With the holidays approaching, Santa Claus has announced his local schedule.

• Santa Claus will be the Crystal Mall at the Old Navy Court through Dec. 24 during mall hours. Visit www.Facebook.com/CrystalMall for times.

• Santa and Mrs. Claus will be appearing in the Olde Mistick Village Meeting House, Friday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24 from noon to 3:00 p.m. Olde Mistick Village is located at exit 90 off I-95. For information call (860) 536-4941.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce will officially welcome Baubles and Bling to the community with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 28. The official ribbon cutting will take place at 5:15 p.m. with an open house until 7 p.m. Baubles and Bling is located at 29½ Main St., Mystic. Baubles and Bling is owned and operated by Phyllis Snow Sharpe. For more information, visit baublesbling.com.

Nominations to honor those who work in social service agencies will be accepted until Nov. 21 by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut.

Those interested in filing a nomination may complete a brief form at www.ChamberECT.com. The form is contained in the programs and events section of the website.

The nominees will be announced Dec. 21 at the chamber's annual breakfast, which is scheduled at the Holiday Inn, 35 Winthrop Blvd. The awards will be given in the following categories: a volunteer, staff member, executive director and board member of a non-profit organization.

Builders Surplus recently opened its newest store at 2457 Post Road inWarwick, R.I. Other locations are Jewett City, West Warwick, R.I., and Central Falls, R.I. The business features a kitchen and bath showroom in addition to a selection of decorative moulding and doors. Builders Surplus stores are open Monday to Saturday.

Debbie Lowe has joined the East Lyme office of William Raveis Real Estate. She will be working with Bette Giesing on the Negotiators Team. She previously owned an insurance franchise in the Norwich area for 25 years.

A resident of Mystic, Lowe can be reached at 860-303-2807 or deborah.lowe@raveis.com.

Traci LaShomb, CHA, has joined Konover Hotel Corp. as General Manager of the Uncasville Microtel Inn & Suites. LaShomb will oversee hotel operations, sales and marketing. She has more than 10 years of experience in hotel management in southeastern Connecticut, most recently as the general manager of the Comfort Suites in Norwich. She lives in Norwich.

For more information, visit www.simonkonover.com.

The Southeastern CT Women's Network will hold a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Groton Inn & Suites. Lisa Wexler, talk show host, attorney, advocate, author and public speaker, will speak on the importance of participating in one's community for the sake of civic duty. The cost is $19 with reservations and $23 without. Call (860) 437-7448 by Monday by 10 a.m. For more information, go to www.sectwomensnetwork.org.

Stonington Strength and Conditioning Coach Todd M. Cambio has become a Certified Obstacle Course Training Coach through The Spartan Coaching Program. Cambio spent two days at the Spartan Coaching Program outside of Boston with 16 hours of continuing education including classroom time and hands-on training sessions.

Spartan Group Exercise (SGX) designed to create a community-driven group atmosphere of fitness, nutrition, and performance that optimizes individual performance in Spartan Races (or other obstacle course race).

For more information contact Cambio at 860-287-3768 or tcambio@GoPrecisionFitness.com.

Liberty Tax, Groton is collecting clean, gently used coats and jackets as part of the One Warm Coat community service project. All children's sizes are welcome. One Warm Coat is dedicated to distributing reusable coats, free of charge, directly to local children.

Bring your clean, gently used coats and jackets to Liberty Tax, 955 Poquonnock Road, Groton, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov 30. All donated coats will be given to The Riverfront's Children Center. For more information call 860-448-2937.

Advanced Improvements is the November recipient of the Business of the Month award from the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce.

Advanced Improvements is located in Historic Downtown Mystic and has been serving Connecticut and Rhode Island since 2002. Advanced Improvements has been a partner to the Great Mystic Chamber of Commerce and the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Connecticut. Owner David Preka is also a dedicated volunteer fireman.

For more information, visit advancedimprovementsllc.com.

Nomination forms for this award are available at mysticchamber.org or at the Mystic Chamber at 2 Roosevelt Ave., Mystic.

Crystal Mall will open its doors at midnight Thursday and remain open until 10 p.m. Friday.

Simon's free Simon iPhone application allows shoppers to check mall hours, special deals and promotions, download maps and directions, check gift card balances instantly, and much more.

The mall is hosting its Rejuvenation Station again this holiday season so shoppers have a place to unwind in chairs and sofas and take advantage of free WiFi.

Gift wrap stations will benefit various local charities, and holiday entertainment provided.

Panera Bread/Howley Bread Group's Wendy Kopp, Marketing Director, and Bill Shea, Connecticut District Manager, recently drove a Panera Catering van full of bread, bagels and pastries made by its bakery-cafes in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut to Long Island. The donation of baked goods was received by the Red Cross shelter at Nassau Community College in Garden City, which is assisting displaced victims of Hurricane Sandy.

For more information, please visit www.panerabreadhbg.com.

Dr. Randolph Kinkade, an optometrist who specializes in patients with low vision, is now providing services two to three times per month by appointment at the offices of Professional Eyecare at 131 Boston Post Road, Waterford.

Kinkade also provides services at six other offices elsewhere in Connecticut, as well as two in Massachusetts and one in Rhode Island. Kinkade said he can provide special eyewear for patients with macular degeneration and vision loss related to diabetes. For information, visit: www.lowvisioneyeglasses.com.

John P. Read has joined Citizens Bank serving the Mystic, Groton, Gales Ferry and Pawcatuck branches. He is a Registered General Securities Representative and licensed Insurance Producer. He earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselortm designation from the College of Financial Planning. His services include establishing life and investment goals, objectives and risk tolerance; development of investment, estate planning and wealth management strategies; offering a wide variety of bank, securities, insurance and annuity solutions with disciplined follow up.

Read, a lifelong resident of the Mystic area, can be reached at 860-373-1830 and john.p.read@ccoinvest.com.