Caribou’s business community celebrated awards, store openings and much recognition in 2013, not the least of which was the city’s business-friendly designation. Following are some of the high points the area celebrated in the year just past.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie De La Garza
Shown at far left, Brian Doyle, the governor’s account executive for the Department of Economic and Community Development presented Caribou city officials with two bright blue signs signifying Caribou’s Business-Friendly status, as well as a framed certificate for indoors indicating the same. City officials are, from right, City Manager Austin Bleess, Director of the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce William Tasker, Deputy Mayor Kenneth Murchison, Mayor Gary Aiken and City Councilor Philip McDonough.
July
• Big news came in late July when Caribou received notice that it had been named a “Certified Business-Friendly Community” of Maine, a distinction held by fewer than 25 other municipalities. The honor was given by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, and was greeted with delight by city officials and the business community.
• The first “Thursdays on Sweden” event received a warm reception as about 500-700 people turned out to partake of music, food and merchandise vendors.
• The Bangor Daily News announced it would close its Hampden printing plant and contract with Northeast Publishing to print the Aroostook County edition of the daily paper. Other editions were to be printed by the Lewiston-based Sun Media Group. Northeast is the publisher of the Aroostook Republican, Houlton Pioneer Times, The Star-Herald, and the Piscataquis Observer.
• The Northern Maine Development Commission received a $60,0000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Agency to help support private capital investment and job creation.
• The Caribou-based Echoes magazine marked 25 years with the publication of its 101st continuous quarterly issue.
• Creativity Around the Corner, a new gift shop owned by Monica Sprague, opened for business on the Albair Road, featuring handmade jewelry, artwork, poetry and greeting cards – and a vegetable stand.
• The Bank of Maine sold six of its branches to Machias Savings Bank. Though branches in Houlton, Mars Hill and Fort Kent were closed, the Caribou, Presque Isle and Lincoln branches became Machias Savings locations.
August
• Stating that “A small town cannot have a Main Street without its own movie theater,” Arlen Dow, co-owner of the Braden Theater in Presque Isle and the Caribou Theaters on Sweden Street, announced Caribou would now join the Braden in an upgrade to digital format. Though costly, the move was hastened by the fact that 35mm film production was coming to an end. The upgraded digital equipment was purchased for two of the four Caribou screens.
• The Halfway Home Pet Rescue received a $1,500 grant from the Caroline Gentile and Joseph and Lorayne Funds of the Maine Community Foundation to support a program aiding feral cats.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture named Aroostook, Washington and Piscataquis counties Maine’s first “Great Region.” USDA rural development state director, Virginia Manuel, announced the designation, explaining that a so-called great region a multi-county area with a regional development plan based on the strengths of the participating counties.
• Maine Military Authority officials announced layoffs of up to 140 employees beginning in October, due to lessening demand for MMA services.
• Caribou received two signs proclaiming Caribou as “certified business-friendly” to be posted prominently. Making the presentation was Brian Doyle, the governor’s account executive for the Department of Economic and Community Development.
• Tanya Sleeper, executive director of Aroostook Home Health Services and Valley Home Health Services, was named Graduate Nursing Faculty Member of the Year by Saint Joseph’s College Online.
September
• Goughan’s Berry Farm of Caribou opened a nine-hole miniature golf course, complete with sloping and winding play areas handmade by owner Mark Goughan and friend Douglas Morrell. Goughan said he hopes to have another nine holes completed by September of 2014.
• There was positive worker development news as the Aroostook/Washington Local Workforce Investment Board announced that efforts to better employ and educate people are working. Both counties achieved better than the state average for numbers of people placed in employment or education.
• The University of Maine at Fort Kent was named a Best Northeastern College for the ninth consecutive year by The Princeton Review.
• Caribou High School 2013 graduate Sabrina Haney was one of two area students to receive a $4,000 scholarship from Aroostook Savings and Loan. Also awarded was Vanessa Lavoie of Van Buren.
• The popular “Thursdays on Sweden” events wound down with the last one held on Sept. 26.
• The first O.P. Pierson Days, celebrating the life of Olof P. Pierson of Caribou, inventor of the frozen french fry, was touted a success. Three days of special events, including an antique auto show, a concert and fireworks, celebrated Pierson’s life. In addition to designing the first french fry plant for McCain Foods in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Pierson was responsible for Birdseye building their Caribou facility.
• Dana Morrell & Son Farms of Caribou was named the 2012-13 McCain Foods Champion Potato Grower for Maine.
• The Defense Finance and Accounting Services branch in Limestone was slated to assume an increased workload with the addition of some of the Air Force work from DFAS Europe.
October
• The Northern Maine Development Commission was slated to receive a federal grant of $200,000 and a second award of $75,000 from USDA Rural Development. The funds were earmarked to help the Biomass Clean Tech Manufacturing Cluster Strategic Plan Committee create a manufacturing facility for biomass heating appliances in northern Maine.
• Caribou Rehab & Nursing Center administrator Phil Cyr was appointed to the state Legislature’s Commission to Study Long-Term Care Facilities.
• Veterans’ Memorial Park received a $1,000 Count on the County award from The County Federal Credit Union.
• Family Eye Care/Mavor Optical was profiled as it reopened its offices following extensive damage from one of the summer’s extreme rainstorms. Water damage caused the practice to shut down for nearly two months while renovations ensued.
• Burger Boy was awarded for serving the best french fries after a poll conducted by the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce during O.P. Pierson Days. Owner Spenser Ouellette received the award on behalf of the restaurant, which serves its own homemade fried potatoes.
• In the ongoing national budget crisis, the nearly 500 employees at the Defense Finance and Accounting Services facility in Limestone breathed a collective sigh of relief when they were notified that, at least for the time being, funding existed to stave off the office’s shutdown.
• Four Daughters Redemption Center, owned by Jim Ireland, officially opened its doors in Limestone. The business relocated from Fort Fairfield.
• Ground was broken on a series of eight condominiums to be built by Haney Building Specialties of Caribou on Glenn Street, a project valued at approximately $1.3 million.
November
• Cary Medical Center reaped honors when CEO Kris Doody, RN, was named among the top 20 health leaders in the state by the Maine Health Management Coalition. The hospital was also named a top performer on key quality measures by The Joint Commission.
• Devoe Farms of Limestone unveiled its new truck, painted Breast Cancer Pink in support of cancer awareness. Though none of his family has a history of cancer, owner Tom Devoe wanted to lend his company’s support for the cause. The truck is still undergoing work, but is anticipated to be on the road by March, hauling potatoes from Limestone to Washburn.
• Veteran educator April Flagg, a Caribou High School graduate, was named the first executive director of the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative.
• New Sweden native John McCormack was on a research team from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom which had a study published in the Economic Journal. The study focused on aspects of management quality at universities.
• The process of changing from fuel oil to compressed natural gas was under way at Cary Medical Center. Construction leading up to the conversion involved local contractors, with the primary contractor being Mechanical Services Inc.
• Owners of The Cubby Thriftstores reported the success of their third location in Madawaska, which opened during late summer.
December
• Country Kettle of Woodland reopened its doors for the first time in over five years, under the ownership of Mike Pelletier of Woodland and his girlfriend and business partner, Danette Madore of Caribou. The small store is located in the dooryard of the Pelletier farm and features handmade craft items, antiques and other unique gifts.
• The Friends of the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge in Limestone received a $1,000 Count on the County award from The County Federal Credit Union.
• The National Committee for Quality Assurance awarded Pines Health Services for excellence in patient care. The local health-care entity was honored by the Patient-Centered Medical Home 2011 program for using best care practices.
• The first-ever Caribou Hometown Christmas, held the evening of Dec. 12, drew 11 area businesses together to offer some festive fun and shopping specials for local browsers.
• Daigle Oil stepped forward to support the Nordic Heritage Center as a local sponsor for the 2014 IBU Youth/Junior Biathlon World Championships, which will be held at the Presque Isle center Feb. 28-March 7, 2014.
• Cary Medical Center officially turned the valves on its compressed natural gas heating project, celebrating full conversion from fuel oil to CNG.
• Limestone grocer Mike Cyr, owner of Mike’s Family Market, purchased County Quikstop and reopened the store as Mike’s Quikstop and Deli on U.S. Route 1 in Caribou.
• Machias Savings Bank became The County’s newest financial organization when the Caribou, Presque Isle and Lincoln Bank of Maine branches made their official changeover.
