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Transcript of 2013 February InTouch
InTouchInTouchInTouch MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2013
Highlights in this Issue:
P. 2: From the President’s Chair
P. 2: BVP Year in Review
P. 4: Member Events’ Calendar
P. 5: Upcoming Business Workshops
P. 8: Biz Spotlight: Somerset Stone
Center
March 27, 2013
Colby College
Field House
Register today! See the orange insert
for details and registration form.
50 ELM STREET, WATERVILLE, ME 04901 • TEL: (207) 873-3315 • FAX: (207) 877-0087
[email protected] • www.midmainechamber.com
Brad Fisher, Chair of the Board • Kimberly N. Lindlof, President & CEO
Elias A. Joseph Award
Shawn Michaud, Valley Distributors
Distinguished Community Service Award
Scott Bullock, MaineGeneral Health
Business Person of the Year
Peter Schutte, Color Graphics, LLC
Business of the Year
Delta Ambulance
Community Service Project of the Year
Waterville Opera House
Outstanding Professional
Bert Languet, Golden Pond Wealth Management
Rising Star Award
Megan Williams, Hardy Girls Healthy Women
Customer Service Stardom Award
Michelle LePage, Johnny’s Selected Seeds
2013-14 Map &
Guide Now
Available!
If you would like
to display these at
your place of busi-
ness, please let us
know. Email
Robyn at
biz.dev@midmain
echamber.com
with the number
of maps you
would like and we
will prepare them
for you to pick up
at our office.
Thank you!
50th Annual Awards Dinner April 11, 2013
Waterville Elks Banquet & Conference Center
- Kimberly
Business After Hours: Page 2
Waterville Opera House &
Golden Pond Wealth Management
One Common Street, Waterville February 13 5:30-7:00 PM
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
Door prizes, 50/50 raffle & other fabulous prizes!
Serving Kennebec & Somerset Counties With Products and Services For Your
Entire Family
www.taconnet.com
Winslow
207-872-7909
Skowhegan
207-474-2254
166 College Ave., PO Box 215 Waterville, ME 04903-0215
www.az-cpa.com
166 College Ave., PO Box 215 Waterville, ME 04903-0215
www.az-cpa.com
Thank you to our
50/50 Sponsor:
Sponsored by:
From the
President’s Chair
Bowdoin Photography
Full Service Office Supplies Retail Store and Furniture Showroom
in Downtown, Skowhegan
The Paper Klip
New & Used Furniture
A Local, Independent, Family- Owned & Operated Company
www.WarrensOfficeSuppplies.com 800.924.9006
Business Visitation Program Year in
Review By Bruce Harrington Mid-Maine Chamber and Central Maine
Growth Council visits a number of business-
es within the region each year to learn more
about the business climate, recent growth,
future expansion plans, and issues or con-
cerns voiced by our business community.
The data collected through these visits is
compiled and analyzed annually, and the
results are provided to the business commu-
nity through this newsletter. The chamber
uses these results, along with specific com-
ments received during the interviews, to help
shape the programs of work for the various
chamber committees throughout the year.
The 2012 survey consisted of 24 separate
visits completed over the course of the year.
The greatest issue cited as impacting
growth of those businesses interviewed was
the economy. Despite the poor economy, the
sample of businesses reported a growth in
full time equivalent employees (FTEs) of
9.3% over the past three years. This is fo-
cused around one company that had large
growth, balanced by two smaller companies
with large workforce reductions, and all
other companies remaining flat or up slight-
ly. The economy has been struggling since
late 2008 – so just over four years. Only
45% of businesses surveyed reported an
increase in business in five years, which
indicates that just shy of half of the busi-
nesses are doing better now than they were
before the financial crisis occurred. Only
50% of businesses reported an increase in
business in three years, so about half of the
businesses surveyed are doing better than
they were a year into the crisis. And 65% of
businesses reported an increase in the past
year, which indicates that the impact of the
crisis may be ending and businesses are
starting to do better. This is further reflected,
as 35% of the businesses surveyed are plan-
ning to expand in the next 1-2 years, and
85% of the businesses surveyed feel that
Continued on page 3
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
to Elm City Photo for our Board of Direc-
tors’ headshots and to Bowdoin Photog-
raphy for our staff headshots.
You guys make us all look great!
Mid-Maine Chamber is work-
ing closely with area work-
force partners to develop a
process for inventorying all of
those organizations/ agencies that have their
hands in improving our regional workforce.
Once we’ve completed that, we will be reaching
out to you via survey to get a more in-depth look
at our members’ workforce needs. We hear time-
after-time that many of our businesses struggle to
find qualified workers. We will delve into what
that exactly means: which skills are lacking?
Armed with a inventory of resources (who’s do-
ing what with which clientele and demographic)
plus a clear picture of what you, our members,
are seeking in a qualified workforce, we hope to
be able to connect the two and better prepare
workers to enter or return to the workforce.
The Chamber has been a strong advocate for and
financial supporter of WorkReady as well as area
high school and college internship programs and
JMG/career prep classes at area high schools.
Many of you have participated in tours, mock
interviews, and classroom speeches. We will
continue to work on these efforts, while trying to
strengthen our efforts by becoming a stronger
resource and improving communication about
what’s available to our businesses — after all, the
whole point is to help you succeed and grow.
Page 3
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Congratulations to Hampton Inn’s Nicole
Desjardins who was recently sworn in as
Ward 3 school board member in Augusta!
Waterville Police Department welcomes
new patrol officers, Cameron Huggins and
Scott Dumas.
After 10 years with Hardy Girls Healthy
Women, 7 as president, Megan Williams will
be wrapping up her tenure at the end of June.
In the next 5 months she will be working
alongside the board to support a smooth tran-
sition process as well as continue to maintain
the great programs and initiatives with which
they are currently engaged.
Richard Hopper, a higher education specialist
with the World Bank, has been named
KVCC's next president. A Fulbright scholar
& resident of Westport Island, Dr. Hopper
received a Doctor of Education from the Har-
vard University Graduate School of Educa-
tion. He will assume his new post on April 22,
2013, succeeding Barbara Woodlee who will
retire in April after 30 yrs. as KVCC's presi-
dent. Dr. Woodlee will continue to serve as
part-time Academic Officer for the system.
City of Waterville is proud to announce that
the Maine Town & Clerk’s Association
(MTCCA) has awarded its City Clerk, Patti
Dubois, her Master Municipal Clerk designa-
tion from the International Institute of Munici-
pal Clerks (IIMC). IIMC is a professional,
nonprofit asso. that promotes continuing edu-
cation & certification through university &
college-based institutes and provides network-
ing solutions, services & benefits to its mem-
bers worldwide. Patti is the past pres. & a
current instructor for MTCCA. In Sept. 2012,
she was also honored as the recipient of the
“Clerk of the Year” award. She was selected
for this award by her peers and it is the high-
est honor bestowed on a municipal Clerk by
MTCCA. Great work & congratulations, Patti!
MaineGeneral Health is pleased to welcome
Danielle Louder as the Wellness Coordinator
II. Danielle will be responsible for leading
efforts to enhance worksite health opportuni-
ties among small employers throughout the
region, as well as coordinating the efforts of
Healthy People of the Kennebec Valley.
Congratulations to Sergeant Bill Bonney for
being promoted as the next Detective, & to
Officer Brian Gardiner for being promoted to
Patrol Sergeant of Waterville Police Dept.
Matt Jancovic, has been named Executive
Vice President of Sales and Marketing for
Oxford Networks. Previously Jancovic
served as the VP of Marketing for the ME-
based technology company.
Welcome to Larry Colson who began his du-
ties as a Laborer with Waterville Public
Works in Nov.
Business Visitation Program Continued from page 2
their business has what it needs to survive the
next three years.
Mid-Maine was cited as a good place to do
business by most of the businesses surveyed.
The top reason that businesses plan to stay in
the region is because their customer base is in
the region, and most of the businesses need to
be near their customers. The businesses cited
the business network in the area, and the col-
laboration amongst businesses and support ser-
vices as being the top business asset in the re-
gion, and the Mid-Maine Chamber being the
second most noted business asset in the region.
Not surprisingly the usual subjects were
mentioned during the interview. Energy costs
were cited as being important for 60% of the
businesses surveyed; however, the definition of
energy ranged from fuel for fleets of vehicles to
heating for large or multiple locations, and
overall electricity costs. The local workforce
was seen as adequate by 60% of the businesses
surveyed; skills lacking were cited as basic
math and English, interviewing skills, and
showing up to work on time and willingness to
work. High speed Internet was cited as being
important to 90% of those surveyed, and 90%
of those surveyed indicated that they had the
Internet needed to meet their demands. Quality
of life and place was mentioned throughout the
survey as an asset and reason to do business
and to live in the region.
For further detail, contact Darryl Sterling at the
Central Maine Growth Council:
[email protected] or 680-7300.
Legislation Tracker Concerned about the workings of state
government? Want to keep track of legisla-
tion during the 125th Legislature’s Second
Regular session? The State’s Web site let’s
you do just that. Track the progress and
scheduling online at:
maine.gov/legis/lio/publications.htm
A heartfelt thank you to Townsquare
Media for providing a professional emcee
free of charge to the Chamber and our Busi-
ness After Hours hosts monthly.
We appreciate your generosity!
Page
4
February 1-3: Visit Pine View Homes at the
25th Annual Manufactured Home Show where
it will have 2 beautiful homes on display inside
the Augusta Civic Center. Hours: 1st12-7PM;
2nd 10AM-7PM; 3rd 9AM-3PM. Call 1-800-464
-7463 for FREE tickets.
February 2: Waterville’s Annual Winter
Carnival at Quarry Road Recreation Area.
The family-friendly event will offer with a vari-
ety of activities for outdoor enthusiasts of all
interests, ages, and abilities from 10AM-2PM.
FMI: Matt Skehan at 680-4744.
February 2: “Making Magic Happen" at
Spell Bound - A Gamer's Paradise. Through-
out the day Spellbound will be selling artwork
and more... art prints, custom-altered cards,
instructional DVD's, books, magazines -- from
over 30 Sci-Fi/Fantasy artists. In addition there
will be silent auctions for some of the more
unique sci-fi/fantasy art pieces as well as vari-
ous tournaments. FMI & pictures of items:
www.facebook.com/makingmagichappen
February 5: WorkReady 55+ will begin its
winter program. FMI: Mid-Maine Regional
Adult Community Education at 873-5754.
February 5: Getting Started with Constant
Contact Email at the Waterville Public Li-
brary from 3—5 PM FMI: Tracy O’Clair at
http://tocmedia-gsct-feb-5-2013-
eorg.eventbrite.com/#
February 6: Unity College is hosting Maine’s
largest environmental career fair from 10AM-
1PM in the Tozier Gymnasium on the Unity
Campus. The environmental career recruitment
event is free and open to the general public,
though focused on recruitment of recent or an-
ticipated college graduates from across New
England. Sponsored by the Unity College Ca-
reer Resource Center, it
is expected to attract
over 60 employers. FMI:
948-9271 or
February 9: 20th Annual Fairfield Chocolate
Festival from 10AM-4PM. Roughly 30 ven-
dors offer a wide array of goods and crafts, and
each vendor spotlights at least one chocolate
offering. The event includes music, food, door
prizes, children’s activities and more.
February 9: Miss Wizard! Hardy Girls
Healthy Women meet physics professor Lisa
Lessard and learn how everything in the uni-
verse affects every other thing from the cosmos
to the weather! Science can be fun, too! From
dropping eggs to floating boats, girls will learn
hands on how every-
thing interacts! Loca-
tion: 3rd floor Mudd
Building, Colby Col-
lege, 4000 Mayflower Hill Dr., Waterville.
February 9-10: Maine Pond Hockey Classic
on Johnson Pond at Colby College. This is a
fund-raising event for Alfond Youth Center.
FMI: http://www.mainepondhockey.org/.
February 13: Friends Night Out Jewelry and
Chocolate at Stained Glass Express. Make
dichroic glass jewelry pendant and earrings.
Appetizers and refreshments provided. $60.
FMI & to register: 872-9305.
Recently, Insurance Superintendent Eric
Cioppa said that the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners released 2 reports
showing improvements in Maine's national
ranking for auto and homeowners rates. The
studies place ME in the top 10 lowest in the
country. For homeowners insurance, ME
ranked 9th in 2010 (most recent data) com-
pared to 11th in 2009. For personal auto
insurance, ME ranked 5th in 2010, improved
from 6th in 2009. Good News!
If you're a business needing assistance with
licensing, permitting & regulatory issues,
please call the state’s Red Tape Hotline at
624-7486.
February 14 & 15 at 7:30pm
My Funny Valentine
A cabaret of Broadway's best love songs
performed by a cast of Opera House fa-
vorites, including Kristen Thomas, Birdie
Katz, Dan Kennedy, and special guests
from ME State Music Theatre. Tickets:
$15 includes a chocolate bar!
February 19: Intermediate/Advanced
Glass-working; Stained Glass Express
from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Come to the
studio to finish
your projects and
get advice on new,
more advanced
techniques. Of-
fered in the work-
shop format. In-
structor can provide support on projects
using stained glass, fused glass and mosa-
ics. 5 session class. Final class: Mar. 19.
http://www.stainedglassexpress.com
March 13: Thomas College 2013 Career
fair from 9:30AM-
1:30PM in the Ma-
haney Gym at Thom-
as College. Looking
for employees or in-
terns? FMI or to reg-
ister:
www.thomas.edu/careerfair or Diane An-
derson [email protected] or call
859-1464.
March 20: Augusta CareerCenter &
Employer Support of the Guard and Re-
serve have teamed up to secure the Au-
gusta Armory for a Veterans Job Fair
(general public also welcome) from
10AM-3PM. No charge for a table.
Page 5
Power of Email Marketing: Tuesday, February 26, 1–2:30PM
Email is the most cost-effective, targeted, trackable, and efficient way to build and main-
tain relationships for all types of business and organizations. In this session participants
will discover how communicating with customers regularly can help a small business
stay connected, and generate increased referrals, repeat sales, and unwavering customer
loyalty. Facilitator: Tracy O’Clair, TOCmedia. To register: http://tocmedia-poem-feb-26
-2013-eorg.eventbrite.com/
Getting Started with Constant Contact: Tuesday, February 5, 3–5PM or Thursday,
March 28, 10:30AM-12:30PM (need only attend one session)
This will be a live, guided demonstration on the tools and features inside Constant Con-
tact’s email marketing system. In this practical two hour session, you will learn the ba-
sics so you can get going with your own email marketing. Facilitator: Tracy O’Clair,
TOCmedia. To register: 2/5 session: http://tocmedia-gsct-feb-5-2013-
eorg.eventbrite.com/ or 3/28 session: http://tocmedia-gsct-mar-27-2013-
eorg.eventbrite.com/
Strategies for Business Growth: Wednesday, February 13, 10:30AM–12PM
Some businesses might grow on their own, but most take intentional actions by the own-
er. Learn how to position your business for growth and take steps to make it happen.
Instructor: Janet Roderick, Maine SBDC Certified Business Counselor. To register:
http://watervillelibrarybus7.eventbrite.com/
Marketing Strategy Development: Tuesday, March 12, 1– 2:30PM
Marketing is more than advertising. Every business should have a marketing strategy to
help you reach your target market effectively, efficiently and inexpensively. We’ll dis-
cuss how to develop your marketing strategy. Instructor: Janet Roderick, Maine SBDC
Certified Business Counselor. To register: http://watervillelibrarybus8.eventbrite.com/
Understanding Your Business Numbers: Thursday, April 11, 10:30AM–12PM
You do your bookkeeping, regularly recording transactions, but are you getting useful
information back? In this workshop we’ll review the most common financial statements,
where the numbers come from, what they mean and how they can help you manage your
business. Instructor: Janet Roderick, Maine SBDC Certified Business Counselor. To
register: http://watervillelibrarybus9.eventbrite.com/
QuickBooks Intermediate: Tuesday, May 14, 1–4PM
This session will address your most pressing QuickBooks questions. It will also cover:
Tricky Transactions, Working with Reports, Advanced Features, Tips and Tricks. Please
be ready with your specific questions and issues. This seminar is designed for those who
have been using QuickBooks for at least 6 months. Instructor: Janet Roderick, Maine
SBDC Certified Business Counselor. http://watervillelibrarybus10.eventbrite.com/
Waterville Public Library Business & Career Center will host the following business work-
shops at 73 Elm Street, Waterville. Pre-registration is necessary and all workshops are free
to participants. FMI: Tammy Rabideau at 680.2611, [email protected] or visit
http://www.watervillelibrary.org/departments/business/.
Prime Financial You dream it...
We help you realize it
Prime Financial has become the trusted partner for many
clients, both in Maine and across the country. We under-
stand that each stage in life presents unique challenges and
opportunities. We also know that wherever you are in life
– expanding your business, adding to your family, looking
forward to your retirement or any stage in between – being
prepared for change is crucial to future growth.
Contact us today for a personalized consultation in regard
to your financial future.
Securities offered through Investors Capital Corporation
Member FINRA / SIPC
Advisory Services offered through Investors Capital Advisory
753 West River Road, Waterville, Maine 04901
800-877-9450 Fax 207-877-8876
12 Monument St Winslow, Me 04901
207-872-2636
www.wcfcu.com
COMMUNITY PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Griffin Associates/SII Investments Co.
Inc.
P.O. Box 743
Waterville, ME 04903-0743
872-8689
Fax: 692-2132
Owner: Larry Griffin
End Zone
26 Elm Street
Waterville, ME 04901
861-4435
Rita Menoudarakos
www.facebook.com/pages/The-End-
Zone/170696923069497
NewsSimply Corp.
1 Union Street
Portland, ME 04101
400-4141
Primary Contact: Debbie Pierce
www.newssimply.com
New Life Church —U.P.C.I.
One Trafton Road
Waterville, ME 04901
John & Marilyn Towne
509-9126
OTT Communications
56 Campus Drive
New Gloucester, ME 04260
615-3119
Sales Rep: Richard Boghossian
Rich-
om
www.ottcommunications.com
Upcoming Business
Workshops By Tammy Rabideau
Page
I
Upcoming Events
February 13: Business After Hours
5:30-7 PM Waterville Opera
House & Golden Pond Wealth
Management
1 Common Street, Waterville
February 14: Business Breakfast Series
7:15-9 AM Thomas College
The Maine Bureau of Insur-
ance—How they can help
you. Michael Mayette, property/casualty division
supervisor, will provide an overview of Bureau’s
regulatory role and address insurance issues and
questions that have an impact on small business.
March 6: Leading Women’s Luncheon
11:30AM-1PM O'Brien's Event Center
This is a quarterly series of female speakers pre-
senting their path to success & their struggles
along the way. Speaking at the
luncheon will be Carolann
Ouellette, director of Maine
Office of Tourism. Men and
Women are welcome. Cost is
$20 for members who register ahead of time, $25
registration at the door, and $25 general admis-
sion. Reservation required & includes a luncheon
buffet.
6
27 Cool Street • Waterville, ME 04901 (207) 873-0721 • Fax (207) 877-2287
www.genesishcc.com Rehabilitation and Living Centers
Feb 1 Fri. 7:30 AM Public Policy
Chamber Boardroom
Feb 5 Tue. 8:00 AM Bus. Expansion & Retention
Chamber Boardroom
Feb 15 Fri. 7:30 AM Executive Board
Chamber Boardroom
Feb 27 Wed. 8:00 AM Membership
Chamber Boardroom
March 1 Fri. 7:30 AM Board of Directors
Chamber Boardroom
March 7 Thur. Noon Information Services
Silver Street Tavern
n January 2007, Maine State Chamber Purchasing Alli-
ance (MSCPA) began offering a suite of health insurance
plans to Maine’s small business community. The pro-
gram began with five coverage plans in the suite of options and has grown to twelve
plans starting in 2013. Known as “Chamber BlueOptions,” this program is offered to
small businesses with 2-50 employees, as well as self-employed individuals, exclusive-
ly to members of a local or regional chamber of commerce.
This program provides meaningful benefits to members of local and regional cham-
bers statewide who would otherwise not have access to these exclusive offerings.
Each year the offerings are carefully considered to ensure the plans are responding to
the needs of the market.
Starting in January of 2013, Maine State Chamber Purchasing Alliance will offer
twelve plans. Included are six preferred provider organization (PPO) plans with differ-
ent deductibles and coinsurance levels, two HMO’s, and four health Savings Account
(HSA) plans.
Typically, a small business owner will offer employees one - or at the most two –
options and at least 75% of eligible employees must participate to qualify for group
coverage. Chamber BlueOptions offers up to twelve plan options for each employee to
choose from with only 60% of eligible employees being required for group coverage.
In addition, the program offers employers with 15-50 employees an opportunity to
qualify for a 3% discount on annual premiums if they undertake certain wellness activ-
ities.
This program is a collaborative effort between the Maine State Chamber Purchasing
Alliance, Inc., local and regional chambers in Maine, Anthem and its authorized pro-
ducers or agents statewide. In the last year, this collaborative worked hard to restruc-
ture the enrollment process and now completing its sixth year, MSCPA’s enrollment is
more impressive and encouraging than ever. With nearly 500 businesses currently en-
rolled in the plan, Chamber BlueOptions covers more than 4,000 individuals. Most
interesting is the number of enrolled businesses that were previously uninsured at more
than 30%.
We are also pleased to announce that we recently launched a new and improved
Chamber BlueOptions micro site that offers many more resources to the local/regional
chamber’s as well as those enrolled in the Chamber BlueOptions plan.
For more information on the Chamber BlueOptions health plan, please contact Amy
Downing, program coordinator, at (207)623-4568 ext. 104 or adown-
[email protected], or go to http://www.mainechamber.org/mx/hm.asp?
id=blueoptions.
Chamber BlueOptions is available to Mid-Maine Chamber members. See below for
a list of Mid-Maine Chamber member insurance agents that currently offer this plan:
Cross Insurance: 623-4791 GHM Insurance Agency: 873-5101
Higgins & Bolduc Agency: 465-2531 NWBG: 623-1110
Prime Financial: 877-9450 USI Insurance: 872-5571
Exclusive Health Insurance Options
for Maine Small Businesses!
It’s a good time to
update your labor
law posters! To
download from the
Department of La-
bor’s Web site,
visit:
http://www.maine.gov/labor/posters.
Wednesday Trivia Nights are back at The
China Din-ah from 6:30-8PM.
T-Mobile will be hiring 375 new people in
2013, about 30 to 45 people per month!
Wow!
Southern Angel Properties is proud to be
the first Waterville participant in Efficiency
Maine's new Multi Family Efficiency Pro-
gram. This program consists of a thorough
energy audit followed by recommendations
designed to save
20% or more on
energy costs. After
upgrades are com-
pleted, property owners can receive rebates
for 100% of the audit cost as well as up to
50% of the costs of upgrades, limited to
$1,400 per unit. Its 7 unit property at 17 Bou-
telle Ave. in Waterville should save nearly
50% on energy costs now that its completed.
http://www.efficiencymaine.com for details.
Within 10 years, roughly 40% of ME's 7,300
paper workers will be over 60 years old. To
ensure the industry has enough skilled work-
ers as those individuals reach retirement age,
3 of ME's paper companies have partnered
with Kennebec Valley Community College
(KVCC) to offer free tuition & textbooks to
30 students enrolled in an introductory on-
line course in pulp & paper-making technolo-
gy. The course forms the foundation for the
nine courses offered in the college's pulp &
paper degree program, the only one of its kind
in the Northeast. The companies involved in
the project include the UPM mill in Madison,
SAPPI Fine Paper in Skowhegan, and Verso
Paper's Androscoggin Mill in Jay.
Somerset Stone Center is proud to announce
it has added a new location at 1078 KMD in
Oakland (former Olde New England Home
and Hearth). Along with the great line of
products they have always offered, they will
now carry a wide variety of home heating
options, grills, outdoor furniture, bird feeders,
flags/poles and tankless water heaters.
In 2012 alone, Electricity Maine enrolled
200,000 customers and SAVED these cus-
tomers more than
$14 MILLION on
their power supply
based on what they
paid in 2011. All of that money was put back
into Maine’s economy. Remarkable!
Did you know that at the Paper Klip in
Skowhegan (Warren’s Office Supplies) that if
you purchase $99 in HP ink jet cartridges,
you get a $15 Shell gift card? (Limit of 2 gift
card offers per quarter.) Also, if you pur-
chase $100 of Energizer batteries, you get 2
FREE Instant Chargers!
The Copy & Print Center at the UPS Store
can do all your document service work for
you: digital printing, color copies, black and
white copies, fax, laminating, binding, full
service or self-service copies.
Oxford Networks recently donated $500 to
Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills, a no-
kill non-profit shelter and adoption agency
located in Norway, Maine. Oxford Net-
works’ employees raised the money during
their monthly Wednesday Jeans Day effort,
which raises funds for a different ME non-
profit monthly.
Want more information on the progress of the
Lockwood Mills project and Hathaway?
Check out this recent article in MaineBiz:
http://www.mainebiz.biz/apps/pbcs.dll/article
?AID=/20130107/CURRENTEDITION/3010
49998/0/NEWS.
Play 18 holes of golf at the best courses in the
country! Schedule your tee time today for the
NEW Virtual Golf Program at the Alfond
Youth Center. Hours: Tues. & Thurs.
10AM-2PM & 6-9PM. FMI: 873-0684.
The China Din-ah Winter Specials for Feb-
ruary: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays:
$5 6 oz. Burger/ hand cut French Fry Special
w/purchase of any beverage! Available 4PM
to close (no substitutions).
KVCC is 1 of 3 ME colleges and universities
working with Cianbro to offer its employees a
seamless pathway to a college degree. It’s
offering college credits to workers participat-
ing in select Cianbro train-
ing programs. The new
initiative increases access
to higher education for hun-
dreds at Cianbro & pro-
vides them with a pathway
to an associate, baccalaure-
ate or master's degree.
Bridges Home Care. a div. of Spectrum Gen-
erations, Central Maine’s Area Agency on
Aging & Aging & Disability Resource Cen-
ter, has opened a 2nd office in Wtvl at 58 Elm
Street, just above the offices of Nale Elder
Law Attorneys. They offer reliable, quality
home care for elderly & disabled adults pro-
vided by State Certified Personal Support
Specialists (PSS) & include help with bath-
ing, dressing, mobility, toileting, meal prepa-
ration, grocery shopping, errands, and house-
keeping.
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50 Elm Street
Waterville, ME 04901
PRE-SORTED STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #146
Waterville, ME 04901
Have some news you would like to share? Submit a short announcement to the Chamber office by the 3rd Friday of the prior month. Inserts are also available for $125 per month. Call 873-3315 or email [email protected]. Disclaimer: The Mid-Maine Chamber’s InTouch newsletter is published monthly as a benefit to members and affili-
ates. All member news is compiled and submitted solely by our members; therefore, we reserve the right to omit and/or edit as appropriate, and cannot guarantee complete accu-
racy of all announcements. Sponsorship inserts do not necessarily reflect the position of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce.
Somerset Stone Center Has A New Location Somerset Stone Center of 43 Green Road in Fairfield
just recently purchased the former Olde New England
Hearth and Home (ONEH&H) stove shop located at
1078 Kennedy Memorial Drive in Oakland. Wayne
and Becky Tibbetts, owners of Somerset Stone Cen-
ter, purchased ONEH&H as of January 1 to
compliment and add to its existing services.
Along with the great line of products it has
always offered, it will now carry a wide variety of home heating op-
tions, canoes, kayaks, grills, outdoor furniture, bird feeders, flags/
poles and on demand water heaters.
Somerset Stone Center will continue to carry a full line of gas,
wood and pellet stoves, fireplaces, and inserts that ONEH&H had in
inventory. It will sell a full line of Regency, Hampton, Napoleon,
Breckwell, Empire, Thelin, Timberwolf, and more. "Offering full
installations of our stoves and fireplaces along with all aspects of de-
signing and installing of our stone work will give the customer a one
stop full service for their heating needs," says Wayne. In the past it
would have customers ask to take care of the whole project, providing
the fireplace, installing, and finishing with the stone work. It would
encourage people to work with their favorite stove shop
and then it would provide the stone work. It only made
sense if it could provide the full service and sell the
stoves, so that the customer would only have to deal with
one person, and make it easier for them. The purchase of
the stove shop is a great addition to the existing business.
A full line of Old Town canoes and kayaks
with a full line of accessories such as life jack-
ets, paddles, and carrying racks is also a great
addition to rounding out the summertime fun for its customers. It cur-
rently has 44 kayaks and canoes in inventory which will be displayed
outside once the snow is gone.
The main location will be in Oakland for sales and service, but will
still have some inventory back in Fairfield, until it can provide a yard
for pallets of stone and paver products.
Somerset Stone Center will try to move
everything over to Oakland this summer
but there is no actual timeline at this time.
Go check out Somerset Stone in Oakland
and it is not too early to discuss spring
projects!