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HOULTON 207-532-9125 120 North Street
I95 exit 302. Marden’s is on your right.
LINCOLN 207-794-2013 28-32 Main Street I95 exit 227. Right turn off exit At intersection, turn left onto Rt 2 1-1/2 mile stop light Left turn onto Main Street.
CALAIS 207-454-1421 189 Main Street
I95 exit 182A 395E Rt 9E Rt 1S Follow to Canada. Marden’s is on the left just before the border. Furniture/Flooring store is on right across from McDonalds. Ph. 207454-1459
ELLSWORTH 207-669-6036 461 High Street
I95 exit 182A 395E Parkway exit Right turn Traffic light. Right turn onto Wilson Street.
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I-95 exit 182A 395E Merge onto Rt1A to Ellsworth Rt 1A becomes Rt 1 and Rt 3 North Follow High St./Rt. 3E Marden’s is 1.3 miles on the right.
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Photo Copyright Š 2011 Ken Lamb, www.kenlamb.com
Contents January, February and March 2012
In This Issue
14 Kicking Bear by Ken Lamb
32 Mi zpah: How it All by Roger Corbin
Sta rted
36 Northern Maine General by Reynold Raymond 48 Haystack Mountain by Scott Thompson 58 Ask Alli by Allison Heidorn 62 Grammy’s Country Inn 64 Healthy You: Let’s Move by Kim Jones 66 The History of the Presque Isle Chamber of Commerce by Kimberly R. Smith 70 Allagash Goes Around the World by Tim Caverly 72 A Green Transformation
by Karen Gonya
74 Community Partnerships & Cultural Opportunities
by Rachel Rice
76 A Guide to Our Back Issues
Our Maine Street M a g a z i n e
48 Presque Isle Street, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 www.ourmainestreet.com 207.472.3464
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Our Maine Street m agaz ine
Publisher Our Maine Street LLC Editor In Chief Craig Cormier Circulation / Advertising Charles Cormier
Many Thanks to: (in no particular order)
Holly Hardwick , Ken Lamb, Roger Corbin, Reynold Raymond, Scott Thompson, Allison Heidorn, Kim Jones, Kimberly R, Smith, Tim Caverly, Karen Gonya, Rachel Rice, Gene Cyr, Pete Bowmaster, James Lagasse, Jane Gridley Content and subscription information: content@ourmainestreet.com 207.472.3464 48 Presque Isle Street Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 www.ourmainestreet.com Copyright © 2012 Our Maine Street LCC. Our Maine Street LLC is jointly owned by Charles, Cheryl and Craig Cormier. Proudly printed in the State of Maine, United States of Amerca.
This publication is made possible by the generous support of our advertising partners. Please let them know you saw them in Our Maine Street Magazine and that you appreciate their support of County projects.
Aroostook County Chambers of Commerce, Aroostook Real Estate, Aroostook Technologies, Ben’s Trading Post, Boondock’s Grille, Bouchard Family Farms, Brambleberry Market, Cabinet Resources, Cary Medical Center, Clifford L Rhome CPA, P.A., County Abatement, Inc., Doris’ Café, Fort Kent Ski-Doo, Graves’ Shop ‘n Save, I Care Pharmacy, Jean’s Serendipity & Fish ‘N Friends, Jerry’s Shurfine, John’s Shurfine Food Store, Katahdin Valley Health Center, Marden’s, McGillan, Inc., Monica’s Scandinavian Imports Nadeau’s House of Flooring Nadeau’s House of Furniture NorState Federal Credit Union Northern Maine Community College Northern Prosthetics Paterson Payroll Pelletier Ford Pines Health Services Power of Prevention Professional Home Nursing Quigley’s Building Supply Red River Camps REMAX - April Caron Sitel Corporation St. John Valley Pharmacy The County Federal Credit Union The County Stove Shop University of Maine at Fort Kent University of Maine at Presque Isle Thank You!
OUR PRINTING IS 100% WIND POWERED
Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher, staff or advisory board. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information present in this issue is accurate, and neither Our Maine Street Magazine nor any of its staff are responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publishers. WINTER 2012 7
Photo Š 2011 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com
Artwork Copyright © 2011 Jane Gridley
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9
10
FALL 2011
Photo Copyright Š 2011 Ken Lamb, www.kenlamb.com
your opportunity Discover an exciting career or an affordable start to a four year degree...
33 EdgEmont drivE
PrEsquE islE, mE 04769
l
(207) 768-2785 www.nmcc.edu l
Photo Š 2011 Ken Lamb, www.kenlamb.com 12
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Your Town, Our Team, Your Choice www.aroostookrealestate.com Fort Kent, Maine Tel: 207.834.4545 Presque Isle, Maine Tel: 207.762.4001
JEAN’S SERENDIPITY & FISH ‘N FRIENDS Full Line Pet Store Small Aminals, Birds Fish & Reptiles English & Western Tack and Apparel Gifts, Toys and Collectables Beer & Wine Making Kits and Supplies Custom Embroidery & Heat Transfers jserendipity@mail.com Tel: 207 532-3567 79 Main Street, Houlton, Me 04730
213 East Main Street Fort Kent, Maine 04743
Steven P. Pelletier
President stevenp@pelletierford.com Tel: 207 834-3173 Cell: 207 631-8856 Toll Free: 877 215-1760
www.pelletierford.com
BOONDOCK’s BOONDOCK’S ~ ~ GRILLE
Nothing burns like a Quad Gas - Wood - Pellet Stoves, Fireplaces, Furnaces & Boilers Hours: 8-5 Mon-Fri, 8-1 Sat. www.countystoveshop.com
est. 2009
Steak, Seafood, Pizza Phone: 207-472-6074 294 MAIN STREET, FORT FAIRFIELD W-TH 11am-7pm FR-SAT 11am-8pm SUN 11am-6pm
Photo © 2011 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com
Kicking Bear in the northern maine woods Photos & Text by Ken Lamb I had the privilege to participate and photograph a winter field trip, visiting a black bear den. A group of kids from Maine’s Kicking Bear Program and I joined Maine’s Black Bear Research Team lead by Biologist Randy Cross on their annual winter monitoring program. The 30+ year state program has been a major asset in monitoring and managing the state’s bear population, numbering greater than 27,000 animals. Collared female bears are located by plane in the early winter, and the bear’s den location is documented on maps, allowing Randy’s crew to relocate the bears by snowmobile and by foot.
16 Kicking Bear WINTER 2012
This Page: The crew travels into the general area by snowmobile attempting to get as close as possible before having to strap on their snowshoes.
One crew member utilizes an antenna which receives the signal from the bear’s collar.
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Above: As they make their way through the woods, they continue to check the signal and its strength.
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18 Kicking Bear WINTER 2012
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WINTER 2012 Kicking Bear 19
The den is located and the crew quietly prepares a “jab stick” with a sedative allowing the crew to inspect and document the bear’s vital information.
20 Kicking Bear 20 Kicking WINTER Bear 2012 FALL 2011
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22 Kicking Bear WINTER SUMMER FALL 2011 2012 2011
Randy informs the Kicking Bear group in how important the information gathered is to the program and answers questions from the kids.
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24 24 Kicking Kicking Bear Bear WINTER FALL2012 2010
After the proper time for the sedative to work, I had the opportunity to photograph the sow with her two cubs in the den. WINTER 2012 Kicking Bear 25
26 Kicking Bear WINTER 2012
The cubs are removed first and kept warm while information like sex, weight and length is recorded by one of the crew members. WINTER 2012 Kicking Bear 27
28 Kicking Bear WINTER 2012
Lastly, the sow is placed on a blanket where her vital information is also documented. The tattoo, on the inside of her lip, is used to positively ID her, and her collar is replaced.
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Photo Š 2011 Pete Bowmaster
A few shots of the cubs and a group shot of the Kicking Bear group were taken before the bears are placed back into the den. 30 Kicking Bear WINTER 2012
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With all of the bears safely back in the den. cedar boughs are used to cover the entrance.
Katahdin Valley Health Center
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32 Kicking Bear WINTER 2012
34 North Street, Suite 3 Presque Isle, ME 04769 Tel: 207 764-5800 Fax; 207 764-1083 crhome@myfairpoint.net
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The crew returns back to their snowmobiles and are on their way to another den.
WINTER FALL 2011 2012 Kicking Bear 33
Mizpah how it All Started by Roger Corbin
Richard (Dick) Corbin was born in Grand Isle in 1944 to Donat and Jeannette (Fournier) Corbin. Dick, at a very young age, had to leave school and help out his mother with family responsibility in taking care of his five siblings when his dad died in May of 1962. Dick married Nancy Chasse in 1965 and raised two wonderful children (April & Jason). In June of 1969 Richard (Dick) Corbin, at twentytwo years old, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease at the fourth stage. He was told to go home and fix his financial and family matters for he had less than a year to live. The doctor stated that Hodgkin’s was a cancer that was known (in medical terms) as the sister to Leukemia and mentioned new medical words to Dick’s ears like; cobalt, radiation, chemotherapy, etc. Dick was so nervous and confused that he went home and told his wife that he had hot-chicken 34 Mizpah WINTER 2012
disease. Since day one it was a constant travel to hospitals from Maine to Boston, Mass. for treatments. The doctors gave him the maximum amount of cobalt and radiation therapy that a human body could take. To this day Dick still feels the effect of those radiation treatments for they are still working, and it’s taking a toll on his body. Dick says, “I had no choice for if the doctors wouldn’t have done what they did, I wouldn’t be here today.” Over the years his cancer treatments lead to more complications where he had to have a hip replacement twice, a colostomy, became a type 1 diabetic, and has had thyroid gland, spleen and intestinal removal. It was not an easy road, and it was hard for him to accept. But he had not hit bottom yet. He took to the liquor bottle and drank to drown his sorrows, his anger,
his frustrations and his fears. He drank heavily until he became an alcoholic. He joined the AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) in 1981 and has been sober since then. He picked up strength and became a prominent businessman, owning his company known as “Corbin Services,” a catering business that he owned for over twenty-five years. He volunteered his time to numerous organizations and worked his way up to being director of the Lions Club for two years, director for the Chamber of Commerce for four years, chairmanship as town selectmen for 6 of his 12 years, and director of the Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) for five years. He served on the Advisory Committee and the Legislative Policy Committee of the Maine Municipal Association and was part of the Northern Maine Regional Planning Commission. He received the honors of Citizen of the Year, Young Man of America, and received the State of Maine Jefferson Award. He also was affiliated with the Cancer Society for the District County de Madawaska, New Brunswick, Canada and has raised thousands of dollars for them. What makes Dick an outstanding individual is that he accomplished all these even though he has been stricken with Hodgkin’s disease since 1969. But all through his dark years and low points of his cancer existence, Dick made a pact with God that if God would spare his life for as long as he could, he would build a special place for cancer victims to go to. He kept his Promise and started building in 1991. He named it “Mizpah,” a Hebrew word that means “A place to help one another.” Mizpah is a sanctuary place located up in Northern Maine in Aroostook County in a town known as Grand Isle. Over the years Mizpah has grown and became a non-profit status, has a seven-member board of directors in place and is valued close to a quarter of a million dollars. It is a place to gather, help, support, and to comfort each other. They come to experience the emotional bond between people in hopes of lifting the pain of grief. Mizpah’s family is big and covers visitors from all over Canada and the United States. The grounds are opened from May to October and is being visited by over five thousand visitors per season all FREE OF CHARGE. Over twelve buildings are situated on a fourteen-acre lot with an additional seventy-five acres with marvelous landscaping for people to enjoy. A reflecting pond stocked with rainbow trout is amongst the buildings overlooking the Cancer Survivor Wall, dedicating past and living cancer people. The Wall is also utilized to honor non-cancer people in memory of WINTER 2012 Mizpah 35
36 Mizpah WINTER 2012
loved ones (i.e. father, mother, daughter, son, etc.) that have passed away. Mizpah Board of Directors invites you to visit Mizpah during the months of May through October. You may come alone, bring your spouse or a friend and experience the beauty of Mizpah at no cost. The place is never locked and there is never a Charge. It is Free for you to enjoy. The Cancer Survivor Wall is the centerpiece of Mizpah and a dream come true for Richard Dick Corbin, making a place for people to meet and support each other. With the help of volunteers and generous donators, Mizpah came to be a reality. Dick says he knows God is giving him a helping hand in building Mizpah for there is a constant flow of volunteers and donators since day one. I never realized this place would be what it is today. People see how this place is special and how it reaches out to people in need. I truly thank all volunteers/donators past and present, for they are the true builders of Mizpah and what Mizpah is today. In our lifetime a loved one, a friend, a relative, or we ourselves will have been stricken with cancer. The Cancer Survivor Wall at Mizpah is thirty-six feet long and its highest point is six feet high. Four bold words are inscribed on top of this wall (Strength, Faith, Courage, and Hope) and it is the base of the Wall’s Mission Statement: “You must have Strength to endure what lies ahead. You must have strength to march on with dignity and with love in your heart. You must have Faith in your destination and “never-never give up. Your Courage must be strong whether in a crowded place or alone. You must Hope for the best and leave everything else in his hands. For you will survive this cancer whether it is for 2 hours, 2 days, 2 months, 2 years or 20 years. YOU ARE A SURVIVOR.” Contact us by: mail at – Mizpah Inc. P.O. Box 216 Grand Isle, Maine 04756 Website at– www.mizpah.us E-Mail at – dickcorbin@mizpah.us Tel. No. at - 207-316-9500. WINTER 2012 Mizpah 37
Northern Maine General
a history by Reynold Raymond, CEO
Northern Maine General (NMG), a not-forprofit corporation located at Eagle Lake, has a long and rich history of providing health care services to people of Aroostook County and the State of Maine dating back to 1906. It served as the first general hospital north of Bangor until the opening of Madigan Memorial Hospital at Houlton. Although NMG no longer operates as an acute hospital, it is still in the business of providing health care services. As peoples’ medical needs have changed so has NMG evolved. Today, NMG meets a broad range of critical medical service needs for children and adults by providing physical and occupational rehabilitation services, mental health and case management services, residential treatment for people with mental health issues, community and home support services for people with cognitive and physical disabilities, assisted living, residential training for persons with acquired brain injury, and nursing home services. While NMG’s services may have changed over the years to meet the needs of its consumers, its mission, to provide the highest standard of care and help the people it serves enjoy life to the fullest potential, has remained constant. That was the vision of its founder, Rev. Joseph Marcoux. Rev. Marcoux was described as a human dynamo who, in a relatively short span of years, was to build four churches, two rectories, two schools, and a hospital. In a letter dated August 22, 1904, Rev. Marcoux asked Bishop O’Connell for authorization to build a hospital. It was an exciting time in the township. The railroad line had been extended from Ashland to Fort Kent and the Fish River Lumber Company had built a mill complex, which occupied roughly 150 acres of land on the lake’s southwest corner. The mill consisted of a rotary sawmill, five planers, clapboard and lath machines as well as a shingle and lath mill. To support its operations, the company developed an infrastructure that included a blacksmith shop and machine shop, twentyfive tenement houses, a boarding house to accommodate up to 125 people, and a company store. It was also able to supply its own power and lighting through the use of three engines and 500-watt dynamo. With the development of the mills, a growing population, and the violence of a rugged environment, the need of a medical facility had become apparent. Rev. Marcoux would become its prime engine. Knowing 38 Northern Maine General WINTER 2012
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Rev. Marcoux’s propensity for action first and details later, Bishop O’Connell responded to Marcoux by requesting additional information and ending his letter with, “Inform me how far you’ve gone. Of course you understand that nothing is to be done in the hospital matter without first letting me know about it.” It’s unclear as to when Rev. Marcoux received permission from the diocese of Portland, but construction was started in the spring of 1905. By October of 1906 with the consecration of Rev. Louis S. Walsh as the fourth bishop of the diocese of Portland, Rev. Marcoux was asked to provide a complete financial statement for the hospital. After several requests, Bishop Walsh came to realize that Rev. Marcoux placed little importance on financial accountability. Somehow, the hospital expenses had mushroomed to an estimated $10,000. In a letter addressed to Rev Marcoux in 1907, Bishop Walsh advised Rev. Marcoux that the diocese would no longer be responsible for any debt incurred by him unless written permission was granted beforehand by the bishop. To reduce Rev. Marcoux’s influence over the hospital’s operations, the bishop sought the advice of the Madigan Law Firm from Houlton. The firm drew up a petition for a private charter and plans for a board of incorporators. On July 30, 1907, the new board met at St. Mary’s Rectory in Bangor. The board consisted of Louis S. Walsh, Bishop of Portland; Michael C. McDonough, vicar general of the diocese; John B. Madigan, attorney from Houlton; Albert A. Burleigh, State Senator from Houlton; and Joseph A. Michaud, merchant from Eagle Lake. Albert Burleigh, who was elected for a two-year term on the board of trustees, was also president of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad and president of Fish River Lumber Company located at Eagle Lake. The mission of the newly formed board was to maintain a general hospital for Aroostook County, and establish a training school for nurses. Senator Burleigh was instrumental in acquiring some state appropriations for the financially strapped hospital. That support would change by 1914 with the opening of Madigan Memorial Hospital at Houlton. State appropriation was now to be provided to the newer institution. By then, the bishop had decided that the best course of action was to convert Northern Maine General to WINTER 2012 Northern Maine General 41
a convent and school. He instructed Rev. Marcoux to determine what structural changes would be necessary to accomplish the tasks and report the findings back to him. What the bishop and Rev. Marcoux had not considered was how receptive the Little Franciscans of Mary would be to this idea.
Above: Dr. William V. Kirk
By 1906 with the hospital construction completed, Rev. Marcoux approached the Little Franciscans of Mary to establish a mission to care for the sick at his new hospital. In January of that year, five sisters left Baie St. Paul by train to Clair, New Brunswick and finished the journey by horse and wagon to Eagle Lake. When they arrived at their new home, they discovered that the hospital was but a shell of a building yet to be finished and furnished. With no other resources available, the sisters began begging from house to house for furniture and bedding. It was reported that in the first month they raised $41.50 to purchase absolute necessities and within three days of arrival had begun providing nursing services. Rev. Marcoux, in a letter to Bishop O’Connell in March 1906, reported that twenty patients had been served in the first two months of operation. By the end of the first year, 175 patients had been treated and twenty-five operations had been performed. This would not have happened if it had not been for the sisters’ persistence, dedication, and strong belief in the mission. So it was no wonder that the sisters were cool to the bishop’s thought of converting the hospital into a convent and school. On November 11 and 12, 1914, the bishop scheduled an emergency meeting at Eagle Lake to discuss the hospital issue. He met with the sisters and a group of parishioners on the question of keeping the hospital open. Although there are no records of what transpired at the meetings, the idea of closing the hospital did not materialize. By 1920 the hospital was now a 32-bed facility, staffed by fourteen sisters and a resident physician. The physician was a young man from Baltimore by the name of Dr. William V. Kirk. He had arrived in November of that year. In an interview with Charles Kihimire of the Bangor Daily News in 1946, Dr. Kirk stated, “When I left Baltimore the sun was shining and the birds were singing. When I got to Eagle Lake there was 18 inches of snow. If I had had money enough in my pocket to get back to Baltimore, I would have caught the same train out.” It was fortunate for the hospital that he was broke. Dr. Kirk was a graduate of the University of West Virginia and of the University of Maryland Medical School with three years as a resident in surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Baltimore. The sisters’ prayers had been answered with Dr. Kirk’s arrival. The hospital now had a resident physician and surgeon. With Dr. Kirk on staff, the hospital began to flourish and by the 1940s WINTER 2012 Northern Maine General 43
had grown to a 45-bed facility handling some 1800 cases a year. Most of the cases involving some form of surgery dealing with broken necks, backs, legs, hips, and crushed chests--all products of the harsh lumbering environment. Northern Maine General no longer was the hospital that was lit by kerosene lamps, or used a wash-boiler for a sterilization chamber, or obtained its water from a windmill. The three-story building, which was built under the supervision of Rev. Marcoux, that had been but a shell was now quite modern and efficient. It now had electricity, an autoclave in the sterilizing room, water from an aqueduct system, x-ray equipment, a lab, and a stateof-the-art operating room. The sisters who were known to do a little of everything also operated a farm on the hospital grounds. It provided some meat, vegetables, and dairy products for the sisters as well as the patients at the hospital. An inventory of the farm taken in 1958 showed that the hospital owned seven cows, one bull, one horse, a tractor, and a Frigidaire. From this humble beginning, a hospital was created. Bangor Daily News once referred to it as, “A haven in the wilderness.� While other doctors came and went, Dr. Kirk stayed with the hospital until it ceased its operations as a general hospital in 1966. That year, when the Franciscans decided to give up the mission at Eagle Lake, a new chapter for Northern Maine General was born. That chapter is a story for another day.
44 Northern Maine General WINTER 2012
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Artwork Copyright Š 2011 James Lagassee
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Photo Copyright Š 2011 Ken Lamb, www.kenlamb.com
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Haystack Mountain Standing Tall In The County by Scott Thompson
For approximately 450 million years Haystack Mountain, a unique geological feature in Northern Maine, has stood high above the landscape. Even though this extinct volcano’s physical size has eroded over the many years, its popularity by its visitors has not. Once called Mount Hellion, on an English map published during the northeastern boundary controversy in the Treaty of 1783, Haystack has always been a valuable mountain in viewing the surrounding countryside. From the top of Haystack, Quaggy Jo, and Mars Hill Mountains, early surveyors used two square yards of white fabric as flags to triangulate and survey lands between the areas of these mountains. Upon the beautiful vistas, early settlers learned the importance of the highviewing points to be useful in surveying, communication, and recreation. Over time, the community has used it for all of these necessities plus much, much more. Named for its large haystack appearance, this land has been owned and farmed by a few owners. For decades this mountain has been a popular area for family and organized group picnic outings. In 1977, Clifton and Mildred Higgins sold the 215-acre parcel to the Department of Conservation under the Bureau of Parks and Recreation, known today as the Bureau of Parks and Lands. The payment for the property came from Federal Land and Water Project funding, thus preserving this area for its beneficial recreational opportunities for years to come. The property purchase included the entire mountain and a majority of the wooded and farmland around the base of the mountain up to Route 163. Soon after the purchase, a maintenance agreement between the state and the town of Castle Hill was agreed upon for this very popular hiking trail area. Considered one of Aroostook County’s gems, Haystack Mountain is a must see for everyone. The 1,142-foot vista offers one of the
best 360-foot views in Aroostook County and certainly will not disappoint. The area is located approximately four miles west of Mapleton or approximately 10 miles east of Ashland on Route 163 in Castle Hill. The Haystack Mountain trailhead sign marks where to turn into the parking area. The recently enlarged gravel parking area is only 400 feet off the road and is easily accessible by most vehicles, including buses, making it a wonderful field trip destination for school groups at the end of the school year. Once parked, one can find the trailhead left of the bulletin board, which has a wonderful informational poster describing Haystack’s geological history and rock formations. The rugged quarter-mile trail is marked by yellow markers. Three-fourths of the way up the mountain, the trail splits to the left where an easier, but still rugged, trail loops around to the summit. At the split in the trail one can continue straight up, climbing across an exposed ledge face. It is recommended that those that would like to go up the ledge face do so by going up it and taking the loop back down, it is not recommended to come down the ledge face. After reaching the summit, one will observe views of working, forested woodlands and the agricultural farming industry, two major economic producers of this region. Breathtaking views change with the seasons, especially spectacular in the fall. From the summit of Haystack Mountain one can see Mt. Katahdin, Scopan Lake, Scopan Public Land Unit, North Maine Woods, Mars Hill Mountain (home of Maine’s first windmill project), numerous surrounding towns, and the twin peaks of Quaggy Jo Mountain at Aroostook State Park. It is recommended to bring the proper hiking clothes and foot attire, flip-flops and sandals are not recommended. Anyone climbing will want to bring something to hydrate themselves, it’s an exhilarating climb to the top. Bringing a picnic lunch and enjoying WINTER 2012
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a meal while taking in breathtaking sights would be enjoyed by anyone and everyone. If bringing a lunch to the top isn’t for you, there is a covered picnic table at the base of the mountain. B r i n g binoculars and/or a camera, this will bring one’s experience to the next level. Between the Town of Castle Hill, the State of Maine, and its agencies, and numerous volunteers, many improvements to the parking, picnic areas, and educational display have revitalized this important, wellused, recreational area. A memorial stone at the trailhead entrance and a memorial bench at the summit have been placed to honor a local, fallen hero. A well-attended ceremony to celebrate the life of Corporal Dustin J. Libby took place October 2011 with Governor Paul LePage, other dignitaries, and military officials attending, to pay tribute to a man that gave his life fighting for our freedom. The Haystack Mountain Trail has been dedicated in Dustin’s memory. As you can see this little Mountain has stood tall over the years. It has been a great benefit to our community’s history, education and well-being. For more information about Haystack Mountain people can go to, http://maine.gov/doc/nrimc/ 52
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Photo Copyright © 2011 Ken Lamb, www.kenlamb.com
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Photo Š 2011 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com
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NOW HIRING!
207 Development Dr Limestone, ME 04750 207-328-4515
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Artwork Copyright © 2011 Jane Gridley
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Ask Alli: with Allison Heidorn
Each issue Allison answers questions from Aroostook County parents and youth. You can submit your questions to content@ourmainestreet.com attn: Ask Alli. Allison is the Asset Coordinator for Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention As a parent of a Middle School student I hear such awful stories of bullying from my child and their friends. When I was a kid bullying was simply name calling or a push on the playground. Today bullying seems to have grown to an all new level between texting, online media and person to person bullying. Kids today can’t seem to escape the harassment, intimidation, and abuse. What can parents and communities do to address this serious issue? Bullying can be heartbreaking for young people as well as their parents. The bad news is that according to the New York Child Study Center, 50% of students in the United States are bullied. The good news is that there are practical strategies that individuals and communities can do to make a difference in the lives of young people. With so many myths surrounding the topic of bullying, it is not surprising that we are left unsure of how to guide our children. The old adage “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names will never hurt you” simply is not true. Not only does bullying and cruelty create an undercurrent of fear and mistrust among kids, it also affects learning and development and the future of a child’s mental health. This negative impact goes beyond the bullied child as it affects those who witness the bullying. Bystanders are often left feeling hopeless and fearful. Surprisingly, kids that bully are also adversely affected. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Children labeled by their peers as aggressors or bullies at age eight are more likely to end up incarcerated and are less likely to be steadily employed and in stable long-term romantic relationships by the time they reach age thirty.” Another myth many well intentioned adults believe about bullying is that it is just a part of growing up, it is character building and that kids just need to stand up for themselves, get a backbone. This could not be further from the truth. No one deserves to be humiliated, tormented or abused in any way. Bullying is not a phase kids go through or a lesson we all need to learn. It is simply cowardice behavior that is centered in intentional, repetitive, hurtful behaviors that produce a perceived imbalance of power between the bullied and bully. Despite all the information out there in the media, online and in schools, the problem of bullying persists. In 60
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my opinion, it is because we have failed to identify the root of the problem. As a society, our role is to model for our children how to peacefully resolve conflicts, respect others, and be compassionate human beings who value kindness over cruelty. Navigating the world successfully means having empathy for others and knowing they have hearts that can be broken by violence, humiliation and abuse. It requires teaching kids to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. These are behaviors kids need to see and absorb in order to eliminate bullying and lead successful lives. Recognizing their own personal power from being compassionate and following their conscience are invaluable skills that are often overlooked. For those young people who face bullying on a day to day basis, I offer a few helpful strategies to help them balance the power and regain control over their lives. Empower them to directly and respectfully stand up to bullies, even if they are not the person being picked on. Role-play with them how to speak up but avoid being verbally aggressive or using physical force. Young people need to have the skills to recognize when they need to tell adults. Bullies are less likely to bully when kids are in groups so encourage your child to stay among friends when walking to class, home from school etc.. As adults we must stay informed, reach out if needed to teachers, program staff, and counselors who have experience with this issue. Surround yourself with others who care about creating a safe, positive environment for young people. For most of us bullying has been a part of our growing up years. As adults we now carry the scar of some of the hurtful, violent or humiliating experiences either we or those we love experienced. We have the power to create a different society that no longer accepts bullying as the norm. Empower, educate and model compassionate, respectful, and positive behaviors; that is how we deal with bullying. When young people begin to understand that true power comes from stopping and thinking before they act, respectful listening, peaceful conflict resolution, compassion and empathy for others and listening to their conscience, no longer will there be a need for force, intimidation or violence. This message starts with you. I am in eighth grade and have been friends with the same group of kids since elementary school. We all get along very well and like to do a lot of the same things. The problem is that one of my friends has started picking on other kids, leaving them out and calling them names. I do not understand why he is doing this and it makes me feel uncomfortable even though the bullying is not directed at me. What should I do? It is not uncommon for friends to begin to see differences in each other right about the time you enter middle or high school. Some friends lose interest in the
same things, others join music or sports teams and simply spend more time with other peers, while others simply focus on their studies and socialize very little. All of these behaviors are very normal, healthy transitions into middle childhood. What is unusual in your case is that your once kind-hearted friend has now become a bully who calls other names and picks on them. I would start by talking to your friend about all the things you love about him. Especially how kind he has been to you and how great of a friend he is. Tell him you have seen some changes in him and ask if there is anything bothering him? It sounds to me as though this behavior is out of character for your friend so see if there is something going on in his life that might be causing it. Although most bullies think they’re hot stuff and have the right to push people around, others are actually insecure. They put other people down to make themselves feel more interesting or powerful. Some bullies act the way they do because they’ve been hurt by bullies in the past — maybe even a bullying figure in their own family, like a parent or other adult. Remember whatever the reason; it’s no excuse for your friend to be a bully. Tell your friend how his bullying is upsetting to you. Give examples of times he made others feel bad by name calling, excluding or picking on people. The more descriptive you can be, the better he will understand the behaviors he is doing that makes others uncomfortable including you. Bullying truly does make everyone feel miserable — even the bullies. Your friend may feel he is intimidating others into respecting him, but bullies are never respected. Tell him to show his strength and good character by doing something positive rather than putting others down. If he is a true friend, he will listen to what you are saying and take it to heart. Support him to make positive choices and help him to recognize when what he does is not so nice. If he does not want to hear what you are saying, tell him you can’t support the mean acts any longer. Being a friend does not mean standing by as others are mistreated. Lastly, if the bullying behavior continues, find a trusted adult you can talk to who can reach out to your friend. An adult can help mentor and coach your friend to get them to understand the effect their behavior has on others; something many bullies simply do not take the time to think about. Your friend is lucky to have someone like you in their life. Best of luck!
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Photo Copyright Š 2011 Ken Lamb, www.kenlamb.com
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Your “LOCAL” choice for payroll processing Curt Paterson President curtp@maine.rr.com
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Maine’s Platinum Trollbeads Dealer Clogs, Jewelry, Table Linens, Swedish Specialty Foods Scandinavian Sweaters, Crystal, Dinnerware, Bridal Registry www.monicasimports.com 176 Sweden Street, Caribou, Me 04736 Tel / Fax: (207) 493-4600
GRAMMY ’S COUNTRY INN Can you please introduce yourself to our readers? Steve Graham and my other half for over 30 years, Lynn Birdsall, are hands -on owners. We manage, cook, hostess, clean and do it all.
What past experience do you have in the restaurant business? NONE! I always said we could do anything we set our minds to. It took two minds, lots of help, hard work and a lifetime of dedication to make a restaurant Can you give us a brief history of your restaurant? business out of basically nothing in the middle of Vallie and Garfield Smith established the restaurant nowhere. in 1948. Route 2A was the interstate north of Bangor, and they were open 24 hours back then. After three What is the theme of your restaurant? owners went out of business, it sat idle for over a We have two “Just good food” and “Where you get year. In the fall of 1989, we opened our doors for more than you expect.” the first time on the opening day of deer hunting season. 64
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Who is the chef? No chef here, just a team of dedicated employees. Tell us about your menu. Seafood is number one. Our seafood platter is the best seller. We use the best seafood I can buy, and we hand bread everything to order. Our fresh- cut rib eye and prime rib are running a close second. We do everything here the hard way. The good way! We make our bread, rolls and pastries from scratch every morning. All of our gravies, soups and chowders are homemade. We don’t use anything that is precooked or premade. Something that sounds as simple as a chicken salad sandwich takes a lot of teamwork and time to make, but we guarantee it’s all worth it! What sets your restaurant apart from others? The biggest thing, no pun intended, is our portions. We give you the best food possible at a reasonable price and of course, more than you expect! Do you take reservations? Yes, we do take reservations. We do our best to accommodate large parties. All of our food is available for takeout. Sorry, no catering. Is there anything else you would like to add? In the winter sledding is king! ITS 83 goes through our parking lot. ATV trail 105 goes through our parking lot as well. Lots of biker groups like to take trips to Grammy’s via the scenic routes. And oh yes, you never asked how big our whoopie pies are. They are 1-3/4 to 2 pounds. We like to call them “Whoopie Meals.” Grammy’s Country Inn is located at 1687 Bangor Road, Route 2A in Linneus, Maine. Call us at 207532-7808. We are open seven days per week, 363 days per year. We are closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Summer Hours: Monday – Saturday 6 A.M. – 9 P.M. and Sunday 7 A.M. – 9 P.M. Winter Hours: Monday – Thursday 6 A.M. – 8 P.M., Friday & Saturday 6 A.M. – 9 P.M. and Sunday 7 A.M. – 8 P.M. WINTER 2012
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Healthy You:
Let’s Move! by Kim Jones, Cary Medical Center
You’ve probably heard a thousand times by now that you should eat fruits and vegetables every day and exercise regularly. It’s a message that’s been delivered by healthcare providers, educators, fitness gurus, scientists, and other health experts for many years…with good reason. Eating well and staying active helps prevent serious diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and diabetes. A wellbalanced lifestyle also contributes to a stable emotional and mental state, as well as strengthens the immune system to fight off the germs that cause illness. There is an enormous amount of data to support these claims and countless scientific studies to prove them. Yet, despite this knowledge, the number of Americans with health problems resulting from poor diet and lack of exercise is growing alarmingly fast. Consider these statistics (United States population): •Less than half (42%) of children ages 6 – 11 get the recommended amount of exercise. •A mere 14% of adults and less than 9% of teens eat the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables daily. •33% of adults are considered overweight (body mass index of 25.0 to 29.9), 34% are considered obese (body mass index of 30.0 to 39.9), and 6% are considered extremely obese (body mass index over 40.0). Adult obesity has more than double in just 20 years. •The rate of obesity in children and teens has more than tripled since 1980. •Only 35% of adults engage in regular physical activity; 33% participate in no activity at all. To put these statistics into perspective, one-third or roughly 33% of American adults equals over 77 million people. So, it’s well documented that we have a growing (no pun intended) problem in the United States and that current health trends are straining our healthcare system and economy. For example, last year alone the cost of diagnosing and treating diabetes in the United States was over $218 billion. But there is good news…super good news, in fact. The solution to this problem is simple and very achievable! To reduce health risks and reverse the staggering statistics above, medical experts recommend that we consume nutritious food and be active. That’s it. No magic potions to drink, no complicated formulas to follow, no outlandish expenses to incur…just eat your veggies and move. Now I realize that this is easier said than done - if being healthy required no effort, everyone would do it. Carving out time to exercise and plan well-balanced meals daily may seem like a big task, especially considering that many people have work, family, and community responsibilities that fill almost every minute of their every day. But think about it. If a simple 66
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step like snacking on an apple instead of a candy bar or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can lower your risk of lifethreatening diseases, give you more energy, lighten your mood, help you fight the flu bug, set a good example for the next generation, and keep you from becoming a scary statistic, isn’t it worth your time? And what if making these simple lifestyle changes entered you for a chance to win $1,000 cash…do I have your attention now? Cary Medical Center, Healthy You, the AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation, Caribou Parks and Recreation, Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce, and Loring Jobs Corps have joined forces to help motivate you to be healthy. Beginning January 2012, Aroostook County residents are invited to participate in the Let’s Move Challenge – a simple contest where eating the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables and exercising regularly enters you into raffles for prizes like $1,000 cash! In conjunction with Let’s Move, a national wellness initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama to reduce childhood obesity and promote healthier living through nutrition and physical activity, Caribou’s Let’s Move team has designed the Challenge to help improve the wellbeing of Aroostook County residents of all ages. Additionally, the Caribou Let’s Move team will host several other events throughout the coming year, all starting with a Let’s Move Launch at the Caribou Wellness Center on Thursday, January 12 from 12:00 – 6:00PM. For contest rules and calendar, go to www. carymedicalcenter.org, www.caribourec.org, www. cariboumaine.net; stop by the Caribou Wellness Center (55 Bennett Drive), the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce (657 Main Street), or Cary Medical Center (163 Van Buren Road); or call 207.498.1361. Sources: www.livestrong.org, www.letsmove.gov The Center for Disease Control The American Diabetes Association Healthy You is a free community program from Cary Medical Center that addresses your overall well-being including physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health. For program information or calendar of events, log on to www. carymedicalcenter.org or call Cary Medical Center’s Public Relations Department at 498-1361.
Find time to spend together as a family doing a fun activity: go sledding, build a snow fort or try snowshoeing. Photo by Pete Bowmaster. WINTER 2012
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The History of the Chamber of Commerce in Presque Isle by Kimberly R. Smith
The newly renamed Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, an organization that supports business in the Presque Isle Area, has a long history. Nearly one hundred years ago business people in Presque Isle understood the need to work together. The names have changed, but the need for mutual support has not. The following brief history offers some of the highlights of this organization that has grown to nearly 300 members. A meeting of business and professional men from Presque Isle Village was held on Friday, December 31, 1915, at 7:30 p.m. at which the need and benefits of forming a merchants’ association were discussed. E.I. Waddell read an article from the Merchants Trade Journal, which gave instructions and rules to be followed if such an association were to be formed. A vote was passed to form a Merchants’ Association. E.I. Waddell was appointed as temporary chairman and instructed to form a committee of six to draw up a constitution and by-laws. The committee consisted of Frank Haskell, Harry B. Holmes, Roy M. Barker, Harry B. Green, George Ochs, and Howard Smith. The group was to meet and report back on Friday, January 7, 1916. However, the weather that evening 68
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was bad and other “entertainments” were being held that evening, so the meeting reconvened on January 14. On January 14, 1916, the constitution and by-laws revised at the January 7th meeting were read and accepted as read. The group’s name was to be the “Merchants’ Association of Presque Isle.” A committee of three was appointed to form permanent articles for the association: George Ochs, Leon Howe and William Roix. Articles were drawn, read, and accepted. Fifteen names were “secured” for members and the list was to be kept open until Friday, January 21. A committee of three (Howard Smith, Leon Howe, and Harry R. Pipes) was appointed by President Joy to solicit membership from merchants and professional men in town. On January 21, 1916, the constitution and by-laws were amended (Article 2, Section1) so that there would be representation on the executive board from each line of business in town. In 1921, the association voted on merchants’ hours. Merchants would close at noon on Memorial Day, open all day and evening on Independence Day, closed on Thanksgiving Day. Typical business discussed at meetings: entertainment, co-op ads, street paving, fire hydrants, and
public restrooms. The membership fee was $3 with an annual assessment of $6 per capita per year. In 1929, one item of discussion at the July 18 meeting was to see if it was possible to have two parcel post deliveries in town. Postmaster Waddell was “willing to have such deliveries made providing that the expense could be met.” Automatic traffic signals were also discussed. In 1930, at the January 10 meeting, discussion took place on the need for a town manager. The Merchants’ Association became the Presque Isle Chamber of Commerce in 1945. Chambers of Commerce, as associations of local businessmen, have been around since Roman times. The actual term “chamber of commerce” was first used in Marseilles, France in 1599. In the United States, the first Chamber of Commerce was that of the State of New York founded in 1768. The building at 3 Houlton Road was constructed in 1990 (Star Herald photo, August 1, 1990). The atrium, which houses 24-hour access to area information, was added in 2000. The Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1991. In May of 2011, the board of directors of the Chamber voted to change the name of the organization to “Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce” to better reflect its service area encompassing thirteen communities in Central Aroostook County. These thirteen communities consist of Ashland, Blaine, Castle Hill, Chapman, Easton, Mars Hill, Mapleton, Masardis, Oxbow, Portage, Presque Isle, Washburn, and Westfield. Its mission is to serve, advance, and publicize the commercial, agricultural, civic, and general interests of the member communities. Over the years several annual signature events have been born and continue to bring entertainment and excitement to the area. These include, but are not limited to: The annual Strawberry Shortcake Sale started in June 1989 - Area-wide yard sale held twice a year - Haunted Woods Walk in conjunction with Aroostook State Park in October - Crown of Maine Balloon Fest in late August - Holiday Light Parade – December 2011 will be the 22nd year For more information on the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, visit our website at http://centralaroostookchamber.com, email at info@centralaroostookchamber.com or call 207-764-6561.
Illustrated cards available! Check out Hollys Crayons on facebook for more details. Freelance Artist Portraits Personal Greeting Cards Hand Painted Items Character Drawings T-shirt Designs Coloring Books
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Photo © 2011 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com WINTER 2012
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Artwork Copyright © 2011 Jane Gridley
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The Allagash
Goes Around the World by Tim Caverly
There is a special feeling to the Allagash; a sense of adventure, the thrill of getting away from it all! But in the dark of night there is something else. A shadow lingers, hiding beyond the reach of the lantern’s fingers of light. It remains obscure in the midst of the evergreens and old growth. Among the campfires and s’mores, a bone chilling draft embraces all. Shivering, we draw our coats tighter to protect against the rawness. And so begins the description of the newest book by Maine creators Tim Caverly and Franklin Manzo Jr. To be released this fall, A Wilderness Rangers Journal-Rendezvous at Devils Elbow is the fourth in a series of their Allagash Tails collection. The locally written tales are based on the experiences of Caverly during his 18 years as supervisor of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway for Maine’s Department of Conservation. The first book, Allagash Tails Volume One was published in June of 2009, and soon was followed by the popular An Allagash Haunting. A third book Allagash Tails Volume IIIWilderness Wildlife, Volume III, was released in November of 2010. Caverly says he is especially proud of this book because students from Penobscot and Washington Counties helped with editing and illustrations. From the beginnings of just two and one half years ago, it is clear their hard work is paying off. Books have been shipped all across the U.S. and overseas to the countries of Australia, Canada, China,
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England, France, Germany, Israel, Philippines, South America, and to our service people in Iraq and Afghanistan. People all over the world are reading and learning about Northern Maine. The Allagash is a Nationally Designated Wild and Scenic Waterway that flows for 92 miles through the heart of Maine’s woodlands. The Allagash has also gone into schools. For the last several months Caverly has been promoting reading through a Power Point program called “A Literary Celebration of the Maine Experience.” In that presentation he offers a multimedia, hour-long armchair trip down the Allagash that includes music, and through the use of spectacular scenic and historic pictures, he envelops the audience with the sounds, feel and legends of a wild river. Students are being taught about our heritage, spiced with learning about our natural world. The program has been very well received with some students saying, “we don’t really like to read, but we like your stories and, by the way, would you help us write a book.” By school’s end of the last spring, in addition to libraries and civic organizations, Tim had visited 45 schools and reached out to over 1200 students. But talking about their books isn’t enough for the Allagash Tails team. To date, thanks to donations from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, Rotaries, Lions, Kiwanis organizations as well support from numerous financial institutions, over 950 Allagash Tails books have been donated to 65 schools.
Caverly’s second book An Allagash HauntingThe Story of Emile Camile has also been adapted into a stage production with shows performed in Houlton and Millinocket in April and May of 2011. In this collaboration with the Houlton Starbright Children’s Theatre, students sang songs in French and English and captured the spirit of family, friendships and the legacy of our forest heritage. Tim and Frank’s work is far from finished. They already have a book of tales about animal antics planned for release in the spring and another fulllength story due to be released in the fall of 2012. With the spectacular illustration by Manzo, readers of all ages are in for a treat as they see the remote woods and learn about Northern Maine in a whole new way. For more information about Allagash Tails or to learn how you can have Tim speak at your school or event contacting them at www.allagashtails.com or by calling Tim’s cell phone at (207) 907-0517.
What’s YOUR reason to get screened for colon cancer? “They caught my cancer just in time.” —Chuck Kelley, Limestone
If you’re over 50 or have a family history of colon cancer, you’ve got a good reason to get screened.
1-877-320-6800 • ColonScreenME.org
an initiative of Maine CDC • DHHS
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a green transformation
When it comes to energy conservation, Northern Maine Community College isn’t just talking the talk.
The “green transformation” launched a few years ago on NMCC campus, designed to both reduce energy costs and the College’s carbon footprint, is now paying dividends. And, efforts to reduce energy costs and embrace alternative energy sources are about to be significantly enhanced as construction is underway to install a new biomass boiler to provide heat to two of the largest building complexes on campus. More than $3 million has been invested to make the campus more energy efficient. The scope of the work completed ranges from building and lighting upgrades to mechanical renovations and insulation and building controls installation. A year after completing of much of the work, the College is looking at initial savings that exceed projections. Under the agreement with Honeywell, the company performing much of the efficiency work, and following a comprehen-
sive energy audit and resulting work to help maximize energy efficiency, College officials were guaranteed a minimum dollar amount in savings each year for the next 15 years. Initial savings for the first year under the project were set at $73,000, inclusive of both electrical and fuel consumption reductions realized as a result of the extensive energy conservation work completed. Preliminary figures for the first year show actual savings at $125,000. That number includes a reduction of $90,000 in fuel costs – 30,000 fewer gallons of number 2 fuel oil over the year before the energy conservation work was completed. The College also saw a reduction in its electrical usage in the same time period that resulted in $35,000 worth of savings. In addition to the projects undertaken through contract with Honeywell, two other building upgrades at NMCC, funded
The College hosted an open house in it’s alternative energy center as part of Maine Weatherization Day on October 27.
NMCC’s alternative energy center is now home to northern Maine’s Weatherization Training Center – one of only four in Maine. A pressure house, installed through a $220,000 MaineHousing grant, provides training to support weatherization auditing.
through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, have added to energy savings on the campus. A project is now underway to install a 900 kilowatt biomass boiler in the Mailman Trades Building, which houses many of the trade programs at the College. In addition to providing heat for that building, work includes underground piping to connect the biomass system to provide heat for the Christie Complex, the largest classroom building on campus that also houses administrative offices. The $1 million project will provide significant annual energy cost savings and positive environmental impact, as well as provide a regional economic boost and new hands-on learning opportunities for students taking alternative energy courses at NMCC. “This project is expected to reduce heating costs on our campus significantly and replace more than 65 percent of our fuel oil consumption with a local, renewable energy source. The changeover to wood pellets will also serve as the equivalent in reducing carbon emissions to more than 100 cars taken off the road,” said NMCC President Timothy Crowley. “Given all of these benefits, perhaps the most unique to NMCC is the opportunity this will provide our students enrolled in alternative energy programs and courses to experience this technology firsthand.” Altogether, the boiler will provide 85 percent of the heating load for 170,275 square feet of building space between the two facilities. Early projections estimate a total savings of more than $43,000 in utility costs annually, and the replacement of an estimated 47,000 gallons of fuel oil with local pellets. The biomass boiler project was made possible through a $500,000 grant funded by the United States Forest Service under the American Recovery Act of 2009 and administered by the Maine Forest Service. “What makes this project special is NMCC’s incorporation of their new wood fired boiler system into their alternative energy curriculum. NMCC not only talks the
“Our region is expected to see significant increases in the demand for skilled workers in the renewable energy industry. The efforts being undertaken here at NMCC in alternative energy training and education will be critical to meet this rising demand.” Robert Clark, Executive Director Northern Maine Development Commission Taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony were, from left: Barry Ingraham, NMCC director of facilities and information technology; NMCC President Timothy Crowley; Thomas Wood, senior planner with the Maine Forest Service; and Robert Clark, executive director of NMDC and vice chair of the Maine Community College System Board of Directors.
talk, they walk the walk. By doing so they will be giving hands-on experience in wood fired systems from fuel delivery to combustion to all of the related monitoring and control systems to their students,” said Thomas Wood, senior planner with the Forest Service in Augusta. “It is good for the College, it is good for the students, and when the students take their skills into the market place, it is good for the community.” Construction on this project will continue through April. The existing Mailman Trades Building boiler room will be re-used to house the new wood pellet boiler. A pellet silo for fuel storage will be installed on a concrete pad just outside the boiler room.
school students who are serious about getting the best comprehensive Criminal Justice education available in the region. Students will be able to take advantage of the college credit option starting this spring. The University also has joined forces with two private sector businesses focused on technology and communication to offer a unique certification course. UMPI is working with BalanceBPO, a premium business process outsource service provider, and TxVia, a New York Citybased digital payments company, to offer the 75-hour course. The Business Process Outsourcing Certification Course is set to begin in January 2012 and will be taught on campus. It will prepare participants for the highly skilled work underway at the two companies, which have operations in Presque Isle. Governor Paul LePage has praised the partnership for providing members of the workforce with the tools needed for enhancing their careers in Maine. The three organizations hope their collaborations will help to serve as an important economic driving force for the region. In addition to these partnerships, a The University of Maine new academic program at Presque Isle has is in the works as the focused its attention University develops on educational, a Physical Therapist economic and cultural Assistant program. opportunities by The Associate degree establishing two program would create exciting community a new option for local partnerships, working residents who want to develop a brand to pursue healthcare new degree program, careers close to home. and offering a unique University officials are cultural event that moving through the involved bringing two-year accreditation nationally renowned process right now, and basket-makers to hope to have the first campus. cohort of students graduate in August 2013. Program UMPI has partnered with the Caribou Regional Director Christopher Rolon is developing the program Technology Center to give high school students a head and bringing it through the accreditation process with start on their Criminal Justice degree from the University. The two organizations signed an articulation agreement the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy that allows Aroostook County students to earn college Education [CAPTE]. The PTA program will allow the credit for the high school level Criminal Justice classes University to offer more instruction in the STEM areas; they take at CRTC and apply those credits to their UMPI careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math degree. The agreement creates a clear pathway for high are the largest growing job sector in Maine.
University focuses on community partnerships, cultural opportunities
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On the cultural side of things, the University welcomed five respected basket-makers from Native tribes throughout the region when Project Compass hosted the panel presentation The Evolution of BasketMaking: From Function to Art in late November. More than 125 people attended the event to hear from the panelists, who included Fred Tomah from the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Victor Bear from Tobique First Nation, Roldena Sanipass from the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, Jennifer Neptune from the Penobscot Nation, and Jeremy Frey from the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The event gave campus and community members the opportunity to learn more about Native history and culture, and deepen their understanding of the traditional art form. To learn more about these and other exciting things happening at UMPI, visit www.umpi.edu. Above: UMPI and CRTC officials signed an articulation agreement on Nov. 8 that will give high school students a head start on a Criminal Justice degree from the University. Taking part in the signing ceremony are, from left, Dr. Lisa Leduc, UMPI Criminal Justice Professor; UMPI President Don Zillman; Ralph Conroy, CRTC Director; and Reed Nonken, CRTC Criminal Justice Instructor. Right: Basket-makers from five tribes in the region spoke during a special panel presentation at the University of Maine at Presque Isle held on Nov. 30. Taking part in the event were, from left, Fred Tomah, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; Victor Bear, Tobique First Nation; Roldena Sanipass, Aroostook Band of Micmacs; Jennifer Neptune, Penobscot Nation; and Jeremy Frey, Passamaquoddy Tribe. Right lower: Baskets by the panelists were on display as part of the event “The Evolution of Basket-Making: From Function to Art� held at UMPI on Nov. 30. Jennifer Neptune of the Penobscot Nation brought several baskets and basket molds that she and other Native basket-makers have crafted. Left: UMPI, BalanceBPO, and TxVia signed an agreement to offer a Business Process Outsourcing certification course. Taking part in the signing are, from left, Matthew Nyren of TxVia, Tim Lavin of BalanceBPO, UMPI President Don Zillman, and Michael Ouellette of BalanceBPO.
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Aroostook Our Maine Street’s
a guide to our back issues
Issue
Issue #1 Summer ‘09
Issue #2 Fall ‘09
Issue #3 Winter ‘10
Articles
Photos
The North Maine Woods by Janet Kelle Maine’s Own Buckwheat Treats by Robin Jenkins Presque Isle Turns 150 by Kimberly Smith It’s Time... by Rayle Ainsworth & Sarah Ulman Sesquicelebrate Caribou by John Swanberg Wind Power & High Education by Rachel Rice & Karen Gonya Healthy You: Have Sun Sense by Kim Jones Overcoming Varicose Vein-ity by Kim Jones Sodium: What Is The Right Amount by Professional Home Nursing Company MD by Tami Kilcollins County Critters by Dr. Hotham Increase In Fees: Still A Wicked Good Deal by Regis Trembly Boondock’s Grille Furniture & Floors North
John Herold Gene Cyr Michelle Olsen Christine Chabre
Aroostook Veterans by Chris Jenkins A Growing Commitment To Maine by Mary Keith Christmas Song by Robin Jenkins Swne Flu-H1N1 Influenza by Professional Home Nursing November: American Diabetes Month by Roberta Guerrette Healthy You: The Pandemic of 2009 by Kim Jones County Critters: Fleas by Dr. Hotham A Caregiver For All Seasons by Bill Flagg A Promise Kept by Diannne McCormack Edgecomb Promoting Outdoor Recreation by Regis Trembly Horn Of Plenty Frank Martin & Sons, Inc.
Mike McNally Kathie Beaulieu Janet Kelle
2010 USSA XC Junior Olympics by Andrew Soucier Green Initiative by Hilary McNamee Community At The Heart Of UMPI’s Nordic Ski Team A History Of Caring: Celebrating 85 Years Of Cary by Bill Flagg Bill Sheehan, Northern Maine Birder by Robin Jenkins Chills by PHN - Vickie St.Peter Spills by PHN - Lisa Reed So You Are Going For Surgery by Jill Daigle Healthy You: Resolutions by Kim Jones County Critters: Winter Challenges For Livestock by Dr. Hotham Wood Carving by Thom Cote Dean’s Motor Lodge Mojos
Mike McNally Kate Barnes Christine Chabre Gene Cyr Janet Kelle Megan McHatten
Issue
Issue #4 Spring ‘10
Issue #5 Summer ‘10
Issue #6 Fall ‘10
Issue #7 Winter ‘11
Articles
Photos
The Log Cabin by Edward Blanchard Maple Sugaring by Chester Gage Fairy Houses by Dena Hensler Moving To The County by Noah Yoder Stroke. Are You At Risk? by PHN - Hope Walton Access For Local Patients by Tamra Kilcollins Healthy You: A Life-Saving Decision by Kim Jones County Critters: Trip To The Veterinarian’s Office by Dr Hotham Promoting The wildlife “Brand” by Regis Trembly Napoli’s Pizza Spring Break Maple & Honey
Kate Barnes John Mazo Christy Cormier Gene Cyr John Nyberg
The Cheesemaker by Robin Jenkins The Caribou Zoo by Dick Chabre Aroostook Relay For Life by Amanda Jenkins P.I. Inn & C.C. Celebrates 10th Anniversary by Kathy McCarty Deboullie Unit T15 R5 by Vernon Labbe Staying In Control Of Diabetes by Andy Soucier When Good Bugs Go Bad by Professional Home Nursing Healthy You: The Eyes Have It by Kim Jones County Critters: Keep Pets Healthy by Dr. Hotham Rosette’s Restaurant One Of A Kind
Jo-Ellen Kelley Gene Cyr Devon Cote James Lagasse Lonnie & Janet Jandreau
Antique Tractors by Tamra Kilcollins The Goose Hunt by Rebecca Bowmaster Fair Is Fair by Dan Ladner Maine Veterans’ Home by Trish Thibodeau Aroostook State Park by Scott Thompson Hunting Safety by Warden Charles Brown An Aroostook Wreath by Oxbow Wreaths Healthy You: The Secrets Lurking In Your Pantry by Kim Jones The 40 Assets by Allison Heidorn County Critters: Chocolate and your Pets by Dr. Terri McQuade Courtyard Café Monica’s Sandinavian Imports
Ragina Kakos Gene Cyr Tamra Kilcollins Ken Lamb Kaitlyn McLaughlin
P.I. Community Players by Sandy Gauvin The Annual Turkey Trot Race by Tamra Kilcollins Hiding In Plain Sight by Ruth Mraz Northern Prosthetics by Cory LaPlante The Can-Am Crown Races by Stan Flagg No Ordinary Place by Kathleen Fortin Healthy You: Embrace Winter by Kim Jones Ask Alli by Allison Heidorn Make Life Easier by Professional Home Nursing County Critters: Winter Pet Care by Dr. Terri McQuade Irish Setter Pub
Michaud Photography Gene Cyr Peter Freeman Ken Lamb Jen Brophy-Price
Issue
Issue #8 Spring ‘11
Issue #9 Summer ‘11
Issue #10 Fall ‘11
Articles
Photos
Fort Kent International Muskie Derby by Dave Kelso Smelt Enforcement by Eric Rudolph Philanthropy in Aroostook County by Sandy Gauvin Atlantic Salmon by Claudia Garland Fish Friends by Linda Jones Healthy You: The Colors of Awareness by Kim Jones There’s No Place Like Home by Professional Home Nursing County Critters: Potential Dangers by Dr. Terri McQuade The Heart of Case Management by Karim Slifka Red River Camps by Janet Kelle The Greenhouse Restaurant
Gene Cyr Ken Lamb Pete Bowmaster
Presque Isle Library by Sandy Gauvin The 34th Acadian Festival by Luc Devost Fifty Years of Learning by Karen Gonya Patten Lumberman’s Museum by Rhonda Brophy & Charles Cormier What Matters by Allison Heidorn Picnics by Dena Hensler To Serve a Community by Karim Slifka Giardiasis by Richard Hoppe Healthy You: What’s Bugging You? by Kim Jones Advanced Alzheimer’s and other Dementia by PHN-Darlene Foster Ask Alli by Allison Heidorn Presque Isle Balloon Fest by Billie Brodsky Long Lake Sporting Club 75 Years of Graves’ Shop ‘N Save
Matthew Michaud James K. Ogden Pete Bowmaster Ken Lamb Ragina Kakos
Where Our Railroad Lives by Herbert Pence Richards Christmas Tree Farm by Sandy Gauvin Route 161 by Larry Cyr Aroostook County Potato Harvest by Catherine Shaw Bowker Prime Athletes Need Primary Care by Karim Slifka Salmon Brook Lake Trail by Vernon M. Labbe Moose Hunting in Maine by Warden Kevin Pelkey Advances in Veterinary Medicine by Christiana Yule Healthy You; Nature to the Rescue by Kim Jones Make My Hamburger Rare Please by PHN - Vickie St. Peter Nadeau’s House of Furniture and Nadeau’s House of Flooring
Matthew Michaud Ken Lamb Gene Cyr Peter Freeman Pete Bowmaster Janice Bouchard
To purchase back issues,- please contact us at subscribe@ourmainestreet.com or 207.472.3464.
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Photo Copyright Š 2011 Ken Lamb, www.kenlamb.com
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Photo Copyright Š 2011 Ken Lamb, www.kenlamb.com
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