Rowland Ballek, chairman of Essex Savings Bank and chairman of Essex Financial Services along with bank director Cemmy Ryland have retired from their positions at the bank's annual meeting held at the Old Lyme Country Club on July 21st. Both had reached the bank's mandatory retirement age as prescribed by its by-laws.
Ballek will be succeeded by bank vice chairman Nick Clements.
Cambridge, MA The nonprofit Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) has secured $23.5 million in financing from Rockland Trust and Citizens Bank to transform a 150-year-old, underutilized church complex into housing. The project will ultimately create 46 affordable family-sized apartments.
The Connecticut hospitality market has demonstrated uneven recovery patterns between 2019 and 2025, with boutique and historic properties achieving $125 RevPAR in 2025, up 8.7% from the 2019 level. Coastal resort properties achieved a $105 RevPAR in 2025, representing 10.5% growth since 2019. Casino corridor properties maintained modest growth with RevPAR improving 4.5% to $92 in 2025.
Preserving wealth across multiple generations requires strategic planning, foresight, and the right investment vehicles. Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) offer a powerful solution for families looking to build and protect their financial legacy and to efficiently plan for their estate.