Denise Desrochers
Julia Florence
Soule Street Academy ribbon cutting, from left, . Photo by Kayla Hedman, Griswold Public Schools
Yanitza Yepes
Max Logan
Denise Desrochers of Plainfield, originally from Biddeford, Maine, has been named director of programs and events at Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.
Desrochers holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Vocal Performance from University of Southern Maine and a Master of Arts in Translation Studies from University of Portsmouth. Before moving to Connecticut, she was an active member and served as president of the Heart of Biddeford main street organization, developing programming with residents and local businesses to improve the community’s quality of life.
Julia Florence of Voluntown will serve as the chamber’s new communications director, overseeing internal and external PR and marketing initiatives. An alumnus of Eastern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communications, she brings a background in marketing, having previously worked for the New London-based agency Quinn and Harry.
Chamber chairman and CEO Tony Sheridan noted that the organization now employs 11 professional staff at its 92 Eugene O’Neill Drive headquarters in New London.
People & Places
Lawrence + Memorial Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certificate in Spine Surgery by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. L+M is the second Yale New Haven Health hospital to receive this designation, along with Yale New Haven Hospital – Saint Raphael Campus. They are among only 25 hospitals nationwide to receive the certification.
Patrick Dohertyhead of neurosurgery at L+M and docent in clinical neurosurgery at Yale School of Medicinepraised the dedication of physician assistants, nurses, therapists, coordinators and physician colleagues. To be eligible for ACSS, organizations must implement evidence-based care and clinical guidelines and participate in the American Spine Registry, a national quality improvement registry for spine care.
To learn more, visit https://www.lmhospital.org/services/neurology-neurosurgery/spine.
Thames Valley Council for Community Action have welcomed Max Logan of Quaker Hill as its new senior director of budgeting and accounting. He will work closely with all of TVCCA’s programs and directors, helping to streamline financial processes and automate tasks, as well as work with TVCCA’s state funding sources.
Brian Vanasse, TVCCA’s chief financial officer, cited Logan’s “wealth of expertise and knowledge.”
For more information on TVCCA’s programs throughout Eastern Connecticut, which include housing/homelessness prevention, senior nutrition, WIC, early childhood education, senior volunteer opportunities, family support, energy support and community outreach, call (860) 889-1365 or visit tvcca .org.
The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce announced Yanitza Yepes as the latest nominee in the Community Proud series, presented by CorePlus Federal Credit Union.
With nearly a decade of hospitality experience, Yepes is known for her positivity, genuine personality and the unique way she connects with guests and creates memorable dining experiences. Currently bartending and serving at PEARL Provisions + Tipplesshe brings impressive culinary knowledge from her diverse background, which includes roles on Chapter one and Koto Japanese Steakhouse.
Having called Mystic home for the past nine years after moving from Virginia Beach, Yepes is proud to be a part of the New England community. “My advice to the younger generation is to try everything – travel, get cultured, try different jobs and find out what you’re passionate about,” says Yanitza. “It’s important to be well-rounded.”
Two locally owned businesses have partnered to host a dinner and wine event at 18.00 9 October at Restaurant La Belle Aurore on Niantic. The idea was to bring the communities of East Lyme and Waterford together, create an enjoyable and educational experience and support these family owned establishments: La Belle Aurora and wines from Illyria, a small woman-owned importer and distributor of natural wine and spirits based in Waterford.
Indira Bayer, who founded Wines of Illyria in 2016, will introduce unique and authentic wines paired with dishes created by La Belle Aurore’s Chef Dawn in this six-course meal (you must specify vegetarian or gluten-free in advance).
Tickets can be ordered for $100 per person at https://www.labelleaurorect.com/classes/wines-of-illryia-october-9. For more information, email IndiraBayer@winesofilllyria.com or visit www.winesofilllyria.com.
The 18th of September Bradley Airport hosted its third “Autism Flies” event in partnership with Autism Double-Checked and Breeze Airways.
Alan Dayco-founder and CEO of Autism double checkedsaid the event gave families with children on the autism spectrum a chance to practice going through the airport.
“Our pilots and flight attendants have all undergone training, so they know exactly how to handle and make the flight experience comfortable for our guests across the spectrum,” Breeze Airways Chief Guest Officer Fiona Kiesel said.
Over 200 people checked in at Breeze Airways ticket counter, got a boarding pass, went through security, waited at the gate and boarded the aircraft.
Tuesday, September 17 Griswold Public Schools hosted a ribbon cutting for the relocated and remodeled Griswold Soule Street Academy. The academy, formerly Griswold Alternative School on Rt. 201, is now located in the renovated former home Griswold Senior Center on Soule Street in Jewett City.
The academy serves special education students in grades 7-12 from Griswold and other local districts who need extra day-to-day support. Director Sean McKenna called Griswold Soule Street Academy “a true Griswold project,” with Fred Marzec & Associates Inc. as architect and Sarazin General Contractors Inc. as a construction contractor. The School Building Board’s office for the works was Wes Greenleaf.
Christopher Champlindirector of student services at the academy, completed the ribbon cutting with the help of the Griswold Board of Education chairman Mary Beth Malin and BOE Facilities Subcommittee Chair Martin Osga. For more information, visit https://gssa.griswoldpublicschools.org/.
Ideal news
New England Science & Sailing FoundationSEA AmeriCorps members began their service year by participating in the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11.
This year, NESS SEA AmeriCorps launched a unique and environmentally conscious project in partnership with Stonington Borough, where members designed and painted a storm drain in front of NESS’s Stonington location to promote clean water and environmental stewardship. This baleen whale painted artwork highlights the importance of keeping our waterways clean and protecting the environment for future generations.
Bridget Nelsondirector of NESS SEA AmeriCorps, invites community members to experience the Storm Drain Art Project and follow their progress on social media and the NESS website at NESSF.org/Partnerships/AmeriCorps.
The American School for the Deaf have collaborated with Connecticut Hospital Association to produce an educational video to raise awareness and improve communication access for deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind patients across the state. Academy Award-winning actor Marlee Matlin provided the introduction to the video, which is being shared with hospitals.
The video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPMS74Uf6Yo. For more information, visit www.asd-1817.org or cthosp.org.
Facilities
Chelsea Groton Bank is hosting a career fair for candidates interested in pursuing a career in banking on Thursday, October 3 at 4 to 6 p.m. at the bank’s Groton headquarters, 904 Poquonnock Road.
Candidates are encouraged to bring a resume and to dress professionally. Bank team members will meet with candidates and conduct on-site interviews.
To review open positions before participating, visit www.chelseagroton.com/Careers. For other questions, email Renee Simao at rsimao@chelseagroton.com.
Applications for home energy assistance for the 2024-2025 heating season are now being accepted by Access the Community Action Agency. Help is available to all income-eligible households in Windham and Tolland counties that use oil, coal, propane, kerosene, electric, pellet, wood or natural gas heating as their heating source as well as heat included homes.
To qualify, you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below 60 percent of the state median income. For example, a family of four can earn up to $87,511 before taxes and qualify for assistance.
Applications can be made either by telephone, by post, in person or directly online at CT Energy Assistance Program. Residents of Windham and Tolland counties can contact Access in Willimantic at 860-450-7400 or in Danielson at 860-412-1600 to make an appointment. Press 3 to get to the HEAP section.
American Farmland Trust opens applications for Brighter Future Fund’s New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grants on October 1. New England livestock farmers adopting regenerative agriculture or land stewardship can apply through November 29 at https://farmland.org/brighterfuture/, or send questions to Kristen Irvin, Program Associate, at kirvin@farmland.org.
The grants provide up to $10,000 to livestock producers in select counties who improve soil health through the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices and fund projects that include fencing, cover crop seeding, reduced tillage equipment, irrigation, pasture establishment, pollinator habitat and other conservation practices.
Chamber News
A ribbon cutting will be held Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce for the new Brick & basil wood fired pizza opening at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2. The Pizza Paradise had been operating out of a truck for many years on West Town Street.
On Friday, October 4 from 8 to 9, the Norwich Chamber will host its First Friday Meet & Greet at Dodd Stadium, 14 Stott Ave., Norwich.
For information, email info@norwichchamber.com or call 860-887-1647. To register, visit https://web.norwichchamber.com/atlas/events/11036/register.
The Buzz is a weekly roundup of business news compiled by business editor Lee Howard. To enter The Buzz, email businessbriefs@theday.com. To easily access URLs cited in print, go to www.theday.com and type “The Buzz” into the search bar.
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