The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is set to open in Dover in July of 2008, and according to the Museum website, currently 97,000 people visit the location in Portsmouth every year. According to the Downtown Dover Parking Facility and Management Study presented to the City Council on November 7th, 2007, the core parking area near the Butterfield Gym where the museum will be located exceeds 80% utilization during peak periods of the day, and averages 58% utilization throughout the entire day between 8AM and 4PM.

Currently a parking garage is being proposed off Orchard Street next to the historic Trela and O’neil homes; however there has not been any final decision on when construction will begin or any groundbreaking. It may take six months or more to complete the construction of the parking garage, and meanwhile visitors that will be arriving in three months will encounter the traffic congestion everyone is already familiar with in Dover NH. It is unclear whether the tax cap will affect the likelihood of there being a parking garage, however the proposal would create 514 additional spaces for cars near the future location of the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire.

The blue-green algae found in Willand Pond that prompted a health advisory notice from the City of Dover on July 11th, 2007 could actually be used to create bio-fuels such as bio-diesel to supplement the growing concern over renewable energy. Blue-green algae, like that was found in Willand Pond, could save the country billions of dollars in money spent on overseas oil, not to mention save the world from global warming.

The pond scum could alter the way we talk about energy. There has been U.S. Government research on using algae to create bio-fuel in the past; however funds were cut to the program on November 18th, 2005 under the House of Representatives Deficit Reduction Act, 217-215. The legislation included $3.7 billion dollars in cuts to the national farm bill, and low and behold the prices of food are rising due to the excessive over-production of corn for ethanol – land that cannot be used for other crops, and corn subsidies that are actually paying farmers more to drive up the price of corn.

If you’re looking for a place that caters vegetarian, check out the New Hampshire Vegetarian Guide. You’ll find information about co-ops, organic farms, health food stores, and restaurants that specialize in vegetarian food. Dover Natural Foods & Café is just one of these stores, located on the corner of Chestnut and Sixth Street - 603-749-9999.

Also see the Aryaloka Buddhist Center that has event space available and upcoming events including the Preview Screening of Dalai Lama Renaissance on May 7th, 2008. The center is a place to study the practice of Buddhism in Newmarket NH, and serves vegetarian food. It also provides group yoga and meditation therapy.

NH RSA 227-L:17 isn’t one of those laws that could get the veto – and that’s because Smokey The Bear is cool. Here are some things you need to remember this Spring to be cool like Smokey The Bear:

• A burning permit is required to burn leaves, brush or untreated lumber, or have a camp or cooking fire in the City of Dover.
  
• To apply for a permit, go to the local fire station at 27 Durham Road.
  
• There’s no cost to obtain a burn permit, however burning without one can cost you a hefty fine.

Be safe, be smart, be cool. Like Smokey The Bear? Visit www.smokeybear.com

Only You…

Dover Main Street is holding its 9th Annual Dover Pride Clean-up Day on Saturday, May 3rd 2008. The day will begin at 7AM in the Mill Courtyard in downtown Dover with a pancake breakfast served by the Dover Kiwanis Club. Volunteer registration will begin at 7:30AM. There will be pizza served at lunch time, and the group that shows the most spirit throughout the day will receive the Golden Pitchfork Award. See you on May 3rd!

Looking for more information about the forced closure of McIntosh College? Would you like to help save McIntosh College from Career Education Corporation’s decision? Take a look at this blog.

The three-story brick residence that people have called the Woodman Institute Museum for nearly a century was built in 1818. It had been the home of Annie and Charles Woodman, and at one time was shared with a famous Lawyer, Daniel Christie. Annie E. Woodman left $100,000 and the house to create a Dover Institution in her will when she passed away on January 7th, 1915. Her will allowed three trustees to manage the trust.

The trustees opened the original three-building complex on July 26th, 1916 that included the Woodman Home, the Hale Home, and the 1675 Damm Garrison home, all located on Central Ave in Dover, New Hampshire. The Keefe House, located behind the Woodman Home, was recently acquired. The Woodman Institute Museum studies and lectures on local area history, natural history, and art.