Chamber enjoying new picnic tables

12 years ago

By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer

PRESQUE ISLE — Visitors to the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce’s food both during the Northern Maine Fair and those dropping by this weekend during the Crown of Maine Balloon Festival will have some new seating to enjoy, thanks to several Loring Job Corps students who recently built three sturdy picnic tables for the Presque Isle-based organization.

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Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
New picnic tables were built for the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce by Loring Job Corps students. Pictured with the new tables at the Northern Maine Fairgrounds’ CACC booth in Presque Isle are, in front from left: Loring Job Corps students Ashton Parker, Markendy Frederique, Carel Binyard, Dennis Wilder and Joshua Markman; and Pamela Buck, business community liaison and work-based learning coordinator. In back: Theresa Fowler, executive director, CACC; and CACC members Stacy Shaw, Jim McKenney, Bill Getman and Nancy Fletcher.

The students are part of the Home Builders Institute, the workforce development arm of the National Association of Home Builders, which operates a training facility at the Loring Job Corps Center. The group was recognized for their efforts during an Aug. 8 meeting with CACC officials.

“Their ages range from 17 to 24. We teach the students all aspects of carpentry, from framing, roofing, finish work, weatherization to green building techniques. The students are well-equipped when they leave the carpentry program,” said Mark Brewer, carpentry instructor.

Brewer said the most important thing participants are taught is a good work ethic.

“Our success rate after graduation is extremely high, with almost every student beginning a career in the construction industry,” he said.

“We do many different projects for non-profit organizations. The projects are chosen by the complexity and by necessity,” said Brewer, noting last year the HBI carpentry program raised over $6,000 through donations for the local community, with funds used for project materials. “This gives the students a sense of pride and accomplishment by giving back to the local communities. The students are pleased to work with and take pride in the quality of work they do.”

Pam Buck, business community liaison and work-based learning coordinator, explained how the projects are selected.

“Community service requests are filtered through me. I bring all community requests to a monthly meeting held with all HBI instructors, including painting, carpentry and electrical vocations and the Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International Association, that includes the cement masonry vocational trades,” said Buck.

Guidelines include: have to be for non-profit establishments; projects have to be related to the trade LJCC has offerings in, like carpentry; with time available and distance from LJCC as another consideration.

“Other community service projects are being done from our other trades, including culinary, medical office, CNA, Cisco Academy, auto, commercial drivers license for heavy equipment/trucks — all filtered through me — with their instructors assisting me with the communication process,” Buck said.

Buck gave as an example CNA and medical office students do all the Red Cross blood drives on center and many programs with Cary Medical Center off site.

“We also participate with community event non-trade affiliation like many Chamber-sponsored programs like Caribou Fun Days and visits to the Maine Veterans’ Home residents. Our Honor Guard also participate in many events, from posting of colors to flag raising events to Veterans Day events. They also collect cards to send to those serving overseas and take part in parades throughout Aroostook. Sgt. Major Roger Felix is in charge of these events,” said Buck.

Buck said taking part in such events and working to build things for area communities teaches students that their efforts are valued in the community in which they reside.

“It’s an obligation of our Job Corps to engage our students. It also involves our students with other individuals and shows our community the quality of our students and their vocational training abilities they are being educated and taught at LJCC,” Buck said.

She said helping others is a positive and enriching lesson for all individuals.

“Our students have always stepped up to take on community projects along with their instructors. They are proud of what they have accomplished and want to be a part of the Aroostook County community,” said Buck. “I wish more Aroostook communities understood the opportunity that LJCC has to offer our youths, including our Maine youth population.”

Buck said LJCC has an 85 percent graduation rate, which includes having or obtaining a high school diploma or GED and completion of at least one vocational trade and placement into a job match with their trade or enrolling in advance training, such as college or advanced technical training before leaving the center.

“Job Corps has the highest success rate and longest continuous record of providing training for disadvantaged youth in the U.S. — for over 45 years — and is funded under the Department of Labor,” said Buck.

Theresa Fowler, executive director of the CACC, was pleased with the finished products.

“The picnic tables were utilized constantly throughout this year’s fair and will be in use at the Chamber booth during the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest this weekend,” said Fowler.

Students working on the project included: Joshua Markman and Markendy Frederique, of Massachusetts; Carel Binyard, of New York; Dennis Wilder, of New Hampshire; and Ashton Parker, of New Jersey.