Sachem Patch Business Notebook, December 27

In light of the holiday season, business news this week was limited but inspiring. Here's a look at what's happened lately:

Sigma Corp. Announces Winner of "Dear Sigma" Contest: Sigma Corporation of America, a Ronkonkoma-based provider of cameras, lenses, and flashes, announced the winner of its "Dear Sigma" contest this week. The contest, which ended on December 16, required participants to submit a “Dear Sigma” letter outlining the Sigma products on their holiday wish list this year. The winner was voted into the top five finalists via an online poll, and then chosen by a panel of judges from Sigma Corporation.

San Diego resident Brandon Bethea was the lucky winner this year, and will receive three Sigma lenses totaling nearly $2,500. Bethea's entry, titled “Better to Give than Receive," outlined his plans to use the lenses to raise awareness of both cancer and shark conservation. The photographer is the founder of Fin Forward, a shark-diving project for cancer survivors. The lenses will be used to photograph the project's upcoming 2012 Mayan Shark Odyssey.

Irish Times Wins Prize for Potato Soup: Irish Times in Holbrook was recognized this month at the True North Community Church soup and chili contest. The pub won first place honors for its cream of potato soup in the contest's professional category, beating out soups from other restaurants around Long Island. The event housed approximately 2,000 participants who sampled the submissions. Co-owner Lorcan Phelan won a first place medal and trophy at the contest.

Have business news for this notebook or a story idea? Email Sachem Patch editor Chris Vaccaro at Chris@Patch.com or Patch contributor Erin Rafferty at ErinRafferty14@gmail.com.