Strafford News

City of Dover issued the following announcement on October 8.

A group of more than 40 people came out on Oct. 7 to surprise Elizabeth "Beth" Fischer with the unveiling of a bench dedicated to her for her volunteer work to make the City of Dover a better place.

The dedicated bench is now part of the Joe B. Parks Garden Riverwalk Public Garden that borders the Cochecho River in downtown Dover. The plaque on the bench honors Fischer "for her diligent care of the Joe B Parks Garden and steadfast civic service to the City of Dover."

The bench is adjacent to the one dedicated to Joe Parks and his wife, Florence.

Facility and Grounds Supervisor Sharon Sirios called Fischer's work at the garden and the organizing other Riverwalk garden volunteers "an invaluable service." Sirios also credits Fischer for initiating the Adopt-a-Bench Program, Faces of Dover, and the historical markers program, among many other contributions.

Fischer has been involved with the Joe B. Parks Garden since its inception. Fischer remembered how she received a call from a woman active in Dover Main Street saying that Joe Parks, then 92, wanted to move his azaleas and rhododendrons to a downtown park and thought Fischer could help. "Could you come to one meeting?" Fischer recalled the woman asking her. "And that was is 2007." Joe Parks died in 2010 at the age of 94.

Since then, some 400 people have volunteered their time to help expand and maintain the garden. "It really is a jewel," she said of the park.

Beth Fischer stands with Mayor Robert Carrier after the surprise unveiling of a bench dedicated to Fisher for her volunteer work to the City of Dover. 

Original source can be found here.