In the foreground, two men are shaking hands and smiling: • On the left is Brendan Madden, seated in a black motorized wheelchair. He has short dark hair and is wearing a navy blue blazer over a light-colored plaid button-down shirt with khaki pants. • On the right is Mayor Chuck Grassie, an older man with white hair and glasses. He is wearing a light teal/green short-sleeved collared shirt and a blue lanyard with an ID badge. In his left hand he holds a framed certificate or proclamation that features a prominent gold embossed seal (matching the City of Rochester seal from the previous image). This takes place in the Rochester City Hall Chambers, the setting is a formal indoor room with light blue walls, white columns, and numerous framed historical portraits (mostly of men in formal attire) hanging on the walls. Rows of black chairs are arranged, with several people seated in the background watching the event.

Rochester proclaims September Service Dog Awareness Month

At the city Council meeting on August 4, Mayor Chuck Grassie, the Mayor of Rochester, NH declared September as Service Dog Awareness month and Brendan Madden was in attendance to accept it!

PROCLAMATION
National Service Dog Month

WHEREAS, We believe in the joyful. transformative power of the human-canine bond and inclusivity of all citizens; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, 64 million adults and children have a disability and only 16,000 service dogs from accredited training programs exist nationwide and the need is growing; and

WHEREAS, National Service Dog Month aims to educate our community about the benefits of service dogs and the laws protecting them; and

WHEREAS, The City of Rochester continues to work toward becoming an inclusive community in which all citizens, and their service dogs. are embraced.

NOW THEREFORE, in recognition of service dogs and the adults and children with disabilities in our community, l, Chuck Grassie, Mayor of Rochester, do hereby proclaim September 2026 to be National Service Dog Month in the City of Rochester.

I encourage all citizens to celebrate task trained service dogs and be respectful of the rights afforded to the adults, children and veterans who lead more independent lives because of their assistance

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand and caused to be affixed the Seal of the City of Rochester this 4th Day of August in the Seal of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six

On the left is a circular, gold-colored embossed (raised) seal with a serrated/toothed outer edge, typical of official municipal seals. The central design shows a landscape or cityscape (with what looks like buildings or a skyline), surrounded by text that includes “ROCHESTER” prominently and other wording around the rim (partially visible as “CITY OF ROCHESTER”) On the right is printed formal text in a traditional legal style: IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand and caused to be affixed the Seal of the City of Rochester this 4th Day of August in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six Below the text is a large, stylized handwritten signature in dark ink signed by the mayor Chuck Grassie.