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Rochester Main Street Receives Promotion Donation
The volunteers of the Rochester Main Street Program are happy to announce the receipt of a large donation to use towards collectively promoting downtown and downtown businesses over the next few years. Local business owner Ralph DiBernardi of Jetpack Comics at 37 North Main Street has donated a First Edition, First Printing comic book of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” to Rochester Main Street to help raise funds for the organization. On behalf of the Main Street Organization, Jetpack Comics placed the first edition on Ebay, with a reserve bid, where it was purchased by an undisclosed collector in the seacoast area. After the return period had expired, sales fees, insurance, and shipping and handling charges were deducted, Rochester Main Street received a check for $4,400. Since these funds were received from a promotional opportunity, it is intended that they will be utilized to help offset costs in promoting events and business opportunities in downtown. According to Rochester Main Street Executive Director Michael Provost “This is an excellent example of local businesses and the Main Street organization working together to promote the downtown through events and raising the funds the help promote those events.” Other downtown events include OctoberFest, Horribles Parade, the Jingle Bell Walk and new this year, coming up in June, the “Shoe Festival”.

Jetpack Comics and Rochester Main Street have partnered together for the past several years to participate in National Comic Book Day. Together with other participating downtown businesses, this event brings hundreds of people into the downtown to receive a free comic book, attend shows and demonstrations and attend an artist/dealers event (held at the Knights of Columbus hall). The 2010 Comic Book Day will be held on Saturday, May 1 and Rochester Main Street is already signing up businesses to participate. Deadline for sign ups is February 27 and a $50 deposit is required. To get more information or to sign up for Comic Book Day, please call the Main Street Office at 603-330-3208 or email director@rochestermainstreet.org .

The Rochester Main Street Program is sponsored by the National Main Street Center at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, DC. Rochester is one of only 14 New Hampshire Communities that have National Main Street Programs, the others being Berlin, Concord, Dover, Enfield, Hilsborough, Goffstown, Jaffrey, Laconia, Lisbon, Meredith, Milford, Ossipee, Plymouth, Tilton and Wilton. For more information on the Main Street Program, or to volunteer, donate, or make suggestions to the Rochester Main Street Program, please contact our office by calling 603-330-3208 or at director@rochestermainstreet.org .

Rochester Main Street Recognizes Retiring Board Volunteers!
Rochester Main Street volunteers wishes to recognize four members of the Board of Directors whose terms of office are expiring at the end of the year. Their leadership and dedication to the revitalization of downtown Rochester as a great place to work, shop, live and play has provided a total of at least 24 years of service to the community! Each retiring member receives a small plaque as a token of our appreciation, but we also wish to share with the public and thank them for all their efforts. Each of the members were actively involved in CORE (the Community Organization for Rochester Enhancement) which founded the Rochester Main Street Program and have served a three year term as a volunteer Board Member of Rochester Main Street.

Retiring Board Volunteers are: Gerry Gilbert, an employee of Spence and Matthews Insurance Company, who has not only served as Board Member, but also in the offices of President and Treasurer of Rochester Main Street. Gerry was also named the greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year for 2009, and a Seacoast Red Cross Hero of the year for 2009. Brian Labranche, owner of Trinkets and Treasures, also served as a CORE volunteer and Board Member and I is looking forward continuing to serve the City of Rochester as he enters his new term as a City Council Member. Regretfully, the Board of Directors received a resignation letter from “TJ” Jean, an employee of Frisbie Memorial Hospital, who will be serving as Mayor of Rochester starting in January of 2010. ( The consensus of the Board is that TJ is welcome back on the Board to fulfill his term once his duties as Mayor are finished, just joking TJ!). Karen Pollard, Rochester’s Director of Economic Development, has worked with CORE and Rochester Main Street in her consistent efforts to bring businesses into the city. All of the leadership of these dedicated individuals will be missed, but they are all also just a call away and we are sure that they will continue to support the efforts of the hardworking volunteers at Rochester Main Street.

As of January 1, 2010, Tim Cremmen will become the immediate Past President of Rochester Main Street. In this position Tim continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the coming year. Tim’s leadership over the past year saw the installation of the new downtown wayfinding sign system, completion of Factory Court (Project Manager was Michael Deegan of Distinctive Forest Creations), introduction of two downtown events, OctoberFest and the Horrible’s Parade and the hiring of a new Executive Director. Tim was recognized with a plaque at the recent Holiday Business After Hours at the Rochester Opera House. The incoming president of Rochester Main Street is Capt. Paul Callaghan of the Rochester Police Department.

The Rochester Main Street Program is sponsored by the National Main Street Center at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, DC. The Main Street Program is a volunteer driven downtown revitalization effort working together to make Rochester a destination and a source of pride. Rochester is one of only 14 New Hampshire Communities that have National Main Street Programs, the others being Berlin, Concord, Dover, Enfield, Hilsborough, Goffstown, Jaffrey, Laconia, Lisbon, Meredith, Milford, Ossipee, Plymouth, Tilton and Wilton. To sign up for our weekly email news bulletin, for more information on the Main Street Program, or to volunteer, donate, or make suggestions to the Rochester Main Street Program, please contact our office by calling 603-330-3208 or at director@rochestermainstreet.org.

Rochester Main Street Announces Holiday Window Contest Winners
Design Committee volunteers at Rochester Main Street would like to thank all of the downtown businesses that decorated their windows in the spirit of the Holiday Season! The bright lights and displays help to bring people out to enjoy the festivities and encourage shopping locally in our downtown! This is the second year that the volunteers have sponsored a decorating contest and the competition was fierce, with the first and second place finishes coming in with only a one point difference in the scores. Windows were judged in the areas of theme, (Christmas Memories), construction, proportion, cleanliness, display of business/services offered, and invitation to enter. The displays were judged in both daylight and evening hours. The first through third place winners each received a colorful ribbon to display, and the first place winner also gets to display a roving trophy until next year’s contest.

Taking first place honors was The Phone Booth at 20 North Main Street, with their display of “staying in touch with those who matter most”. Distinctive Forest Creations next door at 22 North Main Street came in a close second with their display including forest animals and a miniature skating rink. The third place display sported Gollum in a Santa Cap and was awarded to Jetpack Comics at 37 North Main Street. Participating businesses registering for the contest were Mainely Pets at 71 North Main Street, Gauthier’s Palace of Party Supplies at 51A North Main Street, Mel Flanagan’s at 53 North Main Street and Jenny-wren Gallery at 107 North Main Street. Of special interest, although not registered are the square wreaths made with picture frames at artstream. We encourage residents to take a stroll downtown on a nice evening and enjoy the displays!

The Rochester Main Street Program is sponsored by the National Main Street Center at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, DC. Rochester is one of only 14 New Hampshire Communities that have National Main Street Programs, the others being Berlin, Concord, Dover, Enfield, Hilsborough, Goffstown, Jaffrey, Laconia, Lisbon, Meredith, Milford, Ossipee, Plymouth, Tilton and Wilton. For more information on the Main Street Program, or to volunteer, donate, or make suggestions to the Rochester Main Street Program, please contact our office by calling 603-330-3208 or at director@rochestermainstreet.org.

ROCHESTER CELEBRATES FACTORY COURT OPENING
Mike Deegan, Rochester Main Street Volunteer and Project Coordinator for Factory Court is pleased to announce that the recent grand opening celebration at Rochester’s new downtown gathering spot was a tremendous success. “The city, volunteers, and building partners have done an absolutely incredible job in pulling together to bring this project to such a successful completion” says Deegan. All of that work and partnerships was celebrated at a gala grand opening event on Thursday, August 20th. Local band “Hopeless Folk” provided entertainment and guests sampled finger foods from local restaurants such as Fat Tony’s, Main Moon, Mel Flanagan’s, The Portable Pantry and Slim’s Tex- Mex. Rochester Main Street volunteers were on hand with complimentary water, soda, information and volunteer opportunities on upcoming projects. Rochester Main Street members, city officials, project workers, invited guests and the public mingled and enjoyed the beautiful summer evening.

Following a grand ribbon cutting by Mayor John LaRochelle, Mike Deegan took to the stage to hand out certificates to funders Federal Savings Bank and the City of Rochester, project worker Ea Casander and Lisa Clark, Property Abutter Kurt Jackson, Businesses Kerry McMahon of Salmon Falls Ironworks, David Meulenbroek of Studley’s, Art Nickless of Norway Plains Associates, Doug Knutsen of Viking Design, Architect Wes Flierl, and volunteers Matt Beaulieu, Tim Cremmen, Danielle Lyczak, Project Pride, Rodney Smith, and St. Elizabeth Seaton School. Michael also recognized the Events Committee of Rochester Main Street; Mandy Barstow, Jennie Stimac, TJ Jean, Tim Cremmen, and Susan Jackson- Rafter who worked to plan the opening celebration. Following the recognition ceremony, guests continued to linger and enjoy the balmy summer evening. Thank you to all of those who attended and helped to complete the project and make the evening a great success.

Factory Court marks the completion of another project for the Rochester Main Street volunteers as they complete their first round of investment funding and look towards strategic planning and a new investment campaign for future years. One of the ideas mentioned for the next project was a feasibility study of refurbishing the Amos Main Statue and square in the heart of downtown. The National Main Street Program is sponsored by the National Main Street Center at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, DC. Rochester is one of only 14 New Hampshire Communities that have National Main Street Programs, the others being Berlin, Concord, Dover, Enfield, Hilsborough, Goffstown, Jaffrey, Laconia, Lisbon, Meredith, Milford, Ossipee, Plymouth, Tilton and Wilton. For more information on the Main Street Program, or to volunteer, donate, or make suggestions to the Rochester Main Street Program, please contact our office by calling 603-330-3208 or at director@rochestermainstreet.org .

PROVOST NAMED NEW MAIN STREET DIRECTOR
The Board of Directors of Rochester Main Street is pleased to announce that Michael Provost has been named the new Executive Director. Provost, a “Certified Main Street Manager” as designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has ten years experience as a Main Street Executive Director and was named “Outstanding New Hampshire Main Street Manager” in 2002. He was also recognized as a “Star Performer” at the New Hampshire Main Street Center 10th Anniversary in 2006.

While Executive Director in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, Provost lead the organization to semi-finalist status as a “Great American Main Street” program and to the program being named as the “outstanding New Hampshire Main Street Community in 2002. Most recently, Provost has been Director of the Dover Main Street Program and has helped lead them through several award winning events, fundraisers and historic reveals.

Commenting on the appointment of Provost, Rochester Main Street Board President Tim Cremmen said the Board was very pleased to have the opportunity to bring such an experienced Main Street Director on board. “With Mike’s experience, we’re confident he’ll help us bring the Program to the next level”.

Rochester Main Street hosts FREE 12 Months of Main Street Raffle
ROCHESTER – Rochester Main Street is hosting FREE monthly raffles beginning in May. Each month you can enter to win a different basket with an appropriate theme. For instance, this month you can enter to win the June basket, featuring a Father’s Day theme. Future basket themes include Dinner On Main Street, Holiday Survival and Back to School.

“We are very fortunate that Rochester businesses are supporting our efforts. The basket we have pulled together for the June 1st drawing has some great gifts for Dad!” states Vickie Routhier, Marketing Director at Profile Bank and a Rochester Main Street volunteer. “Our first basket has an estimated value of $400.” The basket contains four New England Dragway tickets, a ProForest Helmet donated by Cocheco Equipment, a sweatshirt, t-shirt and hat donated by Collins Sports, an 18 x 24 unfinished bookcase donated by Distinctive Forest Creations, a barber gift certificate donated by George’s, a barber gift certificate donated by Jonesey’s and a car wash bucket and products donated by Sanel Auto Parts.

To enter, simply visit www.rochestermainstreet.org . Any business interested in donating an item for a future basket can contact Danielle Lyzcak, Marketing Director at Holy Rosary Credit Union and a Rochester Main Street volunteer, at 509-1221 or visit www.rochestermainstreet.org for details.

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