Hampstead Town Newsletter - 8/31/2022
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Town of Hampstead
Lawn Watering Ordinance
In response to notices from NHDES and awareness of the current and ongoing drought conditions in our area, the Select Board in Hampstead has decided to take action to protect our shared water resource.
On August 8th, pursuant to RSA 41:11-d, the Hampstead Select Board unanimously voted to adopt a Lawn Watering Management Ordinance in order to protect public health and safety by restricting the use of water from private wells or public water systems for outdoor lawn watering (including residential and commercial properties) during a state or federally declared drought.
Please review the ordinance at https://www.hampsteadnh.us/ordinances/pages/lawn-watering-ordinance
If you have any questions please contact Select Board member Laurie Warnock lwarnock@hampsteadnh.us or the Hampstead Water Resources Committee at hwrc.all@gmail.com
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 Civic Club
Junior Olympics
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!
Registration is open! https://hampsteadcivicclub.org/jr-olympics
What is the Junior Olympics? Summer “Olympic style games” for kids in grades 1-12 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.
Pre-registrants and day of registrants can check in starting at 8:45am. All registrants receive a t-shirt. Games begin at 9:30am. Food will be available for purchase.
Hampstead Recreation Commission
Memorial Gym Floor
As a part of regular maintenance, the wood floor at Memorial Gym has been refinished and looks great!
Summer Recreation Program
Another successful Summer Recreation program is in the books. The Hampstead Recreation Commission would like to thank the counselors, campers and parents for an awesome summer! 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.
To keep with tradition, campers got to get their revenge on their favorite counselors with the Annual Pie in the face extravaganza. Thank you to the counselors for making the program fun, and for being good sports. We are looking forward to seeing campers back again next summer!
Hampstead Cable Committee
2022 Concert Series Survey
As the 2022 Concert Series comes to a close, we hope you can take the time to answer a quick survey about the concerts: https://forms.gle/BZeaQrSLYAV3a8XV8
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 Hampstead Water Resource Committee (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 (HSD) 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. Subscribe to the channel to receive alerts. Recordings are posted as well. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrHv9UP1RTjFc_6CORYKmQ
Hampstead Public Library
Labor Day Hours
The Library is closed on Monday, September 5 for Labor Day. It is open on Saturday, September 3 from 9am to 3pm. Be sure to pick up your books, movies, games, and museum passes by 3pm on Saturday. All online services are available 24/7 including online newspapers, downloadable books, and more.
Library as a Cooling Center
Too hot? The Library is a great place to cool off. There are study rooms, cozy reading areas, and meeting rooms in addition to the books, newspapers, magazines, and games you can borrow while you’re here. There is a fabulous new children’s area complete with many fun and educational activities and toys. With a library card, adults and children can borrow many things to take home. You are welcome any time the library is open.
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9am to 8pm; Wednesdays from 1pm to 8pm; Fridays from 9am to 5pm; and Saturdays from 9am to 3pm.
Raffle Basket
A Friends of the Hampstead Public Library raffle basket is on display at the front counter of the Library. The theme is all things British. The woven basket contains a London LEGO® set, scone mix and tray, Downton Abbey word search book, Yardley soap, an umbrella, elderflower cordial, tea, biscuits, and much more. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for six. The drawing is on Tuesday evening, September 13, just before the Friends’ sponsored event at the Library. You do not have to be present to win.
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.