News

The Rochester Public Library is pleased to announce it is one of approximately 1,280 Carnegie Libraries across the United States to receive a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The gift is part of the Carnegie Libraries 250 initiative, a national effort honoring the legacy of the […]

A Downtown Parking Ban will be in effect from Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 11:00 pm through 7:00 am on Friday, December 5, 2025. During this time, no vehicles without an exemption permit may be parked on City streets or in municipal parking lots. For general inquiries and concerns, contact the Department of Public Works […]

Monarch School of New England welcomed its dedicated work-based learning partners on Thursday, November 13, for a special Employer Appreciation Breakfast held at the school’s High School and Vocational Center. The event honored the local businesses and organizations that open their doors to Monarch students, providing meaningful job-training, skill-building, and career exploration opportunities throughout the […]

A message from Jen Daly, Spaulding High School Art Teacher/Great Bay Adjunct: This fall, the Advanced Painting–Early College class at Spaulding High School took a trip to Studley’s to photograph some of their amazing flowers. This week, in conjunction with the Festival of Trees, the paintings created from photographs taken in September will be on […]

The Franklin Gallery at RiverStones Custom Framing, 33 N. Main Street, Rochester, will host a December exhibit entitled From Seaside to the City, featuring the work of local artist Pete Weissbrod. This exhibit presents a progression of liminal scenes—starting coastal in the morning and daytime, moving through the forest, and finishing with city scenes at […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to assist with traffic control for Rochester’s Holiday Parade on Sunday, December 7. Volunteers will be stationed along the parade route to help manage barricades, direct motorists, and provide information on alternative routes. Their support is essential to ensure the parade can take place and run […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Holiday Events Committee is pleased to announce a Holiday Collection to benefit SHARE Fund. The Chamber is collecting donations to support individuals and families in need. Donations of the items listed below may be dropped off at the Chamber of Commerce, located at 18 South Main Street in Rochester, […]

In anticipation of this week’s winter storm, the Willand Warming Center will offer extended hours to ensure guest safety. The center will be open continuously from Monday, December 1 at 4 PM through Wednesday, December 3 at 9 AM, with Tuesday, December 2 open all day and overnight. Pickup locations and times for guests are: […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce’s is pleased to announce that First Seacoast Bank will host a Holiday Business After Hours on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. This special event will take place at First Seacoast Bank’s Rochester branch located at 17 Wakefield Street in Rochester, NH. First Seacoast Bank invites […]

Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC) is proud to have hosted another successful round of Harvest Meals, a beloved tradition amongst our Early Care and Education children, teachers and families, leading up to Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27. Over the course of three days, we served nearly 500 parents, family members and caregivers who […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is seeking entries for this year’s “Christmas In Candyland” holiday parade, underwritten by First Seacoast Bank and scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 4:00pm. Rochester’s parade features an array of floats from businesses, community groups, and youth organizations, as well as high school marching bands, marching units, mobile […]

The Rochester Public Library Teen Room invites teens to enjoy a variety of events and activities throughout the month of December. The Teen Fall Reading Program runs through January 1. Raffle prizes will be awarded at the end of the program, including an art kit, reading baskets, a LEGO kit, a Fire tablet, and more. […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a special year-end membership promotion. Businesses that join the Chamber before December 31, 2025, will receive a free promotional e-blast, providing a valuable opportunity to promote their business, upcoming events, or special offers. The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is an active organization of businesses […]

The Knights of Columbus, Fr. McDonald Council 2048, are proud to announce a $2,400 donation to the Monarch School of New England, located in Rochester, NH. According to Amanda Gebo Martineau, director of community engagement, the donation will provide 480 meals to students at the school. Curtis Lalonde, Grand Knight of the Fr. McDonald Council, […]

Cornerstone VNA, a local nonprofit provider of high-quality, skilled care at home, is pleased to announce the 39th Annual Jane Cooper Fall Lights of Love Celebration, taking place on Wednesday, December 3, at 5:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Rochester, NH. Cornerstone VNA is delighted to return to this welcoming church to […]

Last weekend, the City of Rochester Trustees of the Trust Fund worked with volunteers from the Rochester Rotary Club and Spaulding High School to clean up the Old Rochester Cemetery, located behind U-Haul on South Main Street. According to Rotary President Tracy Hardekopf, Rotary members were happy to attend the cleanup, as it aligns with […]

Thanksgiving morning will mark the 24th running of the Free Fall Classic 5K Walk and Run. The SHARE Fund is excited to announce that they have taken over as the race organizer. “Race proceeds have always gone to support Rochester charities, including the SHARE Fund, so this new venture feels very fitting,” said Regina Flynn, […]

On November 6, Dismas Home of New Hampshire welcomed local business leaders, community partners, and government officials to a Hard Hat Tour of its newly purchased property at 6 Healthcare Drive in Rochester. The event marked an exciting milestone in Dismas Home’s mission to expand its proven recovery and reentry program to serve an additional […]

The Department of Public Works (DPW) has selected the 2025 Christmas tree for the Downtown Holiday display. This year, the tree was donated by Diane and Eben Huston of 22 Skyline Drive. The Hustons have lived on this property for over 30 years. The tree was planted in 2003 and was given to Diane by […]

The 10th Annual Hometown Christmas musical celebration will take place on Saturday, December 6th, at 5:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, located at 34 South Main Street in Rochester. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, with free admission for children under 12. Following the show, attendees are invited to enjoy free […]

The year is almost over, but there’s still so much to see at the Rochester Opera House! On Friday, November 21, it’s Mamma Mania time—New York City’s premier ABBA tribute band! How can we resist ya? Not only will we experience the magic of one of pop music’s most legendary bands, but the performers of […]

The Trustees of the Trust Fund are pleased to announce recent distributions to assist Rochester residents with food and heating needs during the winter season. Due to the uncertainty many families are experiencing, the Trustees held a special meeting to approve additional funding for local assistance programs. The Trustees unanimously approved a $6,000 distribution from […]

Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC) has begun preparations for its upcoming Thanksgiving Meal Basket Program. So far, more than 950 families have signed up for the program, which will provide a Thanksgiving dinner designed to feed a family of four to those facing financial difficulties within Strafford County. On average, the Thanksgiving and […]

This year, Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC) is partnering with Hannaford for a special food drive; one that will aim to fuel the Thanksgiving Meal Basket Program offered by CAPSC. On Saturday, November 15, CAPSC employees will host the food drive, handing out suggested donation lists containing Thanksgiving Basket specific items, such as […]

The City of Rochester reminds residents about parking regulations during Snow Emergencies. Snow Emergency parking bans may be declared periodically throughout the winter season. During a Snow Emergency, no on-street parking is allowed for the duration of the ban. Parking will also be restricted in all City parking lots except those listed below: 60 Wakefield […]

The Granite State Choral Society is thrilled to announce its inspiring Fall 2025 concert series, Through Love to Light: A Journey in Song. Under the direction of Music Director Sandra M. Thomas, the choir will present two performances on the weekend of November 22 and 23, inviting audiences to experience an evening of uplifting and […]

The Department of Public Works will temporarily shut off water service on Dodge Street on Wednesday, November 12, between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., to complete a gate valve replacement. During this time, Dodge Street will be closed from Rochester Hill Road to Preston Street. Residents and emergency vehicles will be allowed access. Customers in […]

Join the Rochester Mental Health Alliance and the Strafford County Public Health Network for a free community screening of Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield Street. For additional details, contact [email protected].

The Rochester Historical Society will host a presentation on the city’s railroad history on Thursday, November 13, at 6:00 p.m. Former RHS president David Miller will explore Rochester’s experience with train travel and transportation, drawing on his recent research in the society’s archives. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, […]

The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to announce East Coast Skateboarding, an art exhibition featuring works by Michael Cirelli in the Bernier Room at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center. Michael Cirelli began skateboarding at the age of 8 and picked up a film camera at 16 to document and photograph his […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce announces the launch of its 2025 Small Business Season, a community-wide initiative sponsored by Rochester Economic Development to champion the importance of supporting local businesses throughout the holiday season. Beginning November 1 and continuing through the end of the year, Small Business Season aims to reacquaint residents with the […]

Would you like some extra cash just in time for your holiday shopping this year? The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for its annual “Christmas Cash Dash 50/50” Holiday Raffle, underwritten by Meredith Village Savings Bank. Tickets are $25 each, and every ticket is a […]

The Age of Railroads transformed America—connecting coasts, driving industry, and reshaping communities from coast to coast. But what did that revolution look like here in Rochester, New Hampshire? In this episode, we trace the arrival of the Great Falls and Conway Railroad in 1849, when the first trains rolled into town and forever changed its […]