July
• The PIACC’s annual shortcake sale was a big hit, with over 2,800 of the treats sold.
• MMG’s Board of Directors announced the promotion of Assistant Vice President Stephen J. Gallant to vice-president.
• University of Maine System Trustees approved a $520.7 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year. • MMG Insurance Co. presented a $5,000 check to the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross to assist victims of recent flooding.
• NMCC’s fleet of tractor trailer trucks grew by two, with the purchase of a 2000 and 2003 model Sterling trucks, to be used for the college’s transportation-related trade program.
• MMG promoted Arthur Cloukey to senior accountant.
• Incoming President Alton Hartt outlined the Presque Isle Rotary Club’s visions and goals during a regular club meeting.
• Michael H. Kelley, vice president of business development and sales manager of TD Banknorth in Presque Isle, was presented with the Vision in Action Award.
• Robin’s Chocolate Sauce, manufactured in the Loring Applied Technology Center on the Loring Commerce Centre in Limestone, proved to be a sweet hit in local stores.
• The University of Maine Cooperative Extension planned to host the Good Agricultural Practices 2008 Update meetings at locations in the County.
• Presque Isle City Clerk Nancy Nichols received the Fred Robinson Award for her continued efforts to educate others of notary services in the state.
• UMPI and members of the regional arts community unveiled a cultural events Web site for northern Maine, bringing cultural activities into homes worldwide through a visit to www.artsaroostook.org.
• MMG reinvested $100,000 in APP for continued work in attracting new businesses and economic growth in the County.
• Arthur H. Thompson and Brian N. Hamel, of Thompson-Hamel LLC, achieved membership in the Million Dollar Round Table.
• NMCC received a grant of advanced electrical and electronic test instruments from Fluke Corporation, the world’s leading supplier of handheld test and measurement equipment.
August
• Crawford Homes, based in Houlton, helped move the latest Sinawik house, marking the third decade of service to the non-profit program.
• The National Guard planned to deliver donated movies and popcorn to troops overseas.
• Frank Bemis, a Presque Isle attorney, was nominated to serve on the Loring Development Authority of Maine, which is responsible for the reuse of the former Air Force Base at Limestone.
• The Aroostook County Branch of the local Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter presented a certificate of appreciation to McCain Foods USA in Easton in recognition of the company’s donation of an emergency response vehicle (ERV).
• The Downtown Revitalization Committee announced there a loan program was available to help local businesses with property upgrades.
• NMCC nurses attended the Maine Pain Initiative Conference in Fort Kent.
• Hartland Eastman, an antique collector from Springvale, donated a pitcher with the Normal School painted on it – the forerunner to UMPI – to the University.
• Care & Comfort, a business providing home and mental health care to its clients, moved to its new home at 165 Academy St. in Presque Isle.
• Rodney McCrum, founder of Focus Financial Services, LLC, earned the professional designation Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC).
• Child Development Services (CDS/Aroostook), located at 122 Academy St. in Presque Isle, hired Holly Preston as its new site director.
• Echoes magazine celebrated its 20th birthday, complete with party attended by a large crowd.
• Maine potato industry leaders looked to the future, indicating the 2008 crop looked good despite cases of late blight in the area.
• Shop N Save planned to host its first-ever Kids Fun Day, with proceeds benefiting the Logan P. Graves Foundation.
• Maine received $99,000 in USDA Emergency funds to help farmers and ranchers rehabilitate land damaged by last year’s ice storms and other natural disasters.
• D & N Metals Company, of Grand Falls, New Brunswick, was awarded the bid for removal of Presque Isle’s scrap metals. The agreement will earn the city approximately $46,000 for the year of the contract.
September
• Savings Bank of Maine gave a $2,500 sponsorship for an Andy Warhol photographic exhibit at UMPI.
• Maine Public Service Company planned to host a ‘gigantic’ yard sale, with proceeds benefiting Angel Flight Northeast through the United Way of Aroostook.
• The USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced that the new Farm Bill would help make the goal of farming a reality by raising the loan limits to $300,000, up from $200,000, for direct farm ownership and operating loans.
• Callahan and Associates “Credit Union Strategy and Performance” publication for the first quarter of 2008 reported NorState Federal Credit Union was in the top 10 percent of Return to Members in the nation.
• Maine Mutual Group announced the promotion of Dianne C. Collins, CPCU, to customer service manager.
• The Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Revitalization Committee were pleased with the results of this year’s StreetFair 2008. A number of vendors took part, hosting booths featuring international food samples, with the Northeastland and Bonanza restaurant teaming up, taking the StreetFair 2008 People’s Choice Award.
• Gerald Coty, a package car driver for UPS, was honored for 25 years without an accident.
• The Aroostook County Committee of the Maine Community Foundation awarded $23,600 in grants to 13 Aroostook County non-profit agencies.
• Pat Troicke opened Pat’s Sewing Room at Village Square in Fort Fairfield, specializing in zipper replacements and alterations.
• The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 was reported to be benefiting small businesses.
• Training at TAMC enables ambulance crews to better diagnose certain conditions and act on the information prior to arrival at the hospital.
October
• The Bookmart, owned by David and Tammy Deschesne, opened for busness in the Village Square in Fort Fairfield.
• Jennifer Howlett joined Tastefully Simple Inc. as an independent consultant.
• The Hometown Barber Shop, owned by Colin Campbell, returned to Fort Fairfield.
• Jessica Gagnon, FNP, joined the staff of Aroostook Pediatrics, a department of TAMC.
• First Wind donated $7,500 to ACAP to help support the agency’s Keep Maine Warm Fund-Aroostook.
• Alden and Kathy Swanson opened The Pines at Chapman, luxury rental cabins designed to raise the bar on Aroostook lodging options.
• Risa Hirsch Ehrlich, a Manhattan artist, planned a reception and exhibit at the Reed Art Gallery at UMPI.
• Women, Work & Community celebrated 30 years of service with a fashion show at the Shrine Club building in Presque Isle on Oct. 26.
• NEAT – New England Air Transport – began offering connecting flights between the St. John Valley and Portland, with the flight schedule including stops at the Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle.
• NMCC and Houlton Regional Hospital partnered to expand nursing education in the greater Houlton region.
• VNA – Visiting Nurses of Aroostook – announced the winner of its stove raffle. Sheila Gustafson, of New Sweden, was named the winner of a Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon Pellet Stove from County Stove Shop. Over $11,000 was netted, after expenses, to be used by VNA for home-care services to area residents.
• A silent auction, sponsored by Advantage Payroll Services of Presque Isle, raised $7,000 to benefit the Northern Maine Community College Foundation.
• FairPoint Communications announced many customers throughout Maine formerly served by Verizon would soon see rate decreases in their upcoming bills.
• The Presque Isle Rotary Club learned about the North Dakota way of life on Oct. 6 during a presentation by guest speaker and North Dakotan Darrell Dorgan, who was in town as part of UMPI’s Distinguished Lecturer series.
November
• Maine potatoes enjoyed a widespread popularity at the Big E in Springfield, Mass.
• County residents were some of the recent winners in various Maine Lottery games.
• The Presque Isle Historical Society, in cooperation with Northeast Publishing Company, printed and began selling 2009 calendars, featuring prints from various local artists of scenes from throughout the community, designed to commemorate the city’s 150th anniversary.
• The Business and Technology Center, funded by Maine Mutual Group, opened at NMCC.
• Main St. businesses prepared for the 6th annual Main Street Mania event, with numerous sales and prizes available.
• The Kitchen & Bath Shop joined forces with local entrepreneurs from various home party businesses to host an event, with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research and domestic violence awareness programs.
• ARAMARK and UMPI planned a holiday dinner party Dec. 12, providing local businesses an opportunity to be part of a combined event, rather than having to through individual office parties.
• Patricia Perry was hired as manager of Aroostook County CareerCenter services.
• Crown Ambulance was recognized as EMS Service of the Year.
December
• Once recognized as ‘blue collar’ workers, technically skilled staff are now identified as ‘gold collar’ workers, earning top dollar for their expertise., with Walter Ridlon, of Central Maine Community College, speaking in Presque Isle on the topic.
• TAMC and the PI Kiwanis Club teamed up to collect donated toys during the Presque Isle Light Parade, for distribution to area children this Christmas.
• Several of the artists whose work appears in the 2009 Sesquicentennial calendars planned to appear at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library to meet the public and sign calendars, which were a joint creation of the Presque Isle Historical Society and Northeast Publishing. Proceeds from the calendars benefit the Historical Society.
• Loring Job Corps and NMCC announced a training partnership that helps Job Corps graduates achieve an associates degree would be extended to all 122 Job Corps sites in the U.S.
• Advantage Payroll donated $2,100 to the NMCC Foundation.
• Bruce Berube’s business, Mrs. Mike’s Donuts, located at 19 Davis St. in Presque Isle, was recognized in “DownEast” magazine.
• Jim McKenney was named vice president of TAMC’s Ancillary Patient Services.
• Alton Hartt, general manager of the Presque Isle Coca-Cola Distribution Center, accepted a position within the company downstate as general manager of the Maine Coca-Cola Distribution Center in South Portland.
• Gallagher Insurance and Concord Group announced a fuel-assistance program, whereby it would award $500,000 in fuel assistance to their homeowner clients in New England who register for a drawing.
• James Hotham, DVM, opened a veterinary clinic on the Centerline Rd. in Presque Isle.
• Advantage Payroll partnered with the Gauvin Lighthouse Fund, providing a grant through the Aroostook County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation to the Sherman Fire Department for the purchase of portable radios.
• A reception was held at the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle, featuring several of the artists whose works appear in the 2009 Sesquicentennial calendar.
• The Community Thrift Shop opened in Fort Fairfield, offering quality clothing for kids to adults for a donation or free.
• Keith and Shane Kingsbury, of Bridgewater, were named the McCain Champion Potato Growers.
• TAMC employees raised $3,700 for the United Way of Aroostook’s Fuel Assistance Program through a holiday auction.
• The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee sought a marketing firm to develop a logo and tagline for downtown Presque Isle.
• Maine Public Service Company employees collected 7,694 pounds of food for Catholic Charities of Maine.
