Granny D marches on Portsmouth

She may be almost a century old, but Doris “Granny D” Haddock is still more politically active than most people in their 20s or 30s. The 97-year-old made her voice ring in Market Square on Wednesday, July 18, during a rally for peace in downtown Porstmouth. Following a speech in front of North Church, Granny D led a silent peace march down Congress Street to Vaughan Mall—a solemn protest against the Iraq war.

A crowd of peace advocates holding anti-war signs gathered in the Square around 5 p.m. as the Leftist Marching Band played spirited, patriotic music. The crowd quieted as Barbara Hilton, organizer of the local chapter of CODEPINK, beckoned everyone to huddle around the North Church entrance. Hilton described her involvement in CODEPINK, an organization of female advocates for peace, and detailed the pending march, which began in Market Square and extended down Congress Street to Choozy Shooz in Vaughan Mall. She instructed attendees to walk slowly in deference to Granny D and silently in deference to those who have lost their lives during the “horrendous occupation” of Iraq.

Hilton then introduced Granny D, who unsuccessfully ran against Republican Judd Gregg for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2004. Although she is not running for office in 2008, Granny D now has her sight set on Republican Sen. John Sununu. She accused Sununu of serving President Bush instead of the people of New Hampshire and called on voters to oust him next November.

Haddock referred to Bush as a “would-be dictator” and called his administration “fear mongers.” But she also criticized Democrats for not taking a stand against the Iraq War. “We rightfully rail against Congress and both parties for failing to cut funding of the current war,” she said.

Haddock, who wore a pink shirt with white dots and a hat with a large bird feather, devoted most of her speech to delivering messages of hope. “Peace comes in waves of exhaustion, in waves of enlightenment and in waves of simple love,” she said. “We do have power. We have the power to love each other,” she added. “We have the power to be the nation we dream to be.”

commercial shipping docks in Portsmouth

Shipping has always been central to Portsmouth’s economy and character. Northeast Marine Development, the city’s newest shipping company, is continuing a tradition of marine based industry that began when the Port City was first settled in 1623. Dale Wood, originally from North Hampton, is the venture capitalist behind Northeast Marine Development. He said he chose Portsmouth as the shipping company’s new hub because it is a “geographically underutilized port.” It’s easier for manufacturers to export their products from Portsmouth than from Boston or Portland because it is centrally located and more easily accessible, Wood said. “You can move three containers to Portsmouth in a day, rather than one to Boston,” he said.

The availability of warehouse space and the potential for rail access also attracted Wood to Portsmouth. Reviving the railroads leading into the port would be a boon for commercial shipping.

The cargo will include a variety of commodities and manufactured goods. “As long as it’s not hazardous, we’ll ship it,” Wood said. Cargo will come and go from Portsmouth on ships as long as 450 feet, with a carrying capacity of 320 TEU (20-foot equivalent units). The ships, which can reach speeds up to 13 knots, will travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia, before continuing on to locations throughout the world. They began arriving in Portsmouth on Sunday, July 22.  

In the past 18 years, several shipping companies have attempted to use the port. Wood believes his efforts will be successful “because we are so well funded.” He explained that most individuals who show interest in the port hope to be subsidized by the state, which is what happens at most major ports. When they are unsuccessful in securing subsidies, they give up. “We put up our own money to do it, so we’re the ones taking the risk instead of the state. We were the only ones willing to step up to the plate,” Wood said.

Dover community trail moves closer to completion

A community trail network will soon enable Dover residents to get downtown without using a car. The Dover Master Plan, last updated in 2000, recommended a community trail to provide both recreation and alternative transportation opportunities for residents. The City Planning Department recently submitted a funding proposal to the state, bringing Dover one step closer to becoming a more walkable city.

The trail will be open to pedestrians, bicyclists and non-motorized vehicles. “It gives people the opportunity and ability to get out of their single occupancy vehicle,” said City Planner Bruce Woodruff. City officials also hope to provide residents with a number of transportation options, including a fast transit rail system. They also want to add more downtown parking for cars to provide a comprehensive list of transportation options. “They all fit together,” Woodruff said.

The trail will follow a former railroad bed through much of the city, with a trailhead at the transportation center on Chestnut Street. It will provide a pedestrian friendly connection to downtown and public access to protected greenways along the Cocheco and Bellamy rivers. Rural extensions of the trail will provide opportunities for bicycling, hiking, bird watching and fishing. A portion of the trail will parallel Sixth Street, providing an alternative path to Liberty Mutual, Measured Progress and other employment centers.

In 1999, Dover applied for a federal transportation enhancement grant under the auspices of the City Transportation Improvement Program. In 2000, the proposal was accepted and the project was given 80 percent federal funding. The city came up with the other 20 percent with funds from the city’s capital improvement plan, and additional funding came from the city’s conservation fund. With construction costs rising, the city has been forced to seek still more funding from the N.H. Department of Transportation.

The city is currently focusing on three major pieces of the trail, according to Woodruff. First, the railroad bridge over the Cocheco River must be rehabilitated. A deck, railings and lighting will be added to make the bridge more pedestrian friendly. Second, the city is working closely with residents living on a section of the trail from Washington Street to Folsom Street. City officials want to make sure that portion of the trail won’t have a negative effect on residents living there. The third big project is to open up the Silver Street underpass with a man-sized culvert and ample lighting. The combined cost of completing these three projects would be between $700,000 and $800,000.

Democracy Factory’ opens in Somersworth

Voters struggling to sift through the Democratic flood of campaign rhetoric this primary season will find a new resource in Somersworth. The Democracy Factory information station held an opening celebration on Saturday, July 14, at 65 Green St. Although a minor zoning scuffle delayed the actual opening, creator Hiram Connell said he hoped to have the station up and running sometime this week.

Connell said he was motivated to create the Factory by frustration over trying to get in contact with presidential campaigns to volunteer. “Before the Internet, most people didn’t know where to go to get information about a candidate,” Connell said, noting that voters relied on the media to inform them about candidates. “What I thought was, ‘Gee, what about a storefront where we can at least let people know that we have information about all the candidates, how to volunteer, where to volunteer and even sit down and have discussions?’”

Connell, former chair of the Somersworth Democrats, informed all the Democratic campaigns in advance of the July 14 event, and volunteers from every campaign except Mike Gravel’s showed up. Many curious passersby popped in during the opening event to pick up campaign information, he said.

The storefront carries informational pamphlets, rally signs, bumper stickers and pins for Joe Biden, Hilary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson. It also has information about how to register to vote and where the Somersworth polling stations will be located. Connell, who is paying the rent out of his own pocket, said he will probably keep the storefront open all the way through the general election in November 2008.

Volunteers from the Somersworth Democrats will run the facility, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Connell said Connie Margowsky and Lorraine Eckland, both members of the executive committee of the Somersworth Democrats, were instrumental in getting the Factory started.
For more information, call The Democracy Factory at 692-2142.