Resource fair highlights resources available to Maine and NH small businesses

BERWICK, Maine – Recently SBA New England Regional Administrator Mike Vlacich joined Falls Chamber of Commerce for a small business resource fair at Berwick Town Hall.

This event was an afternoon focused on helping small businesses find the resources they need to start, thrive and grow. The Business Resource Fair featured 15 business support organizations from both New Hampshire and Maine.

“I applaud the Falls Chamber of Commerce for their efforts to reach the small business community in the Falls area by bringing these small business resources together under one roof,” said Mr. Vlacich. “It is critical for small businesses to make strong local connections to start, grow and expand.”

“The Falls Chamber of Commerce put the Business Resource Fair on to help businesses in both Maine and New Hampshire find resources to start, thrive, and grow here,” said Emerson Doiron, Executive Director of the Falls. “Our community is getting stronger and growing every day with new businesses and we are working to get them the resources they need.”

Featured organizations at the business resource fair included:

· Small Business Administration (Maine and New Hampshire District Offices)

· Small Business Development Center (Maine and N.H.)

· Veterans Business Outreach Center of New England

· Seacoast SCORE

· Veteran Entrepreneurial Training and Resource Network

· York County Career Center

· Southern Maine Finance Agency

· Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

· New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs

· Maine International Trade Center

· Procurement Technical Assistance Center (Maine and N.H.)

· Finance Authority of Maine

The Falls Chamber of Commerce is a professional association that serves the businesses of Somersworth N.H., Rollinsford N.H., Berwick Maine, South Berwick Maine, and North Berwick Maine. To learn more visit: https://thefallschamber.com/. Businesses can connect with the SBA office near them or any of SBA’s resource partners at: www.sba.gov/local-assistance.

Zebra Crossings seeking new Executive Director

DOVER — Zebra Crossings, a non-profit organization that provides camp experiences for children with chronic medical conditions and their families, is beginning a search process for a new Executive Director. The organization, founded by Dover resident Astrid Wielens in 2010, made this announcement following the resignation of Aric Morrison who is leaving the Executive Director position for personal reasons.

“For many years Zebra Crossings has benefitted from the generous support of corporate sponsors, partners, donors, and volunteers who believe in the importance and value of our mission,” said Eileen Sewall, President of the Zebra Crossings Board of Trustees. “Our plan is to continue our good work under new leadership, to increase our camp offerings, and enrich the lives of more campers.”

Three consecutive summers of COVID has suppressed the number of camps that Zebra Crossings would typically hold, and the pent-up demand for empowerment and community experiences is evident. "A Zebra Crossings camp is almost like a family reunion, it’s a space where everyone shares the same lived experience and speaks the same language,” said Curtis Hines, Program Director for Zebra Crossings. Earlier this month Hines ran a weekend camp for It’s My Heart New England, a service organization providing non-medical support for children with congenital heart defects. “By connecting with others who share their medical challenges their support network grows, these kids develop new reserves of self-confidence and resiliency. Camp is a special place, and sometimes the children are in tears as they say goodbye because they do not want to leave."

Zebra Crossings wants to have a new Executive Director in place by early 2023 to facilitate a full calendar of camp programs and events next year. Interested candidates with non-profit management experience are encouraged to learn more about the position at the Zebra Crossings website, zebra-crossings.org/jobs/.

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce conducts ribbon cutting at RE/MAX 360

ROCHESTER — The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce conductd a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 13, to celebrate the grand opening of RE/MAX 360’s newest location at 10 South Main St., in Rochester. RE/MAX 360 is a locally owned and operated full-service real estate brokerage with headquarters located in Beverly, Mass. and Alton, N.H. Founded in 2018, the brokerage has more than 120 Realtors and specializes in Residential and Commercial real estate. The addition of this office brings the RE/MAX 360 family of companies to nine offices throughout greater Massachusetts and New Hampshire. They are licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. RE/MAX 360 invites you to learn more by stopping by their newest location or visiting their website at www.remax360.com.

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce conducts ribbon cutting for The Rochester Voice

ROCHESTER — The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony for The Rochester Voice on Friday, Oct. 21, celebrating their 5th anniversary of Chamber membership, and 10 years of being a digital daily. Formerly known as The Lebanon Voice, The Rochester Voice covers news and community content in Rochester and surrounding cities and towns, including Dover, Farmington, Barrington, Milton and Somersworth, New Hampshire, as well as several towns in Maine. The full-service newspaper provides daily state, regional and local news, as well as Lifestyle, See N Go, Focus, Wine and Dine, Obituaries and Opinion sections.

“We are seeking to ensure that The Rochester Voice continues to be a sustainable publication,” says Harrison Thorp, Editor and Publisher of The Rochester Voice, “and look forward to partnering with corporations, nonprofits and small businesses as we provide our readers with reliable, unbiased news reporting that is second to none. Along the way we have been blessed by being honored as Rochester’s Business of the Year by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce in 2021 and honored with 12 New Hampshire Press Association Distinguished Journalism Awards in the past four years.” The Rochester Voice invites you to learn more by visiting https://www.therochestervoice.com/.

Dover Chamber hosts ‘Chamber Appreciation Day’ breakfast

DOVER — The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce celebrated national Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day on Wednesday, Oct. 19, by hosting a ‘Chamber Appreciation Day’ breakfast.

Over 40 valued chamber members attended the event to network and enjoy a breakfast prepared by chamber staff and volunteers. Breakfast items were donated by The Nook, The Sassy Biscuit Co., Panera Bread, Two Bees Café + Patisserie, and Earth’s Harvest Kitchen & Juicery.

Along with networking, the event featured trivia questions that helped members get to know the chamber staff. Sixty-two businesses and organizations have joined the Dover chamber so far in 2022, and that number continues to grow.

“The chamber’s 100^th anniversary party planned for 2020 didn’t happen due to COVID, so this was a great opportunity to get everyone together to celebrate the chamber and its initiatives in the community,” says GDCC Membership and Business Programs Manager Melissa Launder.

Sponsors for the event included Bangor Savings Bank, Leone, McDonnell & Roberts P.A., Coastal Mi-Box, Mr. Electric, Clean-O-Rama, Wildside Candle Co., and Dover 400.

The chamber wrapped up Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day with a Business Open House at First Seacoast Bank in the evening.

The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit association of businesses, professionals, individuals, and organizations working together to advance the economic well-being of its members and the community. For information on Dover Chamber membership and programs or for a schedule of activities, call 603-742-2218 or visit www.dovernh.org.

Seton Academy to host Chamber’s Business After Hours in November

ROCHESTER — The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce announced that on Wednesday, Nov. 9, Seton Academy will host a Business After Hours. The Business After Hours will take place in St. Anne’s Hall at the Our Lady of Holy Rosary located at 189 North Main St., in Rochester from 5:30 to 7 p.m.. Seton Academy is celebrating having successfully opened its doors for its first school year.

This Business After Hours will feature an opportunity to meet the staff and Board members at Seton Academy. This event will also offer guests with the chance to network with fellow Chamber members. Attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of business cards for networking and door prizes! Hors d’oeuvres, beverages and door prizes will be provided.

Ample parking is available behind Holy Rosary Church. Attendees should enter the door located at the back of the church. Then proceed through the door on the left to enter St. Anne's Hall.

For additional information or to register, contact the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce at 603-332-5080, email memberservices@rochesternh.org or register online at www.rochesternh.org/novemberbah.

36 McLane Middleton Lawyers included in Super Lawyers

PORTSMOUTH – The law firm of McLane Middleton announce that 36 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2022 edition of New England Super Lawyers and/or Massachusetts Super Lawyers.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. The lawyers selected for inclusion from McLane Middleton along with their primary practice area as indicated by Super Lawyers are:

2022 New England Super Lawyers on the Seacoast:

Portsmouth Office:

Patrick Closson – Business/Corporate

Note: Being named to the list or receiving the award is not intended and should not be viewed as comparative to other lawyers or to create an expectation about results that might be achieved in a future matter.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Zebra Crossings seeking new Executive Director: Seacoast business news