Lyme Ambulance Association recently honored two of its longest serving volunteer responders at an awards ceremony.

Carter Courtney joined LAA in 1988, serving a remarkable 36 years as an EMT, including serving on the Board of Directors and as training officer. In addition, Carter also had a long career with the Lyme Fire Company.

Tom Darna joined LAA in 1999 and served as an EMT for 25 years, including six years as Chief of Service.

"As you retire, I would like you to know that the Town of Lyme owes you both a debt of gratitude and as the representative of Lyme I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to you and your families for the work you have done," Lyme First Selectman David Lahm said during the ceremony.

Chief of Service Steve Olstein added, "Carter and Tom, you were part of the backbone of Lyme Ambulance and we will miss your incredible contributions as responders, mentors, elder statesmen and friends - and I want you to know how grateful your colleagues are for helping to prepare them to carry on Lyme Ambulance's mission of providing high quality emergency medical response, transport and education to our friends and neighbors."

Lyme Ambulance is a private, not for profit, all volunteer provider of emergency medical services to the Town of Lyme.

People & Places

Stratedia, a Mystic-based digital marketing and advertising agency specializing in creating high-performing websites, ranks No. 1,056 on the 2024 Inc. 5000, the online magazine’s annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Under Armour, Timberland, Oracle, Patagonia and many other household-name brands gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

“Being named to the Inc. 5000 list is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of our entire team,” said Steve Bibby, Stratedia CEO.

Among this year’s top 5,000 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate is 1,637 percent. In all, this year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 874,458 jobs to the economy over the past three years.

For complete results, go to www.inc.com/inc5000. For more information on Stratedia, visit www.stratedia.com.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce spotlighted Erin Shea, the creative force behind the children’s show “Poppi’s Planet,” in its Community Proud series sponsored by CorePlus Credit Union.

Erin’s journey began with shooting videos on her phone and GoPro for about six years before teaming up with Justin Tucker of FWRD Content. “What I want to encourage in the show is how kids can spark their creativity, spark their imaginations, going outside, looking up into the sky, what shapes are the clouds, really going back to the simple basics of the root of their own self-awareness,” she says.

Since its launch in September 2023, Poppi’s Planet has garnered over 400,000 subscribers. Season 2 of Poppi’s Planet recently premiered, featured local landmarks and Mystic Chamber members such as the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Argia, Supercharged, the Mystic Noank Library, and J&R Seafood.

The business advisory group SCORE will host a free webinar, “Digital 101: Bridging the Gap from Digital Novice to Digital Natural” from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, sponsored by Essex Savings Bank.

To register, visit https://www.score.org/easternct.

This crash course will focus on several key areas followed by a Q&A session with expert Greg Boyd of the Miranda Creative content team. Among the topics will be the idea of geofencing, reaching customers within specific geographic areas.

Boyd is director of digital media at Miranda Creative, with 20 years of experience in such areas as digital advertising, paid and organic social, search engine optimization, and content strategy.

Paul Brindamour, a resident of Niantic, is planning to ride 200 miles and raise $3,000 during September for Children’s Cancer Research Fund (https://childrenscancer.org/) in support of its 10th annual Great Cycle Challenge, USA. This is his fourth time taking the challenge, and he has raised nearly $8,000.

To learn more or make a donation, visit www.greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/PaulBrindamour. To participate in the challenge or to learn more, visit https://greatcyclechallenge.com.

Founded in 2015, Great Cycle Challenge USA has grown to become one of the biggest cycling events in the country. In just nine years, over 500,000 riders from 50 states have ridden 33.8 million miles, raising more than $73 million for research and the development of better treatments and cures for childhood cancer. This year, CCRF hopes over 30,000 riders will help raise more than $9 million.

Visit childrenscancer.org or call 1-888-422-7348 to learn more.

Among the Connecticut Sun personnel who participated this month in the Olympic Games in Paris was Assistant Coach Abi Olajuwon, who served as an assistant coach with the Nigeria Basketball Women’s National Team. She helped lead the team to the quarterfinal round, where it eventually fell to Team USA, 88-74. But Nigeria made history by becoming the first Olympic team from Africa, male or female, to make the quarterfinals at the Olympics.

Leila Lacan, selected No. 10 overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2024 WNBA Draft, earned a silver medal with the French Women’s National Team in her Olympic debut. She appeared in all six contests for France, averaging 4.2 points and 1.7 assists.

Aquarion Water Company was recently recognized by the Clean Transportation Coalition of Western Connecticut for its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and electrify its vehicle fleet. The company received the “Green Fleet Award” for a utility at the Coalition’s awards ceremony in Norwalk.

The company added its first full EV to the fleet in 2019 and has continued to expand its lineup of EVs, hybrids, and charging stations. In addition, Aquarion has also converted all of its offices to LED lighting and added rooftop solar panels at five of its facilities.

The M&T Bank Charitable Foundation has awarded Thames Valley Council for Community Action $6,000 for its Homelessness Prevention/Diversion program, which provides logistical support along with housing-related financial assistance for tenants in danger of losing their homes. For more information about TVCCA’s Housing program, call (860) 889-1365 or visit tvcca.org.

The Irish Currach Rowing team of the New London Currach Rowers hosted its annual regatta July 27 from the Custom House Pier in New London, as teams of the North American Currach Rowing Association competed during seven races.

Maureen Plumleigh, president of the New London team, presented medals to the first place, second place and third place winners of each race. In addition, for the second year, a Best of Regatta trophy was presented to the Philly Celtic Currach Club, which earned the highest number of combined points. The trophy is provided by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, John P Holland Division.

Plumleigh, of Old Lyme, emphasizes that the team is happy to hear from adults in the area who may try out Irish rowing. Email, if interested, to row.currach.nl@gmail.com.

Connecticut crating manufacturer Packaging And Crating Technologies, LLC created a grassroots fundraising opportunity for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation that ran from May 1 through the July 4 based on sales of its popular product line currently used by the military and moving industry. On July 31, the Watertown-based company presented a $2,530 check to the national charity that directly benefits American military veterans and first responders.

The T2T Foundation provides mortgage-free homes for America’s catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, Gold Star and fallen first responder families. To date, the foundation has provided over 600 mortgage-free homes for families, including specially-adapted smart homes.

New London-based attorney Jennifer Mullen was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 along with 35 of her Halloran Sage colleagues from Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Opportunities

Women who need to finish a degree or get a certification to move up in their careers may be eligible for up to $4,000 from philanthropic educational organization P.E.O. These grants are aimed at women within 18 months of completing an accredited program after having had at least 24 months as a non-student sometime in their adult life.

Prospective grantees must be recommended by a local P.E.O. chapter such as Chapter AH in East Lyme. Contact Chapter AH member Martha Singer at marthasinger@verizon.net or www.peointernational.org/about-peo-program-continuing-education-pce for more information.

Are you an artist? Love to create but love less running the business side of your creative venture? Check out some resources from the Women’s Business Development Council.

Join WBDC's Laura Blake and Taylor Bergeron to find out how to get started. One possibility is the WBDC Virtual Classroom from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, when the WBDC and the CT Office of the Arts present “Exploring Entrepreneurship.” This free program explores everything you need to know to decide if entrepreneurship is right for you. Examine your business concept and learn what you will need to get started. To register, visit https://ctwbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/976793.

Also, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, “Making Cents of Your Idea” will help to evaluate your business idea to be sure it is viable. Or, learn how to adapt your idea so that it can become the successful business you’re envisioning. This free class is designed for those who are early in their entrepreneurial journey. To register, visit https://ctwbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/976427.

Also check out “Connect and Create: Social Media Content Building,” an in-person workshop at the WBDC offices at 61 Bank St., New London, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16. Learn how to create easy and meaningful content for your social media platforms with WBDC Social Media Business Advisor Terri Piekara. The fee is $40. To register, visit https://ctwbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/975575.

Many other classes are upcoming. For information, call 203-353-1750.

The Buzz is a weekly roundup of business news compiled by Business Editor Lee Howard. To get in The Buzz, email businessbriefs@theday.com. To easily access urls cited in print, go to www.theday.com and type “The Buzz” into the search bar.