LOCALS OF LACONIA
the places
OPENDOOR PRESCHOOL & CHILDCARE CENTER
651 Union Avenue
Provide a brief description of your business and the services you provide:
Childcare, preschool program for 3 - 5 year olds.
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How did you get into your current line of work, and why did you choose Laconia for your project?
Saw there was a need in the area and was provided with the opportunity to open up a small center which was located at 645 Union Avenue.
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Why did you choose Laconia to start a business?
I wanted to be in a location to provide childcare for those who were limited with transportation and could walk to the center, being on a bus route, for
before and after-school care. I wanted to offer Laconia and the surrounding areas an alternative to small private, care or a large center - I wanted an in-between choice for parents.
What's been your favorite memory since opening your business?
There are several favorite memories.
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What are you most proud of?
My teaching and care staff.
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What's your biggest challenge running the business?
Today, it's the COVID-19 challenge.
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Why does your business support the community?
I love Laconia. We are a part of this community and we are proud to be.
What's something that people don't know about your business?
We have a state licensed preschool, pre-kindergarten program with a curriculum that is in accordance with the New Hampshire state guidelines for teaching and care.
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What makes your business unique?
Our staff, atmosphere and location, which is convenient.
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How do you envision Laconia in 10 years?
A growing community with thriving businesses - lots of culture and sense of community.
What would you like to see change in Laconia?
The changes are happening. We are especially excited about Lakeport, which we are a part of. However, I would like to see more outreach and shelters for our homeless.
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If you were to give one piece of advice to a young entrepreneur, what would it be?
Stay with your dreams and vision for your future. Do what you need to do to make it happen - one day at a time - keeping your focus on the vision you have for your business plans. Don't let anyone tell you you cannot do it or discourage you.
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What does community mean to you?
It is part of my life.
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How can people find out more about your organization?
Call us at (603) 524-2004 or check out our Facebook page!
WEIRS BEACH LIBRARY
25 Lucerne Avenue (in front of the Weirs Beach Community Center)
Provide a brief description of your business and the services you provide:
Although not necessarily a "business", the Weirs Beach Library is a small library box in the Weirs Beach area that is open to the public, open 24 hours a day, and can be filled with (roughly) up to 40 books. The concept being "take-a-book, leave-a-book."
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How did you get into your current line of work, and why did you choose Laconia for your project?
I used to live in the Weirs as a year-round resident and know how seasonal the area and that side of town really is. As a bookworm, I always thought it would be amazing to have a book store or library room nearby, but knew it wouldn't happen. Even the nearest bookstores
and libraries from Weirs Beach are a little out of the way. I wanted to make something for the residents and visitors of that side of town, specifically for reading. After researching and seeing different "Little Free Libraries" online, from all over the world, I knew that was the perfect idea for the area.
What's been your favorite memory since opening The Weirs Beach Library?
To be honest, my favorite memories were back when I first announced the project and had it installed up. After we built it, so many people offered to make weather proof signs for it, donate boxes of books, and the community came together to help me out. It was truly amazing to have so much help offered for something as small as a book cupboard being built for the public.
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What are you most proud of?
I'm proud of the final project. For a small idea, it required so much work, but the end result is several people's time and energy to make it all happen.
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What's your biggest challenge running The Weirs Beach Library?
Really nothing too challenging. Keeping it clean, making sure that all the extreme weather types our state endures doesn't damage it too badly, and doing maintenance work on it as needed.
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Why does your project support the community?
The feedback I have heard from residents and tourists is incredible! I've heard of locals that live in The Weirs having some extra books and wanting to donate them, but not getting around to driving to 'Goodwill' or 'Salvation Army' on the other side of town. I've heard that some tourists find the book box (sometimes by accident) and grab a book to read at the beach or bring back to their hotel. I think it has been a very useful project for the community and it gets utilized daily.
What's something that people don't know about The Weirs Beach Library?
A lot of people assume that it is disassembled or taken down during the winter months. Since it's first day up, It has never been taken down. If anything the winter months are the best time to find a new book to read, in my opinion.
What would you like to see change in Laconia?
Laconia has honestly improved so much in the past few years and it is amazing to see so many great things happening (the opera house in Lakeport, and the Colonial Theater in Downtown, etc.). I would love to one day see a solid local economy in all 3 village areas.
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How can people find out more about your organization?
Visit us on Facebook!
THE STUDIO
598 Main Street
How did you get into your current line of work?
I kept wishing someone would open a cool store downtown, and realized in 2010 that it could be me.
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Why did you choose Laconia to start a business?
Laconia is my community, my family is here, and friends. Anywhere else seems inauthentic.
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What's been your favorite memory since opening your business?
I get All The Feels when someone walks in the door with another person and says, "See, this is the shop I told you about".
What are you most proud of?
Making people's lives brighter and happier than they were before they came in to the shop.
How do you or your business support the community?
We support local organizations through donations and partnerships, and we are welcoming to all. We take pride in knowing that we have created a comfortable and joyful shopping environment for our customers.​
What's something that people don't know about your business?
Why it's called The Studio - come in and ask!​
What would you like to see change in Laconia?
The pervasive negative language that often comes up in public discourse about the city; Laconia has its struggles, but negativity is unproductive. ​
If you were to give one piece of advice to a young entrepreneur, what would it be?
Know where you want to go, but stay flexible about how you get there - and keep a sense of humor!
What does community mean to you?
Community is the result of everyone working towards a thriving and diverse city culture that is inclusive and supportive of all its members.
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How can people find out more about your organization?
We're on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter as @TheStudioNH - or just come visit!
CREATIVE RECOVERY
One Mill Plaza
How did you get into your current line of work?
Through my Clinical Health Care Social Work I was introduced to photography through Positive Psychology, an evidenced based treatment strategy. This led to using photography with those diagnosed with HIV / AIDS. Upon retirement I partnered with Elaine Morrison, a retired special education teacher who used art as a treatment mode for her students. We both started River Crew Art, an art and photography program in Laconia. This led to Creative Recovery, an art and photography program for those in Recovery.
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Why did you choose Laconia to start a business?
I grew up in Laconia, spent 40 years away and always want to return because of the lakes and mountains. I returned 8 years ago.
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What's been your favorite memory since opening your business?
The satisfaction that artists and photographers experience as a result of our program.
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What are you most proud of?
Helping those in Recovery from Substance Use Disorder. There are many paths to recovery!​
What's your biggest challenge running your business today?
Supporting those in Substance Use Disorder and finding funding for the program.
How do you or your business support the community?
It assists in Recovery which makes them more functional, contributing to the community.
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What's something that people don't know about your business?
Those in recovery see life the way it is. Since they didn't learn coping skills, they have to relearn how to survive in the real world.
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What makes your business unique?
It is the only program that uses art and photography to empower participants as a tool for Recovery.
How do you envision Laconia in 10 years?
An improved city with people who financially invest in the city with government and citizen input.​
What would you like to see change in Laconia?
Downtown Laconia. Need to attract businesses who stimulate the economy. Urban Renewal changed the composition of the center of Laconia. It needs to be changed through investment. Examples are Portsmouth, Concord, and lately, Dover. ​
If you were to give one piece of advice to a young entrepreneur, what would it be?
Believe in Laconia. Stimulate creative investment.​
What does community mean to you?
A movement for the common good of all people.
How can people find out more about your organization?
Public Relations: Through media including radio, TV, newspapers, Speaking engagements such as local service clubs, and social media. Visit our Facebook page for more information about our program and our exhibits.
ACTON ACADEMY NH
791 N. Main Street
How did you get into your current line of work?
Inspired to open an alternative school model for my son and our community.
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Why did you choose Laconia to start a business?
Found a property that met our needs.
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What's been your favorite memory since opening your business?
Hearing so many stories from other Actons about lives changed and children who accomplish unbelievable things while they are on their Hero's journey to find a calling and change the world.
What are you most proud of?
Our community of Founding Families - amazing parents coming together to give their children such an amazing gift.
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What's your biggest challenge running your business today?
Getting my message to the families who would benefit from our program.
How do you or your business support the community?
We host the NH Children's Business Fair at Opechee Park every August. Any child ages 4 - 14 develops a business, their own marketing and creates a product to sell to the public at our one day marketplace. The fair is August 10th from 10:00a - 1:00p.
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What's something that people don't know about your business?
It is a new school model in NH, even to New England, that is so completely different from a traditional school. There are 136 Acton Academies around the world, founded in 2008.
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What makes your business unique?
Children can work at their own pace and level in each individual subject, and they have time to explore their passions and solve real-world problems.
How do you envision Laconia in 10 years?
I would love to see it look and feel more like downtown Concord does today. Vibrant with less crime and dangerous areas.
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What would you like to see change in Laconia?
Less crime and drugs. More commerce, creativity and youth.
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If you were to give one piece of advice to a young entrepreneur, what would it be?
Record your systems, and always be looking for a better strategy to do things more efficiently.
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What does community mean to you?
Knowing your neighbors and shop owners and customers. Celebrating together.
How can people find out more about your organization?
Find us on our website.
REVERENCE HOUSE
Laconia
How did you get into your current line of work?
My own substance abuse issues in the past and my compassion for humans.
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Why did you choose Laconia to start a business?
This is the area I was born and raised. It's part of giving back to a community that I played a part in the destruction of.
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What's been your favorite memory since opening your business?
Being the first ever certified home in New Hampshire.
What are you most proud of?
My family.
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What's your biggest challenge running your business today?
Burnout. It's a very time consuming and emotionally draining job.
How do you or your business support the community?
Help men suffering from substance abuse and give them a healthy structured environment to live.
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What's something that people don't know about your business?
The amount of paperwork and phone calls involved.
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What makes your business unique?
I'm not totally sure how local recovery homes run in order to compare how mine is "unique." In terms of general business, I guess I would say the consistent degrees of damage control usually depending on the individual's trauma.
How do you envision Laconia in 10 years?
I would hope that the recovery community would be much larger. I know over the past 3 years it has grown significantly and with the growing epidemic, I assume that number will follow.
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What would you like to see change in Laconia?
More structured places for the homeless to have shelter. More help for veterans.
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If you were to give one piece of advice to a young entrepreneur, what would it be?
Follow your moral compass. Find something you're passionate about and try to be the best at it.
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What does community mean to you?
This community is my home. I have lived in many states and beautiful places on both sides of the country and this will always be my favorite.
How can people find out more about your organization?
Find us on Facebook or our website.
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PRESCOTT'S FLORIST
23 Veterans Square
How did you get into your current line of work?
Started working at greenhouse, from there opened our own nursery and then the opportunity to purchase Prescott's Florist came up and decided to move into floral design rather than outdoor design.
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Why did you choose Laconia to start a business?
It was a well established business already in Laconia so we decided to stay. That is also why we kept the original name of the business too. Everyone always asks if we are "Prescotts" from Laconia, but no, we are from Sanbornton.
What's been your favorite memory since opening your business?
Creating a customer base and seeing them return holiday after holiday or each year for a special event in their family.
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What are you most proud of?
That I have been able to pass down my business knowledge and passion for flowers to my daughter who is taking the reigns moving Prescott's Florist into the future.
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What's your biggest challenge running your business today?
Keeping up with the trends in a small community.
How do you or your business support the community?
We take part in community events, donate where we can to help these events and stay as a stable business in our downtown community.
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What's something that people don't know about your business?
Family run business with a Mother/Daughter team plus Jessica that has worked with us for over 20 years.
What would you like to see change in Laconia?
We would love to see Laconia downtown grow as a community together, which we think it is already on the right track. We all need to work together for the greater good. Take part, celebrate and talk to each other.
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What does community mean to you?
A welcoming, warm and inviting place where people recognize each other by first name, help each other and grow for the greater good of the community.
How can people find out more about your business?
Find us on Facebook or Instagram @prescottsfloristnh or our website www.prescottsflorist.com.