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01/24/2010 11:00 PM

Business and Organization Updates

• Acara Partners, 500 East Main Street, Suite 216, Branford, generated more than $1.5 million in education event sales for its clients in a six-month period. Acara Partners is an aesthetic medical practice and medspa consulting firm.

• Blend for Kids in Branford, a creative wellness center for children and families, celebrated its one-year anniversary with a celebration in conjunction with the fifth annual Connecticut Open House Day. For more info, visit www.blendforkids.com.

• Seven Branford Board of Education (BOE) members, a student board member, and the district superintendent of schools attended the 2009 Connecticut Association of Boards of Education/Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents convention in Groton. Participants included Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Halligan, student board member Jenna Grande, and BOE members Chairman Frank Carrano, Vice Chair David Squires, Secretary Judy Hotz, Susan Wharfe, Mario Sabatini, Joanne Borrus, and John Prins.

• Brewer Bruce & Johnson's Marina in Branford, as part of Brewer Yacht Yards, recently celebrated its 45th anniversary. The marina also signed the Connecticut Clean Marinas' "Clean Marina Pledge."

• Giordano Construction Co., Inc., of Branford has completed its first utility installation project at Yale University, using trenchless technology. Giordano installed utilities, going from the Peabody Museum and Kline Geology laboratory buildings, across Whitney Avenue, to feed an existing building that will be retrofitted for Yale's human resources services. For more info, call 203-488-7264 or visit www.giordanoconstruction.com.

• The Orchard House Medical Adult Day Center offers painting and craft lessons.

• Northford Women's Club GFWC/CT Charity Raffle Winners: first prize (handmade sampler quilt)–Carol Censki; second prize (man's Citizen watch)—Jason Ryszczyk; third prize (handmade, beveled, stained glass panel)—Rose Lynch; fourth prize ($50 Bobby's Pizza gift certifcate)—Paula Morris; and fifth prize ($30 Supreme Seafood Restaurant gift certificate)—Florence Pierson.

• St. Mary Church of Branford's Pro Life Ministry participated in 40 Days for Life, a national pro-life campaign in which people prayed, fasted, and participated in peaceful vigils at an abortion clinic in Hartford. For more info, visit www.40daysforlife.com or www.prolifeministry.org.

• Branford-based Sunrise Birding, LLC, was the only American bird tour company to show at the 2009 British Birdwatchin Fair.

Awards, Grants, and Recognitions

• CommuniCare, Inc. (CCI), a regional behavioral health care partnership between Harbor Health Services, Inc. (HHSI), of Branford; Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc. , of Ansonia; and Bridges...A Community Support System, Inc., of Milford, has received a four-year, $2 million federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant to support primary health care and mental health services integration at each of the CCI partner agencies. For more info, contact HHSI CEO Roberta Cook at 203-483-2630 or visit www.harborhealthservices.org.

• Coldwell Banker Real Estate, LLC, with an office in Branford, was ranked highest among real estate companies in satisfying home sellers, according to J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller Study.

• Controlled Air, Inc. (CAI), 21 Thompson Road, Branford, received the Johnson Controls Award for a Leader in Innovation for the Northeast Region. CAI was recognized for its innovation in business and its dedication to green building technology. For more info, contact Kendra Arnold at CAI at 505-690-5709 or karnold@controlledair.com.

• East Shore Animal Hospital (ESAH) of Branford, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, has received American Animal Hospital Association accreditation. Only 15 percent of small animal veterinary practices in the U.S. earn this distinction. ESAH is located at 50 North Main Street. For more info, visit www.eastshorevet.com.

• Harbor Health Services, Inc., was awarded $78, 545 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Continuum of Care grant program. The funds will be used to help place Connecticut's homeless residents in permanent and transitional housing, as well as for support services for homeless individuals, including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and child care.

• The "J-Team" from Jiffy Lube store no. 1103, 322 West Main Street, Branford, placed in the top 10 in the U.S. after three rounds in the Jiffy Lube International J-Team All Stars competition. The contest entailed teams from across the country and Canada's participating in a series of service competitions. The Branford-based J-Team included Customer Service Advisor Jamell Sowell, Courtesy Technician Tristian Gold, Lower Bay Technician Andrew Velez, Upper Bay Technician Anita Rak, and Team Leader Chris Hood (who also owns the service center, Hoods Up, LLC). Charitable Contributions

• The Branford Fire Department Explorers recently volunteered to participate in the Veteran's Outreach program's Take a Vet Fishing initiative.

• Brandfon Honda in Branford provided shuttle transportation for the recent Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Jail-a-thon to raise money for MDA research. The event took place at Campania Ristorante in Branford.

• David Brown of Branford's Brown and Knap, LLC, was one of the sponsors of Teddy Bear Outreach Program, which delivers teddy bears to 3rd-grade children in the greater New Haven area during the holiday season. Through the program, more than 500 teddy bears are distributed each year to children in the New Haven schools, the Clifford Beers Clinic, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Hospital of St. Raphael Children's Ward.

• Evergreen Woods Retirement Community donated the proceeds from its 15th annual Holiday Craft Fair, including $2,113 to the North Branford Food Bank and $2,200 to the Branford Community Dining Room. More than 10 cases of food was also donated.

• First Baptist Church of Branford raised $5,400 through its Walk for Water to build a well for an African community through the international Christian relief organization World Vision.

• First Congregational Church in Branford recently sponsored a week-long dental mission to provide care to impoverished children and adults in Ecuador through its Adopta Una Familia project. Among the participants were Branford general dentist Dr. Robert Hacker and dental assistant Sara Wolfeym.

• Students at John B. Sliney Elementary School contributed to peace efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan through its Pennies for Peace Campaign, inspired by Greg Mortensen's book Three Cups of Tea. Sundae Pekar spearheaded the effort, which was brought to her attention by 4th-grade teacher Tina Iaccarino and endorsed by the Parent Teacher Association. Students collected pennies in each Sliney classroom and TD Bank provided a free penny arcade to count the money.

• Weichert Shoreline Properties, 707 Main Street, Branford, "adopted" the island between its office and St. Mary Church, naming it Weichert's Island. Employees planted mums from Vaiuso Farms in Branford and ornamental cabbage on the island, which was prepared for planting by the Branford Public Works Department.