Chamber Collaborative to hold awards celebration: Seacoast business news

Chamber Collaborative to hold annual awards celebration at Jimmy's

PORTSMOUTH – It’s been held on Four Tree Island, the Shoals Steamship Company Dock, Chestnut Street outside the Music Hall—and even at the salt piles — but this year—the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth’s annual business awards celebration will take place inside at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club.

This highly anticipated event, dubbed Summer Detour 2022 presented by Service Credit Union, is a celebration of the local business community. Its name is not only a play on the detour taken from its traditional outdoor venues, but also a tribute to getting the job done—even when your route takes a turn or two.

Hosted by the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, the seriously exuberant celebration will take place on Thursday, Aug. 4 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club—the Seacoast’s hoppin’ new jazz and blues club that opened Sept. 30, 2021.

Cash bar cocktails and delectables will be enjoyed and an awards portion of the evening including the one surprise award—the Building a Better Community Award, will be bestowed upon their recipients. The awards ceremony aims to honor the Portsmouth business community and Chamber members who contribute to its success. Awards include-- the Volunteer of the Year, the Collaborator of the Year, the Small but MIGHTY Business of the Year, the Big Business of the Year.

As guests treat their discerning palates to heavy appetizers (among lighthearted banter), Crown Jules will set the scene for eating, drinking, mingling and networking. Crown Jules is steeped in the essence of Motown, soul and music that has been heavily influenced and molded by that sound. They deliver a high energy, danceable mix of classic and soon to be classic songs to the stage.

The Chamber’s biggest fundraising event of the year, Summer Detour is a highly-attended gathering for local businesses and members of the Portsmouth community. Born in 2012 when members dined al fresco in the middle of Pleasant Street, it has been met with enthusiasm from Chamber members and non-members alike, coming from all corners of the Seacoast to celebrate the love of Portsmouth. To learn more, and to purchase tickets for the annual celebration, visit portsmouthstreetlife.com.

The Chamber is thankful to its sponsors: Presenting Sponsor, Service Credit Union; VIP Reception Sponsor, Mass General Brigham: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Additional sponsors include Auger Building Company, Granite State Minerals, Sheehan-Phinney, Eversource, First Seacoast Bank, Bangor Savings Bank, Newburyport Savings Bank and CIT, and many more to be announced shortly.

The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth celebrates its 105th year as a Chamber. Learn more about the Chamber at PortsmouthCollaborative.org.

Portsmouth Rotary Club receives $10,000 from State Farm Agent Aileen Dugan

PORTSMOUTH -  Portsmouth State Farm Agent Aileen Dugan has a strong history of demonstrating what it means to be a Good Neighbor. Dugan recently presented the Portsmouth Rotary Club with a $10,000 grant from State Farm as part of the company’s Outstanding Community Engagement Program.

Dugan was one of 100 agents, across the country, recognized for her community support and volunteerism. As a result, she selected the Portsmouth Rotary Club to receive a $10,000 grant on behalf of State Farm.

“I was floored when I found out about this award,” says Aileen. “The timing is great because it is the 400th anniversary of the City of Portsmouth, as well as the 100th anniversary of Portsmouth Rotary. This year is also State Farm’s 100th anniversary. This funding will help us implement incredible initiatives in the city, including planting 400 trees and installing a handicap-accessible playground.”

“We were humbled and grateful to receive such a generous and unexpected donation from State Farm and the Aileen Dugan office here in Portsmouth,” says Portsmouth Rotary Club President Justin Finn.  “These funds will benefit our local community in many different areas.  We’ll be planting trees, updating playgrounds to be more inclusive for children, and helping to feed those in need.  These are just a couple ways State Farm’s 100th celebration of helping to bring charity across U.S. communities will make a difference here in Portsmouth.  We are thankful and applaud State Farm for such a gift.”

“At State Farm, we are committed to helping build stronger communities,” added Dugan. “For me, it's not enough to simply say I’m a good neighbor.  I embrace the responsibility to make Portsmouth better by being a part of a solution.”

Visit the Portsmouth Rotary Club site for more information on their initiatives.

Allied Career Training Institute opens in Sanford

SANFORD, Maine — Owner Jennifer Marachese announced the opening of Allied Career Training Institute Located at 890 Main St., Suite 100, in Sanford. By offering in demand certificate programs as a Medical Assistant or Massage Therapist, programs can be completed in 30 weeks full-time day or 60 weeks part-time evenings. Class sizes are small which allow faculty to be student focused and provide individual advising and guidance. The curriculum encompasses not only the core education program requirements but also professional development which includes a resume and portfolio along with critical interviewing skills and career placement assistance.

Partners Bank and Aroma Joe’s partnership raises funds for South Berwick Community Food Pantry

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine— Partners Bank and Aroma Joe’s recently partnered up to raise $1,511 in funds for the South Berwick Community Food Pantry with a traditional lemonade stand at South Berwick’s Strawberry Festival on June 25. Lemonade was donated by Aroma Joe’s and served up by a crew of 12 Partners Bank volunteers. Both companies made additional $250 contributions, bringing the total donation to the organization to $2,011.

A total of 32 gallons divided amongst more than 350 cups were sold out by 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. “It was hot, but the crowds still came out,” recalls Karyn Scharf Morin, Partners Bank SVP, Branch Administration. “This was a great opportunity for us to get out there and to do something good for the community.”

On July 1, Scharf Morin and Richard Goodenough of Partners Bank and Brian Sillon of Aroma Joe’s met at South Berwick Community Food Pantry to present a check to pantry organizers and volunteers Dave Stansfield, Mary Stansfield, Mike Ouellette, and Julia Ouelette. Partners Bank thanks all that made this sweet donation possible—Aroma Joe’s, our employee volunteers, and all Strawberry Festival patrons that purchased a cup of lemonade from our booth.

Step Up Parents selected for Angel Grant from the Foundation of Seacoast Health

SEACOAST — On June 28, Step Up Parents was honored to receive an Angel Grant from the Foundation of Seacoast Health for its mission which helps support kinship families. The two-year, $25,000 grant will be used to impact the lives of individuals who reside in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Southern Maine.

At a beautiful reception at Wentworth by the Sea Country Club, 20 local nonprofits were given a total of $600,000 in grant awards. Grantees understand that the funds must be used to impact the lives of individuals in the Foundation Service area, including Portsmouth, Rye, Greenland, Newington, New Castle, and North Hampton, New Hampshire; and York, Kittery, and Elliot, Maine.

"This grant will help us not only help kinship families in the Seacoast but will help enable us to expand our mission to Southern Maine in 2023," reported Denyse Richter, Executive Director of Step Up Parents.

Following the sale of the Community Campus to the City of Portsmouth, the Trustees, led by Chair Tim Durkin, wanted to infuse funds quickly into the community. Trustees were asked to nominate nonprofits that make a difference in the health and well-being of Seacoast residents. As a result, 20 deserving organizations of various sizes and representing a range of sectors received a grant between $25,000 and $50,000.

“We are thrilled to let you know that Step Up Parents has been selected by the Foundation for Seacoast Health Board of Trustees to receive an Angel Grant," said Deb Grabowski, CEO of the Foundation. "Thank you for all you and your staff do to improve the health and well-being of Seacoast residents."

Port City Makerspace adds new fleet of sewing machines

PORTSMOUTH — Port City Makerspace, the nonprofit community membership shop located at 68 Morning St., has something new to hum about: Five brand new sewing machines thanks to a $2550 grant from Kennebunk Savings Bank and invaluable community support from Seacoast Sewing and Quilting in Portsmouth.

“Port City Makerspace has a mission we admire greatly – to encourage the ‘maker’ in everyone,” said Doug Smith, Community Relations Coordinator, Kennebunk Savings Bank. “As a mutual bank firmly rooted in the community, we believe that we’re better off when everyone has the opportunity to create and contribute. We will always be the first in line to help put the right tools in the hands of our friends and neighbors seeking creative expression and craftsmanship.”

Kristen McCormack, who has taught sewing for 15 years, instructs everything from basic sewing and upcycling at the Makerspace. She also attends Friday community nights and serves as a resource for those who frequent the Soft Crafts Shop. The newest addition to the Makerspace, the shop opened in August 2021 after a substantial amount of work from volunteers.

McCormack knows first-hand how advantageous the four new Brother sewing machines will be. The previous sewing machines were donated in used condition and often in need of repair. “Having a fleet of the same machine makes it much easier to teach several people at once. It will allow me to spend more time in the Makerspace using our machines. I would cart my sewing machines back-and-forth but will now be able to leave my home sewing studio intact.”

The new Brother machines will perform all the basic stitches including buttonholes and a handful of embroidery stitches. McCormack said, “We also acquired a Juki Semi-Industrial machine that can be used for production sewing and quilting.”

Jill Patsfield, owner of Seacoast Sewing and Quilting in Portsmouth, played an integral role in bringing in the new fleet of machines for the Makerspace as well. According to McCormack, “Jill advised us on the machines she thought would work best for our space and gave us an amazing discount—essentially selling us the machines at cost.” Patsfiled also donated a serger, bolts of fabric and a gift certificate for the Soft Crafts Shop’s grand opening.

Word of the shiny new fleet of machines has already started to spread. Upon announcing the new machines, McCormack said they’ve seen an uptick in donations and interest in the Soft Crafts Shop. 

Look for the machines to star at community events such as Maker Community Nights and Costume Building Nights that are free and open to the public. They’ll also get ample use in sewing classes and projects. Best of all, there will no longer be the need to try to fix the equipment on the fly.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Chamber Collaborative to hold awards celebration: Seacoast business news