EVENTS

The Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2017 Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet on Jan. 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Hartford Healthcare System Support Office, 11 Stott Ave., Norwich. Sponsors include Norwich Public Utilities, The American Group, Rose City Financial and Collins & Jewell.

There is no cost for members and $20 for non-members. For more information, call 860-887-1647 or visit www.norwichchamber.com.

NETWORKING

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce will hold its first monthly Business Before Hours at the new Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce Executive Offices and Welcome Center, 62 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic at 8 a.m. on Jan. 5. Peggy Roberts, the newly appointed President, will greet guests. Light refreshments will be served. No charge for admission.

Builders & Remodelers Association of Eastern CT Builder Blend will be held Wednesday, Jan. 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Valenti Ford, 72 Jerry Browne Road, Mystic. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. For more information, call 860-859-3518.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host Business After Hours Wednesday, Jan. 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Hoffman Audi, 490 Broad St., New London. Guests new to Business After Hours can arrive early at 5 p.m. for “Mastering Networking.” Admission is $15 for Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT members, $25 for non-members, and includes beer, wine, soft drinks, and hors d’oeuvres. Register in advance to avoid an additional $5 fee for walk-ins at www.ChamberECT.com/events or call (860) 701-9113.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy at its first Business Breakfast of 2017 on Monday, Jan. 9, 7:45-9 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, 10 Laura Blvd., Norwich. Admission is $17 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members. Register in advance to avoid an additional $5 walk-in fee at www.ChamberECT.com/events or call (860) 701-9113. This Business Breakfast is made possible through support from We Work for Health Connecticut and Norwich Public Utilities.

WORKSHOPS

The Southeastern Connecticut chapter of SCORE, a nonprofit association helping small businesses succeed, will present a free workshop at 10 a.m. Jan. 12 at Mystic Noank Library on "Getting Started with Facebook for Business." The class will address the fundamentals of a Facebook business page. Participants can bring a laptop to follow along.

Workshop presenter April Heavens-Woodcock is a managing partner and social media strategist who works with small to mid-size companies. She volunteers for the Greater Norwich Chamber of Commerce, SCORE and Rose City Business Networking International. For information, visit www.sect.score.org.

HONORS

Research and Development Solutions, Inc., a Department of Defense contractor with an office at 183 Providence-New London Turnpike, North Stonington, was recently recognized as an integral team member of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport for the design and development of the U.S. Navy’s Next Generation Architecture Electronic Warfare System. Additionally, RDSI team member Edwin Gonzalez was recognized and awarded the “Naval Submarine Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Innovation Achievement.” For more information, visit www.rdsi.com.

Local car dealer Todd Blonder was recently appointed to the CARFAX Dealer Advisory Panel. Blonder is the owner of TJ Motors. Blonder is a third-generation automobile professional who founded TJ Motors in 1980. CARFAX is the leading provider of vehicle service, damage and ownership history information in North America.

TJ Motors, 308 Broad St., New London, has been in business for more than 35 years.

GIVING

Dime Bank Foundation recently awarded $4,000 to Operation Warm to help provide new winter coats to underprivileged school-aged children attending educational programs at TVCCA’s Norwich and New London locations.

Essex Financial Services in 2016 continued their history of charitable efforts with the initiative “EFS Gives Back.” The latest in a series of contributions was a gift to Westbrook Youth and Family Services in early December. Other contributions included a donation to Mercy Housing and Shelter in Hartford and a donation to the New London Hospitality Center, and a partnership with Bread for Life in Southington.

For more information, visit http://www.essexfinancialservices.com.

The Chelsea Groton Foundation has awarded $960 to The Arc NLC’s Individualized Home Supports program, which provides a variety of support services to families living with loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout southeastern Connecticut and beyond. The program also operates a Life Skills Center at the agency’s Norwich facility, and the Chelsea Groton Foundation’s grant will allow the program to purchase weighted blankets and vests for participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

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