News

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will host its 2026 Business Showcase, underwritten by Breezeline, on Wednesday, April 1, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, located at 150 Wakefield Street in Rochester. Event sponsors include Corporate Sponsor Service Credit Union and Rochester Recreation & Arena. Participating businesses are…

The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to announce “Rococo Crab”, an art exhibition featuring works by Lydia M. Kinney in the Bernier Room at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, beginning February 9, 2026. Lydia Kinney is a painter working in structured and layered abstraction. Based in Greenfield, Massachusetts, where she lives…

UPDATE: The original nomination deadline of February 18, 2026, has been extended. Nominations will continue to be accepted, and the Commission will determine and announce a new submission deadline in the coming weeks. Once a new cutoff date is established, it will be posted publicly. Nominations received after the final deadline will be reviewed for…

Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the property at 86 Wakefield Street, located adjacent to the historic Gafney Home. This strategic purchase supports CAPSC’s expanding efforts to serve older adults in Strafford County through safe, affordable housing opportunities. CAPSC — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1965…

A Downtown Parking Ban will be in effect from Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 11:00pm through February 27 at 7:00am. 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 at (603) 332-4096. To…

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the Chamber’s Business of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Rochester’s Citizen of the Year awards. The Business of the Year Award recognizes a Chamber member business in good standing that has demonstrated excellence in its industry and made substantial…

A message from the Greater Rochester Community Health Foundation: The Greater Rochester Community Health Foundation (GRCHF) is seeking community members from Strafford County to serve on its Board of Directors. You can learn more about GRCHF here. The GRCHF Board of Directors is made up of individuals who live, work, or volunteer in Strafford County….

Vouchers for Veterans and the City of Rochester are excited to announce that heroism will be on display this Memorial Day weekend (May 23–25, 2026) on the Rochester Common. Flags of Honor is a stirring and unforgettable display of 550 full-size American flags arranged within and around the mile-oval park, with each flag dedicated to…

A message from the SHARE Fund: Local hockey fans can look forward to the return of the Boston Bruins Alumni to Rochester Ice Arena at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 28, for a rematch against the Share Fund Marvels. The Boston lineup, expected to include Reggie Lemelin and Hoe Mullen, will face off against Marvels,…

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Richard W. Creteau Regional Technical Center at Spaulding High School, along with their Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter, will host a Business After Hours on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. This special event will take place at R.W….

Cornerstone VNA proudly recognizes and celebrates the remarkable 36 years of volunteer service of Stella Marcotte, a longtime resident of Rochester, NH. Stella first became an office volunteer in 1990 when she began serving with the Rochester Visiting Nurse Association. She continued her volunteer service following the 2000 merger of Rochester VNA and Rural District…

A message from the Rochester Opera House: Reviews are in: “Saw this opening night. Lots of laughs! The glitches of opening night made it even funnier!” “Don’t miss it! Great show, lots of laughs. Fun night out.” Audiences are LOVING IT! Have you gotten your tickets to the Murder Mystery at the Rochester Opera House…

The Rochester Mental Health Alliance is inviting community members to take part in several upcoming events focused on connection, education, and seasonal fun. From the 2nd Annual Valentine Warmth & Wellness Gathering on February 20, offering activities like chair yoga, gratitude sharing, and safety resources, to a series of Suicide Prevention Trainings held across the…

In this episode of the Rochester, NH History Podcast, explore downtown Rochester in the mid-20th century, when Main Street offered a glimpse into everyday life in communities across the country. From the 1940s through the 1970s, Rochester’s downtown was more than a place to shop, it was the lively center of the community, where soda…

The Rochester Public Library recognizes Pam Hubbard, a Rochester resident and Library Trustee for 27 years, for her longstanding service and dedication to the community. Hubbard has given back to Rochester throughout her adult life. In addition to serving as a library trustee, she taught high school literature, served on the school board, and represented…

A Vision Board Workshop will be held on Saturday, February 14, from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm in the Community Room at the Rochester Public Library. The event will begin with a guided meditation to help participants reflect on their goals for the year, followed by a creative session building personalized vision boards. All supplies…

The City of Rochester is pleased to announce the successful closing and execution of a redevelopment agreement for 16 Bridge Street, formerly known as Saint Elizabeth Seton/Holy Rosary High School. Finalized on January 22, 2026, the agreement is between the City of Rochester and 16 Bridge Street Development, LLC, led by local developer Steven K….

Winter Festival will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 1–3 p.m. at Rochester Common (139 S. Main Street). The free, family-friendly event includes music, hot cocoa, s’mores, a touch-a-truck, and ice skating. Attendees are encouraged to bring food donations for the Raider Station Food Pantry at Spaulding High School. The event is hosted…

The Rochester Police and Fire Departments will host Skate with a First Responder on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at the Rochester Ice Arena, located at 63 Lowell Street. The community skate will run from 12:00–1:30 p.m., followed by Rochester’s Annual Guns & Hoses Hockey Tournament from 1:30–6:00 p.m., featuring Rochester and Dover fire and police…

An update from Rochester Recreation & Arena: We might be right in the middle of winter, but, at the Rec Dept, we’re already dreaming of spring! This spring, we’re planning lots of opportunities for fun and fitness for people of all ages! You can view the full program guide here: 2026 Spring Program Guide Highlights:…

A message from the Rochester Mental Health Alliance: Join our Strafford County Addiction Task Force for this annual conference aimed at bringing information, evidence-based programs and best-practices related to the prevention, treatment, recovery and reduction of harm from substance use and mental health to our partners in Strafford County & beyond!

A Downtown Parking Ban will be in effect from Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am on January 30, 2026. 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 at…

The Rochester Public Library Teen Room invites teens to enjoy a variety of events and activities throughout the month of February. The Teen Winter/Spring Reading Program is going strong! Raffle prizes are awarded at the end of the program, including an art kit, water bottles, reading baskets, Pokémon cards, games, and more! Teens can sign…

Cornerstone VNA proudly recognizes and celebrates the remarkable 37-year career of Janice Howard, Life Care Director, as she retires from the organization, and announces Katie Michaud, MS, OTR/L, as the new Community and Life Care Director, effective January 5, 2026. Janice began her career with Cornerstone VNA in 1988 as a Certified Nursing Assistant with…

A Downtown Parking Ban will be in effect from Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 11:00pm to 7:00am on January 29, 2026. During this time, no vehicles without an exemption permit may be parked on City streets or in municipal parking lots. For general inquires and concerns, contact the Department of Public Works at (603) 332-4096….

A message from the Rochester Opera House, a local 501c3 nonprofit organization: 2026 Takes Center Stage Here at The Rochester Opera House! It’s the 25th anniversary of the Murder Mystery here at the Rochester Opera House, and we’re celebrating! With previous themes such as dancing competitions, shows, circus, campgrounds, and puppets, we now bring you…

Ward 5 School Board members Sam Oliver III and Erik White will be hosting a community engagement session on Monday, February 2, starting at 6:00 pm, in the Community Room at the Rochester Public Library. The informal event is open to all Ward 5 residents to ask questions, discuss recent school board activities, and raise…

Due to the winter storm and hazardous road conditions, the decision has been made to suspend all services on Monday, January 26, 2026. “The prediction of 18-24” of snow means travel on the roads will be very challenging on Monday, including for customers travelling to and from bus stops. We feel this is the most…

For Immediate Release and DistributionWaste Management, Turnkey Landfill & Residential Drop-OffWeather Closure Notice Due to the impending inclement weather, Waste Management will close the Turnkey Landfill and Residential Drop-Off on Monday, January 26, 2026. This decision is being made to ensure the safety of both our employees and the public. Closing the site will allow…

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that it will hold its Annual Meeting Breakfast on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. The event, underwritten by Eversource and hosted and catered by Frisbie Memorial Hospital, will take place at the Frisbie Memorial Hospital Community Education & Conference Center. 2025–2026…

UPDATE: The Winter Festival, previously scheduled for Saturday, January 24, has been postponed due to the forecasted cold weather. Recreation staff and event partners agree that the low temperatures would pose a danger to both participants and volunteers. A new date will be announced shortly. We hope everyone stays warm this weekend, and we look…

The Franklin Gallery will host a February exhibit entitled Wicky – Wacky – Woo…and Some Wild Artworks Too!, a peculiar assemblage of mix-and-match images. One never knows what will erupt from the volcanic mind of Berwick Arts Multiple Ross Alan Bachelder, and yet he clearly likes it that way. Throughout the month of February, visitors…

A message from Rochester Main Street: Attention Spaulding High School seniors: the Rochester Main Street Downtown Scholarship will be opening soon. Students will apply through Guidance using the SHS Local Scholarship Application. This single, easy application is used for dozens of local scholarships, including ours. To be eligible for the Rochester Main Street Downtown Scholarship,…