Editor’s note: The following is the first of a two-part series highlighting some of the tops business stories for the year 2015. This editions features January through June, while next week’s paper will focus on the months of July through December.
The first half of 2015 was filled with a number of memorable business moments in southern Aroostook County. From the opening of a $1.3 million expansion at Madigan Estates, to the naming of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year there were a number of positive things going on in the local business world.
January
J. McLaughlin Construction acquired Dickison and London’s equipment assets and its shop location at 174 Bangor St. Dickison and London was founded in 1946 by Ronald Dickison and Guy London and was taken over by their sons, Gerald and Jerry back in 1971. The acquisition brought Josh McLaughlin full circle in his groundwork career as he was once mentored by Dickison and London.
County Kidz Childcare, operated by friends and neighbors, Lacey Clark and Amanda Crane, opened for business in Houlton. Also, a new child learning center opened at 40 North St. as the Infinity Learning Center, operated by Diana Hardy, opened its doors.
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 at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center.
A hydroponics class in Houlton drew a crowd of 37 individuals to Hy-Grow Organics, located at 355 North Road. The class was led by Stephanie Burnett of the University of Maine Orono to address the issue of how to grow hydroponically.
The Southern Aroostook Development Corporation (SADC) held its annual meeting at the Houlton Regional Hospital’s Health Education Center. Several elections of the 18-member board took place during the meeting. Kent Good of The Thirsty Dawg, Max Lynds of the F.A. Peabody Company, Josh McLaughlin of J. McLaughlin Construction, LLC, Lori Weston of Bangor Savings Bank and Jerry York of York’s of Houlton were all re-elected for three-year terms. President Scott Dionne was re-elected chairman of the board for 2015. Butch Asselin, Houlton town manager, and Rosa McNally, grant administrator of the Houlton Band of Maliseets were also elected to the board
February
Precision Eye Care opened for business in Houlton. Dr. Jessica Philbrook opened the doors to her new business at 29 Military St. Suite B in Houlton after spending several years working with
Dr. Robert Ellis in Houlton.
Houlton High School 2013 graduate Sarah Bouchard completed Empire Beauty School in Portland in 11 months and was hired as one of the stylists at Beauty and Beyond on the Bangor Road in Houlton.
Hodgdon’s Joel Duff, a fourth-generation dairy and beef farmer, was enjoying success in his business “Duff Farms” alongside his wife Katie and children Samuel, Adeline and Abigail. Duff Farms, which was the only licensed farm north of Bangor to sell raw milk, had 20 milking cows to provide the fresh product.
March
The Louisiana-Pacific Corp. manufacturing plant in New Limerick was the first stop on a three-day jobs tour led by House Speaker Mark Eves and state lawmakers in Aroostook County. During a tour of the engineered wood products plant, company officials and workers urged lawmakers to partner with the industry to grow good-paying jobs in The County and around the state.
Sammie Carmen of Houlton had been searching for just the right place to house her tattoo business for a number of years. Originally, Carmen opened Maniak Ink in Union Square, before relocating to North Street before moving to 15 Market Square, Suite 6. With the move came a new name as Carmen changed the name of her business to Sam Carmen’s Tattoo and Art Studio.
The Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce held its 2015 annual Dinner Meeting and Gala at the Houlton Lodge of Elks. The Business of the Year award went to Robin Crone, owner of Country North Gifts; Community Service Award was presented to Swallow’s Electric; Community Spirit Award went to Lt. Dan Pelletier of the Houlton Police Department; and the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Barbara Bossie.
Madigan Estates owners Brenda Brown, Jim Brown and Debbie Brown LaCombe announced the completion of a new wing at their residential care facility. Madigan Estates added 24 beds in the construction, which provided additional space for 13 long-term/rehab residents for a total capacity of 99 residents and provide employment for 10 full-time employees. The $1.3 million expansion provided the community with a service that was needed when Houlton Regional Hospital decreased its progressive/ skilled bed capacity.
April
Another business opened in the basement of the Mini-Music and Tack Shop at 73 Main St. in Houlton. Maxine Lovely started a consignment shop in her daughter’s store. Maxine’s Consignment Shop offered an array of items ranging from books, games to clothing, but its specialty was furniture and dishes.
Jerry Doxtader and his family were hoping that their business, Bark-Eater Farm, in East Hodgdon would fill a growing niche of people looking for healthy, locally-grown produce.
The Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) announced Kristen Wells was hired as advancement director for the company. Wells, an alum of Hodgdon High School, previously served as managing director for the Houlton Community Arts Center and social media director at WHOU 100.1 FM.
May
Blake McCarthy, a master electrician, opened his own business (MCR Electric) in Houlton. MCR Electric was qualified to meet all residential and commercial needs as McCarthy was licensed and insured.
Dunn Furniture in Houlton was recognized by La-Z-Boy, Inc for outstanding sales performance in 2014 in the northeastern United States.
Though many people saw empty storefronts and mismatched architecture in Market Square in Houlton, the downtown can have a promising future, if a feasible plan is put into motion. At a Maine Downtown meeting held at the Courtyard Café, business and building owners alike were challenged to be creative in their marketing and to look for ways to increase value of their downtown property.
Mitchell Currie, the owner of Currie’s County Construction, had been working on his own for about a year and was enjoying success in his business.
June
After 46 years in banking, Brenda Richards of Houlton started a new chapter in her life called “retirement.” Richards has spent the last 36 years of her career at Bangor Savings Bank.
In recognition of many hours and contributions devoted throughout the year by hospital volunteers, the Volunteer Department of Houlton Regional Hospital held its 30th Annual Volunteer Luncheon. A total of 10,513 hours were donated by volunteers at the hospital. Since its inception an amazing 324,644 hours have been donated.
A businessman whose love of northern Maine and his hometown led him to start a business in Houlton in 2012 was named the 2015 LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development Aroostook Entrepreneur of the Year. Joshua McLaughlin of J. McLaughlin Construction LLC was bestowed the honor at an awards ceremony.
At one time, the Houlton community enjoyed carhop hours on the weekends at York’s Dairy Bar and cramming in everyone that could possibly fit into one car to hit the Borderland Drive-in theater on the North Road. Michelle Williams, owner of Shelley’s Café, was hoping to create traffic and energy in the downtown by bringing back carhops on Friday nights.
The Maine Water Utility Association lauded The Houlton Water Company by presenting the prestigious Excellence in Operations award during a special ceremony at the Houlton Lodge of Elks.
