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

info@midmainechamber.com • 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:

dsterling@centralmaine.org 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

crc@unity.edu.

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 Careerhelp@thomas.edu 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, trabideau@watervillelibrary.org 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

ldmgriffin@yahoo.com

End Zone

26 Elm Street

Waterville, ME 04901

861-4435

Rita Menoudarakos

ritam@unityhouseofpizza.net

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

jpatricktowne@yahoo.com

OTT Communications

56 Campus Drive

New Gloucester, ME 04260

615-3119

Sales Rep: Richard Boghossian

Rich-

ard.boghossian@ottcommunications.c

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-

ing@mainechamber.org, 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

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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 info@midmainechamber.com. 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!