Editor’s Note: The following is the first of two articles highlighting some of the top business stories from 2012. This article highlights January to June. Next week, the Houlton Pioneer Times will feature July through December.
It was another economic year to remember in southern Aroostook County. From the opening of a new County Yankee grocery store in Houlton, to a longtime lodge in Danforth going under new ownership, 2012 featured a number of positive business stories.
January
• Experienced in hand-knit items, Kristy Howell had never knit lace out of fine yarn and wanted to try it. About three years ago, Howell finished knitting her first shawl, discovering a new avenue for her craftsmanship, which she hopes will one day flourish into more of a business opportunity. Instead of selling products, Howell was offering the patterns for the knitted items, and was seeing a steady business.
• Visiting Nurses of Aroostook announced it was named to the 2011 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. In its sixth year, the HomeCare Elite identifies the top 25 percent of agencies and further highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. Winners are ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, process measure implementation, and financial performance.
• A Smyrna Street business was looking to grow its clientele. Aaron Bither, a licensed massage therapist, opened AJB Massage Therapy on 17 Smyrna St., Houlton. Bither graduated from the U.S. Career Institute in Fort Collins, Colo. in August of 2010.
• Officials with the Northern Maine Development Corporation received funding through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Technical Assistance Program to provide grant writing services for a regional project; NMDC officials proposed to submit a 2012 CDGB Housing application to fund the replacement of contaminated and/or dry wells, malfunctioning septic systems and two single-family, owner-occupied housing units with a grant amount of $300,000.
• The Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP) Houlton mill in New Limerick marked a safety milestone by working more than two years without an OSHA recordable injury. The mill, which employs 65, produces LP SolidStart laminated strand lumber. It was the first time the mill has reached this safety milestone. In all, employees at LP Houlton worked more than 274,000 hours without a work-related injury.
• As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month back in October 2011, the staff at Yorks of Houlton came up with the idea to donate $10 for every vehicle sold to the Health Services Foundation and its fund-raising effort to bring digital mammography equipment to Houlton. Yorks raised $810 from the promotion and presented those funds in January.
• Nancy Manton purchased the Shamrock Café on the corner of Bangor Road and Alice Avenue. Manton purchased the restaurant from Lisa and Gary McGuire and the transition was finalized at the end of 2011. The Shamrock re-opened under Manton’s leadership on Jan. 5.
• Zippy’s, a popular take-out eating establishment located next to the Temple Theatre sold its final chilidog in the Shiretown. Zippy’s owner Mike Hurley announced that he had sold the seasonal snack shack that specialized in burgers, fries, gourmet hot dogs and other food items. It was relocated downstate.
• Helping non-profits raise a bit of extra money was a little easier thanks to a program sponsored by TD Bank of Houlton. TD Bank’s Affinity Program was launched as a tool to help non-profit groups collect money for their causes. When a group joins the program, it must then solicit other TD Bank customers to become members of their cause. If groups are able to get enough individuals, either business or residential customers, to join their cause, the bank will then make an annual contribution to the non-profit group based on the average balance of the customers’ accounts.
Feburary
• Sitting between SAGE Financial and Uncle Willy’s in downtown Houlton is a top-notch health facility — Main Street Fitness Gym. Located in a building that was formerly Lads ‘n Lassies, the gym was more than what would be seen with a glance through its front windows. Coming through the door, a double room is surrounded with full-length mirrors, with free weights to the right and various workout machines, including a 10-piece circuit that works the entire body, to the left. In the basement are two tanning beds, a sauna, an aqua massaging bed, more full-length mirrors and stability balls.
• Davis Certified Public Accountant (CPA) of Presque Isle opened a new location in Houlton to better serve their clientele. Davis CPA, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Government Audit Quality Center, specializes in municipal audit. As a member of the National Association of Tax Preparers, Davis CPA prepares corporate and individual tax returns. The Houlton office, managed by Amanda Willette, handles corporate and individual tax returns, along with payroll and bookkeeping services.
• Steve Cowett joined the staff of the Houlton Pioneer Times as an advertising representative. Cowett is no stranger to the newspaper industry, having spent the past 15 years working for the Bangor Daily News in the circulation department. He started working for the Bangor Daily News as a district manager in the Presque Isle area in August of 1997. In September 1999, Cowett moved to Caribou and took over that district until May of 2002. He received a promotion to assistant regional manager and was transferred to take over the Houlton area. In March of 2006, Cowett was promoted to regional manager of Aroostook County.
• Roger Morin, owner of Houlton Art Studio on Court Street, celebrated a personal milestone of five decades as a visual artist. Morin, who was born in Auburn, started doodling at a young age and became more interested in drawing when he was 14 years old. With encouragement from a teacher, he was able to pursue art. Nine years ago, Morin and his wife Lois relocated from Wells to the Shiretown, opening the Houlton Art Studio on Court Street.
• The Houlton Car Wash underwent a major renovation when owner Tony Delucca overhauled his in-bay automatic car wash, rebuilding the area and adding a no-touch “Oasis Typhoon” carwash system. The Oasis Typhoon is a technological advancement and an eco-friendly carwash system, according to Delucca. The old machine was wearing out and he decided to install the new in-bay car wash because of its efficiency and drying system. It was the fourth car wash Delucca has installed since he opened the business nearly 25 years ago.
• There is kind of a time machine in the Shiretown. It doesn’t work by sending you into the future, but it certainly can take you back. For folks of a certain age, Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe is a trip down memory lane. Located in the old S.L. White Drugstore building at 60 Main St. in Houlton, the three-year-old establishment offers sweets and other treats not found anywhere else in the region. It is owned and operated by Karen Keber.
March
• It was an evening of fine dining and camaraderie as the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce held its annual Dinner Meeting and Gala Saturday evening. The Houlton Lodge of Elks was transformed into scenes of Broadway and First Street to “A Night in New York City.” Serving as the Chamber’s annual business meeting, four major awards were presented on the evening — Lifetime Achievement Award, Business of the Year, Community Service and Community Spirit. The Business of the Year award went to S.W. Collins; Community Service Award was presented to McGill’s Community Band; Community Spirit Award went to Dave Cunha; and the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Peter Chase.
Criteria for Business of the Year Award includes business growth and improvement; quality customer service; staying power within the community; overall excellence in the marketplace; community contributions and major achievements within the business field.
S.W. Collins has only been in Houlton for the past five years, but has had a tremendous impact on the area. The company, which formed 168 years ago in Caribou with Sam Collins and Washington Vaughn, remains a family-owned and operated business, with the Collins family.
The Community Service Award identifies a group or individual that consistently contributes to the community in any manner that has improved the quality of life to its community members through services or programs.
Dave Cunha, owner of County Yankee Grocery in Houlton, was chosen for this year’s award. Cunha was unable to attend the event, due to an out-of-state family commitment. Representatives from his business attended and accepted the award on his behalf. Cunha also owns Steaks n’ Stuff in Presque Isle and Lincoln.
The Community Spirit Award honors an individual or group who shows extraordinary community spirit thought acts of volunteerism or any other manner of contribution to the area. McGill’s Community Band was formed in 1985, marking the fulfillment of David McGillicuddy’s dream to bring such a band to the Houlton area.
• Bangor Savings Bank was holding a food drive at its Houlton branch, located on the corner of Court and Military streets to collect jars of peanut butter and jelly for local food pantries.
• Wiggy’s Trading Post was under new management, as Austin and Diane Kinney took over the business from Steve Wiggin. Wiggy’s Trading Post, which sits at a corner of Union Square intersection and has been there for nearly seven years, is a conglomeration of items ranging from furniture to artwork, jewelry to coins, along with a host of bits and pieces invoking a sense of childhood to a more deep-rooted nostalgic recollection.
• Houlton’s only distilling company, Twenty 2 Micro Distilled Vodka, continued to pile up the awards and accolades. Owned by the husband and wife team of Scott Galbiati and Jessica Jewell, their company recently received a Congressional Record from Sen. Olympia Snowe.
• Houlton Rotary is well known for donating time and money to local projects and events; but staying true to its commitment of spreading goodwill across the globe, the club continues to make donations to an international project helping thousands of people access clean water. The Houlton Rotary donated $2,500 to support a long-term endeavor to install plastic biosand water filters in households throughout the sugarcane villages of La Romana, Dominican Republic.
April
• With the cost of fuel oil skyrocketing, an Oakfield man was entering the outdoor wood boiler market.
“When we started seven years ago, there used to be a large selection of boilers on the market,” said Rob Betschner, owner of Town Line Wood Heat in Oakfield.
Now with the emissions regulations, consumers are limited to three or four outdoor furnace models.
“Since the wood boilers have been regulated, there are not a lot of competitors,” said Betschner. “So, I figured now was a good time to expand the business to get more exposure and try to boost sales.”
• Six hundred beers, 400 wines, 30 countries! The Thirsty Dawg was offering all this and more. Located at 9 Florence Ave., the Thirsty Dawg, formerly Gordons Beverages, went under new management in May 2010 when Kent Good reopened the business. He doubled the square footage and was expanding his beer and wine inventory.
• For the first time in his nearly 40 years in business, Tidd’s Sports Shop has been chosen as the best snowmobile dealership in the state. Elwood and Marie Tidd, owners of Tidd’s Sports Shop, were among several individuals and groups honored by the Maine Snowmobile Association (MSA) at its 44th Annual Meeting and Banquet at the Pine Tree Camp in Rome on April 14. The Tidds received a plaque commemorating the award as “Best Snowmobile Dealership for 2012.” That plaque now hangs on the wall of the Calais Road establishment.
May
• It’s hard enough to maintain a business in tough economic times, but when part of your business is damaged in a fire, it can be devastating. On May 2, 2011, Boutilier’s Florist and Greenhouse was marred by fire when the blaze started in the attached residence to the greenhouse. Boutilier’s Florist and Greenhouse lost a 28-by-60 office building/apartment to the flames, along with a 30-by-60 greenhouse; a 15-foot glass house and approximately 20 feet of another 30-foot greenhouse. Scott was finally cleared to start reconstruction on Dec. 16, 2011, and by May 2012 things were thriving once again.
• Maine lawmakers honored Katahdin Trust Company with a legislative sentiment acknowledging the bank’s fund-raising efforts on behalf of the American Red Cross. The legislative sentiment was read into the Statehouse record back in March and last May 4 lawmakers, Red Cross officials and bank employees gathered at the Presque Isle branch to mark the honor.
• A subtle change took place along Grand Lake as one of the area’s local convenience stores has new owners and a new name. Andrea and Gregg Marshall bought Grand Lake Variety on U.S. Route 1 in March and held a grand opening the week of April 19, unveiling the business’ new name, East Grand Lake Variety. The Marshalls looked at several properties to purchase in the area, but none of them seemed to be the right fit until they happened upon the business that would soon be theirs.
• Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith. That is the reasoning behind a decision made by Kathryn Harnish and Robert Lawless to open Took A Leap Farm, a Nigerian dwarf dairy goat farm located on a 5.5-acre parcel of land on the B Road. At the time of the grand opening, there were 18 adult and 16 baby goats on their farm. Some of the younger goats have been sold. Goats milk and cheese products were being sold at the B Road location as well as the Houlton Community Farmer’s Market in downtown Houlton.
• Since childhood, Joshua McLaughlin knew he wanted to be in construction. He also knew that, if possible, he wanted to remain in Houlton. McLaughlin opened his own business, J. McLaughlin Construction, LLC located within the Infinity Hair and Tanning Salon behind Town & Country.
• EJ’s Discount on North Road in Houlton, at the former MACS Trading Post location adjacent to the Horn of Plenty, is open for business. EJ’s Discount offers cabinets, countertops and appliances. Owner Jim Cray began working in the industry in 1965 for Rathbun Lumber Company in Presque Isle and has been in and out of the business. He spent 14 years in the mental health field, eight of those with the Bureau of Mental Retardation, leaving to work for the Aroostook Mental Health Center in Caribou.
June
• For 65 years, Rideout’s Lodge has been one of the premier spots along East Grand Lake for bass and salmon fishing. Because of that long and rich history, purchasing the lodge was somewhat of a “no-brainer” for one-time Houlton resident Jim Brown.
Brown is a longtime summer resident of Orient, where he shares a camp with his wife, Kim and daughter, Emily Rose. Jim will be on-site much of the time as an owner/operator and was looking forward to an exciting 2012 season.
The lodge may have been under new ownership, but campers found the same great level of service from the Brown family that they enjoyed with Robert and Annie Lorigan, Sr. and Bob and Jami Lorigan, Jr., who operated Rideout’s for the past 25 years.
Many of those employed by the Lorigans remain on Brown’s staff.
• Dave Cunha, owner of County Yankee grocery store in Houlton, is not someone who seeks attention. Therefore, when he decided to build a new grocery store at the corner of Hillview Avenue and Military Street, Cunha kept his plans relatively quiet. Even after the new store neared completion, Cunha avoided the spotlight and said little about his major construction project in the town. County Yankee celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce and town officials on hand. Cunha, who also owns Steaks n’ Stuff in Presque Isle and Lincoln, said extensive and costly renovations were needed to his previous facility.
At just over 12,000 square feet, the new County Yankee is nearly double the size of his previous building. The lot once served as Dot’s Family Restaurant, but had sat vacant for a number of years until Cunha purchased it. Keeping a community-based grocery store in Houlton was one of the primary reasons Cunha said he decided to build in the same part of town as the previous store.
• Residents had another option for getting their prescriptions. Shiretown Pharmacy officially opened for business coinciding with the launching of the newly built County Yankee Grocer on Military Street. Customer Service will be a priority for owners/partners Lisa Findlater of Houlton and Charlie Ouellette of Fort Kent, who also owns St. John Valley Pharmacy.
• Old habits die hard for many, and that is certainly the case when it comes to people and their haircuts. For four decades, Jerry Adams of Houlton has trimmed hair for men and boys of all ages, with the majority of those 40 years coming from his previous location at Court Street.
He moved to just his third location in those 40-plus years when he opened a new barbershop on Main Street in the downtown area.
