New Ventures

Jeremy Bloom of Portland has recently launched BuyingClubSoftware.com, and is currently accepting clients. The software was created to improve the local distribution system between farmers/producers, distributors, and people buying in bulk and can be used by anyone organizing any type of buyer/seller online market. For more information, go to BuyingClubSoftware.com.

Greater Portland optometrist Ronald Cedrone has recently opened an independent optometry practice at 335 Maine Mall Road in South Portland. Cedrone specializes in contact lenses and primary eye care and welcomes new and previous patients by appointment at 771-7968 or on a walk-in basis.

Mark Girr and Becky McKinnell have launched iKNO Intranet LLC, an intranet development firm offering an affordable, functional intranet platform. The company is located at 408 Fore St. in Portland and can be reached at 221-0790. Girr is also president of GirrCorp Consulting Group, and McKinnell is president of iBec Creative, a provider of website and online marketing.

Edward Simmons and Gibson Wilkes have formed a new financial advisor firm at 415 Congress St., Suite 202, in Portland. Simmons Wilkes Investment Advisors, HighTower Advisors, are accepting new clients and can be reached at 420-8510.

Canal 5 Studio LLC, an architecture, planning and interior design firm has recently opened in Portland with a mission to integrate the art of architecture with the science of high performance environments. The five founding members of Canal 5 Studio are Patrick S. Costin AIA LEED AP, Timothy R. Hart AIA LEED AP, and Jessica G. Johnson AIA LEED AP, James P. Gauthier AIA LEED AP, and Lodrys Gomez, architectural and interior designer. The Canal 5 Studio is located at One Canal Plaza, Suite 888, in Portland. For more information, please call 553-2115, or visit canal5studio.com.

Michele Higgins of Brunswick has launched a professional lawn care company, Local Lawn and Landscape, providing lawn mowing and maintenance services to customers in Brunswick, Topsham, Harpswell, and Bath. The Local Lawn and Landscape team includes Higgins, her husband, Tim, who will serve as operations manager, and Dan Mittler, who will work as service manager. To learn more about its services and lawn care packages, please call 590-5115, or visit locallawnlandscape.com.

Appointments

Caroline McAleese Riley of Falmouth has been elected to serve on the board of directors for Girl Scouts of Maine. Riley is managing principal of public relations for Garrand, an integrated public relations and marketing agency based in Portland. She also serves as a member of the Maine Women’s Fund, on the advisory board of Operation Tribute, and as a board member with the Noyes Brain Tumor Foundation.

Ferry Beach Ecology School has recently added two new board members, Kelly Towle, an environmental educator at Maine Audubon in Falmouth and Corey Hascall, a public relations consultant at Barton & Gingold in Portland.

Freeport Shakespeare Festival has recently elected the following new board members: clinical psychologist Mary E. Plouffe of Freeport; Bill Muldoon of Harpswell, former chairman of the Freeport town council and past president of The Freeport Historical Society; and Linda McGill of Freeport, attorney with Bernstein, Shur employment law practice group and litigation department.

The Bath Area Senior Citizens Center recently elected officers for 2011. Newly elected officers include Richard Higgins, president; Bernie Wyman, vice president; Jerry Little, secretary; Bonnie McDonald, treasurer; Barbara Belanger, assistant treasurer. Donna Waterman and Phyllis McNelly joined current executive board members Paul Karass, Beryl Gallant, Shirley Thibeault and Paul James. Supporting the executive board are the trustees, who are responsible for the daily operation of the center. The trustees are Jerry Little, chairman; and Herman Merkord, Paul James, Bernie Wyman, Bob Turcotte and Stan Caton.

At the annual meeting of the Avesta Housing board of directors, the following board officers were elected: Chairman Neal Allen, executive director of Greater Portland Council of Governments; Vice Chairman Drew Sigfridson, designated broker at CB Richard Ellis/The Boulos Company; Treasurer Glen Blackall, chief deposit officer at Gorham Savings Bank; and Secretary Rebecca Greenfield, attorney at Pierce Atwood LLP.

The board of directors of Clark Insurance has elected Jeffrey Lind of Limington as treasurer and Lee Ramsdell of Scarborough as secretary.

The Commission on Adult Basic Education recently elected Thomas Nash of Falmouth, director of Windham Raymond Adult Education, as the Region One Representative on the board of directors. Nash will serve a three-year term representing New York and all of New England.

Aaron Pratt has been elected to Drummond Woodsum’s board of directors for a three-year term. Pratt, a member of the firm’s business services group, joins current board members, Harry Pringle, Dan Rose, Jerry Crouter and Ben Marcus.

Maine State Ballet has recently added new members to its board of directors and named a new president. Langston Snodgrass of Lewiston, co-founder of Androscoggin Dance in Lewiston-Auburn, has been elected president. New members include Steve Carter of Falmouth, president of Mason Associates Inc.; and Jeffrey Thomas of Falmouth, vice president of instrument development at IDEXX. Returning to the Maine State Ballet board of directors after a 6-year absence is Dr. Judith Kimball. Kimball had formerly served as board president for 18 years.
 
Robert Clark of Yarmouth, chief professional officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, has been appointed to serve on a subcommittee to promote a youth in philanthropy initiative in northern New England. As a member of an Association of Fundraising Professionals – Northern New England subcommittee, Clark will help to publicize the AFP-NNE Demont Scholarship Award for outstanding youth in philanthropy and will participate in the final selection process.

Sidebar Elements

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The Yarmouth Lions Club recently donated $9,000 to the Merrill Memorial Library to rebuild the first floor circulation desk. Pictured here is Bill Goddard, on left, director of the Yarmouth Lions Club, presenting the check to Heidi Grimm, director of the Merrill Memorial Library. The library plans to start construction of the new desk this summer.