Editor’s Note: The following is the last of a two-part series that looks back on some of the more memorable business news stories of 2010. January to June highlights were in last week’s newspaper.
July
• Koko’s Kafe, owned by Michael Stiggle, opened for business at the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle.
• TAMC, of Presque Isle, received the Well Workplace Designation from the Wellness Council of Maine, a subsidiary of the Wellness Council of America.
• Inpatient dialysis began being offered at TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital in Presque Isle for both routine treatment of current dialysis patients and those requiring occasional treatment.
• Michael Bosse was hired as Fort Fairfield’s new economic development and marketing director and will also serve as the executive director of the town’s chamber of commerce.
• The former Slopes restaurant on Maysville Street was purchased by James Stacey, with plans to open The Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Event Center LLC by the end of September. Stacey said he planned to keep meals affordable and hoped to create a facility where all felt welcome.
• Twin Rivers Paper Co. donated equipment to NMCC.
• Bread of Life, owned by Cheryle Matowitz, opened at 769 Main St., in Presque Isle.
• Adam MacDonald, of Presque Isle, who has a form of muscular dystrophy called Duchenne, held an MDA fundraiser at the Houlton Marden’s, selling Camp Mobiles, with funds going to Pine Tree Camp.
August
• Traci Stone, owner of Realm of Crafts, of Presque Isle, offered a variety of crocheted creations for sale, just in time for the holiday season.
• United Insurance of Presque Isle announced a merger with Kieffer Insurance of Caribou.
• Tom and Betty Conant, of Fort Fairfield, established an endowed scholarship fund in their names with the NMCC Foundation that will benefit future generations of students attending the college.
• MPG partnered with Nutrena and the local 4-H Club to produce a champion. Patricia Donovan, 16, of Blaine, earned the title of Grand Champion at this year’s 4-H Baby Beef Show and Auction, with her 1,375-pound steer, Chip, who was fed Nutrena feed.
• County Super Spuds, a fifth-generation family-owned potato company in Mars Hill — owned by the McCrum family — was recognized on the floor of the U.S. Senate with a Congressional Record read by Sen. Olympia Snowe.
September
• Graves’ Shop ‘n Save, of Presque Isle, celebrated its 75th anniversary.
• MPG ENERGY unveiled a new look and a new product, offering propane for sale through the Presque Isle-based business.
• The University Credit Union opened a branch at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
• DJ Jonny B, aka Jon McQuarrie, of Houlton, provided musical entertainment throughout the County.
• Go Video opened at 733 Main St., in Presque Isle.
• Events by Jenni, owned by Jenni LaChance, of Presque Isle, coordinates events, from birthday parties to wedding receptions.
• Oscar Nelder, aka Voscar The Maine Photographer, created a 2011 calendar consisting of black and white photos he’d taken over the years of locations around Aroostook County.
• BalanceBPO hosted a grand opening ceremony, complete with ribbon-cutting and tour of the 18 Greenhill Drive, Presque Isle, facility.
• MMG, of Presque Isle, was named 2009 Insurance Company of the Year, presented by the Young Agents Committee of the Maine Insurance Agents Association at the 28th annual Young Agents Conference in Bethel.
• TAMC welcomed a new cardiologist, Dr. Venkatram Nethala.
October
• The Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Event Center LLC opened in the former Slope’s building at 150 Maysville Street in Presque Isle.
• Maine Potato Growers, Inc. manager of the Crop Services Division, Storer Demerchant, announced the appointment of Tim Donovan as crop sales representative.
• Mark McKenna and family took over ownership of Winnie’s Dairy Bar on Parsons Street in Presque Isle.
• A new attendance record for the Fall and Winter Expo, held at the Forum in Presque Isle, was set, with more than 4,100 people from across The County and New Brunswick turning out for the event.
• Drs. Mark Melendez-Christensen, Joseph “Joe” white and Joel Veitschegger, former graduates of the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry brought their skills to The County.
• Ecboes magazine released its 90th issue.
• Dr. Linda Graves, a medical laboratory technology professor at UMPI, published her third book: “Clinical Laboratory Chemistry,” published by Pearson.
• NMCC students Matt Melcher of Bingham, Ben Dutil of Winslow, Jeffrey Cropley of Mars Hill and Justin Foran of Milo returned to the classroom this fall, following paid summer internships on wind development projects. They will become the first in New England to earn associate degrees in the field next May.
• TAMC was among several hospitals throughout Maine owed upwards of $400 million by the state, with TAMC’s portion estimated at over $8 million.
• Irving Farms, of Caribou, was named McCain Foods champion potato grower.
November
• Jason Parent of Caribou — president of the Maine delegation to the organizing body of the 2014 World Acadian Congress and director of development and college relations at NMCC — was named by Mainebiz as one of the next 10 people shaping the future of Maine’s economy.
• Maine Mutual Group of Presque Isle donated $24,000, raised during a golf tournament at Aroostook Valley Country Club in Fort Fairfield, to the United Way of Aroostook.
• TxVia, Inc. opened for business on Greenhill Drive in Presque Isle, located in the same building as BalanceBPO. The business specializes in the pre-paid card business.
• Dead River Company launched its official Facebook fan page, tying its introduction to a philanthropic effort called Share the Warmth, hiding 20 $500 charitable certificates across its service footprint (Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont), inviting people to find them and give them to their favorite charities.
• Mechanical Services Inc. was honored by Efficiency Maine for its leadership in developing key energy efficiency projects for its clients, including the Aroostook Centre Mall.
• The Pizza Box, owned by Rudy Hoffert and Jason Michaud, opened at 527 Main Street in Presque Isle.
• Yarns, Glass and More … opened at the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle under the ownership of Glenn Capps and Tony Burgess.
• MPG President and CEO Pierre Patenaude announced at the company’s 78th annual meeting that MPG had a strong fiscal year in 2010.
• NMCC Foundation realized 17 percent increase in annual giving over the past year.
• Chad Bartley, CPA, opened an office at 744 Main Street in Presque Isle.
• Dr. Cristina Robinson joined the staff at the Presque Isle Animal Hospital.
• The mall saw an increase in Black Friday shoppers, including more Canadians, thanks to a strong Canadian dollar.
• Penny Sue Mints joined the faculty of the nursing and allied health department at NMCC.
• MMG promoted Terri Chandler to personal lines lead underwriter and William Sweeney to senior desk appraiser.
• Rafford Springs Natural Spring Water, located in Garfield, opened for business, serving all of Aroostook.
• Emera, a Canadian-based company, received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to acquire Maine & Maritimes Corporation, parent company of Maine Public Service.
• NMCC students trained for offshore work as part of the wind technology program.
