Dover Download

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Kevin McEneaney, the president of Dover400, and Dover400 board member Stephanie Bolduc about the special events the nonprofit committee has planned in the coming weeks and months for Dover's 400th anniversary this year.

In This Week in Dover History, we look back 100 years to one local newspaper's work to report up-close and personal.

On this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Rick Mikulis, chair of the Arena Commission, and Recreation Director Gary Bannon about the commission's role and work.

In This Week in Dover History, we look back 100 years to Memorial Day in 1923.

On this episode of Dover Download, and in recognition of Public Works Week, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Community Services Director John Storer and Deputy Director of Community Services David Fredrickson about public works in Dover. National Public Works Week is observed annually during the third full week of May, which this year is May 21 through 27. It’s a time to reflect and recognize the importance of public works in an organized society and shed light on the essential role that public works employees play in society. Public works help keep communities strong by providing an infrastructure of services in transportation, water, wastewater, and stormwater treatment, public buildings and spaces, parks and grounds, solid waste, and right-of-way management. They are what make communities great places to live and work.

In This Week in Dover History, we revisit the 50th anniversary of Foster's Daily Democrat, celebrated 100 years ago in 1923.

On this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with the City of Dover's Director of Human Resources Susan Daudelin about the city as an employer.

In This Week in Dover History, we step back 100 years to 1923 and a special Mother's Day.

On this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Heather Twombly, chair of the Recreation Advisory Board, and Recreation Director Gary Bannon about the Recreation Advisory Board's role and work.

In This Week in Dover History, we step back 100 years to explore the arrival of the "scarifier" to Dover.

On this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover Arts Commission members Cliff Blake and Nancy Vawter about the commission's work, including several ongoing projects and initiatives. Blake and Vawter also share an update on efforts to erect a monument in Dover to mark the birthplace of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

In This Week in Dover History, we are joined by Dover Recreation Director Gary Bannon for a look back at the history of the city's skate park on River Street. Bannon also discusses what's in store at the city's new skate park, which is under construction.

On this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker interviews Dover's Assistant City Engineer Jillian Semprini. They discuss the Downtown Pedestrian and Vehicular Access Improvements Project, which aims to enhance the safety and accessibility of downtown streets for everyone, regardless of age, physical ability, or mode of transportation. The project builds upon a study conducted in 2015.

In This Week in Dover History, we uncover a history mystery involving soldiers and sailors.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Margaret Joyce and Hope Anderson from the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce about what to expect from the Chamber over the next few months, including the annual awards gala in May and the Cochecho Arts Festival this summer.

In This Week in Dover History, we meet the Dover woman who would be unwittingly but forever linked with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Jackson Kaspari, the City of Dover's Resiliency Manager, about the City of Dover's Resiliency Plan, including what it includes and how it's prepared. Kaspari also provides an update on the Community Power initiative.

In This Week in Dover History, look back at Dover's transition from a town to city.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover's new Business Development Coordinator James Burdin. Burdin and Parker discuss the role of the new position as well as what's in the works at the Office of Business Development.

In This Week in Dover History, we take you back to a Dover High sports team that was the first of its kind in the country.

In this episode of Dover Download, another "in our "A Day in the Life" series, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker discusses the role of the City's Finance Department with Finance Director Dan Lynch. The work of the Finance Department includes the preparation and assembly of the annual operating budget, as well as the day-to-day management of the city's fiscal health.

In This Week in Dover History, we take a trip back to Dover's dungeon.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover Police Lt. Marn Speidel and City Engineer Ken Mavrogeorge about traffic safety and traffic calming, including the three E's of traffic safety: Engineering, Education, and Enforcement. They also discuss the role of Dover's Transportation Advisory Commission. 

In This Week in Dover History, we remember a Dover builder with a vision at the turn of the 20th century.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Erin Bassegio, the Planning Department's Outreach Coordinator, and Planning Director Donna Benton about the ongoing work to update the Vision Chapter of the City's Master Plan. The Vision Chapter aims to captures the long-term view of the City by residents and stakeholders. 

In This Week in Dover History, we look back at the work of a Dover woman whose tireless efforts helped pave the way for women to vote. It was this week in 1910 that she declared her candidacy for governor.

In this episode of Dover Download, another in our "A Day in the Life" series, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker digs deeper into the work of the Office of the City Clerk and Tax Collector with City Clerk Susan Mistretta.

In This Week in Dover History, we look back at a former winter attraction in Dover that drew thousands to the city.

In this episode of Dover Download, another in our "A Day in the Life" series, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker digs deeper into the work of a police officer with Police Chief William Breault and Police Officer Dennis Elbert.

In This Week in Dover History, we remember a World War I veteran from Dover who received a special and overdue honor in his final year.

In the latest episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Don Briand, whose voice was heard on Dover's radio airwaves for decades. In addition to his familiar voice, Don Briand is also known for emceeing many of Dover's special events, including the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce annual awards gala, and the inauguration ceremonies of Dover's elected officials. Briand was named Citizen of the Year in 2015.

In This Week in Dover History, we catch up with local historians Mark Leno and Thom Hindle to look back at one of the city's worst fires. For more information about the fire, as well as the book they collaborated on about the fire, see the video mentioned in this week's episode here: https://youtu.be/W2GlOqOLMNU.

In this episode of Dover Download, another in our "A Day in the Life" series, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker takes a deeper dive into Community Services, the department responsible for the city's roads and streets, maintenance of city facilities, the water and wastewater systems and infrastructure, public cemeteries, and much more. Joining Chris to talk about why every day at Community Services is different is Inventory Coordinator Bill Purpura, a longtime Community Services employee, Superintendent of Public Works and Utilities Mike Nadeau, and Community Services Director John Storer.

In This Week in Dover History, we look at the evolution of winter sports and the Dover Arena.

In this episode of Dover Download, another in our "A Day in the Life" series, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker discusses the planning and logistics of plowing city streets and roads during a snowstorm. Helping dig into the nuts and bolts of the city's plowing operations are Superintendent of Public Works Joe Boucher, Heavy Equipment Operator Brian Landry, and Director of Community Services John Storer.

In This Week in Dover History, we take a trip back a few decades to revisit when public kindergarten came to Dover.

In this episode of Dover Download, the first of season two, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Erin Bassegio, the Planning Department's Outreach Coordinator, and Planning Director Donna Benton about the department's outreach efforts.

In This Week in Dover History, we look back to one of the city's most devastating fires, which destroyed an entire city block and destroyed one of the city's biggest businesses. 

In this episode of Dover Download, the last of season one, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker introduces "A Day in the Life," an occasional series showcasing various city services and functions. This episode digs deeper into the work of a firefighter with Fire Chief Michael McShane and Firefighter Jonathan Demers.

In This Week in Dover History, we look back to a radio program that sparked a Christmas Day fire in downtown Dover.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker discusses how Dover Police and the City of Dover are responding to mental health calls for service and needs with Dover Police Chief William Breault and Police Social Worker Kaitlin Jones. Among the topics discussed in this episode are how police are responding to those in need of mental health services, the role of the Police Department's social worker, and the recently released strategic plan for how the City of Dover plans to address significant rise in demand for mental health services.

In This Week in Dover History, we look back to one of the first fire companies in Dover and New England.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker sits down with Mike Gillis, the city's director of Media Services, to answer some of the questions received from listeners and residents. Some of the topics include community engagement, the City Manager and City Council form of government, and plans for the redesign of the city's website. 

In This Week in Dover History, we look back to the holiday ham caper of 1924.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Cathy Beaudoin, Dover's former longtime library director, a local historian, and a past Citizen of the Year. Parker and Beaudoin discuss a variety of topics, including the history of Dover's mills.

In This Week in Dover History, we look back to 1924 and one of the worst storms to hit Dover.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker discusses infill development and how it's used in Dover. Infill development typically involves reusing underutilized urban land for new construction. Parker is joined by Dover's Director of Media Services, Mike Gillis.

In This Week in Dover History, we revisit a terrible tragedy atop Garrison Hill.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Deputy Mayor Dennis Shanahan about the city's new ward boundaries, and why the boundaries changed after the last Census. In February, the City Council adopted new ward boundaries through an ordinance change to ensure near-equal representation in Dover’s six wards based on the 2020 Census data.  

In This Week in Dover History, we remember a longtime Dover volunteer whose name remains synonymous with a number of projects and initiatives.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Community Services Director John Storer and Environmental Projects Manager Gretchen Young about stormwater. Stormwater, which comes from ran, snow and other precipitation, is absorbed by soil and plants or remains on impervious surfaces, like pavement or rooftops. Young and Storer discuss how Dover manages stormwater runoff, including the possible creation of a stormwater utility, which has been recommended to the City Council by a committee formed to look at stormwater funding options. 

Once one of the largest fraternal orders in the country, the Knights of Pythias were well established in Dover. This week, in 1933, was an important time for the Pythians in Dover. We look back at why in This Week in Dover History.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker talks with City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. and Director of Media Services Mike Gillis about how citizens can stay informed and be engaged.

The Lothrop family businesses were once staples in the downtown. In this segment of This Week in Dover History, we look back to a day when the J.E. Lothrop Piano Company turned potential tragedy into good business.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker talks about the city's strategic planning and how Dover's Master Plan works, including its history and which chapters of the plan are currently in the works.

Dover's form of government -- City Council-City Manager -- hasn't always been how the city governed. In This Week in Dover History, we look back to when the city's form of government changed, and some of the challenges it faced along the way.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Director of Planning and Community Development Donna Benton about the Capital Improvements Program (CIP), and how it helps the city manage its infrastructure over several years. The proposed CIP for 2024 to 2029 will be presented to the Planning Board and City Council during a joint session on Sept. 21, 2022. 

For more information about the CIP, visit https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/planning/special-projects/cip/.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Rad Nichols, the executive director of the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation about the COAST mission, the role of public transit, state funding, and COAST's future plans.

When a United States president addressed a crowd in Dover from a public square in 1902, he drew thousands to the city. Find out which president in This Week in Dover History.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Jackson Kaspari, the City of Dover's Resilience Manager. Kaspari discuses how the City of Dover is supporting a commitment to become a more resilient community, and the Resilient Dover initiative. 

Conscription of soldiers was first used during the Civil War, and Dover saw many of its men drafted. Find out how Dover reacted to the draft in This Week in Dover History.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Planning Board Chair Gina Cruikshank and Director of Planning and Community Development Donna Benton about development in Dover and the role of the Dover Planning Board, following up on last week's episode about the planning process in Dover.

In 1925, more than 20,000 people flocked to Dover to witness the unveiling of new technology that promised to shed light on the city's dark side. Dover's Director of Media Services, Mike Gillis, illuminates the story in This Week in Dover History.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Director of Planning and Community Development Donna Benton about the planning process for projects before the Planning Board, including departmental review by city staff and the Technical Review Committee process. Also discussed are some of the upcoming projects before the Planning Board or already approved.

Did you know Dover once boasted an Opera House that seated more people than any entertainment venue in the state? Find out what happened to Dover's Opera House in This Week in Dover History with Dover's Director of Media Services, Mike Gillis.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover Housing Authority Executive Director Ryan Crosby about the DHA mission, as well as the need for more attainable housing.

In This Week in Dover History, Dover's Director of Media Services, Mike Gillis, revisits Dover's remarkable Marilla Marks Ricker, a woman of many firsts.

In this episode of Dover Download, Recreation Director Gary Bannon chats with Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker about how Dover's McConnell Center transitioned from a former school to a successful community center. The McConnell Center now boasts a variety of nonprofit organizations, as well as city and school facilities, including the Butterfield Gym, Fitness Center and Community Senior Center. 

In This Week in Dover History, Dover's Director of Media Services, Mike Gillis, recalls the death of Plato Waldron, who was born a slave in Dover.

The annual Cochecho Arts Festival enters its 36th year this week, on Friday, July 8, with the Headliner Series performance by the Compaq Big Band. In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce President Margaret Joyce and Community Events Manager Hope Anderson about what's lined up for this year's festival, including a new concert series: Concerts from the Patio, at the Children's Museum of Dover.

Later in this episode, Library Director Denise Lafrance returns to discuss summer programs at the Library, the elimination of fines, the launch of the Library's redesigned website, and a new digital service long requested by patrons.

In This Week in Dover History, Dover's Director of Media Services, Mike Gillis, recounts an Independence Day tradition that lasted for many years at a former Dover tavern on Silver Street.

Dover's Recreation programs and services are well regarded throughout the community and beyond. Much of that is thanks to Gary Bannon, the City of Dover's Recreation Director. In this episode, Bannon, who has been with the City of Dover for more than three decades, chats with Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker about Dover's Recreation Department, its programs and services, and what the future might hold. Bannon also discusses what the community can look forward to for this year's Fourth of July fireworks display. 

In This Week in Dover History, we unravel the story about a man with only one name who newspapers hailed as a Dover phenomenon. There is more to that story than meets the eye. 

With spring and summer comes a bloom in road work, including citywide paving projects. In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker and Director of Community Services John Storer discuss this year's paving projects and infrastructure projects, including the water system work on north Central Avenue, and Washington and Main streets. Storer also provides an update on work in the pipeline leading up to the city's 400th anniversary in 2023.

In this episode of Dover Download, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker discusses what's happening at the Dover Public Library with Library Director Denise Lafrance, including the Library's new roof and future plans to address space needs. 

Watch for the City of Dover, New Hampshire's new podcast, Dover Download, a weekly look at what's happening in your city. Each episode is hosted by Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker, who takes a deeper dive into the services, programs and projects throughout the city.