YEAR IN REVIEW: BUSINESS
July
The Loring Job Corps Center in Limestone conducted an awards ceremony to honor five of its longtime dedicated staff who have served at the center since its opening 20 years ago. The employees are Leo Labbe, Bab Cote, Richard Roy, Herman Gaskins and Joe Pinette.
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Contributed photo Joan McElwain, left, who works in the hospital laboratory at Cary Medical Center, helps her colleague, Mary Lou Nelson, display a cake honoring Nelson as she retires after 56 1/2 years in the Cary Lab. The cake and other gifts were presented to Nelson at a retirement reception held at the hospital on July 14. |
The unique vendors and entertainment of Sweden Street’s biweekly event Thursdays on Sweden were all moved to the Caribou Wellness Center due to a severe storm.
Mary Lou Nelson of New Sweden, who managed the Cary Medical Center lab for many years and is well known for her expertise as a phlebotomist, decided to end her career at the hospital and spend more time with her community activities, family and friends.
August
Members of the Parish of the Precious Blood Holy Rosary Blanket Ministry in Caribou stopped by Cary Medical Center to donate handmade blankets for Jefferson Cary Cancer Center patients, as well as newborn babies born on the hospital’s Maternal/Child Unit.
The Lister Knowlton VFW Auxiliary and the Caribou Lioness Organization donated the proceeds from the 2016 Little Miss Caribou and Miss Caribou pageants to Brian’s Ride. Brian’s Ride was organized by family members and friends in memory of Brian Caldwell, who passed away from cancer in 2014, to benefit patients receiving cancer care at the Jefferson Cary Cancer Center at Cary Medical Center.
Children enjoyed the newly built playground at Trafton Lake in Limestone. Both the Town of Limestone and Lowe’s Heroes Program donated a respective $10,000 and $2,500 for the playground.
Two RSU 39 employees, with help from the Northern Maine Development Commission Business Finance Division, started a side business, Aroostook Driving School LLC, to meet a demand in the region. The entrepreneurs were Todd Albert and Ryan Deprey.
September
Steven Greeley and Mike LaPlante from the Maine Department of Labor visited Caribou to award the Safety and Health Award for Public Employers (SHAPE) to the Maine Veterans’ Home.
Dodo’s Market on Route 89 between Caribou and Limestone has been around since 1965 and now has a new owner, Paul Morgan of Fort Fairfield.
October
Officials at the Loring Job Corps Center in Limestone recognized Bab Cote with the 2016 Staff of the Year Award.
The Caribou Rehab and Nursing Center had the distinction of being the only facility in Maine to consistently hold a five-star rating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for eight consecutive years.
The Loring Job Corps Center hosted a luncheon for local community public relations personnel, along with an exhibit of their various trades and skills.The event recognized and celebrated Job Corps’ 20th year of providing skills and work opportunities to eligible people ages 16 through 24.
Aroostook Savings and Loan presented Friends of Caribou Schools with a $100,000 pledge to support their campaign for the addition of a second gymnasium to the new RSU 39 school construction project.
November
Just after Halloween the Pizza Hut in Caribou closed its doors and told its patrons to visit their Presque Isle location if they’re in the mood for pizza. Not much was said to the community explaining why the Caribou Pizza Hut on Bennett Drive shut down on Nov. 1.
National hospital safety organization The Leapfrog Group once again awarded a top grade of A to Cary Medical Center in its newest round of patient safety ratings.
