New Business

The Massachusetts Library System hired Briggs Advertising, of Bath, to craft a new brand and communications plan. Briggs Advertising is a brand development and marketing communications firm working for local, regional and national businesses and nonprofits.

New Hires, Promotions and Appointments

Timothy J. Bryant, a partner in the Portland law firm of Preti Flaherty, has been selected to serve on the Maine Heritage Policy Center Board of Directors. Bryant is also the immediate past president of the Maine Children’s Cancer Program Board of Directors. The MHPC is a research and educational organization that formulates and promotes conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited constitutional government, individual freedom and traditional American values.

Amelia I. Kurtz has joined the wealth management group of Bangor Savings Bank as vice president and financial planning officer. Kurtz is located at the bank’s Fore Street business offices in Portland. Having worked in the financial services industry since 1993, Kurtz draws upon her in-depth knowledge of investments, trust management and financial planning to apply a comprehensive approach to her clients’ financial needs.

Crisis & Counseling Centers  announced a new director of crisis services, Richard E. Chammings. Chammings has served as manager, team leader, and adult outpatient clinician at Tri-County Mental Health Services and Clinical Director at ESM Inc. With an extensive background in developing assessment tools, treatment plans, and clinical policy and procedures, Chammings has more than 25 years working with inpatient, outpatient, residential and crisis mental health services.

The directors of Macpage LLC, a certified public accounting firm with offices in South Portland, announced that Trent A. Prater joined the firm as a staff accountant.

Upgrades

Central Maine Power Company has installed a new transformer and additional equipment at its Pleasant Hill Substation in Scarborough. The substation provides power to more than 15,000 homes and businesses in Scarborough, South Portland and Cape Elizabeth.

Moves

Rachel Streit recently relocated Stone Coast Chiropractic from 134 U.S. Route 1 in Falmouth to 52 Center St. in Portland. Streit chose the new location to be more convenient for patients.

Recognition

Oak Street Lofts, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Platinum-certified affordable housing community in Portland developed and owned by Avesta Housing, is the winner of the 19th Annual Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards in the category of Green Housing. The national award is given to the most outstanding Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties by the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. Located in the heart of the city’s arts district, Oak Street Lofts is the first multi-family affordable development in the state to achieve LEED Platinum certification. The building’s 37 apartments are 40 percent more energy-efficient than the typical apartment in a multi-family building. Heat and electricity costs for each unit are expected to average about $58 per month, compared to $92 per month for a typical unit. That translates into an annual savings of $15,000 for the building as a whole.

Advance Technology of Scarborough was named Installer of the Year at the 18th Annual SAMMY Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas on April 9. It was the first such award for the company and based on excellence in customer service, staff training and certifications, marketing strategies, company motivation techniques and community outreach programs. Presented by Security Sales & Integration Magazine, the SAMMY Awards are the industry’s only program to recognize and honor installing security dealers and integrators for their marketing, business, installation and overall excellence.

Deering High School English teacher Mary Ann Scaccia received the University of Southern Maine’s Russell Award for excellence in teaching. Deering teachers nominate colleagues for the award and the faculty votes for the winner. Scaccia has spent almost all of her 18-year teaching career at the high school in Portland. A former newspaper reporter, she taught journalism classes and was the advisor or co-advisor of the former school newspaper, Ramblings, for six years.

Good Deeds and Grants

Frannie Peabody Center was awarded a $9,200 one-year grant from United Way of York County. The grant supports the center’s HIV Prevention Community Education Project, providing education and services to 300 York County residents at risk of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, and educational materials to 3,500 individuals. The grant allows an outreach specialist to spend more time serving community groups, organizations and schools, while providing referrals to existing targeted education groups, testing services and case management as appropriate. The Frannie Peabody Center is the largest community-based HIV/AIDS services organization in the state, helping more than 400 people living with HIV/AIDS with services that include medical case management, housing support, and emergency assistance.

More than 1,000 residents and Bowdoin College students joined the annual Gelato Fiasco Scoop-a-Thon to raise $5,336 for the Brunswick Teen Center. The Gelato Fiasco donated $3,012 in sales, and more than $2,300 was raised from raffle proceeds and donations from other supporting businesses. The event was part of the Gelato Fiasco’s Scooping for Community Program, which has raised nearly $10,000 for school and community groups in the greater Brunswick and Portland areas during this academic year.