Christina “Crissy” Penuel, a jewelry designer at Mark Loren Designs, has been awarded first place for earrings entered in the Bridal Wear category in the 40th annual 2024 American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards. The competition took place Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 at the Omni Frisco Hotel at the Star.

A new collection created by Mark Loren Designs based on sea oats will benefit Sanibel Island’s Clinic for and Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), a teaching hospital and visitor education center dedicated to saving wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary care, research, education and conservation medicine. “CROW was hit hard and had to move animals off the island.