Business briefs: Aug. 5, 2012

The Commercial Record has named the Liberty Bank Foundation's Sue Murphy and Chelsea Groton Bank's Blunt White as "Community Bank Heroes," recognizing local bankers who better their bank and community.

The Community Bank Heroes award celebrates bankers who have made outstanding contributions to the industry and the community, giving freely of their time, energy and resources for volunteerism, community service and charity. Murphy was among 13 others in the Connecticut banking sector who were honored.

Murphy is a 15-year employee of Liberty Bank and has managed the Liberty Bank Foundation since its inception in 1997. She was appointed the foundation's full-time executive director in 2007. Under Murphy's direction, the foundation has awarded almost $7 million in grants to nonprofits, scholarships to students, and funds to special programs.

Blunt, a Stonington resident, joined Chelsea Groton Bank this year as vice president and commercial lending officer. He has 25 years of commercial lending experience in Connecticut and is active in the community, serving as chairman of Stonington's Economic Development Commission and on committees at the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut and the Rotary Club of Mystic.

The Spa at Norwich Inn has partnered with Steve O'Keefe, owner of Tennis in Motion of Branford, to offer instructional tennis programs this summer and fall that can be booked by eastern Connecticut residents as well as guests at the 99-room resort and spa.

From now through Oct. 31, O'Keefe and his staff will offer instructional programs including private, semi-private and group sessions designed to benefit players of all abilities.

For additional information, call 860-886-2401 or visit The Spa at Norwich Inn's web site.

Maine Oxy, a leading supplier of welding supplies and industrial gases, is collecting items for large care packages to send to members of the military on active duty in war zones.

Maine Oxy has 13 donation sites across New England, including on Cross Road in Waterford, with a goal of sending out 50 care packages a month.

Maine Oxy began sending care packages to their own employees deployed in 2004 and later decided to expand the program to collect and send donations to as many troops as possible.

Items need include food, entertainment items, supplies and personal letters.

In the next few months, Maine Oxy plans to increase the number of care packages shipped overseas by asking the community for small donations and getting local businesses to set up their own drop boxes. Anyone interested should call Maine Oxy at 1-800-377-9433 or email ausalesteam@maineoxy.com.

For more information, go to http://www.maineoxy.com/most.htm.

Enrollment is underway for Liberty Tax Service's fall income tax preparation classes in Groton that will start the week after Labor Day.

The company's 10-week tax school helps students learn tax-savings strategies that could lead to employment. No prior tax experience is necessary to register and take the basic class.

Tax preparers now required to take competency tests can prepare by taking Liberty's classes, from basic through advanced. People who have either obtained or will obtain a Preparer Tax Identification Number have until Dec. 31, 2013, to pass the competency test.

To learn more about job opportunities and Liberty's selection of tax courses, visit http://www.libertytax.com/tax-education.html or call 1-800-658-1042.

For questions, contact Judy Blair at 860-448-2937.

Marjorie Valentin, associate dean of continuing education and community service at Three Rivers Community College, continued in her role as national director of the National Council for Continuing Education and Training when new officers were named for the 2012-2013 membership year.

Officers were elected by members in balloting held in June.

For more information on the council, go to www.nccet.org or contact the executive office at 888-771-0179.

Hospice Southeastern Connecticut recently recognized the efforts of the agency's hospice aides, who provide personal care for the terminally ill.

The list of aides includes Lorraine Arwari, Beverly Barnett, Stephanie Forbes, Sylvia Fournier, Kaitlyn Hansen, James Hooper, Sandey Marchand, Judy Mieszkalski, Barbara Moffet, Jessica Ruley, Lynda Souza and Debbie St. Denis.

"Much of our success here at Hospice Southeastern Connecticut can be attributed to the hard work and loving care they provide every day," said Carolyn Loiacono, clinical scheduler for the agency.

Dime Bank has announced the appointment of Kimberly Misenti of Portland as vice president and loan operations manager as well as John Allard of Danielson as a new corporate officer and financial adviser.

Misenti joined the bank on July 16 in the newly formed credit administration department. She comes to Dime with 30 years of banking, lending and management experience, most recently as manager of operations and underwriting special programs at CHFA.

Allard joined the bank on July 9 with the Dime Investment Services affiliate, bringing almost 30 years of sales, management and business experience in the investment and insurance industry. He most recently was a partner and insurance and investment manager at New York Life Insurance Company, where he was responsible for recruiting and training new agents as well as furthering the development of experienced agents.

Chelsea Groton Bank, a longtime community partner with the Fairview Odd Fellows Home of Connecticut, has made a five-year, $25,000 financial commitment to Fairview's Land Development Fund.

The fund was established in 2011 to help offset the cost of new independent senior housing planned for Fairview's campus in Groton. The new independent housing will be in addition to 24 independent living apartments that currently exist.

A formal acknowledgment of Chelsea Groton Bank's backing of the Chelsea Cottage, the name of the building that will house four new independent living apartments, will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Fairview.

Contact David Brown, director of development at Fairview, at 860-448-4722 for more information.

SQE Professional magazine has recognized the Groton shop Sewtique for changing with the times and branching out into textile restoration, bridal wear, leather apparel, sportswear and sewing-machine repair.

Sewtique's owner, Evelyn Kennnedy, reported that the magazine featured the shop in its June issue.

"The staff is adept at recycling personal wardrobe for good fit, especially where there is a weight gain or loss," Kennedy said.

Sewtique, at 391 Long Hill Road in Groton, can be found at Sewtiqueonline.com.

United Community & Family Services will celebrate National Health Center Week with an appearance at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney.

Courtney, D-2nd District, will be guest speaker at the Edward & Mary Lord Family Center at 47 Town St. in Norwich. A light breakfast will be served.

RSVP to Pamela Allen Kinder at pkinder@ucfs.org or 860-822-4146.

Smith Insurance of 15 Liberty Way in Niantic has been recognized as an "Elite Agency" by Travelers Insurance of Hartford.

Personal Lines manager Jill Tracy received the award, which is given to less than 6 percent of all Travelers agencies nationwide. The award is based on outstanding performance and sound business principals.

Smith Insurance, one of Connecticut's largest independent agencies, can be reached at 860-739-3322 and found online at www.smithins.com.

The economic-development agency Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region hosted more than 25 members of the Connecticut Economic Development Association last month as they toured the Coast Guard Research & Development Center and its associated International Ice Patrol and Marine Safety offices in New London at One Chelsea Street on the Fort Trumbull Peninsula.

The association was briefed on the New London operations by Capt. Al Arsenault, commanding officer of the facility, who introduced the group to a new section soon to open in first floor space in the building, the "Modeling and Simulation Center of Expertise," which will create data visualization for strategic and tactical planning and operations.

"We often forget the important role that this area and New London plays in global maritime safety," said the association's president, Sandra Johnson, after the tour.

For more information, contact Deborah Donovan of SeCTer at 860-437-4659 ext. 202, or ddonovan@secter.org. For additional information or to arrange a tour of the Coast Guard R&D Center, contact Joyce Brown at Joyce.e.Brown@uscg.mil.

Washington Trust and Rhode Island Housing will host a free seminar, "First-Time Homebuying Made Easy," at 6 p.m. Monday at Washington Trust's Reservoir Avenue Office at 645 Reservoir Ave., at the corner of Park and Reservoir in Cranston.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling Tammy Fisher at 401-457-1245.

Lindsey Burke of Old Saybrook has been named 2012 Member of the Year by the Connecticut chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services.

Burke has been a marketing assistant for Woodard & Curran since 2008.

At Woodard & Curran, Burke is responsible for all of the team's marketing needs, including marketing campaign development, press releases, newsletter editorial development and event planning.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly Business After Hours from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mystic Indoor Tennis, 90 Welles Road in Old Mystic.

The low-key monthly networking event cost $10 for members and $20 for non-members. To register, contact the Chamber at 572-9578 or email triciawalsh@mysticchamber.org.

The event is sponsored by Panera Catering, and guests are encouraged to bring tennis clothes to enjoy free court time starting at 7p.m.

A Network for Success event is set for 5 p.m.

The Missions Committee at Second Congregational Church in New London is sponsoring a showing of the movie "The World According to Monsanto" from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the church's auditorium at 45 Broad St.

Following the movie, a discussion will be held focusing on how what we eat affects our health and well being, featuring organic farmer Bob Burns and community garden organizer Patrick Kelly.

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce's visit to Dodd Stadium for a Connecticut Tigers game has been rescheduled to Thursday. Those who have previously registered don't need to register again.

For more information contact Ginger at 860-887-1647 or info@norwichchamber.com