Studio Two Seven Nine celebrates Grand Opening with ribbon cutting

ROCHESTER — Studio Two Seven Nine celebrated its grand opening on April 5 with a ribbon cutting celebration hosted by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.

Now located at 18 South Main St., Suite 3, Rochester, NH  03867, Studio Two Seven Nine is a portrait and commercial photography studio specializing in business headshots, business portraits, high school senior portraits, and commercial photography, such as event coverage, product photography, and branding imagery.Founded in the spring of 2021, Studio Two Seven Nine began in The Mills at Salmon Falls in Rollinsford. After 2 strong years of growth, the decision was made to move the studio into downtown Rochester. Now located on the third floor above the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Studio Two Seven Nine is ready to serve the Rochester community.

“I moved to Rochester 15 years ago,” said Shawn Pierce, owner of Studio Two Seven Nine, “and when I decided to open a studio, I really thought The Mills would be a great location and environment to get off the ground, and, honestly, it was. But, toward the end of 2022 I realized that what I really wanted to do was bring the business home to serve the city I live in. Being an active member in my community is extremely important to me, and it is exciting to build something right here in my adopted hometown.”

For more information about Studio Two Seven Nine visit www.studiotwosevennine.com or email shawn@shawnpiercephoto.com.

The Falls Chamber of Commerce reaches 100 Member milestone

SOMERSWORTH — The Falls Chamber of Commerce announces that it has reached an important milestone - 100 members.  This achievement is a testament to the growing community of businesses in The Falls Region and the hard work of the chamber's dedicated team.

Since its inception, The Falls Chamber of Commerce has been committed to supporting and promoting the local business community. Through networking events, educational seminars, and community outreach, the chamber has helped its members grow and succeed. The last time the Falls Chamber had over 100 members was prior to 2018.

"We are thrilled to have reached this milestone of 100 members," said Emerson Doiron, Executive Director of The Falls Chamber of Commerce. "It's a testament to the hard work of our members and the dedication of our community. We look forward to continuing to serve and support the businesses in the Falls.”

The Falls Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in fostering economic growth in the area. With a focus on collaboration and community, the chamber has worked tirelessly to create an environment where businesses can start, thrive, and grow. Each month, the Chamber hosts events for members to network and make connections, ribbon cutting ceremonies for new businesses, and educational programming.

"The Falls Chamber of Commerce has been a tremendous resource for local businesses," said Michael Muise, Chair of the Falls Chamber of Commerce Board. "From networking opportunities to educational events, the chamber has seen rapid growth over the past year. We're proud to continue helping small and local businesses flourish in the Falls Region.”

As The Falls Chamber of Commerce celebrates this important milestone, it looks forward to continuing to serve and support its members and the local business community.

For more information on The Falls Chamber of Commerce, please visit https://thefallschamber.com/.

Service Credit Union to open new branches in Concord, Epping

PORTSMOUTH — Service Credit Union, the largest credit union in New Hampshire, announces it is opening two new branches in the state in June 2023.

The new branches will be located in Concord and Epping.

The Epping branch will be located at 7 Fresh River Road, conveniently near the Epping Crossing Shopping Mall and multiple eateries. Both the new Concord branch and the new Epping branch will be Service CU’s first standalone branches in those respective areas; Service CU currently has a branch inside Walmart at 344 Loudon Rd. in Concord, and inside Walmart at 35 Fresh River Rd. in Epping.

The new branches aim to deliver a state-of-the-art banking experience focused on technology and financial wellness.

“As our membership grows, we need to meet them where they are, whether it’s through advanced digital banking tools or by finding the right branch locations to make life more convenient for those in the area. We’re excited to expand into these areas and deliver the exceptional service our membership has come to expect,” said Meghan Leach, VP-Retail Banking at Service Credit Union.

Service Credit Union will host grand opening ceremonies for the branches later this spring. For more information, follow Service Credit Union on Facebook at facebook.com/servicecreditunion.

Newburyport Bank donates $2,500 to The Housing Partnership as Program Contributor

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. – Newburyport Bank has donated $2,500 to The Housing Partnership as a Senatorial Contributor of its DC’s Reflecting Fools fundraising event. The event will be an evening of musical political satire held at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, N.H on April 29 at 7 p.m.

The Housing Partnership is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen communities by creating diverse housing opportunities, utilizing innovative approaches to development, practicing strong stewardship of housing, and leading with visionary advocacy. They envision a Greater Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Maine where every community offers “housing for everyone.”

“The need for affordable housing is becoming increasingly important,” said Lloyd L. Hamm, President & CEO of the Bank. “It’s no secret that we live in an area of the country deemed as one of the costliest in terms of housing. The Housing Partnership has tackled that challenge consistent with their vision of ‘housing for everyone’. The event in April presents a great opportunity for them to raise funds for their work, and we’re happy to be a contributor.”

Dover Chamber welcomed three new members in March

DOVER — The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce held ribbon-cutting ceremonies recently to welcome three businesses as new Chamber members.

Earth Eagle Brewings (North)

Earth Eagle Brewings has been brewing and serving craft beer in downtown Portsmouth since 2012. Off the beaten path (just a short walk from Market Square), the original brewpub boasts a private beer garden, outrageous burgers and hot dogs, wine, and cocktails. In early 2021, Earth Eagle Brewings opened a second location on Route 108 in Somersworth. Dubbed Earth Eagle North, it features a spacious taproom with food, cocktails, wine, and the full range of Earth Eagle beers, including their signature New England Gangsta, a West Coast-style IPA.

Owner/brewer Alex McDonald says, “We brew a healthy variety of beer styles from IPAs, lagers, sours, and stouts to Belgians, herbals, and porters. In Somersworth we offer Wednesday trivia nights, Thursday open mic nights, and live music most weekends.”

At the Portsmouth location, brewery merchandise (t-shirts, hats, hoodies, glassware, dog leashes, etc.) and homebrewing supplies are offered in a spacious shop at the front of the building. Marketing & Retail Manager Gretchen McDonald says, “We’ve gone big with merch offerings in the past year and it has been a hit. And of course, homebrew supplies are popular. Whether you’re making beer, wine, cider, kombucha or cheese, we have ingredients and equipment for creating great stuff at home.”

For more information about Earth Eagle Brewings, visit them online at eartheaglebrewings.com or in person at 350 Route 108, Barclay Square Industrial Park in Somersworth.

Leith Karate Academy

Bill Leith began his martial arts training in 1995 at Buzz Durkin’s Uechi Karate School in Atkinson, New Hampshire. In 2004 he began assisting with instruction of classes, shortly after becoming a full instructor at the school. He is a Sixth Degree Black Belt – Renshi. A Japanese term of respect, renshi indicates a polished instructor or expert. He is also recognized and certified as a Shihan, or master instructor, by Buzz Durkin’s Uechiryu Butokukai – the largest Uechiryu Karate organization in New England.

With 19 years of teaching experience, Leith has taught thousands of students of all ages. Besides teaching his regular classes he has also taught a multitude of seminars regarding self-defense, fitness, and bully-awareness for local schools and businesses.

“As a teacher, I want to see my students improve physically and mentally through their karate practice – while having fun,” says Leith. “I accomplish this through a goal-oriented program designed to keep students on track and focused.”

Leith teaches the Uechiryu style of karate, a traditional Okinawan martial art founded by Kanbun Uechi (1897-1948) based on the Chinese style Pangai-noon, which he learned from his teacher, Shushiwa. Uechiryu is an in-close fighting system that includes fluid blocking and striking with the development of a hardened, conditioned body.

“While the core Uechiryu Karate curriculum is the backbone of our program, people train in the martial arts for a variety of reasons, so I adapt my teaching style and classes to meet the needs of our students,” says Leith. “Along with development of self-defense skills, Uechiryu at our school is practiced to elevate the mental and spiritual well-being of the practitioner. Through training, the student will develop better focus and concentration, reduce stress, learn respect for others, and improve his or her overall health and fitness.”

Leith Karate Academy is located at 42 Dover Point Road, Unit L, in Dover. For more information call 603-460-5300 or go to leithkarate.com.

WIN Waste Innovations

WIN Waste Innovations provides sustainable trash and recycling services to businesses and homes across the Northeast. After recovering hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic, paper, and metals from the waste stream, WIN Waste converts 6.7 million tons of post‑recycled waste into renewable energy that powers more than 340,000 homes annually.“Our curb-to-grid waste handling process is a sustainable alternative to conventional methods,” says WIN Waste Innovations Sales Associate Emily Dalton. “Our team is passionate about delivering reliable services that divert millions of tons of post-recycled waste from landfills and support a healthier planet.”  WIN Waste Innovations is headquartered at 90 Arboretum Drive in Portsmouth. Visit them online at win-waste.com or call 866-946-9278.

Piscataqua Savings Bank hosting 5th Annual Community Shred Day and Food Drive

PORTSMOUTH — Piscataqua Savings Bank will be hosting its 5th Annual Community Shred Day for its customers and the general public on Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event will be held in the bank’s parking lot on State Street in downtown Portsmouth. All are welcome to participate.

The Shred Day event enables attendees to shred their personal documents in a safe and secure manner while doing good for the community. Three boxes of shred material per car are allowed at no charge.

In return, Piscataqua Savings Bank asks participants to bring in non-perishable food items to be donated to Footprints Food Pantry, located in Kittery, Maine, which will distribute them to those in need in the community.

A list of most needed items is available below:

Coffee, Tea, Laundry detergent, Toilet paper, Salad dressings.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 100 members, Community Shred Day: Seacoast business news