1. Salem recently welcomed a new child care facility with Homedaze Early Learning Center opening at 3 Priscilla Lane. The Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce celebrated the new center with a ribbon-cutting, pictured, followed by a staff-led tour of the new space.
2. M&T Bank contributed $20,000 on April 16 to the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce as the presenting sponsor of the Chamber’s 2025 Hampton Beach Seafood Festival. The celebration will be held this year from Sept. 5-7. M&T and Chamber officials are shown during a check presentation.
3. The Better Business Bureau Serving New Hampshire announced its winners of the 2025 Torch Awards for Ethics, recognizing businesses for ethical business practices, in an April 10 ceremony at the Bedford Village Inn. Three winners were selected: Exeter’s Randall School of Karate in the small business category, Concord’s Thompson Insurance Agency in medium business, and My CNA Now (LNA Health Careers) in large business. My CNA Now’s Kerri Dutton is pictured with the BBB’s Becca Friend and Howard Brodsky.
4. Granite VNA President and CEO Beth Slepian received awards from CATCH Neighborhood Housing during the organization’s benefit gala at The Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord on March 14. CATCH recognized the VNA as the Community Collaborator of the Year for eight years of partnership. Slepian received a Volunteer of the Year award as a CATCH board member, co-honored with two other members. VNA’s Jennifer Brechtel and Melissa Howard are shown as recipients of the Community Collaborator award.
5. Rochester charitable gaming attraction Lilac Club Casino announced its inaugural contributions totaling $116,000. On April 21, Lilac Club representatives presented Rochester Main Street and Rochester Rotary Club with over $58,000 in a check presentation ceremony. Rochester Main Street, shown receiving its check, will use the funds to revitalize and promote the city’s downtown. The Rotary Club will invest in its scholarship program, local service projects, and youth and leadership education.
6. Evie Rowell, a 7-year-old second-grader at Moultonborough Central School, created care packages for 15 ICU patients at Concord Hospital-Laconia on April 16. The packages included handmade cards, personalized bags and colorful pinwheels. Rowell’s act of kindness was inspired by a challenge from a Chaos and Kindness event, which encouraged her to “do something nice for someone” after she won a $100 gift card. Rowell is pictured with members of the hospital’s ICU department.
7. The Raymond location of Lamprey Health Care, a community health center, celebrated the grand opening of its on-site pharmacy with a ribbon-cutting on April 23. The pharmacy, operating in partnership with Genoa Healthcare, opened Jan. 21 and seeks to integrate patient care under one roof and eliminate barriers to medication adherence. New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas delivered an address at the event, advocating for preserving and expanding the state’s community health centers.
