The Seacoast.co

by Roger Wood

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The historic Memorial Bridge, linking New Hampshire and Maine was demolished due to decay.  Now, a new, similar lift bridge on the Piscataqua River between the two states is under construction.  It will be completed in July, with a projected life span of 100 years.  It will also be illuminated with energy saving LED bulbs, replacing the costly sodium fixtures that lit up the old span.

Memorial Bridge illumination concept – Courtesy image

A committee has been working on fundraising for the $200 thousand dollar project, so that no taxpayer dollars are spent.  I recently attended a forum, where it was revealed that enough of those funds have been raised to finish most of the job.  You can hear a report on that project by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.

by Roger Wood

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Brooks Kennedy, 12, of York Maine made it clear that she was having fun while participating in a serious local issue Saturday.

Brooks was one of some two dozen activists demonstrating in support of a ballot question on the upcoming Town Meeting warrant.

Friends of the Cliff Walk in York Harbor Maine – Courtesy Photo

If approved, selectmen would be authorized to spend up to $50,000 for legal costs relating to public access to the Cliff Walk in York Harbor.

“It’s fun when they honk their horns,” Brooks said as passing motorists signaled their support for the effort. She said she would like to see the fencing and wall erected by two homeowners removed from the historic seaside path that has been fully open to the public for over a century.

Cliff Walk, York Harbor Maine – Courtesy Photo

“All my friends like to walk the path,” she offered, while holding her sign, which read “Vote Yes Article #35.”

Brooks was standing near her grandfather Bob Gordon, a member of Friends of the Cliff Walk, which organized the hour-long morning rally in front of Town Hall.  I covered the rally, and you can hear my report by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.

The next phase of the public awareness campaign is the group’s plan to walk the path next Saturday at 2 p.m.

Voting on Question 35 will take place during the Town Meeting ballot session May 18.

by Roger Wood

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A two hour forum in Greenland New Hampshire recently focused on the environmental future of Great Bay on the Seacoast. The forum,was hosted by First District Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter. She brought together federal and state environmental officials, scientists and local municipal officials to talk about the the importance of protecting the estuary.

Great Bay, New Hampshire – Roger Wood photo

The Environmental Protection Agency has expressed concerns that nitrogen found in the waters threatens the wildlife habitat, especially eel grass. The result has been strict new guidelines for waste water treatment plants in the New Hampshire and Maine municipalities that border the waterway. Officials from those communities are concerned that the new requirements will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, raising sewage treatment costs and, ultimately, increases to water and sewer users.

EPA Regional Administrator Curt Spalding – Roger Wood photo

I attended the forum, and heard several experts talk about the environmental issues surrounding the bay. You can hear my report by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.

by Roger Wood

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The near freezing misty rain didn’t stop hundreds of people in Greenland New Hampshire from paying tribute to their late police chief.

Mourners gathered for Police Chief Michael Maloney remembrance – Roger Wood Photo

They gathered around the police station to hear Selectman chairman John Penacho call Michael Maloney a man chief who loved being a police officer and loved this town.

This is not a moment of sadness but a moment of remembrance.

Before calling for a moment of silence in honor of the fallen police chief, Penacho asked attendees to remember the positive impact he had on the town. One resident, Pamela Peterson, called the occasion a remembrance, not just of a police chief, but a wonderful man

Was very warm and friendly, and unfortunately died on my son’s birthday. So as far as remembrance is concerned, it’s always something I will always remember.

Greenland NH Police Station at Maloney ceremony – Roger Wood Photo

And Ann Bochemon of Greenland said that the occasion doesn’t really end the grieving.

And we want the people involved who gave their lives or suffered a lot from this that we haven’t forgotten.

Next month the Greenland Police Department heads to Washington, as Chief Maloney’s name is added to the law enforcement memorial. You can hear my complete report by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.

by Roger Wood

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The Sarah Long Bridge connecting New Hampshire with Maine could be back in operation in two to four weeks.  That’s the prediction of the State Transportation Commissioner, Chris Clement.  He surveyed the damage inflicted when a 470 foot vessel carrying tarrow oil and grease for export broke loose from its mooring from the New Hampshire State Pier.  The vessel then grazed the bridge, inflicting what the commissioner called severe damage to the lift span’s metal support and cement footings.

New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan at the NH State Pier with other state officials – Roger Wood photo

Clements called in bridge inspectors and a dive team to examine the structure above and below the water line of the tidal Piscataqua River that divides the two states.  Both he and Governor Maggie Hassan personally viewed the crippled bridge and the tanker, the Portuguese flagged Harbour Feature.  According to my last update, the ship sustained damage to its railings and divets that hold a lifeboat secure.

MV Harbour Feature at NH State Pier – Roger Wood photo

The ship is currently docked back at the state pier, awaiting inspection by the Coast Guard and a questioning of the captain by Guard officials.  They want to know exactly what happened when the ship slipped its mooring and slid into the bridge.  You can hear my update on the incident by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.

by Roger Wood

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The U.S. Coast Guard will be investigating why a tanker ship drifted into the Sarah Long Bridge between New Hampshire and Maine, closing the second of three bridges between the two states.

NH DOT crews closing off the Sarah Long Bridge between NH and ME – Roger Wood photo

The accident happened early in Monday afternoon when the vessel, loaded with tallow oil, an export from the Port of New Hampshire, broke free from its mooring at the New Hampshire State Pier. Ports and Harbors Director Geno Marconi says that The Harbour Feature, a tanker, was secured at the pier, and had just undergone a refueling.

Something occurred aboard the vessel that caused it to drift away from the pier. At that point in time, the tide, the current started to run pretty hard and caused the lines to start to snap. And she came to rest against the bridge.

Department of Transportation crews closed off the bridge to vehicle traffic, and the ship blocked all river traffic. Marconi says that at the next high tide, the vessel will be brought back to the state pier to allow the Coast Guard to inspect the vessel for damage and question the captain.

There appears to be some damage to the railings and it looks like the davits that the lifeboat sits on are twisted out of shape.

DOT inspectors have been checking for damage to the bridge itself, which has already been red-listed as a span in need of replacement because of deterioration. T will be inspected for damage before being reopened to traffic. You can hear my exclusive interview with Geno Marconi by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.

by Roger Wood

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There are five bases in the United States competing to house and operate the next generation of air refueling tankers.  These are the jets that carry fuel to operate fighter planes and other aircraft all around the world.

Left to right – New Hampshire Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and Brig. General Carol Protzmann – Roger Wood photo

  For decades, the workhorse of the fleet has been the KC135, based on the air frame of the commercial Boeing 707.  But now, the Pentagon is awaiting completion of the KC46A, also from Boeing, and based on the 767 commercial jet airframe.

In the running are Rickenbacker in Ohio, McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, Forbes in Kansas, Pittsburgh PA Air National Guard, and Pease Air National Base in New Hampshire.  All have presented compelling reasons to base the new planes there starting in 2017.  But the officers at Pease have been pressing hard, with the help of the New Hampshire delegation to become to 12 of them. You can listen to my report by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.

by Roger Wood

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Pease International Airport in New Hampshire has become more than just a way-station for returning soldiers.

American soldiers returning to Pease International Airport – Roger Wood photo

The former Air Force base is the first view of home for many Americans who have been deployed for months or years in dangerous places like Afghanistan and Iraq.  Military and commercial aircraft ferry the troops to Pease on a regular basis.  I had an opportunity to meet some of them, along with many of the 4200 Pease greeters, who provide food, free phone calls to relatives and toys for their children.

New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte with two veterans at Pease International Airport – Roger Wood photo

On this occasion, they were also greeted by New Hampshire U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte.  You can hear my report by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.

by Roger Wood

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Starting in April, some 5 thousand employees at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard will be getting unwanted and unpaid vacation time.  Thanks to the inability of Congress to reach a consensus on federal spending and budget cuts, the forced furloughs will mean that the workers will be taking 22 days off, one day a week, through the end of September.

John Joyal, Portsmouth Navy Yard Employee – Roger Wood photo

And one union leader is predicting that the furloughs could last well beyond that time period.  There is even a prediction that the Navy Yard could be forced to shut down one day a week, putting the mission of submarine repair and upgrades behind schedule.  One submarine, the Los Angeles Class U.S.S. Miami, may not be repaired at all. But the employees of the nation’s oldest shipyard aren’t taking the forced furloughs lying down.  They rallied at a park just across the Piscataqua River from the yard, to press their point that Congress should work together to reverse sequestration.  You can listen to my report by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.

by Roger Wood

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The $85 billion dollar sequestration of Federal dollars caused by partisan bickering in Washington has a human side to it.  For Federal workers, it means forced furloughs from now until the end of the year.  Right now, over 5 thousand civilian employees work at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine.

Paul O’Connor, President of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Metal Trades Council Union – Roger Wood Photo

Under sequestration beginning next month, all of them will be furloughed one day a week.  For many, living check to check, it will mean economic hardship for an unknown period, especially if the budget cuts continue.  I attended two news conferences, where I heard about their plight, and the possible consequences to the United States submarine fleet.

Maine U.S. Senators (I) Angus King and (R) Susan Collins at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard – Roger Wood Photo

You can hear my report by clicking on the listen arrow above or download link below.