Business year in review: Part I
The first half of 2015 saw store closures and store openings. Here’s a look at what happened from January to June.
January
Sears, a retailer that has been in Presque Isle for decades — first on Main Street where Rite Aid is now located, then at the Aroostook Centre Mall — closed its doors for good at the mall.
Tuesday, Jan. 6, Pop A Top opened the doors of their new full-service redemption center at the top of the hill at 110 Presque Isle Street in Fort Fairfield.
NorState FCU donated $1,687 to the American Red Cross at a check presentation at the Presque Isle branch. The money was collected from a fee charged on the credit union’s coin sorter machine in Madawaska.
Northern Maine Community College named its director of the new Smith Wellness Center, Tom Richard, currently the director of housing and residential life and the human resource manager for NMCC.
Gail Clukey, owner of Clukey’s Auto Supply stores in Presque Isle, Caribou and Houlton, was named the 2014 Citizen of the Year during the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner, held Jan. 22 at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center.
Northern Maine Community College earned a state award for its record of safety, as well as its policies, procedures and training dealing with safety issues. Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette presented the award to NMCC President Timothy Crowley and members of the college safety committee.
February
J.D. Irving Limited was recognized as Business of the Year at the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner, held Jan. 22 at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center.
After watching two of its major lease-holders move out, officials at the Aroostook Centre Mall were happy to learn that VIP Tires & Service will fill some of that empty space. VIP moved from its Main Street location to the former Sears Auto Center at the mall and opened Sunday, Feb. 1.
Katahdin Trust Co. stepped forward to support Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) and committed to a five-year $50,000 investment.
The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce’s annual Recognition Dinner and Auction, held Jan. 22 at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center, saw a change in leadership, as outgoing President Nancy Fletcher welcomed incoming President Karen Gonya.
Doctors and staff at White Smiles Family Dentistry held the grand opening of their new Presque Isle facility, located at 1 North St.
March
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, was held on Feb. 25, celebrating a change in management at the Ashland Diner. Co-owners Heather Stokes and Jodi Reese looked forward to the New Year and welcoming old and new customers to the eatery.
A one-year anniversary celebration was held at Sister’s Bakery and Coffee Shoppe in downtown Fort Fairfield.
April
The 15th year of Katahdin Trust Co.’s “Cute, Cuddly Critter Campaign” was another huge success for both the bank and the American Red Cross (ARC). Prior to Valentine’s Day, the bank sold 1,250 stuffed animals for $10 each raising $12,550 for the local Red Cross chapter. The additional $50 was generated through customer donations.
Steve Greeley, director of the Workplace Safety and Health Division of the Maine Department of Labor, presented a SHARP award to Scott Searles, director of work services for the Central Aroostook Association in Presque Isle. The honor was earned by the staff of County Box & Pallet in Presque Isle for their ongoing efforts to maintain a safe work environment.
The Atlanta-based media company Gray Television Inc. agreed to purchase Presque Isle CBS and Fox affiliate WAGM-TV for $10.25 million cash to NEPSK Inc.
May
Aroostook Milling celebrated the opening of a new store in Presque Isle on May 1 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce.
Healthy Aroostook, a program of Aroostook County Action Program, Inc. (ACAP), announced Star City IGA, Mars Hill IGA and Hillside IGA in Fort Fairfield have all been recognized for their efforts to curb marketing of tobacco to youth.
Katahdin Trust presented a $5,000 contribution to the Aroostook House of Comfort. The Aroostook Hospice Foundation, Inc. is an organization of passionate volunteers dedicated to bringing a free-standing hospice house to serve all of Aroostook County.
Graves’ Shop ‘n Save awarded a $1,000 education grant to Presque Isle High School May 4 for raising the most money through the Hannaford Helps Schools program.
June
The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 27, marking the grand opening of Save-A-Lot on Parsons Street in Presque Isle.
The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle was recognized nationally among the top 16 high-performing healthcare facilities to demonstrate consistency of experiences by patient type, according to Avatar Solutions, a leading provider of patient satisfaction surveys and related data which serves over 800 healthcare organizations nationwide.
Catholic Charities Maine presented the Community Partner Award to Thompson-Hamel, LLC in recognition of their outstanding commitment to community service and their donation of time, talent and resources.
As part of the grand opening celebration of its new store in Lincoln, the S.W. Collins Company presented $2,500 to House in the Woods Military and Family Retreat, located in Lee for the purchase of new windows.
