Editor’s Note: The following is the second of two articles highlighting some of the top business stories from 2021. This article highlights events from July through December.
Compiled by Paula Brewer
The second half of 2021 saw ribbon cuttings celebrated and the return of popular events like the Northern Maine Fair, Crown of Maine Balloon Fest and St. Apollonia Festival of Trees, along with many fundraisers in The County tradition of paying it forward. Here’s a look at some of the highlights.
July
The renovation of the Northeastland Hotel continued when IgnitePI received a grant from the Maine Community Foundation’s Start Up/Scale Up program to purchase furniture and equipment for a new workspace and conference rooms.
After collaborating since 2014 to offer the city’s aquatics program at the Gentile Hall pool, the city of Presque Isle and the University of Maine at Presque Isle established a new partnership, with UMPI administering the program and making it available to all area residents.
Katahdin Trust was recognized for having the top-performing campaign this year for the United Way of Aroostook.
The Rusty Krab got a new trailer two weeks after losing its original food stand to a fire. Rusty Johnston, the owner of the popular seafood stand, was able to reopen after acquiring a new one from the Pangburn family in Easton.
Rusty Johnston (second from right) stands with his family in front of the new trailer he purchased to continue running his seafood stand, the Rusty Crab. (Photo courtesy of Rusty Johnston)
The town of Ashland acquired a 94-acre site to be developed for mixed commercial/industrial use and promises to attract new forest-product businesses.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Donald and Linda G. Zillman Family Professorship for 2021-23 is Kimberly Sebold, professor of history.
August
Maine Municipal Association presented the city of Presque Isle with a dividend check in the amount of $16,855 because of its good performance and loss prevention programs.
Ignite Presque Isle received a $50,000 donation from Maine Mutual Group that will dedicate the co-workspace and business center at the Northeastland Hotel.
The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 30th anniversary with an open house to kick off the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest. The event honored the organization’s history and celebrated 30 years of outstanding community collaboration.
(Courtesy of Sha-Lam Photography)
The Northern Maine Fair Association, since no midway was planned for this year’s event, created alternative entertainment for youth including miniature golf or “putt-putt”, ladder ball, corn bag toss or cornhole, fishing, Frisbee toss or “hungry shark”, large dice or Yahtzee, ring toss or peg game, bowling, tin can toss, and beanbag toss into baskets. Members of the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge 1954, hosted the games.
Participants in Aroostook County’s 4-H Baby Beef Auction, held at the Northern Maine Fair, received an additional gift of a $500 donation from Lionel Theriault and Theriault Equipment. Sons Jesse Theriault and Cole Theriault made the presentations on behalf of their father.
September
Two area businesses supported the Meals on Wheels program of the Aroostook Agency on Aging. Financial and in-kind donations from Percy’s Auto Sales enabled the nonprofit organization to replace the older of two service vans used each week to deliver nutrition services throughout northern Maine. Fort Kent-based Daigle Oil Company donated fuel for the next year for both vans.
SAD 1 School Farm employee Kamryn Gilmour (right) and farm manager John Hoffses arrange a display of apples in the school farm store. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star Herald)
After months of work by many volunteers to sand, cover in fiberglass and paint one of the most recognizable pieces of the Maine Solar System Model, Saturn was returned to its orbit. The planet model was refurbished at Beaulieu’s Garage in Caribou and was reinstalled at its site in Westfield with help from a team at Versant Power.
Though drought threatened and late summer brought warm temperatures, the 25 apple varieties at the SAD 1 School Farm were showing signs of a strong yield. The farm grows apples on 2,900 trees spread out over 14 acres.
Healthy Living for ME welcomed Central Aroostook Association as a new community provider. The association partners with Healthy Living for ME to bring workshops to the local community to help Mainers improve their health and wellness.
Northern Light Dialysis in Presque Isle marked its fifth year in its newest facility. The upgraded space, made possible with the support of community donations, saw additional stations added. The center opened in 1997 and moved to its current space in 2016 as needs increased.
October
Three Aroostook County Action Program employees received Certified Community Action Professional program endorsements: Jamie Chandler, chief operating officer; Sue Powers, senior director of programs; and Amy Murchison, program coordinator.
NMCC welcomed four new members to the team this fall: Matt Beil, EMS instructor; Jeff Butterfield, diesel hydraulics instructor; Matt Cole, building construction technology instructor; and Dr. Ann Spinney, assistant dean of learning resources.
The United Way of Aroostook’s High Five Turkey Drive returned to stuff local food pantries. The drive has brought thousands of dollars to Aroostook County food pantries over the past few years during Thanksgiving.
The Aroostook Agency on Aging marked the grand opening of its Artists for Aging Gallery with featured local artists Lisa Desjardins and John Holub.
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — October 1, 2021 — Father and daughter artists John Holub (left) and Lisa Desjardins pose next to their paintings during Aroostook Agency on Aging’s First Friday Art Walk exhibit. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star Herald)
Aroostook County was the perfect place to grow vegetables this season. Farmers not only pulled a record-breaking potato harvest from the ground, but reported a stronger-than-expected yield in a variety of crops including cabbage, beets and squash.
Ignite Presque Isle hired Robert Ottaviano as the food and beverage manager to lead the restaurant, Rodney’s at 436 Main, and events at the Northeastland Hotel. Ottaviano brings 35 years of experience in the food industry, having worked for Aramark to oversee all food and catering needs at Northern Maine Community College for the past 17 years.
November
The University of Maine at Presque Isle welcomed 13 faculty and staff over the past year: Corazon Ardell, administrative specialist at the Houlton Higher Education Center; Leslie Brown, COVID-19 testing coordinator; Dr. Susan Chang, dean of competency-based and degree completion programs; Sydney Churchill, athletic trainer; Sloan Dionne, assistant director of Gentile Hall and aquatics director; Jonathan Hopkins, structural specialist in facilities management; Roland Jandreau, administrative specialist in the Campus Center; Spencer McBreairty, director of campus engagement; Evann Myhre, administrative specialist, Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant and university advancement; Reed Nonken, assistant professor of project and supply chain management; Shannon Sleeper, director of university experience; S. Kathryn “Kate” Wrigley-White, admissions counselor; and Betsy Sawhill Espe, chief business officer.
A logging company in Chapman earned an award for safe practices during the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine’s 25th annual meeting Oct. 29. Earning the Acadia Insurance Safety Award was Carl Morneau, Morneau Logging.
County farmers pulled a record potato harvest out of the ground this year, but transportation slowdowns and a driver shortage made it difficult to get the crop to market. With the surprisingly bountiful harvest, the supply was there to meet demand from french fry makers and grocery shoppers, and the potatoes were holding up well. But the industry grappled with supply chain delays, fuel costs and lack of transportation workers.
Volunteers Leighton and Barbara Perkins (from left) stand with Cheryl Morris at the Grace Interfaith Food Table site in Presque Isle, as they sort through 2,000 pounds of food donations. Morris hosted a food drive to honor the memory of her son, Adam McDonald, and the resulting ton of food will help the GIFT pantry feed local people in need. (Courtesy of Charlene Buzza)
A food drive to honor a local man brought in 2,000 pounds of goods that will help a Presque Isle pantry feed those in need this winter. Cheryl Morris wanted to honor her son, Adam McDonald, who passed away on April 25 from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, so she decided on a food drive which yielded a literal ton of support.
Maine Veterans Project was the recipient of $2,250 raised during 2021 by employees of Katahdin Trust from Aroostook County to Portland.
December
Aroostook County Action Program honored four employees for having reached their 40th anniversary of service. Mary Duff of Houlton, Randy Rattray of Presque Isle, Sue Powers of Mapleton and Linda Slauenwhite of Dyer Brook were celebrated by agency leadership and Aroostook County’s two state senators at a Nov. 19 ceremony in Dyer Brook.
Pines Health Services hosted a community-wide COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Nov. 30 at the Caribou Recreation Center. A total of 304 people, including children, attended the three-hour clinic. Nursing students from Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle helped out at the event.
Wintergreen Arts Center received a $20,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation to expand after-school and summer arts programs to all area youth regardless of their ability to pay.
A group of local quilters turned leftover pieces of fabric into welcome gifts for those in need. An anonymous donor in Portland gave boxes of fabric to the Acadian Quilters, based in Madawaska. The group started work in October and fashioned quilts, blankets and bibs to be donated around The County, including a local Battered Women’s Shelter and the Pregnancy Care Centers in Fort Kent and Presque Isle, as well as to the Homeless Services of Aroostook Shelter in Presque Isle.
Aroostook County Action Program received a $15,000 donation from Versant Power to support the mission of keeping local residents warm in their homes over the winter.
The Melanie Jane Stewart Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the memory of the scholarship’s namesake, who was remembered by her family as “a motivator, a creator, and a leader.” From left, Trey Stewart, Melanie Jane Stewart, Meredith Stewart, and Grant Stewart. (Contributed photo)
Thanks to a $10,000 donation to the Northern Maine Community College Foundation, a scholarship has been endowed in memory of Melanie Jane Stewart. Melanie passed away in September after a very courageous battle with cancer. Through the establishment of the scholarship, her children, Trey, Meredith and Grant, wish to honor her strength, courage and love.
