News
Chef Mario LaPosta — owner of Mamma Luca and more — captures the tradition of the Sunday table with Mamma's Sunday Sauce
The acclaimed chef behind da LaPosta and Mamma Luca transforms generations of family recipes into a clean-label jarred sauce inspired by this coveted Sunday ritual PORTSMOUTH –Chef and Owner Mario LaPosta, known for his neighborhood restaurants Mamma Luca in Portsmouth and da LaPosta in Newton, Mass., is bringing his signature approach to Italian cooking beyond the dining room with the launch of his first retail product, Mamma’s Sunday Sauce, now available at both restaurants and soon online. Born
DARCI Creative awarded national Telly Award for Sail Portsmouth documentary
PORTSMOUTH — DARCI Creative has been awarded a Bronze Telly Award in the General Documentary category for The Maiden Voyage: The Origin of Sail Portsmouth, a short documentary created in partnership with Sail Portsmouth. To view the award-winning documentary, visit: https://www.tellyawards.com/winners/2026/film-shorts/general-documentary/the-maiden-voyage-the-origin-of-sail-portsmouth/358292/ Recognition from the 46th Annual Telly Awards showcases the agency’s continued commitment to meaningful
Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum Celebrates 120th Anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize with New Exhibit
PORTSMOUTH – This year marks the 120th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Theodore Roosevelt for orchestrating the peace conference in Portsmouth that ended the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 with the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty on Sept. 5, 1905. To commemorate the anniversary, the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum has created a special exhibit in the Portsmouth Historical Society’s John Paul Jones House with documents from the Nobel Peace Prize Institute in Oslo,
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City of Portsmouth, NH Registrar Announces Voter Re-Registration Requirements for Those Who Have Not Voted Since 2021
PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth Board of Registrar of Voters has announced that Portsmouth voters who have not voted in the past five years and who have not registered since the 2024 State General Election must re-register to remain on the voter rolls. Per New Hampshire law, all municipalities in the State must verify voter checklists annually. The Board of Registrars will mail letters to those voters eligible for removal. Those voters will need to re-register following the instructions in the
Pro Portsmouth Unveils 2026 Market Square Day Logo for June 13 Celebration
PORTSMOUTH — Pro Portsmouth has unveiled the 49thAnnual Market Square Day Festival & 10K Road Race logo which features images that definitely put you in the mood for summer on the Seacoast. Portsmouth artist Carolyn Vibbert’s submission was chosen as this year’s Market Square Day logo. It will be featured on all race and volunteer T-shirts as well as the festival T-shirt which will be available at the Pro Portsmouth booth in Market Square during the event, as well as on the Pro Portsmouth website
‘Emma’ at the Players Ring: A fast-paced comedy of vanity, flirtation and social missteps
PORTSMOUTH – “Emma,” a sparkling and mischievous reimagining of Jane Austen’s beloved classic, will be on stage at the Players Ring May 29 through June 21. Written by Kate Hamill and directed by Ro Gavin, the audience will see Emma Woodhouse as clever, charming, and perhaps a little too confident in her matchmaking abilities. Determined to orchestrate the romantic lives of everyone around her – while insisting she’ll never marry herself – Emma soon discovers that love has a habit of ignoring even the
City of Portsmouth NH Public Art Review Committee Presents 'Summer Time Vibes - Burst Into Color' Art Exhibition- May 18 Reception
PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth Public Art Review Committee (PARC) announces its first showcase of visual art by local Seacoast artists. The new exhibition space in the Portsmouth Room at Portsmouth City Hall is located just outside the Eileen Dondero City Council Chambers. The Public Art Review Committee expects to present three to four exhibitions each year in the space. The debut invitational show, “Summer Time Vibes - Burst Into Color,” features artists Dustan Knight, Teresa McCue, Kimberly Meuse,
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City of Portsmouth, NH Notes Memorial Day Observances and Facility Closures
PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth announces the following Memorial Day observances:On Friday, May 22 at 11 a.m., the annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony will be held in Prescott Park by the anchor sculpture. The ceremony includes a musical performance by the Portsmouth Middle School Ensemble and a wreath-laying on the Piscataqua River to honor those service members lost at sea. This event will be held rain or shine.On Monday, May 25 at 1 p.m., the City will host a Memorial Day/250th Commemorative Parade. The
Join The KEY Collective for Raise a Glass for Good June 25!
Join The KEY Collective for our Annual Summer Benefit: Raise a Glass for Good on June 25, 2026 at the AC Hotel in Portsmouth! PORTSMOUTH—Enjoy a variety of street food, including a fresh oyster bar by Swell Oyster Co., and dance to everyone's favorite band, RDMTION, during a night out to support NH Seacoast Youth! The night will start with dancing, mingling, and an array of appetizers, followed by mission moments, live auction, and Fund the Need. Finish the night with more dancing or relax in the lounge
Benchmark at Rye completes expansion, opens new assisted living neighborhood amid strong demand
Benchmark at Rye, an Assisted Living and Mind & Memory Care community, has officially opened a new 60,000-square-foot addition at its Route 1 campus, welcoming its first residents on May 1.Barbara Vahue was the first resident to move-in, relocating from another assisted living community in Newburyport, Mass. “We found Benchmark and were thrilled with it and still are,” said Vahue. “Being the first resident feels kind of special and they’ve treated me so special, it’s very nice. I’m excited for a fresh
Sowing Love Nonprofit Fundraiser Event Supports Music Education for Children in Panama
PORTSMOUTH — Seacoast residents are invited to join an evening of music, community, and purpose at the Sowing Love Nonprofit Fundraiser Event, taking place on Thursday, June 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Carey Cottage, 400 Little Harbor Road in Portsmouth. Hosted by Sembrando Amor, the event will raise funds to support La Escuelita del Ritmo, a nonprofit music school in Panama that provides free music education to children in its community. The fundraiser aims to help build a dedicated dining space for
Strawbery Banke Hosts Smithsonian-Affiliated Lecture on Preserving Community Histories
PORTSMOUTH— Strawbery Banke Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, will host Doretha Williams on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Lawrence J. Yerdon Visitors Center for a lecture on preserving family and community histories. Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Advance registration is encouraged at StrawberyBanke.org/tickets. Titled Our Families, Our Communities, Our Histories: Preserving Local Histories with Care, 2016–2026, the program explores how community-centered approaches to
Cambridge Financial Group, Inc. and First Seacoast Bancorp, Inc. agree to merge 5.5.26
Two Community Banks: One Shared Mission CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & DOVER, N.H.—Cambridge Financial Group, Inc. (“Cambridge Financial”), the mutual holding company of Cambridge Savings Bank, and First Seacoast Bancorp, Inc. (“First Seacoast Bancorp”) (Nasdaq: “FSEA”), the holding company of First Seacoast Bank, jointly announced May 5, 2026, they have entered into a denitive merger agreement under which First Seacoast Bancorp will merge with Cambridge Financial, with Cambridge Financial as the surviving
Springfest Returns to Strawbery Banke with 'Red, White, & Bloom' for America’s 250th on May 9 and 10
PORTSMOUTH— Strawbery Banke Museum invites the public to celebrate spring, Mother’s Day weekend, and America’s 250th anniversary at Springfest: A Celebration of Gardens and Baby Animals, taking place Saturday and Sunday, May 9–10, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advance tickets are encouraged at StrawberyBanke.org/tickets. Set across the Museum’s historic campus, Springfest offers a lively, immersive experience where visitors can meet heritage-breed baby animals and their mothers, watch sheep shearing and
Alien abduction and local history collide in 'Betty & Barney' Exhibition
On the night of Sept. 19, 1961, a Portsmouth couple driving home through New Hampshire’s White Mountains reported something extraordinary: a lit-up craft in the sky, missing time, and an alien abduction. More than six decades later, the story of Betty and Barney Hill continues to captivate believers and skeptics alike. Now on view at the Portsmouth Historical Society, “Betty & Barney” explores the fascinating and multifaceted lives of the Hills– inviting visitors to look beyond the headlines and into the
Small Budget, Real Results: A Digital Marketing Playbook for Seacoast Small Businesses
More than half of all website traffic arrives without a single dollar spent on ads. According to WordStream, organic search drives most web traffic — 53% of it — and 49% of businesses say it delivers better ROI than any paid channel. For small businesses along the Portsmouth Seacoast, where a loyal local following can be the difference between a slow January and a sold-out spring, that's genuinely good news. The catch: organic results don't happen by accident. They come from a plan, and that's where most
Loyal Lab Electric & Generators launches The Rusty Fund to support NH Seacoast dog rescues
Somersworth electrical contractor launches charitable giving initiative supporting local dog rescues through every job completed SOMERSWORTH — Loyal Lab Electric & Generators, a licensed electrical contracting company serving Dover, Portsmouth, and the NH Seacoast, has launched The Rusty Fund, a charitable initiative that donates a portion of every completed job to Pope Memorial Humane Society in Dover. The fund donates $10 from every completed job and $100 from every generator installation directly to
110 Grill New Lighter Fares Menu!
110 Grill is now featuring smaller plates for when you don't want the full thing with our new Lighter Fare Menu. Now available to order, all day every day. See the full menu: https://www.110grill.com/lighter-fare We have also posted about it on social media: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BAtADxF7S/ Handhelds $12 | Served With Old Bay Potato ChipsSignature Burger Sliders Bone Marrow Butter, Pepperjack, Garlic Aioli, Griddled Sweet Potato Bun Turkey Burger Sliders Avocado Mash, Pepperjack, Pico De
Before things go wrong: Building a financial safety net for greater Portsmouth businesses
A financial safety net is the combination of cash reserves, credit access, insurance, and business structure that keeps you operating when something goes wrong — a slow season, an unexpected repair, a lost anchor client. Building it before you need it is the only time it works. Seventy percent of businesses hold fewer than four months of reserves, leaving them dangerously exposed when revenue stalls. For Seacoast businesses that navigate real seasonal swings — summer surges, quiet Januaries, Restaurant
What Data Visualization Really Does for Your Business — and Where to Start
Data visualization — converting raw numbers into charts, graphs, and dashboards — is one of the most underused tools in small business. A BARC Research survey found that 58% of companies base at least half of their regular business decisions on gut feel rather than data; best-in-class firms rely on gut feel far less (40%) compared to laggards (70%). For Portsmouth Seacoast businesses navigating healthcare billing cycles, hospitality demand swings, and technology sector growth, that gap has real
Colliers Announces Retirement of Principal and Shareholder David Choate After 35-Year Career
Colliers, a global leader in commercial real estate services, respectfully announces that David F. Choate, III, Executive Vice President, Principal, and Shareholder, has decided to begin winding down his distinguished 35-year career with the firm. Bob Rohrer, managing director of Colliers in New Hampshire, said, “Over more than three decades with Colliers, David has played a meaningful role in the growth of the firm and in shaping the commercial real estate landscape throughout New Hampshire’s Seacoast
From Chaos to Clarity: Data Governance for Small Business Owners
via Adobe Acrobat Data governance refers to the policies, roles, processes, and standards that ensure a small business manages its data accurately, securely, and responsibly. For small businesses, this means defining who owns data, how it is stored, how it is protected, and how it is used to make decisions across the organization. Data governance is not reserved for large enterprises. In fact, smaller organizations often feel the impact of poor data practices more quickly and more painfully. When
Improving Team Flow: Simple Strategies for More Effective Collaboration
Leaders area organizations face a familiar challenge: how to help teams collaborate more fluidly while keeping pace with shifting expectations, hybrid work patterns, and rapid growth. Collaboration doesn’t improve on its own—leaders shape it through clarity, culture, and the systems people use every day. Learn below about: Practical ways to reduce friction in day-to-day teamwork Methods for improving cross-department alignment A workflow approach for simplifying shared project and document work A
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LiFi Inc. and Life In Focus Announce Strategic Partnership and Creative Leadership Expansion
ROCHESTER / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Founded in Maine with a deep respect for place, light, and authenticity, Life In Focus has built a strong reputation for timeless, true-to-color photography rooted in genuine storytelling. Drawing inspiration from New England's coastal landscapes, the brand is known for capturing meaningful moments with consistency, restraint, and emotional depth. Founded in 2017, Life In Focus was built from the ground up by Nick Eaton, who launched the business at age 23
Scaling Smart: How to Manage Business Growth at Every Stage
Growing your business isn't a one-size-fits-all process. Whether you're launching your first product, onboarding your tenth hire, or preparing for multi-location expansion, managing growth requires tailored strategies at each stage. From infrastructure to hiring and compliance, the right decisions at the right time can mean the difference between sustainable scaling and avoidable setbacks. Below, we outline practical approaches businesses can take to manage growth intelligently—supported by insights,
St. Mary’s Bank Awards Scholarships to Support Future Leaders
MANCHESTER – St. Mary’s Bank is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 – 2026 academic year scholarship program. This year, 15 outstanding students, each members, were awarded a total of $22,500 in recognition of their academic achievements, community involvement, and dedication to personal growth. The scholarship program, which has been a cornerstone of St. Mary’s Bank’s community outreach efforts, aims to alleviate the financial burden of higher education for its members remarks. “By investing
Chasing the Calendar: Seasonal Promotions Done Right for Small Businesses
Tapping into the rhythm of the calendar has long been a cornerstone of retail success. But for smaller operations, where every marketing dollar needs to count, seasonal promotions can either be a strategic coup or a time-sucking flop. Making the most of these opportunities requires more than slapping red and green on a homepage come December. It calls for timing, creativity, and a genuine understanding of how customers behave when the seasons shift. With a little planning and a lot of authenticity,
Shields Up: Guarding Intellectual Property in the Age of Screens
The modern marketplace rewards ideas as much as—or more than—products. Whether it’s a brand concept, an algorithm, a slogan, or a signature design, intellectual property is the lifeblood of many businesses operating in a digital-first world. But when everything is online, exposure becomes vulnerability. A casual click can result in a logo being duplicated, a trade secret stolen, or an entire product line cloned. This is where strategy matters, and protection isn’t just about lawyers and paperwork
The Art of Earning Loyalty: Small Business Strategies That Actually Work
In an age of over-automated interactions and digital detachment, small businesses still hold one distinct advantage: they can make people feel seen. That emotional edge matters more than ever. Customer engagement isn't about flooding inboxes or offering the biggest discounts—it's about building relationships that outlast the transaction. The most effective small business strategies are the ones that create meaningful, memorable touchpoints in a world full of noise. Start with Listening, Not SellingToo
The Digital Toolbox: Essential Tech for Running a Modern Contracting Business
If you're a general contractor, you know the grind. Managing crews, juggling clients, keeping track of materials—it’s a lot. And if you’re still relying on paper invoices, endless email chains, or, God forbid, a whiteboard in the office, you’re making your life harder than it needs to be. The right tech won’t just streamline operations; it’ll save you time, cut costs, and keep your business competitive in an industry where efficiency is king. While there are plenty of software solutions out there, let’s
Supercharge Your Strategy Using Data Intelligence
In the contemporary business landscape, data analytics has emerged as a cornerstone for strategic decision-making. The ability to interpret and apply data insights can significantly enhance operational efficiency and market responsiveness. Businesses that integrate data analytics into their core processes can better anticipate market trends, optimize resource allocation, and refine customer engagement strategies. This article delves into the multifaceted applications of data analytics, illustrating how it
Planning for Growth: Crucial Steps for Small Business Expansion
Choosing to expand your business is a pivotal moment that holds the promise of new opportunities and growth. However, this exciting venture also demands meticulous planning and strategic foresight. Every step you take can significantly impact the success of your expansion efforts. In this article, we’ll explore the crucial factors that will help you pave a smooth path toward successful business growth. Let’s delve into the essential considerations that will empower you to expand with confidence and
Your Guide to Success: How to Assemble an Impressive Job Application Package
In today’s highly competitive job market, making a lasting first impression can be the difference between landing your dream job and being overlooked. Crafting the perfect job application package—complete with a captivating cover letter, an eye-catching resume, and a compelling portfolio—is your ticket to standing out. But what exactly does it take to create an application that not only grabs attention but also showcases your qualifications in the best light? Join us on this journey as we explore the
Chamber holds great annual meeting in an ‘Amazing’ setting
We kick off summer with Annual Membership meeting on the Rep set of ‘Joseph’ PORTSMOUTH--The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth held its annual meeting in the theatrical setting of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at Seacoast Repertory Theatre on June 20—but the program was down to business. President and Chief Collaborator Ben VanCamp spoke of the Chamber’s accomplishments of the past fiscal year and goals for year ahead. The Chamber has stressed, and will expand upon
Farewell to our friend Tom, a great man and restaurateur
ABOVE: Tom Perron at the March 11, 2020 Restaurant Week Summit. The photograph is taken from the upper floor of his restaurant, Mombo, where he said the photographer would have a much better vantage point. BELOW: Tom shared his love of the kitchen with the Portsmouth High School Career Technical Education students, pictured here Tom was leading CTE students in making a dessert as he volunteered in December at the Career Pathways program.Farewell to our friend Tom, a great man and restaurateur Thoughtful
EASY PEASY: How to Submit a News Release to the Chamber Collaborative Website
Submitting a news release to the Chamber Collaborative website is quick and simple! Just follow these step-by-step instructions:&##128421; Step 1: Log In to ChamberMaster Go to chambermaster.com Click "Login" (right) Choose "ChamberMaster Login" (left) and sign into your account &##128161; Need help logging in or resetting your password? Email Jennifer at Jennifer @PortsmouthCollaborative.org. She’ll send you a reset prompt.&##128204; Step 2: Access the Member Information Center (MIC) In the upper
