ROCHESTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Emerge Salon & Novelty held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. at its new home at 1 Old Dover Road in Rochester. The ceremony celebrated the salon’s move from Somersworth to Rochester and a new chapter in its story. Co-owners Delilah Smith and Judy Ring were joined by representatives from the…
The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and the Rochester Mental Health Alliance will be hosting “Building Your Bank of Resilience”, a community discussion featuring Dr. Naomi Hall and Recovery Friendly Workplace, on November 17, 2026, from 8:00 am to 9:30 am. Read the flyer below for additional details.
A message from the Rochester Historical Society and Museum: This is a reminder to our members and members of the public that the Rochester Historical Society is pleased to have back a man who has documented the life of Bucky Lew, the first black basketball player. Chris Boucher has re-done his fine story of Bucky…
The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce was pleased to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in celebration of the grand opening of Lilac City Laundry. The ceremony took place on September 28th, 2026, at 1:00 PM at 31 Hancock Street in Rochester, NH. Locally owned by Spiro Moulis, Tina Moulis, and John Kiriakou, Lilac City Laundry has…
The Rochester Public Library Teen Room invites teens to enjoy a variety of events and activities throughout the month of October. The Teen Fall Reading program started on September 8th and runs through December 20th. Kids ages 11 entering 6th grade through age 18 can sign up anytime on the Beanstack app or at https://rplnhreads.beanstack.org/….
About the Events Help improve our waterways and support native fish populations! The Rochester Conservation Commission and Great Bay Trout Unlimited are partnering to host two clean-up events. Join them to pick up litter along the river bank. Be prepared to get dirty! 161 South Main Street 710 Columbus Avenue October 3rd October 17th rain…
Rochester Youth Football and Legacy Cheer (RYFLC) hosted its first homecoming weekend this past weekend, with all three levels of the program competing on home turf in front of a packed and enthusiastic crowd. Friday: Community Spaghetti Dinner Team parents organized a spaghetti dinner Friday night for players and their families. Food was generously donated…
A message from Rochester Main Street: On Saturday, October 3, Downtown Rochester will be filled with pumpkin decorating, games, Trunk-or-Treat, vendors, activities, and plenty of reasons to bring the family downtown. If you’ve been meaning to make plans, this is the time to do it. Come spend part of the day downtown, check out the…
On September 23, 2026, Mayor Chuck Grassie attended the Dover City Council meeting to settle a friendly bet he made with Mayor Dennis Shanahan. The bet was placed on the outcome of a recent football game between longtime rival varsity football teams, Spaulding Red Raiders and Dover Green Wave. Each mayor agreed to wear the…
The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to announce “Titanic”, an art exhibition featuring works by Paige Speight in the Bernier Room at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, beginning September 8, 2026. Paige Speight lives in Bar Harbor, ME, where she currently works in maintenance. Her art practice often explores vulnerability and…
The Stafford County Public Health Network will host a free Family Movie Night on October 9 at 6:00 pm at YMCA Camp Coney Pine, 49 Lowell St. in Rochester. Families are invited to an outdoor showing of Encanto, which begins at 6:30 pm. The alcohol- and substance-free event also gives families a chance to enter…
Rochester Colonial Moments, a historical series highlighting notable moments from Rochester’s past, in collaboration with the Office of Mayor Chuck Grassie, is brought to you by Patrick O. Connelly, Rochester, New Hampshire, historian. In this edition: Rochester N.H. First Meeting House Part II In the original town divisions plot, the first meeting house was located…
Twenty-six volunteers were recognized during an awards luncheon at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, September 15. Susan Murphy of Rochester, NH, presented a $10,000 donation for Hope on Haven Hill On Tuesday, September 15, the Kraft Family and New England Patriots Foundation celebrated the 2026 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Winners. They recognized 26 volunteers for…
A message from the Rochester Opera House: “A person’s a person, no matter how small!” Join us for this magical musical adventure from October 16 to November 8, and discover just how far your imagination can take you. Based on the works of the legendary children’s author, Seussical weaves together some of Dr. Seuss’s most…
The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce an upcoming session for its Skill Up! Series, an educational program designed to support business growth and professional development within the Greater Rochester business community. The Skill Up! Series features sessions led by local business experts, providing insights into practical and timely topics relevant to…
On Monday, September 21, 2026, the Commission for Arts and Culture presented the 2026 recipients of the Rochester Arts Awards during a public reception held at RPAC in downtown Rochester. Click here to read more.
This step-by-step video walks you through accessing the website, signing in to your account, finding a program, selecting the appropriate household member, and completing the checkout process to finalize your registration. Whether you’re using a desktop computer, phone, or tablet, this guide will help make registering for programs quick and easy. To learn more about…
The Rochester Opera House invites the community to PorchFest, a free outdoor music festival featuring more than 50 local bands, duos, and solo artists performing on over 20 stages throughout downtown Rochester on Sunday, October 4, 2026. According to organizers, participating musicians are generously donating their time and talents to support the RPAC Scholarship Fund,…
The Rochester Public Library is now accepting donations of new and gently used Halloween costumes for children, teens, and adults. The upcoming costume swap will take place from Thursday, October 1, to Saturday, October 31, 2026. You can drop off your donations at the Main Desk during regular hours of operation. For more information and…
The Spaulding High School Red Raider Football team, in partnership with the Red Raider Mothers Club (Spaulding Football Boosters) and Rochester Veterans Council, invites the community to the 1st Annual “Salute to Service” football game on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., as the Red Raiders take on the Manchester Memorial Crusaders. This special…
Golden Dog Adventure Co. and Cornerstone VNA will host the 2nd Annual Paws & Purpose – A Fundraiser for Pet Peace of Mind on Sunday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cornerstone VNA, 178 Farmington Road in Rochester. This free, dog-friendly community event raises funds and awareness for Cornerstone VNA’s Pet Peace…
On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Shawn Pierce, Chairman of the Commission for Arts and Culture for the City of Rochester, presented the 2026 recipients of the Rochester Arts Awards to the City Council. A public reception will be held at RPAC, located at 32 North Main Street, on Monday, September 21, at 6:00 pm. To…
With National Thank a Police Officer Day taking place last Saturday, September 19, the Thank a Rochester Cop Committee is encouraging residents, businesses, and organizations to help “paint the city blue” and show their appreciation for the Rochester Police Department. This week, students from Spaulding High School’s art program helped prepare for the celebration by…
The Rochester Public Library is pleased to announce that September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. In collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the nation, the Rochester Public Library aims to highlight the wide variety of resources available through membership. From physical and digital book borrowing to educational resources and community events,…
In this episode, we will explore the ‘Year Without a Summer’ in 1816, as well as lost buried treasure in the local woods. You may be asking, what does a cold and frosty summer have to do with buried treasure? Trust us, it all connects. The Rochester Historical Society and Museum is located on Hanson…
The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is proud to present a State of the City breakfast forum on Friday, October 2nd, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:00 AM. This event, generously sponsored by Eversource and Lilac Club Casino, offers attendees a valuable opportunity to hear directly from Mayor Chuck Grassie and City Manager Katie Ambrose. During…
The Rochester Public Library will host an informational presentation on Green Burials on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, in the Community Room. The event is an opportunity for attendees to learn more about green burial practices, which is an approach that minimizes environmental impact, honors the cycle of life, and works…
The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will be hitting the streets on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, to thank its members during its annual Operation Thank You. Sponsored by Newburyport Bank and Waste Management, Operation Thank You is the Chamber’s membership appreciation day where all Chamber members are thanked for their contributions and support. Those in…
The Rochester Public Library is pleased to present the works of New Hampshire-based artist James Belcher during the month of September on the First Floor of the Library. Belcher describes his work as follows: “New England landscapes have been the primary source of inspiration for my oil paintings. As a native of New England, my…
The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will hold its 52nd Annual Golf Tournament, underwritten by Waste Management, on Thursday, September 24th, at The Oaks Golf Links. The format for this tournament will be a Scramble that will begin at 9:00 am. The all-inclusive tournament fee of $245 per player includes a continental breakfast, greens fee,…
Rochester Colonial Moments, a historical series highlighting notable moments from Rochester’s past, in collaboration with the Office of Mayor Chuck Grassie, is brought to you by Patrick O. Connelly, Rochester, New Hampshire, historian. In this edition: Rochester N.H. First Meeting House Part I The Town Charter required a meeting house be built by proprietors. Authorized…
The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts (RMFA) is pleased to announce a slate of upcoming exhibitions, featuring a diverse group of contemporary artists whose work explores memory, identity, landscape, abstraction, and material experimentation. Opening this fall and continuing into 2027, the exhibitions will introduce visitors to both emerging and established artists working across a wide…
Now through the end of September, the Franklin Gallery, 33 N. Main Street in Rochester, presents “Tidbits,” an offering of abstract paintings by The Abstract3. Originally called The Abstract4, one of their members, Barbara Adams, passed away early this summer. Despite their sad loss, the group decided to carry on and press on with their…