‌Community‌ ‌Health‌ ‌Organization‌ ‌Establishes‌ ‌Learning‌ ‌Center

‌Community‌ ‌Health‌ ‌Organization‌ ‌Establishes‌ ‌Learning‌ ‌Center

When the pandemic hit, Greater Seacoast Community Heath needed to move quickly. The organization runs three clinics in Portsmouth, Somersworth and Rochester, as well as recovery centers in Rochester, Dover and Portsmouth, serving up to 7,400 people a month. Faced with coronavirus, the organization took the same steps as many others: switching to telehealth and adopting new protocols to keep staff safe.

“It caught us off guard, but we quickly recovered,” said Janet Laatsch, CEO of Greater Seacoast Community Health. “We’ve had to really adapt and be very agile, and at the same time take care of patients and staff.”

A Touch of Sweetness

A Touch of Sweetness

Tracy Gunn is no stranger to difficulties in business. She started her candy store — Life Is Sweet — in downtown Keene 14 years ago. But for the past four years business has steadily declined, about 10% per year, something Gunn attributes to the Keene riots.

“Our tourism kind of has dried up,” Gunn said.

The pandemic was another blow. The main draw at Life Is Sweet is the old fashioned candy counter. People come in, don a glove, and put their hands into jars of candy, selecting the exact type and amount to satisfy their sweet tooth. Gunn estimates that under normal circumstances, 90% of customers who visit Life Is Sweet make an individualized bag of candy.

Escape Room Doubles Down During The Pandemic

 Escape Room Doubles Down During The Pandemic

During pre-pandemic times, Javi Kalback, owner of Portsmouth Escape Room, would welcome 400-500 participants through the business’ four rooms each weekend. During the week, she’d host occasional events, focused on corporate team-building or youth groups.

Today, all of the group activities are suspended and individual bookings for escape room games are limited. Because of the pandemic, the rooms can only be used by one group at a time.

From Hands-on Learning To Air Filtration

 From Hands-on Learning To Air Filtration

When Richard Amarosa founded Technology Education Concepts, Inc., back in 1987, he wanted to provide students in New Hampshire hands-on learning opportunities.

“He wanted to give students access to industrial materials, so that they had the hands-on training that’s actually being used in industry,” said Amarosa’s daughter, Justyn Constant, the senior vice president and marketing manager at Concord-based Technology Education Concepts, Inc. (TEC).