Claremont MakerSpace volunteers make quilts for families in need

Members of the Claremont MakerSpace’s Community Quilts made and donated nine quilts to Baby Steps Family Assistance, a Claremont-based nonprofit organization that distributes items to regional families in need. Group members spent about 30 hours to create each quilt, which are made from donated fabric, according to a news release from the Claremont MakerSpace. 

Since the group started meeting at the nonprofit organization in November, more than 60 people have volunteered their time to make the quilts. Collectively, they decided to make quilts for area organizations.

“Baby Steps does so much for Claremont and we are really impressed with the far reaching help they provide to struggling families and individuals across the region,” Tammie Davis, a member of the Claremont MakerSpace who helped make the quilts, said in the release.

The group is scheduled to meet from noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 and Saturday, April 26. More information can be found at claremontmakerspace.org. 

Awards, grants and other honors

Lebanon City Clerk/Tax Collector Jaseya Ewing has earned a Certified Municipal Clerk designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. The designation is awarded to municipal clerks who “complete demanding education requirements; and have a record of significant contributions to their local government, community and state,” according to a news release from the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., based organization.

The Upper Valley Aquatic Center earned a $25,000 grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center. The money will be used to install automatic controls on doors to make the facility more accessible to people with disabiliites, according to a news release from the White River Junction-based nonprofit organization. 

Banking hires and leadership changes

Hanover-based Ledyard Bank has hired Jo-Ann Church as its senior vice president and chief credit officer. Church was previously employed as senior vice president and senior credit officer at Northway Bank. 

Paul Kowalski, of Plymouth, Vt., has been promoted to branch relationship manager at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust’s Woodstock branch. Kowalski joined Bar Harbor as a personal banker in 2024 and was previously employed as a senior project Manager at the Springfield Regional Development Corp.

White River Junction resident Vreni Gust has been promoted to vice president, chief marketing officer at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. She was previously vice president, product & segment marketing manager and joined the company in 2016 when it was still known as Lake Sunapee Bank.

UVAC has new hew head swim coach

The Upper Valley Aquatic Center has hired Ian Quinn as its new head swim coach. Quinn comes to the White River Junction-based nonprofit organization after serving as associate head swim coach at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Coaches Patrick Foley, Signe Linville and Patrick Henry previously filled head coaching duties while the Upper Valley Aquatic Center conducted a nationwide search, according to a news release.

Business expansions, upgrades

Renovations began at the Claremont Hannaford’s, located at 220 Washington St., in March and are expected to be finished sometime this fall, according to a news release from the Scarborough, Maine-based grocery store chain. The store will remain open during the renovations.

Health care hires

Dartmouth Health hired the following providers this month:

Dartmouth Cancer Center: Ethan J. Cady, hematology/oncology. 

Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Heater Road: Joshua D. Cyphers, family medicine; and Christopher J. Vodila, sleep medicine.

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center: Lucila M. Fields, endocrinology — diabetes and metabolism.

New London Hospital: Christopher L. Toves, anesthesia.

Information for this column was compiled using news releases emailed to Valley News staff. Email business and nonprofit news to biznotes@vnews.com.