Press Releases/What’s New

Work related to the City’s sewer system evaluation study will begin on May 8, 2017 and is expected to continue through June 2017. This work will be used to identify areas of the City where groundwater is entering the City’s sewer collection system.

The Portsmouth Police Department acting in a Community Partnership with the Portsmouth Recreation Department will be sponsoring the Summer Youth Basketball league this year for boys and girls who are currently in grades 5, 6, and 7.

Children who are residents of Portsmouth, Greenland, Rye, New Castle, and Newington are eligible to play.

There will be three opportunities for sign ups, and organizational practices on the following dates:

On Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm is National Drug Take Back Day. The public can drop off their unwanted prescription drugs at the Portsmouth Police Department. The department also has a permanent drop box available 24/7 for any unwanted prescription drugs.

Last year, the Department of Public Works began updating the City’s Solid Waste Ordinance, last revised in 2003. On October 17, 2016, the City Council approved an update to the City’s Solid Waste Ordinance Section 3.201 to better accommodate the Downtown Business District curbside collection times and update the ordinance language to reflect current practice and industry standards.

The City of Portsmouth is happy to announce the completion of two large solar energy arrays located at the Portsmouth High School and Portsmouth’s Madbury Water Treatment Plant. The combined total size of the arrays is 578 kilowatts DC and will produce more than 700,000 kilowatt hours of renewable electricity annually.

Mayor Jack Blalock has proclaimed April 9th through April 15th Public Safety Telecommunicator Appreciation Week.

Portsmouth maintains a round-the-clock Public Safety Dispatch Center in its police department. Portsmouth Dispatchers are involved in Fire, Police, and medical emergencies, in addition to dispatching for Public Works emergencies after hours.

The Portsmouth Police Department aggressively enforces New Hampshire’s statute, “Use of Mobile Electronic Devices While Driving” on a daily basis. The effort will be emphasized in April as part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The use of mobile electronic devices while operating a vehicle is dangerous and has directly been the cause of crashes involving injuries and death. Below are statistics compiled within the last several years as smart phone purchase and use has increased.

The Portsmouth Police Department in Community Partnership with Cindy Naiditch of Steve DeMasco’s Shaolin Studios, held their first Women’s Safety Clinic this past Wednesday night.

The Portsmouth Community Development Department is now accepting applications for the FY 2018 Public Service Agency Grant program. The funding for this program is provided by a Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is a competitive grant program that makes grants of up to $10,000 to non-profit public service agencies that serve Portsmouth individuals and families who earn very low, low or moderate-incomes. Funds may be used for operating expenses during the program year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018.