THE BUZZ ESSEX SAVINGS BANK GIVING OUT $110,000 BASED ON CUSTOMER BALLOTS

Essex Savings Bank has announced its allocations for local nonprofits benefiting from its Community Investment Program based on customer ballot preferences. This year, as in 27 other years of voting, Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries was the top vote-getter, receiving $9,706 in allocations.

The balloting ran Feb. 1-28, and 84 qualified nonprofit organizations were eligible. This year, the bank is giving away almost $110,000.

Other Top 10 recipients and their award amounts were: Forgotten Felines, $5,901; High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, $3,481; Essex Fire Engine Company #1, $3,039; Vernon A Tait All-Animal Adoption, Preservation, and Rescue Fund, $2,832; Bikes for Kids, $2,714; A Little Compassion/The Nest Coffee House, $2,655; Estuary Council of Seniors, $2,537; Lyme Ambulance Association, $2,154, and Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley, $2,154.

Also topping $2,000 in giving were Old Lyme Fire Department, Old Saybrook Fire Department, CT Cancer Foundation and Essex Ambulance Association.

For more information, visit www.essexsavings.com.

RECOGNITION

Chris Jewell and McKennas Flower Shop have been selected to receive the 2023 Ron Aliano Service Award for their distinguished service in the development of the City of Norwich. Their achievements will be celebrated at a ceremony 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1, as part of the annual fireworks silent auction fundraiser at the Marina at the Holiday Inn. Tickets, at $40 a person, benefit the Norwich Harbor Fourth of July Fireworks and can be purchased online at GoNorwichCT.com or in the Facebook event.

Additionally, Celia Siefert has been chosen to receive the Norwich Events Organization’s newest award, the Jason Vincent Memorial Service Award. McKenna’s Flower Shop is owned by Michael Rankowitz.

USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards has named Mystic one of the top vacation destinations nationwide this summer.

In its “The Top Ten: Best Summer Travel Destinations” list released last month, Mystic wound up No. 4 in the nation based on reader votes. That makes it the only New England destination to make the top 10.

The No. 1 destination was Mackinac Island, Michigan, followed by Mobile, Ala., and Door County, Wisc. Others in the Top 10 included Chicago, Ill.; Hocking Hills, Ohio; Crystal River, Ohio; Asheville, N.C.; Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk, N.Y., and Shenandoah Valley, Va.

Lisa F. Amanti, a 2002 graduate of Waterford High School, as well as a 2006 graduate of Providence College and 2009 graduate of Suffolk Law School, has been named by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association as an HBA Rising Star. Amanti leads legal initiatives related to data governance and consumer privacy at athenahealth.

The Rising Stars honor recognizes outstanding performance, commitment to excellence, and valuable contributions to their company’s success. Amanti as executive director, assistant general counsel, leads legal initiatives related to data governance and consumer privacy.

She is the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Amanti of New London.

The Connecticut Green Bank has announced that an energy efficiency and solar project at Mystic Aquarium has won its Outstanding Project Award for 2022.

“The Green Bank recognizes Mystic Aquarium for its innovation and collaboration to accomplish its efficiency and sustainability goals at the aquarium,” the organization said in