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Blumenfeld and Fleming of Montauk recently won several Hermes Creative Awards, an international competition for creative professionals judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.
The company won three gold medals and two honorable mentions for its work on the Allegria Hotel in Long Beach and won three gold medals for its ads and brochures for Southampton Hospital. Blumenfeld and Fleming also won a platinum award for its brochure for Erica Broberg Architect and platinum awards for the websites for Kelcoland.com and Oldworldmouldings.com.
The company also won a gold medal for a pro bono poster for Paddlers for Humanity.
Allstate Insurance Company has recognized Allstate exclusive agency owner Michael Haines of Wainscott for high standards in customer satisfaction, customer retention and profitable business growth, earning him an invitation to attend Allstate’s President’s Conference 2010. Mr. Haines’s agency, located at 3420 Montauk Highway in Wainscott, is now one of the top Allstate agencies in the nation in auto, property, commercial, power sports insurance and financial services sales, according to a press release issued by his office.
With his team of dedicated employees, Mr. Haines is focused on helping customers meet their protection and retirement needs while managing a successful small business, his press release says.
For more information, contact Michael Haines at 537-3540 or a066211@allstate.com
Bridge Bancorp Inc., the parent company of The Bridgehampton National Bank, today announced net income and earnings per share for the first quarter of 2010. Highlights for the quarter include: net income of $2.1 million or $.34 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2010; returns on average assets and equity of .95 percent and 14.96 percent, respectively; net interest income of $8.8 million, with a net interest margin of 4.34 percent; and recognized $.9 million gain from sales of securities.
Bridge Bancorp is also reporting average deposits of $808.5 million, a 17-percent increase from the first quarter of 2009, strong liquidity with higher levels of securities and a loan to deposit ratio of 55.6 percent and declared quarterly dividends of $.23 per share.
“The financial results, while lower than the comparable period in 2009, reflect a continuation of themes prevalent during this economic cycle. We again had strong fundamental growth in customers and deposits, while loan demand remained muted. Profitability was further impacted by the cost of the trust preferred securities issued in the fourth quarter of 2009. We believe this short-term impact on income should be balanced against the longer term potential of substantial growth in core deposits and the balance sheet strength derived from higher levels of capital and reserves. These positives provide the financial resources and liquidity necessary, to support our community banking mission and deliver value to our customers and shareholders,” President and CEO Kevin M. O’Connor was quoted as saying in a company press release.
Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was $2.1 million or $.34 per share, compared to $2.2 million or $.36 per share, for the same period in 2009. The decrease reflects a decline in net interest income and increased credit costs, partially offset by security gains.
“Our decisions this quarter, relating to liquidity deployment, security portfolio management and reserves reflect a cautiously optimistic view of market opportunities. Although actual loan growth has been minimal, inquiries from customers have increased which may translate into future loan activity. Our investment activities are consistent with a strategy of managing for the eventuality of higher interest rates,” Mr. O’Connor was quoted as saying. “Finally, the additional provisions for loan losses, again, increased our coverage ratio of reserves to loans. We believe given the economic and regulatory environment, these actions were prudent.”
Black Cat Books in Bridgehampton was poised to shutter its retail business at the end of the month, but things have changed.
Owner Dawn Hedberg said last week that she and her husband and business partner, Michael Kinsey, have renegotiated their lease with their landlord and are going to stay open for at least another year.
Ms. Hedberg said that the landlord gave her better terms and did not increase her rent.
The Rullman Corporation, whose chief executive officer is Thomas Phillips, according to the New York State Department of State, owns the building Black Cat is located in.
Ms. Hedberg said that the landlord’s deal was one she and her husband could not refuse. The lease extends through March 2011 and they also have the option of extending it to March 2012, she said.
Last month, Ms. Hedberg and Mr. Kinsey announced that they were going to close their store and operate online only. They said that the economy had severely impacted their business. But this week, Ms. Hedberg said she thinks business will pick up in the summertime.
Black Cat’s business in March and April was far better than expected, she said.
“We’ve had a lot of new people coming in, and people from our old location have rediscovered us,” Ms. Hedberg said.
On Saturday, May 29, from 2 to 6 p.m., Elie Tahari in East Hampton will host a trunk show to celebrate the debut of the Veronica Brett swimwear line created by Patricia Brett.
Learning of her breast cancer diagnosis in early 2002, Mr. Brett is now a survivor. One of the many ways she was able to overcome the disease was to give back to other women in becoming a leader in post mastectomy fashion, according to a press release issued by Elie Tahari. Ms. Brett created the acclaimed swimwear line “Veronica Brett” in memory of her eldest sister. The designs are meant to make breast cancer survivors feel empowered to once again wear a swimsuit and feel feminine.
Roy G. Geronemus, M.D. and the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York recently announced the opening in June of a new full-service Southampton branch: Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York East.
LSSC has been serving patients for the past 25 years. The Southampton office will be staffed year-round by Elliot T. Weiss M.D., a Harvard and Johns Hopkins trained board certified dermatologist who was fellowship trained at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York.
The Southampton office will specialize in dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, laser procedures and Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Skin Cancer. The facility will offer a wide variety of lasers for aging skin, wrinkles, birthmarks, tattoo removal, hair removal, body contouring, blood vessel removal, botox, fillers, brown spots, age spots, leg veins. All procedures are performed by Board Certified and Fellowship trained dermatologist.
The branch will be located at 325 Meeting House Lane, Building 1, Suite C. For more information, call 287-7307 or visit www.laserskinsurgery.com
J. Tortorella Custom Gunite Pools of Southampton has launched a new pool and surroundings monitoring service, which is being provided exclusively and free of charge to the company’s current service clients. By registering online and selecting which services they want performed, current clients can access the free monitoring service, which also encompasses monthly tips and advice for keeping their pools in peak, crystal clear condition and backyard surroundings in top shape.
“For almost three decades now, we have been an innovator in design, quality and energy efficient custom pools,” company president and founder John Tortorella was quoted as saying in a recent company press release. “We have won awards for our designs from premier institutions like the National Swimming Pool Institute and North East Spa & Pool Association, and have earned the confidence and referrals of our valued clients. We have always been a company that believes in doing everything we can for our customers. The free monitoring service is just another example of the value-added services we provide.”
In addition to its award-winning pool designs, J. Tortorella Custom Gunite Pools offers a full range of maintenance and related services, from weekly service, summer openings and winter closing services to winter service, power washing of decks and patios, system repairs, leak detection, pool heating repairs and replacements, home gas heating repairs and replacements, propane gas delivery, winter shrink wrap, spa sales and service and a full retail store catering to the needs of the East End’s pool owners.
For more information, visit www.tortorella.com, call 728-8000 or e-mail: info@tortorella.
Hamptons Creative Group is a new full-service boutique marketing agency specializing in helping businesses and creative entrepreneurs attract their ideal clients.
With more than 25 years of expertise in marketing and promotion, founder and CEO Linda Miller-Zellner, who has worked in Manhattan and lived in the Hamptons, understands how to create visibility, credibility and develop marketing campaigns that achieve business results, according to a press release issued by the company.
For more information, visit www.hamptonscreativegroup.com.
Hamptons caterer and chef Pamela Willoughby and Bridget LeRoy, owner of the New London Inn and daughter of the late restaurant impresario Warner LeRoy, have paired up to form La Vie Organic, a new business for those in the Hamptons who want local fresh organic produce delivered directly to their door every week. They also cater to caterers who would prefer to place smaller minimum orders for their parties, featuring the most exquisite and unique fruits and vegetables available in the area.
The business, opening May 15, will allow both private customers and caterers to order directly from the website through a shopping cart service, or by phone. La Vie Organic will also offer fleur de sel and Himalayan sea salt in different colors, cabernet sauvignon vinegar (from local farms), fresh goat cheese locally produced, and other local organic delicacies. Chef Willoughby will prepare a small menu every week, always featuring her famed bouillabaisse stock (by itself or with the freshest accroutrements from our local baymen), which includes homemade rouille and croutons. Also always on the menu: Chef Willoughby’s famous Key lime pie.
La Vie Organic will also be available for small catering projects.
For more information, e-mail lavieorganic@gmail.com, visit www.lavieorganic.com or call 680-9986.
Macaroni Kid, a network of hyper-local e-newsletters and websites dedicated to events and activities for kids and families based in Water Mill, has announced that Gwenn Saiman Speak has joined its editorial team as Macaroni Kid’s National Style Editor.
A fashion industry veteran, in her new capacity Ms. Speak will keep Macaroni readers current with women’s and kids’ fashion and trends in style and beauty. Founded just over a year ago, Macaroni Kid currently covers close to 70 communities and reaches tens of thousands of moms each week. The title created for Ms. Speak adds another layer to Macaroni Kid’s coverage.
“We are excited to have Gwenn as part of our editorial team,” says Joyce Shulman, Macaroni Kid’s co-founder and CEO. “Gwenn has a singular ability to translate what’s happening in fashion into ideas that real-live moms can put into practice.”
In her former career, in the world of high-fashion, Ms. Speak scouted and managed some of the world’s top models at leading agencies in New York and London including Ford, IMG and Take Two. In addition, she founded Q Models in New York City and was a regular on the fashion show circuit, frequenting shows in New York, Paris, London and Milan for more than two decades.
“I have seen tremendous change and growth in the world of fashion over the past 20 years,” Gwenn explains, “Truly, moms do not have to wear jeans or sweatpants, and I look forward to helping Macaroni moms feel beautiful and fashionable every day.”
For more information call (631)726-1412, e-mail gwenns@macaronikid.com or visit www.macaronikid.com.
The Sag Harbor Community Food Pantry has appointed lifelong local Evelyn “Evie” Ramunno as its new director.
Ms. Ramunno has worked in Sag Harbor Elementary School for more than 28 years and in her former capacity as associate director for the pantry, has been efficiently assisting in ordering food, supplies and coordinating deliveries/food donations for the pantry for the past five years.
According to a press release, the pantry will continue to serve the community with the same “neighbors helping neighbors” motto it has always had.
Cottages & Gardens Publications has appointed Pamela Eldridge of East Hampton as associate publisher of its Hamptons Cottages & Gardens magazine. The luxury design, home and lifestyle magazine is one of several regional titles that the company publishes along with Connecticut Cottages & Gardens and Westchester Cottages & Gardens.
Previously hired as sales director at Hamptons Cottages & Gardens in 2004, according to a press release, Ms. Eldridge helped to double the magazine’s advertising pages and was integral to the magazine’s early burst of success since the publication’s launch in 2001.
Her career was in advertising for the Financial Times in New York but she gained considerable experience in advertising and communications for clients in luxury categories, most notably the jewelry segment. She was director of advertising and public relations for Verdura jewelry and prior to that a media coordinator for artisan Barry Kieselstein-Cord. Most recently, Ms. Eldridge was sales director for Plum TV in East Hampton where she helped to broaden network’s home furnishings category.
“We’re very excited to have Pamela rejoining us as an integral part of our team,” Marianne Howatson, CEO and publication director of Cottages & Gardens Publications said in a press release. “She will be instrumental in helping spur continued growth for the magazine as we increase our frequency from five to seven issues in 2010.”
For more information on Cottages & Gardens Publications visit candgpublications.com.
Suffolk County National Bank (SCNB) announced the appointment of Micah Schlendorf as vice president and branch manager of the bank’s East Hampton branch. In his new capacity, Mr. Schlendorf will be responsible for business and community development in East Hampton, as well as the bank’s day-to-day operations and personnel.
Mr. Schlendor has an extensive range of knowledge in the banking and financial services industry including experience in branch management and mortgage lending. In his most recent role with the bank, he managed a portfolio of 1,000 small-business clients throughout Suffolk County, helping to cut expenses and improve cash flows. He is a licensed New York State Life Insurance agent and is an Accredited Automated Clearing House Professional, recognized for his expertise in the field of electronic payments.
A resident of Medford, Mr. Schlendor is a member of the Southampton Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as treasurer of the board.
27east on May 5, 2010