City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Cemetery Committee, 4 Aug 2022

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8.4.2022 Cemetery Committee

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Begun because we are being recorded.

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um We're going to start with a roll call vote or I'm sorry we're called to order.

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Then we'll do a roll call vote, we'll start with michael griffin here so paulie dura eva boyce.

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D forte susan sterry sauce brooks okay, that's out of the way carrie and carol. Oh I'm sorry.

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I wish I I should sit this way so that I'm looking at uh next time. I will.

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A approval of minutes of july 7 is not going to happen because we don't have a quorum, but.

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That's okay: we can still discuss issues at this point because it's in a public setting.

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I want to do a headstone cleaning update. I've received four people.

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Who are interested new people who are interested in joining us on saturday?.

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Some of them were husband and wife team and I'm sure I'll get two or three tomorrow we usually do.

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So that's exciting. I gave a brief report at um and you got a pause. Oh did you see it on.

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You we got applause, it wasn't it wasn't. Just me it was. We got the applause.

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Suzanne had said um suggested that I get up and do like the one of those three-minute.

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Things uh just to let the council know that we actually cleaned all of um point of graves. I.

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Call it pog all the time now pog point of grace, so I I did throw it together and just briefly.

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um I told them that we had finished cleaning it, which is 112 headstones. um I.

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Thanked uh corin, I thanked the water guys by name mark jason and fran, because without them.

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We probably wouldn't be as far and they wouldn't be as clean as as they're coming out.

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Today, we've had we've cleaned, 405 headstones all together and we've had 32 different individuals.

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Who have as volunteers participated and some of those people have.

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Shown up at every cleaning so we're really doing a good job starting out slow, but.

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Getting it done so, uh and I thank stephanie c cord for posting online for us and doing follow-ups.

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So that was the one thing, but we did get applause not for me. We got applause for all that we're.

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Doing um the other thing since we're on point of graves, I might as well just go ahead and do.

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um Where's point of grace we um I we covered this last meeting where um the friends of south and oh.

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That was the other thing I recognized them and I recognized the elks also at the meeting as being.

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Group volunteers, the friends of south cemetery or the south end asked for us to look into the sunken.

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Wall, I finally just yesterday got a hold of the people that do the testing and by that that will.

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Dig test pits of soil, have it analysis uh analyzed and also depending how deep we go.

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Which I haven't met with her, yet you know we may hit water. A lot of people are saying it's.

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Only two or three feet deep uh before we head down there, so it's been it's been hard, but I'm excited.

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And it's a local, well, it's a large company, but they have people here in the area and I also.

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Talked to an archaeologist, who works with them? Who works with graveyards, so it may be coming together.

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Rather soon, as far as what it's going to cost and when it can be done and what we might find out so.

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That's on the plate right now for the point of graves. Is that something that's going to come.

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Out of whatever money we have budgeted for the cemetery or no, that will all be determined later.

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Once we know what the actual cost is and if we're even going to fix it any of those things but.

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Depending on what the price is, it may come out of.

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Our budget, but as you can see, suzanne um is going to ask for the official numbers of what we have.

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Left so that will all determine, but at least we'll we'll get the information of what they'll.

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Do and how much it will cost and we'll take it from there and then the other part I haven't.

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Found a mason yet who is interested in redoing the wall? That's fine! Right! Next to the garden.

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To recover that, so we're still working on that, so what else is going on at poid and graves? That's.

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That's it, it's been taking up a lot of time, but it's worth it because once we get the wall at.

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Least, the wall fix that we can. I mean we'll almost be like a hundred percent finished with our first.

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You know historic cemetery, oh I know what I want to tell you john lord, who is part of new england's.

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um I mean new hampshire's old graveyard association. I did not know this he's been.

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Documenting everything that we do because I'm right I write back and forth to him all the time.

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And he's sort of like my mentor and um he has been posting it in their newsletters.

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That goes out to, I think they have like three or 400 members and most of the people that are.

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Involved with his organization they're trying to work on small cemeteries and get them restored.

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So we've sort of are now like becoming an example of what you can do for in your community and maybe.

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How to I don't know how detailed they get, but so I was really excited when he told me that or emailed.

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Me that- and he also put every uh notice out, that the cleaning was coming this saturday too, so.

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Is that something that we could like do a little field trip with them and go clean graves in one.

D

Of his grave areas, no, oh no. I shouldn't say that yes, it's probably possible, um but.

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From my understanding, a lot of these they're, like the really tiny ones out in on that you see on the.

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Side of the road, um but I would let him know that we would be interested because I think there are.

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A couple of towns up that way: cities that may not be as large as portsmouth, but they have a lot of.

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Cemeteries and they're in trouble because some of them are really falling apart. So um I will I mean.

D

That's a great way to network with all those people. You know we all get to meet them and.

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They get to meet us, especially if they're reading about us yeah. Well I mean it's great yes and you.

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Know what I didn't even dawn on me. I just think about our cemetery. So sorry, um to be honest, so I.

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Will ask him about that for next time, so that's it with point of graves. um What's next on the list.

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The city website map update um it's coming along. All of a sudden. It's like bam. Al alan.

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Brady, who is um the head I.t guy? He jamie mcintyre mccarty? No, it was mccarty mccarty, myself, dee and.

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Adam, who is an I.t tech for the city and one other person? I I don't know who that person is.

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We're gonna have a zoom meeting, um because they've actually already started working on.

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Some aspects of putting the gis map up online we need to discuss.

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How we want it to look or and what it's going to contain, so the map that's up there now would.

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Will be the same version of the map, but if we pressed on point of graves it can come up with.

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Just the information of where, where the location is, and we could have the list of people that are.

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Buried there on the same page but down there, so you could just press on point of graves.

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And it will pick I'll pull up the names, um so that's exciting, but the other part of it is the.

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Intern for the city of portsmouth has already started entering names on a database for us, so.

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He has point of graves. He has pleasant street. I think he has north cemetery with him right now.

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However, he's also interested his internship gets done next week, but he doesn't go back to.

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School so he's interested in continuing on, so we can offer him 15 an hour just like he gets.

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Here for being an intern this summer, um so and he's fast so do you know where he goes to school.

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Someplace in west virginia okay um and he's studying public community service or public.

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Service or something like that, so that's why he's interning, especially he's in planning right now.

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And I think he's going to code enforcement afterwards. That type of thing.

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But um so that's exciting news. I will keep everybody updated to see how that goes.

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And this and this site I mean it, won't go up after we talk, but we'll we'll have better.

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Information of how much information we do want to go on, or do we want to do it in stages, just.

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Have a click map: this is where the cemetery is and then just have the list, but make the list.

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Searchable all at the same time, so if you type in michael griffin, it's going to give you all the.

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Michael griffin's that are very hopefully not well he's got relatives griffins. So um so it's really.

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Quite exciting and one of the main things that we were talking about both with suzanne and a couple.

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Other people is like we need to own our history. There is so much misinformation on all these.

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Find the graves and everything else it's like wikipedia, that's what I compare it to.

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That p, anybody can go on there put in anything, they want, and that's fine. You know because people.

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Are trying to be good, but it's not going to help you find graves up on south and sagamore.

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So I've seen so many misconceptions there in south street well you're never going to find it.

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If you're looking for south street cemetery, you have to have harmony, grove or sagamore.

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What have you or or something, and that could even be listed in I mean we could do a connection down.

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The line to if someone comes on and is looking for south street cemetery, that it automatically.

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Takes it to those five cemeteries, I mean there's lots of possibilities, but we're probably going to.

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Start out small just get the information on there and then continue on because we'll be able to add.

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More information and from what I gather a lot of city communities are doing this type of thing. So.

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But it is on board, which is the really big part. So it would be great if we can find a way to just.

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Click on it and guide us there like the gps, would you know.

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Go into a place downtown that that's down the line that requires a lot of work.

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I know because I've been trying to locate some of the greats with the materials that I have.

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I'm like holy cow, it takes me. I had to do a lot of referencing to be able to find it.

C

But like at which cemetery out? Which cemeteries? Were you any mostly the north, because that's.

C

Kind of right I mean it's nice, a job they did of plotting that out. It's still not.

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Easy to find the graves in there no and I'm not sure why you know graves, don't move so no.

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I don't think the last the last few that I found I had to have the book with all of the different.

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Locations and I had to actually look at somebody else that was near the one that I was looking at.

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I was looking for it in order to be able to oh, and it was, I couldn't read it so I kind of this.

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Has got to be it, and then I did a little bit of cleaning, so it was yeah. But I'm like it's.

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Kind of a hard tool to follow well yeah, no, it it is hard, but I I have no concept of individually.

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Going down through every headstone and connecting it to gps connection, at least, though the ones that.

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You can highlight, like I recently found a few people that served with john landon on this. He.

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Had this group that he put together for the battle of saratoga, the landon lighthorse company and.

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One of the men that that was buried but that went with him is buried near him.

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And you know it took me to find that list yeah on the archives, so I can back it up yeah you.

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Know yeah: no, it's not easy and it's a very popular thing and there are a lot of companies out there.

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Charging lots of money to to do that kind of thing to go down and do the locations, and we have aerial.

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Views available of the cemeteries but to pinpoint uh find someone who likes to do geocaching.

D

Yeah, but is it geocaching it's like it's. It's a gps adventure where you go and find a specific.

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Gps location that someone else has set up for you and then there'll be like a little egg like.

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A toy car or a dollar or something, and then you put something else in and then you go find the.

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Next one, but it's a very specific pinpoint kids love, it yeah love it, um and I also have.

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I have a meet in regards to this. I have a meeting with next tuesday with june.

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Zazo, does that ring a bell? No, it doesn't s-e-p-a-z-z-o.

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Sapezo um she actually worked with louise tallman and she ha she said in her email that.

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She did have some um gps coordinates and that she had listed. It must be her private database.

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But she's really excited to um meet with us, and um so she could really be a big plus to this.

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You know the mapping and all of that so that'd be awesome. Yeah, yeah so and- and I might be able.

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To talk her into coming on to the committees, but she just wanted to meet and just generally talk.

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About what she has and stuff like that, so so I you know next tuesday, I think, is when I meet with her.

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So that's what I mean everything is exploded about. You know getting a bigger presence online.

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And alan brady said he thought once it was up. He had no doubts that we would get lots and lots of.

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Hits on the site and they'll connect it to the library, and then we can take it from there. I.

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Don't know how the worldwide web works and, if you put it on places how you get listed and all that.

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That's further down the line, so if we want to share it with the world, as far as I mean out, there.

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You, you know historic portsmouth. This is what we have blah blah blah. So I'm excited about that. So.

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All right, that's another one down get us out of here with the headstones uh 400th update. Do you.

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Guys know any I had a thought about that yeah. My thought was that we should invite them to come.

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um Invite them to a meeting. You know it's hard to tell where the problem lies, because.

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The newspaper and stuff isn't always responsive here, but I thought that I would be seeing things.

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More by now about what they're doing and what to expect- and it's I mean it's not that far.

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Away this is august, and so I wondered if we invited them to come, and you know and just.

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Give a little presentation about what they're doing and uh if there's anything.

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They would like us to do or be helpful in some way, or you know that that would help.

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Us in the in the long run and because I we should be participating in some way.

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Yet had there been any kind of schedule, because I know that we applied, they have a calendar yeah. We.

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We applied before the deadline, but I don't have you ever heard from them. No and I followed up.

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To see it yeah they followed up, they got it and um a couple times and they they haven't gotten.

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Back to me, so I have I wish they had an office someplace that I could just you have an office.

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Right here, yeah yeah yeah. I asked suzanne last meeting if they have an office here, but they.

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She said they don't, so they did post a new web page or they totally revised that web page.

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And, um oh, I I don't know how I ended up seeing it, but it was just in the last week or so something.

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Came up from whatever and it's a new web page and it didn't have really anything different on.

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It it there was no, there was no like come talk to us or talk to this person. There was nothing.

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And I don't even remember if there was just a general information right to you know joe smith,.

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You know and they'll get back to you, so um I don't even know when they meet so um I'll. Do some more.

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Research, I was thinking, I think your idea is good. However, I don't think they'll come because.

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We're not important enough, I understand what you're saying so, uh maybe we should go and get.

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On one of their meetings and go to their meeting, okay, that's a good point. um You know asked to.

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Be on this I agree we're not important enough, but I just thought if we just had.

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It now, if we invited them even if we go see them sooner rather than later, because.

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One's going to assume that in november they're going to be very busy in november and december.

E

So, let's just say it, I think it would be good to interface with them in some ways right so.

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You know, and that would be great so if you guys can find out, you know when the next meeting is and.

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If it's a doable meeting, then you know try to get on their agenda. I mean, if you, even if you can just.

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Go because you probably get on the agenda anyway. Are they supposed to start the the year of events.

C

Marking the the anniversary in january or yeah, so yeah yeah, and I didn't particularly notice.

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That they said they had meetings, but I assume they must have you're a city committee right, yeah,.

E

They'd have to have meetings like and and they'd have to be public like ours, all right, so yeah. Let.

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Me do some more research, I think that'll be great, um and the other thing is. I just got an email.

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From valerie, she forwarded it to us about a gentleman from.

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I can't remember what state wanted to know if portsmouth has a live reenactment at whipple's.

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Grave every july, 4th and kittery does right. They don't not not at our cemetery, but they do.

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They they, I do the same thing every july. Fourth, I read the declaration of independence.

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You read it up yeah, but they do it the week before yeah kerry. Does it the week before.

C

And they do have a reenactor, hopefully next year we can get that person to do it. On the.

C

Fourth as well, because I don't see any reason if it is a week before the fourth of july.

C

I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be able to get that person. I couldn't get him this year.

C

Oh, you know who he is yeah so and then you know build it up and do it down at his.

C

I did it in the front because the guys the kids come in to play music and there's a.

C

Lot of traffic in that area, so we can do a special program for the 400 at his his grave.

C

And also on landon's grave when it comes to the declaration of the u.s constitution, which is next.

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In september, so those are two events that we can probably work around and do special events, and I.

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May be able to get a reenactor for that, and so we know who's going to be in charge of that. So.

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Oh god, no you've got you, you are really you are going to do it. No, you have all that knowledge and.

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All that information and all those connections I mean you, don't have to reach out to anybody, but.

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If you seriously come up with some, I do have a costume too. So I can tell when I know that.

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You have more than one don't you, I do yeah exactly so seriously. I would really- and I think everybody.

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Since you're so knowledgeable, you know, put, you know, do a presentation put it together and.

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I would like to get a reenactor langdon, reenactor um and there's certainly a couple.

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Of names that come to mind, but they are, you might have to book them that far ahead.

A

And I I mean those are important because michael and I got into a disagreement the other day at.

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The church I mean at the cemetery about langdon and whipple who, who signed the declaration, was.

C

Whipple, the constitution was landon and what which one brought us into.

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What number was in state of new hampshire as far as signing nine and the last one needed.

C

For which document the u.s constitution yeah, we thought it was rhode island. I did.

E

But was the last to sign the constitution. Yeah rhode island was the first yeah.

C

Rhode island was never the first or many things that had to do with the revolution. Actually.

E

Yeah, oh, who said, were I anyway. It was very good. We were the last one.

C

We were the one that was needed and john landon pushed it through. He was the one that got it.

C

Done because he wanted us to be one of the nine right two-thirds majority yeah, because.

C

That's what the constitution required in order to activate it right that you know nine out of the.

C

uh 13 colonies would would approve it yeah. No, that's why I mean I'm being serious about you.

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You know coming up with your ideas, putting in a presentation and letting us.

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Is is this someone that's interested in us or you in recent cleaning? I did it yesterday, wow, that's.

E

Sharp, oh yeah, can you pass that around that? That's a good example of what, when we get over to.

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European cemetery, what those obvious and all those can, the 400th update? Okay, whose grave is that.

C

Who's monument, john chad, oh I didn't recognize you, you don't look the same as the look at that.

E

Right as on the screen, we're in a committee together years and years ago, that's right.

C

That was beautiful, pedigree was the name yeah. um They accepted the donation.

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The proprietor cemetery donated or the trust donated fifteen hundred dollars towards this.

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Mapping um and they did accept the funds last meeting and we have found a um intern. That's.

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Been working on some of it for the city, but also we'll heat sparkly have some more time and where's.

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Where's, do you want how many groves, how many groves there's a pedigree you may get worse anyway,.

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I'll go over the rest of it with you, but I just wanted to update you about that. So looks great.

A

Yeah so and we- and it will be amazing because when you walk down union union cemetery, that.

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Walkway is so great and you can't you don't even notice all the monuments that are there so.

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Cleaning those going down it would be just like spectacular going forward. So that's it hi.

A

That's okay, I'm glad you can make it no problem.

A

um I have something about the 400, um so we were looking for something that's a little bit more.

D

Child friendly, I thought it would be really cute that we could do like gravestone rubbings like wax.

D

Paper and crayons on our now that they're freshly cleaned you can actually get an imprint. I think.

A

We have to- I don't, I know for a fact. We have to get that. Okay, because most rubbings now are.

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Banned in cemeteries and that's because people were profiting off of them.

A

So people were coming in not just here all over the country. You know doing rubbings of.

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Interesting or famous headstones and then reproducing them and selling them. So what's all.

D

They going about people didn't feel it was right that you should be benefiting off the death of.

A

Someone, you know, and you know they didn't necessarily want- no, not that those people are.

A

Probably alive, but I mean relatives I mean headsets are pieces of art a lot of times.

D

And epitaphs, are, you know poems left for the world? Oh yeah, that's the reason hey, but I will.

E

I agree with you. Oh I posted something on there's a facebook group. That's called the good samaritan.

E

The cemeteries and I posted an example of our before one of our before and afters on. There.

E

And I got blasted by some woman that said: did you follow the rsa and did you get permission from the.

E

Family to do that and uh probably yeah, and that's why I said it's a public ground. It's not a public.

E

Ground she said, and you know she got back at me and I I left it. It was one of those like facebook.

D

Conversations teachers- this is one of those that you can't win it has is, is epitaphs and.

D

Imagery from headstones around here or around um any of the dead wicks. Oh really, I didn't know that.

A

Yeah I mean they're michael, there are rubbings and t-shirts and lots of merchandise, and so I don't.

D

Know to be like we can't do it, but half the town has people selling that yeah. It was totally dark.

A

I don't know see I mean we can look or if you want to look into it through the city. You're. Certainly.

A

You know welcome I'd like to introduce something. If you don't mind, the state is very clear on.

B

Their website, while they don't say it's illegal, they say they don't want you to do it because.

B

It causes degradation and while we are while we are wanting money from the state, I jim you.

B

If we're gonna, do it it's something, we really really really should know it's. Okay. I wouldn't.

B

Want the moose plate brand people or any of those people to think that we did that where it's very.

B

Clear on the state website that they caution you and they don't say anything about money.

B

They talk about degradation so that that's you know that that's my concern.

A

No, I mean that's a good point and the other that I've been talking about I've seen that.

A

In other places on um like in the new hampshire or graveyard, they discontinued it and all that.

A

Again, a lot of it's been based on people, um the real, not the real reason. That's true.

A

It you know, people doing it, not knowing how to do it correctly without damaging it is. It is a.

A

Real issue, but also people taking that information and profiteering off of it. So I mean we can, if you.

A

Want to look into it, we certainly can talk about it later on. If you get the specifics about it, I'm.

A

I'm not gonna, you know, say, don't absolutely look into it. um We're here to discuss things.

A

So I feel, like that's a really nice way to get kids involved with you know: public lands and.

D

History there, because you know young children sitting through a reenactment, isn't they're not.

D

Going to pay attention they're not interested, you know, but I remember just so vividly as children.

D

Doing gravestone rubbings and I was really like part of getting to know your history in the area.

A

Certainly, that's one way to look at no question but yeah not, but I have to learn to take that.

A

Word out about vocabulary can follow. Take them out also the what should and art.

A

Yes, my english teacher, I accept all crit critiques um and.

A

The other part sort of goes with reenactment I mean we could find actual.

A

Stories of whatever headstones we have that might be of interest to kids unusual ones. I don't know.

D

More about like having a tactile activity for children to do is a big difference.

D

Than storytelling is what I was getting at yeah, something tactile yeah. We can figure something out.

D

Yeah yeah yeah look into it and we you can get back to us and see what what you find out and.

A

Then we'll decide I um we'll just have to wait to that point nothing's in writing. Right now, so.

A

All right anything else about the 400th before we so um yeah can you I don't know if I can hear you.

E

Can you yeah, we can hear you yeah? Well, you know I was just looking at this their website and on.

E

August uh fifth, they have the moffett lad william whipple day, highlighting the life.

E

And accomplishments of william whittle role, players guided tours activities, demonstrations.

E

And more, I wonder if we could coordinate with them, since we have the we have the.

E

Gravestone right yeah, it's right next to whipples yeah, but the moffatt lath house.

C

Is the one that that had kept that gravesite go uh tidy for all this many years, because the dames the.

C

Colonial dames are the ones that own the moffat lighthouse and they also take care of his plot.

C

So they may want to do something themselves now. Is that event.

C

For tomorrow or is, are you reading for next year? It's for 2023, okay, because I know they have.

C

400. they have a big event going on the historic homes this pretty soon. If not, maybe this weekend.

C

They have the twilight tour yes, yeah yeah um anyway. I was just saying that they, you know.

E

If we could coordinate- or they could coordinate with us, but.

E

What I mean we could certainly look into it. It's yeah nothing's taboo, or I mean it does not hurt.

A

To inquire and see if people are interested, I don't think they would mind if we come alongside.

C

And offer our help and collaborate, but they're the ones that are the caretaker of the property. The.

C

Headstone, that is in there now they replaced that a number of years ago. It's not the original one.

E

So we have a william whipple in north cemetery: oh yeah, that's and it's the same guy yeah, the d1.

E

The colonial names take care of her yep because they owned the house. The the moffat lad house.

C

Was his house as well, he married catherine moffat, so that's where he lived, that's where he died.

C

Because mary whip, always he would want to know if we were going to do something at his grave.

E

They sure yeah yeah because they may want to participate. You know they. They have.

C

His property, so it's it's pretty much a focus to highlight his life and that of the lads as well. So.

A

So carrie would would you like to take that on and reach out to them and.

E

Sure yeah uh be happy to okay I'll, put you down and does anybody have a contact with them.

C

They just hire a new director, so yeah you can just call it handle page trace. That's a.

C

Change so do I, but they they just hire someone. So you can be the one. The point person for that new.

C

Executive director there's an announcement right there on their website about who james paige, okay,.

E

um I mean I'll reach out to them and just say: hey we're playing. You know we're looking.

E

At doing some things in the cemeteries with the 400s and we see you're doing something, obviously,.

E

Do you want to collaborate in any way? Okay works sounds good. What what did you say that.

A

They're doing I missed part of how did you know that is it on their site or on the yeah? It's on.

E

The website which I'm looking at on my phone um on the 400th website or the muff headlight house,.

E

There's a schedule of events at the house of events and.

E

On august 5th, they're having a day highlighting the life and accomplishments of william whipple,.

E

With role players guided tours activities, demonstrations and more.

C

Okay, we will have to assume the the events are taking place at the house, not at the cemetery.

C

So we can do us, maybe they could send people over to the cemetery.

E

Yep, that could be a part too. They can be applied to it. Yeah great. That sounds like another plan.

A

Anyway, all right so sue's gonna think about some things for langdon and whipple for the.

A

400Th you're looking into whipple and a collaboration with the colonial dames.

A

So we're on a path, so hopefully it will turn up something for us.

A

Anything else on the 400th 400- oh I'm, sorry and celeste- is going to look into something.

A

For the kids, you know maybe wax paper rubbing, so you know I was yeah. My mind was thinking about.

B

About that and when they write these things on the state website like we, we discourage.

B

Yeah and all that stuff, they they don't know what everybody's doing or what we've done or.

B

The condition of everyone- I wonder if you found if we found some stones that were not.

B

Degraded at all, but were you know where the yeah where it came up? It would be easy to do.

B

Because they, there really was a good contrast right um and just you know, let them let them know.

B

That, well I mean that's a good idea. What I was thinking is once you find out information about.

A

How you do and everything we have a direct line to the state archaeologist and he's going to know.

A

And interpret it the way, so we could reach out to him and say right, you know, is it going to? Is this.

A

It is, this is wonderful for kids. I just don't want to compromise our position.

B

I don't either, I don't think anybody does so and where it's a one-time event.

B

Yeah, that's right, I mean all they can do is say no and then we can just punt and.

A

Find something else for kids to do so yeah we can so everybody has their assignments so far,.

A

Well seriously, I mean we: all we can do right now is gather all the information we can and.

A

You know mull it over decide. What's what and then get permission if we need to and find out what we.

A

Can and can't do by the end of all of that, so all right signage for cemeteries. Another project.

A

I yeah yeah, I'm trying I'm painfully aware of my my uh public speaking here. The.

A

Historical resources did send a certificate. This is just a copy. The city has the original.

A

And I want to approach suzanne and the library to see if we can have the original framed.

A

And put at least in the library in the reference or where an impo appropriate place may be.

A

So you can pass it around because I'm hoping next year that we will go forward with the.

A

Government grant certified government program that there are people there that will write grants.

A

For us to get on the registry that we can include the rest of our cemeteries, pleasant point of.

A

Graves and cotton, so I would like to find a home to start the and I want to find the certificate.

A

For the national one for north and start a home someplace for them.

A

That people will see that our cemeteries are on the registry or on a registry. So.

A

That's one signage: another sign is or a place to put that along when you become a part of the.

A

New hampshire state registry, there is the company that they use that has. You can pass this that way.

A

And that way that there is an official sign, of course for everything in the state um and you.

A

Can go from I. I have no idea what prices are. I'm assuming it probably starts at a hundred dollars.

A

Up to about two thousand dollars, if we get in bronze so maybe even more.

A

If we are potentially interested in looking into this and trying to get one for our.

A

Union cemetery, another sign to add there so when people going by.

A

They see hey, you know this is some place, you should stop and look and that's also something.

A

We could fundraise if it turns around and ends up being like a three thousand dollar.

A

uh Proposition- um and I would I I have to admit sue do you know down at north- is.

A

There, a sign which sign is there that says they're on the national registry. I can't remember, I think.

C

It's a big sign, though this is the big bronze one. Isn't it. I think the green one or I think.

C

It's the one that you see when you first go in yeah, but it could be the green one. I got them.

C

You know it's been a while, since I yeah I can't remember, I specifically looked for it, so um I.

A

Didn't know if anybody would like to take this on just as a research project and find out how much.

A

And the cost, and then we can take it from there and also I haven't forgotten about the blue signs.

A

I really think there should be at least one large blue sign at cotton in elmwood, so that.

A

Would distinguish, or we can go another way it doesn't have to be a blue sign.

A

But to be consistent, but I really think I like those signs. I will do that. Okay,.

A

I can give you uh the information on the company that the town the city used. Oh.

E

Excellent good that'll yeah I'll give you that I'll be a good shortcut and I.

A

I didn't know: have you noticed now that we've brought attention to our cemetery blue signs.

A

How many blue signs there are all over town- oh yeah, yeah, there's a list of them on there.

E

On which site some website, I forget, which one but not ours or are not in the city.

E

No, if you just sport, if you like google, portsmouth blue signs, historical blue signs.

E

It will come up cool cool, and so it lists pleasant point of graves um union and north.

E

I think those are the only four uh blue signs for cemeteries, but they're they're at they're all over.

A

The place they're not just oh yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, so I mean it. That's something to think about.

A

If we want to be consistent with what the town has done, um there's a blue sign. I think it's like the.

C

Vaughan mall lafayette, trail yeah and there's blue one right on north uh south mill. Pond.

A

They're they're all over town, there's one down by the fish market on pleasant street.

A

They're all over, so we have a question over oh to the right. Oh I'm sorry stand up and say: hey okay,.

E

So, while you're on signs uh yeah, I was here to pitch a sign blue sign. Oh good, maybe.

E

It would be more inclusive of the cemeteries at sagamore and south okay.

E

It's kind of just a mock-up yeah. I think- and we have talked about that- that we should have.

B

Something that designates so caught one of them but yeah, but maybe we could collaborate.

E

On a blue sign, I agree. That's what I was hoping thank you. I know that.

E

We've talked about this frank and I and there's extras so this is kind of just a mock-up with.

E

A map you know a map on the left, yeah that shows the location of the different cemeteries right.

E

And then maybe there could be, each cemetery would have information. The name of the.

E

Cemetery when it was started who the owner is maybe a brief history about the cemetery.

E

Yeah, they don't have to be in boxes or whatever, and then it could list the city website.

E

Right more information and then I'm thinking and I'm sorry. I missed your agenda item about the.

E

um The work that's being done with the database: oh yeah, but yeah yeah. You guys.

A

I I'm anticipating that we're going to include all the cemeteries, there's, absolutely no reason not to.

A

How soon all the names get on there that's a different subject, because we have to pay somebody.

A

I mean you've already contributed to getting the names of all the proprietors.

A

Done and on the database and what information to go in so we would.

A

um Like we would go to the catholic cemetery and ask them, you know, release it yeah and what.

A

They want to do so. That's certainly on the agenda down the road, so so the rest of this is sagamore.

E

No, that's the subdivision next door, but we can take that out. That's little harbor I mean that's.

E

A courier's cove, but harmony and harmony, is here and here: okay, that that should be sagamore.

E

That last okay, the last one, is sagamore on the south, the sagamore not another edition.

E

Of harmony, yeah I'll make that correction, and I think cotton goes all the way over.

E

Where's, cotton here, I'm showing cotton here, that's the play field at the corner: oh okay, yeah.

E

Okay, yeah, you might might out of the box, would be jimmy rizzo's private property.

E

Which some have used to be caught and elmo is here yeah and then elmwood you're right.

E

Elmwood, so that's another one right yeah! It's on the back of cotton in the back yeah.

A

And that square right behind is who's property.

A

Behind cotton in the field: that's jimmy rizzo's, property, wow and then the city owns from there.

E

Straight down to the harmony grove, that's city-owned, property. Okay, oh! Is that all swamped.

A

Land down in there, it's wet the drainage pipe that comes out of the pond goes through it. Gotcha.

E

Gotcha I've seen pictures of it in 1902 when it was probably a hay field that blocked oh yeah,.

A

Well, a lot of tables are rising, so that is the original is like this size, yeah 24 36. I don't.

E

Know if that's the size of the blues but I'll go measure one and make it fit. Yeah yeah it's about.

E

That size, so this is some yeah yep, so talk about it. You know we can do things like color it off.

E

Or you know definitely want to put the city seal and then this thing of the qr code was.

E

Something you want to do down the road where somebody could.

E

Take their phone and then it would log them right into the database right. So when they.

E

Were there they could type in a name and search a location? I don't know if that's where you're going.

E

Yeah, eventually, eventually yeah. Eventually, that would be a big program from.

A

Yes, mr gray, kittery yeah um they're using his as a prototype right now. That's what the.

A

Meeting we're having a meeting on um august 24th with one of the gentlemen, the city ita uh adam.

A

Alan brady, his assistant, adam, that's, been working on some of this already with suzanne.

A

uh Jamie uh mccarty because he did the original he already has.

A

A lot of stuff set up, he has the original map that he put on and a lot of backup information.

A

Then dee and I are going to meet it's all a zoom meeting to see what, where they want to start.

A

How we want to start that sort of thing you know, because we have to go along, not go along, but.

A

See what the city is willing to do and what they can do also sure alan was saying that.

A

um You know he the idea was or they thought. Maybe we were trying to bring in something new.

A

But I don't think that's what we're thinking we're thinking whatever it is you as a city, you.

A

Already have a software and what you're capable to do? It's just a database. So whatever there.

A

And they can do all the linking so right after the 24th, we should know have more idea. So I'm confused.

A

Not confused is this a sign that you want outside on as you're going down south street.

A

And up against the this is a sign, the entrance off of south street yeah. We kind of thought.

E

That people then can get oriented oriented to the fact that right, it's not just one cemetery, there's.

E

Five right and then what about down inside? um Have you guys thought about.

A

Blocking you know, at least at the beginning, with something like this, because my only thought.

A

Is the individual signs yeah inside dude yeah? That's not a bad idea. It's teddy connor's wish.

E

And this will put his mind at ease as well and, and my other thought is, I think, the more that we do.

A

We get a discount too, with this particular company I mean they may be expensive.

A

Right now and there you might find other companies that do similar products, um but.

A

This other company- I looked on it a few months ago and the more you do, the you do, get it um a.

A

Discount to some extent so yeah, just like just somewhat privately funded too yeah, so.

D

I think we take more. We take care of that yeah. If you're more about you know, can we all collaborate.

E

Are you comfortable with that, oh yeah, I I think it should be. Can you help us with content yeah.

A

I mean we have two cemeteries in there. We should be a part of this yeah, absolutely yeah, um you're.

D

Saying as a placard as you walk in, like you, walk in through the front on south street and then.

D

There's an informational placard or you want it as a large sign. That's like hanging out in front.

D

Either it would be like the the blue signs around town are more pedestrian uh interests. Signs.

E

They're, not directional they're you're at the place, and now you see oh, this is the place where.

E

Right right, yeah yeah, something happened, so that makes more sense, yeah yeah. So when we can.

A

Down the line and what size did you think what size was that you were well? This is.

E

That's a half size, uh 2234 is or 2436 is full. I don't know, I got to go measure.

E

One of the blue signs, I'm sure they have a definite yeah. You know yeah.

A

We can put some of the notables and some of the yeah you could take it. To that I mean.

E

Half the people that go in there wandering around are looking for the murdered victims.

E

At smuttynose very sweet, I didn't even know they were buried there really.

D

Which one the glowing gravestone the haunted glowing gravestone. I have pointed graves right.

E

No, no yeah, it's reflection off the street light yeah, but that's that's a lot of people.

D

Go to go see that they water it at night because they gotta go see the haunted grave.

D

Yeah, oh, that's cool! That's the people walking outside of my house on broad street now.

A

Don't give another one of these I can give to dick adams. Yes,.

E

You made my day: oh it's good john. Do you have anything else to add or just that when you.

E

Talk to the city about the database, yeah and I'm sure they'll agree that it may not seem that.

E

You're able to populate everything now, but it's a lot easier to set up the fields. Yes yeah. We.

A

Brought that up yeah yeah yeah, that was one want to put in an xy. You know then later on people can.

E

Pull it up and yeah use their phone as a gps if they really like looking for an important grave.

E

We have a start of it um and it's using the same fields that the guy in kittery, what is his name.

A

Bob gray, bob gray yeah that bob gray um yes for his database, so.

A

Okay, yeah! No great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you good to see you having a good summer um yeah.

E

I want to get to eva's postcard, real quick. Do you mind going over there bringing it up? Do you.

A

Know I think I can do it. I can do it. If I I I think it's just. Is it on the, if not I'll, haul.

A

For help he said, he'd come over. John shagnan is the chairman of the committee that oversees.

E

The proprietors section of the cemetery- okay, he, along with nicholas ashleyman.

E

And jim andrews of the three trustees that cemetery is owned by the south humanitarian church.

E

South church yeah, which one is that proprietorship yes, I got it. Thank you. Thank you, okay. Is that that.

B

Is the um six by nine size and if you scroll sue, could you scroll down? That's what the front looks.

B

Like and again these are prototypes and then the back. I don't like this computer, oh maybe you can.

B

Just hit the arrow to see if you go pressing the button when you're doing the down arrow.

A

Oh down arrow, sorry, this is what is this: where are you so based on.

A

uh Yeah go ahead, I'm not familiar with it. As I said earlier, we we can ask for.

B

Volunteers, but we can't ask for money um if we're going to go into some of the state-run facilities.

B

um There we go volunteer, learn and donate that so the donate is going to have to go that that.

B

Blank space on the bottom right was where the qr code was going to go, but uh stephanie c cord, and I.

B

Will get together and we will um figure figure it out. um There is a smaller size that is four by six.

B

And it you don't get, you know see as much on it, but um I wanted to show to you anyhow.

B

And I wondered if what you thought of the idea of um assuming that there are places.

B

That there can be a qr code and we can't ask for donations. Does it make sense to you to get.

B

Some cards with a qr code, and some not would you rather that we just make them.

B

Up and I distribute it wherever they will take them and we'll see how it goes or.

B

um You know I didn't want to just tell stephanie to I didn't know if you'd seen the meeting.

A

Duncan was here we're doing a postcard type thing and we're going to distribute it.

A

All over wherever we can put it where tourist sections are, and things like that.

A

Hotels can't no, I don't know how to use this stupid computer. Oh, oh! I did that. I'm sorry.

A

Sorry, eva, oh, no, that's fine!.

B

So at at any rate, all right so that that's the six by nine one you can see there's a lot of pictures.

B

And it's clear: the um the four by six is that's up there too. That's why it is on there, but one of the.

B

Reasons that a four by six, I think is agreeable, is because, if I get people to take them in stores.

B

It's it's not, as you know, if they put it by the cash register or something like that, it doesn't.

B

Take up that much the other one comes in space. um Thank you. You want to pull up the other one.

B

Yes, and what do you think about the pictures? Oh there's, the smaller one.

D

I guess my initial question is: I thought this was um aimed at more getting information.

D

To have people enjoy the cemeteries come come see our cemeteries come spend time, as opposed to.

D

A plea for volunteers right in this image and- and I that was my original intention- and this is what.

B

Stephanie sent me so we have competing, you know for purposes, but.

B

She she feels that we're driving the bus, you know any change can be made. I I think.

B

That she's on to like there were some pictures. I asked her to use like the sign, for example,.

B

And she elected not to use them, um but there's nothing. That says that I can't go back and ask.

B

Her to use other things and accentuate um the history aspect of it, which is.

B

Right, because this is this is a this is um what I'm saying with this is, that is for someone we're.

D

Asking for volunteers right! That's what this is for and then there's a little blurb on the back.

D

Saying: hey, portsmouth, sanitary, so really cool. Read this, but mostly we're asking for volunteers right.

D

As opposed to that, I I agree, I agree with you on that, but what do the rest of you think I I.

B

Agree, I think the focus is not right right. I think that if you you had like one of these pictures is.

D

Great, so you have like a couple of pictures of the headstones or a wide shot of like north cemetery.

D

um On the front, come see our historic cemeteries and then on the back or the inside.

D

You have, you know some more stuff about the cemeteries and then one of these pictures and say.

D

You know we love vol, we would love for you to volunteer with us right, so you can.

B

I think we can do a qr code and uh a plea for volunteers, but in a much smaller capacity.

B

I think we don't want to miss the opportunity to get help, but I don't think we want to emphasize.

B

That either it should be a quarter not right right. We want to draw them to the cemetery right yeah, so.

B

I think you know I need to go to some of the stores and things like that. Next, you know the.

B

Commercial things, rather than the state-run things right and I'll I'll, try that and I'll I'll refine.

B

The information and I'll also talk to stephanie and tell her that that the focus we would like to.

B

Change the focus a bit and well more than a bit, but you you get what I mean, but in the meantime.

B

If you think of any place that I should go and ask them, I I'm willing to do that. Ask them.

D

If you can put things yeah, yeah interest them and take this uh cafe, kellum and our uh sorry not.

D

Cathy von solon, because emma is really great about letting people post things on her right.

B

Right, I know, and there are there are places that just have boards to put them up. That may not want.

B

You know a handout, but um so I think she has a couple of the you know: they're the standalone.

D

Little like translucent that hold just single stop cards. You know what I'm talking about.

D

Yes, she has that little. I think she has one or two of those and you know, and does anybody.

B

Have an opinion as to the sizing? Well, I just wanted to interject for a second.

A

We could do two different postcards. I mean she may not be willing to do that right now.

A

But I I don't know if this is a good one for like this is something that we could use.

A

To use online like she's gone to all this work, we have this. So, let's utilize it okay platforms.

A

Okay, um you know like keep this we'll, keep a copy of this and then go out and maybe not print.

A

Print this one right, I, like the other one, does she have to design anything we're putting out or.

D

Is that no we could describe here? No, we, we can. I sent her the pictures and I sent her.

B

A list of things that I I would like to be in in the blurb, but um somehow it got lost in.

B

Translation, but I know stephanie, and I know that you know that she'll she's very willing to change.

B

She'll be willing to change the focus and you're anybody's. Welcome to something.

D

It's not a requirement. Oh no! No! No, no she'll, take no she'll be fine, but she'll.

A

Refine anything I think she's extraordinarily busy, also she's a one-woman shop, so to speak.

B

So you know, even though I would have liked to have had it done in time for some tourists or.

B

Fall tours or something I don't. I just don't think that's going to happen, especially now that.

B

I know what you know that there are caveats in all places about about. I mean I didn't think I.

B

Was going to walk in and just tell them to take the stuff, but but I also think we're almost a four.

A

Season tourist place now: yes, we are and cemeteries as long as they don't have snow on the ground.

A

People will go, there is a huge visitor center in kennebunk or kennebunkport on 95. and and so.

B

I wanted to target them also uh it's it's north of us, but they're. So it's huge and so many people.

B

Stop there it's a big big center all right before we just call it to an end. Thank you. Everyone.

A

You're welcome to send any ideas you have about.

A

These postcards- oh lord, yes, eva, okay and you know she's, just the interface with stephanie, so.

A

You know the final product is what we'll all decide cc me in on emails, too. Okay, I'll talk.

D

Well, she'll keep going and there's a happy day. Let's we have to call the meeting officially to.

A

An end who has to I propose we end the meeting, all those in favor all right bye. Thank you guys.

A