Hampstead Town Newsletter - 7/26/2022

Town of Hampstead
New Online Services Available
You can now purchase Beach stickers, Transfer Station stickers, and more online. Visit https://pay.eb2gov.com/?ID=242&campaignID=11 to view the various services that are offered.

Hampstead Fire Department
CPR Training - August 6, 10am
The Hampstead Fire Department will be hosting a class on Hands-Only CPR at the Hampstead Public Library on August 6th at 10am. This is not a certification course for professionals; a certification course is also being scheduled. The goal of this program is to teach anyone interested the basics of hands-only CPR, which has been proven to be life-saving, even without rescue breaths. Class size is limited to 15, but additional classes will be offered if there is interest in the community. The actual class takes only 15 minutes, but there will be other public health information available at the event as well. For more information or to register see the notice on the Hampstead Fire, Hampstead Community Connection or Hampstead Happenings pages on Facebook, the calendar on the Town of Hampstead website, call 603.770.7954, or go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHxYPxmR2DpGBS9jWSG9jd0v3cND44...

Hampstead Civic Club
Junior Olympics - September 10th, 9:30am
Save the date! Hampstead Civic Club’s annual Junior Olympics event is happening on Saturday, September 10th at the Depot Fields at 9:30am. (rain date Sunday, September 11th) Free to attend, this awesome annual event has been bringing the summer games to Hampstead for over 40 years! 

What is the Junior Olympics? Summer “Olympic style games” for kids ages 6-18 to compete in. Example activities include 100-yard dash, hurdles, high jump, long jump, relay races and more. All participants will compete in age-level groups, but this is an individual competition. 

Old records will be challenged, and new ones will be set. Kids can imagine that they are competing for medals at the highest levels and learn about good sportsmanship during the Junior Olympics. 

The event begins officially at 9:30am, and all registrants are encouraged to arrive up to 30 minutes prior to check in at the registration desk and pick up a t-shirt. Food will be available for purchase. 

Advanced Registration is required. Those who register in advance will receive a t-shirt the day of the event. Registration will be available soon on https://www.hampsteadcivicclub.org/, please watch for the “Registration is Now Open” announcement on Facebook and the website. 

Hampstead Recreation Commission
Summer Recreation Program
Friday, July 29th marks the last day of the summer recreation program. The Recreation Commission would like to thank the counselors, campers and parents for a very successful program. A special thanks to Angie Ingraham for putting together a fun program and bringing back the great field trips, water carnival, shows, penny carnival and more!! It’s a big effort and you make it look easy. Thank you also to Sara Arroyo for stepping in to help! We are looking forward to seeing campers back again next summer!

Senior Cookout
The Hampstead Recreation Commission will be hosting a free cookout for Hampstead Senior Citizens* during the Cable Television sponsored concert on:

Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 5:30pm
Music: True Diamond (Neil Diamond Tribute Band)
Cost: Free to Hampstead Seniors 62 years or older* (an additional meal may be purchased for $6.00); $6.00 per meal for a non-resident or non-Hampstead Senior
Menu: A cheeseburger, hamburger, or hotdog served with chips, a cookie, and water.
Rain Date: Tuesday, August 2, 2022

*Drivers license or proof of residency and age required. No pre-registration required for this event.

Senior Trips
The trip to Block Island on Thursday, August 11 is full. A reminder to those signed up, the bus will leave St. Anne’s at 7:15am and return at 5:00pm

Encore Casino trip - Thursday, September 15. The trip includes a round trip on a coach bus with a buffet lunch on the way home at Prince Pasta in Saugus and $20 in slot tokens. The Prince Pasta meal is a buffet of salad, chicken broccoli alfredo, penne with marinara sauce, homemade meatballs, dessert and a soda. The trip includes transportation on a round trip coach bus.

Cost: $35
Location: Everett, MA
Time: Bus will leave St. Anne’s at 9:30am and return at 4:30pm
Final sign up dates & location: Thursday, July 28 at 9:00am at the Hampstead Meeting House

The final trip of the year will be the Turkey Train held on Friday, October 14th. A fall foliage train ride between Meredith, Ashland, and Plymouth, NH. Please note: This trip is not wheelchair accessible. If you have mobility concerns please contact Jaye Dimando before booking. The trip includes a round trip coach bus.

Cost: $79
Location: Meredith, NH
Time: Bus will leave St. Anne’s at 9:30AM and return at 4:45PM
Sign Up Dates & Location: Thursday, August 25, Monday, August 29, & Tuesday, August 30 at 9:00am at the Hampstead Meeting House

Questions? Please contact Senior Coordinator Jaye Dimando at: jdimando1@gmail.com

Hampstead Cable Committee
2022 Concert Schedule
Free to the community- this fun annual summer series continues. The Cable Committee has set the 2022 concert schedule which you can view at https://www.hampsteadconcerts.com/concert-series

Hampstead Water Resources Committee
Abnormally Dry in Hampstead
We should be mindful that it has been abnormally dry in Rockingham Country. We can hope that rainfall returns to normal levels soon, but we should instill good habits to avoid wasting our precious water resources. The NH Drought Monitor map is posted every Thursday and may be viewed at https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NH

The Sunset Lake Campground provides an easy way to track local rainfall at https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KNHHAMPS18/graph/2022-06-1/20...

New Hampshire receives an average of 3.75 inches of rain per month. Your lawn and landscape need no more than 1 inch of rain per week, so there will be periods when your lawn requires no watering. When supplemental watering is necessary, watering just enough as too much water can lead to fungal diseases and wash away important nutrients. To avoid evaporation, water between 9pm and 9am. Raise your mower blade to 3 inches so the grass will shade the soil.

Use the Step Test
If the grass springs back after being stepped on, it doesn’t need water! For more tips on reducing outdoor water use, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/outdoor

Attention Irrigation System Owners
Adjustments to your irrigation system can reduce water waste. Many homeowners use 30-60% of their water outdoors. Often up to 50% of that water is wasted.

Here are some tips for reducing water waste:

• Timing – Plan to water in the early morning or late evening to beat daytime evaporation.
• Tune Up Your System – Inspect irrigation systems and fix leaks and broken or clogged sprinkler heads.
• Make sure the water lands on the lawn and not the sidewalk or driveway!
• Go With a Pro – Contractors certified through a WaterSense labeled program can audit, install or maintain home irrigation systems to reduce water waste.
• Use a Weather Smart Timer – If your system uses a clock timer, consider upgrading to a WaterSense labeled controller that acts like a thermostat for your lawn, using local weather data to determine when and how much to water. Put an end to watering when rainfall is sufficient! This saves water and money!

Attention Well Owners
The HWRC webpage contains a link to a Well Water Guide prepared by the HWRC. It contains information about how a typical well pump system works in addition to troubleshooting information. Check out this valuable resource on the HWRC webpage by clicking on the “Well Water Guide” link of the left side of the page: https://www.hampsteadnh.us/water-resource-committee

Hampstead School District
Strategic Planning
The Hampstead School District is pleased to present the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, which is visible at https://strategicplan.hampsteadschools.net. The development of the Strategic Plan was a year-long process involving key stakeholders from a variety of constituent groups and represents a roadmap for the future of the Hampstead School District. Thank you to the various community members who helped provide input into this process.

Reminder: All school board meetings will be livestreamed on the HSD channel on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrHv9UP1RTjFc_6CORYKmQ 

Hampstead Library
Children’s Area Renovation
The newly refurbished Children’s Area at the Hampstead Public Library is open to the public and ready for families to come play, and check out books, DVDs, and new electronic learning toys. Come have a look and enjoy the space. Many summer events will take place in the Children’s Program Room.

Teen Movie Night
Teen Summer Movie Night is on Wednesday, July 27 at 4pm- 6:30pm. All Middle and High School students are welcome to attend. Snacks are provided. The featured film “Uncharted” is a sea and land adventure in which street-smart Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan and lost 500 years ago.

Necklace Craft
Create a Sand Dollar Necklace at the Hampstead Public Library on Friday, July 29 at 11am. All instructions and materials are provided for you to craft this beachy necklace. All levels of crafters are welcome, including adults, teens, and children with an adult. No registration is necessary. Sample pictures can be found on the Library’s website in the Events Calendar.

Sound Bath Demo
Catch a wave, a sound wave! Joe Hayes of Sound Scapers leads a Crystal Bowl Sound Bath at the Hampstead Public Library on Saturday, July 30 at 1pm. It’s believed that a sound bath can trigger “sound healing,” a remedy favored by many cultures for thousands of years. You may either sit in a chair, or if you prefer to lay down please bring a blanket/towel/yoga mat. No advance registration required.

Big Game Day
Tuesday, August 2 is Big Game Day at the Hampstead Public Library! From 2pm-4pm, we’ll have games for all ages set up throughout the building and outside. From Cornhole to Wii bowling, cards to Giant Jenga, come have a ball. This event is for all ages.

Meditation and Message in a Bottle
Come to the Library for an in-person meditation class with instructor Sue Crump on Wednesday, August 3 at 6:30pm. Participants experience the mindfulness and relaxation of meditation. Then write a positive intention on a slip of paper and place it in a glass bottle. Fill the bottle with sand and seashells to create your own personal message in a bottle!

Aquatic Critters
The grand finale to the Children’s Summer Reading Program takes place on the Hampstead Public Library’s front lawn on Friday, August 5 at 1pm. All are invited to see the live animals brought by a naturalist from the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. Learn about their habitats, adaptations, and populations. Special thanks to the Greater Hampstead Civic Club for funding this program. Watch the Library Facebook page for updates if there should be questionable weather.

Donations
The Hampstead Public Library currently accepts book and media donations, specifically, adult fiction, children’s books, and DVDs for all ages. Donations should be fairly recent publication, and free of damage. Please, do not contribute items that have stains, water damage, mold, mildew, dust, yellowing pages, musty smell, etc. The staff appreciates donations of no more than two boxes or bags at a time. Please bring things inside during Library business hours, do not leave any donations outside. All donations are greatly appreciated, and many will be used in the big Annual Book Sale in August.

Big Book Sale
The Hampstead Public Library Big Annual Book Sale is back! From Friday, August 26 to Tuesday, August 30, the big meeting room will be filled with great books for adults and children. Prices are super low, and all proceeds help fund special Library projects or items not covered by the normal town budget. Come shop the Book Sale and have fun!

Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Hampstead Public Library have a business meeting on Tuesday, August 9 at 2pm. All members and those interested in becoming members are welcome to attend. The Friends’ plan to resume their regular monthly events starting on September 13 at 7pm. The featured program is Life Downstairs: British Servant Culture in Fact, Fiction, and Film presented by professor Ann McClellan. This is a New Hampshire Humanities program. The Friends host events on the second Tuesday of the month from September through May, and all are free and open to the public. Their business meetings are held monthly, and their fiscal year is September through August. They welcome new members at any time, and currently seek to increase their membership and volunteer base. For more information about the Friends of the Hampstead Public Library, their board positions and elections, or any business that concerns the Friends, please contact them at HampsteadFriends@gmail.com . Additional information about the Friends can be found on the Library’s website, https://www.hampsteadlibrary.org/about-friends . Membership forms can be downloaded from the website and can also be found at the Library.

Stay in touch with the Hampstead Public Library and be notified of upcoming events! 

Click here to sign up for the Library newsletter.

Hampstead Trash & Recycling
Extra Trash Bag Program
The Recycling and Waste Committee, with approval from the Board of Selectmen, have started an extra trash bag program. This is a 6-month trial program and is available now. Residents will be allowed to put one trash bag a week on top of their trash (gray) cart. To view the program details, please visit https://www.hampsteadnh.us/home/news/extra-trash-bag-program

Derry Transfer Station Changes
The Derry Transfer Station has announced that they are no longer able to accept mattresses, box springs or stuffed chairs or couches over 6 feet. Those items can still be brought to the Kent Farm Transfer Station with a valid permit. The cost for the mattress or a box spring is $40.00. There is no additional cost for a sofa. You can also have it picked up curbside (subject to change) on the third Saturday of the month at a cost of $26.00 per item, payable in advance through the Town Clerk's office.

Swap Shop
The town Swap Shop (located at the Hampstead Transfer Station on Kent Farm Rd) will be open on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 8am-4pm for ITEM DROP OFF only - transfer station stickers are required.

The Swap Shop will be open on the 3rd Saturday of each monday from 10am-12pm for BROWSE & TAKE HOME only - transfer station stickers are NOT required.

More information, including details about what is accepted for drop off, can be found at https://www.hampsteadnh.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif661/f/uploads/swap_shop_f...

Household Hazardous Waste
Waste Oil, car batteries and thermostats are collected at the Hampstead Town Garage on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 8am-1pm.

Hampstead Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
If you have served on foreign soil, you may be eligible to join the Hampstead VFW Post.  If you are interested, contact the Post Commander Howie Steadman at 603-329-4288.

Minutes from Recent Town Meetings
Board of Selectmen: https://www.hampsteadnh.us/node/22/minutes/2022
Conservation Committee: https://www.hampsteadnh.us/node/26/minutes/2022
Planning Board: https://www.hampsteadnh.us/node/30/minutes/2022
Recycling and Waste Disposal: https://www.hampsteadnh.us/node/32/minutes/2022
Zoning Board of Adjustment: https://www.hampsteadnh.us/node/35/minutes/2022

Upcoming Meetings and Events
You can see any upcoming committee meetings and events on the town calendar at https://www.hampsteadnh.us/calendar

Share your News!
Want to contribute your town committee or department information for publication in the next newsletter? Contact the Communication Committee by visiting: https://www.hampsteadnh.us/communication-committee

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If you would like to sign up for the Town Newsletter, please visit https://www.hampsteadnh.us/subscribe and check off the box next to "Communication Committee" in the "News or Announcement" section.