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Local art organizations
receive $50K in NEA grants
AUGUSTA — Four local arts organizations will receive direct funding from the National Endowment for the Arts through two grant programs.
Access to Artistic Excellence grants were given to three Portland organizations. Portland Concert Association received a $15,000 grant in support of dance, music and cultural works. Portland Maine Symphony Orchestra received $10,000 in support of a multicultural concert program. Portland Stage Company was awarded $15,000 to support the production of “Out of Sterno,” by Deborah Zoe Laufer.
The Brunswick Area Arts & Cultural Alliance received a Challenge America Fast Track grant for $10,000 to support the promotion of arts and cultural activities in Southern Mid Coast Maine. 

Bath artist paints cover
for newly published book
BATH — Bath artist Beth Carlson painted the cover of a newly published book, “Animal Lovers’ Bedtime Reader,” by Sue Greenall. 
While “Farm Friends” was her first painting for a book cover, Carlson’s sporting dog paintings have been selected as the cover of several magazines, including Gray’s Sporting Journal and The American Brittany.

Davis’ Tobaccoland
opens in Falmouth
FALMOUTH — Bill Davis’ Tobaccoland has recently opened its second location at 60 Gray Road in Falmouth.
One of the country’s oldest tobacconists, the original store in the Lewiston/Auburn area has been open since 1932.
The store specializes in premium cigars, international cigarettes, tobacco and accessories.

Evergreen Credit Union
donates $10,000 
PORTLAND — Evergreen Credit Union recently collected $10,000 in donations from members and staff for the Campaign for Ending Hunger in Maine. Recipients included Preble Street, Windham Food Pantry, South Portland Food Cupboard and selected needy families in Cumberland County. 

HR professionals hold
interview skills workshop
PORTLAND — The Human Resources Association of Southern Maine and the Greater Portland Literacy Volunteers recently offered an interview skills workshops through a Mock Interview Program for inmates at the Maine Correctional Center. Human resources professionals who offered their expertise at the workshop included Shannon Kashinsky of MD-IT Transcription, Pamela Loring of Preti Flaherty, Atoka Henry of Volk Packaging, Krista Irmischer of Jotul Stoves and Linda Albert of Portland Public Library. 

AWARDS

The Maine Women’s Law Association of the University of Maine School of Law recently presented Sara Gagne-Holmes, executive director of Maine Equal Justice Partners, with the 2008 Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award.

Maine Running Company in Portland was named one of the 50 Best Running Stores in America by Running Intelligence and the Running Network.

Camp Keyes construction supervisor Phillip Ceaser of Scarborough was selected as the 2008 Manager of the Year for the Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management in the Maine National Guard.

APPOINTMENTS
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine has named its new board of directors for 2009: Valerie Yates, loan officer with TD Banknorth; Marwan Fakhouri, district manager with Hannaford Bros.; Katie Rowen, attorney at Taylor, McCormack & Frame; and Jim Raftice, chief operations officer at PowerPay.

The board of directors of the Seal Cove Auto Museum in Seal Harbor has been joined by Joel Gratwick of Portland, owner of Bonney Personnel Service, and Peter Brown of Cumberland, owner of Cumberland Street Garage.

Susan Snowden of Scarborough, senior vice president at Bangor Savings Bank, was elected treasurer on the board of directors of the Finance Authority of Maine.

Dr. David Hartley of the USM Muskie School of Public Service has been appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. 

Gov. John Baldacci has appointed John Wolanski of Cape Elizabeth to the board of directors of the Maine International Trade Center. Wolanski is vice president of sales and marketing at Safe Handling.

Cumberland resident Lisa Rideout, senior vice president of the Norway Savings Asset Management Group, has been named a corporator for Simmons College in Boston. 

NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS

The Institute for Civic Leadership has hired Stephen R. Schuit of Peaks Island as its new executive director.

Northeast Bank recently hired Lindsay Harris of Scarborough as a commercial loan officer and assistant vice president at its Portland branch.

Non-profit agency Spurwink Services has hired Sonia Garcia of Yarmouth as director of clinical business development. The agency also promoted four employees: Portland residents Meagan Hall and Charles O’Rourke were both promoted to assistant program directors of residential services in Auburn; Susan Magee of Gray has been promoted to associate director of educational services at the Casco School; James Temple of Portland has been promoted to associate director of educational services at the Cummings School.

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