Acquisitions

Lucas Tree Experts, a third-generation vegetation management company, is acquiring Carter Utility Tree Services, based in Mount Airy, North Carolina. The company provides vegetation management services along with power line and transmission right-of-way clearance to a variety of electric utilities. Lucas Tree Experts sold its lawncare and residential tree service in 2021 to focus on its vegetation management business for the electric utility market. This is the second utility-focused acquisition in the last year for the Maine company.

Recognition

Harrington

Pete Harrington, a partner and associate broker at Malone Commercial Brokers has been honored with the Maine Commercial Association 2022 Realtor of the Year Award. Harrington has been in retail leasing and sales of commercial property in the greater Portland area since 1996. In 2022, he placed tenants Harbor Fish, Rosemont Market, Burano’s Woodfired Pizzeria, Raise Playspace, Stretch Lab  and Maniac Community Fitness at Firehouse Village in Scarborough, and he brokered sales transactions, including 30 Exchange St. for $2.4 million.

Camden National Bank has been named “Best Places to Work in Maine” for the second year in a row. The survey and awards program identifies and recognizes the state’s best employers.

Hires, promotions, appointments

Lauren O’Reilly is temporarily taking over day-to-day duties at Chocolate Church Arts Center in Bath after William Lederer stepped down as executive director, effective Aug. 20.

Crayton

Elisabeth A. Fontugne, a litigation attorney with the largest civil defense firm in Florida, has been hired by Petruccelli, Martin & Haddow.

Hannah Crayton is OceanView at Falmouth’s first sustainability coordinator. Crayton will be expanding OceanView’s solar power infrastructure, expanding the menu of locally-sourced foods and environmentally-friendly cleaning products, and continuing a robust recycling and compost program. She is becoming Building Performance Institute-certified to further her expertise in sustainable building practices and solutions.

Granted

The Maine Justice Foundation has awarded grants from its Racial Justice Fund to seven Maine groups:

• Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, to support a new fellowship opportunity for law school students who identify as immigrants.
•  Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center iEnglish Project to provide more language training to non-English speaking Black, Indigenous and people of color.
•  In Her Presence Bridge Career Fulfillment Program
• Indigo Arts Alliance
• Ladder to the Moon Network, to support Amjambo Africa by increasing materials printed in seven languages and adding distribution sites.
• Maine Inside Out, to support arts and advocacy-based leadership development programs for youth of color who have been in Maine’s juvenile and criminal justice systems.
• Mindbridge Healing Racial Trauma Initiative

Maine Fire Service Institute, based in South Portland, will receive $108,608 for firefighter turnout gear, portable radios and training props and equipment in the second round of fiscal year 2021 grant funding from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

Giving back

Saco & Biddeford Savings contributed $25,000 to The LifeFlight Foundation’s “Complete the Fleet” campaign to bring an upgraded critical care helicopter to the people of Maine.