 |
|
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie de La Garza |
By Natalie de La Garza
Staff Writer
A look back at business news in Caribou for 2014 saw some tremendous anniversary celebrations and some of the region’s dedicated and creative businesspersons received recognition for their hard work.
January
• Beaulieu’s Garage was recognized by American Towman magazine during a celebratory luncheon for being named amongst the 500 “Most Experienced Towmen in America.”
• Dixie Shaw of Catholic Charities Maine was promoted to Director of Hunger and Relief Services; she was previously the director of the food bank and northern thrift stores. Debbie Pelkey was promoted to manager of northern retail stores for Threads of Hope.
• Gregg Collins was named the new chairman of the Cary Medical Center Board of Directors, receiving the ceremonial gavel from outgoing chairman David Sleeper.
• Celebrating milestone anniversaries this year included S.W. Collins at 170 years, Sleeper’s at 100 years, Cary Medical Center at 90 years, the Rendezvous at 55 years, Highway Tire at 50 years, The Maine Dance Academy at 20 years and Dobbs Realty with 10 years.
February
• After 15 years, the Libra Foundation decided to stop funding the Maine Winter Sports Center. Brian Hamel, chairman of the Maine Winter Sports Center Board, said that they were very appreciative for all that Libra has done in the past, and stated that it was now the board’s job to create a long-term, sustainable model to carry MWSC into the future.
• Participating in the annual Ground Hog Job Shadowing event, students of the Loring Job Corps Center spent the first week in February interning at local businesses.
• Representative Carol McElwee (R-Caribou) sponsored a bill aimed at bringing telemedicine to seniors in their homes, and possibly bring jobs to Caribou. Virtual Managed Solutions announced that they would offer to carry telemedicine services if the bill passed, which could produce over 40 new, good-paying jobs.
• The Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a new sales event in Caribou, called “Grand Mènage” in the spirit of the annual Acadian spring house-cleaning tradition.
March
• Kate Goodwin was named Bank Secrecy Act officer at Katahdin Trust Company; Joseph Porter was promoted to the position of vice president/controller.
• Chris Putnam of Hermon was named S.W. Collin’s Employee of the Year.
• Tourism developer for Aroostook County Tourism Jon Gulliver announced that tourism is growing in Maine, experiencing a nearly 7 percent increase in 2013.
April
• Katahdin Trust Company presented a $12,000 check to the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross- Aroostook Branch representing the sales of stuffed animals during the bank’s annual Cute Cuddly Critters Campaign.
• The Halfway Home Pet Rescue re-opened their thrift store, Second Chance, at 31 Herschel Street to raise funds to help stray and abandoned cats in the area.
• Caribou residents are now able to renew vehicle registrations through a new Rapid Renewal program, accessed through www.soson-line.org.
• Cary Medical Center added the 2014 Health Strong Hospital award to its list of honors.
• Ryan Ellsworth was named president of the County Federal Credit Union; former president and CEO Kenneth Hensler retired in July.
• The waiting room of the Caribou Community-based Outpatient Clinic at Cary Medical Center was named in honor of Clare R. Hitchcock, RN, a retired VA registered nurse who worked at the Caribou CBOC for 18 years.
• Members of the Caribou Rotary Club donated $1,000 to the Veterans Memorial Park Association.
• Cullin Caverhill of Caribou was named the winner of the Children’s Dental Health Month contest at Dr. David Smith’s office.
May
• Highway Tire and Sleeper’s were recognized for their milestone anniversaries, 50 and 100 respectively, during the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Recognition Dinner. The owner of Burger Boy, Spenser Ouellette, was named Entrepreneur of the Year.
• Caribou native and Senior Vice President and Market Leader for the Presque Isle branch of Key Bank Steve Gagnon announced his retirement after 36 years with the bank. Cheri Doak was tapped to fill Gagnon’s position.
• Aroostook Aspirations Initiative celebrated its first anniversary.
June
• Cary Medical Center scored an “A” in patient safety, determined by the national nonprofit organization Leapfrog Group.
• Director of Human Resources at Cary Medical Center Bill Flagg was honored for his 35 years of service to the hospital during Cary’s annual Employee Longevity Awards Banquet. Flagg was in good company amongst 62 others honored.
• Thursdays on Sweden, a Caribou Chamber of Commerce promotion, was off to a speedy start with a Spud Speedway-themed event, held at the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Department due to rain.
• Healing Hearts expanded services to a new Madawaska office and named a new COO Sherry Pelletier.
• Cary Medical Center CEO Kris Doody spoke to the House Veterans Affairs Committee to inform lawmakers on the successes of Project ARCH and the need to secure an extension to fund the program that provides health care to veterans who live in northern Maine.
