Seacoast business owner Shelly Manougian continues to enhance and encourage

RYE — While the majority of world has been focused on the COVID19 pandemic, Shelly Manougian has her sights on making all women feel beautiful and desirable in a time where beautiful and desirable is the last thing on their minds during and after cancer.

Manougian’s efforts to have her upscale intimate apparel boutique, Bella Intimates, a Medicare Accredited Facility became a reality over the past year and a half. The accreditation will allow Bella Intimates to bill Medicare and some private insurance companies for their client’s mastectomy needs.

Manougian believes that a restored positive body image and renewed self-confidence, both play an important part in the healing process for women during cancer, and after a mastectomy. Comfort, support, and a proper fit are most helpful in their journey to feeling whole again.

Manougian has found success as the founder and owner of Bella Intimates, offering a gorgeous selection of women’s sleepwear, shapewear, and other undergarments that run from comfy and cozy to alluring. Over three decades of retail management experience gives her the unique distinction of specializing and celebrating a broad range of body types and personal preferences. “Focusing on genuine connections with my customers with pieces that evoke confidence really makes this not a job, but more of an honor, says Manougian

Since the opening of Bella Intimates in 2003, the lace-lined shop has been nominated for the ‘Best of Intima’ award on several occasions by Best of Intima and has been recognized as one of the top boutiques in the world, by Worldwide Boutiques Intima. The accolades don’t stop there, as in recognition of her extraordinary dedication to her customers and local community, the Women’s Information Network honored Ms. Manougian with the ‘Outstanding Service Award’ on the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day in 2011. That same year Manougian was featured in the Fearless Women Book, ‘Visions of a New World’ by acclaimed photographer Mary Ann Halpin. She was most recently recognized by Marquis’ Who’s Who for ‘Excellence in Retail Management’.

The awards are a lovely and appreciated recognition, but that isn’t what it’s about to the auburn-haired beauty. For more information on Bella Intimates, please visit mybellaintimates. com.

Strafford Regional Planning Commission launches housing project to assess needs, recommend solutions

ROCHESTER — Strafford Regional Planning Commission is launching its regional housing needs assessment project; a multi-faceted initiative to review current housing trends and better understand needs. This year-long process will include a plan to address future housing options that meet demand and ensure a high quality of life for all N.H. residents. Regional Planning Commissions are a political subdivision of the state and support a local membership of municipalities in their planning and community development responsibilities.

The RHNA project is being conducted in partnership with the eight other RPCs, the New Hampshire Office of Planning and Development, and is funded by an American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund grant.

Affordable housing is crucial to New Hampshire's economy. The low housing inventory, increasing population and rising prices affect individuals and families who want to live and work in the granite state. In October 2021, the statewide median sales price was $375,000, almost 13% higher than the previous year, while the N.H. vacancy rate fell to under 1% in 2021. For renters, individuals need to earn 128% of the estimated statewide median renter income, or over $59,900 a year, to afford the statewide median cost of a typical two-bedroom apartment with utilities.

The need for this project is evident and the process is designed to rely heavily on the public, who have an important opportunity to be part of a framework for change. SRPC, and its regional counterparts want to understand the personal effect the housing crisis has on residents, their businesses, and their community, including both challenges and successes experienced. In other words, what is working, and what needs to change?

To kick off the public input process, each RPC has launched a survey www.nharpc.org/rhna/#survey, so that residents from across the state can share their stories. The SRPC survey is available online www.surveymonkey.com/r/DGC6HJK.

To stay up to date on SRPC’s RHNA project, residents are encouraged to join the project email list: lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/78gSHK7/rhna, or visit the project web page: strafford.org/projects/rhna/.

TheNetWorks LLC joins Dover Chamber

DOVER – The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome The Networks LLC as a valued member of the chamber.

After 30 years in the IT industry, TheNetWorks founder, Mike Shevenell, has decided to focus on helping businesses and residential owners. The process is designed to empower people, outfitting them with the tools they need to succeed.

TheNetWorks specializes in small and medium business, high-end residential networks, Wi-Fi coverage and performance optimization, 24/7 network monitoring services, innovations in network management, and wide area networks.

The service starts with a comprehensive network audit. This initial consultation identifies key problem areas and concludes with a report that includes a plan, cost estimates, and a schedule. TheNetWorks also offers a suite of products and services that will help you get back up to speed quickly.

Shevenell has over 35 years working in various fields of computer networks, over 25 years as a software architect and developer, over 25 years building and terminating ethernet networks, and over five years in IT operations.

To learn more about the services offered by TheNetworks LLC, visit www.thenetworks.us or call 603-781-9119.

Seacoast Score hosts free Business Finance II: Beyond the Basics Workshop

PORTSMOUTH — Seacoast Score is hosting Business Finance II: Beyond the Basics Workshop, March 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a free workshop.

In this workshop we explore the difference between profit and cash flow, breakeven analysis, forecasting, and other topics to help you plan for the success of your business. We suggest you take the SCORE Basic Finance workshop, or have some finance experience or training, before taking this workshop. Register now at seacoast.score.org/take-a-workshop.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast business owner continues to enhance and encourage: Seacoast business news