In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Community Service Director John Storer about major construction projects underway and planned for Dover. The episode also features updates on City Council and Planning Board activities from May.

Parker and Storer discuss the downtown streetlight replacement project, which began as a pilot program near Franklin Square and will expand along Central Avenue from the railroad tracks toward Broadway. The city is replacing 22 additional lights and hopes to complete the project by fall. They also cover the phased replacement of 15 downtown street trees, pedestrian safety improvements including bump-outs at First and Second streets, and lighting upgrades south of the Central Avenue Bridge.

Major infrastructure projects include a $10 million Court and Union Street reconstruction starting this summer, water main replacements on Broadway and Oak Street, and the upcoming Henry Law to Payne Street reconstruction following Apple Harvest Day. Storer highlights the $20 million Central Avenue gateway project from Silver Street to Stark Avenue, which requires extensive right-of-way coordination and federal compliance.

Brian Early reports on City Council activities, focusing on the proposed $20 million Dover High School athletic field improvements at Dunaway Field. The Council will hold a public hearing June 11 and vote June 25. Other Council actions included approving Community Development Block Grant funding and public art projects.

Erin Bassegio summarizes Planning and Zoning Board decisions, including subdivision approvals, variance requests, and a housing development at 566 Sixth St. that was ultimately approved after an appeal.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Suzanne Weete, a 24-year Dover resident and community mental health advocate who works at Community Partners, a local community mental health center. Weete discusses her role in founding the Dover Mental Health Alliance, a grassroots coalition dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and education in the community.

The conversation explores the evolution of mental health awareness, noting how younger generations are more open to discussing mental health challenges compared to previous generations who viewed such issues with stigma. Weete emphasizes that mental health and physical health are equally important, drawing connections between the opioid crisis, the pandemic, and increased mental health needs in the community.

A significant focus of the discussion centers on Mental Health First Aid training, which Community Partners provides through a federal SAMHSA grant through October 2027. Parker shares how effective this mandatory training has been for Dover city staff, enabling them to recognize and respond to people in emotional distress. The conversation also touches on the Dover Mental Health Alliance's work toward designating Dover as a "mental health-friendly community."

Key mental health resources mentioned include:

988 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)

833-710-6477 (New Hampshire Rapid Response mental health crisis line)

Community Partners: https://communitypartnersnh.org/

Dover Mental Health Alliance: https://dovermentalhealthalliance.org/

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's 1927 Poppy Day celebration, when veterans' organizations held fundraising events at the Opera House and sold poppies to support disabled and needy veterans and their families, connecting this historical tradition to Memorial Day observances.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with COAST Bus Executive Director Rad Nichols and Operations Director Michael Williams.

COAST operates both fixed-route bus services, connecting 10 communities, and demand-response services for older adults and people with disabilities across 13 communities in the greater Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine. The organization is primarily funded by federal government support and municipal contributions. Their fixed routes run from Farmington to Portsmouth, with branches to Somersworth and Berwick, operating Monday through Saturday from as early as 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Nichols and Williams discuss their technology offerings, including an app that shows real-time bus locations and a texting service at (603) 743-5777 for immediate assistance. They provide updates on their facility expansion project, which is in the final design stage and will include indoor storage for their fleet.

Recent initiatives include "Fare Free Saturdays" sponsored by local businesses ($2,500 per day), which has increased ridership by 20-28%. Overall ridership has grown significantly, up 28% last fiscal year and an additional 15% so far this year, attributed to new residents, returning riders, and changing commuting patterns, particularly between Dover, Somersworth, and Rochester.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about an 1885 scandal involving Peter Gagne, who abandoned his wife and children and eloped with Delia Thebeault to Dover. The couple sought work at Isaac Lucas's brickyard, presenting themselves as husband and wife, but were soon apprehended by an officer from Biddeford, Maine.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with former Planning Director Steve Stancel about his career with the city from 1986 to 2007, followed by a conversation with City Engineer Ken Mavrogeorge about Public Works Week activities.

Parker and Stancel discuss Stancel's journey from growing up in Dover to becoming its planning director. Stancel reflects on major accomplishments during his tenure, including rezoning initiatives that transformed Dover from a primarily residential community to a more balanced economic center. He highlights successful projects like the Liberty Mutual development, the Children's Museum of New Hampshire relocation, the McConnell Center renovation, and the waterfront development. Stancel emphasizes how his knowledge of Dover's history helped shape thoughtful planning initiatives. The conversation touches on challenges they overcame, including environmental protection efforts and infrastructure development that positioned Dover for future growth.

In the second segment, Mavrogeorge previews the upcoming Community Services Open House on May 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 271 Mast Road. The free event features a touch-a-truck exhibit, vendor booths, complimentary ice cream, and activities for children. Mavrogeorge explains how Community Services encompasses everything from roads and utilities to park maintenance, highlighting employment opportunities within the department. He notes the event offers visitors a chance to learn about public works operations, tour facilities, and discover career options.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Kirt Schuman about his 15-year tenure on the Dover Planning Board. Schuman shares his journey from joining the Main Street Design Committee in 2004 to eventually becoming Planning Board Chair. He discusses his involvement in developing the 2007 Land Use Master Plan and the 2012 Community Visioning Chapter, which prioritized downtown revitalization while balancing the preservation of Dover's diverse housing stock.

Schuman reflects on the board's evolution in the early 2000s, praising predecessors like Ron Cole for their efficient meeting management and mentorship. He highlights significant achievements including the adoption of form-based code in 2010, downtown rezoning, and the revolutionary shift from parking minimums to maximums. Throughout the conversation, Schuman emphasizes the importance of thoughtful, community-engaged planning processes and the value of balancing development and community vision.

The interview concludes with Schuman encouraging community involvement, noting that local engagement is the most effective way to make an impact, build relationships, and contribute to tangible community improvements like the Dover waterfront development.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's first responders in honor of Firefighter Appreciation Day and National Police Week. Mike Gillis traces the evolution of Dover Fire and Rescue from bucket brigades in the 1600s to today's professional service responding to over 7,100 calls annually under Fire Chief Perry Plummer. He also highlights the Dover Police Department's history from night watchmen to becoming New Hampshire's first accredited police department in 1988, now handling 35,000 calls yearly under Police Chief William Breault.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with John Swartzendruber, a former Planning Board member who served from 2003 until the 2010s. This is the third episode in a series looking back at the Planning Board over the years. Swartzendruber discusses how he joined the board after his father-in-law, who had been a planning director in Portsmouth, suggested he get involved in the community. He reflects on the positive experience of working with a diverse group of board members and city staff, highlighting the camaraderie and teamwork. Swartzendruber mentions notable projects during his tenure, including Liberty Mutual's campus expansion in 2007 (from which he recused himself as a Liberty employee) and the Point Place development. He describes how planning board members received physical packets of materials delivered to their homes before meetings, a practice that has since shifted to digital delivery. Swartzendruber explains that he eventually left the board when his growing family commitments made it difficult to attend meetings consistently. He encourages listeners to consider volunteering for the Planning Board, emphasizing that no specific experience is required to make a valuable contribution.

In This Week in Dover History, we hear from Brian Early of Media Services and Erin Bassegio from the planning department about recent city activities. They discuss April City Council actions including approval of new ballot counting machines, a water main replacement project, and a contract for natural turf maintenance on city fields. The Planning Board reviewed Community Development Block Grant funding, approved a project for five single-family homes, and conducted training for members on their roles and responsibilities. Various subcommittees are working on updates to the Transfer of Development Rights ordinance and addressing community housing needs. Other boards and commissions that met include the Conservation Commission, Zoning Board, Parking Commission, and Waterfront Committee.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Ron Cole, former Planning Board chair who served from the 1990s through 2011. Cole, who passed away shortly after recording this interview, shares his journey from Gloucester, Mass. to Dover, noting both cities were founded in 1623. He discusses how he unexpectedly joined the Planning Board after initially applying to be a library trustee, and how his people skills and experience with gavels made him well-suited for the role.

Cole emphasizes the importance of respect in the planning process and respecting board members and community members who appear before the board. He recounts stories of significant community developments, including a notable interaction with a pharmacy developer and the acquisition of the Children's Museum of New Hampshire. Cole also highlights the vital importance of master planning, stating, "If you don't know where you're going, you're not going to get there."

Cole reflects on his pride in having helped shape Dover's development, noting that nearly 75% of the streets and projects in Dover during his drive around town were ones he had been involved with. He recommends Planning Board service as a way for citizens to learn about and contribute to their community.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn more about Ron Cole's life and contributions to Dover.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras, a long-time Dover public servant who served on the Planning Board in the 1980s, the first in a series of episodes looking back at the Planning Board over the decades. Maglaras discusses his transition from the state legislature and chairing the Community Development program to joining the Planning Board during what he calls a "transitional decade" for Dover. He explains how Dover was facing economic challenges with the decline of manufacturing jobs and vacant mills downtown.

Maglaras shares how the Planning Board under his leadership worked to change zoning ordinances to encourage adaptive reuse of historic buildings, particularly for residential use on upper floors. He discusses controversial decisions like rezoning residential neighborhoods to allow more housing units and revitalizing the Miracle Mile shopping area. Throughout the conversation, Maglaras emphasizes his vision of leveraging private investment to revitalize Dover, create housing opportunities, and keep residents spending their money locally. He notes that in the 1980s, 79% of Dover residents' disposable income was being spent outside the community.

The interview reveals Maglaras's perspective as someone with deep family roots in Dover who nonetheless pushed for progressive changes against resistance from the "old guard." After leaving the Planning Board in 1987, Maglaras was elected to the Board of County Commissioners and later served as Mayor of Dover, continuing his public service career.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Arthur D. Maglaras, George's uncle, who passed away in April 1987. Arthur was a city councilor and state representative known for his dedication to his constituents and held court over what some considered Dover’s “second City Hall.”