Nominations open for
Downtown Center awards

AUGUSTA — The Maine Downtown Center, a program of the Maine Development Foundation, is currently seeking nominations for its 2011 Downtown Achievement Awards.
 
There are 13 categories open for nominations from any community in Maine. They are Downtown Visionary, Best Volunteer Recruitment/Recognition Effort, Outstanding Public/Private Partnership, Outstanding Window Display, Outstanding Special or Retail Event, Outstanding Image Campaign, Outstanding Facade Project, Outstanding Green Downtown Project, Outstanding Historic Preservation Project, Outstanding Business Retention, Expansion or Recruitment Project/Program, Outstanding Smart Growth Project, Outstanding Public Official or Employee, and Community Spirit Award.

The deadline for nominations is 4 p.m. Friday, April 8. For details and nomination guidelines, please visit mdf.org/mdc_overview.php.

The Maine Downtown Center Advisory Council and Senior Advisors will serve as judges for the awards. The Downtown Achievement Awards ceremony will be held on June 10 in Skowhegan at the closing reception of the 2011Vital Maine Communities Conference.

Bath YMCA hosts
annual meeting

BATH — At the recent annual meeting of the Bath Area Family YMCA,  several awards were presented and two new directors were introduced.

Bob Davis, president of the YMCA board of directors, welcomed incoming board members Judy Kelly and Scott Mills, and thanked outgoing board members Jim Drake and Henry Recknagel.

Awards were presented to several individuals and organizations at the meeting.  The Youth Development Award was presented to two gymnasts, Kayla Purinton and Kristi Snipe. The Healthy Living Award was given to Jason Gibbons for his work with children through his basketball foundation. Bath Trails was recognized for its work on the Whiskeag Trail, and RSU 1 was honored for its wellness initiatives.  

The Social Responsibility Award was presented to the staff at Now You’re Cooking and Byrnes’ Hospitality. Volunteer of the Year was awarded to the YMCA Advancement Committee, consisting of Jim Drake, Becky Halbrook, Richard Seaman and Cathy Crouch. Family of the Year was awarded to the Marco family, with three generations of YMCA members.

New Ventures

Scarborough-based hair stylist Luann Farley has expanded her mobile hair salon service, Private Designs by Luann, to now include on-site salon services to area businesses. For the past seven years, Farley has provided salon services to southern Maine clients in their homes and at independent/assisted living retirement centers. For more information on how to bring this service to your company or to book an appointment, visit privatedesignsbyluann.com.

Perry B. Newman, founder and president of Atlantica Group LLC, an international business development consulting firm based in Portland, has launched a new division of the company, Atlantica Analytics. The new division will provide clients with in-depth analyses of market conditions, competitive trends, and business intelligence on competitors. Atlantica Analytics will also assist people in business and public policymakers with analysis of political and legislative developments. Find Atlantica Analytics online at AtlanticaAnalytics.com.

Scott Douglas of South Portland has recently co-authored “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Running,” Third Edition, available now at major bookstores and online retailers. Douglas is a senior editor for Running Times magazine and has been a runner since 1979. The book provides complete instruction on developing ideal running techniques for personal fitness or competition, with tips on nutrition, stress reduction, avoiding and treating injuries.

VNA Home Health & Hospice has introduced its newest program, LifeStages, providing non-medical care supporting the needs of private-pay clients in their own homes. Services include elder services at home, companion care, geriatric care management, elder mediation, light meal preparation, bathing and dressing, and driving to and from appointments. The LifeStages staff will act as partners with families in caring for elders at home. VNA Home Health & Hospice, an affiliate of Mercy Hospital, has provided in-home medical care for patients and their families for 90 years. For more information, please contact Lisa Fuller at 780-0624.

The Topsham Conservation Commission and the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust have joined together to form the Greater Topsham Trail Alliance. The Alliance seeks to coordinate the efforts for various trail groups, organizations and individuals to develop and maintain trails of all types in Topsham and surrounding towns. For more information, contact Victor Langelo at 729-9880.

Nancy Jones has recently opened Foreside Consignment Gallery at 211 U.S. Route 1 in Falmouth. The consignment gallery specializes in jewelry, home accessories, vintage items, antiques and estate liquidation. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information and to schedule an appointment for consignment, contact 650-2859 or info@foresideconsignments.com.

Kasi Colburn and Julie Gullifer have recently opened Shear Balance Dog Salon in Yarmouth. The salon is located at 720 U.S. Route 1 in Yarmouth. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Call 846-9800 to make an appointment.

The Yarmouth Frame Shop and Gallery has opened a second location at 720 U.S. Route 1 in Yarmouth. Hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6  p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The frame shop and gallery’s original location at 336 Main St. in Yarmouth will be open on Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or by appointment. Currently on view in the new location’s “Weekly Art Spotlight” are paintings by Chris Nielson. For more information, please call 846-7777.

Friedman Gaythwaite Wolf & Leavitt, a Portland-based trial law firm, has relocated to 25 Pearl St., Portland, across from the U.S. Custom House. Additionally, Mark V. Kenny has become a partner in the law firm and Marie J. Mueller has joined the firm as an associate.

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Maine’s credit unions recently celebrated their fundraising success in the Campaign for Ending Hunger in Maine. At the Thaw to End Hunger Celebration Event, it was announced that the total funds raised in 2010 was $402,740.02.  The funds will be donated to food pantries across Maine to purchase food through the Good Shepherd Food Bank. The following five greater Portland credit unions placed in the Top 25 in Total Funds Raised: Five County CU, $12,550; Evergreen CU, $10,150.22; Town & Country FCU, $6,953; and Atlantic Regional FCU, $6,168. Casco FCU placed 16th in per member contributions at $.62 per member. Pictured here at the ceremony are, front row, from left, Five County CU’s Ending Hunger Coordinators, Stacy Garrity and Jennifer Andersen; back row, from left, John Murphy, president of the Maine Credit Union League, Luke Labbe, chairman of the Maine Credit Union League’s Social Responsibility Committee, and NBA Hall-of-Famer, Rick Barry.

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