Recognition

Peg Libby, executive director of the Kids First Center, was honored by The Maine State Bar Association with its most prestigious recognition, the John W. Ballou Award, on Jan. 22, at Sable Oaks in South Portland. The Ballou Award honors a Maine resident who demonstrates qualities in keeping with the aims and purposes of the Maine State Bar Association.

The Camden International Film Festival has been selected by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival for the Documentary Short Subject Award. The documentary short film that receives the Camden Cartel Award for Best Short will now be eligible to enter the Documentary Short Subject competition for the Academy.

Giving Back

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, which has branches in Scarborough and South Portland, has delivered more than $16,500 to food pantries and programs across southern Maine this month to restock the shelves left empty by the holidays. Among the 16 organizations that benefited were Project G.R.A.C.E. in Scarborough, First Congregational Church of Scarborough Food Pantry, South Portland Food Cupboard and South Portland First Congregational Church Food Pantry.

Top Gun Maine of Portland has received a $30,000 sponsorship from Camden National Bank, which has committed $10,000 a year for three years to support Top Gun and Maine Mentor Network programs. Top Gun Maine is an annual program for competitively selected entrepreneurs that combines mentoring with high-impact weekly gatherings.

The Scarborough Public Library was awarded a grant from Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution for $5,148 to fund two new Early Literacy Stations for the Library’s Youth Room. The stations, designed specifically for children ages 2-8, were installed in December. They feature over 4,000 localized learning activities that span all seven curricular areas: math; science and nature; social studies and geography; reading; art and music; writing and computer skills; and reference.

Marc Gup of The Marc Gup Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Realty donated $20,000 to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland’s building fund.  Groundbreaking for the new building took place this fall.

Hires, Promotions, Appointments

David Dumont, MD, MD, FACEP, FAAFP, has been appointed as the senior medical director of Quality and Acute Care at Mid Coast–Parkview Health in Brunswick. In this new role, he will manage acute care medical services, providing leadership and oversight of quality and safety.

WHTP-Hot 104.7 in Scarborough has announced recent changes to the radio station’s on-air line up. New hire Krissy (Kristina Williamson), will be hosting in the afternoon from 1 to 7 p.m. Program Director Ryan Deelon moves from afternoons to mornings, where he’s joined by midday host Hayley Smith-Rose from 5 to 10 a.m.

Avesta Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing developer and property manager, has hired Rebecca Hatfield as its assets and acquisitions officer.

Bernstein Shur welcomed business attorney John Moran to the firm’s Portland office as part of the Business Law Practice Group.

Broadreach Public Relations, a communications firm located on Portland’s waterfront, promoted Michael Geneseo of South Portland to senior account executive.

Daniel Lewis of Portland, a new personal insurance account manager, was one of three new hires at Clark Insurance in Portland.

Portland-based Live and Work in Maine has hired Nate Wildes as the company’s engagement director. Wildes will focus on building partnerships with employers and engaging job seekers to increase the number of people who choose to live and work in Maine.

Verrill Dana of Portland announced that attorneys Janet Britton, Katie Gray, Kate Heffernan, Sara Hirshon and Andrew Rusczek have been elected partners of the firm.

New Ventures

Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty has opened the Design Center and Showroom for Bath RiverWalk Residences. The Design Center is in the Povitch Building at 141-143 Front St. in downtown Bath. Bath RiverWalk Residences are located on the banks of the Kennebec River at 133 Commercial St.

Longtime employee James Stewart recently completed the purchase of The Kennebec Company from founder Dave Leonard. The company designs, crafts and installs quality cabinetry in Bath.

Sarah Churchill has partnered with Matthew Nichols to establish the law firm Nichols & Churchill, P.A., located at 1250 Forest Ave., Suite 10, in Portland.

Open House

People’s United Bank will hold a “Winter Warm Up” open house, 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at the bank’s new location at 350 Fore St., Portland, with refreshments, raffles and more. 

Moran

Libby