City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Citywide Neighborhood Committee, 8 Dec 2021

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From YouTube: 12.8.2021 Citywide Neighborhood Committee

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12.8.2021 Citywide Neighborhood Committee

A

A cozy little group tonight we're the attendees it's lori. Oh, she dropped off.

A

No, those are panelist attendees. Can you manipulate that? Can you manipulate who's.

B

uh You're very dark: you need to put a light in front of your camera.

B

Just put one of your girls in front of the camera that would be light enough.

C

All right on the record good evening, everybody, uh this is the city-wide neighborhood committee.

C

uh Our committee meeting on the 8th of december- and we have a very interesting meeting going on- we.

C

Have an uh portsmouth 400 up up, not only an update, it's the first time we'll have a chance to listen.

C

To what's going to happen in 2023 and what we may have to do in 2022, those of us who are still here.

C

And then we have uh mark syracusa who will uh and who will talk a little bit more about the.

C

uh Lights contest along with stephanie c cord, so with that uh the attendance I I'm taking.

C

The attendance now we we have definitely a forum. Thank you very much dave for showing up and mark.

C

And we have paul mantle beth, morgason and laurie soloway and myself. So we we.

C

We have everybody here, I don't see um jim splain, but he may be on vacation or doing other things.

C

Okay, now we've taken attendance, the first order of business is there anybody on zoom.

C

Who wishes to talk? Who wishes to talk to us about a neighborhood complaint, a neighborhood problem.

C

Or something that we may be able to help them with for this committee, if so, raise your hand.

A

Well, we have to see attendees.

B

Obviously, not obviously not oh all right, we'll leave that we'll leave that open.

D

Larry would like to make the comment for the record, for all of you is that there is a meeting.

D

About the redesign reconstruction of bartlett street tomorrow night, it's um in person in.

D

Harvard's gourmet and by zuma and it starts at 6 30, and the idea is that when the city starts.

D

Work on bartlett street they um they're looking at the space between dennett and richie lumber.

D

And want to hear what the public wants to see there in terms of traffic calming or landscaping.

D

Or any of the above, so it's on the city calendar tomorrow night at 6, 30.! Okay, thank you. Thank you.

C

All right is there any. Are there any other comments relating to.

C

Problems or issues with the neighborhoods and if I can stephanie if.

C

Stephanie secord is the public information officer, formerly for the city of portsmouth and formerly.

C

For marketing director of strawberry bank museum stephanie, are you going to.

C

Discuss the portsmouth 400.

C

Committee and some of the things they have planning planning to do in the 2022-2023.

C

Correct so I will attempt to share my screen. This is always fraught.

A

Oh the participants, we still can't see the participants yeah. I think I thought I saw.

C

Denise wheeler on uh yeah denise is my my partner in crime here tonight. So she is. She.

C

uh She we need to promote her too yeah yeah. We need to push you know, click on the participants.

A

Yeah where'd kevin go.

E

Stephanie stephanie to be able to share the whole screen. If he is a analyst so kevin, could you make.

A

It so that we can see the participants uh we'll know, because the participants, don't I mean you.

E

Can look at the list of them right there, the attendees yeah! That way we could see if they're.

A

Raising their hand, and would they raise their little hand down there in the participants, I mean.

E

Does he want denise to be a panelist? She make her a participant if you can.

C

And then anybody else who uh who is up there? I wouldn't advise making everyone a panelist.

E

But I mean I can: if they raise those hands, I can promote them. Put the panel on the side.

B

Yeah just makes it a lot easier. I thought you could do that with a screen.

A

Where does the hand show up if they want to say something it would.

E

Show up under the participants there you would see the yellow hand. Oh, you would looking.

E

Okay, okay, denise hi, denise, hi, denise,.

C

You're on mute, yep, hey you're up, so it's your business now and we're all listening.

C

We have lots of questions, so I I'm just screen sharing from my end for a powerpoint presentation.

D

But I'm not seeing it we're, I think we're just looking at your zoom screen right now.

D

Yeah yeah, it doesn't say you're sharing your screen, but it's the wrong screen.

D

Okay: let's try that.

C

The same thing with the other: okay, thank you. Okay, we're ready.

D

And then, because I can't see you when I'm doing this, so I will uh fill you in and then maybe take.

D

Questions at the end does this what what um I'm doing and denise will correct me when I veer off.

D

The path here are the managing director of the portsmouth nh400 inc is valerie roshan and she.

D

Is actually traveling at the moment, so she sends her deepest. Apologies that she can't be here.

D

But she's trusting me to pinch it with denise's able support so.

D

So, first of all, we only recently, I think, a couple of weeks ago, finalized the logo for the 400, which.

D

Is what you're seeing on the screen? um The blue is, of course, a reflection or an echo of the ocean.

D

And portsmouth nh distinguishes us from all of the other portsmouths.

D

Around literally the world we're actually having a first conversation with the lord mayor of.

D

Portsmouth england, on friday, because they're very interested in in uh participating, wow.

D

Sister cities are, that is really far out yeah, and it will be very useful to have someone.

D

With lord mayor qualifications, when we're trying to attract maybe royalty as of the whole country.

D

To the parade or one of the events, but I'm getting ahead of myself, so the logo is blue.

D

Of course, with nh we have the dates in it and then the lighthouse is somewhat the specific.

D

Portsmouth light, which is the one in the coast guard station, but their three lighthouses as we.

D

All know that mark the entrance to portsmouth are symbols of welcome and, as our city manager,.

D

Came up with our our tagline history lights our way so there's the past future present. All of that.

D

So the lighthouse is is a fun identifier for that one. So.

D

Let me see there we go so celebrating past present and future. The organization is portsmouth nh, 400.

D

Actually th inc and we are listed as a non-profit with the secretary of state of new hampshire.

D

Which was what we needed to get to our final paperwork for the irs, so we we are able to.

D

Have people give us tax deductible donations through actually a city, secure portal and if you.

D

Just go to the city website: you'll see a donations button and portsmouth 400 is one of those, but the.

D

The major explanation, all of the information for the celebration, what I just described on the logo.

D

And a donate here and we'll have a volunteer here. Button is at portsmouthnh400.org.

D

So you will undoubtedly, if you went to the parade, have seen the contingent from with nh 400.

D

Carrying various signs asking people to get involved donate we handed out business cards.

D

We were the the group, I shouldn't say we because I wasn't actually there but denise was.

D

With um uh lights and a truck and a dj and a mini horse, we don't do anything halfway. We like to surprise.

D

People and keep it interesting and keep it fun. In fact, denise is our.

D

Minister of fund he's director of fun so pop champagne, when you say that accordingly,.

C

According to your website, it's officer of fun.

D

Yes, of course, so the vision and mission, the I the whole concept, is that the portsmouth 400.

D

Is celebrating what's important to you, we want to be diverse, inclusive, past present and future.

D

All ages, all demographics. We are working very hard to make things financially accessible.

D

I mean obviously when we're trying to raise money there there is a a uh an entrance fee, but for all.

D

Events um even the some of the fancy ones that we're thinking about down the line there will.

D

Be an affordable entry level, so we're we're really interested in that um both making sure the history.

D

Is accurate and is inclusive where we, even though the 400th goes to 1623? We also recognized that.

D

There were people living here for 13 000 years before 1623, and we want to reflect that story.

D

And reflect on that story and really celebrate everyone who has made portsmouth what it is.

D

So this is kind of an overview of all of the the descriptors that go into the vision on the mission.

D

The values, as I said, seek historical accuracy, diversity, inclusion, respect.

D

And accessibility dire but where you all come in very much so is developing generating cementing.

D

Making a future out of community pride through education and engagement.

D

I'll be talking more about the education pillar and how we're working with the schools. But.

D

Education is really all ages. Sustainability is certainly central to the city's mission.

D

We're an echo municipality, we do have ordinances on the books about single-use plastics, so we'll.

D

Be making sure as best we can, that every event and activity is is a reflection of our commitment to.

D

Sustainability and, as I said before, and why denise is here is fun pop the champion.

D

So the goals- um and I won't read this to you but again all of these are on the website.

D

So the the key ideas here are focusing on events, programs, projects that help us realize.

D

And embody all of those mission value things, especially the fun, but also picking up the.

D

History, the documentation of the history from where we left off with the 350th.

D

The they came to fishbook, um ray brighton's book was actually written for the 350th.

D

So we're doing a couple of variations on telling the story.

D

But also telling stories that haven't necessarily been included in in past formal histories.

D

So that it's another way really generating some excitement from the students, particularly in.

D

The high school courses, civic engagement, is so key right now. Portsmouth is a city that really.

D

From the beginning, almost the beginning was a gay well literally from the beginning of the.

D

Revolutionary era, if you want to talk about civic engagement, means liberating the gun powder from.

D

From fort william to mary and that's a different kind of civic engagement, but getting involved, we.

D

Are part of new hampshire why we are the first in the nation primary why bill gardner is very.

D

Energized by the idea that new hampshire is the state that made us, the nation.

D

And all of this I mean one of my things as as a person with history, background.

D

Is that we are also approaching the 250th for the declaration in 26.? So a lot of the.

D

Things that we're doing on the history side, on particularly on the revolutionary war era, which.

D

Was just one slice of all of the 400 years of history really? Has that in mind as well.

D

But, as I said, moving forward, what are the things that we can capture that become part of who we are.

D

That become an expression of who we are, we. We have many things that have come to pass and including.

D

Vintage christmas- that is now it's been around, for I think, 13 years hard to believe, but it it's.

D

One of the reasons that portsmouth is a national destination, an international destination for the.

D

Tourism economy, that means so much to our local economy and our performing arts. Our restaurants.

D

Our retail, but we we don't- we are intentionally not making this a celebration for visitors. This.

D

Is a celebration for residents, it's a celebration for the citizens of portsmouth we're all. First, the.

D

Neighborhoods are the the heartbeat of portsmouth and that's. Why talking to all of you and.

D

Asking you to help us generate excitement for the 400th among the neighborhoods is so important.

D

Because people should not think oh, this is for everybody else. No, it's for you! It's it's taking.

D

As as we've talked about in the neighborhood meetings, the city-wide neighborhood meetings.

D

The the idea of taking what happens with national night.

D

Out and make making that really portsmouth instead of one thing you can find in any.

D

Other town, so that's kind of the the philosophy here. Okay, so the way this all works and I'll.

D

Try to be clear and simple, although there are lots of moving parts, as you can imagine,.

D

To celebrate everything that I just talked about, and do it properly accurately.

D

And to put fun, there is an executive team which consists of valerie roshan, the managing director.

D

The officer of community engagement, susan labrie, her role is fundraising: karen conard, our city.

D

Manager is a member of the team. Denise is our officer of fun. Trevor bartlett is our.

D

Quote-Unquote marketing guy for chad we talk about it. He's got a slightly different um title, but he's.

D

He's the one that made the parade come together in such an amazingly visual form, but he's also.

D

The guy behind the website and social media and doing kind of the production values for this and.

D

I'm a dotted line report to all of those people in my capacity as information officer for the.

D

City of portsmouth, so I'm responsible for the pr for the some of the writing. All that kind of stuff.

D

At the same time as that executive team, because, of course with nh400 inc, is a 501c3 nonprofit.

D

There's the board of directors, so the board of directors. It consists of the executive team. I.

D

Think denise, I think, you're all on it, but we also have some additional members, steve butzell, who is.

D

The public library director ron baisden, who is a member of the african barrier brown memorial.

D

Stewardship committee and ann jenison, who is a abunaki who is a storyteller at strawberry,.

D

Bank she has her own business as a storyteller, because she's been with strawberry bank for.

D

Five or six years um so we have native american representation, we have african-american.

D

Representation, iran and we have marlon denise. What's marlon's last name, I think it's pinto.

D

Right thanks, so he is a high school portsmouth high school sophomore quarterback. You know 2023.

E

Exactly so, we have on the board a range of a diverse group of people in age, demographics.

D

Everything, so that's the formal organization, the executive team is driving the train.

D

Then there's a management team and those are the people who are out working with all of the.

D

Partners, the collaborators the neighborhoods, for example, the arts and culture organizations.

D

Anyone and everybody who wants to play in the sandbox are being connected through the management.

D

Team, so there are seven groups, each of them has a team leader and I will quickly run through those.

D

Seven groups just to give you a sense of where you might find an interest where things match up.

D

And you'll see one in one group in particular, is definitely aligned with the citywide neighborhood.

D

Committee, but so quickly we have the arts and culture group which is as it as you would expect.

D

It's all of our performing arts venues. It's our independent artists. It is people who are doing.

D

um Events like uh portsmouth peace treaty day falls in the arts and culture group and by the.

D

Way, you will see through all of this that, as I said in the mission and values, history is the.

D

Thread 1623 to 2023 is the the thread that runs through all of this, but we haven't put history.

D

In any particular bin, because it doesn't make sense, it's it's woven through the whole thing. So.

D

We have arts and culture, we have military and maritime, reflecting the influence of the.

D

Shipyard and how portsmouth became the port city that it did and how portsmouth's fortunes have.

D

Risen and fallen on the tide of the success in the industry at the shipyard building on our.

D

Ship building history before we were in the nation and also our air force and our air national guard.

D

All of the other military influences when, when we did the proclamation monday night for purple.

D

Heart community recognition: this is a military town which I don't need to tell any of you, but.

D

We want to make sure that that's a key component of this celebration and then the the kind of.

D

Civilian side of that is all of the the maritime activity and our waterfront. Not only do we have.

D

A working waterfront, but we have a waterfront that draws people from all over the world for a.

D

Variety of reasons boating and beaches and fishing and all of the kind of recreational opportunities.

D

But we also have those container ships and the salt, ships and navy ships coming.

D

Up and down the river that are part of who we are and the water is rising, so the picture you see.

D

Down the bottom in the middle is from the sea level rise, exhibit that's at strawberry bank.

D

That was put together in cooperation with the city with the storm water division, so.

D

One of the things that's going to happen in 2023 is a symposium about.

D

The the threat to who portsmouth is looking from the water looking at our lighthouse and how how.

D

Sea level rise is affecting the waterfront, both the working waterfront, the recreational waterfront.

D

And we are also hosting a national conference called keeping history above water that has.

D

Been held in annapolis and newport and salem and long beach and fort uh saint augustine, so it's.

D

We're having the scholarly approach the get out on the river in a kayak and see what's happening.

D

Hands-On kind of thing all of that falls under maritime and military stephanie.

D

Yeah, I don't know if this has been brought up before this is paul.

B

You reached out to the shipyard to see if they already have ships subs scheduled to come.

B

In in 2023 so that they can have advanced notice of participation or to stay away.

D

So yes, we definitely are in communication, the the team leader for the military maritime.

D

Team her dad works for the shipyard, but also portsmouth, is about to become. We may.

D

Have become it and we just haven't the the plaque hanging hasn't taken place yet, but portsmouth is.

D

The host well host community for the uss cheyenne, okay, that just came into the shipyard and we're.

D

The official community for them so we're going to be keeping the sailors entertained for the next.

D

Two years, but we're also going to put them to work like yeah, I mean hey all the unpaid labor. We can.

B

Use because, by the way and the name, the navy wants the sailors to do that. The shipyards support this.

D

Community this, this matching community thing is so that the navy can demonstrate how our tax dollars.

D

Are actually going back into the community with some help, so um the only other thing I wanted to.

B

Say is, I am a big fan of the film that you and dennis robinson made about 15 years ago. Yes,.

B

I think that should be required viewing for anybody associated with the portsmouth 400.

D

Well, it absolutely does give you that quick. um It gives you the reason why we are the reason why.

D

Yeah, exactly and actually the portsmouth historical society is, is thinking about.

D

Or trying to do some fundraising to update that film. The good thing about.

D

History is that you can have a film that's 15 years old and it's still accurate, but.

D

I look a little different these days so um and and we've got uh they call that photoshop stuff.

D

Lots of other voices to get in there too. So so, yes- um and you know you raise the really good point.

D

That we, we have a meeting of this management team every two weeks because they're each working.

D

Within their individual pillars, yeah there's so much overlap. It's almost it's impossible.

D

To separate the pillars, so when we get in a room together, somebody says well, you know: we've started.

D

To do this and somebody across the room, who's with a different pillar says: oh, do you know so.

D

And so have you thought about this? Did you know that the cheyenne is in town that kind of stuff.

D

So it's it's a really interesting and very actively engaged group of people.

D

So military maritime education at the moment, bob lister, our former mayor and former superintendent.

D

Is the de facto team leader for education, but he's really looking for some backup? As in someone to.

D

Take it on so he can provide consultation, but he is definitely leading the charge he has met.

D

With the students with the honor variety advisors, with a couple of groups and with our board members.

D

As well, of course, our student, but talking about things that the students are interested in doing.

D

Oral histories, creating an app of maybe perhaps having a way that you can see all of those blue.

D

History, markers or other ways of looking at the history of portsmouth, but they are key.

D

To this concept of having the 400th celebration be a way to engage the next generation because, as.

D

You know the people right now who tend to go to historical programs or reenactments or whatever.

D

Tend to be folks of a certain age like me, and we really want to convey the idea that history.

D

Is fun? History is about people, and people are the fun part. It's not about memorizing a lot.

D

Of dates and being bored, it's fun and it's energizing and it's. How can you take pride.

D

In the place you live and what that place and its people have accomplished over time.

D

So the indication pillar is really cool, doing some very fun stuff commerce and trade is the.

D

Fifth pillar- and um that is looking at the uh one of the ideas- is to put together a a beer fest a.

D

Beer festival with all of the brewers in the city that both harkens back to frank jones and is the.

D

Active and engaged commercial side of portsmouth that that makes us the place that we are.

D

The fisheries are involved, then off so that links back to our military and maritime.

D

And then community and neighborhoods, which obviously is key to.

D

Your interests, you are key to the community and neighborhoods interests. The person who is the.

D

Team leader for the community and neighborhoods group is dawn perhosian you may know dawn because.

D

She is the person with the business to do of doing bicycle tours around portsmouth she's, based at the.

D

John paul john's house, and so she has been through all the neighborhoods and in order to tell the.

D

Stories of those places to visitors, she's really done a lot of research. She's worked very hard.

D

At being accurate and being entertaining while not sugar, coating things, I mean part of being accurate.

D

In our history is telling the good as well as the bad, so that's that's what people are interested in.

D

And ask questions about. We want to be upfront with how we got where we are and why we're still.

D

Learning and how we're we continue to become even better, so don has started to identify things that.

D

Have that are already happening like national night out, like the westable, like the haven.

D

School flag day event that sherm crittenden puts together at strawberry bank with the puddle doc.

D

Neighborhood and new haven, school alums, so dawn is really the the key person she's working as as he.

D

May or may not guess from the picture in the middle she's working with um the italian community.

D

And um some of those those people were very actively still involved in our sister city.

D

Relationship with santarcangelo, which is where a lot of the families of the italian.

D

Families of portsmouth came from the farinis and zebrinis and gargantas, and all of those people.

D

Are engaged as well as picking up where the the bypoc group, the multicultural multiracial first.

D

Festival was this year, she's working with the black heritage trail and the juneteenth festival.

D

That they're putting together so all of you know all of the the rainbow in many different senses.

D

That makes portsmouth and makes the neighborhoods whole and wanting to make sure that everybody.

D

Feels included so that events aren't just taking place in market square. She really wants to get out.

D

Into the neighborhoods, and has to be relying on all of you to figure out the best way of doing.

D

That and how to engage people and how not to forget anyone and not reinvent the wheel, not.

D

Suggest that all of this has to be new and nobody's ever done this before we know that's.

D

Not true, we know that there are all sorts of things that have been going on as traditions.

D

In portsmouth forever seeming forever, so we just need to get everybody to the point of.

D

Understanding that this is about what you'd like to do, this isn't some architecture of people.

D

Organizing things and telling folks what to do it's, it's grassroots! If ever there was one.

C

Stephanie I've already I've already met with don.

C

And we've talked a little bit about it and I think we'll probably have.

C

Probably be a number of programs designed to work with the neighborhoods and uh portsmouth.

C

400, so I'm looking forward to the for next year, yeah, that's excellent, because this is her slide.

D

About some of the things that are already kind of being thought about working out details and really.

D

Starting next year, which already isn't less than a month away to do some fundraising for the overall.

D

Effort so she's got a couple of fundraisers involved, matching up with things that are.

D

Already happening like river fest westable, as I said, the bipark, so one of one of her ideas is a.

D

Little italy carnivale in august, so lots of lots of fun things just kind of fill in the blanks.

D

Then signature events, we know we're having three signature events, the first one will be.

D

The portsmouth 400 parade on the 3rd of june 2023, which would be great if we had someone.

D

As happened in the 350th prince charles, was here so we'll see if our friends.

D

And lord mayor's office can make that happen again or representatives and or representatives from.

D

Our seven sister cities, other portsmouths in the u.s lots of.

D

Opportunities there and judging from the turnout of for the illuminated holiday parade.

D

People are really anxious to do that again. I think there were something like a thousand.

D

Participants in the parade, brent sullivan who's, the coordinator for the parade for the city.

D

In the recreation department had over 90 different units in this parade, she usually has about 75. So.

D

There's a ground swell of that brynn and trevor and monty gohanna, who trevor and auntie do.

D

The halloween parade, which denise has been engaged in as well so portsmouth, does parades like nowhere.

D

Else, as we know, that's june 3rd, the second signature event is going to be a community dinner.

D

In I think market square, I'm not sure about the venue, but it's it's going to be outdoors.

D

Big long table that everyone can come to, we may all dress in blue the blue of the logo.

D

Details to be determined, but that's looking like august 28th and then the third event is adapting.

D

The air show to be a little bit more portsmouth signature, but certainly the same level of.

D

Participation by either the thunderbirds or the blue angels um we're just waiting for confirmation.

D

Of who it's going to be so those are the big three events that are signatures, and then there.

D

They there will probably be other things that kind of fit in around those three.

D

And then there are legacy projects, so what will be still standing? Come january, 1st 2024.

D

What what projects will be around? Will there be an app that the students develop? That will let.

D

Anyone and everyone follow the history trail through portsmouth. Will it be a continuing website.

D

As suggested as a scoreboard for the athletic field, who knows what it might be, though? All of.

D

Those ideas are still percolating, but um leaving leaving a visible arc, something that you can.

D

I'm not sure you could hold the musical arch in your hands, but you know what I mean.

D

Something that's a tangible ongoing. Maybe it's a mural created by all of the.

D

Or by many of the visual artists of portsmouth, who knows, portsmouth is.

D

Good at doing something that nobody else has ever done so we'll see what happens with that.

D

So, to summarize, the pillars are arts and culture, military and maritime commerce and trade education.

D

Community and neighborhoods legacy projects and special events, so we've got all of these. These.

D

Pieces, many of the things, as I said, are events or programs that already happen every year and then.

D

We're we're tweaking them to be special for the 400th and then adding some real highlights. Parade.

D

Community dinner and air show so all of that costs money the 350th costs, as you can see, 163 000.

D

We're estimating that the signature events that we just talked about and a little bit of.

D

Subsidizing, if we can for community projects, is probably going to cost us more like 563.

D

Given the costs of everything and the level of expectations that all of us have who live in.

D

Portsmouth for the quality and substance and excitement of events in portsmouth.

D

So it's going to take some fundraising. As I said, susan labrie is in charge of that.

D

That effort, which is significant, we have, uh I think, about 40 000 already in the account.

D

From two years ago, when this whole effort started and then we got hit with pandemic.

D

So there there are appeals being made to major corporations.

D

Somebody may want to just pick up the tab for the parade, we'll see sorry, um but it it also will take.

D

All of the organizations who want to do something for the 400 to really think about how they can.

D

Help pay for it. It absolutely is not a situation where the portsmouth 400 has a giant 25 bucks, a.

B

Person just write checks to everybody. um That's that, unfortunately, can't happen. It's not the way.

D

Portsmouth works anyway. Everything we've ever done has been grouse, grassroots fundraising and a lot.

D

Of passionate people who do things for free, for example, darcy creative created our logo for free.

D

So there's there are a lot of ways to make things happen. I have said having been the resident of.

D

The state to the south of us before I moved to new hampshire 25 years ago.

D

The imports of their the new hampshire advantage is that we know nobody else is going to pay for it.

D

In in massachusetts, somebody has a budget, they, the state budget, the town budget, whatever they.

D

Have lots of taxes to generate to do that here? It doesn't work that way. You.

D

Want something to happen, you got to figure out how you're going to pay for it yourself.

D

So we do and that's what's happening here and you'll- be hearing more about the.

D

Thinking of to raise money as we move into 2022 and beyond cash in the bank through the portal you.

D

Get to from the website, we will absolutely need volunteers. We have already created a form that.

D

Lets people sign up and say the kinds of things they'd be interested in doing the other great.

D

Thing that I find in reports, but in particular, is that when you say I'd like to help, there's not.

D

Somebody that hands you a bunch of envelopes to stuff. The first question is well what do.

D

You like to do what are you good at? How would you like to participate and then you go from there so.

D

Opportunity for volunteerism to be involved to say after this is all over, that I did that and that's.

D

Where we are right now we're we're inviting participation, it's about everybody, it's about.

D

The people of portsmouth and um recognizing who we are where we came from what the last 400.

D

Years and before mean to us now and what we want to look like in the future. So that's where that's.

D

Why we're talking to and why we hope, you'll get involved with us as well. You already are so onward.

C

That was really very informative. I love the idea that portsmouth england is going to be involved.

C

I've been to portsmouth england, it's very, very different than us much older, but they do have a.

C

Naval shipyard- and they definitely have a seaport there, so it it's very interesting and yeah. So I.

C

Know that dawn had talked to talk to me a little bit about some of the historic homes that are in.

C

The neighborhoods, and so I think, we're going to have uh if I'm, uh if I'm here next year,.

C

I'll we'll have some planning sessions just for forza 400, and I think I like that idea.

C

And denise the officer of fun, what type of fun.

C

What type of fun will that officer be like thorough? That was wonderful stephanie. Thank you.

A

I have a question go ahead um uh thanks by the way that was an awesome that was such.

A

A inspiring I'm excited about the whole thing for, for the for it to come. um I lived in salem.

A

Mass and uh they're also 1623 is what is when they were created or established. However, they.

A

Put it, is there any any uh coordination? I think that there's a few other cities.

A

Down there too, I, for some reason I think marblehead is- is uh 16 23.

A

Is there any coordination, I mean I just it's. It's all.

A

We're all in this together, as the saying has got created recently,.

D

We're definitely coordinating with dover and hampton and exeter trying to think who.

D

Of new hampshire yeah because they're the same dates and um denise, I think you were part of the.

D

Conversation that valerie had with plymouth trying to get some ideas. I apologize because I have a bad.

E

Connection here, where I am I apologize, um but yeah we have been in touch with plymouth, which just had.

E

Their 400, then I met with alex curley last week because rye 40 point is 400, so we're definitely.

E

Working with all these communities great but I'll, make a note about salem, because I was not aware.

D

Of that valerie may well be, but um she has a good connection in plymouth um who of course was doing.

D

All of their planning for five years in advance and getting a replica of or the mayflower rebuilt.

D

And all of these things that they were going to do in 2020, which they obviously did not do so we're.

D

Learning great ideas and how you can do things virtually as well as in real life. It just adds.

D

A whole other dimension and a whole new audience from around the world for all the stuff that we do.

F

Stephanie well, first, first and foremost, thing. Thank you very much. That was extremely fascinating.

F

One thing that came to mind when you showed that slide related to fundraising. If you look.

F

If you adjusted that whatever was 165 000 for inflation, I wonder if, frankly, we're spending less.

F

And it might be something to you know to consider, because it I was comparing it for a small number.

E

Of schools, that's a great point, dave great point, yeah exactly well! I guess that says it's doable.

F

Yeah absolutely another thing: I'd like to point out is something some of you might be aware that.

F

I'm involved with trying to bring forth an action sports uh recreation facility in town.

F

And I suspect, if it goes through, it will likely get built in the year 2023 with a possible.

F

Groundbreaking ceremony in 2023, so I see a natural synergy here and just so you're aware we also.

F

Hope to have an in-person fundraising event. This spring, we plan on having one in 3s arts base.

F

In october, but primarily due to coven, we postponed that so, while not a signature event.

F

Something could possibly um tie in and maybe there's even a way from a legacy standpoint to.

F

Tie in a mural at the park there there's been talk about a number of artists have come forward to.

F

Participate in this project- and I can't think of a better way of.

D

Yeah, that's a fantastic idea because, because the what I've heard from conversations about.

D

Artists who are interested in creating a mural has always been yeah, but where and the skate.

D

Park is a brilliant answer to that question. It's it's stephanie. Maybe it isn't just a concrete.

F

Wall in the back, it's very common practice now to integrate artwork into the park itself. Yeah.

F

And that's not something that we've talked to pillar designed. It was our design partner in.

F

This, but I see that as a huge opportunity to help market and also lead legacy in this part.

E

Dave, we've actually already started a history through art group and we did a mural on court.

E

Street and we are trying to find other places and people that are interested in doing murals.

E

The high school is thinking about doing a mural as their senior gift for the year 2023.

E

And we have a team of architects and artists who will look at, for example, if it's a brick.

E

Wall, what kind of material would hold up best and how long would it last and we have a list.

E

Of historic figures that we'd love to see up around town that are tied to this community.

E

So um if, if I can help you with that at all, it's called we founded it as a non-profit and um I'd.

E

Love to get involved, I have seen the mural and it's phenomenal. It really is an amazing sight, so.

F

I guess the other thing I can offer up possibly to you is I I have a connection of artists that.

F

You know many professional artists that are involved with hand painting or not.

F

Necessarily painting by using other meaning to to decorate skateboards that we plan to have at.

F

Auction and sort of a gallery style format and many you know one of my best friend happens to.

F

Be a muralist. He lives in california and he's donated some some pieces. But if you're open to.

F

Artists outside of the seacoast region- that's primarily where I have connections.

D

And- and you also remind me to say quickly, that the city wearing my dpw hat the city.

D

Is very well aware of the fact that we don't want to dig up all of our main roads in 2023..

D

We we have to stage the construction that needs to happen, and that is budgeted to happen.

D

In a way that is respectful of parade routes and highly visible areas, and all of that obviously.

D

We got set back a little with the pandemic, although islington street, the phase one is.

D

Now complete- and that happened in the meantime, but all to say that that there are there have.

D

Been conversations for a while about what are the signature projects that the dpw projects.

D

That we want to have done for 2023.. The wastewater treatment facility may not be the sexiest project.

D

But you know a lot of the things about what make portsmouth livable for us are key to this as well.

D

So I can't believe I talked for that long. Oh, my god, yeah! Well, you did a great job. I just want to.

C

Ask if there's anybody who's uh who's listening in if they have any questions and uh well, I can't.

C

See them on my screen, I think kevin can. If anyone has any questions of the the portsmouth 400 people.

C

Would you uh indicate by raising your hand, please well, I know, but then I know denise has her hand.

E

Right but that's the pointer, larry okay. Here we go all right, lori hi everyone! Thank you. So much.

E

Stephanie that was really really informative. um I'm not closely involved, but I'm thinking about.

E

How best to volunteer and bring different groups together, so this is really helpful. I'm thinking.

E

About my own neighborhood at little harbor, so one of the questions I have and people have asked me.

E

um The logo, which is great, will will groups be able to use that.

E

Let me just make something: let's say: there's a local church that wants to.

E

Sell, I don't know coffee cups or something you know with their church on it, and also can they.

E

Also, put like the logo, of course, with 400 of them as well. Is that trademark? Who did they have to ask.

E

How would they do that things like that? So, yes, and I'm very glad you asked that question because.

D

What we're asking anyone who is doing anything that is portsmouth 400 related, is to fill out.

D

A really short form: that's online, it's going to be, we've just finalized it, so it isn't quite yet.

D

On the website, but it will be at portsmouth nh 400. So when you fill out that application.

D

What that precipitates is a review by the by this management team of all the pillars.

D

To see where people have ideas that fit into the ideas that are already happening.

D

To avoid duplication, because we'd rather have people partner on an idea like a mural instead.

D

Of having five different organizations thinking, we should have a big mural in the middle of town.

D

And wasting all of that excitement and energy when they could be working together to move the train.

D

Forward with that energy, so the application isn't this big approval process? It's to let the the team.

D

That is organizing the 400, let let them know what's happening who's doing what.

D

Make connections and then once you've filled out that form and you are honoring the values of.

D

Portsmouth 400 of diverse inclusive, accurate history respectful all of that good stuff.

D

Then you have the right to use the logo, so it's the form, that's the first step and then we go from.

D

There and we also have a market or a merchandising committee, so there will be opportunities instead.

D

Of six different organizations buying their own coffee cups, there might be one.

D

Big order of coffee cups with the logo on it and then the opportunity for you to put your logo on.

D

The other side, but we could do bulk purchasing of that. Do you know who's doing the marketing? Is that.

D

Well, beth gross santos is doing the merchandising, yes she's starting.

D

To think about what things we can put the logo on, you know how many thousand t-shirts.

D

But also coming up with some clever things and I think we're all going to see lots of lighthouses.

D

In various forms in the next few years, but yeah beth is, is the kind of the team leader on that.

D

And as well as valerie, so any of us denise or I or valerie, all of our names and contacts are.

D

On the website, so that's where to start. Thank you so much. That's really helpful information.

E

Thank you to everybody who's volunteering. This is I'm I'm amazed at how much.

E

How much work has already been done? Very, very, very I'm applauding you. Thank you. The clock is ticking.

C

That's right any other questions from anybody.

C

Just wait a second and I would like to go to the next agenda item.

C

First again, thank you very much, uh stephanie and and uh denise for for your help.

A

I just want to ask stephanie for purposes of just taking the minutes. Can you send me those slides.

A

Just so, I can attach them: okay, thanks yeah, absolutely that would be very helpful.

C

Yes, okay, okay, so the next uh point in business is, uh is mark uh you're, going to talk a little.

C

Bit about the uh about the uh portsmouth holiday, light contest and I'll see if I can get a couple.

C

Of slides up mark to uh to show us what we did in 2020, you want to try to do that now.

B

No he's going to slide.

D

See I'm glad I got it there before the slide there. You go.

B

We should have some holiday music yeah, maybe I'll just um I will just thumb.

C

Through these uh these slides quickly, and then we can, we can see the headlines.

G

You rather look at the slides of me anyway,.

C

These are from uh last year, they're all winners of some sort.

C

And I think you'll be familiar rick's house.

C

Well, thank the judges last year for doing a terrific job.

C

We'll be doing something similar this year.

G

I like that one.

C

A fairly even distribution among the various voting districts.

C

Some of them, lastly, okay, there, you are yeah register and, let's see how do I, how do I get.

C

Out of this now, well, you could leave it there, okay! Well, I wanted to show. uh I want to see him.

C

You could do poor shark yeah. The reason we came to the meeting I'm trying to avoid all.

G

Right here we go there, you go okay. So the original mission statement for the mayor mayor bexlett was.

G

Is during covent to have families get together and do something outside as a family.

G

That was basically the premises of it. The contest consists of.

G

uh Three grand prizes five hundred dollars in each donated by or bought through mayor.

G

Beckstead lowe's home depot greasy lumber. This year we decided to go all residential dwellings.

G

So anybody it could be a mobile home park, it could be a condominium single family homes, et cetera.

G

Let's see the registration began on november 26th and it ends on december 10th, which is this friday.

G

Let's see from that, the judging takes place between december 11th to the 19th and then.

G

Internal final, judging december 15th and 16th, uh as of today stephanie, how many do we have.

G

Registrants, we have 35 residents registrants and it went out in the newsletter today.

D

And we always get a flurry of more people um as the as it comes out in the newsletter and as the.

D

Facebook posts happen so I'll be pushing it on social media for the next several days. We've.

D

Got a banner on the website to remind people, so I think we'll we'll probably get a last-minute rush.

G

So we did assignments awards: larry ward, 5, mark ward, 2, glory ward, 3 day 4. and beth.

G

You want to do one sure sure, that's a yes! Yes, let me just make sure I have this right. Larry.

A

Has five mark has two lori has three dave? Has four and I have one correct and um what are we doing.

A

We're not the judges, though,.

G

You know after the registration deadline, that's when stephanie and dave are going to be doing.

G

You know mapping the mapping of everything is dave willing to do the math this year. Yes, absolutely.

F

I know you know I built sort of the initial map.

F

And the backing data did the data transformation, but then.

F

You magically transformed it and glued it together. Are you I don't know how to do that.

D

Yeah, no, I I could do that. If you do what you did last year, then I can do the math and actually.

D

I'm realizing that I will send you the 35 we have so that you want to get.

D

Started yeah that way what I can do is I can. I can build a map just with the 35 and build tables.

F

For judges, so they have because part of what I need to do.

F

I think we did last year is go street by street and assign them to the respective wards and then.

F

You know sort them and then make sure that each judge has his or her respective.

F

Properties to judge so that that takes a bit of time, it's a manual I mean, I think I.

D

Yeah the uh the award listing is on the website in the under the city clerk under voting information.

D

It says how to figure out what word you're in okay, and I can just send that link with you to you when.

D

I do the addresses tomorrow. I appreciate that I'm going to make a suggestion on starting the.

G

Judging even though it's officially december 11 to the 19th is to before you before, we all go out at.

G

Least, give this weekend, I'm sure, there's going to be somebody that's going to register on the.

G

10Th and decorate on 11th or 12th right so, and I think there will be people on monday saying we put.

D

Up the decorations over the weekend can we still play yeah and then stephanie you'll feel that out.

G

Yes, yes yeah, so you know you know anytime and it's a small number as of now, unless stephanie puts out.

G

A notice to me and larry in the group saying that we just doubled that what was the number last year.

G

70 76, I think so exactly there's the double, and that was the first annual that was during.

G

You know the I can't say the height of code, but just a different environment. Now this year.

C

Yeah, quite true, I just want to clarify. um So what we need uh uh mark is a list.

C

Each one of us need a list of of uh of registrants for, for our particular.

C

District right, I should say that's going to come from stephanie or dave, let's find out who.

F

Yeah stephanie will feed me the rod. You know the registrants with their respective addresses.

F

I'll have to using the award info spreadsheet or database I'll go in and tag all of those.

F

Registrants to their respective wards sort that data by award and then feed it back to all of.

F

Your judges, okay, but the same time I'll, also work on building the the map. You know similar to.

F

What I did last year unless, unless there's any feedback stephanie I mean, if you'd like to go.

F

With a different format, maybe we can take that offline? No, I think it was great and I already.

D

Have people asking how they can see all the entrants and I've told them there will be a map.

D

Once the registration deadline is passed, we'll have a map that we'll put out promptly.

B

It seems like it would be ideal to publish a table of all of the registrants, but I understand there.

F

Might be privacy concerns there, yeah hey mark, yes, how many honorable mentions did we give out last.

B

Year, all of them a lot everybody every everybody got a medal. Last year everybody got something 25.

G

Everybody meaning that weren't there like about 25 or so it's 25 gift certificates,.

D

There must have been 73 of them. No, no. We had 24, I believe 20 yeah, yeah,.

G

So we had, we had the grand prize winners and two or three people, two or three houses under.

G

That so yeah, the reason I'm asking is how many 25 gift certificates should I go for.

A

I think we had about twenty four, that's what I was remembering too. We had eight per category right. We.

B

Had the grand prize and the the next eight people got gifts or two we had. We had that because we had.

G

The money so yeah, you know, generally speaking, I'm paul and mayor becksted went out there and.

G

Found some dollars and added to the pool, and so whatever that was a group effort yeah. Some of us.

G

Contributed directly yeah right, whatever that pie is we'll just divide it up and.

B

Yeah yeah so I'll shoot for 24 and if I get more than that, we will.

B

Yeah, but you know same thing: market basket a few pick and pay a few and then you know cumbies.

B

And a few places downtown and we'll see what happens. Part of the concept theme or mission was.

G

Is to uh you're right is to have essentials. Yeah essential needs yeah, which is walmart food.

B

Yeah exactly um and you know my chuck and I are available for to take judges around.

A

Well, that so that so we're doing the judging for the the two categories, most creative, I think and.

A

Traditional and then there's the kids choice and we I forget, I kind of forget how we did.

A

This last year, but we actually solicited or we we picked families to go out and do that. That's.

C

Right, we had children, every family who went out and then some of us uh went out afterwards.

C

With a pause with one particular family in ward, two, and so we sent with so some of us went out.

C

In anticipating that they may not be able to to do it, and fortunately they did yeah, I mean well. I had.

A

A I had a lot of applicants for the ward 4 last year, which I had so there. I forget how we got this.

A

We solicited for the judges for the kids judges for our awards, but we want to make sure that we.

A

Do that yeah? We didn't do that this year we didn't go, find families to judge so were were the judges.

G

And our families or dave kids, my son's 19 he'll- be here. You know he won't be around.

G

Till the 17th, but so that's I had offered a pass meeting if you'd like me to do this. You know.

F

I my kids can work with me and they can judge ward four, for example, but I I can reach out to.

F

To different families that I know through right now to to participate, I mean we're basically just.

F

Looking for a couple of kids per yeah, we just need. We need five kids for each board. That's it.

A

Yeah, but I mean I think, it'd be nicer to because I to include other kids. You know I yeah.

A

And I like doing the judging, but I think that you know kids choice it'd be nice. You know, I think.

A

Deadline gave us a family and award one last year and I'd like to apologize to the group, because I.

G

Had that in my own minutes to myself, they will solicit to manage families to judge. I will.

A

Yeah, that's for the kids choice: yeah, the kids choice, dave's gonna yeah take care. Okay,.

G

Or find a family or two to enjoy and drive around, you know, you'll see star wars, and you know some of.

G

These things that the kids really like to connect to frozen so can we have this ballpark, maybe 10 in.

F

Total try to get a distribution across boards or that maybe that isn't that important just.

G

For kids choice for one category like let's say, let's say I end up getting.

F

10 kids allocate two per award: maybe that would be okay if they go out and take a look at one to.

G

Three houses that's fun, but we only have two categories. This year correct. We have three.

F

Three yeah three, so we have an entire category for kids choice, so kids kids will need to look.

F

Yeah, that's all the properties so yeah, so dave, you're, you're, getting the kids together.

G

Okay and running around yeah and going to look at kids, choice and you'll know what you know. How.

G

Many I don't know how everybody's going to be come. You know sunday monday, stephanie will have tonight.

G

I I it's fun I'll have likely more than enough volunteers. I had people approach me last year.

F

I think would be fine yeah for ward 4. I had to pick and I felt badly. I had like.

A

Three people, three or four families reach out to me to do it. Hey I gotta try just throw the.

B

Kids in the back we'll drive around at night. Well that sounds safe. That's not a bad idea!.

G

We don't have anything etched in stone here, so we can bring mark newport.

G

Whole concept is about families. If you death dave, knows families that want to go out and ride around.

G

With a list and look at it, that's great yeah, it doesn't need to be centralized by me. Well dave's.

B

Daughters, don't want to go out with dave, though I do have a creepy black fan. I don't think you know.

G

Why they stopping in front of my house,.

B

Why are we stopping here dad? I need a refreshment and also taking pictures yeah.

G

You got seven kids coming out a couple of adults taking pictures of my house.

G

Is there any other thoughts, ideas, concerns or yeah? I just wanted to review the uh the.

C

Final schedule, because the um the uh um let's see the city council meeting is on the 20th.

C

20Th- and so we really all have to get our act together on the 19th or earlier.

C

And usually everything happens at the last minute, so, no matter how careful mark that we can plan on.

C

Having things done uh on the 15th or 16th or whatever it is, uh it probably won't happen that.

C

Way, but we still need the list by by the 19th they has to be forwarded to uh to the mayor. I.

C

Guess we can send it to uh to you stephanie and you can get it to the city council members.

C

And for the for the meeting on the twentieth and the announcement and then mark you can invite dave.

C

Dave's family anybody you want for the uh for the announcement on the tour on the 20th. That's just a.

C

Few minutes of city council meeting the more in my my hindsight is my mind, is just like the more kids.

G

The better, I think, it's a nice little experience for children to go down to city chambers and.

C

I would like that a lot. You know I would uh sort of a skateboard park and it's been.

G

Quite the educational experience for the kids involved in skate, and I see that.

G

So I I would like to see on december 20th, you know let the mayor know what city council known karen.

D

And the clipper band is going to be there, so they traditionally have the holiday music yeah.

D

A couple of carols: it's it's not! You know it's it's more festive than your typical city, council,.

D

Meeting right, yeah, that's aside from the future, the final judging is, like you said: larry thanks.

G

For bringing that up and pointing that out, dave about um 15th and 16th since the final judgment.

G

Dave and stephanie did you know just to gather everything up and then I'll. You.

G

Know I'll present or somebody will present the three winners. Well, I'm confused about the 15.

G

You know we'll do that too. It's it's kind of like a paper filing standard uh reading of its scale.

A

Okay, I just have a question. I I'm confused about the 15th and 16th if we have until the 19th, I'm.

A

Not so what are the dates that that we need to be? The dates are this? The 11th to the 19th is judging.

G

But I'm going to highly suggest that you give by the fifth everybody.

G

Okay, for the last minute, registrants and so by, I would suggest by maybe the 13th or 14th.

G

Go out which is monday or tuesday starting and then that ends on the 19th, which is a sunday. You.

B

Should probably cut that off on saturday yeah, just so, you have that day to figure out who won who's.

B

Second, who served who's? Fourth, whatever well, but the final, judging is the 15th and 16th. So.

G

The judging will shut off the 19.. If dave and stephanie do you want to shut it off? So here's.

A

The part I'm con people are going to know that. It's uh that the judging is going to end on the.

A

19Th, but it's not it's, it's really ending on the 15th or 16th yeah I mean we've publicized. The 19th.

D

And people are not leaving their lights on 24 7., so I think you kind of have to.

D

I mean I could certainly say that the last round of judging might be.

D

Friday night and then the 18th and the 19th give the judges time to sort through their decisions.

D

We haven't said they're traveling around the neighborhoods through the 19th we've.

D

Just said, judging from the 19. yeah yeah, so yeah yeah. So if you recall so lori what I'm.

G

Assuming is on december see on december 10th. The registration stops right, yeah in reality,.

G

Stephanie knows that some people will trickle in over the weekend and some people and for our time.

G

Some people decorate a little bit later, so I just. I think that the dates are really should.

A

Be clear for yeah but they're going to register for the concert who cares when they decorate.

A

Yeah so they have to register by, but they care that they they care that when they decorate.

A

Because they don't want to decorate, you know, wait until the weekend afterwards, when, when they have.

B

To register and decorate what we're doing right now is we're talking internally, but also publicly.

G

We're kind of mixing the two together, so I get your point. Okay. Lori is concerned that people.

B

Want to decorate later and I'm like it does make a difference. They have to register for the contest.

B

And then decorate, if they want to be part of the contest. Well decorating means that this is what.

G

I'm envisioning somebody's going to say: oh it's december 10th, I'm going to get my registration in.

G

And then they're going to decorate this weekend right, knowing that the registration's done.

G

On the 10th yeah now internally, stephanie knows that, based on experience that.

G

Somebody still might register a little later, you know so you know somebody might say. Can I.

G

Can I register you know I just decorated my house this weekend and I forgot to register.

G

So this is an internal conversation amongst us. How can that you know? How is that going to be.

G

Handled is that what you're, trying to say lori, I guess I'm trying to say we're talking 19th- is.

A

The last date, but then it's actually going to be cut off for 15, 16 and yeah. Let me see if I.

C

Can make it clear that everybody's on the same page and is has the dates to work with? Let me.

C

Clarify that, if I can okay, this is uh the final judging is is a is looking at photographs. I mean.

C

All of us take pictures and then we make our recommendations. First, it goes into a central point.

C

Mark you'll be the one looking at the uh at the gang you know and what we come out with.

C

And then you call us to to uh together either either by sending something out or or whatever.

C

And then we look at this again and that's the judging the judging is, is not necessarily going.

C

Back to a site, unless there's a unless there's a tie, unless there's something that's really.

C

Puzzling, like there's two of them, that we can't make up our minds with and then so a lot of it.

C

Will be, we take our pictures, we identify the house, we uh label it as uh as a as a as one of the three.

C

Or not, you know it depends. Maybe there's a there's a there's, a ward in which there's there may not be.

C

One, uh the one final winner and one uh uh one category where the that you believe.

C

Is really tops but whatever it is? Our judges then forward everything to mark, which I think is.

C

The right thing to do you look at it first and then you then you send the signals back to us.

C

How does that sound, there's three there's gonna, be three categories and there's.

G

So if it's kid's choice, each award is gonna, have three choices: they're gonna have the.

G

Number one then number two and number three and that's per ward, so it all adds up right.

G

And then the final, judging is us, we're going to take that information and go out and look.

C

We can do that and all we can if the photographs is clear, clear enough, we can make our decision.

C

Photographs yeah either way either way. Okay, it's something similar! We did last year, we.

C

Did that last year each one of us sent each one of us right. We told the public 11 to 19.

G

But we're assuming that they're going to register on the 10th and the judging we're just hoping they.

G

Keep their lights on and shut their lights off on the 20th. You know just to keep in mind.

C

Mark besides, we may very well go out on the 19th and do some, uh judging especially on splitting.

C

Hairs, you know the ones where we're not sure whether it's just this uh a winner or not.

C

Right, okay, so that's fair enough! You lost yeah, it all came together last year and I.

G

Think we simplified it a little bit this year and I can message because I do remember some comments.

D

Last year that it took a while to actually go to a particular address and have the lights be on right.

D

So I can put a note in all of our communications saying thank you for participating now. Remember.

D

To leave the lights on and if they don't then yeah I'd give my house an example.

G

It's it's dark now at what 4 15. yeah in my house, it's on a timer for two hours and next thing you.

G

Know the lights go off at 6 30 and it's only 6 30. instead of putting on the four hour timer until.

G

Until 8 30., so it seems that dark is you think that people's lights go on.

G

At four or five you know, but if you go out there at eight they might be off. So I don't think.

D

The question to me is the front end because for the purposes of creating the list and creating.

D

The map for everybody else in the public there there's going to be a hard stop. So if somebody.

D

Shows up in the middle of next week and says: can I still play.

D

That's going to be hard, we can't remember that stephanie register it listen. um Let me say: listen.

G

December 10th registration ends right, but in the public right now it says the eighth correct.

B

No, the challenge, no, it says: okay, I to everyone's point about people doing decorations. They may well.

D

Not get around to it until this weekend and I think maybe if dave is willing.

D

If and because the numbers are so much less last year was a lot challenge but yeah. If we.

D

Get started and we have it 99 complete by the ten you know. By this weekend we might have room.

D

For one or two come monday morning, but let's say by noon on monday, that's got to be the full hard.

D

Stuff yeah, how many? How many did you get last year that were late, one or two, I don't remember it. I do.

D

Remember that dave and I were saying oops one more. I I think fewer than five, though.

G

I don't think it's not gonna be an issue, but okay, I think for our time in the kids and stuff.

G

Is that a piece of paper don't get out there on the 11th? Judging wait until the you know,.

G

You know, and things kind of come together in the mapping and everything so.

G

We're not going to have everything to go boots on the ground and drive around have some fun until.

G

You know like the 14th yeah, I have to go guys. Sorry, I gotta go pick up. My son.

G

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much for coming in so so can we say um that.

A

That leave the lights on from uh until like the 15th or 16th, instead of the 19th.

A

I mean like definitely for the for the um for the time we're gonna.

A

Do the contest no okay? Well, it's it's a christmas lights concert, so I mean they should have them on.

B

For christmas, you know at least have the shutoff around at the earliest say, seven eight o'clock.

B

At night, so that at least the judges have an opportunity to drive by your house and they.

B

Can see it because the lights are on the lights on on I'm not gonna? Why would you sweat it? You know.

G

And somebody has it, like me: has an automatic timer, it's set for two hours males, maybe someone.

G

Will set it from four, but that that I think, if you're, in a contest, you'll automatically, hopefully.

G

Remember another thing that stephanie can do is just put out as saying remember, to keep your light.

G

On that's all you can do yeah exactly I mean you. Could she could put hours like four to nine or.

G

Four to eight, but I wouldn't go there. I just keep it simple. I would too remember the arithmetic.

C

Tells us that if there are 40 uh registrants and assuming that they're fairly well distributed.

C

That's eight per ward: that's pretty reasonable for for us this year to be able to deal with.

C

With the you know, go start at 4 30 and what I can walk around from the south end yeah. But I have no.

B

Idea what the what the distribution was last, it was fairly close. Okay, it was fairly close, yeah, hey.

G

Paul yeah, can I have a do. You have an update on uh the animal mention prizes, 20 gift certificates.

B

Well, I've already made my contacts. Rick already has the big prizes. That's why I asked the question.

B

Is how many honorable mentions we're going to give per category so and last year we did 24, which is.

G

Yeah we have the money, then we just expanded it. But if you to answer your questions specifically.

G

If there's three categories, there's two there's a winner and an honorable mention.

A

Oh for each for each category, just just two is there's two people there's a winner.

G

And an animal mention okay, I can quickly give you that there's 75.

A

So that's just six: no, no! No! No! We have the three big prizes. Yes, okay and last year,.

B

We gave out eight honorable mentions in each category for a total of 24 25 gift certificates.

B

Right, okay, so you have the grand prize winner and then eight honorable mentions per category.

G

Yeah, we could do that again if we have the certificates.

B

Yeah. Well, that's. That was my question of how many to get.

G

Well again, you didn't have a limit last year, so there's no limit this year.

G

And I remember some of us kicked in some money. Well, the limit the limit is how much.

B

Money to spend okay and last year we spent six hundred dollars. That's 24 25 gift certificates.

B

Yeah, so that's that's what I that was. My only question is how many you get that's all it would.

A

Be nice, I think it comes down to how much paul you and mayor beckstead raise you're doing the yeah.

G

You know you're going well, he's already got the 1500, so the gift certificates are on me. So oh okay,.

F

Yeah so mark, I just wanted to report back to you, so I just brought the spreadsheet from last year.

F

With the breakdown by ward- and we basically had 15 or 16 per award, with the exception of.

F

Ward 1, which only had 11. right right. So it's a fairly even distribution, right, yeah,.

C

Okay yeah, so I would. I would expect the same this year too, mark if I get more, I get more. That's not.

B

An issue which is the one that had 11 what board one okay paul. I would suggest that you get a.

C

If you get 15 or more and that's fine in total, I mean in total I mean you'll get as.

C

Many as you get, and we do three by you know three or so 15 we'll do three per okay per.

G

Yeah exactly if we only have three twenty-five digestivity, that's all we have understood.

B

But you know I don't wanna make it less than last year. I wanna make it.

B

The same or more so, okay, okay, no worries all right.

B

72 participants what hopefully we'll have 70 something participants right now, we're at 35.

G

Yeah well, hopefully, every every time I get a gift certificate, they'll donate three, so that would be.

B

The advantage do you think that you're going to be able to get it? I think we keep talking. Okay,.

A

Okay, great it's convincing the people, I get it from to donate more yeah yeah right. You know.

B

All right do we have anything else, I'll email, you monday, stephanie I'll email. You monday, find.

G

Out, where we're at numbers-wise and I'll share that with the group in an email, keep us well.

C

Informed mark as to what we have to do and where we have to go and we'll be all set: okay right so.

G

It'll all come together all right, lori, thanks for pointing that out about the lights, uh you know.

G

Having people keep their lights on, hopefully that's their. That's a that's a good point.

C

Do we have anything else to talk about? Do I have a motion.

C

Motion to end the meeting yeah. Thank you: okay, 806 pm yeah. Thank you very much. Okay, happy.

C

Holidays, happy holidays, yeah. All right. Thanks, see you soon. Thank you very much. Stephanie.