Editor’s note: With a new year just barely underway, we look back on some business highlights from 2022. This is the second of two articles and includes July through December.
July
Danny Gahagan, a firefighter/paramedic with Presque Isle Fire and Rescue, received an EMS Merit Award for Region 5. Gahagan is an emergency medical services instructor, teaching EMT basic through paramedic courses. The award recognized his dedication to teaching and his professionalism when responding to emergency calls.
Four local utility workers were honored for saving a co-worker’s life. Versant Power employees Cameron Bragg, Steve Sager, Scott Madore and Dan Morin worked together to help save the life of a co-worker who suffered a medical emergency on the job. The four men were awarded the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action at a ceremony at the utility’s annual safety awards presentation in Orono.
The Presque Isle Rotary Club honored five of its members with Paul Harris Fellow recognitions. Receiving the honor during a gathering of club members and the community were Clint Deschene, Jan Lucas, Michael McPherson and Scott Violette.
The Aroostook County Commissioners discussed a proposed change to the fiscal year cycle, from a Jan. 1-Dec. 31 period to a July 1-June 30 cycle. Adoption of the new fiscal year would change when towns see their assessment for Aroostook County taxes.
Presque Isle Firefighter/Paramedic Danny Gahagan recently received a merit award for dedicated service from Maine Emergency Medical Services. From left are: Presque Isle Fire Chief Darrell White, Gahagan, Deputy Chief Nate Allen and Chase Labbe, Region 5 EMS coordinator. (Courtesy of Presque Isle Fire Department)
August
The Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954 honored Maurice “Moe” Collins for his service on the Presque lsle Elks Board of Trustees for 50 years. At the regular meeting of the lodge on July 20, Alan Harding, chairman of the board of directors, presented Collins with a special clock.
Lisa Wark moved her Glass With Class business from Presque Isle into a larger workshop and retail space in Caribou. Located at 53 Herschel St. in the former Second Hand Rose store, Glass With Class sells supplies for home-based stained glass projects and hosts themed workshops for beginners.
The Northern Lighthouse’s Safe Harbor Shelter in Mars Hill celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting. The shelter will serve youth from Aroostook County and elsewhere in Maine.
Writers learned of a new place to go for a cultural escape. The Mark & Emily Turner Library Board of Trustees made the Griffiths family homestead in Presque Isle into an arts and culture space. After three successful summer events, the group was planning holiday and winter offerings.
A Presque Isle church’s community outreach venture became a for-profit coffee shop built by volunteers. Framework Church opened Hub Coffee as the first for-profit business of its kind in Aroostook and saw its business flourishing.
BigRock Mountain will see a longer season and offer more than skiing, thanks to a $2.5 million federal grant to boost tourism in the Mars Hill region. The Economic Development Administration awarded the grant from its American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program.
Rob Thibeault (left), assistant manager at Hub Coffee, serves a latte as staff member Elizabeth Winslow waits on a customer. The coffee shop opened in June on Main Street in Presque Isle. Credit: Paula Brewer / The Star-Herald
September
Eleven Aroostook County professionals recently completed the inaugural Leadership Aroostook program. The program’s objective is to develop current managers and leaders for advanced responsibilities and effectiveness in their organizations.
Restaurant owner Steve Adams closed the doors of the Boondocks Grille in Fort Fairfield in early September, unsure of exactly when he might reopen. The shortage of workers that has forced restaurants statewide to close or reduce their hours left Adams with few options for sustaining his business long term.
A countywide effort got underway by the Aroostook Partnership, Aroostook County and a broadband company to gather data on broadband use and availability throughout Aroostook County. An online survey was part of the effort to determine how to address the digital divide in northern Maine.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle earned four top rankings on U.S. News and World Report’s 2023 Best Colleges list. UMPI was in the top tier of Best Regional Colleges in the North, the 20 Top Public Schools in the North, the top 10 Regional Colleges in the North for graduates with least debt, and the top 30 Regional Colleges in the North for Social Mobility.
On Friday, Oct. 14 more than 40 community members, students, and NMCC staff gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the College’s new Emergency Medical Services Education & Training Center, a technologically-advanced facility on campus that will house the College’s EMS and Allied Health programs. NMCC EMS Department Chair Andrew (AJ) Gagnon, cut the ribbon, an honor recognizing his role in advancing first responder training in Maine. (Courtesy of NMCC)
October
Aroostook County Fitness opened at 499 Main St., with owner and human movement specialist Steve Plummer offering training for law enforcement, firefighters and emergency services workers, in addition to greater functional fitness training and preparation for military basic training.
Piscataquis County began work with a team of University of Maine student researchers in Augusta and Presque Isle to become a victim of a cyberattack — on purpose. Maine Cyber Range, established at the Augusta campus in 2019, is helping organizations identify weaknesses and become less vulnerable.
Face by Kac in Presque Isle recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Located at 56 North St., the business specializes in hair, makeup and lashes.
Thanks to a national shortage, some Maine grocery stores saw egg prices rise. Two years of COVID-19 supply chain delays were compounded by another disease: bird flu. For Mainers, that meant having eggs on the table was getting more expensive.
On Friday, Oct. 14, more than 40 community members, students and Northern Maine Community College staff gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the College’s new Emergency Medical Services Education & Training Center, a technologically-advanced facility on campus that will house the school’s EMS and Allied Health programs.
Among those celebrating five years of service with Aroostook RSVP in 2021 were, from left, seated: Barbara Pierce of Bridgewater, Jerry Joles of Mapleton and Phyllis Taylor of Westfield. Standing: Michael Ireland of Chapman, Rebecca Dixon and Judy Bougie, both of Caribou, and Leighton Perkins of Mapleton. (Courtesy of Aroostook Agency on Aging)
November
Owner Matthew Nadeau said he opened his new Main Street store, Cosmic, a metaphysical supply and clothing store, to fill a void in the local retail picture. The business stocks a variety of natural healing and meditation tools, spiritual products, home decor, jewelry and women’s clothing.
Baldwin’s Driving Academy of Presque Isle expanded to Houlton, offering a series of classes and local driving options for students. Mountain’s Driving School had operated in Houlton for 21 years but closed in June. Vincent Baldwin, owner of Baldwin’s Driving Academy, said expanding to Houlton seemed like a natural fit.
The 48th annual meeting of the Aroostook Agency on Aging was held Oct. 7 at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle. Service awards went to 15 employees, recognizing more than 106 years of combined service to older adults and caregivers in northern Maine. Elected as directors for a two-year term were Andrew Birden of Fort Kent, Stephen Poitras of Fort Fairfield, Walter Elliott Jr. of Limestone, Robert Meinders of Benedicta and Patricia McCain of Houlton.
The Loring Development Authority learned Washington, D.C.-based DG Fuels wants to build a $4 billion facility in Limestone. It would be Aroostook County’s second major aerospace business, following the September announcement that VALT Enterprizes will build a $4.5 million rocket research center in Presque Isle.
RSVP, Aroostook Agency on Aging and AmeriCorps Seniors honored hundreds of volunteers from Patten to Frenchville who in 2021 alone donated more than 28,600 hours of service to their friends and neighbors with a monetary value of nearly $850,000.
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Employee Shaye Labonte and store manager Jamie Forsman work on a display of hats and gloves at Trader Joe’s Outpost in Presque Isle on Dec. 8. (Paula Brewer | The Star-Herald)
December
Daigle Oil Co., headquartered in Fort Kent, announced that it purchased the former Burger King property on Main Street in Presque Isle, with plans to construct a state-of-the-art express tunnel car wash.
The Maine Forest Products Council awarded Brian Flewelling of Easton with the organization’s 2022 President’s Award.
Aroostook County holiday shoppers were saying goodbye to the single-day Black Friday frenzy, backing off internet orders and buying local. In mid-December, businesses from Houlton to the St. John Valley reported brisk sales this season, with cold-weather wear, decor and jewelry among the top sellers.
Bubble Tea Cafe opened in Presque Isle, and was so overwhelmed with people coming in that it ran out of inventory and had to close temporarily. Owners Karen and John Cox opened the new venture at the beginning of the holiday season.
The Presque Isle Rotary Club hosted its second Paul Harris recognition evening for the calendar year, on Nov. 29 at Northern Maine Community College, recognizing four community members for service to community and to Rotary. Paul Harris Fellow recipients were Richard Engels, Sonja Eyler, Dixie Shaw and Nancy Fletcher.
