SCORE OFFERS A SEMINAR TO HELP PROVIDE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT SUPPORT

SCORE of Eastern Connecticut will presents a free small business webinar titled “Is Being a Virtual Assistant for You?” from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, via Zoom.

Pre-registration is required at https://easternct.score.org/.

Productivity expert Belinda Sandor will lead the discussion about what’s involved and the steps necessary to move into this growing field.

A virtual assistant provides administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients. But, instead of working full time for one person or organization, he or she works “virtually” (usually from home), providing these same types of services to a range of clients.

Sandor, a 13-year virtual assistant veteran, is the founder of The VA Connection, a professional online community that works to teach people how to build thriving businesses so that they can be self-reliant business owners. Her community has over 28,000 members represented in 47 countries. Learn more at https://rocketgirlsolutions.com/meet-rocketgirl/about-belinda-wasser/.

People & Places

The Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce

presents “Starry Lights” in downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck through Jan 30. This display features over 100 warm white light stars in trees and in building storefronts along with nine star-themed sculptures. Sculptures can all be seen by car but are best appreciated up close, at Donahue Park in Pawcatuck, as well as Veterans Memorial Park and Hoof’s Restaurant.

In Westerly, stars can be seen at the Westerly Library Esplanade, and Westerly Train Station.

For more information, visit starrylights.org or contact Lisa Konicki at lkonicki@oceanchamber. org.

The Waterford Regional Lions Club has nominated Anne Ogden as the statewide organization’s Humanitarian of the Year.

The local Lions Club, led by president Joanne S. Davis, described Ogden as having an “unwavering enthusiasm for community service.” She had a hand as manager of the operation in the dramatic transformation of the Waterford Community Food Bank, expanding the stock to include healthy perishable food, personal hygiene items, diapers, baby formula, cleaning supplies, and other necessities not included in the state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

In addition to her work with Rotary, she has been a Board of Education member, Waterford Rotary Club president, member of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and both the Eastern Connecticut Association of Homebuilders and the Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors. She has been actively involved as a leader, member, and/or volunteer in 12 to 15 organizations every year.

Ogden organized the annual Dictionary Project to provide a dictionary for every third grade student in Waterford schools. She leads the Student Awards recognition for middle school students. Veterans receive food bags as Ogden’s way of honoring them and reassuring them that they are not forgotten.

Bank rating firm BauerFinancial Inc. has announced that Chelsea Groton Bank has earned its highest, 5-Star rating for 119 consecutive quarters, including the most recent period. Chelsea Groton Bank has also earned a “Best of Bauer Bank” designation, which is reserved solely for those banks that have earned and maintained Bauer’s 5-Star Rating for financial strength and stability for 25 years (100 consecutive quarters), or longer.

This latest rating was assigned in December 2023 based on Sept. 30 financial data. The Bank holds 20.1% of the deposit market share in New London County, more than any other financial institution with a physical location in the footprint, including national and regional banks.

SCORE Eastern CT will host a free webinar On "Sustainable Success: Laying the Groundwork for the Future” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, on Zoom.

To register, visit https:// www.score. org/easternct.

Aaron Friedman, founder at Guideposts, will speak about the importance of early and strategic planning for business owners. After years of hard work, facing challenges like pandemics, and building a profitable business, the focus shifts to

reaping the rewards of your labor. This involves understanding the value of your business, identifying potential buyers, and navigating compromises for a successful outcome.

Friedman is a seasoned business leader with over two decades of experience in operational transformation to boost performance through increased revenue, lowered operating costs, improved customer satisfaction, and workforce productivity. His track record includes strategically guiding companies of all sizes through mergers, acquisitions, and exit planning.

Chamber news

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is inviting the community to a Business Before Hours hosted by Mystic & Noank Library from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. The event is free to the public and you may register on the Mystic Chamber website at www.mysticchamber.org or at the door but pre-registration is encouraged.

For information, call Krysta Murray, membership manager, at (860) 572-9578, ext. 2, or email at krystamurray@mysticchamber.org.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce welcomes the community to a Business After Hours hosted by Palmer’s Provisions and Pizza on Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event is $10 for members and $25 for non-members, including a drink ticket and appetizers.

Tickets can be purchased on the Mystic Chamber website at www.mysticchamber.org or at the door but pre-registration is encouraged.

There will be a business card raffle prize, opportunities to network with the local business community and announcements to learn about the upcoming year at Palmer’s along with Chamber events.

Tenants & Landlords

The interest rate for rental security deposits in Connecticut has been set at 0.55% by the state banking commissioner. The deposit index is used to determine the interest rates required by statute to be paid for various accounts, including security deposits for rental housing.

The state Department of Banking’s website includes a section dedicated to rental security deposit issues, including a listing of previous interest rates, at www.ct.gov/ dob. For further information, contact the Department of Banking at (860) 240-8170.

A sign-up form is available for those who would like to subscribe to updates regarding the interest rate for rental security deposits. This form is found at https:// portal.ct.gov/DOB/Rental-Security-Deposits/Rental-Security-Deposits/Deposit-Index-and-Interest-Rates.

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Lee Howard compiles briefs on a weekly basis. Go online to access links to each of the websites and emails mentioned.