We are currently accepting sponsorships for TWO exciting opportunities. These are both great ways for your company to show support for the local food system and build a deeper connection with the community. The opportunities are:

1.) The 2nd Annual Thirsty Goblin 5K - Saturday October 28th in North Hampton

2.) The 2023-2024 Winter Farmers' Market Season in Stratham and Rollinsford

You can view the full list of offerings by visiting our Sponsorship page.  Availability is limited and is given on a first come first serve basis. Please let me know if you have any questions!

We'd love to have your support and appreciate your consideration.

-The Seacoast Eat Local Team

MVSB (Meredith Village Savings Bank) is proud to continue its support of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center by providing a $5,000 sponsorship for its recent 2023 Family Picnic fundraising event that took place in July. MVSB also sponsored the Center’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

“The sold-out picnic event featured live music, animal programs, food trucks, games and more – all in a beautiful scenic setting,” said Iain MacLeod, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Executive Director. “We are grateful for all the community support we have received this year. We encourage everyone to follow us on social media to stay up to date for future events.”

“The Science Center is near and dear to my heart and I am thrilled that MVSB is always seeking ways to support this wonderful organization that brings so much joy and benefit to the local communities,” said Jill White, MVSB Regional Vice President in Ashland. “We hope everyone gets a chance to experience everything the Science Center has to offer.”

In addition to hosting several events this year, the Center also recently welcomed two new mountain lion cubs and a black bear cub as part of their animal exhibit trail. Go to nhnature.org to learn more.

The mission of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world. Through spectacular live animal exhibits, natural science education programs, guided Squam Lake Cruises, public gardens, and a nature-based Montessori early learning center, the Science Center has educated audiences of all ages since 1966 about the importance of our natural world. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is Sensory Inclusive Certified by KultureCity. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is located on Route 113 in Holderness, an easy drive from exit 24 off I-93, and public trails are open daily from May 1 through November 1 with programming throughout the year. For further information about the Science Center, call 603-968-7194 or visit www.nhnature.org.

MVSB has been serving the essential banking needs of people, businesses, nonprofits and municipalities for over 150 years. As a mutual savings bank, MVSB has no stock-holders but rather operates for the benefit of its customers, employees and community. Since our founding, one thing has always remained true: caring is at the heart of everything we do. By building and nurturing relationships, we believe that we can cultivate a community where we all thrive. It all starts with caring about our customers and neighbors. To learn more, visit any of the local branch offices located in New Hampshire in Alton, Ashland, Center Harbor, Gilford, Laconia, Melvin Village, Meredith, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rochester or Wolfeboro, call 800.922.6872 or visit mvsb.com.

From right, Iain MacLeod, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Executive Director, stands with Megan Piazza, MVSB Branch Services Manager in Ashland, and Marcy Dembiec, MVSB Mortgage Loan Officer, NMLS# 165849, at the entrance of the center. Courtesy Photo

Tuftonboro, NH - Just a few miles east of Lake Winnipesaukee in Tuftonboro sits the quiet neighborhood known as North Country Village. Founded in 2001, the resident-owned community features 57 manufactured housing park sites covering 83 acres, a meeting hall and a scenic pond.

Traynor Cully, MVSB Assistant Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer, worked closely with Pete Billings, Cooperative Board of Directors President, to bring the Bank’s community banking tools and lending resources to North Country Village.

“We have been working with a larger national bank for several years, but they struggled to offer the local community support and banking tools we needed,” said Pete. “Our main focus is looking out for our residents, and Traynor has brought in local expertise and peace of mind so we can stay focused on other projects.”

The seven-member Cooperative is made up of volunteer community residents who pride themselves on offering a clean and quiet neighborhood for those who call North Country Village home. They manage it on a nonprofit basis, which offers affordability for low- and moderate-income individuals and families.

Last year, the Cooperative secured grant funding through the Town of Tuftonboro and a loan from the State of New Hampshire to completely overhaul the drinking water facilities. A loan and three more grants are being sought to complete the drinking water facilities, provide another well and develop a completely new wastewater system. When all this is completed, the final step is to repave the roads in North Country Village.

“Working with the members in the North Country Village Cooperative has been a wonderful experience and we are proud to serve their banking needs,” said Traynor. “MVSB is honored to work and invest in local organizations that improve the lives of those that live in the Lakes Region.”

MVSB has been serving the essential banking needs of people, businesses, nonprofits and municipalities for over 150 years. As a mutual savings bank, MVSB has no stock-holders but rather operates for the benefit of its customers, employees and community. Since our founding, one thing has always remained true: caring is at the heart of everything we do. By building and nurturing relationships, we believe that we can cultivate a community where we all thrive. It all starts with caring about our customers and neighbors. To learn more, visit any of the local branch offices located in New Hampshire in Alton, Ashland, Center Harbor, Gilford, Laconia, Melvin Village, Meredith, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rochester or Wolfeboro, call 800.922.6872 or visit .Traynor Cully, MVSB Assistant Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer (left), stands at North Country Village in Tuftonboro with Cooperative Directors Nancy Lemieux, Treasurer, Pete Billings, President, Dick Howe, Operations Manager, and Gail Perry, Membership Chairwoman. Absent were Rose Lacefield, Secretary, Dennis O’Brien, Vice-President, and Bob Dean, Member At Large. Courtesy Photo

Rochester, NH – Maureen E. Steer MDiv, Holistic Disciplines Manager at Cornerstone VNA, is proud to share that her beloved Australian Shepherd, Lucy, has recently achieved certification as a therapy dog. Lucy's training was comprehensive, and she graduated with great reports. Starting as a puppy, she trained for over a year and became certified as a K-9 Good Citizen by Inspire K-9 in Barnstead. She was officially certified as a therapy dog by Love on a Leash, a national program. According to Love on a Leash, “A therapy pet is trained and certified with its owner as a team to provide comfort and stress relief to others in a variety of situations.”

Lucy will now be lending her compassionate presence and unwavering support to Hospice patients. Moreover, she will play a special role in bereavement sessions and group grief support meetings, offering comfort and solace to those in need. The addition of Lucy to the Cornerstone VNA team will undoubtedly enhance their ability to provide holistic care and bring moments of joy and healing to those they serve.

Lucy has spent the last year working on a variety of competencies and situations in the community and in the Cornerstone VNA office, where she was surrounded by a supportive and caring team. Whenever Lucy arrives at the office, team members can be heard exclaiming, “Oh good, I needed a Lucy day today.”

Cornerstone VNA is proud of the response they’ve received from this wonderful Therapy Dog Volunteer duo of Maureen and Lucy. Katherine Michaud MS, OTR/L, Cornerstone VNA Behavioral Health Coordinator explains, “Pet therapy dogs provide comfort, encourage communication, decrease stress, and reduce loneliness. A visit from a dog can really brighten someone’s day.” The pet companion volunteer opportunity is a wonderful way for volunteers and their dogs to provide support and friendship to patients and community members. For more information about the pet companion volunteer team, contact Ann Vennard at 603-994-6941 or AVennard@cornerstonevna.org.

Cornerstone VNA currently serves Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap, and Carroll Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine. The team at Cornerstone VNA provides award-winning care and support through five distinct programs: Home Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Life

Care-Private Duty, and Community Care. For 110 years, Cornerstone VNA has been committed to providing services to people of all ages so that families can stay together at home, even when facing the challenges of aging, surgical recovery, chronic or life-threatening illnesses, or end-of-life care. To learn more about Cornerstone VNA, visit www.cornerstonevna.org or call 800-691-1133.

Maureen E. Steer MDiv, Holistic Disciplines Manager at Cornerstone VNA pictured with  Australian Shepherd, Lucy

Rollinsford NH - The public is invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy Songs of Emigration, a program of traditional Irish music by Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki on Wednesday, August 23 at 6:30 pm in the garden of Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House.

Through traditional music Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki will relay the adventures, misadventures, and emotions experienced by Irish emigrants, explain the historical context of these songs, and intersperse their stories with tunes from Ireland that made their way into New England’s musical repertoire. An award-winning New Hampshire-based fiddler/singer, Jordan has performed across the US and Ireland, and has released multiple recordings of Celtic music that can be heard on radio stations in Ireland and Scotland as well as around New England. He is also an Emmy®-nominated composer who has written soundtracks for audiobooks and television and appeared as a guest on over 75 albums.

Funded by a grant from New Hampshire Humanities, this program is free and open to the public, and no pre-registration is required. In case of inclement weather, the program will be moved indoors.

Located on Water Street in Rollinsford, NH, the circa 1701 Wentworth House is maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH). For more information about this and other programs at the Wentworth House, check the ARCH website at www.paulwentworthhouse.org.

New Hampshire Humanities nurtures the joy of learning and inspires community engagement by bringing life-enhancing ideas from the humanities to the people of New Hampshire. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org

Save Rollinsford’s Historic Pear Yard School 

To gauge the level of community interest in and support for preserving Rollinsford’s historic Pear Yard School, the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH) will host an informational meeting at 6 pm on Tuesday, August 22 at the Colonel Paul Wentworth House on Water Street in Rollinsford. 

The Pear Yard School on Rollins Road was built in 1854 to replace an earlier 18^th century schoolhouse which stood near a pear orchard belonging to Andrew Rollins. Until the construction of Rollinsford Grade School in 1936, the Pear Yard School was one of four one-room schoolhouses where children living in the rural areas of Rollinsford were educated, and as such it represents a tangible link to Rollinsford’s agricultural and educational past.  

An important outcome of the meeting will be the formation of a steering committee of local citizens who would be interested in working on the project. Agenda items for the meeting include the feasibility of preserving and restoring the schoolhouse; the costs involved and possible sources of funding for the project; potential uses of the building; and its eligibility for the state historic register.  Also, because the schoolhouse must be moved from its current location, another important topic will be the logistics of moving the building and possible new sites.  

ARCH has applied for a mini grant from the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance to hire a consultant to prepare a condition assessment of the schoolhouse, and Andrew Cushing from the Preservation Alliance will attend the meeting to report on the results of the study, provide guidance, and answer questions.  

Interested persons who are not able to attend the meeting or who have additional questions are encouraged to send an email to ARCH at paulwentworthhouse@gmail.com. 

DOVER, NH – Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been named “High Performing” in the treatment of heart failure, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Hospitals rankings released today.

This is the highest award a hospital can earn in the publisher’s Common Adult Procedure and Condition Ratings.

“Earning this recognition from U.S. News speaks to the relentless commitment of our entire workforce to the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” said Darin Roark, president and chief operating officer, “We’re proud to receive this designation and even more proud that we continue to deliver nationally recognized care right here in Dover and beyond.”

U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 21 procedures and conditions; only 12% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals ranking. Hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care and patient experience.

Mass General Brigham is honored to have five hospitals nationally recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings. Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital once again earned spots on the Honor Roll among the top hospitals in the country. Brigham and Women’s Hospital is ranked #1 in the nation for obstetrics and gynecology. Three Mass General Brigham specialty hospitals – McLean Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation and Mass Eye and Ear – are also recognized for national excellence. McLean Hospital is ranked #1 in psychiatry. Spaulding Rehabilitation is #2 in rehabilitation. Mass Eye and Ear is ranked #4 in ophthalmology and #7 in otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat). 

Earlier this year, Mass General Brigham launched For Every Patient, a systemwide unified quality strategy that seeks to achieve the best possible outcomes for every patient. For Every Patient is a multi-year, evidence-based, data driven effort that will provide high-quality care that is effective, safe, personalized, and rooted in equity at every touchpoint, for every patient. 

Additional details about the U.S. News & World Report ranking system can be found here. 

Teddy Bear Clinic & Picnic

Thursday, August 10, Clinic: 9-11am, Snack in the park: 11-11:30am

Kids and their favorite stuffed friends are invited to join the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire for our annual Teddy Bear Clinic, a fun event that helps educate kids about what happens at the doctor’s office. Each child’s stuffed animal is checked-in and given an ID bracelet, then children take their animals to meet with a volunteer doctor or nurse for a check-up. If needed, animals can be taken to the surgical table for stitches, band-aids and ribbons. Each animal receives a certificate of good health at the end of the process. Upon leaving the museum, children will be offered snacks-to-go that they can enjoy on the way home, or outside in the park. Online reservations are required. Please reserve for the morning play session from 9am-noon online at www.childrens-museum.org. Thank you to our Teddy Bear Clinic Sponsor, Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

MVSB (Meredith Village Savings Bank) is proud to announce that Brittany Hodge, Mortgage Loan Officer, NMLS# 2387835, was recently named a 2023-2024 New Hampshire Housing Fellow.

Ten New Hampshire professionals who work with homebuyers were accepted in the program, which offers an opportunity for participants to explore the mortgage finance system and participate in workshops about housing and public policy, housing and economic development, state government issues and New Hampshire Housing’s homeownership programs.

“Staying in tune with local home buying programs and resources helps us give our clients a leg up in the buying process,” said Charlie Dowd, Vice President Residential Mortgage Sales, NMLS# 737415. “We are excited to have Brittany deepen her understanding of residential lending and affordable housing options by participating in this wonderful program.”

Brittany joined MVSB in 2022 and serves customers in the Mount Washington Valley and surrounding communities with their mortgage lending needs. She volunteers her time with Vaughan Learning Center and serves as secretary on the John Fuller Elementary Parent Teacher Organization. She has an Associate Degree in Business Management from Lakes Region Community College.

Brittany Hodge, MVSB Mortgage Loan Officer, NMLS# 2387835 - 2023/24 New Hampshire Housing Fellow.

MVSB has been serving the essential banking needs of people, businesses, nonprofits and municipalities for over 150 years. As a mutual savings bank, MVSB has no stock-holders but rather operates for the benefit of its customers, employees and community. Since our founding, one thing has always remained true: caring is at the heart of everything we do. By building and nurturing relationships, we believe that we can cultivate a community where we all thrive. It all starts with caring about our customers and neighbors. To learn more, visit any of the local branch offices located in New Hampshire in Alton, Ashland, Center Harbor, Gilford, Laconia, Melvin Village, Meredith, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rochester or Wolfeboro, call 800.922.6872 or visit mvsb.com.

Progress has announced that Palmer Gas & Oil has been selected for the ‘Best Website Portal’ in their global 2023 Sitefinity Website of the Year awards!

Our new digital experience, developed by SilverTech, has allowed us to enhance our online customer service experience by making it as simple and efficient as possible for customers of all technical abilities to self-serve personalized account information.

Read more: https://palmergas.com/pgo-2023-site-of-the-year/