Business briefs: News from the Seacoast business community
Children’s Museum receives $10,000 grant from Liberty Mutual
DOVER – Despite the global pandemic and associated challenges, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (CMNH) has ensured that its educational programs remain accessible to all. One corporate supporter, Liberty Mutual, has recently gifted CMNH a $10,000 grant to support this effort.
“We’re proud of our long-term relationship with the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire and we’re proud to support the Museum and its dedicated staff as they champion equitable access to educational opportunities for children and families in our community,” said Matt Keane, Director, Liberty Mutual.
Museum discounts vary and include Military, teacher and EBT discounts, as well as social service agency passes. Information about admission discounts can be found online at https://childrens-museum.org/things-to-do/programs/inreach.
To learn more about visiting the museum, and to pre-pay/reserve a date/time, guests can go online, www.childrens-museum.org. The Museum is currently open for two 3-hour play sessions per day, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m.to 12 p.m. or 1 to 4 p.m., as well as one morning play session on Sundays, 9 a.m.to 12 p.m. Reservations are required and masks are required for everyone over the age of 24 months, regardless of vaccination status.
PORTSMOUTH — Arts In Reach (AIR), a nonprofit committed to empowering teenage girls and gender expansive youth, has announced a $5,000 sponsorship from Newburyport Bank. This award supports teens participating in free in-person and online fall arts programs.
“We are proud to support their efforts since it so closely aligns with ours,” Timothy Felter, Newburyport Bank SEVP, Chief Financial Officer & CAO commented. “Building our communities is the crucial common bond and we are enthusiastically supportive of AIR,”
Since 1854 Newburyport Bank has been the premier community bank for the Greater Seacoast providing quality, individualized financial services that help the community they work with live successful lives. In 2003 the Newburyport Bank Charitable Foundation was founded to further carry out the bank's mission of improving the quality of life in the community that they serve--including Seacoast teens and organizations like Arts in Reach.
“Newburyport Bank is a strong, independent, community partner. They are committed to the greater Seacoast and its future,” said AIR Executive Director Debra Holloway. “We are grateful to have them as a sponsor and community partner.”
Newburyport Bank will support 10 teens to participate in AIR fall programs with free access to transportation and supplies, giving teens opportunities to work with professional teaching artists and peers to create a variety of mixed media visual arts. Over 40 teens in AIR this fall will have the opportunity to explore a variety of ways--from clay to collage--to creatively express themselves and to build confidence in a safe, inclusive community.
"Since 1997, AIR has been an invaluable part of the Greater NH Seacoast,” Felter continued. “Their focus on empowering teenage girls and gender expansive youth comes in many forms. Whether it is developing new art and creative skills, or encouraging them to be more culturally and civically engaged, it benefits the individual as well as the community at large.”
To learn more about Arts In Reach and its corporate sponsor program, visit www.artsinreach.org/donate.
More information about Newburyport Bank Charitable Foundation can be found at https://www.newburyportbank.com/about-us/charitable-foundation.
Stonewall Kitchen announces acquisition of Michel Design Works
YORK, Maine – Award-winning specialty food and home goods producer Stonewall Kitchen has announced its acquisition of Michel Design Works, based in Katonah, New York. Michel Design Works is a comprehensive lifestyle brand specializing in bath and body products, as well as fragrances, home décor and gifts.
Co-founders Deborah and Bruce Michel launched Michel Design Works in 1987 selling paper gifts, such as books, journals and stationery. Over time they transitioned into other household items, including soaps, lotions, candles, home accents and kitchen accessories, among others. The company is recognized for its distinctive packaging, which was inspired by Deborah’s love of historic French and English art. Michel Design Works sources from the top soap makers and fragrance houses around the globe to produce their high-quality soaps, and their botanical designs are now showcased throughout their home décor line. Last month, Michel Design Works was ranked by GiftBEAT Magazine as the #1 brand of Personal Care Products for customers in the gift channel, an award the company has won on multiple occasions.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michel Design Works to our growing family of specialty brands,” said John Stiker, chief executive officer at Stonewall Kitchen. “Quality and creativity are at the forefront of everything they do, and their extensive product offering within the home goods space perfectly complements our brands and core values. They are a tremendous addition to the curated collection of brands that we’re bringing together for our customers and guests."
Added founders Deborah and Bruce Michel, “Michel Design Works started over thirty years ago with just the two of us, and the dynamic combination of talented employees and loyal customers have together built a strong, recognizable brand. We’re so happy to have found the perfect steward for the brand going forward in Stonewall Kitchen. Their commitment to exceptional quality, brand building and company culture left us confident in knowing that they would continue to nurture and grow the business and team that we have created and care so deeply about.”
“We are proud to join the Stonewall Kitchen team as the newest member of their Family of Brands,” said Stuart Teller, chief executive officer at Michel Design Works. “Our dedication to product innovation and customer service has resulted in tremendous growth over the last ten years, and it has been exciting to watch our retail partner stores grow alongside us. Partnering with Stonewall Kitchen, with their resources and expertise in the industry, will lead to even more opportunities to introduce our great products to new consumers across the country, and to launch more new and exciting products under the Michel Design Works brand.”
Concluded Stiker, “Adding Michel Design Works to our family further solidifies our expansion in the home goods side of the business, and serves as the perfect next step after the Village Candle business we added in 2020 and the two food brands we acquired earlier this year. It also continues to expand our national and international reach with our customers, as the brand is sold in many countries around the world. We look forward to welcoming Stu and the team to the family, and helping them to grow and expand the Michel Design Works brand!”
Michel Design Works marks Stonewall Kitchen’s third acquisition of 2021 and seventh acquisition overall. It acquired the Urban Accents® brand of spice mixes, seasonings, sauces, and gifts in early March of 2021 and the Vermont Coffee Company® brand of high quality, non-GMO, certified organic coffee in late March 2021.
Rochester Chamber celebrates Windjammers Seafood Restaurant’s 20th anniversary
Pictured in no particular order are Rochester City Councilor Jim Gray, Tanya Hervey, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Kim Seckendorf, owner of Windjammers Seafood Restaurant along with some of her staff members, Alan Johnson, Atlantic Broadband, Mary Henderson, Bank of New Hampshire, Jenn Marsh and Blaine Cox, City of Rochester, Rochester Mayor Elaine Lauterborn, Chamber President Laura Ring, Ken Wilman, Kevin Miller and John Hall of Profile Bank, and Tatjana Simon, Northeast Credit Union. Present but not pictured is Mandy Barstow of Studio 109 Dance, Voice & Drama.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Business briefs: News from the Seacoast business community
