Brimstone Candle Company at 1 New London Road, Suite 14, in Salem will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 21 presented by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut.

The ribbon-cutting will be at 11:30 a.m. including remarks from Tony Sheridan, president and CEO of the Chamber, followed by State Rep. Holly Cheeseman, Salem First Selectman Ed Chmielewski and Melissa Beers-Smith, chairman of the Salem Economic Development Committee.

The Adult Teen Challenge, a local non-profit, will also be on-site displaying butcher block cutting boards and charcutier boards made by individuals in their program.

Brimstone Candles offers a wide range of scents, from lavender to citrus. Kathleen Roderick, owner, said Brimstone Candle Coffers a selection of bath and body products as well, including bath bombs and moisturizing body lotions.

For more information, visit www.brimstone.shop.

SPECIAL DAY

July 16 is National Ice Cream Day, a day to contemplate the fact that Connecticut’s No. 1 choice in this category is ... chocolate.

That’s according to the Favorite Ice Cream Flavors Index - a study on consumer preferences conducted by financial firm Scholaroo. No. 2 favorite flavor is cookie dough, followed by rocky road.

To check out the list, visit https://scholaroo.com/report/favorite-ice-cream-by-state/.

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Foundation offers a financial assistance program through its veterinary clinics in Old Lyme and Saybrook.

For low-income, in-state pet owners, the CVMF is providing a $125 voucher for veterinary care. Pet owners need to provide proof of income to receive the voucher and a list of veterinary hospitals that accept it.

Learn more at https://petsafetyct.org/cap/.

CHAMBER NEWS

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut held a ribbon cutting and grand opening for New London Eats, a new restaurant on Bank Street in New London, on Thursday, July 13.

New London Eats is a fast “comfort food” restaurant. Choose a base of macaroni and cheese, baked potatoes, nachos or hot dogs and then smother it in a variety of toppings.

The chamber is also sponsoring a business after hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, at Mystic Seaport Museum (park across the street and enter through the Thompson Exhibition Building).

Enjoy views of the Mystic River and the newest exhibit, “Oceanus.” Cost is $15 for chamber members, $25 for nonmembers. For details, go to info.chamberct.com/events.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at noon July 21 at 79 Gold Stary Highway in Groton to note Curaleaf’s transition from solely a medical cannabis facility to its addition of adult-use sales. Individuals age 21 or over will be able to purchase cannabis products for recreational purposes at the store.

Visit mysticchamber.org to register.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

The Groton Rotary Club has announced two community grants totaling $5,000. The New London Homeless Hospitality Center and Fairview Odd Fellows Home of CT were each awarded grants of $2,500.

The New London Homeless Hospitality Center will use its funds for security and privacy fences plus two custom signs.

The Fairview Odd Fellows Home of CT funds will provide a Groton Rotary Club sponsorship for Fairview’s car raffle, helping fund the purchase of a Ford 15-passenger van.

The Arc ECT’s Community Life & Advocacy program has received $700 from the Eastern Connecticut Savings Bank Foundation to offset the cost of meeting space for its Self-Advocacy group. Additionally, the grant will allow for the purchase of a wireless voice amplifier for the peer facilitator.

To learn more about the Community Life & Advocacy program, visit TheArcECT.org or contact Denise Tift at (860) 889-4435, ext. 116.

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has announced a grant of $1,873 to the Griswold Historical Society in honor of the bank’s 150th anniversary.

Founded in 1971, the Griswold Historical Society is dedicated to promoting interest in Griswold’s heritage and the town’s historical development.

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has granted $1,873 to the Griswold Historical Society in honor of the bank’s 150th anniversary.

Founded in 1971, the Griswold Historical Society is dedicated to promoting interest in Griswold’s heritage and the town’s historical development.

EVENTS & APPEARANCES

The sixth annual Ride for Recovery to benefit Natchaug Hospital Adult Ambulatory Programs and the Veterans Base Camp of Chaplin will be held Aug. 5.

The motorcycle event features a one-hour benefit ride from Natchaug Rivereast, 428 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon, through five towns ending with a pig roast at the Veterans Base Camp at 108 England Road in Chaplin.

The ride is sponsored by Natchaug Hospital and the MFC Motorcycle Club East Conn Chapter, which is composed of military, firefighters, and law enforcement personnel. Donation is up to $20 per rider. Check-in starts at 10 with the ride beginning at 11 a.m.

To register visit: https://www.givesignup.org/TicketEvent/RideforRecovery2023.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut will hold a Business After Hours event from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, at Mystic Seaport Museum (enter through the Thompson Exhibition Building).

Enjoy views of the Mystic River and the newest exhibit, “Oceanus,” during the networking get-together. Cost is $15 for chamber members, and $25 for nonmembers. Register at https://info.chamberect.com/events/details/business-after-hours-mystic-seaport-museum-12739.

State Comptroller Sean Scanlon met July 11 with leadership and administrators during a tour Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, then did a business walk with Windham Mayor Tom DeVivo, as they toured downtown to promote MyCTSavings, the retirement program for employees who do not currently have a company-sponsored plan.

In March, the state extended the MyCTSavings enrollment deadline to Aug. 31 for businesses with five or more employees that do not already offer a retirement savings plan. To find out more, visit https://myctsavings.com/.

CONSUMER NEWS

Now that student loans are about to be collected again, state Attorney General William Tong is warning consumers about a potential rise in student loan debt scam robocalls and robotexts.

Tong noted that the federal government will never pressure you for immediate payment over the phone or text message. He urged consumers not to answer suspicious calls and to report calls to his office or the Federal Communication Commission.

Consumers being pressured to send money or give up personal information should not do so. Also, consumers being directed to any website other than StudentAid.gov should be wary. Calls or text messages from “student loan forgiveness center” or a state “forgiveness center” also should be a red flag.

To file a complaint with the FCC go to https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or with the Office of the Attorney General at CT Attorney General: e-Complaint Form.

The Lyman Allyn Art Museum has launched a new digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The Bloomberg Connects app, available for download from Google Play or the App Store, makes the Lyman Allyn accessible for either onsite or offsite visits through photo, audio and video features offering insights into your favorite works of art, permanent and changing exhibitions, and educational resources.

For more information, contact Rebecca Dawson at dawson@lymanallyn.org.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, has introduced the Casualty Loss Deduction Restoration Act, which he said would deliver financial relief to Americans who suffered losses from unexpected disasters, including crumbling foundations.

The legislation is backed by the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Home Builders, the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut, the Connecticut Bankers Association and Massachusetts Bankers Association, the Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors and others.

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