Dover Download

• Cochecho Arts Festival's 39th Year: New Energy, New Features, Same Great Community Spirit

  In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Margaret Joyce and Jed Allen from the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce about the upcoming 39th annual Cochecho Arts Festival. The festival features a diverse lineup of Friday night headliners from July 11 through Aug. 15, including The Coastals, Moon Boot Lover, New Norde and Donaher, Harsh, Toby McAllister and the Sierra Sounds, and Wheel of Awesome.The festival maintains its tradition of free admission to all events, funded through generous sponsors, including the Orpheum Co-Work apartments as the main underwriter and the Rotary Club of Dover sponsoring the Friday night series. New features this year include a redesigned logo, $10 buttons offering free water and restaurant discounts, plus entry into a kayak raffle, built-in rain dates (Aug. 22 and 29), and family activities like lawn games and a t-shirt slingshot during intermissions.The children's series runs Tuesday mornings starting July 8, featuring performers like BJ Hickman, Wildlife Encounters, and magician Wayne Moulton. Additional programming includes a Saturday afternoon creative arts showcase in Henry Law Park and weekly artist booths at Friday night shows. The festival emphasizes supporting local talent while paying all performers fairly, embodying Dover's commitment to accessible community arts programming.Parker then speaks with Erin Bassegio and Brian Early for their monthly recap of June activities. Brian covers the City Council's approval of $18 million in bonding for the Dover High School athletic complex project, additional waterfront development funding, and the renaming of the Washington Street Bridge to honor fallen Marine Capt. Jack Casey. Erin reviews Planning Board activities, including approval of a major residential-commercial overlay district off Littleworth Road and various subdivision and site plan approvals.

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• A Calling to Serve: Superintendent Bill Harbron's Eight-Year Journey in Dover

  In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with outgoing Dover School Superintendent Dr. William Harbron about his eight-year tenure and upcoming retirement. Harbron reflects on what drew him to Dover from Ohio, particularly the quality and supportiveness of the Board of Education and the community's commitment to education. He discusses his role in "healing the district," as former board member Paula Glen advised him upon arrival, and how he focused on building collaborative relationships and investing in professional development.Harbron highlights key accomplishments including the development of a streamlined one-page strategic plan, the expansion of the teaching and learning department from one to four staff members, and the implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Professional Learning Communities. He emphasizes the importance of systematic thinking and collaboration, praising colleagues like CFO Michael Limanni and MTSS Director Travis Bickford for their innovative approaches.Looking toward retirement, Harbron discusses his transition to executive coaching, drawing on his experience conducting monthly one-on-one conversations with principals. He stresses that education is a "calling" rather than just a job, sharing stories about the importance of teachers connecting with students. Harbron also reflects on improving city-school relationships, crediting City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. for fostering collaboration between the municipal and school sides of Dover's government. He emphasizes his philosophy of stewardship, believing leaders should recognize when their skill set has served its purpose and it's time for new leadership.In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's 1990s exploration of creating its own municipal electric utility to escape high rates from Public Service of New Hampshire, a controversial effort that ultimately failed, but led to today's Community Power program launched in 2023.

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• Updating the Land Use Chapter of the Master Plan

  In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Erin Bassegio from the Planning Department about Dover's 2025 Land Use Chapter update to the Master Plan. Bassegio explains that this critical chapter, one of two required by the state, hasn't been updated since 2014 and encompasses much more than just land use, including demographics, economic development, housing, and community character.The city is working with Resilience Planning and Design, the same consultant from the previous update, who has completed an existing conditions summary showing that Dover's growth has been consistent and sustainable, matching earlier projections well. The steering committee includes diverse representation from the Planning Board, City Council, public members, Open Lands Committee, Industrial and Business Development Authority, and Community Housing Needs Committee.Parker and Bassegio discuss Dover's approach of updating Master Plan chapters in "bite-sized chunks" rather than comprehensive overhauls, which allows for focused expertise and community engagement. They note the connectivity between the recently updated Vision Chapter and this Land Use Chapter, with the vision serving as "pillars" and land use as the "foundation."The project is currently in the outreach phase, with the existing conditions report available on the city website. Public engagement will intensify over the summer through surveys and educational opportunities. A draft chapter is expected in fall 2025, with Planning Board review scheduled for October-November. Bassegio emphasizes the importance of educated public participation in this strategic planning process. More on the Land Use chapter can be found here: https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/planning/master-plan/land-use-analysis-/In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's 1927 Flag Day celebration hosted by the local Elks Lodge, featuring patriotic ceremonies, music, and speeches that drew a full house to commemorate American unity and citizenship.

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• Waterfront District Mid-Year Update: Buildings Rise, Park Takes Shape

  In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Rob Simmons, director of development for Cathartes, and Jamie Stevens, the city's project manager for the Waterfront Project, to discuss the mid-year progress on Dover's waterfront development.Rob Simmons provides an update on the private development portion, highlighting that the mixed-use buildings are fully framed with roofs installed, allowing interior work to begin. The project includes two main buildings (C and D) with ground-floor commercial spaces and residential units above, plus 23 townhouses in building E. Building C will house a 5,000-square-foot co-work facility and Evan Hennessey's Topolino restaurant, while building D features additional commercial space and a rooftop deck with river views. Simmons notes strong market interest, with plans to potentially start building F (condominiums) later this year and buildings A and B within 18-20 months.Jamie Stevens discusses the public improvements, including significant progress on the park infrastructure with sidewalk installation around the Riverwalk area and granite curbing work beginning on Main Street. He explains the dramatic eight-to-ten-foot elevation change between the roadway and park level, designed for flood resilience. The park will feature an overlook between the main buildings, a pavilion, lawn areas, and pathways that transition from urban concrete to more natural stone dust surfaces. Stevens also addresses construction challenges, including unexpected discoveries like corroded sheet piles that required design modifications to install a granite wall system.Both expect completion by Memorial Day 2026, with the apartment buildings opening 5-6 months earlier.

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• Building Dover's Future: A Look at Upcoming Construction and Infrastructure Projects

  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.

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