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Maple Street Magnet School and Riverwalk Committee Continuing Work to Enhance Cocheco River and Hanson Pines Trails

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  City of Rochester
Blaine Cox, City Manager
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Maple Street Magnet School and Riverwalk Committee Continuing Work to Enhance Cocheco River and Hanson Pines Trails

ROCHESTER — Some of Rochester’s youngest scientists paid a visit last week to check in on progress toward new outdoor classrooms and other amenities in the Hanson Pines and Cocheco River area.

Last spring, Maple Street Magnet School students reached out to Rochester’s Riverwalk Committee to forge a partnership that will help develop portions of the Cocheco River and Hanson Pines areas into outdoor learning spaces.

Since then, students have conducted fundraising, brainstormed ideas and contributed to planning and design of outdoor classroom spaces. The Riverwalk committee is working closely with students to identify options for other new installations, which will ultimately require the approval from the Hanson Pines Trustees and the City Council.

Students will take on an active role in navigating the approval process by presenting to the two boards and defending their proposals publicly.

On Wednesday, April 3, students and members of the committee visited those areas as a first step in the next phase of a year-long project. There they discussed ways to incorporate hands-on learning that would allow students to better connect with nature in their own community.

“When we heard about the Riverwalk Committee’s efforts to create outdoor learning spaces along the riverwalk, we knew we had to offer our newfound expertise and enthusiasm to this community project,” said fourth grade teacher Sara Cantrell. “One of the most exciting things about this project has been how closely our students’ ideas have aligned with those of the committee.”

Students have developed several ideas, which they’ll continue to work on with the committee to build upon and determine how to make them a reality. Some of their ideas included places to climb, an obstacle course, a bird watching station, science center, information stations and signage.

“One of the goals of the Rochester Riverwalk Committee has always been to incorporate aspects that can be utilized by the Rochester School District as part of its curriculum,’ Committee Chair Stacey Marchionni said. “Connecting children to the outdoors and getting them outside to learn, do hands-on projects and enjoy their natural surroundings is a huge part of our work to make these areas a true community asset.”

As part of the group’s next steps, they have identified options for outdoor classroom layouts and are working to identify and install signage that will inform visitors of all ages about the environment, wildlife and natural elements that surround them on the trails.

“We are delighted that the Maple Street Magnet School has embraced this project, as has Spaulding High School,” Marchionni added, “and we look forward to working with the teachers and students to bring this aspect of the Riverwalk project to fruition.”

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*Media Advisory* Rochester Community Members Invited to Discuss City’s Transportation Master Plan

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  City of Rochester
Blaine Cox, City Manager
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 1, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

*Media Advisory*

Rochester Community Members Invited to Discuss City’s Transportation Master Plan

ROCHESTER — City Manager Blaine Cox and Planning and Development Director Jim Campbell wish to invite residents to the first of two public discussions on Rochester’s Transportation Master Plan.

WHEN:

Thursday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Belknap Room at the Frisbie Memorial Hospital Conference Center, 11 Whitehall Road, Rochester

WHAT:

Members of the community are encouraged to attend Thursday’s meeting to share their thoughts on existing transportation conditions in Rochester, as well as their vision for options and improvements they would like the city to prioritize in the future.

The meeting is designed to serve as an open forum where residents, business owners, property owners and city officials can share their ideas about the future of transportation in Rochester. City consultant VHB will present information to attendees and collect input and ideas through a workshop format.

“This is a great opportunity for all of the stakeholders in our community to take on an active role in planning for our shared future,” City Manager Cox said. “I expect that these sessions will contribute to a robust master plan that’s inclusive of diverse, 21st century transportation options that will best serve our community.”

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Rochester Farmers Market Names New Manager for 2019

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  City of Rochester
Blaine Cox, City Manager
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Rochester Farmers Market Names New Manager for 2019

ROCHESTER — City Manager Blaine Cox is pleased to announce that the Rochester Farmers Market has named a new manager for the 2019 season.

Rochester resident Vicky Poland has taken on the responsibilities of overseeing the Farmers Market. For the past ten years Poland has organized and managed numerous events in the greater seacoast area. Along with her new role as Market Manager,
she will continue in her existing roles as entertainment manager for the Deerfield, Belknap and Stratham Fairs, as well as the Hampton Seafood Festival and Wings and Wheels Rochester.

Poland will take over for two Farmers Market founders, Jeanne Grover and Alicia Frye, who had committed to manage the organization through the 2018 season. The pair also founded the Vouchers for Veterans program, which they are now working to expand throughout Strafford County.

“I am looking forward to helping build upon the excellent market that has come to be a staple of summers in Rochester,” Poland said. “I’m also grateful for the foundation that Jeanne and Alicia have laid during their time as managers of the market, and I hope to meet as many Rochester residents as possible at this year’s events.”

The market will be held every Tuesday from 3-6 p.m. at the Rochester Commons, starting June 11 and continuing through Sept. 24. As in past years, the market will feature both a variety of quality vendors and diverse live entertainment options.

“We are very excited to welcome Vicky as the manager for 2019,” City Manager Cox said. “She is a great choice for the market, and we’re all confident that the market will continue to thrive and expand under her stewardship.”

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Rochester Residents Take Part in Coffee With the Mayor

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  City of Rochester
Blaine Cox, City Manager
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, Dec. 17, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Rochester Residents Take Part in Coffee With the Mayor

ROCHESTER — Mayor Caroline McCarley provided residents with key updates about the city of Rochester, and took part in a discussion about their individual feedback at the informal Coffee With the Mayor event late last week.

On Thursday, Dec. 13, residents and city employees joined the mayor at the Governor’s Inn for a wide-ranging discussion about what the city accomplished in 2018, as well as what they’d like to see city leaders prioritize in 2019.

The mayor praised newly-named City Manager Blaine Cox for his early work transitioning into his role following the retirement of his predecessor, Dan Fitzpatrick, and highlighted several other key developments. Among them were the re-paving of streets downtown, improved sidewalks, expanded bike lanes and the installation of new way finding signage in the business district.

The conversation was meant to give residents an opportunity to hear about the progress their city is making, and also provide critical feedback to guide the city’s future.

“I like to hear from people because it’s really helpful to know what the community is thinking,” Mayor McCarley said. “It’s on us to talk about our community, and I couldn’t be happier to have been mayor for the last three years, and I look forward to doing it for one more year.”

McCarley also noted the difficult decision to raise the city’s tax cap this year, which was done largely to ensure adequate funding of the city’s schools.

“It’s not an easy decision and it’s not one anyone was looking forward to having to make,” she said. “But, if you’re not committed to public education then, to me, your commitments are misplaced.”

McCarley said that a delegation from Rochester will be going to the state capitol soon to advocate for continued state support of the ongoing renovation at the high school’s Creteau Technology Center, and indicated that she’d ask the city council next month to identify its top three priorities for the year to come.

For her part, the mayor said she hopes to one day see a covered market take hold in the Hoffman building and is looking forward to the responses to the recently-issued request for proposals for the Scenic Theater and Salinger Block on North Main Street. She also hopes that the Rochester Fair complex will become a stronger asset for the community.

Residents at the event expressed praise for the improvements downtown, and some suggested they’d like to see improvements like better lighting at some of the crosswalks in the city. To conclude the event, attendees provided feedback about projects that they believed might improve the Riverwalk.

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