Be a part of keeping the park clearner, greener, and more accessible! Join the Manchester Conservation Commission, staff from the Manchester Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Division of DPW, and the Friends of the Piscataquog River Park for this volunteer event.
Where: Piscataquog River Park – George W. Smith Entrance, 300 Precourt Street, Manchester, NH 03102
When: Sunday, April 26, 2026 - 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM
Clean-up and Site Prep: Lend a hand as we clear away litter and debris or help us prepare the ground for a future pollinator garden, to create a thriving habitat for local bees and butterlfies.
Trail Work: Spread fresh mulch to create clear, sturdy trails for everyone to enjoy. It's a great way to get moving while ensuring our park's natural beauty remains accessible and well-maintained for the whole community.
Lunch for Volunteers. As a thank you to our wonderful volunteers, coffee, snacks, and lunch will be provided.
Parking: Parking is available on site.
Accessibility: Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear, have clothing appropriate to be outdoors for long periods of time. Volunteers will be working off trail and on uneven terrain. This event will happen rain or shine.
The event is free and open to the public, however registration is required. Please register online at this link: https://naturegroupie.org/experiences/2026-spring-clean-extravaganza
City of Manchester Announces Partnership with the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester to Strengthen Coordinated Response to Homelessness and Behavioral Health
Manchester, NH - The City of Manchester today announced an enhanced partnership with the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester (MHCGM) to strengthen the City’s response to homelessness, substance use disorder, and co-occurring mental health challenges.
This collaboration will establish a centralized, one stop service model designed to improve access to critical support services by bringing them under one roof. The initiative builds on existing resources and infrastructure to ensure individuals can more quickly and effectively connect with the care they neeThe project focuses on coordination rather than duplication of services, streamlining referrals and strengthening system alignment to better serve individuals during periods of crisis and transition.
The enhanced model will include various service providers, combined to ensure a full-time staff member will be collocated at the new Aged and Infirmed Shelter with accompanying Engagement Center, providing consistent, on-site support and improving real-time access to services such as care coordination, enrollment assistance, and housing resources.
This enhanced partnership is made possible through a grant provided by Granite United Way as part of the Opioid Abatement Community Grants Program (OACGP.) This funding comes from national opioid settlement agreements and supports community healing, recovery and prevention across New Hampshire. Granite United Way administers the OACGP on behalf of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. This multi-year grant is implemented in partnership with the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
Mayor Ruais Released the Following Statement:
“This systemic change is about building a system that works. When services like mental health, recovery support, housing and more, are coordinated and accessible, we can better support individuals in breaking the cycle of homelessness and moving toward stability. That is what we are building at the Aged and Infirmed Shelter. We are not creating new services, we are making our existing continuum work better, faster, and more efficiently for the people who need it most. This partnership represents an important step forward in how we address homelessness in Manchester. Homelessness should be rare, brief and one time, and this model moves us closer to that goal by removing barriers and meeting people where they are.”
The City and MHCGM emphasize that long term, systemic change requires stronger integration across service providers. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving outcomes through collaboration, efficiency, and accountability.
Patricia Carty, President and CEO at the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester Stated:
“This enhanced partnership reflects our shared commitment to meeting individuals where they are and ensuring they have timely access to the coordinated care they need. By aligning our services more closely with the City’s efforts, we can reduce barriers, respond more effectively in moments of crisis, and help individuals move toward stability, recovery, and long-term well-being.”
Nichole Martin Riemer, President and CEO of Granite United Way Stated:
“We are proud to be part of this collaborative work and remain committed to strengthening the health of our community. We have witnessed first-hand how working together can reduce barriers and ensure access to these critical services.”
The City is in the process of recruiting additional partners who are interested in co-locating staff at the Aged and Infirmed Shelter. If you are a community partner interested in this effort, please contact Daley Frenette in the Mayor’s Office at dfrenette@manchesternh.gov.
MANCHESTER, NH – Livability.com unveiled its 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live list, with Manchester, NH deservedly earning a spot among the nation’s most vibrant and livable small to mid-sized cities for the fourth year in a row.
In its 13th year, the Livability annual ranking focuses on cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000 that offers big city opportunities while remaining small enough to feel like home. Per Livability, “In a time of shifting economic tides, Manchester’s inclusion underscores its commitment to maintaining a community where residents can truly thrive.”
"Our 'Top 100' is an annual data-driven collection of what we consider to be the best small to mid-size cities," says Amanda Ellis, Livability.com Editor-in-Chief. "As Americans face consistently evolving work dynamics and a desire for the best quality of life possible amidst inflation and uncertainty, our list celebrates places where people can more realistically build families, launch businesses and lead meaningful lives."
Livability.com works closely with Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) when using data to construct the Top 100 list across four major city categories: Economy & Housing, Amenities & Environment, Safety, Health & Education, as well as Transportation.
New for this year, Livability.com placed more value on a city’s Housing and Cost of Living category, to highlight those cities excelling above their peers. Manchester excelled in not only housing and cost of living, but scored high marks in amenities and education. Furthermore, Manchester is the only city from New Hampshire on the Livability.com Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2026 list.
“Manchester is a city on the rise,” said Jodie Nazaka, Economic Development Director. “We’re seeing real momentum — new businesses are opening, people are choosing to put down roots here, and the energy in our neighborhoods is undeniable. The best is still ahead of us.”
This distinction comes on the heels of Livability.com also awarding Manchester as one of the Top 25 Best Places to Live in the Northeast in November 2025.
As part of the Cemetery Brook Drain Tunnel Project, a portion of Somerville St. will be closed for a period of time. A detour via Maple Street and Beech Street will be signposted. Concurrently, a portion of Cilley Road will be closed near Queen City Ave. A detour via Willow Street and Pine Street will be signposted. Detour routes will be concurrent and impacted as illustrated in the map below and as directed by signs on site.
- Somerville Street Closure begins: April 20, 2026
- Somerville Street Anticipated reopening: May 22, 2026
- Cilley Road Closure: Ongoing
- Cilley Road Anticipated reopening: April 23, 2026
What to Expect:
- Somerville Street eastbound will be detoured via Shasta Steet.
- Somerville Street westbound will be detoured via Silver Street.
- Queen City Ave. heading eastbound onto Cilley Rd. will be detoured via Shasta Street.
Important Notes:
- Please follow direction from posted traffic signs, police details, flaggers and allow extra travel time through the work zone.
- For lane shifts or temporary lane closures during construction, please be aware of new lane markings, barricaded routes, or traffic cones.
- Parking will be prohibited within the construction area.
- Drivers and pedestrians should use extreme caution when traveling past work zones, especially at night or in adverse weather, when visibility is limited.
- Whenever possible, we encourage drivers to plan ahead and avoid the construction area.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to enhance our community’s infrastructure.
Sincerely,
Environmental Protection Division
Department of Public Works
City of Manchester
Crystal Lake Park will be closed to all visitors until further notice due to extensive construction work on drainage and infrastructure improvements throughout the entirety of the park. In the interest of safety, the construction area will be restricted to authorized personnel only at all hours. This work is anticipated to continue through May 10, 2026.
For more information, please contact the Department of Public Works at 603-624-6444.
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Frozen, Dinosaur-Shaped, Ready-To-Eat Chicken Nuggets Due To Traces Of Lead
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-frozen-dinosaur-shaped-ready-eat-chicken-nuggets-due
April 1, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for frozen, dinosaur-shaped, ready-to-eat chicken nuggets that may be contaminated with unsafe levels of lead. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. However, FSIS is concerned that some product may still be in consumers’ freezers.
The chicken nuggets were produced on Feb. 10, 2026. The following product is subject to the public health alert [view labels]:
29-oz. plastic bags containing approx. 36 “GREAT VALUE FULLY COOKED DINO SHAPED CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS” with “BEST IF USED BY” date “FEB 10 2027,” lot code” 0416DPO1215,” and establishment number “P44164” printed on the back of the bag.
These items were shipped to Walmart locations nationwide. FSIS is continuing to investigate this issue.