The Town of Waterford and Waterford Fire Services have announced the promotion of firefighter Spencer Bauch to the position of fire inspector as of July 2. He succeeds former Fire Inspector Steve Dubicki.

Spencer has been a firefighter with Waterford Fire since 2005. Spencer has an associate’s degree from Quinebaug Valley Community College and earned his Fire Code Inspector and Fire Investigator certifications from the State of Connecticut.

As fire inspector, Bauch will be responsible for inspecting all buildings and facilities for public use and all occupancies regulated by the Connecticut Fire Safety Code. Additional duties include investigation and reporting of the origin and cause of all fires within the town’s jurisdiction; enforcement of state regulations covering oil burning equipment and storage, use and transportation of explosives, flammable liquids, and gases; enforcement of the manufacturing employer of hazardous material notification law; review of plans and specifications for proposed construction, and establishing and administration of fire lanes.

PEOPLE & PLACES

Chelsea Groton Bank recently welcomed two new customer solutions managers, Samantha Bazydlo, who will oversee the North Stonington branch, and Deborah O’Brien, who will manage the bank’s Pawcatuck branch. Both new employees live in North Stonington.

Bazydlo began her banking career as a teller at Citizens Bank. She has since held branch management roles at Savings Institute Bank and Trust, and most recently Dime Bank. In 2021, she graduated from the Connecticut School of Finance and Management.

She volunteers at Jonnycake Center of Westerly and participates in various financial education programs, including the Westerly High School Job Ready Program.

O’Brien most recently was director, banking center manager at Webster Bank. When not at work, she enjoys her time boating on the Long Island Sound with her husband.

Bridget Morrissey of Mystic has released a new book on Amazon titled “Nautical Tales & Nature Trails - Recreation in southeastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island.” The 209-page book gives details on golf courses, museums, marinas, charter fishing, libraries, bookstores, state parks and art galleries. For information, visit bmre.us/rict.

GRANTS & AWARDS

Groton-based ThayerMahan has partnered with a Mississippi company and the Allen Institute for AI to develop a tool that improves the detection, prevention and prosecution of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.

ThayerMahan is part of the team that will share $3.5 million in grants awarded by Schmidt Marine Technology Partners for the most promising designs and technologies to advance sustainable fishing.

The 10 projects selected for grants — ranging from $150,000 to $500,000 — seek to reduce bycatch, prevent illegal fishing, improve data collection on fisheries and fish populations, and increase the transparency of a fish’s journey from ocean to table.

Schmidt Marine is one of two grant-making and investment programs of the Schmidt Family Foundation, founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt. For more information, visit schmidtmarine.org.

EVENTS

“Making Connections: A SCORE Summer Social” will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at Lyman Orchards Golf Course, 72 Lyman Road, Middlefield.

The event is free, but registration is required. A panel featuring Jeni GrayRoberts of RiverFire Glass in Deep River, Jason Hine of The Ditty Bag Market & Cafe in Mystic, and Dr. Solandy Forte of Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting in Shelton will discuss their business journeys.

SCORE is a nonprofit association that offers free advice on starting a business or improving and growing an existing small business. Email ScoreChapter@gmail.com / or visit https://www.score.org/easternct for information.

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Businesses interested in providing products or services to federal, state, and local government agencies are invited to attend the U.S. Department of Defense Northeast Regional Matchmaker Business Training and Resource Fair Aug. 9-10 at the Mystic Marriott. Breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m., and the event runs through 4 p.m.

Representatives from government agencies and prime contractors who award billions of dollars in work each year will be available to answer questions. Connecticut businesses also can learn about the seCTerRise grant program. CT APEX Accelerator is affiliated with the Southeastern CT Enterprise Region, the federally designated economic development agency in the region.

For information, visit https://www.neregionalbusinessmatchmaker.com/.

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Reliance Health, Bags of Hope, Veterans Rally Point and TriCircle will be the beneficiaries of the July 23 Tamarack Lodge Twisted Trails 5k Color Run.

The trails race at Tamarack Lodge starts at 21 Ten Rod Road, Voluntown, offering challenges to both experienced trail runners and weekend warriors. The course is a chip timed 5K with an untimed 1 mile option.

Entry is via on-line registration only, even on race day starting at 8:30 a.m. Free parking and a shuttle to and from Tamarack Lodge will be available at Voluntown Town Hall.

Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=75725&eventId=708519.

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The annual Mudhead Benefit Cup Regatta & MegaParty July 15 at Mystic Shipyard netted over $15,000 for the Mystic-based nonprofit Always Home.

Thirty-two boats registered for the event. Winners were: Class One (PHRF - Non-Spinnaker) David Kelly in Mast Transit; Class Two (One Design) Liz Sistare’s Life Aquatic; Class Three (PHRF – Spinnaker) Bob Bruno on Arabesque; Class Four (ORC) John Fries on Details, Shields Class Lee Reichart on Rebel.The highest fundraising team was Team Patriot (Toby Halsey/Courtney Moore).

For more information on Mystic River Mudhead Sailing Association, visit: www.mudhead.org. For more information on Always Home, visit: www.alwayshome.org.

SeCTER NOTES

Nine regional small businesses will be able to expand in the face of unforeseen challenges with the help of $145,512 in grants provided by the Southeastern CT Enterprise Region (seCTer) through its seCTerRise program.

This most recent distribution brings the total distribution in 2023 to $222,802 to 13 businesses across the region.

Comfort Catering in Norwich will use its grant to purchase an additional freezer and refrigerator, two warmers, and holding transport boxes.

Toesty Sheets owner Michele Wytas created a bit of a sensation when her entrepreneurial spirit created her patented “no-tuck” top sheet that’s a combination fitted sheet at the foot of the bed and regular sheet at the head. Wytas will use her grant to expand into niche markets such as RV’s, split kings, XL twins for dorms, and California kings, growing her footprint in the market.

Whisk Together Catering has become so successful that owner Chef Roman needs her own space to create her treats for private parties, corporate events, celebrations, community events, cooking demonstrations, and more. Her funding will help finance and equip her own space with all the commercial-grade equipment needed.

Epicure Brewing, an independent craft brewery and taproom in the heart of the historic Norwich Harbor district, will use its funding for new equipment and marketing. Epicure has found that it needs to transition to canned packaging, which is now crucial for growth and competitiveness in the craft beer market.

Flavours of Life, a retail gift store in downtown New London featuring quality products from certified fair-trade organizations, will be able to replace its outdated and cumbersome two-step, point-of-sale equipment with new technology.

Fringe Modern & Vintage, a thrift shop for men and women on East Main Street in Clinton, will use its seCTerRise grant to purchase new display equipment and changing room equipment as well as signage and mannequins for the storefront with the intention of attracting more walk-in customers.

GEM Electrolysis and Esthetics in Old Mystic is growing and needs to replace equipment that is cleaned and sanitized after each use, which leads to additional wear and tear. New equipment is intended to provide a better experience for customers and technicians.

Jessica Tuesdays, an award-winning, destination restaurant key to downtown Putnam’s revitalization, learned that it will need to purchase a new commercial exhaust and fire suppression hood for its kitchen to meet new federal and state regulations. Funding will offset the significant cost of this equipment.

Trade Labels of Stonington produces nutrition labels for bulk bins in supermarkets and independent grocers across the country. Trade Labels will use its funding for software to allow custom label creation for small accounts.

To learn more about this program, visit seCTerRise or contact seCTer at 860-437-4659.

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