Portsmouth 400th gives and receives thanks for year of celebration

Special to Seacoastonline
·3 min read

PORTSMOUTH – The PortsmouthNH400th Inc. team, which led the city's quadricentennial celebration events in 2023, has received thanks from city leaders

Mayor Deaglan McEachern recognized 400th managing director Valerie Rochon in a recent ceremony honoring hundreds of volunteers who donated thousands of hours – and the businesses and individuals who as donors and sponsors brought events and projects to fruition.

In a framed presentation piece, he said, “Your dedication and hard work have made a positive impact on our community and set a commendable example for others to follow. Through your efforts, you have proven your unwavering commitment to shining a light on our history and using that same light to guide our way forward. Your contributions have significantly enriched the lives of those in this community now and for future generations.”

Portsmouth 400th sponsors gathered for a group photo at a recent appreciation event held at Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club.
Portsmouth 400th sponsors gathered for a group photo at a recent appreciation event held at Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club.

Rochon reflected on the events that started with the kickoff on the Memorial Bridge on Jan. 6, turning lights on Memorial Bridge blue; the parade, the Little Italy Carnival, a lobster dinner for 900 people on Congress Street, a laser light show, a community picnic, a sculpture, several books, and dozens of other events, programs and projects.

"All of this provided an opportunity for the community to reflect on and appreciate their shared, layered history,: Rochon said.

She and the team provided the following list:

●       1.6.23  Kickoff & Event Reveal●       101 objects, 80 authors and 15 photographers in A History of Portsmouth NH●       More than 50 memories and essays in the Commemorative Book●       1,500 participants in the Grand Parade: 88 organizations, 10 floats, 61 vehicles, 8 former mayors and 11 bands including 300+ members of the Portsmouth High School Alumni Clipper Band●       900 street.life! 400 lobster dinners outdoors on Congress Street●       1st ever laser light show in Portsmouth●       126 players, Dover vs. Portsmouth Vintage Base Ball & American Legion youth teams●       1,800 Great Community Picnic participants●       800+ letters to 2123 in the time capsule sealed on 12.31.23●       18,000 volunteers hours, worth $572,400●       1 Legacy sculpture 24-feet tall and weighing 3 tons●       $534,795 in earned media value from local, regional and national publicity●       Over $1 million in sponsorship from more than 300 sponsors, donors and in-kind●       3 sponsor-focused gatherings during major events●       2 over-the-top parade floats

Major sponsors included:

  • PNH400 overall: Bank of America, along with Piscataqua Savings Bank, Service Credit Union, CSX, Meredith Village Savings Bank, Carey & Giampa, Foundation for Seacoast Health, Hoefle Phoenix Gormley & Roberts PLLC, Kennebunk Savings Bank, Novocure, Sean Mahoney Charitable Fund, Two International Group, Auger Building, Brick & Barn/Compass Realty.

  • PNH400 Grand Parade: Service Credit Union, Aland Realty Group.

  • Vintage Base Ball and American Legion Teams - Baseball of Yesterday and Today, Dover vs. Portsmouth: John Lyons Law Office, CP Management.

  • Little Italy Carnival celebrations: Lemay Family Goodworks, Anthony DiLorenzo, Friends of Italian Americans, Blythe Brown, Jessica and Paul McKeon, M&T Bank.

  • Bohenko Gateway Park Sculpture Endeavor: Sue and Bob Thoresen, Chris Dwyer, The Kane Company, The Dana and Shaula Levenson Family, Stephen and Karin Barndollar, Jack and Pam Blalock, John Bohenko and Nancy London, GL Rogers & Company, Inc., Greenslade Family, Judy Miller and Arthur Carakatsane, CMA Engineers, Inc., The Clayburgh Family, Bow Street Commercial Real Estate, Ballentyne Medical Aesthetics, Great Island Realty, Donald and Beth Margeson, Seacoast Apart-Hotels, Sundial Cocktails, John and Zoi Diamond.

  • The Great Portsmouth NH 400 Picnic:  AC Hotel/ Envio/Rooftop, Residence Inn/Venue, Hampton Inn and Residences at Portwalk (Opus and Aria), Allegiant Management Corporation.

  • Marketing: Local IQ, VisitNH.gov, New Hampshire Public Radio, 92.5 The River.

  • street.life! 400:  Service Credit Union, Black Rock, Bank of America, Susan Conway, Sheehan Phinney, TD Bank, Cambridge Trust, EnviroVantage, Talon, CSNH, Two International Group, Jude Blake, Tangram 3DS, M&T Bank, Granite State Minerals, Vigilant wealth Management, McLane Middleton, Great Oak Title Services, Darci Creative. Mr. Fox, The Music Hall.

The major donors to each of the PNH400 Signature Events and Legacy Projects, with donations from the community and the members of the 400 Shoalers Club and the 1623 Revolutionaries Club, plus in-kind donations and volunteer hours "contributed invaluably," according to Rochon.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth 400th gives and receives thanks for year of celebration