nationwide network of energy efficiency groups and partners who are celebrating the nation’s second annual Energy Efficiency Day.

For Mayor Blalock, it is important to further unite the community in the City’s sustainable efforts. This action to officially recognize Energy Efficiency Day complements ongoing initiatives by the City and invites residents to celebrate more eco-friendly practices.

With the Portsmouth Municipal Election a little over a month away, Mayor Jack Blalock would like to thank exiting City Councilors and remind residents the importance of participating in local elections on Tuesday, November 7th.

On September 21, 2017, the Planning Board voted to recommend to the City Council for adoption zoning amendments to allow for a mix of residential and nonresidential development in some of the City’s primary corridor areas and to increase the diversity of housing types.

The proposed Gateway Mixed Use District amendments include two new zoning districts: Gateway Corridor Mixed Use (G1) and Gateway Corridor Mixed Use Center (G2) in four primary areas:

On September 21, 2017, the Planning Board voted to recommend that the City Council adopt amendments to Articles 8, 11 and 15 regarding off-street parking regulations.

Portsmouth, N.H. – It's a campaign called “Beards for Bucks.’' Starting October 1st, law enforcement officers across Rockingham County will go razor-less to raise awareness and funds for the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County (CACRC), a local non-profit organization that collaborates with law enforcement to provide safe, child-friendly spaces for investigative services of child abuse.

We live and work in a special community. Recent open house events at the high school and middle school were wonderful examples of parent engagement and school-community connections. Our students benefit in so many ways from the commitment in this community to excellence in education. Recently the Board and administration took an in-depth look at the performance and participation of students along socioeconomic lines, particularly those students on free or reduced lunch compared to those who are not.