In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Betsey Andrews Parker, Chief Executive Officer of Community Action Partnership of Strafford County. This episode kicks off Season 5's special focus on nonprofits serving the Dover and Seacoast area.
Betsey explains that CAP, which traces its roots to President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, operates as an umbrella organization providing a wide range of services including fuel assistance, weatherization, Head Start early childhood programs, food distribution to 24 soup kitchens and pantries, homeless shelters, senior housing, domestic violence and human trafficking programs, and home visiting services for newborns. She emphasizes that many working families qualify for assistance without realizing it, with programs serving households earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level. CAP operates on a $20 million annual budget, with 84% coming from federal sources that require matching funds. Betsey discusses her background in public health and bioterrorism preparedness, including work on pandemic planning that proved valuable during COVID-19. She stresses the importance of partnerships with municipalities, other nonprofits, and the community, noting that CAP's 120 employees work collaboratively to serve residents. Volunteers and donors can find opportunities at straffordcap.org, and the organization's main office is at 577 Central Avenue in Dover, with additional locations in Farmington and Rochester.
In This Week in Dover History, we look back at the inauguration of city officials on Jan. 6, 1925, when Mayor John P. Morrison took office amid crowded Council Chambers at City Hall. The segment contrasts Dover's partisan, bicameral government of the past with today's nonpartisan City Council-City Manager system, while noting that the tradition of January inaugurations continues to this day.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, the second of two parts, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with outgoing Mayor Robert Carrier, then speaks with Brian Early and Erin Bassegio about what Dover's public bodies were up to in December.
Carrier reflects on his tenure in city government, including his time on the City Council and serving as mayor. He discusses major accomplishments during his time, including the waterfront project and the construction of a new high school. Carrier highlights the city's improved financial position, professional city staff, and collaborative relationships between elected officials and administrators. He emphasizes the importance of consensus-building and open communication, expressing confidence in Dover's incoming leadership. The mayor shares advice for his successor about working effectively with councilors and maintaining the city's forward momentum on key initiatives.
Brian Early, from the city's Media Services Department, and Erin Bassegio, a city planner, review December meetings held by Dover's various boards, commissions, and committees. They summarize actions taken by the City Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, School Board and other public bodies throughout the month.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, the first of two parts, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with retiring Mayor Bob Carrier about his deep roots in Dover and lifelong commitment to community service. Carrier, who grew up on Hill Street in Dover, shares memories of his childhood in the 1950s and 60s, attending Horn Street School and Dover High School before earning a business and marketing degree from Plymouth State College. Despite his educational background, Carrier followed his family's tradition by entering the building trades, establishing a successful contracting business.
Throughout the conversation, Carrier reflects on his extensive volunteer work, including leadership roles with Dover Baseball and various community boards. He discusses how Dover has changed over the decades, from bustling downtown businesses to evolving neighborhood dynamics. Carrier emphasizes that his community involvement has always been about contributing rather than seeking recognition, a philosophy instilled by his parents.
The episode concludes with Carrier explaining how he entered politics through a special election following the death of his mentor, Ward One Councilor Robert Keays. Keays, whom Carrier had supported as campaign manager, asked Carrier on his deathbed to consider running for council. When candidates Carrier deemed unsuitable entered the race, he decided to run, launching an 18-year career on the City Council that included six years as mayor. Carrier's time on the City Council and as mayor are the subject of part two of this series.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. about the upcoming orientation process for newly elected City Councilors and School Board members. Joyal explains that the orientation is required by the city charter and serves to prepare elected officials to serve as the board of directors for Dover's municipal corporation. The orientation covers essential topics including ethical considerations, finance, legal requirements like the Right-to-Know Law, and New Hampshire's lack of home rule, which limits municipalities to only what state law allows.
Joyal discusses how the orientation has evolved to include joint sessions with both the City Council and School Board, fostering collegiality and mutual respect between the two bodies. With five returning councilors and four new members in the incoming council, the orientation provides valuable information for newcomers while serving as a refresher for returning members. The sessions are scheduled for two Thursdays in December. Following the orientation, an inauguration ceremony will take place on Jan. 5, where officials will be sworn into office. Within the first 90 days, a goal-setting session will be held to establish priorities that guide the council's two-year term and inform staff decision-making. Joyal emphasizes that despite the corporate structure, the community remains the primary focus, with all officials serving as stewards of public resources and public trust.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's oldest hook and ladder company, formed on December 21, 1831, as the Volunteer Hook and Ladder Company and later known as the Lincoln Hook and Ladder Company Number One. The company maintained an annual banquet tradition throughout its existence, with the 80th anniversary celebration in 1911 attracting hundreds of attendees and city dignitaries at the Knights of Columbus Hall. By 1924, it operated the oldest horse-drawn fire apparatus in New England before transitioning to motorized equipment. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1931 and remained one of the state's oldest fire companies for many years.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with project managers Jamie Stevens and Matt Gibbons about two major infrastructure projects. Stevens discusses the Henry Law Avenue and Payne Street reconstruction project, which was originally designed in 2004 but paused for waterfront development. The project design is now complete and expected to go out to bid in January 2026, with construction breaking ground sometime next year. The biggest change since 2004 is enhanced stormwater management, including a massive underground treatment facility that will be installed beneath the former swimming pool area in Henry Law Park.
Gibbons provides updates on the Court and Union streets reconstruction project, which began after Labor Day 2024 with contractor SUR Construction. This complete roadway reconstruction evolved from an original water main replacement project and now includes subsurface utility replacement, new five-foot-wide ADA-compliant concrete sidewalks with granite curbing, and improved traffic patterns. The 5,000-foot Court Street project and 800-foot Union Street section will be completed in phases through late spring or early summer 2027. Notable improvements include reconfiguring the Back Road and Court Street intersection from a Y-intersection to a T-intersection.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dennis Bentley, a Dover educator who taught grades 5 through 12 during his 34-year career. Bentley began as a high school English teacher in 1971, later taught at Dover Middle School for 18 years, and served as principal at both Woodman Park School and Garrison Elementary School before retiring in 2005.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker hosts conversations about energy efficiency projects and provides monthly updates on board and commission activities. Parker speaks with the City's Resilience Coordinator, Lexi Merchant, and Facilities Project Manager, Eric Sanderson, about the city's partnership with Energy Efficient Investments to conduct energy audits of municipal buildings and implement energy savings performance contracts. The team discusses how these contracts work, focusing on solar installations and HVAC improvements at facilities like the McConnell Center, wastewater treatment plant, and fire stations, with the goal of achieving budget-neutral upgrades paid for through energy cost savings. Later, Parker is joined by Brian Early of Media Services and Planner Erin Bassegio to review November activities from city boards and committees. Topics include the City Council's work on the Capital Improvements Program, a new ordinance allowing muzzling of dogs deemed vicious under state standards, the groundbreaking for Dover High School's athletic complex, and the School Board's fiscal year 2027 budget process. Bassegio also discusses the Zoning Board of Adjustment's approval of a duplex variance and announces upcoming openings on the Energy Commission.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Christine Sieks and Doug Glennon about holiday festivities and downtown Dover activities. Glennon discusses Communitively's initiatives, including First Friday Shop Local events, the Holiday Stroll featuring hot cocoa and s'mores stations in Waldron Court, Plaid Friday promotions encouraging shopping at local businesses rather than big box retailers, and the Autumn Art Amble, organized by Susan Hanna. Sieks explains the Light Up Dover project, formed by 14 volunteers when the previous organization could no longer continue. The initiative focuses on three main goals: lighting the tops of downtown buildings, creating a mural on the old Earcraft building, and dramatically enhancing the community Christmas tree. The tree lighting is scheduled for Dec. 5, with 40 boxes of ornaments and hundreds of lights. Both guests emphasize the growing collaboration among various Dover organizations including Dover Main Street, the Arts Commission, Dover Doers, and the Holiday Parade organizers. They highlight how different groups are learning to work together rather than separately, pooling resources and coordinating efforts for greater community impact during the 2025 holiday season and planning ahead for 2026.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Thanksgiving week in 1925, when Dover residents enjoyed holiday dining at establishments like the Magnet Restaurant and Kimball Tavern, entertainment at the Strand and Orpheum theaters, and Ethel Mae Shorey's 10th annual Thanksgiving performance at the Dover Opera House.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Jamie Stevens, project manager for Dover's waterfront development, about the significant progress made on the project over recent months. Stevens describes the substantial visual improvements to Nebi Park, including green grass, tree and shrub plantings, sidewalk installations, lighting systems, and the erection of the pavilion building's timber frame structure, which should be weather-tight within a month. The park features multiple distinctive areas designed to connect users with the water, including the Granite Bridge deck area with rustic hand-split granite blocks, an overlook area with an illuminated flagpole and etched city seal, and the Great Lawn sitting area near the pavilion. The understory area offers an urban walkway with a stabilized stone path designed to provide a woodland experience while connecting residents with nature. Stevens highlights the innovative stormwater management systems incorporated throughout the site, featuring approximately six different processes to retain and treat surface water. The project will continue through winter months, with Stevens now transitioning to also manage the Henry Law Park reconstruction project, ensuring seamless coordination between the two initiatives. Both Parker and Stevens express pride in transforming the former recycling center site into what they describe as a game-changing community asset, scheduled for spring 2026 completion. Stevens recently provided a video tour of the site, which can be viewed at https://dovernh.viebit.com/watch?hash=zaq1xQCWYnGGgSC3
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about a tragic celebration in November 1856, when Dover Democrats planned a jubilant event atop Garrison Hill to commemorate James Buchanan's presidential election. The centerpiece was a War of 1812 British cannon transported from Portsmouth Shipyard. During the celebration's salute, the cannon fired prematurely, instantly killing shoemaker John Foss and seriously injuring George Clark, who died hours later. The cannon remained on Garrison Hill, fired only once more in 1875, before being moved to the Woodman Museum after repeated vandalism.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Doug Dodd, a longtime builder and developer who has written a memoir about growing up with a father who contracted polio. Dodd's father developed bulbar poliomyelitis during the 1955 polio epidemic in eastern Massachusetts and spent nearly a year at Massachusetts General Hospital before returning home, where he lived in an iron lung for roughly 20 years. Despite his paralysis, Dodd's father remained an active presence in his children's lives, managing the household, helping with homework, and serving as a father confessor to the neighborhood. Dodd describes how his father never presented himself as helpless, instead focusing on others and maintaining his authority as a parent. The book, titled "Our Father Who Art in an Iron Lung," explores these memories and the choices people make when facing adversity. Dodd shares how writing the memoir brought him closer to his sisters as they revisited shared experiences. He discusses memorable moments, including rebuilding a Volkswagen engine with his father despite the challenges of working around medical equipment. The book is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop.org, and local bookstores including the Book Nook in Portsmouth. Dodd is considering a companion volume featuring stories from others whose lives were touched by his father's resilience.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Police Chief David Terlemezian and Fire Chief Perry Plummer about plans for a Sept. 11 memorial, and with Brian Early of Media Services and City Planner Erin Bassegio about October Planning Board and City Council activities.
Terlemezian and Plummer discuss the community initiative to create a permanent memorial for the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. The chiefs explain how the Dover Police Charities and firefighters' organizations have committed to helping fund the project, which will honor four victims with Dover connections and serve as a "field trip-worthy" educational site downtown. Mayor Robert Carrier launched the initiative during this year's Sept. 11 recognition ceremony. The memorial committee, comprising municipal employees and residents, is working with a private property owner to secure a visible, accessible downtown location for annual remembrances.
Early and Bassegio provide updates on the October Planning Board and City Council meetings.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with City Clerk/Tax Collector Jerrica Vansylyvong-Bizier about Dover's upcoming municipal election on Nov. 4, 2025. Voters will elect a new mayor, six city councilors (one per ward), two at-large councilors, six school board members, and various election officials. While the school board races are uncontested, several city council races are contested.
Vansylyvong-Bizier explains that existing registered voters need only bring photo ID to their unchanged polling locations, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. New residents must provide photo ID plus proof of Dover address, and can register at City Hall through October 27th or at polling places on Election Day. Recent law changes now require photo ID for absentee ballot requests, and new voters must prove citizenship through documents like birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers.
The city's election webpage -- https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/open-government/election-information/2025-municipal-election/ -- maintains updated candidate information and financial disclosure forms. While this municipal election typically sees lower turnout than state or federal races, Vansylyvong-Bizier emphasizes that local elections directly impact residents' daily lives and encourages maximum participation.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Franklin Academy, Dover's first brick public building, incorporated in 1818 on Central Avenue. The private college prep school operated for 75 years, closing in 1896 after educating generations of local youth.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Planning Director Donna Benton about Dover's Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Benton explains that the CIP is a long-range planning document for purchasing or constructing capital assets. The process begins in early summer when departments submit project requests, which are then reviewed by a committee including the finance director, planning director, and city manager.
The CIP encompasses diverse projects ranging from water and sewer line work to facilities improvements, recreation projects, and technology upgrades like network improvements. Each project must align with Dover's master plan and meet the city's financial policies. Benton notes that while there's no shortage of desired projects, capacity constraints in both staffing and funding require careful prioritization.
Notable projects in the current CIP include the Broadway neighborhood improvements, which have been long-awaited since 2017, recreation court reconstruction, street tree and lighting improvements, and the Pointe Place roundabout. The fire department has also freed up approximately $1 million through strategic equipment purchases, allowing for reallocation to other projects.
The CIP undergoes public review through the Planning Board and City Council, with public hearings scheduled in October and November. The Planning Board ensures alignment with the master plan while the City Council handles the financial approval. Projects with debt financing can begin before July 1st, though actual construction timing depends on whether design work has been completed.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the devastating 1956 fire that destroyed Meyer Siegel's Central Avenue store, occurring just as he returned from court defending his right to open on Sundays.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, the fourth episode in a series on the history of the Cochecho River, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras and Dana Lynch about the decades-long journey to redevelop Dover's waterfront. The conversation traces the project's origins back to the early 1990s when Maglaras, then mayor, formed the city's first waterfront task force. Lynch, a civil engineer who chaired the task force, discusses how the initial vision centered on mixed-use development with public access to the river.
The guests describe numerous challenges and setbacks, including community concerns that waterfront development would compete with downtown businesses, the 1990 recession, and the difficulty of securing financial commitments without proper due diligence, such as soil surveys and environmental studies. A pivotal 1996 charrette helped generate momentum, leading to requests for proposals from developers. However, the project experienced significant delays, including a nearly decade-long pause during the Great Recession.
Both guests emphasize that the lengthy timeline, while frustrating, allowed for crucial community consensus-building through thousands of public meetings. They credit the 2010 Cochecho River bridge with symbolizing the connection between downtown and the waterfront. Lynch, who said he became emotional at the 2023 groundbreaking, reflects on the countless volunteer hours invested over three decades. Both men express pride in seeing the project finally come to fruition, noting it will expand rather than eclipse downtown Dover. They acknowledge the contributions of former city planner Steve Bird and numerous other volunteers who maintained momentum throughout the challenging development process.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with David Terlemezian, Dover's newly appointed Chief of Police. Terlemezian, who has served the Dover Police Department for nearly 30 years, discusses his journey from patrol officer to chief, sharing how his career path evolved after starting as an economics major at UNH and discovering his passion for law enforcement through an internship with the New Hampshire State Police.
Chief Terlemezian addresses the challenges of modern policing, including national narratives about law enforcement and maintaining officer morale. He emphasizes that Dover's police department benefits from strong community support due to professionalism, quality training, and effective hiring practices. With nearly 100 employees, including about 50 sworn officers, the department has hired 19 officers between 2020 and 2023, creating a need for enhanced training programs to address experience gaps.
The new chief outlines his priorities, including conducting individual meetings with every department employee and implementing brief "primer trainings" on essential skills. He explains the rigorous hiring process for new officers, which typically takes about a year from initial testing through academy graduation and field training. Terlemezian also discusses the importance of specialized assignments within the department as both recruitment and retention tools, allowing officers to develop varied careers within the organization. He stresses that policing is fundamentally about human service, noting that in a community of 34,000 residents, officers frequently interact with the same individuals in different capacities over time.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the launch of Dover's innovative "Bag and Tag" program on Oct. 7, 1991, which dramatically reduced residential waste by more than half while increasing recycling rates above 50%. The program, pioneered by citizens like Earl Goodwin and Councilor Gary Gilmore, became a model for other New England communities and will transition to automated carts in 2027.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce President Margaret Joyce and Event Coordinator Jed Allen about the upcoming Apple Harvest Day festival, followed by a monthly recap of city government activities with Media Services' Brian Early and Planning Department's Erin Bassegio.
Joyce and Allen detail preparations for Dover's 41st annual Apple Harvest Day on Oct. 4, which expects 50,000-60,000 attendees and features more than 300 vendors. This year's major change involves consolidating all parking and shuttle service at Liberty Mutual's campus. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with road closures on Central Avenue, Third Street and portions of Henry Law Avenue. The event includes a 5K road race at 8:30 a.m., two entertainment stages, food vendors and craft booths. Vendor applications sold out by early April, the earliest ever, with 50 people currently on a waiting list.
Early and Bassegio review September's City Council and Planning Board activities. The City Council approved fire department equipment purchases and set November municipal election hours. The Planning Board approved major residential projects, including 250 units at the former Liberty Mutual site and amendments to the former McIntosh College development. The board also endorsed the high school athletic complex reconstruction project, which has now received final approvals and is going to bid.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with retiring Chief of Police William Breault, who is concluding nearly 27 years with the Dover Police Department. Breault reflects on his law enforcement journey, which began in Massachusetts before he moved to New Hampshire in 1998 after responding to a regional hiring advertisement. He discusses his career progression from patrol officer through various roles including detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain before becoming chief in 2018.
Breault emphasizes his philosophy of mastering each position rather than constantly seeking promotion, crediting this approach with his career longevity and success. He highlights his pride in Dover's innovative social work program, which addresses non-criminal issues and connects community members with support services rather than defaulting to law enforcement responses. This approach, he explains, frees up officers for other duties while improving overall community quality of life through three dedicated social workers.
The conversation touches on Breault's role in overseeing construction of the new police station and parking garage, describing the challenges of managing architects and construction teams while addressing community concerns about downtown disruption. Breault concludes by expressing gratitude for Dover's collaborative culture and announces his upcoming move to become police chief in South Burlington, Vermont.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the Cocheco Printworks' brief reprieve in September 1911, when workers received encouraging news about the facility's future, though the printworks would ultimately close in 1913, ending Dover's textile manufacturing legacy and making way for what is now Henry Law Park.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Tim Dargan and Scott Johnson, former chair and vice chair of the Dover Business Industrial Development Authority. Dargan served on the board for nearly 30 years (1997-2024) as a commercial banker, while Johnson joined around 2010 as an entrepreneur who had previously been helped by the authority when relocating his business to Dover in 2005. Both discuss their roles in advancing Dover's economic development goals, particularly focusing on attracting quality manufacturing businesses that create good jobs and generate tax revenue rather than low-impact warehouses or storage facilities. They explain how the board evaluated potential businesses, considering factors like job quality, traffic impact, and tax base contribution while maintaining high building standards in Enterprise Park. The conversation covers the evolution of the authority's mission, including a shift toward addressing affordable housing needs in recent years as economic growth created housing shortages for workers.
Both Dargan and Johnson reflect on significant changes during their tenure, including the transition from city-led land acquisition and development to more private-sector involvement, rising construction costs, and Dover's improved reputation, making it easier to attract businesses. They emphasize the importance of diverse board membership, bringing different expertise, and describe their experience as fulfilling civic engagement that contributed meaningfully to the community's economic success.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about an 1883 advertisement featuring Dover's Wingate store that appeared in newspapers nationwide, promoting Hunt's Remedy, a popular patent medicine of the era that claimed to cure kidney disease and other ailments but was largely ineffective despite clever marketing tactics.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras in the third installment of their series on the history of the Cochecho River. This episode focuses on the beginnings of waterfront redevelopment in Dover during the 1980s.
Maglaras discusses how the mills were struggling by the 1980s, with many upper floors abandoned, and how the city had repeatedly owned and sold various mill properties through bankruptcy cycles. As a planning board member, he worked with Tim Sheldon to create the Urban Mixed Use (UMU) district, transforming the waterfront from restrictive industrial zoning to encourage mixed-use development and private investment.
The conversation reveals how outdated zoning requirements made development nearly impossible, with tiny lots requiring massive minimum square footage for industrial buildings. Maglaras describes the vision of converting mill buildings into mixed-use spaces with residential units on upper floors, similar to successful projects in other former mill towns.
The episode also covers some dramatic alternatives that were considered, including a shocking plan to fill in the Cochecho River with a culvert system and create a sewage lagoon at the Upper Narrows. Maglaras explains how his father and other thoughtful citizens fought against these environmentally destructive proposals.
The discussion touches on the area's rich commercial history, including shipyards, beaches, and general stores that relied on river commerce, as well as the federal dredging projects that supported Dover's economy from the 1830s through 1906.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover School District Superintendent Dr. Christine Boston about the 2025-26 school year, then reviews recent city government activities with Erin Bassegio from the Planning Department and Brian Early from Media Services.
Parker and Boston discuss the major changes facing students and families, particularly the new state-mandated cell phone ban that prohibits devices from "bell to bell." Boston, who has 17 years of experience in Dover's school system in various roles, explains how the district will implement the policy while balancing safety concerns and the needs of parents. She also highlights positive developments, including a 93% staff return rate, the restoration of middle school teaming structures, new playground equipment plans, and upcoming celebrations for the middle school's 25th anniversary. Boston discusses the district's new strategic plan, which runs through 2030, focusing on student well-being and equity, as well as the exciting athletic complex project at the high school.
Bassegio reviews Planning Board actions from August, including approvals related to the waterfront development project, a McDonald's proposal on Grapevine Drive, and various residential developments. The board addressed zoning amendments, conditional use permits, and site plans while managing significant community input on several projects.
Early covers City Council's budget-focused agenda, including rescinding debt authorizations for the High School Athletic Complex project, funds for Broadway paving, and a Dover Housing Authority grant sponsorship.
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Aaron Williams about the Strong Towns movement and its local group in Dover. Williams explains that Strong Towns was founded by civil engineer Chuck Marohn, who identified that North American communities were building more infrastructure than their tax base could sustainably maintain. The movement focuses on practical, data-driven solutions to urban challenges like street safety and housing crises.
A key concept discussed is the distinction between "roads" and "streets," - roads are designed for efficient movement between destinations, while streets serve as platforms for community collaboration and wealth creation. Williams argues that mixing these functions creates dangerous "stroads" that are neither efficient for travel nor conducive to local business activity. The conversation explores how Dover can orient its infrastructure toward constituents rather than just traffic flow.
Williams describes his group, Strong Towns Seacoast, which meets monthly at Juniper Kitchen and advocates for incremental improvements to Dover's transportation infrastructure. Their recent successes include supporting curb bump-outs on Central Avenue and advocating for expanded bike lanes throughout the city. Parker discusses ongoing projects, including pedestrian crossing improvements that should be completed by year's end.
The discussion also touches on housing policy, with Williams explaining how Strong Towns advocates for zoning changes that allow neighborhoods to adapt and grow while preserving character. Both speakers emphasize the importance of small, incremental changes that can be implemented quickly rather than waiting for large, comprehensive projects.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover residents' concerns in 1925 regarding a potential national coal shortage and the rising cost of living.