New Ventures

Photographer Mark Royall opened Midcoast Photography workshops in the Harpswell area this month. “The Camera in You” workshop will be offered both locally and statewide; find more on Facebook.

Mainely Wraps, LLC has leased approximately 1,500 square feet of retail space from David Lengyel of Willow’s Pizza at 1422 Broadway in South Portland. The transaction was brokered by Mark Sandler of Cardente Real Estate and Cole Smith of CBRE The Boulos Company.

Giving Back

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, which has a branch in Topsham, concluded its 28th annual “Food for Good” community food drive with more than 4,850 food items and over $3,370 collected and delivered to local food pantries in time for Thanksgiving.

People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, awarded $2,500 to The Iris Network’s Low Income Fund for Tools project. The Iris Network provides vision rehabilitation, specialized low vision services and vocational rehabilitation.

The Planet Fitness franchise in Portland, Westbrook and Augusta recently donated $5,000 to support anti-bullying initiatives at Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine.

Granted

The Town & Country Federal Credit Union’s annual Better Neighbor Fund grant winners were announced this fall. The winners of grants for charitable organizations with operating budgets under $500,000 were: Greater Portland Family Promise, $5,000 to purchase beds for homeless families and overnight volunteers; Team Kyle, $5,000 to host a pay-it-forward day of giving; The Locker Project, $2,000 to provide needy school age children with healthy snacks and food; A House for ME, $2,000 grant to provide financial support to help those with disabilities live independently. The winners of grants for charitable organizations with operating budgets over $500,000 were: Frannie Peabody Center $5,000 to support the emergency food fund to help clients living with HIV/AIDS in Maine; Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, $2,000 to support the pet food pantry; Youth and Family Outreach, $2,000 for a scholarship fund to help low-income, homeless and new American families find child care; Day One, $2,000 to add counseling space for Residence at Buxton to support teen girls coping with substance abuse.

Hires, promotions, appointments

The Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance Board of Directors announced Deborah Cummins has been named board president. Cummins is the former board chairwoman of the Poetry Foundation in Chicago. She divides her time between Portland and Deer Isle. Daniel W. Emery, an attorney based in Yarmouth, was recently elected president of the Board of Directors of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives. NOSSCR’s goal is to help attorneys so they can better represent people with disabilities. Laura Berry recently joined Monaghan Leahy, LLP, a Portland law firm, where she will be practicing civil litigation. Berry, a Casco native worked previously as a student attorney at the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office. Kevan Lee Deckelmann of Cumberland has been elected by her colleagues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors at Portland law firm Bernstein Shur.

The following were recently elected to the Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine at the 107th annual meeting this fall: Xavier Botana, superintendent of Portland Public Schools; Danielle M. Conway, dean and professor of law at the University of Maine School of Law; Dan Espinal of IDEXX Laboratories Strategy & Business Development Team; businessman Scott Hamilton; and Benjamin S. Piper, the Portland law offices of Preti Flaherty.

Save the Date

The next Portland Buy Local mixer will be held at Caravan Beads, 915 Forest Ave., from 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12. Buy Local Member Mixers are informal networking and social events for members, friends, and anyone who would like to know more about Portland Buy Local. Come unwind and catch up with other indie biz enthusiasts, plus get updates on the latest happenings in the Buy Local scene. 

FYI

New Ventures Midcoast Region offers classes and workshops at no charge and is open to all Maine adults, with in-person and on-line options and one-on-one coaching. Programs offered encourage and empower those thinking about making a change to take the next step towards financial security, a new career, a new business. New Ventures Maine can help participants build their careers and manage money. Check out free upcoming classes and community resources both in Mid-coast and around the state at http://newventuresmaine.org/about-us/.