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Chamber, businesses, restaurants get a night to shine, and they don't disappoint

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Guests mingle near the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce table as chamber Chairman Keith Newton addresses the crowd about the night's festivities. At left, chamber president and CEO Laura Ring. (Rochester Voice photos(

ROCHESTER - If you wanted to get a taste of what the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is all about the Rochester American Legion was the place to be on Thursday.

More than 150 turned out for the group's annual Chamber Showcase Business After Hours social, where the public was invited to come out and join in the fun, informative festivities that included gourmet food samplings, dozens of raffle winners and lots of information about area businesses and nonprofits as well as the unique benefits that are afforded by chamber membership.

"This is a great way to educate the public about the chamber and get some new prospects for membership," said Laura Ring, chamber president and CEO.

Some of the informational tables set up around the Legion's spacious function hall included ConvenientMD & Urgent Care, Cornerstone VNA, Cross Insurance of Somersworth, Granite State College, Homemakers Health Services, Metropolis Property and Title Pro LLC.

Peter Quinn of Peter Quinn Commercial Brokerage of Portsmouth is served up some bacon-laden cole slaw by Allegra English of The Lilac Grille in Rochester as Todd Hudson of The Lilac Cit Grille looks on.

Informational table sponsors included Wentworth Home, who get trinket kudos for giving out back scratchers and keychain flashlights; and Yankee Thermal Imaging.

But it wasn't all about educating oneself on the benefits of chamber membership, or learning about some of Rochester's featured businesses.

There was also time to get up close and personal with The Lilac Grille's bacon-infused coleslaw, the Legion's spectacular prime rib on a crusty brioche with bleu cheese, the Castle on Charles Pirates Soup (a lentil soup precursor for their upcoming "Pirates at the Castle" dinner show in May) or the Revolution Taproom and Grill's pulled pork sliders.

To wash it down the Legion provided a full cash bar, with Legion prices! Winning!

The chamber, meanwhile, used the night to focus on many of the events it sponsors and organizes throughout the year like an annual golf tournament, the Holiday Tree Lighting downtown; and of course, the Christmas Parade, which draws a huge crowd every year.

The event was cosponsored by Unitil and the American Legion, the Event Program was sponsored by Berry Surveying & Engineering and D.F. Richard provided the $500 grand prize raffle draw, while iHeartMedia served as this year's media partner.

As the showcase was winding down Ring reflected that it had been a huge undertaking to put on such a production and said she wanted to thank all the chamber volunteers who helped.

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