Business highlights 2011

Editor’s Note: The following is the second of two articles highlighting some of the top business stories from 2011. This article highlights July to December. Last week, the Houlton Pioneer Times featured January through June.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    The second-half of 2011 featured a number of prominent business stories. Several new businesses opened in the greater Houlton area, serving as positive sign that the economy was heading in the right direction.
July
    • The New You, a full service hair salon and fitness center located on 70 Bangor St., celebrated its grand opening with an open house. A resident of Danforth, Chandra Campbell has operated a hair salon from her home for the past 15 years.
    • The Aroostook Computer Tutor, owned by Fred Griffith, opened a shop at the Fishman Mall, alongside the Courtyard Café. Griffith had been running a computer business from his home for seven years.
    • Nestled into a corner of Riverfront Park was a tasty new takeout eatery hoping to find its niche in a busy food-service market. The B-B-Q Shack, owned and operated by Tammy and Billy Tompkins of Houlton, officially opened for business in early July.
    • Going off to college can be a financial drain for many students, which is precisely why Houlton’s Tanner Caron was busy last summer building picnic tables. Caron, a 2011 graduate of Houlton High School sold the tables from his home on Pleasant Street.
    • MACs Trading Post officially opened at its new site at the former Brake Service building, located next to Tangs Chinese Cuisine.
    • For 23 years, Jerry’s Thriftway owner Jerry Violette looked for new ways to provide the best possible service to his customers. That service has included adding new product lines and expanding the building over the years. Last winter, Violette started, what he hopes to be, the final expansion at his grocery store when he added about 1,000 square feet to the building. The new area features an extensive line of hardware items, particularly plumbing supplies.
    • Maine Potato Growers, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Pierre Patenaude announced during the 79th annual meeting at the Northeastland Hotel, that MPG returned another positive fiscal year, ending March 2011.
August
    • Rick Spellman, renowned in southern Aroostook County as the “Buy and Sell” guy, was enjoying success in a competitive market. He started his business as a hobby when just a youth, but that blossomed into an opportunity to be a self-employed entrepreneur.
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
BUY AND SELL GUY — Rick Spellman is known as the “Buy and Sell” guy in southern Aroostook County and has forged quite a business for himself over the years. Spellman buys and sells everything from furniture, appliances and other household items, to musical equipment and automobiles.
    • Jeanne Morse, owner of the Hangar Pizza in Patten, hoped she had come up with an interesting twist to her popular eatery that would draw more families to her business located on 53 North Road (also known as Route 11). Morse purchased two giant inflatable fun houses that can be rented out for children’s birthday parties or other family events, either on site or delivered to the person’s home.
SERVING UP MEALS — The Hangar Pizza in Patten has been serving up pizza, sandwiches and various home-cooked specials for about four and a half years. Checking an order are, from left, Brianna Landry, Sarah Chong and owner Jeanne Morse.
    • Two years into their business, the husband and wife team of Scott Galbiati and Jessica Jewell of Houlton was seeing their fledgling business grow from a seed in their minds to an award-winning product several times over. Twenty 2 Vodka received the “platinum” medal for unflavored vodka at the 2011 Spirits International Prestige (SIP) Awards presentation in San Diego, Calif.
September
    • Dan Soucy opened his own auto repair business — Soucy’s Auto Repair and Auto Electronics — at 54 North Road, Suite B, located in the same building as MACS Trading Post. Automotive repair was not the only work done at Soucy’s shop. He also specialized in installing automotive electronics, which includes such services as fixing a broken speaker wire, installing back-up cameras and new stereos or putting in a remote car starter.
    • Stepping inside Café Rendezvous was a treat of the senses both visually and aromatically. Located at 8 Market Square, Café Rendezvous was a new coffee shop and eatery operated by Dwight and Ammael Appleby of Houlton.
    • The soon-to-be opened Tractor Supply Company in Houlton turned to one of the town’s own to serve as store manager. Roy Sanders of Houlton was chosen to lead the new store when it opened for business at 337 North St. in October.
    • Houlton Power Sports announced it was moving to a new location — 381 North Road, the former  site of North Country Auto. Ben Adams, general manager, said the move was necessitated after they outgrew the previous location.
    • Even with the temperatures starting to drop, Tim Hortons Café and Bake Shop was hoping local residents would still want to satisfy their ice cream cravings. Brynn Burton, manager of Public Relations in the United States for Ontario-based Tim Hortons, confirmed that Houlton’s Tim Hortons location was adding the “Cold Stone Creamery” line to its business.
October
    • Tim and Dorene Humphrey of Northern Musical Supply were enjoying success in their business.  Northern Musical Supply sells more than just guitars — although those are still bountiful. In addition to guitars, Humphrey sells amplifiers, sound systems, banjos, microphones, harmonicas, drum heads and sticks, tuning equipment, strings, and various other musical accessories
    • County Physical Therapy, LLC (CPT), which has served northern Maine for nearly 25 years, announced Kiley Henderson of Houlton joined the CPT team, adding occupational therapy to the rehab treatment available in Houlton. Henderson is a 2001 graduate of the University of New England with a masters of science degree in occupational therapy.
    • Those who visit Bev Rowe and Lisa Winship’s business, SCRAPS!, at 23 Market Square all seemed to be in consensus that the store was so much more than just another business. Instead, SCRAPS! had developed into a bit of a haven for would-be crafters.
    • State Farm Agent Doug Guerrette was making a move to better serve present and potential customers. A single-story modular office was set on 29 Military St., adjacent to Military Street Laundromat and straight across from the stop sign at the end of Kendall Street.
November
    • After life-changing events in New York, Linda Rowe debated a move to southern Maine where she originally hailed from or northern Maine where her brother and sister-in-law Glen and Bev Rowe lived. She chose the latter and 10 years later is celebrating an anniversary as the director of the 5 Elements Healing Art Center and the Mindful Way yoga instructor.
    • Hairworks Studio/Miss Whimsy’s gift shop was offering customers autumn savings during its 30-year anniversary celebration this month. Owner Wanita Rush has worked at the business as a stylist for 20 years before she and her husband, Steve, bought the establishment in 2008 from Rod and Candy Herring. The Herrings opened Hairworks Studio on Court Street in November 1981.
    • Katahdin Motors recently celebrated Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary with an open house and antique Chevrolet car show. Katahdin Motors Chevrolet car show featured a rare 1918 Chevrolet 490 owned by Ron Martin of Medway. The show also featured at least one model from every decade except the 1920s.
    • Continuing its efforts to provide total market coverage, Pioneer Broadband of Houlton added telephone service to its line of products and services.
    • The Houlton Water Company announced the promotion of Gregory F. Sherman to assistant general manager. As the assistant general manager, Sherman continues to be accountable for all HWC financial activities, but will also assume additional responsibilities throughout the organization, said John Clark, general manager.
December
    • Nothing sets the tone for the holidays like the look and smell of a balsam fir tree decorated with lights, ornaments and ribbons sitting in your living room or den. But the search for that perfect tree can sometimes take hours. Thankfully, there are people like Rob and Tammie Mulvey to assist. The Mulveys are owners of Pleasant View Tree Farms on 1190 Calais Road in Hodgdon and they know a thing or two about trees. For the past four years, the couple has run a “choose and cut” tree farm from their home.
    • From spices and socks to wooden yo-yos and rolled oats, the Bridgewater General Store was bringing nostalgia back to the community. The 402 Main St. business was opened by Gerard and Wendy Parenteau.
    • Scott Allen of Mapleton was enjoying his new responsibilities as plant manager at Smith & Wesson in Houlton. Allen replaced Terry Wade this past summer, becoming just the third person to hold that title in the Houlton facility. Wade officially retired from his position on May 5, but remained with the company as a consultant.