In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover School District Superintendent Dr. Christine Boston about the 2025-26 school year, then reviews recent city government activities with Erin Bassegio from the Planning Department and Brian Early from Media Services.

Parker and Boston discuss the major changes facing students and families, particularly the new state-mandated cell phone ban that prohibits devices from "bell to bell." Boston, who has 17 years of experience in Dover's school system in various roles, explains how the district will implement the policy while balancing safety concerns and the needs of parents. She also highlights positive developments, including a 93% staff return rate, the restoration of middle school teaming structures, new playground equipment plans, and upcoming celebrations for the middle school's 25th anniversary. Boston discusses the district's new strategic plan, which runs through 2030, focusing on student well-being and equity, as well as the exciting athletic complex project at the high school.

Bassegio reviews Planning Board actions from August, including approvals related to the waterfront development project, a McDonald's proposal on Grapevine Drive, and various residential developments. The board addressed zoning amendments, conditional use permits, and site plans while managing significant community input on several projects.

Early covers City Council's budget-focused agenda, including rescinding debt authorizations for the High School Athletic Complex project, funds for Broadway paving, and a Dover Housing Authority grant sponsorship.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Aaron Williams about the Strong Towns movement and its local group in Dover. Williams explains that Strong Towns was founded by civil engineer Chuck Marohn, who identified that North American communities were building more infrastructure than their tax base could sustainably maintain. The movement focuses on practical, data-driven solutions to urban challenges like street safety and housing crises.

A key concept discussed is the distinction between "roads" and "streets," - roads are designed for efficient movement between destinations, while streets serve as platforms for community collaboration and wealth creation. Williams argues that mixing these functions creates dangerous "stroads" that are neither efficient for travel nor conducive to local business activity. The conversation explores how Dover can orient its infrastructure toward constituents rather than just traffic flow.

Williams describes his group, Strong Towns Seacoast, which meets monthly at Juniper Kitchen and advocates for incremental improvements to Dover's transportation infrastructure. Their recent successes include supporting curb bump-outs on Central Avenue and advocating for expanded bike lanes throughout the city. Parker discusses ongoing projects, including pedestrian crossing improvements that should be completed by year's end.

The discussion also touches on housing policy, with Williams explaining how Strong Towns advocates for zoning changes that allow neighborhoods to adapt and grow while preserving character. Both speakers emphasize the importance of small, incremental changes that can be implemented quickly rather than waiting for large, comprehensive projects.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover residents' concerns in 1925 regarding a potential national coal shortage and the rising cost of living.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras for the second installment of their series about the Cochecho River and Dover's waterfront history. Building on their previous discussion about river pollution and cleanup efforts, Maglaras shares his extensive knowledge of the diverse industries that once thrived along the river from the late 1600s through the early 1900s.

Maglaras details how the landing area served as Dover's commercial and industrial center for 200 years, describing the six brick yards that operated along the river and supplied materials for major cities including Boston, Portland and New York. He explains the evolution from whale oil to coal gasification for lighting Dover's streets, and how the byproducts of coal tar and creosote were initially dumped in the river before finding commercial uses.

The conversation explores the shipping industry's prominence before the railroad's arrival in 1850, including stories of massive schooners like the 150-foot City of Green Bay that delivered cotton to Dover's mills. Maglaras recounts colorful local history, including Captain Flagg, a privateer-turned-pirate who became Dover's wealthiest resident and built Flagg Road (now Gulf Road).

He also describes Dover's ethnic neighborhoods, and shares memories of industrial pollution from his childhood, when mills dumped resins directly out windows onto massive piles below. The discussion illustrates how the waterfront area has been developed, demolished, and redeveloped multiple times throughout Dover's history.