The Buzz: Montville Florist a small biz champion

Montville Florist in Uncasville is among 25 small businesses recognized as winners of Citizens Bank's eighth annual Small Business Community Champion Award based on their commitment to support their communities. This year, honorees received $10,000 each in addition to a one-year membership to Luminary, a global education and networking platform that uplifts and upskills professionals and entrepreneurs. The award winners are from New England, Michigan, Pennsylvania and the New York City metro area. Other nearby winners included Precious Treasures Academy of East Haven, Precision Cleaning of New England LLC in Cranston, R.I, and The Academy of Martial Arts & Personal Development in Manchester. Learn more about the program at www.citizensbank.com. People & Places The Blue Door Foundation in Niantic will be hosting a grand opening of its new location at 170 Flanders Road at Midway Plaza in Niantic on May 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at noon. The nonprofit, with about 40 volunteers, serves the entire region and helps provide donated medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers free to those in need. For information, visit thebluedoorfoundation.org or call 860-333-7651. At Jewett City Savings Bank's 152nd annual meeting of corporators last month, President & CEO Michael Alberts revealed the bank's profit reached nearly $4 million last year and introduced Daniel Barrett of Lisbon as a new corporator. Barrett is a property owner and manager who has strong knowledge of the housing industry and Fair Housing practices. He is a graduate of Campbell University-Buise Creek in North Carolina and volunteers his time coaching youth sports. Jewett City Savings is a mutual savings bank operating full-service offices in Jewett City, Brooklyn, Dayville, Pawcatuck, Plainfield, Preston, and Putnam with online banking services at JCSBank.com. On Friday, April 25, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation awarded $106,169 in grants to 46 organizations to expand regional programs in support of children, families, and community economic development.The celebration took place at the Chamber office/Regional Innovation Center in the form of check presentations. The 2025 recipients and their respective allocations are: Always Home, Inc., $2,000; Anchor of Hope, $1,000; Care and Share of East Lyme, Inc., $3,060; Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, Inc., $2,500; Covenant to Care for Children, Inc., $2,000; Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, $2,000; Eastern Connecticut Ballet, $1,000; Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board, $5,000; Friends of the Canterbury Public Library, $1,000; Goodspeed Opera House Foundation, Inc., DBA Goodspeed Musicals, $1,000; Goodwill of Southern New England, $1,000; The Granite Theatre, $1,000; Groton Community Meals, $2,500; Health Education Center, $2,500; High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., $2,000; Higher Edge, $2,000, and Horizons, Inc., $2,400. Also, Hygienic Art, Inc., $750; Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, $2,500; La Grua Center, $1,500; Lyman Allyn Art Museum, $1,500; Madonna Place, Inc., $3,000; National Coast Guard Museum Association, $5,000; New England Science & Sailing Foundation, $2,500; New London Homeless Hospitality Center, $2,500; New London Youth Affairs, $2,000; Noank Community Support Services, Inc., $1,500; Norwich Rotary Foundation, $1,000; Public Library of New London, $1,459; The Riverfront Children's Center, Inc., $2,250; S.T.E.P.S. Inc., $1,500; Safe Futures, Inc., $3,500, and Southeastern CT Robotics, Inc., $1,000. In addition, Stonington Community Center, $1,750; Thames River Community Service, Inc., $3,000; The Center: A Drop-In Community Learning and Resource Center, Inc., $2,500; The Light House Voc-Ed Center Inc., $2,500; The Salvation Army, $2,500; The Samaritan House Inc., $2,000; The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries, $1,000; Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group, Inc., $1,500; UCFS United Community and Family Services, $5,000; United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Eastern Connecticut, $2,000; United Way of Southeastern CT – Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center, $5,000, and United Way of Southeastern CT – Tommy Toy Fund, $10,000.To date, the foundation has distributed over $2.1 million in grants to eastern Connecticut nonprofits. The enrollment period for the annual grants cycle begins in the winter. To learn more, visit ChamberECT.com/Chamber-Foundation/. The Connecticut Sun announced a two-year partnership with Lux Bond & Green, naming it the Official Jeweler of the team for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The Sun and Lux Bond & Green will work together to promote player self-expression and fashion, with an emphasis on equity and access to luxury brands for the players. One of the key activations will include an editorial content series where players will be styled in their basketball gear alongside Lux Bond & Green jewelry. Lux Bond & Green will be the sponsor of the Sun's revamped Courtside Club. The club will feature Lux Bond & Green branding, creating an elevated space for courtside members to enjoy a luxury experience. With 127 years of continuous operation, Lux Bond & Green is of the longest-running singularly-owned jewelers in the United States, with locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information, visit lbgreen.com. The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Furniture Bank of Southeastern Connecticut to purchase beds for people in financial need. The furniture bank, originally an outreach of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry, has been providing beds and other furniture to people in financial need for 43 years. United Community and Family Services will hold a centennial celebration of the Sheltering Arms Residential Care Building from 7:45 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, at 165 McKinley Ave., Norwich. UCFS invites visitors to take a trip back in time to when the agency was called United Workers, Milo R. Walters was the mayor of Norwich, jazz was in full swing and the "Great Gatsby" was first published. A time capsule from 1925 will be opened, and breakfast will be served. RSVP to Pamela Allen Kinder at pkinder@ucfs.org or 860-822-4146. Uncas Health District is now enrolling residents in a free Tobacco Cessation Program delivered virtually via Zoom. Beginning Wednesday, May 14, and running for eight sessions over seven weeks, this initiative uses the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking curriculum to help participants prepare to quit and stay tobacco-free. The eight 90-minute sessions run at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Enrollment is limited; early registration is encouraged. Pre-registration is required. To secure your spot, email carolynwilsonwellness@gmail.com or call/text 860-400-2072. For the third year in a row, Eversource Energy has been recognized by USA TODAY and Statista Inc. as one of America's Climate Leaders for 2025, ranked #1 among energy companies and utilities nationwide for the highest core emissions reduction year-over-year. The USA TODAY list of America's Climate Leaders recognizes the top companies from across the United States that have achieved the greatest reduction in their operational emissions intensity between 2021 and 2023 – a measure of the amount of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases a company produces relative to its revenue. For more information, visit Eversource.com. Chamber news The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce recognized Jason Hine in the Community Proud series sponsored by CorePlus Credit Union. As the owner of The Ditty Bag, a zero waste market and cafe, Jason has been a driving force in the local sustainability movement, helping the community adopt zero waste living through education, innovative products, and advocacy. The Ditty Bag was born out of Jason's concern for climate change. He believed that having a store dedicated to sustainable products would help reduce plastic use in the area and inspire others to adopt eco-friendly habits. His business has since had a strong impact, helping customers transition to a zero waste lifestyle while educating them on how everyday products can lower their carbon footprint. Jason's passion for sustainability extends beyond his business. He has partnered with local organizations, including No Other Book Like This, a local bookstore, to host discussions with authors such as Briget Shirvell, who wrote "Parenting in a Climate Crisis." He also founded the Earth Day Expo, an annual event featuring 70 vendors, student panel discussions, and vegan food trucks held in the area each April. The Ditty Bag is the only host site in Mystic for Healthy PlanEat, an online farm store that allows customers to order CSAs and local farm products a-la-carte directly from the farms and then pick up their orders. The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut will recognize Mohegan Sun's president, Jeff Hamilton, as its 74th Citizen of the Year, during a formal celebration at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the casino's Earth Ballroom. This year's event will feature several signature elements, including a procession of past honorees, musical tribute performance, traditional blessing from former Citizen of the Year recipient Chief Many Hearts Lynn Malerba, remarks from Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Sun leadership as well as colleagues, and a legacy video presentation produced by regional video marketing agency Astor Place, Inc. For questions regarding the event, email events@chamberect.com. For more information, visit ChamberECT.com. The Griswold Inn will host New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Bostwick for a special Spring Literary Luncheonon Wednesday, June 4, 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. for an engaging event that includes an author keynote, followed by a Q&A session and book signing of "The Book Club for Troublesome Women." Set in suburban Virginia during the 1960s, the book follows the lives of four housewives living what appears to be the American Dream. However, each of them quietly yearns for something more. When they start a book club, they begin to question their roles, examine their dreams, and find the courage to seek change. Tickets are $65 and include lunch, a signed copy of the book, and the opportunity to connect with Marie Bostwick. Call The Gris Store, Good & Curiosities at 860-767-0210 for reservations. To learn more, visit griswoldinn.com. The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its Spring Manufacturing Career Fair from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, May 9, at Holiday Inn Norwich, 10 Laura Blvd. Employers can meet with 100+ students from area high schools who are participating in the Youth Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative at their school or who have an interest in a future career in manufacturing. For schools, students will have an opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals and may even land a job. For more information, contact angelaadams@Norwichchamber.com or call (860) 887-1647. Opportunities Chelsea Groton Bank is hosting a Career Fair for candidates interested in exploring potential careers in banking, as well as summer internships, on Tuesday, May 6, from 4 – 6 p.m . at the bank's Norwichtown Branch, 50 Town St., Norwich. To review open positions before attending, visit www.chelseagroton.com/Careers. For questions, contact Renee Simao at rsimao@chelseagroton.com. A free two-part Webinar Series on QuickBooks will be sponsored by SCORE at noon May 21-22 on Zoom. To register for the 90-minute sessions, visit https://www.score.org/easternct. Intuit ProAdvisor Elizabeth Santaus will lead both sessions, including part one, "Managing Your Business Finances with QuickBooks" and part two, "Choosing the Right QuickBooks After the Discontinuation of QuickBooks Pro, Premier, and Mac." In this follow-up webinar, Intuit's decision to discontinue QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier and Mac products will be addressed, as well as what options remain. A detailed guide to migrating from the Mac/Pro/Premier QuickBooks versions to QuickBooks Online will be made available to participants. There will be time for Q&A. For information, email Anne Driscoll, anne.driscoll@scorevolunteer.org. The Buzz is a free service of The Day. To submit, email businessbriefs@theday.com. 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