New nonprofit launches
Bowdoinham farm project

BOWDOINHAM —  A new non-profit organization, The Center for Ecological and Cultural Living Arts, has recently launched its flagship project, the Dancing Cricket Farm, in Bowdoinham. 

Dancing Cricket Farm will produce organic vegetables, herbs and flowers using only sustainable, environmentally-friendly farming practices.  Individuals can join the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture program. To learn more about the CSA, please visit dancingcricket.org. 

In addition to its flagship project, CECLA will offer educational and cultural programs dedicated to ecological sustainability, multiple-resource management, small-scale organic farming, and community-building.

Educational programs will include workshops, internships, day programs and classes. Cultural offerings will feature music, holistic health programs, and other community events.

To become a charter member of CECLA, or to help develop its cultural and educational programs, please visit TheCECLA.org.

McKeen Center honored
for community service

BRUNSWICK — The Joseph McKeen Center for the Common Good at Bowdoin College was named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction.

The award is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.
 
Bowdoin was one 700 colleges nationwide to be recognized by the Corporation for National and Community Service for its impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice.

McKinnell earns young
entrepreneur award

AUGUSTA —The Maine District of the Small Business Administration has named Becky McKinnell, creative director/founder of iBec Creative in Portland, as the 2010 SBA Maine Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
 
In 2006 McKinnell began her creative design business, iBec Creative, while still a student at University of Southern Maine. The growing company is a graphic and web design business that specializes in online and traditional marketing, web strategies, branding and project management.

She will receive the award on May 11 at the the SBA’s Annual Awards Luncheon hosted by the Maine Small Business Development Center.

Awards

Portland-based Clark Insurance received two awards from the Insurance Professionals of Greater Portland at the organization’s All Industry Night dinner. The company received the first-ever Employer of the Year Award, and customer service representative Carol Colton received the Insurance Professional of the Year Award. 

Josh Burns of Falmouth, senior vice president, senior portfolio manager of the Portland-based 392 office of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, was named to Barron’s annual list of America’s Top 1000 Advisers for 2010.

Northeast Bank’s chief risk officer, Pender Lazenby of Falmouth, was named the Volunteer of the Year by the Portland Chapter of the SCORE Association and presented with the Chairman’s Cup. Lazenby has been a volunteer business workshop presenter with SCORE since 2003. The SCORE Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small businessess.

Dennis King of Freeport, CEO of Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook, recently was named a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, which represents the highest standard of professional development for healthcare executives and is awarded based on a comprehensive examination, academic and experiential criteria, continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement.

Haven’s Candies, with locations in Portland, Scarborough, and Westbrook, recently won an award for its new candy product, Ode to Joy, in the Best New Specialty Food Category at the 2010 New England Products Trade Show held in Portland.

Jeff Leighton of Scarborough, franchise owner of Inspect-It 1st, a national property inspection franchise, was named the third highest billing franchise owner for 2009, and was inducted into the 100 Grand Club.

Realty Awards

John Hatcher of The Hatcher Group – Keller Williams Realty Greater Portland was recognized as the Keller Williams Sales Agent of the Year of 2009 in Maine. The Hatcher Group was also selected for the President’s Club for Production in 2009 based on sales production in excess of $26 million and named Maine’s Team of the Year for 2009 in both production and gross commission. The Hatcher Group is comprised of John Hatcher, Paul McKee, listing specialist, and exclusive buyer agents, Cindy Olsen and Jeff Lunt. Cindy Olsen was named the Maine Buyer Agent of the Year in 2009 for and earned the Silver Circle of Production.

Bruce Balfour and Jennifer DeSena, sales associates in the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cape Elizabeth office, were presented with the Coldwell Banker International Sterling Society award by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New England.

RE/MAX By The Bay, was recognized at the 2009 Top RE/MAX Office in New England for sales and was named the Top Producing Real Estate Brokerage in Maine by sales volume in 2009. The David Banks Team of RE/MAX By The Bay qualified for the RE/MAX Diamond Award Club for 2009. Sixteen RE/MAX By The Bay  agents qualified for the RE/MAX 100% Club Award for exceeding production goals in 2009. The agents newly qualifying for the 100% Club Award are Colleen Bedard, Dawn Belisle, Sandy Bonney, Jim Connolly, Elizabeth Dubois, Lori Garon, Judy George, Theresa Greeley, Kathy Hooper, Elise Kiely, Jane Leonard, Hona Longstaff, Linda MacDonald, David Marsden, Michael O’Connor and Mark Walton.

McKinnell

****make mug – guy on right******

Lazenby

King

Burns

Banks

Hatcher

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cPort Credit Union’s Ginnie Konan of Portland recently celebrated 50 years of employment and was honored at a recent ceremony held in her honor. 

Organizers of Maine Restaurant Week recently presented a $4,000 donation to Preble Street in Portland to go towards food and supplies. The nonprofit was the beneficiary of funds raised during two signature events during the  Maine Restaurant Week: The Cold River Vodka “Maine Bartenders Bash” and the Sea Dog Brewing Co. “Incredible Breakfast Cook-off.” Maine Beverage Company, LLC, also made a matching gift to funds raised during the “Maine Bartenders Bash.” Pictured from left to right are Richard Grotton, president/CEO of Maine Restaurant Association, Dale Carrier of Sea Dog Brewing Co., Elena Schmidt of Preble Street, Christian Gordon of Sea Dog Brewing Co., Jim Britt of gBritt PR, Bob Harkins of Maine Distilleries, and Joe Conroy of Preble Street.