The first half of 2015 was a great year for County businesses. The following is a list of highlights from January through June.
January
The Ogunquit River Inn and Suites donated some really beautiful furniture to Catholic Charities. Proceeds from the sale of the furniture went to replenish the food bank Catholic Charities operates. That food, in turn, supplied 24 food pantries in The County.
Caribou was named the most affordable place to live in Maine, according to a study done by the financial technology company SmartAsset. The County’s three largest municipalities ranked top in the study, Caribou placing first, followed by Houlton and Presque Isle.
Dixie Shaw, director of hunger and relief services for Catholic Charities’ office in Caribou, was in Presque Isle Jan. 13 to accept a $1,000 check from Emera Maine to be used for the agency’s food bank.
A new partnership between the Maine Community Foundation and the Fair Food Fund resulted in a $230,000 loan to a Van Buren’s Northern Girl company to help equip its new processing facility.
This year Reno’s Pizza House, touted for its genuine friendly home-town atmosphere and delicious pizzas, celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Home Channel News, the building products and home improvement retailing magazine of Lebhar-Friedman Inc., named S.W. Collins Co. as the 2014 Independent Pro Dealer of the Year.
February
Officials with Northern Maine Development Commission announced the hiring of Tracy Tweedie as workforce resource coordinator for veterans and their families working out of the Houlton office.
Four guest speakers attended the Caribou Middle School on Feb. 8 encouraging eighth-graders from Caribou and Limestone to start thinking about what they want to be when they grow up. Aside from urging kids to consider whether they want to be accountants or a dentists, guest speakers Alana Margeson, Mike Quinlan, Leland Caron and David Sleeper challenged the students to think about what kinds of choices they need to make in order for their dreams to come true.
The Presque Isle-based financial services firm of Thompson-Hamel, LLC announced that Caribou resident Bryan Thompson has been named a partner in the firm.
Twenty-two people were arrested by the Kiwanis Keystone Kops in Caribou on Feb. 20, causing an outbreak of smiles and a total of $336 donated to the Caribou Kiwanis Club.
March
Machias Savings Bank partnered with Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) by making an initial $5,000 investment. The partnership allowed the bank to continue to make a significant investment in Aroostook County by helping AAI invest in Aroostook’s children who have a college degree on their list of goals.
Five hospitals in Maine, including three in Aroostook County, announced the formation of the Maine Rural Health Collaborative, LLC, with a goal of preserving and enhancing healthcare within the communities they serve. Among those hospitals included Caribou’s Cary Medical Center.
April
The Caribou Business & Professional Women’s Organization announced three scholarship opportunities awarded by the local group. Caribou High School seniors entering an accredited college may apply for the Viola Willard High School Scholarship.
After 13 years at Northern Maine Development Commission, Mike Eisensmith, director of regional planning, retired. His last day was Thursday, April 2. NMDC officials said Eisensmith was instrumental in the Mobilize Northern Maine asset-based strategic planning process utilized by the Aroostook Partnership for Progress.
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living recognized Maine Veterans’ Homes in Caribou for achieving national quality goals.
Cary Medical Center was named to the Harvard Pilgrim Honor Roll along with 13 other hospitals in Maine. The Honor Roll recognizes those adult, acute care hospitals whose performance was among the top 25 percent of those measured nationally.
A local processor earned top honors from the Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA). Northern Girl, begun by sisters Leah and Marada Cook in 2011 at a small facility in Limestone, was named business of the year during the association’s annual conference on March 20.
The Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce honored local businesses and citizens during their annual recognition dinner at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center on Thursday, April 16. Goughan’s Berry Farm brought home the coveted Business of the Year Award. Caribou native, Bryan Thompson, was selected by the chamber as this year’s Citizen of the Year.
May
The city of Caribou received funds back from the Maine State Retirement System (MSRS) in the approximate amount of $3.4 million and the City Council decided to invest $3 million of those funds into 5-year CDs with Aroostook Savings and Loan.
Steven Michaud, the president of the Maine Hospital Association, took a break from Augusta to chat with local business leaders at a Caribou Rotary Club meeting on May 13 during National Hospital Week.
June
The Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) and the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Maine MEP) announced that Ken Letourneau was been selected to serve as the Maine MEP project manager for Aroostook and Washington counties.
Caribou native, Lydia Kieffer, joined Caribou as its new marketing and event coordinator. Her experience includes her ongoing marketing and social media work for RE/MAX Central’s Kieffer team.
Cary Medical Center began renovating their Specialty Clinic, which offers oncology, infusion and various other services, to make room for their new state-of-the-art Jefferson Cary Cancer Center.
