Serena Sanborn, Waterville Creates’ education and outreach coordinator, was honored May 1 with the Art Educator of the Year Award by the Maine Art Education Association.

Sanborn received the Art Educator of the Year Award in the Supervisory category. A formal, statewide recognition ceremony took place virtually. The association is a statewide professional organization whose members are committed to excellence in visual arts education.

Waterville Creates develops and delivers a wide array of arts education and outreach programs that serve Waterville area residents and their families. It works with a host of organizational partners to maximize its reach and ensure access for a broad array of community members.

Led by Sanborn, Waterville Creates reimagined existing programs and developed new initiatives to keep the community connected and engaged in the arts through the pandemic and the unprecedented challenges it presented. Sanborn virtually hosted numerous art classes and camps through its Facebook page, spearheaded the collaborative Art Kits for All program, which has distributed more than 3,500 art kits to area families, and hosted video series, On the Road.

More recently Sanborn worked with partners to develop a new online format for the existing teen program, SLICE (Students Learning Innovative Creative Endeavors), which highlights different media, institutions and career paths in the arts. Teen participation in SLICE has dramatically increased with the new virtual format because the barrier of transportation has been removed.

“Virtual SLICE is just one of the many ways in which Serena identified a distinct challenge and reimagined it in a creative and accessible way. She is a powerhouse of enthusiasm and joy,” said Patricia King, vice president of Waterville Creates, according to the release.

“We are thrilled that the Maine Arts Education Association is recognizing Serena for her tremendous accomplishments bringing art into the lives of all Central Maine community residents and families,” said Shannon Haines, president and CEO of Waterville Creates.

Also, before its name change, Waterville Creates! received the 2021 Excellence in Arts Advocacy Award from the association at the statewide Youth Art Month recognition ceremony which took place virtually on March 13, hosted by the Portland Museum of Art.

Bangor Savings Bank recognized by J.D. Power

BANGOR — For the sixth time in the past seven years, Bangor Savings Bank received the highest ranking in customer satisfaction in the New England region for the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction StudySM. This is the fourth consecutive year Maine’s largest bank has been rated best in the region for customer satisfaction by customers for J.D. Power’s annual study.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by our customers as delivering the highest level of satisfaction in New England, especially during a year of extraordinary hardships,” said Bangor Savings Bank President and CEO Bob Montgomery-Rice, according to a news release from the band. “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and focus our entire team has on our customers’ experiences, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

With an index score of 861, the bank scored 53 points higher than the regional average. In addition to the top overall ranking, the bank achieved the highest score in the following categories: Product and Fees; Convenience; Communication and Advice; and now the Most Trusted Retail Bank in New England.

Maine Tourism Association announces Hall of Fame inductee

HALLOWELL  — The Maine Tourism Association has announced Chris Fogg is this year’s inductee into the association’s Hall of Fame. Fogg was inducted posthumously as he passed away unexpectedly last September.

MTA’s Hall of Fame was created to recognize outstanding individuals who through their leadership, dedication and professionalism have made significant and sustained contributions to the tourism industry in Maine. Every year one member of the association is chosen to be inducted at MTA’s annual meeting. This year’s meeting was held virtually May 3 as part of the Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

Fogg served as the CEO of MTA for five years and was the executive director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that he worked for the State Chamber of Commerce in Vermont.

“Chris was a hard-working, positive and enthusiastic champion of the industry,” said Tony Cameron, CEO of the Maine Tourism Association. “He was an exceptional leader, mentor and friend; and we are honored to have him in our Hall of Fame.”

The annual meeting also included the election of new board members Brian Bickford, executive director of the Maine State Golf Association, and Curt Dale Clark, artistic director of the Maine State Music Theatre. Rick Martin of the Olympia Companies takes over duties as chair of the board for the next two years. He replaces Rick Snow of Snow Enterprises, LLC, who served for the past two years.

Fontaine Family Team celebrates 2020 award recipients

Fontaine Family – The Real Estate Leader held its 2020 Awards Ceremony partially by Zoom as well as in-person at both locations in Auburn and Scarborough in order to keep the gatherings smaller in size.

To bring smiles, laughter and enjoyment during these crazy times, team members Cindy Morin, Lisa Collins, Dave Foster and Steve Miller volunteered to be entertainers and there were also drawings for gift cards throughout the event.

Foster and Michelle Gosselin both received the Rookie of the year award. Sally Christner received the five-year milestone award.

The #1 Agent Team Award went to Charmaine Raby and Michelle Gosselin with 60 Closed Units.

The Top 5 Producers were Clayton Larochelle, Bill Bergeron, Kelly Webb, Cindy Morin and Maria Morrissette.

Other Multi-million-dollar producers were Teri Campbell, Foster, Pat Long Cressey, Paul Rondeau, Mary Ellen Burgess, Chad Doucette, Gail LaPrino, Tim Cyr, Kathy Lee Cook and Nick Blais.

Fontaine Family Team serves eight counties, Androscoggin, Cumberland, York, Sagadahoc, Oxford, Kennebec, Franklin and Somerset.

Skowhegan Savings gives grant to Jackman Community Health Center

BANGOR — A generous grant from Skowhegan Savings Bank will make needed upgrades at the Jackman Community Health Center over the next five years.

The $25,000 grant awarded last month will be used for both equipment replacements and upgrades needed to support day-to-day operations at the clinic. These are critical needs, as Penobscot Community Health Care’s Jackman location is the only medical center in the area, with the next closest local hospital many miles. The health center provides both primary care and some acute walk-in services.

“This award is a shining example of how Skowhegan Savings is committed to strengthening and enhancing the communities where our patients live, work and raise their families,” said Heather Blackwell, director of Grants and Development, according to a news release from the bank.

“We understand the ongoing necessity of supporting the need for maintaining medical care and emergency services in the greater Jackman area,” said David Cyr, president and CEO of Skowhegan Savings Bank. “Penobscot Community Health has worked hard over the years to keep the Jackman Health Center open and these services are going to ensure that local residents don’t have to travel nearly 50 miles to get immediate medical care that they need.”

Skowhegan Savings also donated $25,000 to the health center for renovations in 2017 and recently made a $10,000 donation to the Town of Jackman Community Health Advisory Team to help lower the cost to taxpayers for a new program that elevates medical delivery by using specially trained and certified paramedics.

Among the equipment upgrades to PCHC’s Jackman facility supported by the latest grant are a replacement server and laptops; an audiometer (for hearing tests); an aspirator suction machine and a new “crash cart” for emergency situations.

Camden National Bank makes Forbes List

CAMDEN — Forbes recently announced its 2021 list of World’s Best Banks, and this year’s rankings include Camden National Bank in the top 10 of the 75 U.S. banks being recognized. For its list of the World’s Best Banks, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista, surveying more than 43,000 customers around the globe for their opinions on their current and former banking relationships. Banks were rated on general satisfaction, how likely customers were to recommend them, and key attributes like trust, fees, digital services and financial advice.

“This exciting recognition is a testament to our entire team’s hard work and steadfast commitment to delivering a better banking experience for our customers,” said Greg Dufour, president and CEO of the bank. “In the wake of a complex and challenging year for communities near and far, I’m very proud of how our employees stepped up and worked together, so we could go above and beyond for our customers when they needed us most. Our resiliency and adaptability has prepared us to navigate 2021 with optimism.”

In 2020, Camden National Bank reported record customer satisfaction scores: 8 out of 10 consumer customers responded as very likely to recommend Camden National Bank to friends and family, a strong indicator of satisfaction and loyalty. For its dedication to continuously enhancing the customer experience, the bank also received the 2020 Greenwich Customer Experience Leader Award in both U.S. Retail Banking (for the third year in a row) and U.S. Commercial Small Business Banking.

For more business news, visit CentralMaine.com.

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