Main Street Skowhegan receives $10,000 grant
SKOWHEGAN — Main Street Skowhegan recently received a $10,000 grant from the Skowhegan Savings Charitable Foundation to help implement the Skowhegan Strategic Plan for Community Transformation, according to a news release from Main Street Skowhegan.
“These grant funds will be critical as we implement the strategic plan, and they will help us strengthen the organization and build capacity — enabling us to continue the important work of making Skowhegan a better place to live, work and visit,” said Executive Director Kristina Cannon, according to the release.
In 2015-16, Main Street led a communitywide process to craft Skowhegan’s strategic plan, which was completed and approved by vote at Town Meeting last June. The plan’s goal is to make Skowhegan a thriving economic, cultural, and recreational destination where residents enjoy a high quality of life.
The Skowhegan Savings grant will help Main Street continue to facilitate implementation of the plan and tackle many of its action steps, which focus on economic development, tourism, and communication.
Farrington joins leadership team at Kennebec Behavioral Health
WATERVILLE — Brandi Farrington has been promoted to administrator of supported housing and community living supports at Kennebec Behavioral Health, the agency announced recently.
Both programs provide support services to adults with mental illness so they can live independently within the community, according to a news release from Tina Chapman, development and communications director at the agency.
Farrington, of Bangor, has 18 years of experience working for the crisis department at Evergreen Behavioral Services, and held mental health- and criminal justice-related jobs before joining Kennebec Behavioral Health.
Gifford’s, Travis Mills Foundation announce partnership
SKOWHEGAN — Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream and the Travis Mills Foundation recently announced a new partnership.
Gifford’s has committed to sponsoring one of the 56 veteran families scheduled to stay at the new Travis Mills Foundation Veterans Retreat in Belgrade Lakes, and it will donate more than 60 gallons of ice cream for the families visiting the retreat this summer. The company also is collaborating with the foundation to raise awareness and money for its mission at the company’s five family-owned ice cream stands, located in Auburn, Bangor, Farmington, Skowhegan and Waterville.
The foundation was founded in 2013 with the mission of helping injured veterans and their families unite with the land, water, nature and each other. Its founder, former Army Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, lost both arms and legs in Afghanistan on April 10, 2012, when he was injured critically by an improvised explosive device. During his 19-month recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Mills became passionate about engaging with other injured soldiers and their families and began to formalize his dream of creating a special retreat for them in Maine.
GHM Insurance appointed to The Hanover’s President’s Club
GHM Insurance, of Waterville and Auburn, recently was appointed to The Hanover Insurance Group’s President’s Club, a nationwide group of independent insurance agencies.
Agencies named to the company’s President’s Club are recognized for delivering outstanding value to their customers through insurance expertise and responsive service, according to a news release from the insurance group.
One hundred twenty-five independent agencies have been recognized with this distinction. The Hanover partners with 2,200 independent agents nationwide. This is the 12th consecutive year GHM Insurance has been recognized with the selection.
The agency was recognized for its inclusion in the President’s Club at a national business conference in Laguna Beach, Calif.
Arbor Day Foundation honors CMP for tree work
A national group has recognized Central Maine Power Co., a subsidiary of AVANGRID Inc., as a Tree Line USA Utility for 2016, according to a news release from the company.
The designation — the second in as many years — comes from the National Arbor Day Foundation, the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees.
To receive the designation, utilities must meet five core standards set by the foundation:
• Quality tree care that meets industry standards for pruning, planting, removals and other activity.
• Annual worker training in best practices for utility employees and contract workers.
• Tree planting and public education programs that demonstrate proper tree planting, placement and pruning while expanding the tree canopy in the community.
• Tree-based energy conservation programs that put special consideration on the value of trees in energy conservation.
• Arbor Day celebration sponsorship at the community level.
Smith named to post at U.S. Cellular
Brittany Smith has been appointed administrative coordinator for the directors of sales for company-owned and agent U.S. Cellular stores in New England, according to a news release from the company.
Smith is responsible for administrative and general business support, facilitating the schedule and coordination of all administration-related projects, and creating established reports. Smith will work at the company’s regional business office in South Portland, although her territory includes Augusta and Waterville.
Smith joined U.S. Cellular in 2006 as a retail wireless consultant. Most recently, she served as the administrative coordinator for the company-owned retail area sales managers in New England. Smith, of Brunswick, attends Southern New Hampshire University, pursuing a degree in business administration.
Gardiner man promoted at Cross Insurance
Eric Jermyn, of Gardiner, has been promoted to president of Cross Employee Benefits, according to a news release from Cross Insurance.
He will be based in Portland.
In this new role, Jermyn’s duties include the growth and maintenance of Cross Insurance’s benefits business, as well as profit and loss responsibilities for the company’s operations in Augusta, Lewiston, Portland, and Somersworth, New Hampshire.
An insurance industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience, Jermyn joined Cross Employee Benefits in 2015 as vice president of business development. Before joining Cross, he worked at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine as director of large group sales. For most of his insurance career, Jermyn worked in partnership with Cross and other brokers in the state.
Active in the community, Jermyn has served on the Kennebec Valley Chamber Board since 2010, elected as the chamber board chairman for 2016. Jermyn also is the vice chairman and finance committee chairman of School Administrative District 11, serving Gardiner, Pittston, Randolph and West Gardiner.
Jermyn is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in humanities and social science.
FairPoint launches grant program for nonprifits
FairPoint Communications recently unveiled FairPoint Connected Communities, a program recognizing nonprofit organizations dedicated to connecting and serving Maine residents and communities, according to a news release from the company.
Three nonprofit organizations will be selected to receive $16,000 each and a technology package valued up to $1,000. Applications are being accepted through June 16.
FairPoint Communications invites any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Maine to apply to be one of three FairPoint Connected Communities recipients. The application, which can be found at www.fairpoint.com/connectedcommunities/apply, requires a short narrative on how the organization connects people and improves the lives of residents within their communities, and how use of the internet contributes to their mission.
FairPoint Communications plans to announce the winners in early July and visit each organization to present the awards throughout the summer.
Compiled from contributed releases
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