The Connecticut Assisted Living Association has announced several local recipients of its annual Outstanding Resident Service Awards, who were honored for acts of service, from helping people get to important medical appointments to taking care of pets.

Masonicare at Mystic received the highest number of awards. Renee Demars received a CALA Outstanding Resident Service Award, while Andy Milewski and Eileen Bengston received CALA Outstanding Resident Accomplishment Awards.

Demars, transportation and housekeeping coordinator, “always gets a round of applause for her service to the community,” during monthly meetings. “Recently, Renee has been proving her dedication in the transportation department following the retirement of the only other full-time driver.”

When a major crash on the Gold Star Bridge in April resulted in miles of re-routed traffic, a new resident, who was scheduled for a radiation treatment for breast cancer in Waterford, was worried, the release noted. Demars spent two and a half hours in traffic to get her there.

Milewski, a Masonicare resident, is a “friend to all who’s especially gifted at making new residents feel very welcome in their new home by constantly brainstorming ideas to bring them together.”

“Andy is an avid baker who does everything from baking delicious gifts for staff and residents to supporting the Alzheimer’s Association in their fundraising efforts,” said CALA.

Bengston, a Masonicare resident, "has a strong sense of civic duty to her community, but most importantly, she’s a lover of animals“ and cares for many residents’ pets, CALA noted.

“She offers a daily dog walking service and has even recently offered to take one dog into her own home after his owner fell and broke their hip,” the release said. “This particular dog struggles with separation anxiety from his owner, and Eileen didn’t hesitate to set him up with his own personal area in her apartment where he could wait in comfort for his owner to recuperate.“

Cindy Tuttle, a CNA/Resident Care Assistant at Academy Point at Mystic, “goes out of her way to personalize services and care for each resident’s needs.”

“Once, when a resident’s dentures were missing and couldn’t be found, Cindy took the time to go through the garbage and found the dentures wrapped in tissue, the release stated.

When a couple moved to another apartment, Tuttle and a co-worker transplanted their favorite rosebush outside the door.