May 2012 - Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce

May 2012
Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce Monthly Newsletter
Gala
Grand Opening!
New Seashell Stage on
Hampton Beach
Friday–Saturday,
June 1–2, 2012
Seacoast Harley-Davidson is
Presenting Sponsor for the 23rd Annual
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
September 7, 8, 9, 2012
Jude David, Chairman of the 23rd Annual Hampton Beach
Seafood Festival, announced that Seacoast Harley-Davidson
of North Hampton is the Presenting Sponsor for this year’s
festival. Announcement of 2012’s Presenting Sponsor was made
during the annual fashion show at Seacoast Harley-Davidson
on March 31.
Shown in photo are (from left): Al Contois, President and
General Manager, Seacoast Harley: Jude David, General Chairman, Hampton Beach Seafood Festival; Arielle Andrews, Director of Marketing, Seacoast Harley; Pat Morgenstern, Sponsor
Chairman, Hampton Beach Seafood Festival; and Shawn Lillie,
Controller, Seacoast Harley.
The festival, held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,
September 7, 8, and 9 along Ocean Boulevard in Hampton
Beach, is supported in large part by corporate sponsors whose
contributions underwrite festival entertainment and activities.
This year’s festival will showcase the 14 million dollar beach
renovations, including the new Seashell Stage.
“We are delighted that one of our valued members who has
been a great addition to the festival and a company with such
an outstanding presence in the community is the Presenting
Sponsor of the Seafood Festival,” David said. “We plan to
partner with Seacoast Harley-Davidson throughout the year
on many great events.”
Arielle Andrews, Marketing Director for Seacoast HarleyDavidson said, “We are very excited to be the presenting
sponsor of the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival for 2012. Last
year was our first year with the festival and we had such a
wonderful experience, that we decided to join the festival again
Seafood Festival—Continued on Page 2
It will be an exciting weekend at the Beach! The
spectacular redevelopment of the Seashell Stage and
surrounding buildings is complete. Governor Lynch will
cut the ribbon to officially open the new stage complex
on Friday. Fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights at
9:30! Other attractions include an art fair presented by
the Hampton Arts Network and Hampton Historical
Society, live entertainment, and much more! Watch
for complete details to come soon.
Make plans now to be part of the
celebration!
Presenting Sponsor
SERVICE CREDIT UNION
“SUMMER SUNSET CRUISE”
Friday, June 8th - 6:00-8:00 pm
The Hampton Area Chamber Of Commerce and the
Isles of Shoals Steamship Company in Portsmouth, NH
invite you to celebrate the beginning of the “Summer
Season” aboard the 348 passenger party ship the “MV
THOMAS LAIGHTON” for a two hour sunset cruise of
Portsmouth Harbor. Enjoy a free raffle, DJ RYZ, hors
d’oeuvres, cocktails available & lots of summer enthusiasm!
RAIN OR SHINE
This event is FREE but please REGISTER:
email: [email protected]
Seafood Festival—Continued from Page 1
this year. We are looking forward to another really great year
of partnership with the Hampton Chamber and the Hampton
Beach Seafood Festival.”
The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival is a giant street fair
on closed-to-traffic Ocean Boulevard. It features over 50
restaurants cooking an incredible array of seafood and nonseafood delicacies under a sea of tents. There is continuous
entertainment on two stages, scores of crafts, displays, culinary
demonstrations, lobster roll eating competition, spectacular
fireworks, a sky diving demonstration, and a children’s
entertainment area. The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival has
been named one of the Top 100 Events by the American Bus
Association in 1996, 2001, 2003, and 2006–2011. Attendance has
grown to an estimated 150,000 over the years.
For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, visit the
festival official website: www.hamptonbeachseafoodfestival.
com or call the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce at 603926-8718.
MEMBER NEWS
Seacoast Harley-Davidson has grown to become one of the largest
police motorcycle dealers in the country, according to Shawn Lillie,
comptroller of Seacoast Harley-Davidson Inc. in North Hampton.
Started up 20 years ago in
coastal Maine, Seacoast HarleyDavidson now services and sells
police motorcycles to more than
100 towns and cities in the region.
“As far as police motorcycles,
we work with more than 100
communities in Massachusetts,
Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New
Jersey and New York,” Lillie said. “We actually work with most of
the towns in the Boston area.”
Considered one of the top Harley dealerships in the U.S., the owners of Seacoast Harley-Davidson also own the Harley-Davidson Shop
of Rochester and last year purchased Boston Harley-Davidson. The
expansion was a natural progression for a dealership that started up
in York, Maine, in 1984.
Since the dealership always has been locally-based, Lillie said
Harley decided to go with Optima Bank & Trust, the Seacoast’s only
locally-owned commercial bank, to finance the purchase of the Boston
dealership. “We’re a local company and they’re a local bank,” he said.
“Our goal has been to try to keep it local as much as we can.”
An added benefit was Optima Bank offered Harley “a more beneficial” cash management system with a lower required minimum
before the dealership’s account earned interest. “Having more than
one dealership location now makes us better able to meet our customers’ needs,” Lillie said. “We offer more services, motorcycles for sale
and even rentals, primarily for European visitors.”
In the photo: Shawn Lillie, comptroller of Seacoast Harley-Davidson, Inc., of North Hampton, stands with Alyson Graybill, a vice president at Optima Bank & Trust and branch manager of the Portsmouth
office, who was formerly manager of Optima’s North Hampton branch.
Graybill and Optima worked with Lillie in providing the financing for
the dealership’s purchase of a Boston dealership.
A tour through the cavernous 58,000-square-foot-showroom and
office building and the adjoining 8,000-square-foot storage building
exemplifies the dealership’s commitment to both sales and service.
In addition to the 250 motorcycles for sale in the showroom, the yearround service department has 24 lifts and a full detail bay. Harley
CHAMBER CONNECTION
A Daytime Networking Event
Wednesday, June 6, 2011, 11:30 to 12:30
Hampton Chamber Office
One Lafayette Road, Hampton
Speaker: Dr. Don Conant
Seabrook Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Hampton Area Chamber members and their guests are invited to join us for this straightforward networking opportunity
on the first Wednesday of most months from 11:30 to 12:30.
Attendees will meet other professionals to make contacts and
expand visibility for their businesses. There will be time for a
short infomercial about your business, a featured speaker will
present a topic of interest, and the rest is all about networking.
Contact Katie Curran at 603-926-8718, ext. 104 or e-mail [email protected] to reserve a spot. Reservations are
required. An e-mail confirmation will be sent to each month’s
attendees.
If you would like to be a speaker, email [email protected] and get on the list.
also offers new rider safety and skilled rider courses, police training,
member events, and a wide assortment of Harley-Davidson gear and
apparel for sale.
To learn more about Optima Bank & Trust, visit a branch at Two
Harbour Place, Portsmouth (603-433-9600), 26 Lafayette Road, North
Hampton (603-433-9633), 17 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham (603-773-5222)
or the website at www.optimabank.com.
Director Elaine Gatchell announces open auditions for Leddy Center’s fall production of L. Frank Baum’s classic story, The Wizard of Oz,
Saturday, June 2. All parts are open, including Dorothy, the Wicked
Witch of the West, Glinda, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tinman, Wizard,
Ozians, monkeys, winkies, and munchkins. Since its publication in
September 1900, L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has
become America’s greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale. The
first totally American fantasy for children, it is one of the most-read
children’s books.
It has also engendered a long series of sequels, stage plays, musicals, and movies. The Oz story has become a classic because it blends
elements of traditional magic, such as witches, with ones from early
twentieth-century American reality, such as a Kansas cyclone, a scarecrow, a man made of tin, and a wizard from Omaha.
Call Leddy Center at 603-679-2781, Monday through Friday, from
3:00–5:00pm, to schedule your audition appointment.
Rehearsals begin September 4, and performances are weekends
and Wednesdays, October 26–November 14. For more information,
go on line at www.leddycenter.org and click on auditions or call the
Leddy office at 603-679-2781.
Advertising opportunities still available on
www.HamptonChamber.com
Contact Katie for details
[email protected]
603-926-8718 Ext. 104
The Sante’ Center has been helping clients to reduce or eliminate
diseases, treat cancer, as well as provide anti-aging and other optimal
health preventative services
since 1996, but is now reestablished with a new leadership
team. Their community includes
naturalist and founder Carolann
Kummins and a board certified
physician, Mark Su, MD, along
with a team of expert and caring
staff members ready to serve
you. The Sante’ Center offers
something for everyone: hair
testing for toxin and metabolic profile evaluations, intravenous vitamin
C, natural medicines made from FDA-approved amino acid packages,
colon hydrotherapy, chronic Lyme treatment, toxin poisoning treatments, customized raw food programs, intravenous glutathione (the
super antioxidant!) and much, much more! They offer compassionate,
professional, and effective cutting edge healthcare for all, even with
online consultations for those where it is appropriate to do so. The
Sante’ Center is accepting new patients and looks forward to meeting
you or your loved ones soon.
Shown in the photo along with Hampton Chamber ambassadors
are (from left): Heidi Coleman, LNA, CCHT; Michelle Matthews, Office Manager; Patricia LaBonte, Kitchen Manager; Greg Pezzuti, RN;
Carolann Kummins, founder, CCHT, PhD candidate; Dr. Mark Su,
MD; Jennifer Griffin, CCHT. Not in photo: Alia Elias, ND, LAc; Jason
Varney, Yoga Instructor; Berkley Kummins, Raw Food Specialist; Kerri
Jo Rogers, RN.
It was a true celebration at The
Community Oven’s grand opening on April 13. The Hampton
Area Chamber of Commerce held
a ceremonial ribbon cutting (well,
really more than one!) to herald the
first day in business. The owners
and staff were energetic and excited
for the opening. The Community
Oven is a full service restaurant and
lounge located in the heart of the
Seacoast on Route 1 in Hampton, NH.
Owner Shane Pine is a native to Hampton and plans to participate in the Seacoast
Community both with involvement in area
activities and by buying local. From the food
products to merchandise and furnishings,
Pine is building his restaurant on the backs
of local businesses.
“We plan on being more than a place with
great food. We have a great Seacoast community and we want people to feel this restaurant
is truly part of that,” Pine said.
The family friendly restaurant features a
wood fired brick oven in its dining room so patrons can enjoy watching
the pizzas being prepared right in front of them. Kids can also enjoy
the specialized Root Beer Bar while watching the pizzas being made. The Community Oven has full bar service both in the dining room
and the spectacular lounge, featuring large television screens and 16
local beers on tap.
“We want the Community Oven to be a place families come for lunch
and dinner, and business people want to come for a drink after work,”
Pine said. “There are so many excellent restaurants in Hampton and
across the Seacoast region and we are thrilled to be joining the team.”
For more information check out the website at www.thecommunityoven.com or call Shane Pine at 603-601-6311, or email is shanepine@
thecommunityoven.com.
The Hampton Area Chamber celebrated with the owners and staff of
Ron Jillian’s as they cut a ribbon to open the new location at 853 Lafayette Road in Hampton. Chamber president Doc Noel and Allison Field,
regional vice president, commercial
lending for The Provident Bank were
among the large group cheering for
Rosemary and Ed Blouin and their
sons as the ribbon fell.
The new decor transformed a
former bank into a warm, Tuscanstyle restaurant and bar, with deep
rich colors and warm woods. Ron
Jillian’s faithful regulars mingle with
newcomers in the welcoming expanded bar space. The bartenders are
amazing!
The menu at Ron Jillian’s is varied, specializing in pizza, pasta, Italian
specialties, salads, seafood, and more. This a place where all will feel
comfortable and the new location is a big hit. Be sure to visit them soon.
Ron Jillian’s is ready to help with all of your catering needs! Corporate
lunches, BBQ’s, family gatherings, sporting events, and more! Call
603-929-9966 or message them on Facebook for details.
The Chef’s Plate—A Taste of New Hampshire has collaborated
with the Hampton Area Chamber to offer members a unique opportunity to showcase their business with
WBINTV, with 100,000 households currently
watching the Saturday afternoon program
and a potential of 2.4 million households in
NH and MA. This program has been tried,
tested, and proven to attract new customers to restaurants, retail stores, and sponsor
businesses.
Each show will feature four local restaurants and four local business sponsors.
Restaurants will have a featured five-minute segment, an opportunity
to spotlight their food, chef, owner, and staff.
Sponsors of each show will have a professional commercial filmed
and produced by an award winning film company, at their place of
business, providing a promotional opportunity to use again and again.
Sponsors & featured restaurants will receive a link of the individual
segment that be linked to a website or any social media.
Scott Franz of The Chef’s Plate will contact members in the upcoming weeks to go over the details of this very exciting program. This is
a first come, first serve opportunity. Of course, Scott can be reached at
603-300-8513 or e-mail [email protected] to get ahead of the crowd.
Village Profile to Produce New Map
The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce
that we’ve selected industry-leader, Village Profile, to produce our
new community map. Thousands of high-quality, full-color maps
will be available for distribution throughout the Seacoast area as
well as at strategically located information centers and agencies.
We are confident that this collaborative effort will result in a better
awareness of the many opportunities which our region has to offer
and will stimulate increased activity for your business.
Bob Monahan, Village Profile’s onsite marketing manger, is happy
to meet with you at your place of business for a no obligation overview of various advertising opportunities. Bob can be reached on his
mobile phone at 603-748-1219 or via email at [email protected]
and you may always contact the Chamber office directly by phone
or email [email protected].
There will be a distinct advantage for those businesses that are
among the first to respond. Thank you in advance for your support
of this exciting advertising opportunity.
Experience Hampton
“Flags & Flowers”
It is time to think about the second annual
Flags & Flowers program for Memorial Day
Weekend. To those who already have the
Fiberglass Whiskey Barrels, we will come in and place fresh potting soil,
and plant similar flowers to what we had last year for $30.00 per Barrel.
If you want to obtain a new or additional barrel and want it planted,
the cost is $60.00 per Barrel (to include the Barrel, stone, screen, & compost along with the potting soil and plants).
There are currently six Barrels at Depot Square that need Sponsors
for this year. Please let us know if you would like to Sponsor one of
these Barrels. Call Rusty Bridle 603-926-8694 by May 10, 2012 (preferably sooner)
if you want to participate.
Scenes from April Business After Hours
“The Old Salt”
Actual Book size 8 1/4”X 10 3/4”
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Give Us Your Brochures!
The start of the season is here! It’s time to take
advantage of this member benefit. Bring us a stack of
brochures from your business to be displayed at the
Chamber Beach Welcome Center. Drop them off at the
uptown office at 1 Lafayette Road and they’ll be ready
when the beach office opens.
Thank you so very much to the Higgins family and everyone at The
Old Salt for hosting the Chamber at Business After Hours. Chef Brad
Dubin and his staff outdid themselves with an amazing array of food
on a beautiful nautical themed display. Thanks also to Sarah Powers!
Gorgeous springtime decorated desserts were donated by Cookies By
Design and yummy fruit trays were provided by McKinnon’s Market.
Door prizes were generously donated by Isles of Shoals Steamship Co.,
Cookies By Design, and SFC Engineering. Two “Toast to the Coast”
tickets were donated by the Chamber.
Special thanks go to PARTY TIME DJ for providing the sound system!
We truly appreciate our members and their guests who came out for
this event, and were so understanding of the postponement.
Make plans now to come to The Sea Ketch in Hampton Beach for the
next Business After Hours on May 16!
Optima Bank & Trust has named Robert Gagnon as its new vice president of business development. Previously an Optima
vice president and branch manager of the bank’s Portsmouth office, Gagnon has been with the Seacoast’s only locally-owned commercial bank since it opened its doors four years ago. Gagnon, who has more than 18 years of experience in bank management,
will be involved in managing and developing new commercial and consumer relationships for all loan and deposit accounts as
the head of Optima’s Business Development Division.
In addition, Gagnon, who has a B.S. in accounting with a business technology minor from Salem State College, is the volunteer
treasurer of the non-profit Friends of the Earth, Sea and Space Center. An original member of the non-profit organization, he has
helped envision a large-scale aquarium and science facility highlighting the relationship between earth, sea and space with a focus on education
and the environment. He also has been an integral part of the Rotary International committee in Portsmouth which established the group’s
largest fundraising event. Since starting up in 2009, the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K road race has grown to an event that has raised up
to $40,000 and included a field of 2,000 runners. A Dover resident, Gagnon is currently an ambassador to the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of
Commerce, as well as a part of Leadership Seacoast.
Alyson Graybill has been promoted by Optima Bank to vice president and branch manager of its Portsmouth office. Previously
a vice president and manager of Optima’s North Hampton branch, Graybill will be responsible for managing the Portsmouth
office, as well as overseeing the bank’s other retail branches. Graybill, who has nearly two decades of bank management experience in New Hampshire, has an MBA in strategic management from Boston University and a B.S. from the University of New
Hampshire in business administration with a minor in international business. She also has been part of the management team
from the inception 13 years ago of the Penguin Plunge in Hampton for the Special Olympics. Graybill runs the “money room”
for what is considered to be one of the biggest fundraisers in the state, raising more than $500,000. Graybill is a Rotary member,
serving as treasurer of the Hampton Rotary in 2011-2012. Until her recent transition, she was on the board of directors and an ambassador for
the North Hampton Business Association.
Art Balomenos has been named operations officer by Optima Bank. A 20-year veteran of the banking industry, Balomenos has
been with Optima since the bank opened. Previously an assistant branch manager and assistant compliance officer with Optima,
he will be responsible in his new job for managing, monitoring and directing day-to-day operations related to online banking,
remote deposit capture and ATM/debit cards. Balomenos also will be responsible for creating and revising bank procedures,
training, managing personnel and implementing new products and services. He will retain his role as assistant compliance officer. A Portsmouth resident, he is a member of the Seacoast Compliance Association.
Experience Hampton and the Hampton Area Chamber held
a forum, “Developing Economic Revitalization Strategies for
Hampton, NH” recently at The Old Salt. The two speakers from
NH Division of Economic Development (DRED) were Christine
Davis, Business Resource Specialist; and Michael Bergeron,
Business Development Manager. They spoke about economic
development initiatives and programs in the state, as well as
resources available to businesses through DRED. Discussion
followed on specifics of what is happening in Hampton and the
path economic development should take.
Among the attendees were members of the Board of Selectmen,
various town boards, business owners, members of the NH state
legislature, and interested citizens.
For information about Experience Hampton, email info@
experiencehampton.org. Contact the Chamber at 603-926-8718
or [email protected].
Hampton Beach Beautification Committee
Did you know that May 11 is National
Public Gardens Day? Hampton residents
are encouraged to visit the many public
gardens at Hampton Beach, which the
Hampton Beach Beautification Committee has planted over the past 5 years:
Bicentennial Park at the end of High St.
& Ocean Blvd., Ashworth Island pocket
garden, The Mile Long Bridge garden
between Ocean Blvd. & Ashworth and
the South End State Park, the beach
firehouse pocket garden on Ashworth Ave. and the lilac bed at the
Hampton Harbor entrance. For
more information, contact Linda
Gebhart at 603-929-3850.
Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce Presents
“BUSINESS AFTER HOURS”
Chamber Officers
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 — 5:00–7:00 pm
Chairman
Dean Merrill
Tobey & Merrill
Insurance
Hosted by “The Sea Ketch”
127 Ocean Boulevard, Hampton Beach
Co-sponsored by The Provident Bank
1st Vice Chairman
Paul LePere
The Hamptons Real
Estate
Immediate Past Chairman
Tim Noonis
Unitil Corporation
Treasurer
Scott Beattie
The Provident Bank
Chamber Staff
Join the Hampton Area Chamber at The Sea Ketch for Business After Hours on May 16. This event is
the traditional start to the Summer season, a chance for Chamber members and their guests to come out
and experience the gracious hospitality of The Sea Ketch staff. This is your opportunity to see the new
top deck with the sunset view bar, a 360 degree view of Hampton Beach. The views from the decks are
amazing, and you will appreciate the beautiful dining room level as well. This Business After Hours
is always a favorite!
There will be food, a cash bar, door prizes, and raffles. Admission is two business cards.
DON’T MISS THIS ONE!
Business After Hours is open to Hampton Area Chamber members, their guests, and those seeking
more information about the Seacoast business community.
President
B.J. “Doc” Noel
Assistant to the President
Katie Curran
Director of Special Events
Ginni McNamara
Director of Membership
Development
Pat Morgenstern
Office Assistant
Sherrill Ayles
Reception
Sandy Flesher
Hampton Area Chamber
of Commerce
One Lafayette Road
P.O. Box 790
Hampton, NH 03843
Phone: 603-926-8718
Fax: 603-926-9977
Promote Your Business at Business After Hours!
Donations of Door Prizes are Always Welcome.
Email [email protected] for more information.
• Printing
• Copying
• Banners
• Posters
& More...
Two Convenient Locations
195 New Hampshire Ave
Portsmouth, NH
603-433-4680
223 South Willow St.
Manchester, NH
603-669-0005
www.allegraportsmouth.com