The Buzz: Just Mystic relocates
firm in 1967, taking over ownership in 1982. Randy and his wife, Lee, moved their family to the area in 1967, and his daughter Janet became an additional owner after joining the agency in 1993.
Just Mystic apparel brand, known for its sporty coastal-casual wear, has relocated to 33 W. Main Street in downtown Mystic. Designed by Just Mystic Creative Director Amanda Cummings, the brand’s new storefront was built out by local craftsman Dan Heine to carry out Cummings’ vision for a nautically elevated retail space.
The new flagship store was meant to evoke “the spirit of Mystic as a sailing and shipbuilding hub,” according to a release. “Location-based brands tend to represent the culture, community and history of a given place,” said Just Mystic CEO Robert Nelson,
“and that’s what we strive to do here at Just Mystic.”
One of the signature elements of the new store is its permanent photo booth, now live and functional, inviting guests to document their experience in the space as they browse clothing and accessories such as pre-shrunk cotton terry crewnecks, boxy-cropped graphic tees, shoulder-length canvas tote bags, premium lightweight pickleball paddles, and more.
Just Mystic was founded by Mystic locals and sibling duo Robert Nelson and Amanda Cummings in 2021. The store is open seven days a week (11-6 on weekdays; 10:30-7 on weekends). Just Mystic will host its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony in May. Follow @justmysticbrand on Instagram for more updates and information.
Another store in town, Holistic in Mystic,a
woman-owned wellness store in Olde Mistick Village, will hold a ribbon cutting from 6 to
7:30 p.m. April 24 to celebrate its 10th anniversary, hosted by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce.
With a core value of providing a safe space for self-expression, Holistic in Mystic offers handmade one-of-a-kind jewelry, art, home décor, fair trade items, and other unique organic goodies. For information about the event, email meganyardis@mysticchamber.org.
Better Together CT Inc. Farm & Sanctuary in North Stonington has been named a runner-up of Hipcamp’s Best in State award celebrating the the top-performing Hipcamp hosts and their properties.
Better Together Farm is just miles from the coast and nearby attractions such as the Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium, offering 33 acres of trails, stone walls, and native serpentine designs. Hike to Tipping Rock, a local historical 1700s landmark, and nearby Lantern Hill.
Dr. Stefana Pecher, who runs Organic Green Farm Retreat, commented, “How wonderful it is to be awarded and be recognized for our beautiful retreat. As a Hipcamp host, I look forward to sharing this beautiful land with future Hipcampers as well as returning ones.”
In honor of Community Banking Month in April, Chelsea Groton Bank and the Independent Community Bankers of America highlighted the impact of local banks on their communities.
Collectively, community banks give more than 60% of all small-business loans and more than 80% of agriculture loans nationwide, according to Lori Dufficy, chief experience and engagement officer at Chelsea Groton. They also give back to their communities as reflected in ICBA’s National Community Bank Service Awards.
The Connecticut Sun has announced a partnership with BlueForge Alliance to focus on promoting career opportunities across the nation’s Submarine Industrial Base, reinvigorating America’s manufacturing workforce; and as a national call-to-action with BuildSubmarines.com.
As the first “Official Free Throw Circle Sponsor” of the Connecticut Sun, BFA will be highlighting the contributions of skilled tradeswomen already serving in the defense manufacturing workforce.
Throughout the 2024 season, BFA will aid the Connecticut Sun in its community efforts, most notably serving as the presenting partner of the Connecticut Sun’s Game-Action Give Back initiative “Free Throws for Change” that will have BFA donating $10 to Girls for Technology, a nonprofit created to provide women of color with entrepreneurial training.
On April 15, Dime Bank hosted its 155th annual meeting at Lake of Isles in North Stonington, with President and Chief Executive Officer Nick Caplanson sharing an overview of the bank’s performance in the 2023 calendar year as well as an outlook for 2024.
The bank also announced that local residents Attorney Jonathan Lane and Cheryl Calderado have been elected to serve as corporators of the bank. Lane is a partner at the law firm Mariani Reck Lane LLC in New London, practicing almost exclusively in the area of civil litigation. He has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career including: Super Lawyers Rising Star (2019), Super Lawyers (2022, 2023), The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 (2019, 2024) and Best Lawyers (2021, 2022, 2023).
Attorney Lane graduated from Norwich Free Academy before going on to earn his B.S. in Applied Economics from Ithaca College and his J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law.
Calderado is the recently retired Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, of Dime Bank. Her retirement at the end of 2023 marked the culmination of her 17 years at Dime and a 45-year career in banking. Cheryl graduated from Eastern CT State University in 1983 with an A.S. in Business Administration. Cheryl is also a graduate of the CT School of Finance and Management, where she later served as Chairman, Management Development Committee.
The Connecticut Land Conservation Council has named the winners of the 2024 Excellence in Conservation Awards. Winners were Peter B. Cooper, honored with the first Peter B. Cooper Award for Excellence in Conservation Law; Barton Jones, Katchen Coley Award for Excellence in Conservation; Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy, Excellence in Conservation Organization Award; Aspetuck Land Trust, Special Recognition of Reggy Saint Fortcolin , Excellence in Community Engagement Award, and Hiram Williams, Conservation Hero.
For more information about the awards and the recipients’ contributions to conservation in Connecticut, visit https://ctconservation.org/ awards/awards-2024/.
Chamber News
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut announces the second annual Access Health CT Connecticut Small Business Summit will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at the Mystic Marriott in Groton.
Networking, food, panel discussions, and free 1-on-1 consulting will be offered. To register, visit https://www.ctsmallbusinesssummit. com/.
Keynote speakers are U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney , D-2nd District, and Fran Pastore, founder and CEO of the Women’s Businesss Development Council. Panel topics include employee health and wellness, marketing and measuring impact, and accessing capital and small business financing.
In lieu of a registration fee, AHCT Small Business is asking attendees to make a donation of any size to Connecticut Foodshare. Breakfast and lunch will be served. The event will conclude with a speed networking vendor expo.
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut had to reschedule a Business Luncheon featuring Gov. Ned Lamont to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday April 30, at Ocean Beach Park , 98 Neptune Ave, New London.
“Early Bird” registration before April 25 will cost Chamber members $40 and nonmembers $50.
Lamont, currently serving his second term, will discuss his objective to grow Connecticut’s economy, providing long-term solutions to strengthen the state’s fiscal position and attracting the next generation of talent to Connecticut.This event offers a Q&A session following his keynote presentation.
State news
Members of the School Indoor Air Quality Working Group joined together this month in Hartford to highlight recent progress on addressing school issues in Connecticut, including the establishment of a grant program under the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services to reimburse school districts for costs associated with school HVAC upgrades.
A total of $450 million has been approved by the Connecticut General Assembly for fiscal years 2023-2025, with DAS expected to announce the second round of HVAC grants in the coming weeks.
The Buzz is a weekly roundup of business news compiled by Business Editor Lee Howard. To get in The Buzz, email businessbriefs@theday.com. To easily access urls cited in print, go to www.theday. com and type “The Buzz” into the search bar.