Editor’s note: The following is a look back at business events from the first three months of 2009 covering January to March. The second and third installments will appear in future edition.
John Bishop, a 33-year newspaper veteran who helped usher Bangor Publishing Co. into the computerized era in the 1980s and retired in 2003 as the company’s vice president, died Tuesday, Dec. 30 of apparent heart failure. He was 67.
Bishop started working for Bangor Publishing Co. in 1970 — the same year current publisher Richard J. Warren began his career with the company.
“I was deeply saddened to learn this morning of the death of John Bishop,” Warren said Dec. 31. “John contributed greatly to the foundations of Northeast Publishing Company and to the Bangor Daily News. He planned and built new facilities for both Northeast [Publishing] and for the production department of the NEWS. John was a valued colleague and great friend.”
At the time of his death, Bishop lived with his wife, Pat, in Georgetown, Mass.
Katahdin Trust Company VP Annette J. Beaton offered financial advice to consumers for any economic environment.
“I think the most important things for customers is to have a budget and stick to it. They really need to sit down and analyze what they can afford in order to live within their means,” said Beaton of the one thing the average person may not have put on their list of New Year’s resolutions.
Adding that “credit cards are good for those people that use the money and pay it back quickly,” she also said “to use money and have no plan of paying it back and just make your minimum payment, is tough for the consumer because it adds up and adds up. And, some customers have a lot of credit card debt.”
Beaton added “You can cut many years off a 30-year-fixed mortgage just by paying it weekly or bi-weekly.” And, she also said a good credit score is 700 or above. Besides, some employers, depending on the profession and the position, do credit checks. Some landlords are doing background credit checks, as well. And, you would not want to lose out on a great opportunity because a credit inquiry shows you’re a deadbeat.
Julie Delano, surrounded by her co-workers and sons, celebrated 20 years’ of service at TD Banknorth. John Tribou, branch manager, said Assistant Manager Delano “has done a tremendous job providing customers with products and services that they need to enrich their lives.”
TD Banknorth in Houlton preserved its Christmas tradition of supporting the Battered Women’s Project through a silent auction with proceeds going to support the Houlton shelter’s activities. John Tribou, branch manager, said “we auctioned off various items — some TD Banknorth logo items, some donations that our employees brought in, donations that even bank patrons brought in, as well, to donate to this auction.”
Teller Kristie Fitzpatrick said about a month ahead of time, employees get together to start planning and make some handcrafted items for the auction. Ironically, Fitzpatrick knit a white hat and scarf set with multi-colored threads which her husband liked so much, he outbid everyone. He then presented her with the set she had donated.
Pat Reardon, Houlton shelter coordinator for the Battered Women’s Project, accepted a $200 check representing proceeds from the auction, saying it’s the community’s way of stepping in to make the season a little bit brighter for victims.
The Maine Youth Voices group at East Grand School, a group of high school students that reject underage drinking, held a Sticker Shock campaign on Dec. 19.
For the sticker shock initiative, students placed bright orange stickers on alcohol packages that state; “Providing Alcohol to Minors is ILLEGAL.” They also stated “fines are up to $2000 and/or up to one year in jail.”
For the ninth consecutive year, through Valentine’s Day, Katahdin Trust Co. partnered with the Aroostook County Branch of the American Red Cross – Pine Tree Chapter to sell stuffed animals to Katahdin Trust customers. The critters were available at all 14 Katahdin Trust Co. branches, with proceeds to benefit the Red Cross local disaster relief fund.
For residents left without power, one Maine-based company offered a solution for access to well water. The Bison Pump, installed in existing wells alongside most electric water pumps and engineered in Houlton, is constructed of stainless steel with a threaded faucet to accommodate a garden hose and supply water back into the home plumbing system through the outdoor faucet.
Two local Healthy Maine Partnerships (HMPs) serving central and southern Aroostook County merged and changed their name. Formerly, the two HMPs collaborated but were separate entities: Partnership for a Healthy Community in central Aroostook and Southern Aroostook Tobacco-Free Outreach Project (STOP) in southern Aroostook. The two partnerships merged to become Healthy Aroostook.
Much of the partnership focus is in providing education and increasing awareness as well as policy and environmental changes in five areas: physical activity, nutrition, tobacco, substance abuse, and chronic disease.
Anne Nobrega of Houlton was one of the winners in the December drawing of Concord Group Insurance’s $500,000 Fuel Assistance Program. The $100 Nobrega received represented a commitment from Concord Group and the F.A. Peabody Company to provide support to their customers during the difficult economic time.
Hannaford Supermarkets and Dead River Company teamed up to help families facing the high cost of home heating through their “Share the Warmth” campaign. Hannaford’s customers throughout Maine and New Hampshire were able to make a $2 or $5 donation by January 31 at the checkout counter which was matched by Dead River up to $100,000.
Mildred Madigan spoke at the Houlton Rotary Club to highlight the efforts of St. Mary’s Food Pantry. For more than 10 years, the pantry has assisted local residents.
Madigan, who manages the program, stated: “No one ever asks personal questions of those seeking assistance, and religion and church is never discussed. The need for food is the only prerequisite for coming to the pantry.”
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) recognized former Danforth town manager Tammy Bonner for her longtime support of the Danforth Wastewater Department and clean water for Maine’s environment. Bonner served the town of Danforth for 18 years as town clerk and then as town manager.
In presenting the award, DEP commissioner David Littell noted, “Managing a small town successfully is a challenging mission that requires a diversity of skills. In the town of Danforth, familiarity with wastewater treatment is one of the skills required and Tammy, though not an operator, knew a lot about her town’s wastewater treatment system. She kept a watchful eye on the physical plant, the operators, the DEP and the budget.”
Dead River Company announced that it would donate $10,000 in support of the Houlton Community Arts Center. The arts center project raised money for Houlton High School to expand and renovate the music facilities and establish a performing and visual arts center to better serve the needs of the students and the residents of the southern Aroostook area.
Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) Health Services (formerly HEALTH 1st) announced that it would offer family planning and reproductive health services to Micmac women at the Micmac Service Unit two mornings a month.
In addition, with prior approval from Micmac Service Unit, Micmac women will be able to access the services at one of ACAP Health Services Family Planning offices in Houlton, Fort Kent and Presque Isle.
Houlton businessman Paul A. McGillicuddy described a way of doing business that is “just good common sense” in the January edition of Echoes magazine.
In the second installment of a two-part feature, McGillicuddy advised aspiring business owners, “Be a little early, work harder than anyone else and be there when you close down.”
Morgan Hutchinson, at 18 years old, embarked on a career in the insurance industry, following in the footsteps of both parents. Her father, Alex Hutchinson, had opened a MetLife Auto and Home office in Houlton on Kendall St. in March 2008 to offer a range of products from homeowner policies to auto, snowmobile, ATV and motorcycle insurance.
The Aroostook Historical and Art Museum of Houlton elected a two-year period: President Rick Asam; Vice President Janet Bates; Recreational Secretary Sandy Saunders; Treasurer Max Lynds; and Curator Kay Bell. The museum collects and preserves artifacts related to the cultural heritage of Houlton and provides opportunities for students and teachers to learn more about the Houlton area.
Katahdin Trust Co. passed the 90-year mark as a financial institution in northern Maine. Duff’s Service Station on the Bangor Road in Houlton celebrated 40 years in business and the owners of Northern Music Supply on the Calais Road in hit the quarter century mark.
Officials with Louisiana-Pacific Corporation announced that the laminated strand lumber mill in New Limerick was again one of three LP mills selected as a winner in the second phase of the company’s Best of the Best safety competition for 2008.
The mill, which employs 160 people and produces LP SolidStart® Laminated Strand Lumber, was selected for the award based on working injury-free and for the safety program it developed around the theme of “Seasons of Safety,” a new quarterly program that highlights working safely throughout the year.
Local farmers, contractors, residents and social service agencies partnered with Empowering Life to “connect local resources with local needs,” according to Dale Flewelling, the program director. Empowering Life processes and delivers free firewood to families who are out of fuel, out of wood and basically out of money to heat their homes.
Houlton Town Clerk Cathy O’Leary said the Operation Wood Heat program helped residents who may not qualify for other programs or through the town’s general assistance department.
Wood Prairie Farm’s Organic Prairie Blush Potato received the coveted Green Thumb Award from the Mailorder Gardening Association as one of the top six plant introductions of 2009.
Jim Gerritsen, who with his family owns and operates the organic Wood Prairie Farm in Bridgewater, traveled to Baltimore where he was presented the award at the MGA’s Winter Convention.
Members of the Houlton Rotary Club voted to take pledges for the new seats to be installed in the new Houlton Community Arts Center auditorium. The club had 40 pledges from the Rotary Auction in November, and had a goal of 500.
The Florence Avenue Redemption Center offered customers a way to support local organizations by running bottle drives.
Customers donated money from their bottle redemptions to Project Graduation for Houlton High School, the Houlton Music Boosters trip to New York City, the Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association, the Aroostook Football League, or the Military Street Baptist Church’s mission trip to Los Angeles.
Within two hours of a phone call to Houlton, a donation of 180 boxes of the frozen bread, each containing 12 loaves, was transported and stored at Shop ‘n Save until Catholic Charities and the Ludlow Food Pantry could pick them up the following day.
Josh and Stacey Ritchie of New Limerick opened their new business called Doolittle DJN 2. Josh Ritchie said he had an abundance of music to please any taste and no job was too big or too small.
The F.A. Peabody Company officials announced the acquisition of the Calais branch office of the J.C. Milliken Agency.
Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Coalition held its first Annual Celebration at the Cary Medical Center in Caribou. The celebration included a keynote presentation by Heather Putnam, victim witness coordinator with the U.S. District Attorney’s office in Portland, a review of outcomes from ASAP’s annual parent survey and a presentation of ASAP Bridge Builder Awards.
ASAP Coalition presented the ASAP Bridge Builder award to three County residents nominated by individuals in their local area for their outstanding contributions to substance abuse prevention in their communities. The 2009 award winners were Kerry Voisine, project assistant with Power of Prevention in Fort Kent; Kathy Mazzuchelli, director of Caribou Parks and Recreation Department, co-chair of CADET, and chair of ASAP, of Caribou and Rebecca Miller, victim witness/advocate with the District Attorney, member of Link for Hope Coalition, of Houlton.
Dead River Company donated $10,000 in support of the Houlton Community Arts Center to expand and renovate the existing music facilities and establish a performing and visual arts center that will better serve the needs of the students and the residents of the southern Aroostook area. David McGillicuddy, a committee member and former Houlton band director, accepted the check from Jerry Wilson, Dead River Company, Houlton District Manager.
Robert Faulkner, KeyBank manager of the Houlton Market Square branch was among 10 KeyBank employees in northern Maine selected as national 2008 Signature Circle winners. The Signature Circle recognizes the top KeyBank employees in the country, based on customer service and sales.
“We are very proud of our employees in northern Maine who were named among the best bankers in the country,” noted Richard Lucas, president, Maine District, KeyBank N.A. “Their entry into KeyBank’s Signature Circle recognizes the tremendous work they are doing serving the people and businesses of northern Maine.”
KeyBank’s Signature Circle memberships are awarded to the top performers in sales, service, and specifically identified support teams. Fewer than 300 employees were chosen for the Signature Circle out of over 17,500 employees.
Ken Gustin, acting state executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Maine announced that due to low milk prices, FSA would make payments in April to producers through the FSA’s milk income loss contract, or MILC, program.
As the deadline for Verizon’s takeover of Unicel got closer, some phone customers considered their options because their old Unicel phones would not work on the new network in May. Verizon mailed Unicel customers information on the upcoming changes to their phone service and how to keep their phone number.
The town of Stacyville was approved for funding for a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant), from the Maine Office of Community Development. The funding amount of $10,000 along with a 25 percent match of $2,500 from the town of Stacyville was to be used to conduct a feasibility study for a senior citizens apartment complex.
Local residents noticed the shift from the familiar Exxon/Mobil signs at the Dead River Convenience stores around town. Since the merger of Exxon and Mobil in early 2000, the Dead River Oil Company no longer had the right to sell under the Exxon brand after their licensing agreement expired.
Alan Dorr, the general manager of the convenience store division for the Dead River Oil Company, said Shell is a premium brand with a great reputation and superior credit card.
York’s of Houlton received the Business of the Year award at the annual Houlton Chamber of Commerce dinner meeting and gala held March 7.
Katahdin Trust Company President and CEO Jon Prescott, announced the promotions of Matthew Nightingale to senior vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer; Vicki Smith to senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications; and Jeff Pangburn and Craig Staples to vice president and commercial services officer. “These individuals have earned these promotions by exhibiting tremendous dedication and commitment to Katahdin Trust Company and are highly valued members of our team,” said Prescott.
Katahdin Trust Company, presented a $7,600 check to the Aroostook County branch of the American Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter, representing funds raised from the sale of more than 750 “cute cuddly critters” to Katahdin Trust customers and staff during January and February.
“These funds could not come at a better time,” said Susan Failing, a member of the Aroostook County branch’s advisory council as she accepted the gift from Katahdin Trust Company.
“We are extremely delighted to support this annual fund-raising effort,” said Vicki Smith, senior vice president of marketing and communications at Katahdin Trust Company. “It provides a great opportunity for our customers and employees to help those in need in our local area who are coping with a disaster.”
Clarence Jones, Master of Monument Lodge, presented the staff of the Houlton Pioneer Times a Certificate of Appreciation for the paper’s reporting that keeps the public informed of various local fraternal, social, civic and religious organizations.
The ShamRock Café opened on Bangor Road near Alice Avenue with no promotion or advertising and a big splash. The parking lot regularly filled at mid-morning and non-stop phone orders poured in for sandwiches, salads and other menu items. By Friday of the first week, they started running out of food.
They adjusted food orders, hired more staff and vowed to be ready for their hungry customers.
Katahdin Trust Company received a certificate of recognition from the American Bankers Association 2009 Community Award Program for its outstanding efforts in the support provided to local organizations throughout its market area.
The Agri-Business Trade Show at The Forum in Presque Isle had a renewed focus on local agriculture.
“We’re strongly focusing on agriculture this year,” said Janet Kelle, executive director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the annual event. “We have a lot of new booths and new vendors, and have really put the emphasis on all types of agriculture.”
