Historical treasures for the town archives: The local history and heritage societies from Jügesheim, Dudenhofen, Nieder-Roden and Weiskirchen are handing over around 400 old postcards. These were collected by Albert Walter from Dudenhofen, who died in autumn. Favourite motifs include views of the town, churches and inns. Some festivals are also depicted on the collected cards. The collection will be used for local history research and, in future, for exhibitions at the town archive.
"Tilly" collects donations: The team of cleaners from the town of Rodgau is organising a campaign in aid of a good cause. The nicely decorated donation box named "Tilly", which travelled through the various buildings of the city administration every day, collected a proud sum of 1000 euros. The money will be donated to the Malteser Children's and Youth Hospice in the Offenbach district.
Switching to renewable energies: SKG Rodgau is setting an example and dispensing with fossil fuels. The floodlights and lighting in and around the functional building will be powered by LED technology in future. The investment is supported by subsidies from the city of Rodgau, the district of Offenbach, the state of Hesse and the federal government. The installation of a photovoltaic system on the roof of the functional building is the next step.
The carol singers from Rodgau are travelling through the streets with their traditional Epiphany carol singing under the motto "Together for our planet - in Amazonia and worldwide". 36 children with 15 carol singers visit around 500 households. In addition to tradition, there are also innovations: As of this year, donations can be made cashless in addition to the traditional method of collecting tins.
The Tannenfest is being held in Rollwald for the sixth time. The get-together organised by the Villa Kunterbunt support association once again attracts a number of local residents. Wine, mulled baked apple wine and all kinds of pastries are served to cater for the physical well-being of those present. One or two donations for future projects at the daycare centre are also collected.
Everything is new at Puiseauxplatz: the popular square in Nieder-Roden is to be redesigned with the support of the federal funding programme "Sustainable inner cities and centres" to the tune of one million euros. Residents expressed their wishes and interests during a public participation programme last year. These will be incorporated into the design concept. There will soon be a planning competition for the future of the social centre, which will decide how the building can be used and designed in the future.
New association in Rodgau: The Kapas social network ("cooperative outpatient nursing, medical and social care") is founded to enable people in need of help to live independently in their own four walls. The project aims to close the gap in the lack of counselling services and the overload of medical care. The network is closely linked to the health forum of the town of Rodgau. The initiative was launched by the couple Diana and Dr Sittler from the medical care centre (MVZ). New turntable ladder for the fire brigade: After the previous model (built in 1996) had been in operation for 28 years, a change had to be made. The costs totalled more than 900,000 euros.
Parish hall saves energy: The lighting in the parish of St Matthias on Schulstrasse in Nieder-Roden is being converted to LED technology. The old light sources could no longer be replaced and the electricity costs were getting higher and higher. The use of the new lights should reduce CO2 emissions by around four tonnes per year. Stadtwerke Rodgau Energie GmbH (SWR.E) is carrying out the order. Of the total investment costs of 35,000 euros, 10,000 euros have been subsidised by the national climate protection initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
The popular "Historical Timber Auction" organised by Gesangverein Germania 1895 e.V. Dudenhofen is taking place for the 29th time at the Gänsbrüh in Dudenhöfer Wald. In addition to an extensive supporting programme and culinary delights, the numerous visitors will once again be able to see and marvel at all kinds of wood-related things. The association donates the proceeds from the events to social projects in Rodgau.
More space for care and administration: the "Gemeinsam mit Behinderten" association acquires the property on the corner of Weiskircher Straße and Hochstädter Straße. The move will increase the office space from 60 to 120 square metres and the care facilities from 60 to 250 square metres. The location was particularly attractive due to its proximity to the Haus Emmanuel residential home for the disabled, which is within walking distance. The move is scheduled for the first half of 2025.
"Museum Shop" is the title of Rodgau-based artist Klaus Böhmer's exhibition. The 69-year-old likes to use found materials and creates something new, sometimes curious and often humorous, by adding or omitting things in his Rodgau studio. Different areas and themes are realised in an amusing and playful way and brought together in an exhibition.
The fifth season is upon us: the carnival hustle and bustle takes place at numerous club events throughout Rodgau. At the pirate session organised by Sportfreunde Rodgau with its impressive and elaborately designed backdrop, inspiring show dances at the SKG costume session, at the Kreppelkaffee, which plunges into the jungle, or many other events.
New Year's reception of the Hainhausen clubs: In frosty temperatures but with a warming campfire, the interest group of local associations (Igemo) Hainhausen invites you to the traditional get-together at the forest recreation centre. In his speech, Chairman Ralf Kunert looks back on a positive year with many great festivals and thanks the clubs for their support.
Pupils at Heinrich Böll School are committed to a climate-friendly world. In the "Wir-tun-was" project, the eighth-graders organise various activities for a sustainable future on their own initiative and without any pressure to perform. Among other things, they pack breakfast parcels for the homeless and bake biscuits for donation to a good cause. The money and donations in kind go to Welthungerhilfe and a children's home.
Rescue operation on a farm: calf "Barry" survives a dangerous situation in Jügesheim. The animal, just two months old, escaped and fell into the slurry pit. As the tank is only knee-high, the fire brigade and the farmers join forces to rescue the calf and bring it back to the mother cow.
Progress on the major construction site in Schillerstraße: The renovation in Schillerstraße in Weiskirchen has now been underway for almost six months. The new sewage pipes are already in place. Next up is the section between Hauptstrasse and Kolpingstrasse. A total of 2300m2 of carriageway, 1200m2 of pavements, 700m of kerbs, 280m of sewerage and 300m of water pipes will be renewed. The construction work is expected to last until the end of the year and will cost around 1.5 million euros.
Farewell after 48 years of service: After decades of service to the Rodgau fire brigade, 65-year-old Gerhard Weitz is given a fitting farewell by his colleagues. From 1988 to 1994 and 2003 to 2013, he was deputy fire chief in Dudenhofen. In 1998, he was elected deputy town fire inspector of the Rodgau fire brigade. Since 2015, Weitz has headed the "Dudenhofen Volunteer Fire Brigade" association and was treasurer of the district fire brigade association.
A happy ending for the Wildtierarche Rodgau association and its chairwoman Petra Kipper: both the association and Petra Kipper personally as the officer for animal and nature conservation have been granted a permanent licence by the district veterinary office to keep native and exotic wild animals in a facility similar to an animal sanctuary. This was preceded by an official ban on the admission of animals to the association's wild animal and exotic animal sanctuary in Dudenhofen and decades of disputes with the district veterinary office and the district building inspectorate over the extension of existing operating licences.
Education for all generations: A competition for planning offices is to be held for a new building for the existing social centre in Nieder-Roden. As an education centre for the municipal library, the adult education centre and youth clubs, the new building should offer even more space and opportunities for all generations. In addition, the respective contact persons are to be allocated their own offices for direct contact on site.
Pests in the Rodgau forest: the oak splendour beetle is causing worries for the forestry office. In many communities in the Offenbach district, infested trees have to be felled and removed by April in order to reduce the beetle load. "As soon as a tree is infested, it is doomed to death," reports the forestry office in Langen. In Rodgau, a section of forest near Rollwald, which lies close to the border with Rödermark, is particularly affected.
Town hall storm in Jügesheim: After the Rodgau clubs let their jesters loose at the numerous fantastic events in the town area, they now move on to take over the town hall. After an exuberant show on and off the stage, the magistrate around Mayor Max Breitenbach finally bows to the superiority of the Rodgau clubs. In the end, the prince and princess celebrate peacefully together with the mayor in the magistrate's hall.
Fun in the streets at the carnival procession: More than 50 different groups create an excellent atmosphere at the traditional Jügesheim carnival procession. A mix of music groups, clubs and initiatives travel through the streets of Jügesheim and entertain thousands of visitors with a great programme.
Nature conservation organisation saves amphibians from death: A population of 3,000 common toads in the north of Weiskirchen make their way to their spawning grounds when it is wet and not quite so cold. As the migrating animals are endangered by car traffic near the sewage treatment plant, helpers collect the amphibians in buckets as darkness falls. This ensures a safe route to the water. To support the campaign, the town of Rodgau closes the barriers on the extended main road in the evening and at night, thus preventing traffic from travelling towards Obertshausen. Warning signs also indicate the toad migration.
New outdoor catering at the lido: after 40 years, a "See-Bistro" is to replace the old kiosk. During several inspections, the authorities have criticised the condition of the kiosk and the building fabric. The health authority urgently recommended a conversion or new building. The outdoor area is to be redesigned and enlarged so that events can also be organised. There will also be space for an eight by six metre stage. The catering building will be larger than before (110 instead of 80 square metres). A photovoltaic system on the roof will supply electricity. The design plan was drawn up by Planwerk GmbH (Hanau), which had already planned the functional building for the lido. An initial cost estimate amounts to 1.2 million euros plus VAT.
Education fair arouses curiosity about training: Under the motto "Your future is now", young people are encouraged to discover their potential and realise their professional dreams. More than 120 exhibitors at the Heinrich-Böll-Schule in Nieder-Roden advertise professions in the fields of trades, care, education, administration, justice, police and many more.
Numerous visitors to the Easter market: The Easter market in the Nieder-Roden community centre is not just about selling hand-painted Easter eggs. The range of goods offered by 40 hobby artists extends from Easter eggs to Easter decorations and flowers, so that spring can also arrive at home and in the garden.
Janika Martin will succeed first councillor Michael Schüßler on 1 June. After three rounds of voting, the SPD candidate and chairwoman prevailed against her rivals Martina Sertic (FDP) and Anabelle Jäger (Greens).
Fibre optics for everyone: Following the signing of a cooperation agreement between the town of Rodgau and the E.on subsidiary Westconnect GmbH from Essen, the latter intends to connect 25,000 residential and business units to the fibre optic network. When selecting the provider, the town attached great importance to ensuring that the expansion really does cover the entire area. Westconnect has also undertaken to connect houses outside the built-up area. At information evenings, citizens will be informed in detail about the procedure and the offers.
Historical finds: The Weiskirchen local history and heritage association, in collaboration with the Offenbach district, is dedicating an exhibition to the archaeological excavations for the remains of the bridge mill at Pfarrgasse 12. Visitors can look forward to hundreds of exhibits in the local history museum - from small coins and numerous ceramic vessels to massive millstones.
130 volunteers lend a hand and sort at the flea market organised by the "Helfer mit Herz" association: Mountains of clothes and shoes, piles of games and books, bicycles and prams in dense rows. The shop ran for a whole three hours, but preparation and reworking easily took three times as long. The bulk of the goods were delivered by Rodgau parents whose children are constantly outgrowing their clothes and shoes, no longer need their pushchairs or have lost interest in certain games and toys due to their age.
Youth Commitment Award for 12 pupils from the Geschwister-Scholl-School in Hainhausen. The young people received the "Ist doch Ehrensache" prize, awarded by the Offenbach district, for their participation in the Malteser Frankfurt "Jung Sozial Aktiv" project. Over the course of an entire school year, they spent two hours a week in eight organisations doing social work and independently taking on responsibility for others. They gained experience in retirement homes, daycare centres and toddler groups, as well as at Gemeinsam mit Behinderten and Tante Emma.
Service anniversary at the city of Rodgau: Michael Hug has been an employee in the cemetery and funeral services department at the Rodgau municipal utilities for 40 years. Since then, Michael Hug has been jointly responsible for the condition of the cemeteries in Rodgau and has done a great job there. He has been the "good soul" at the new cemetery in Nieder-Roden for many years. People who come into contact with him praise Michael Hug to the skies. He is someone who recognises when something needs to be done and tackles work that lies outside his actual area of responsibility. In addition to his job, Michael Hug has another great passion and that is Kickers Offenbach, in whose stadium he even has a permanent seat labelled with his name.
Lions Club donates 15,000 euros: The Rodgau-Rödermark Lions Club sells a total of 3,000 Advent calendars at 5 euros each during the Christmas period. For the fifth time, the club is supporting charitable organisations with the proceeds. Three food banks in Rodgau and Rödermark will receive a total of 6000 euros. Two thousand euros each will go to "Tante Emma" in Jügesheim and the "DRK-Lebensmitteladen" in Urberach. The largest donation of 5000 euros will go to the Hospice am Wasserturm. The other 4000 euros will be donated to schools, children's and youth work.
Surprising title win: The TG Nieder-Roden women's tennis team 40 surprisingly win the winter championship of the district league A. After the penultimate match day, they were still in third place with 4:2 points. But on the last match day, they clinched the title thanks to the support of TC Götzenhain. They beat the previously undefeated league leaders from Klein-Krotzenburg in the season finale. This cleared the way for the Rodgau women, who defeated TC Dietesheim, who had been second until then.
The city of Rodgau, together with westconnect GmbH, is hosting several information events for all parts of the city at the Bürgerhaus Nieder-Roden for the planned fibre optic expansion in Rodgau. In packed halls, citizens will be informed about the project and the possibilities of using high-speed Internet in the future. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for questions in the round. Employees of westconnect GmbH will be available to arrange personal appointments.
The town of Rodgau invites all local restaurateurs to a breakfast between flowers. This type of event gives companies the opportunity to discuss industry-wide needs in a relaxed atmosphere. The 15 participants, the mayor and the Agency for Economic Development and City Marketing all agree that this event offers a good platform and must be repeated.
Traditionally, the stall fees at the Easter market are donated to the SOS aid organisation. This year, a total of 1070 euros was raised. This amount will go to the SOS-Helferkreis patronage village in Eisenberg in the Palatinate. The SOS-Helferkreis stand raises a further 7000 euros through the sale of flowers and the Easter items on offer, as well as in the Easter café. This money is distributed among the children's villages in Brandenburg, Saxony, Palatinate and Poland.
City completes ADFC list of defects: Kerbs are being lowered and tripping hazards eliminated at more than 20 locations in the city. This is the city's response to the ADFC Rodgau's suggestions for improvement. At Niederwiesenring in Dudenhofen alone, kerbs have been lowered in six places. The kerb on the school route between Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Straße and Geschwister-Scholl-Schule was also lowered to make it easier to cross.
Growth at Weiskirchen Tennis Club: The club has recorded an increase in membership of around 35 per cent and is striving for further growth. Two new children's and youth teams will be starting in the coming season.
The modern way to donate: The corner shop in Jügesheim and the Rewe supermarket in Hainhausen are further expanding their partnership. Food donations for people in need can now easily be made there when shopping. The Emma-Mobil is now located at the checkout. It displays a number of staple foods such as pasta, rice and flour, which customers can easily donate using a barcode.
Hainhausen handball players celebrate promotion: With just one game to go before the end of the season, the SG Hainhausen handball team have secured promotion to the Bezirksliga A. In front of around 250 spectators, coach Nicolas Merget's team won 38:20 against their neighbours in the table, MSG Hanau/Erlensee.
48 young people from Rodgau experience a sporty Easter holiday in the snow at the SnowCamp organised by the town of Rodgau, which takes place under the motto "Icelantis". In the Wildkogelarena ski area, the group can still expect plenty of snow for skiing and snowboarding. Only the April weather proved to be rather moody during the first two days with a lively alternation of storms, Sahara sand, snowfall and rain. Without further ado, the teamers from the town organised a visit to a hydroelectric power station and an excursion to the Krimml waterfalls.
Last spring, another communal urn burial ground was completed at the New Cemetery in Nieder-Roden for the burial of carefree urns. In connection with the realisation of the extension, a memorial sculpture was designed and erected within the communal urn grave by artist Friedhelm Meinaß from Rodgau. The "Book of Life" sculpture provides a fitting setting and artistically enhances the site. The memorial sculpture is placed between the ornamental shrubs, framed by low evergreen ground cover planting.
With the first festivities on the newly designed square between the Dalles and the community centre in Dudenhofen, the traditional erection of the maypole by the trade association Rodgau e.V. takes place. Now that a large part of the first construction phase has been completed, the large maypole now stands at the Dalles.
The town of Rodgau is purchasing three mobile emergency power generators to be prepared in the event of a prolonged power outage. The three units cost around 365,000 euros in total. Among other things, they will supply the fire brigade and the municipal utility company with electricity.
Changes at the trade association Rodgau e.V.: After 17 years as Chairman, Berthold Schüßler is standing down. Martin Born, who was Berthold Schüßler's deputy for nine years, is unanimously elected as the new chairman. Jürgen Herr and David Ermel support him as deputies. Nicole Grabe as secretary and Christiane Eckel as treasurer complete the executive board.
The major construction site in the centre of Dudenhofen is moving onto Ludwig-Erhard-Platz. Dr.-Weinholz-Straße will be closed on one side and Ludwig-Erhard-Platz will temporarily become a dead end.
The lido starts the new season with new features and a colourful programme. There is good news for all visitors to the naturist area this season. The entire sanitary container was renovated during the "winter break". There are now also three additional awnings. Two of these are for the textile area and one for the naturist area. The entrance has also been fitted with a turnstile. After the traditional honouring of DLRG participants for the badges they have achieved, a few brave DLRG members give the official starting signal for the swimming season by jumping into the cool water.
The Weiskirchen wastewater treatment plant could be one of the first in Hesse to be equipped with a fourth purification stage. Initially, experience is to be gathered in a pilot plant. Up to now, the sewage treatment plant has treated the water in three stages: mechanical, biological and chemical. In future, a fourth stage with activated carbon and a cloth filter will also filter out pharmaceutical residues.
In the Burgstraße area in Hainhausen, two beaver dams in quick succession to the north of August-Neuhäusel-Straße ensure that the incoming water flows directly into the flooding area. In order to be allowed to dismantle a beaver dam, the Lower Nature Conservation Authority must issue a licence under species protection law. This application is submitted by the city of Rodgau. The former millrace will be slightly widened in consultation with the monument protection authority of the Offenbach district to ensure better drainage from the flood basin back into the Rodau. [Image 20]
Successful integration of Spanish professionals in daycare centres: 11 Spanish professionals have started working in the daycare centres since February last year. None of them ended the project prematurely. On the contrary, all 11 specialists have settled into their tasks well and enrich the centres. The town of Rodgau is now offering all Spanish specialists the opportunity to be taken on.
40 years of the Haller organic food shop: owner Renate Haller celebrates her anniversary with live music, tasting and information stands and a competition. There were also a few stories from her professional life and her passion for her products. Haller opened her first shop in Dudenhofen in 1984 and has been self-employed ever since.
Steep rise: Jennifer Gerndt has put in an impressive performance for the Rodgau Pioneers footballers and has been rewarded accordingly: she is part of the women's national team squad for the European Championships in Finland. The 24-year-old prospective trauma surgeon and sports physician will strengthen the 45-player squad in the position of "safety".
The Rodgau fire brigade band is proud and delighted that the music committee of the Hesse State Fire Brigade Association has chosen Rodgau to host the state meeting of fire brigade bands. A total of 13 orchestras from Hesse will be playing under the title "Sound of Fire". The state meeting will be framed by the "Day of the Fire Brigade", on which the Nieder-Roden and Dudenhofen fire brigade associations will take care of the physical well-being. Two stages on the festival site will provide space for the music groups, who will take turns to provide entertainment from 12 noon to 6 pm without a break.
An era comes to an end: after 20 years as a full-time city councillor, 12 of them as First City Councillor, Michael Schüßler is given a fitting send-off. The hall in the auditorium of the Georg Büchner School is filled with family, friends and former colleagues. Almost 20 speakers express their appreciation. After studying law, Schüßler was elected as a full-time city councillor in 2004. He only passed his second state examination shortly before taking office. Since then, he has achieved a great deal in Rodgau. At a time of high youth unemployment, he made education a key issue. Together with the Offenbach district, the employment agency and other stakeholders, he launched the "Rodgau 16 plus" qualification project and built up the education fair to its current size.
At Rodgauer JugendART in the Dudenhofen youth centre, nine young individual artists will be showing their creative works. Manga drawings, digital art, large-format paintings, metal sculptures, clay works and much more will be on display. For the first time, a young jewellery designer will be on site with her work. The Georg Büchner School, the Geschwister Scholl School and the Stephan Gruber School from Eppertshausen will be presenting works from their art lessons in the exhibition. The Freie Musikschule Rodgau e.V. will provide musical entertainment.
A burst pipe in Eisenbahnstraße opposite the Stern pharmacy caused quite a stir on a Friday evening in Jügesheim. Drinking water gushed out of a hole in the tarmac and flowed down the sloping road. Firefighters block the road and light up the spot. It takes until 3 a.m. to provisionally patch the leak until the next repair work can be carried out.
Tobias Schott from Rodgau is helping in Bavaria, where the floods have made countless houses uninhabitable. Together with the Ahrtal aid organisation and other volunteer friends from all over the country, the helpers from Bauwerk Rodgau are once again working tirelessly. They are acting as advisors and coordinators for the volunteer relief workers in Babenhausen (Unterallgäu) and Offingen. After various missions in the flood-ravaged Ahr valley, but also in earthquake regions in Turkey and Syria, a team of around 25 helpers has been formed.
Together with Segula Technologies, the city of Rodgau organises the second Rodgau Business Club at the test centre in Dudenhofen. The invitation was accepted by 120 entrepreneurs from Rodgau. After an exciting short presentation by department head Thomas Jordan on the structure of the test centre and the various test options, guests can ask questions. Participants will also have the opportunity to get to know the test centre site better during a tour of the test tracks. Finally, contacts can be made and friendships cultivated over finger food.
Federal Cross of Merit goes to Weiskirchen: Local historian and local politician Helmut Trageser receives the honour from District Administrator Oliver Quilling in front of around 120 guests. Trageser has been involved in local politics for 47 years, has been head of the local court since 1990 and is co-founder and chairman of the local history association, which has been in existence since 1985. The 74-year-old has written several books, organised exhibitions and accompanied the excavation on the site of the former mill bridge.
School dog Filou passes test: Secondary school teacher Sophia Wagner and her three-year-old Goldendoodle are now a certified school dog companion team in the field of animal-assisted education. They can now officially be used in everyday life at the Georg Büchner School in Jügesheim. However, the training and examination was not easy. Both had to take part in a special training programme for a year and a half to ensure that Filou was able to cope with the diverse demands of everyday school life. Among other things, he had to show that he could remain calm in stressful situations and respond appropriately to the needs of the pupils.
The lido festival at the Rodgau lido attracts thousands of visitors with the White Summer Night and the Mallorca Party despite the changeable weather. Around 2,000 square metres of beach serve as a dance floor in front of the stage. The beach volleyball courts have been converted for this purpose. In addition to the large stage, there is once again a Seeblick stage with house and electro music on the terrace of the kiosk.
The #RodgauKippenFrei campaign has been a great success and has been received very positively and supportively by citizens. The campaign serves to raise awareness of the proper disposal of cigarette butts and to make an important contribution to cleanliness in our town and to environmental protection. As part of the campaign, informative content is shared via the website of Stadtwerke Rodgau and social media platforms to raise awareness of the negative impact of carelessly discarded cigarette butts on the environment and encourage people to get involved. These measures have reached and sensitised many citizens. One highlight is the distribution of pocket ashtrays. These are handed out at the recycling centre, at the opening of the lido and at the town festival together with informative flyers.
To further facilitate the disposal of cigarette butts, new ashtrays are also being installed in highly frequented locations.
Rodgau is taking part in CITY CYCLING for the 6th time under the motto "On your bikes, get set, go". The aim of the campaign is to motivate as many people as possible to cycle in a climate-friendly way. Anyone who lives, works, goes to school or is a member of a local club in Rodgau can take part during the campaign period. All kilometres cycled during the campaign period will be counted. Be it on the way to work, to school or on other everyday routes, during leisure time and even on holiday. A total of 159,837 kilometres were cycled. Sven Hansen achieved the most kilometres as an individual cyclist with 1,777.9 km. The Carl Orff School cycled the most team kilometres with 29,414 km.
Relaxed atmosphere during the job search: bright sunshine, delicious food from the barbecue and, above all, the opportunity to talk to potential employers: The "Job&Grill 2024" at the Dudenhofen youth centre was a complete success. Around 80 young people took the opportunity to find out about training and career opportunities from 14 companies and institutions in the region. In addition to discussions with the training centres, there is also the opportunity to find out about the career counselling and youth welfare services on offer.
As in the last two years, Max Breitenbach is visiting the individual neighbourhoods with the "Town Hall on Site" format. He will be accompanied by Stadtwerke operations manager Markus Ebel-Waldmann and the heads of departments 2 (urban planning) and 5 (public safety and order) Peter Kämmerling and Gregor Fanroth. Local people can contact the city with their ideas and suggestions and they will address their concerns and explain individual issues.
With "Smart Lighting - the next generation of digital transformation", the city of Rodgau is launching an innovative project to modernise its street lighting. An urban data platform and the use of various sensors are used to collect data on traffic volumes, pedestrian frequency and road conditions. Modern analysis models are used to convert the data into optimum lighting settings for the respective street lights. The project is being funded by the Hessian Ministry for Digitalisation and Innovation through the "Starke Heimat Hessen" programme to support smart municipalities and regions with a total of 1,319,400 euros.
Five dream grades of 1.0: Claus-von-Stauffenberg School in Dudenofen bids farewell to a total of 211 school leavers at the academic ceremony in the packed sports hall. This year's Abi motto is "A little party never killed no abi!" Headmistress Dagmar Emmerich and Deputy Headmaster Alexander Schulte-Sasse honoured the young people for their special achievements
Five of them achieved an average grade of 1.0: Joelina Göhre, Lara Conrad, Tim Grave, Navid Lentfer and Jannik Seck. At the end, the graduating class of 2024 immortalised themselves with an individually designed wall in the Claus-von-Stauffenberg school building.
Anniversaries at the vhs: Many lecturers have been loyal to the adult education centre and its course participants for decades. No fewer than 8 course leaders are celebrating anniversaries, big and small, at vhs Rodgau. Gabriela-Carmen Lang, Cornelia Burkhardt, Ralf Stock, Silvia Bernhard-Sassadeck, Helene Löbig, Betty Sarabia, Zivana Blagojevic and Manuela Behrenbeck. Head of department Stefan Jaud and the staff of the vhs Rodgau thanked them - also on behalf of the participants - for their commitment with a bouquet of flowers, a certificate and a small celebration
The Dudenhofen-Nieuwpoort men's choir and twinning association celebrated their beer festival on the new Dalles for the first time. For the sixth edition of the popular event, the workers went the extra mile to get the intersection of Wilhelm-, Friedberger- and Georg- August-Zinn-Straße ready for the party. This meant that around 1,000 guests were able to sit under the trade association's maypole, which still towers over the Dalles, at a late hour. Mayor Max Breitenbach gave the official start. He swings the mallet against the tap in the first barrel, which he donates as patron.
Sports outside of school hours: great news for all schoolchildren. First City Councillor Janika Martin and Mayor Max Breitenbach are delighted that the sports field at Heinrich-Böll-Schule can now also be used outside of school hours and during the holidays. This idea was realised together with the Offenbach district. There are different opening hours during the holidays and during school hours.
Special exhibition in the Rodgau Gallery: "Heimat X" is a journey through the cultural history of Rodgau up to the present day. The exhibition organised by the Rodgau town archive in cooperation with the Agency for Culture, Sport and Volunteering can be seen for weeks in the Rodgau Gallery. It shows the changes in the communities in photos, historical documents and motif maps. It looks at the tradition of the village lime trees and the significance of the gallows oaks. It looks at the development of the church fair into the Kerb and the roots of the sports clubs. The repression and liberation of the Rollwald Nazi camp is described. "Heimat X" poses the question of how the concept of home is understood on a personal and cultural level.
40 years with heart and soul in childcare: Kerstin Heck is a true icon in childcare in the town of Rodgau. Her former companions are still among her circle of friends today and describe her as very empathetic and natural. Wherever Kerstin Heck appears, she finds new allies, admirers and friends for life. Her companions rave about her creative streak and pick up a trick or two from her when doing handicrafts. Kerstin Heck has been working as the manager of daycare centre 5 in Römerstraße for 11 years now and can look back on a wonderful, fun and exciting time full of great encounters with people. Even today, after a busy day in the office, she still retreats to the children's service to accompany the youngest children as they grow up.
Christoph Müller is the new president of the Rotary Club of Rodgau. The managing partner of a Frankfurt advertising agency and photographer begins his programme immediately after taking office and appoints Hans-Georg Jester as Honorary President. Müller is co-founder of the Rotary Rodgau Hospice Foundation, has already directed several films about the hospice at the water tower and published the hospice book. He has also been a member of the Rodgau club since 2012 and is responsible for the presentation of the homepage and social media.
After the Jügesheim chapter of the Verein der deutschen Schäferhunde e.V. had to dissolve its club in 1933, the club grounds were donated to the town. Now the South-East Hesse Police Headquarters leases the former club premises for the training and education of the service dog squadron. This means that the tradition of dog training will continue on the site in the future. A large dog training area in its own service district with good infrastructure offers the ideal conditions for this. Sufficient facilities for theory (service lessons, seminars, meetings) and practice (dog area, storage areas, equipment for practising scenarios) ensure excellent basic and advanced training for the four-legged friends and their uniformed "masters" and "mistresses".
Precious metal on the unicycle: three gold, four silver and one bronze. TSV Dudenhofen wins eight medals at the World Championships in Minnesota (USA). At the top of the podium were defending champion Maja Novosel, Mina Maischein and Julius Auth.
Providing digital care for those in need: the Rodgau nursing school of the Johanniter is the first institution in Germany to offer a new training programme for nursing staff in cooperation with Pro Arbeit - Kreis Offenbach - in Dietzenbach. The aim of this Erasmus project for digital qualification in the healthcare sector is to equip healthcare and nursing professionals with digital skills to enable them to provide care remotely through the use of "telecare". The "Photo of the Year" and the best pictures from the three subject areas "Land and People", "Environment and Climate" and "Sport and Leisure" will be on display for several weeks on the glass walls of the meeting room and foyer of the town hall. Axel Häsler, member of the selection jury and aerial photographer from the Main-Kinzig district, and city councillor Winno Sahm will speak at the opening of the exhibition. The presentation of the selection from the competition organised by the German Association of Journalists in Hesse makes it clear what an indispensable and attractive part photos play in press reporting. In combination with texts - which are also part of the exhibition in short form - a visual-linguistic narrative is created that turns testimonies of events into stories that can be relived.
African swine fever continues to spread despite all protective measures. The Hessian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Viticulture, Forestry, Hunting and Homeland is therefore redrawing the boundaries of the affected areas and the district of Offenbach is issuing three further general decrees as a result. Among other things, the so-called restricted zones 1 and 2 were adjusted. Rodgau has been categorised as restricted zone 1. Among other things, this zone is subject to a ban on mobile and harvest hunting as well as stricter hygiene regulations for hunting and domestic pigs.
Building authority approves new sports hall: TSV Dudenhofen is one step closer to its new sports hall. Four years after the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony, the district building authority has issued the building permit. The new sports hall is to be built around 500 metres as the crow flies from the existing site on Hergershäuser Weg.
The Maximal cultural initiative has been contributing to Rodgau's cultural programme for more than 30 years. All friends of the organisation are invited to the anniversary celebration. Cake, coffee, sparkling wine and other chilled drinks will be complemented by food from the Sowiso restaurant. Musical entertainment will be provided by the GBS Big Band, Junior Kicks & Junior Voices, Little Wing and the band "Summer Tales".
From late summer to autumn, seating combinations, planter boxes and bicycle parking facilities will change the familiar streetscape at three locations in Hainhausen, Jügesheim and Nieder-Roden. The furniture in Offenbacher Landstraße, Hintergasse and Untere Marktstraße invites you to discover and try things out. It is part of the "Rediscovering streets" initiative, a joint project by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas and other local authorities as part of the Hesse Local Mobility Working Group. The aim is to improve the quality of life in suitable areas and to strengthen pedestrian traffic locally. New meeting spaces could be created in this way. The city can use the furniture free of charge and bears the costs for planting and maintenance.
The Puiseauxplatz in Nieder Roden will once again be transformed into a true paradise for young and old for the traditional children's festival. Visitors are offered numerous play stations to let off steam and join in. From bouncy castles and games of skill to creative corners, there is something for everyone. In summer temperatures, the fire brigade will provide the necessary cooling with the popular water spray game. Magician Abraxas, a puppeteer, children's theatre and much more can be seen on the stage. The Dudenhofen Countrywomen's Association and the fire brigade centre will provide a variety of delicious snacks and refreshing drinks.
The 24-hour run will be held for the 43rd time on the grounds of TSV Dudenhofen. The traditional event is the largest charity run in southern Hesse in aid of work with the disabled. In addition to sport, the "Gemeinsam mit Behinderten" (Together with the Disabled) association as organiser also puts on a top cultural programme that inspires and brings people with and without disabilities together. This year's run is also a big farewell to the venue that TSV Dudenhofen has generously provided for decades. The run will move to the Maingau-Energie Stadium in 2025.
The "Notinsel" project starts in Rodgau: In 2002, the German child protection foundation Hänsel+Gretel launched the "Notinsel" project, an initiative that offers children in emergency and dangerous situations as well as everyday minor problems a place to go in their town, community and neighbourhood. In Jügesheim, Elektro Fischer, Das Teehaus and the Haller organic food shop are involved. In Nieder-Roden, the Sonnenkäfer and DHC Media are taking part. In Dudenhofen, the Pauly-von-Buttlar pharmacy in the Rewe Centre is on board. The Schäfer bakery is also taking part with all four Rodgau branches as well as the municipal facilities Bürgerservice im Rathaus, customer service at Stadtwerke and the municipal libraries in Jügesheim and Nieder-Roden. The daycare centres are also taking part in the campaign. In May, the Rodgau public library launched a sunflower competition. Who has the tallest sunflower? The sunflower seeds were distributed free of charge in the Nieder-Roden and Jügesheim libraries. Participation was by sending in a photo of the sunflower with a recognisable folding rule. 80 children received sunflower seeds, 17 photos were sent in to the public library. The five tallest sunflowers were produced by Moira Klein with 405cm, Emilia Klein with 370cm, Pablo Virto-Bedacht with 285cm, the Rasselbande Rodgau with 250cm and Louis Stegmaier with 197cm. The lucky winners each received a certificate and a book voucher worth 20 euros.
Sparkasse Langen-Seligenstadt is opening another chapter in the refurbishment programme it began eight years ago and is investing around one million euros in its regional centre in Jügesheim. The core refurbishment is due to be completed in December. The branch, which has been closed in the meantime, will then be able to reopen.
Sculpture "Icarus" at the forest cemetery in Jügesheim: artist Wolfgang Hätscher-Rosenbauer offered one of his sculptures as a gift to the town of Rodgau. The Dudenhöfer-born sculptor, who also grew up there, now lives in Bad Vilbel. Head of Cultural Affairs Winno Sahm and AKSE employee Gabriele Ziegler visited the artist in his Frankfurt studio and selected the sculpture 'Icarus' together with him. The Waldfriedhof cemetery in Jügesheim was chosen as the installation site. The marble sculpture and plinth were installed by the Rodgau-based stonemasonry company Marmor Stenger. The central location close to the entrance and the mourning hall does justice to this significant eye-catcher.
50 years of Heinrich Böll School: HBS is celebrating this special anniversary with a two-day festive programme. During the mornings, all classes are working on projects to mark the anniversary. They do handicrafts, research the school of yesterday, today and tomorrow, look at the school's namesake, Heinrich Böll, and prepare for the big celebration. The celebratory programme starts with a panel discussion on the topic of "Education at HBS". A football tournament and the big anniversary celebration are also on the programme.
Great joy at Sportfreunde Rodgau: out of 47 entries in the "Stars of Sport 2024" competition, the project "A club builds its new home" takes first place. They were awarded the Bronze Star. In addition to prize money, the club secures a place in the next round for the decision at state level.
Visit from Guadeloupe to the town hall: As part of the Erasmus+ programme, First City Councillor Janika Martin welcomes a group of French pupils from the Lycee LGT Baimbridge in Guadeloupe to the town hall. The visit is part of a larger supporting programme planned by Alicia Ellenberger, teacher and Erasmus+ coordinator at the Georg Büchner School. The programme also includes excursions to Seligenstadt and Frankfurt am Main. The return visit by the German students is planned for January 2025.
Opening of the construction site at Ludwig-Erhard-Platz: All traffic areas at the construction site around Ludwig-Erhard-Platz and the Dudenhofen community centre have been opened to regular traffic. This means that the area can once again be used without restriction by pedestrians, cyclists and motorised traffic a good two months before the planned completion date. The shops are also easily accessible well before the Christmas shopping season. For residents and neighbours in particular, this marks the end of a sometimes stressful period of construction noise and other inconveniences that construction sites of this size unfortunately entail. The early completion of the construction work was made possible by the flexible approach of the project team consisting of urban planning, municipal utilities, planning office ammon+sturm and Küllmer Ingenieure. When all the new plants and trees are in bloom next spring, an official inauguration ceremony is planned for Dudenhofen's newly designed town centre.
Successful conclusion to the "Book Thirst" programme in the Nieder-Roden and Jügesheim public libraries: children and young people in grades 1 to 9 were able to take part. A total of 143 participants borrowed an impressive 1008 books, of which 813 were rated. The final celebration took place in the Nieder-Roden library. First City Councillor Janika Martin will honour the first 10 places, who have read between 14 and 31 books. All book thirsty children can get an ice cream and watch the experimental show "Das Verrückte Kinderlabor" on the forecourt. After the show, it's back to the library for refreshments, where there's pizza for everyone and the afternoon ends with a raffle.
Good news for postal customers in Nieder-Roden: Following the closure of the postal agency on Obere Markstraße by the DHL Group, there is now a successor. The company is opening a new branch at Puiseauxplatz in the "Dayan Supermarket".
Happy ending for dog puppies: Six puppies confiscated from an illegal animal transport near Weiskirchen in a deplorable condition are recovering splendidly after just four weeks in loving care at the Aschaffenburg animal shelter. The happy bunch of rascals are now ready to be placed in a new home.
"Rodgau Art" presents works by artists: The presentation of art in Rodgau has been organised by the town for 50 years. In the community centre and sports hall in Nieder Roden, 80 artists show their diverse works. Some of the artists have already exhibited internationally. Hobby artists and self-taught artists mingle with graduates from various art colleges. Creative sculptures made of wood, bronze, papier-mâché or clay can be admired on the stage, in the foyer and in all the other rooms. The works can not only be viewed, but also purchased during the exhibition weekend. The proceeds will go to the SOS Children's Villages.
The Zweckverband Wasserversorgung Stadt und Kreis Offenbach (ZWO) will have a new boss on 1 November. Rudolf Hußlein will take over the management and thus also the responsibility for the approximately 80 employees. Bernd Petermann, who worked for the ZWO for almost 20 years as operations manager and managing director, is retiring.
A strong effort in the slicing competition: The 14 participating teams give their all at the 4th Hessian Cabbage Slicing Championship. A total of 450 kg of white cabbage is sliced. The event organised by the trade association is embedded in the traditional pumpkin festival.
New Spanish specialists for the daycare centres: Andrea and Pablo are completing their year of recognition in municipal childcare facilities. That's nothing special in itself, but in this case it's staff from Spain. This is not the first time that Rodgau has put out feelers for childcare workers from Spain. There has been a shortage of skilled labour in the education sector in particular for several years. One way to counteract the current shortage of skilled labour is to make use of recruitment agencies such as Helmeca. The German-Spanish recruitment agency specialises in the placement of Spanish nursery staff for daycare centres in Hesse and Bavaria. Helmeca offers a kind of "full service" for professionals and potential employers.
Major operation due to a destroyed gas pipe: The residents of Seligenstädter Straße in Weiskirchen experience one of the largest evacuations in the recent history of the district. Several gas house connections are damaged during civil engineering work. Gas leaked into the open air, but also into the cellars. Gas has even collected in the pipe of a street lamp. Around 40 residents are evacuated. The fire brigade and the DRK set up a supply station for them in the north fire station.
To mark the nationwide "Day of Libraries" on 24 October, the Jügesheim public library invites you to a "blind date with a book". Wrapped in neutral paper and labelled with brief information about the contents, the book packages are ready and waiting to be borrowed. A mixture of all literary genres from the adult library are available to choose from. True to the saying: "Don't judge a book by its cover", don't be tempted by the cover for once. Only the content counts here! The books are borrowed unopened and the surprise when they are unpacked is guaranteed.
There is now another place in Rodgau where a life-saving device hangs: In the entrance to the Protestant community centre in Dudenhofen. Thanks to an initiative by the Dudenhofen support group for cultural projects, financed by donations and in cooperation with the Asklepios Clinic, a defibrillator has been procured.
How loud was the Big Bang? How deep is a black hole? And is it really possible to look into the past with a telescope? Only children ask questions like these. The answers are provided by popular science presenter, author and fact-teller Eric Mayer during an appearance in his home town of Rodgau. Eric is known as the "stuntman of knowledge" from the ZDF programme PUR+ and has tried out what many dream of: he has survived a parabolic flight, tried the food of the future and squeezed himself into a spacesuit. He has written down his experiences in his book "Eric explores... the conquest of space".
Anniversary Day at SKG Rodgau: Chairman Lothar Mark thanks the loyal members at the Haus der Begegnung. The 65 honoured members have a total of 2170 years of membership.
The next step is to integrate the rodgaucard into the Rodgau club world as a multifunctional card. At a joint event organised by the two agencies Wirtschaftsförderung & Stadtmarketing and Kultur, Sport und Ehrenamt, various functions that can be used by clubs were presented. Over 50 club representatives accepted the invitation.
The city of Rodgau's fire service has a new boss. Christian Hinrichs sits at the interface between the town hall and the volunteer fire brigade. He brings a wealth of experience to this role. He was previously head of the fire, civil defence and disaster control department in the Main-Kinzig district. He was also deputy district fire inspector there.
Stefan Jaud has been working in the public sector for 40 years and has been with the town of Rodgau since 1991. The Head of Social Affairs and Education began his training with the district of Offenbach and it was clear even then that he wanted to work in the social sector. In addition to a fundamental personal interest, he was attracted by the variety. Both have remained, because even today, the specialist service is not only responsible for the major areas of daycare centres, senior citizens and education, but also employs around 400 people.
The central memorial service on Remembrance Day in Rodgau is organised under the theme "Flight and expulsion as a consequence of war and violence". The event will be opened by Klaus-Joachim Rink from the local VdK association in Nieder-Roden. He particularly remembers refugees who had to leave their homes in former German or other territories due to wars. They arrived in Rodgau, found a new home here and helped to shape it. The life and suffering stories of Iranian Leila Shahmohammadi and Syrian Khaled Hussein are told in a personal and moving way. The guests gain an insight into the constraints, violence and dangers in their home country. They learn about their flight, the uncertainty and fear of travelling, but also about arriving in Germany. Paintings and an installation by the two are on display and serve as a means of entering into dialogue with the artist.
The municipal agency for sport, culture and voluntary work donates the proceeds from the "Rodgau Art" stand fees to the SOS Helferkreis Rodgau e.V. organisation. In addition to the amount of 1557 euros, the sale of coffee, cakes and other delicacies raised 4600 euros. This is the highest amount since the SOS Café has been taking part in "Rodgau Art" for 13 years. 28 helpers are at work this weekend. All proceeds will be donated to SOS Children's Villages.
Sabine Haase-Schnorrbusch celebrates 40 years of service with her companions. Sabine Haase-Schnorrbusch has been at the starting line every day with a great deal of joy, perseverance and expertise. Her passion for the profession of nursery teacher and for the town of Rodgau has been evident since the beginning of her professional career: Apprenticeship year, nursery teacher, deputy manager, management training and now manager for 12 years are evidence of a determined path.
The city of Rodgau emphasises its deep connection with the Hospice am Wasserturm and donates a bench for the newly designed garden. The "River of Life", a stylised watercourse that symbolises the path through life, is thus given a further touching component. The bench invites you to pause, reflect and enjoy nature. It is a place of contemplation and tranquillity, a symbol of the care and support offered by the hospice to the dying and their relatives.
Great success for Julius Auth at the German Unicycle Freestyle Championships in Norderstedt near Hamburg: the youngster from TSV Dudenhofen took first place with a perfectly ridden and expressive interpretation of the Marvel film hero "Venom" and thus the German Junior Championship title.
Advent, Advent, a little light is burning: at the numerous Advent and Christmas markets throughout Rodgau, people come together to enjoy culinary delicacies, shows and arts and crafts to ring in the festive season.
The Advent market around the town hall in Jügesheim is celebrating its 10th anniversary. With a total of 34 market exhibitors, even the previous record from 2018 is broken. A special highlight is the "Art Café", which exhibits the works of young artists. The popular wishing tree also returns.
At this year's Advent market in Jügesheim, the Tilly fundraising campaign organised by the municipal cleaning staff will be presented to the public for the first time. With coffee, tea and homemade cakes, the municipal cleaners are organising a café under the patronage of First City Councillor Janika Martin. Home-made Christmas decorations and mistletoe will be on sale. The proceeds will go to the Offenbach district's children's and youth hospice support service, organised by Malteser International.
The Carl Orff School from Jügesheim has won the Hesse-wide school cycling competition against the Einhard School from Seligenstadt. With an impressive 29,414 kilometres cycled and a team of 281 pupils, the primary school secured the title and took first place in the "absolute cycling kilometres" category. District councillor Alexander Böhn presents the winners' trophy to the proud cyclists at the Carl Orff School.
The third Advent run, jointly organised by Sportfreunde Rodgau and the "Edelweiß" hiking club, once again sees an increase in the number of participants. 382 pupils cross the finish line. Six primary schools and pupils from 77 classes take part in the Gänsbrüh.
Together with other municipalities, the town of Rodgau wants to campaign for towns with over 20,000 inhabitants to be able to apply for their own licence plates in future. This would require a nationwide ordinance to be amended. For Rodgau, for example, the licence plate ROG could be considered. The town hopes that this will make a free contribution to town marketing.
Monika Cunsolo, a valued colleague, is celebrating her anniversary with the town of Rodgau. She has been working in daycare centres for an impressive 40 years. Monika Cunsolo began her professional journey back in 1992 at the daycare centre 7 "Robert-Koch-Straße". She put her heart and soul into looking after the children there and supporting their development. In 1999, she moved to daycare centre 5 "Römerstraße", where she demonstrated her expertise in a regular group. From 2000, she took on additional tasks in language support, laying the foundations for her current role as an intercultural specialist. She has been working for all daycare centres in Rodgau since 2016 and is passionate about supporting children with a migration background.
The renovation of the Nieder-Roden cemetery building has been completed. In addition to new roof surfaces and lightning protection, a photovoltaic system was installed on the roofs of the mourning hall and the mortuary wing. The windows and doors in the building itself were replaced and fitted with triple glazing. There were also energy-related changes to the heating system. With the new LED lights, the mourning hall has not only been fitted with contemporary equipment, but has also been given a further visual upgrade with two large pendant lights with a diameter of 1.50 metres. Extensive drywall construction and painting work, tiling and carpentry work was also required. The toilet facilities were also refurbished to make them barrier-free and vandal-proof.
The Nieder-Roden Music Association is delighted to have received generous donations. The Rotary Club Rodgau, the Lions Club Rodgau-Rödermark, the Sparkasse Dieburg, the Miteinander Leben Foundation and the Dr Bodo Sponholz Foundation have raised a total of 9,000 euros. The patrons are thus supporting the next generation of musicians.
The city of Rodgau is actively committed to more green spaces and a better environment. In the coming years, the city will unseal many sealed traffic islands throughout the city and plant them with greenery. This project will not only enhance the cityscape, but also promote biodiversity. Last year, a survey of all traffic islands was started. The first island on the corner of Wiesbadener Straße and Rodgau-Ring-Straße was unsealed back in the autumn. Intervention was necessary here as the roots of the plane trees had lifted the concrete slabs. The result is an attractive perennial planting that brings colour and life to the area all year round. This autumn, the next traffic island, Am Forschheimer See on the corner of Rodgau-Ring-Straße, was tackled.
After extensive renovation work, the Sparkasse regional centre in Jügesheim reopens on schedule. The self-service terminals are accessible again. From 6 January, all 19 employees will also be on site in Jügesheim, offering all services and advice in person.
