8/9/2019 Profile 2010
1/48
PRESENTS
An in-depth look at businesses throughout Central and Western Maine
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
2/48
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 20102 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
3/48
The And r o s c o ggin Co u ntyChamber of Commerce com-
memorated its 2010 annual
meeting and awards presentation at the
end of January with the biggest single
event in the organizations long and dis-
tinguished history. And the sellout crowd
celebrated having achieved an all-time
record membership in 2009, as well:
1,355 members, making the Chamber
among the most powerful advocacy and
member-services business organizationsin Maine. 2010 seems on pace to con-
tinue the Chambers recent successes,
since membership renewals are well
ahead of where theyd been at this time
in other years, according to Chamber
president, Chip Morrison, the ener-
getic face and voice of the membership
and of the larger Androscoggin County
community.
The support of our members and the
growth of the organization is gratifying,
of course, Morrison said recently, but
what it really does is provide us with a
base of people committed to the well-
being of the community. They devote
thousands and thousands of hours of
volunteer time. That enables us to really
expand what we can do to help our
members grow and prosper, and to help
make our area the best possible place to
live and work. The Chamber has a long record of
advocating on behalf of its members
with local, state and federal legislators,
agencies and regulators. It supports its
members with a wide range of network-
ing opportunities, access to education,
information, and expertise that will help
them in the successful pursuit of their
own missions. And there is a constant
need to expand the list of services the
organization provides, both to its mem-bership and to the public. This is an
incredibly diverse and vibrant commu-
nity, Morrison explained. Our members
are divided into more than 300 different
categories, and no single group consti-
tutes even a plurality. That pretty much
reflects the nature of the area in which
we live, though, and we try to provide
representation from all elements of the
community as part of our leadership. The
37 members of our board of directors are
an energetic bunch of individuals who
are really committed to our community.
While the cities and towns of Andro-scoggin County were once dominated
by the manufacturing culture repre-
sented by the giant mills, the decline of
those traditional industries has actu-
ally enabled a more robust and diverse
economy, one better positioned for
the 21st Century, and the Chamber has
had to respond accordingly. Among
its long-term commitments is a deep
engagement with education, the vital
underpinning of the new economic reali-ties - from pre-K through post-secondary,
continuing education and professional
development for adults, scholarships,
and advocacy.
One of the most successful new ini-
tiatives undertaken by the Chamber in
recent years has been support for the
Young Professionals of the Lewiston
Auburn Area (YPLAA), a cadre of over 400
members who are on a path to become
the future civic and business leaders of
the region. They have been engaged
with the community with more than
20 specialized projects and initiativesof their own this past year, undertaken
by members of six committees. YPLAA
recently commemorated its own annual
meeting, their second, at which half a
dozen specific awards were conferred.
While the Chamber has contributed
directly, in many ways, to the diversifi-
cation and strengthening of the localeconomy, one which despite the strug-
gles of the past couple of years has con-
tinued to lead the state in its ability to
create and retain jobs, it has recently
expanded the work of the Regional
Image Committee to support the notion
of the greater Androscoggin communi-
ties as a tourist destination.
Many of us dont see our own forest,
for the trees, Morrison said. We have
an abundance of unique historicalattractions, educational and health-
care facilities; special events and festi-
vals that attract guests from all over the
country, even from abroad. The Dempsey
Challenge alone not only raised over
$1-million for the Dempsey Center for
Cancer Hope and Healing, but it also
attracted an unprecedented level of
major media attention. We have nearly
two dozen wonderful arts organizations
and venues music, theater, dance, gal-
leries, museums. There is world-class
dining and all sorts of lodging options.
The Chambers recently completed pre-
sentation of L/As Cultural and Tourism
Assets documented an industry that
employs nearly 5,700 people locally and
generates more than $14 million, by con-
servative estimates.
Were really grateful to our members,
Morrison said, because its their level ofsupport that lets us do so much for so
many. We really are the product of liter-
ally thousands of individuals working
together.
Visit, call or write the Chamber at:
The Business Service Center
at KeyBank Plaza
415 Lisbon Street,PO Box 59
Lewiston, Maine 04243207-783-2249
www.androscoggincounty.com
Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce
2010 Chamber board of directors
Submitted photo
YPLAA volunteers collecting donations for Volunteers of America
Submitted photo
By Rich Livingston
Freelance Writer
3PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
4/48
ADVERTISER INDEX
STEPHEN M. COSTELLOVice President /
Advertising and Marketing
689-2920
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Jody Jalber t 689-2913
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES
Yvonne Allen 364-8728
Larry Baril 689-2960
Mike Blanchet 778-6772Brian Croteau 689-2909
Jeff Haggerty 689-2991
Dan McManus 689-2906
Norm Moreau 689-2904
Dionne Morneau 689-2956
Claire Small 689-2958
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
Denise M. Scammon 689-2997
MARKETING COORDINATOR
Sheri Verville 689-2903
COVER / DESIGN MANAGER
Christina Noonan 689-2954
AD DESIGN TEAM
Leo Baillargeon
Jennifer Gendron
Shirley Hood
Sandy Marquis
Linda Perry
Michelle Pushard
Jesse Richter
Terri-Lee Seeley
Jim VangeliSun Journal, 104 Park Street, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, Maine 04243
Lewiston 784-5411 Farmington 778-6772 Rumford 364-8728 Norway 743-9228
Dear Readers:
SUN MEDIA GROUPpresents
Profile 2010, our annual overview of
the businesses and organizations that
provide innovation and important
services to our communities. Withinthese pages you will find business
profiles that give snapshots of a
companys or organizations products
and services, key contact information,
sales levels, ownership, employment
growth, and historical background.
This dynamic special section gives
businesses and organizations a
forum to display the successes of the
past year and lay out their plans for
the future. Take the time to explore
what these companies have to offer.
We hope you will enjoy reading this
unique section. It features businesses
and organizations that help shape
your world, past, present and future.
EducationUSMs Lewiston-Auburn College ...................10
EntertainmentCole Farms .................................................................14Portland Sea Dogs ................................................14
Rolandeaus ...............................................................13
Sams Italian Foods ...............................................12
Theater At Monmouth .......................................13
Village Inn ...................................................................12
FinanceAndroscoggin Bank ..................................... 24, 25
Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce .... 3
Androscoggin Valley
Council of Government ........... ............ ........... 10
Franklin Savings Bank ........................................... 7
Gregory Strong. ........................................................ 6
Lewiston Auburn Economic
Growth Council ........................................................ 7
Maine Chamber of Commerce ........... ............ 8
Northeast Bank .........................................................9
Oxford Federal Credit Union ............................ 6
Rainbow Federal Credit Union ........................ 8
HealthAdvance Orthotic
& Prosthetic Services ...........................................39
Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice ..... 40
Androscoggin Oral
& Maxillofacial Surgeons ...................................38
Assisted Home Care............................................ 46
Casco Bay Gastroenterology ......................... 40
Center Street Dental ............................................43
Central Maine Audiology .................................37
Central Maine Medical Group ......................... 2
Central Maine Orthopaedics..........................45
Cosmetic Enhancement ...................................36
Health Club & Spa ..................................................37
Majors Mobility .......................................................41
Marshwood Center .............................................44
Montello Heights ...................................................45
Pine Tree Orthopedic Lab ............................... 44
Proactive Physical Therapy ..............................42
Schooner Estates ...................................................41
St. Marys Health Systems .................................47
The Meadows ..........................................................43
The Medicine Shoppe...........................................42
HomeAmerican Concrete ..............................................26
Aqua-Max of Maine..............................................29
Benner & Son ............................................................32
Budget Blinds ...........................................................32
Fieldings Oil ..............................................................26
Gagne & Son Concrete .......................................30
Gas Contractors of Maine .................................28
Hammond Lumber ..............................................27
Hammond Tractor ................................................30
J.L. Hayes & Co..........................................................33
Mount Blue Oil ........................................................33
Pineland Lumber ...................................................31
Redlon Johnson .....................................................31
Reggies Sales & Service .....................................28
Sherm Arnolds
Flooring & Kitchen Design ................................ 34
RetailAdvantage Gases & Tools .................................16
Affordable Eyes .......................................................22
Chapman Collision Center ...............................19
Colemans Collision Center ..............................16
Donnas Greenhouses ........................................23
Earrings & Company .......................................... .22
Emerson Chevrolet ............................................. 48
Employment Times ........... ............ ............ .......... 11
LA Auto Company ................................................19
Lee Auto Malls .........................................................20
Martindale Country Club ..................................21R.S. Osgood & Sons ..............................................17
Rollins Furniture......................................................23
ServPro of Lewiston-Auburn ..........................18
Sun Journal .................................................................. 5
Whited Motorhome & RV .................................21
Non-profitsAdvocates for Children ......................................35
American Cancer Society .................................15
Common Ties ............................................................5
United Way ............................................................... 46
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 20104 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
5/48
5PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
6/48
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 20106 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
7/48
Growth Council serves as one-stop economic development agency
Overview
Loans
Marketing & Public
Relations
Site Searches & Product
Development
The Lewiston-Auburn Economic
Growth Council is the centraleconomic development and
business attraction agency forLewiston-Auburn.
The Growth Council worksclosely with clients on a fully
confidential basis of fering servicesincluding technical assistance,commercial f inancing, s i te
searches, and marketing.The Lewiston-Auburn Economic
Growth Council serves as an on-
call business partner, assuminga variety of roles to help clientsget down to business af fordably,
efficiently, and successfully.The Growth Council also serves
as a clearinghouse of information
on a wide variety of businessresources, such as educationand training programs, incentive
programs, local statistical data, andnetworking opportunities.
LAEGC provides confidentialsite searches for clients looking
for existing office, industrial, retail,or commercial space, raw land,or build-to-spec options. LAEGC
manages an extensive databaseof properties and works withmunicipal officials, local realtors,
and developers to find the rightsolution for each client. LAEGCwas instrumental in assisting the
Wal-Mart Distribution Center,Safe Handling, and Estes Express,to name just a few clients. Often
by serving its sister corporations
(Lewiston Development Corp.,Auburn Business Development
Corp., and L-A Railroad Co.), LAEGChas helped develop or manage
LAEGC serves as the primary
marketing and business attractionresource for the cities of Lewistonand Auburn, overseeing various
print, electronic, and massmedia communications. TheGrowth Council manages the
LAEGC provides gap financingfor clients in the Twin Cities, andcurrently manages more than20 outstanding loans totaling
Lewiston-Auburn
Economic Growth Council
development of property, includingthe Auburn Industrial Park;Angostura/World Harbors; and a
future spec building on ForrestalStreet in Lewiston. LAEGC serves as
landlord and marketing agent forthe Business Service Center at 415Lisbon Street. Furthermore, LAEGCis always ready to assist the cities of
Lewiston and Auburn in evaluatingproject development proposals andexploring partnerships.
successful L-A: Its HappeningHere! community image andbranding campaign and oversees
all TV, radio, print, and electronicadvertising for the campaign.
The Growth Council also assistsits development clients with publicrelations needs, from writingand distributing press releases
to organizing ground-breakingceremonies and ribbon cuttings.LAEGC regularly pursues media
and public relations opportunitiesparticularly to related issues thataffect the local economy, economic
development, and business issues.For 15 years, LAEGC has organized
the Androscoggin Business to
Business Trade Show, which hasevolved into the largest one-daybusiness show in the state. The
show attracts nearly 200 exhibitorsand 2,500 attendees. It has sold outfor the past five years, and has an
www.economicgrowth.org
415 Lisbon Street,P.O. Box 1188
Lewiston, ME 04243-1188
Phone: 784-0161
about $4.8 million. Gap financingallows small- and medium-sized
companies the ability to operate,innovate, and maintain theirworkforce. Since 1981, LAEGC has
leveraged tens of millions of dollarsin new local investments throughits financing programs.
extensive waiting list each year. Thisyears show has as its theme Show2010: Launching a New Decade,
and will be held Thursday, June 10,at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee
in Lewiston. The show will focus onthe need for organizations to seizeopportunities to innovate, reinventthemselves, and take a fresh look at
what they do best.LAEGC also hosts an Annual
Dinner and Business Forum on
May 13 this year to celebratethe communitys economicdevelopment successes, inform
business and community leadersabout development projects,and preview upcoming projects.
The dinner provides a forumfor the cities of Lewiston andAuburn to bestow their Economic
Achievement Awards to localbusinesses and/or individualseach year.
7PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
8/48
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 20108 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
9/48
9PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
10/48
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201010 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
11/48
11PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
12/48
T
he fire at the end of April 2006, that
caused the Village Inn to close, was
considered a tragedy that impactedthe entire Lewiston-Auburn area. Long-
time patrons were dismayed, and the larger
community felt as though it had lost a vital
part of its fabric. We expected to re-open
within six months, co-owner Belinda Vallee
explained, but it took more than two years.
We kept running into people everywhere
who told us constantly that we needed to
keep pushing, to not give up. My in-laws
were called at home. The community has
been so supportive. People were so patient
when we first re-opened in July 2009. Wegot a terrific welcome back its great to
know that people didnt forget us.
How could they forget? The Village Inn has
prospered through three generations of the
Vallee family, since 1963, and remains a local
institution. Fine family dining, special family
recipes, value pricing, and dedication to the
community have characterized the Auburn
landmark since its inception.
We have always served excellent meats,
cut to order, along with chicken and pastadishes. We have a new chicken Oriental
salad, too, but of course, were best known
for seafood, said co-owner Mike Vallee.
Were the home of the original two-fer in
L-A. Weve always served generous portions,
but since we re-opened, we also feature
basket portions all the time, day or night,
smaller anchor portions of our baked dishes
and even a mates portion of our famous
seafood platter.
The menu may be diverse, and
highlighted by award-winning chowders
and soups, but the Inns reputation comesfrom its famous fried dishes, especially clams
and scallops. Well, that and the famous
slow-roasted prime rib. As always, they use
the highest-quality, cholesterol-free frying
oil. Everything is made to exacting standards
using fresh, local ingredients according to
secret family recipes for chowder, batter,
stuffing and gravies. The historic front of the dining area
escaped the fire, which consumed the
kitchen and the second-floor Captain Dons
loft/function area. When patrons returned
after the July 2009 re-opening, they found
the familiar blended with a whole new look
more spacious, yet warmly cozy. We
expect Captain Dons loft to re-open by this
summer, Mike said, and it will look as great
as the rest of the space.
The community has been good to the
family, the Vallees asserted, but they havebeen generous with the community over
the years, as well.
We do what we can to give back, said
Mike. Weve been a major sponsor of the
Lions youth hockey tournament for years
and weve also become more involved with
the Balloon Festival, After the earthquake in
Haiti, the Village Inn created a Share a Heart
for Haiti fundraiser, but at the same time,
proceeds were shared between Haitian
relief efforts and a local cancer communitycenter effort, because, said Belinda, as
much as we wanted to show our support
for the people of Haiti, it was also important
to not forget about our own community at
such a time.
There have always been a bunch of the
kids working here, said Mike, grandkids,
nieces and nephews, our kids theres a
picture of our son, Michael, out front. He was
about three years old, but he was already
wearing an apron. And the affection thefamily has had for their community has
been returned many times over by the
abundance of old and new fans settling
comfortably back in to the familiar, but all
new Village Inn.
Village Inn: Back from the fire, into the fryer
Norm, Connie, Belinda and Mike Vallee
Village Inn
165 High St., Auburn782-7796
By Rich Livingston
Freelance Writer / Photographer
Feeding the community
in body and spirit has
always been a labor of
love for the Vallee family.
S
ams Italian sandwiches earned
their status as icons of the Lewiston-
Auburn culture through three and
a half generations of courtesy, quality, andservice. When lines of hungry mill workers
first formed in front of the carry-out-only
Main Street store well before Americas
entry into World War II, there was no such
thing as fast food. It would be at least
another generation before cityscapes
were changed forever by the explosion of
national food chains.
But first, there was Sams, a genuine, local
original. The first Sams Italian sandwiches
were salami, said a spokesman, but for
years, now, the ham Italian has been the
biggest seller. From the beginning, the
concept was simple, satisfying food made
with care using fresh, unique ingredients.
Sams signature Italian bread is baked
fresh daily, during the swing shift.
The fragrances of baking are most
prominent on Main Street in the
hours just before dawn, when
trucks begin delivering that daysfresh bread along with fresh pizza
dough to the dozen locations now
in the Sams family, from Freeport to
Waterville to Rumford. Sams proprietary
secret-recipe sauce is still made to exacting
standards and is available nowhere but
Sams. Sams recipes for spaghetti and
lasagna are also their own.
Were still providing the same training
support the company used when I first
started working here 18 years ago,
observed general manager Mike Marchus.
Sams has provided the first job to countless
Lewiston-Auburn area youths, many
deciding to make it a career. The average
manager among all 12 locations has been
with Sams for more than 15 years; in fact,
some began their careers while in high
school or college. Loyalty isnt limited
to staff: most everyone in L-A, where six
of Sams 12 stores are clustered, knows
someone who has moved away but needs
a trip home once in awhile to get a Sams
fix. There are subs and pizzas everywhere,
a Lewiston expatriate said recently, but
theres nothing like what I remember about
Sams from my childhood. I always need to
stop in when Im in town.
For more than 40 years, Sams sandwicheswere only dispensed from the counter on
Main Street in Lewiston. Pizza was added in
the 1950s, and dinners in the early 70s. By
the time the second location was opened
in 1982, on Center Street in Auburn, national
chain restaurants had appeared on the local
scene. But Sams remained entirely a part of
Maine culture, and is completely dedicated
to the well being of the communities in
which it is located. Sams works with local
food banks in each of its towns, assistingthem with yearly fundraisers.
While Sams was confined to a single
location for its first 40 years, the opening
of its 12th store, in Waterville, this past
December completed the addition of 11
stores in the second 30 years. In addition,
Sams offers full-service catering including
set-up, professional staffing, and clean-up,
while party-sized orders can be placed at
each store. Sams has expanded in the face
of enlarged national competition, but has
always remained faithful to its origins. Thats
how you grow from simply a sandwich shop
to an essential component of local culture.
Sams: Still fresh after seventy yearsBy Rich Livingston Freelance Writer
SAMSItalian Foods
268 Main St.
Lewiston, ME
782-9145www.samsitalian.com
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201012 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
13/48
Itmay seem quiet through much
of the winter and spring monthsat The Theater At Monmouth, as
loyal patrons near and far eagerly await
a summers worth of great professional
theater.
Actually, theres a whole lot happening
in the off-season as Producing Director
David Greenham and members of the
artistic staff assemble the summer theater
company and plot what will be 10 weeks
of exceptional theatrical experiences inJuly and August.
The Theater At Monmouth grows from a
few staff members to a company of more
than 50 as actors, directors, managers,
designers, and technicians converge in
mid-June upon the small town from points
across Maine and from all over the United
States.
The company quickly becomes a tightknit
group as everyone comes together in
a short and intense period of planning,
design, and rehearsal to create a magical
experience for more than 28,000
theatergoers. We are looking forward to agreat year of unforgettable performances,
Greenham said.
As a lways , we wi l l of fe r f resh
interpretations of Shakespeares work,
making them accessible and entertaining
for everyone. This year we have selected
The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeares
shortest and silliest of comedies, as well as
action-packed Pericles, Prince of Tyre, an
exciting first for the Theater and for manyaudience members as well.
Also on stage this summer will be Mark
Twains hilarious lost play Is He Dead?
Its a classic Twain must-see only recently
published from his personal papers. TAM
will also present George Bernard Shaws
comically clever Misalliance, an ironic
look at marriage and courtship.
Also in the offering, a delightful, funny
tale for children, The Canterville Ghost,
in which an American family moves to a
historic home in Britain where they find
the ghostly Sir Simon as an unexpected
house guest.
In the fall, well bring Gilbert and Sullivans
much-loved The Pirates of Penzance
to the stage, and along the way you
can expect plenty of special events and
surprises. You can keep up with all of this
by regularly visiting theateratmonmouth.
org, Greenham said.
You can reserve seats for all of these shows
and more on www.theateratmonmouth.org where you can check out show
calendars and plan your summer theater
experiences. You can also call the box
office at (207) 933-9999.
Founded in 1970, the Theater was named
The Shakespearean Theater of Maine by
the Maine State Legislature in 1975. This
summer will mark TAMs 41st season.
Performances are held in beautiful
Cumston Hall, listed on the National
Register of Histor ic Buildings since 1976.
The Theater At Monmouth strives
to offer a variety of productions that
appeal to folks of all kinds and is proud
to belong to Maines tradition of quality
work and innovation. To learn more
about The Theater At Monmouth, show
schedules, tickets and more, go to www.
theateratmonmouth.org or call the box
office at (207) 933-9999.
The Theater At Monmouth: Maine tradition of qualityBy David A. Sargent
Freelance Writer
For tickets, show dates and more, go to: www.theateratmonmouth.org or call (207) 933-9999
Dennis A. Price and Bill Van Horn
13PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
14/48
W
hen Cole Farms owner Brad
Pollard says, This place is
unique, you don't have to lookfar for verification. Pollard, who represents
a younger segment of the family-owned
business, explained that the popular
restaurant at 64 Lewiston Road, Route
202 just north of Gray, has changed a lot
through nearly 60 years, but he said it
also has been important to make subtle
changes so you don't lose the sense of
what this place is all about.
What it's all about is good, home cooking.
Many customers have their menu favoritesin mind as soon as they walk through the
door. Nevertheless, Pollard hasn't ignored
the need to accommodate newer tastes,
and the menu now offers wraps, salads,
swordfish and a number of other recent
additions.
Cole Farms is not only a large and popular
restaurant, it is also a local institution with
a solid reputation for providing a job with
flexible working conditions to many localresidents. Over the years of its existence,
hundreds of area residents have been Cole
Farms employees.
Pollard said many young people are on hisworkforce and he likes to encourage them.
Especially in hard times, the younger
people are good workers, Pollard said.
He said many employees first worked for
him when they were in high school or
college. Some left to start families, and
they often come back after five or 10 years
and work flexible part-time hours for
supplemental income.
Pollard, who is a member of the executive
board of the Maine Restaurant Association,
makes business decisions based on nearly
60 years of financial data that helps him
analyze and adjust for changing times.
When a lot a chain restaurants began
building all over Maine in 2002-2005, Cole
Farms endured the same challenges that
faced many other older establishments.People try the new spots, but they come
back, Pollard said. We have a large
customer base and it's growing all the time.
It all began when trees and junipers were
cleared from a rocky pasture in the spring
of 1952 to provide room for a 24-by-30 foot
building and a small parking lot. Steady
growth occurred in its first decade and there
were 10 additions during the next 10 years
with seating for 235. A gift shop was added
in 1994, and that space has recently beenturned back into additional dining area.
No meal is complete until you've tried one
of the Cole Farms desserts more than 40 to
chose from. The pies and puddings are baked
fresh daily on the premises, and 13 varieties of
ice cream are also made at Cole Farms.
Cole Farms caters for banquets at Spring
Meadows Golf and Country Club just across
the highway, which is also under Cole Farms
ownership. The Club includes a 1922 barn
remodeled to become a full banquet facility
with seating capacity for more than 200.
The Cole Farms business flourishes even in
the late fall and winter because of a loyal and
well-established patronage coming from
a distance of 40 to 50 miles or more. More
information is available on the Cole FarmsWeb site at www.colefarms.com.
Cole Farms: More than just desserts, updated menu keeps diners happyBy David A. Sargent
Freelance Writer / Photographer
Vivien Estes, left, of Yarmouth, a frequent diner at
Cole Farms, looks on as Natalie Tombarelli, Gray,
makes some additions to the entryway menu
board.
Cole Farms
64 Lewiston Rd.
Route 202, Gray
657-5866Across from Spring Meadows
Golf & Country Club
www.colefarms.com
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201014 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
15/48
15PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
16/48
At Colemans Collision
Center, located at 1524
Minot Avenue in Auburn,
the customer is priority one.
From towing a vehicle to the
shop and working with insurance
companies to completing repairs
and restoration, their certified
specialists are at the ready to deliver
service and support with honest y,
efficiency, and customer-driven
professionalism.
We are an honest company, said
owner Phil OConnor. Everything
we do is in the best interest of our
customer. Its just the way we dobusiness.
Colemans efforts toward
increased efficiency and quality are
constant according to OConnor
and are illustrated by the past years
commitment to green practices.
His shop in Saco is using the Spies
Hecker (Dupont) waterborne paint
system, a product that is jet-dried
with air better for the environment
as well as for the employees who
use it. The end result is a restoredvehicle returned to the customer
in a more timely fashion. Auburns
location will be retrofitted for this
new process in 2010.
Our offices are now paperless,
confirmed OConnor, who said
everything is stored electronically
to allow for faster retrieval and
sharing of information. We are
always reviewing our processes
to see what can be done better,
more efficiently. And the question isalways how, and what changes do
we make to benefit the customer.
The shop now offers e-estimates
from their Web site at www.
poccollison.com, a quick and easy
way for customers to get a general
idea of the cost of repairs to their
vehicle from the comfort of their
own homes.
OConnor travels throughout the
country studying best practices of
industry leaders, bringing back new
ideas and introducing them to the
Coleman team. The goal is to take
what is good and make it great.
Ot h er se rv ic es t h at se t
Colemans apart include: free
mobile estimating, free pick
up and delivery, rides to work
or home, assistance in claims
process, assistance with towing,
wr i t t en l i fe t ime war ran t y ,
paintless dent repair, electronicclaims processing and heavy-
duty and motor home repairs.
Paperwork, paint, and process
aside, OConnor confirmed that it is
the Coleman team that makes the
true difference for their customers.
All of us are accountable, not only
to the customer and the industry,
but to one another, he explained.
And when we are, everyone
benefits. We only hire the best,
people who are not only the bestat what they do, but how they do
it, and their attitude towards life in
general. I love all our employees
and its important to me that
they too, have a good experience
working on the Coleman team. I
want to give back to them through
education, top salaries, full benefit
packages, insurance, uniforms,
even a matching 401K plan.
OConnor knows a happy team
makes happy customers. What
happens here must always benefit
the customer and I stand by that.
Thats why I want to be sure my
team is in the happiest and best
place they can be, personally as well
as professionally. Its never about
getting the sale; its about getting
the customer.
Colemans Collision Center is a
division of POC Collision which also
owns R.P. Bell Collision in Saco, Maine.
Colemans Collision Center
1524 Minot Avenue
Auburn
784-6121
www.poccollision.com
By Donna Keene Rousseau
Freelance Writer
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201016 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
We believe
providing service
with state-o-the
art equipment
and processes thatalways beneft
the customer sets
us apart. I we
do anything that
does not beneft
our customer, we
consider it a waste.
Phil OConnor
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
17/48
P
ulling into the parking lot at R.S. Osgood
& Sons can be a bit intimidating for first
time visitors. Traveling along Rt. 2, driversonly catch a glimpse of the tremendous amount
of inventory available to customers. Once you
step through the door and into the showroom,
however, there is little doubt why R.S. Osgood
& Sons will be celebrating its 80th anniversary
this year. A friendly, warm environment greets
customers with a welcoming atmosphere that
helps them feel at home. Our biggest thing
is the personal attention we are able to give
our customers, third generation owner Cindy
Osgood said. We service ever ything we sell, we
have the parts in stock and experience with theequipment.
Founded by Roland Osgood in 1930, R.S.
Osgood & Sons has been helping customers
in the surrounding area for 80 years. There is
a sense of pride that runs throughout the 12
employees, showing a concern and desire to be
of help when called upon. Osgood senses that
pride and understood the importance of dealing
with customers needs when she took over the
business from her father, Spencer, in 2003. She
also has the knowledge and understanding of
the area and what her customers are looking
for in equipment. Before Osgood became the
owner, R.S. Osgood & Sons completed an upgrade
and expansion to their sales and accounting
department that has proven extremely helpful
over the past seven years. Additionally, their parts
department has taken giant steps forward to
ensure customers have the parts they need, when
they need them and at competitive prices.Recent trends have seen large farms dwindling
and the economy declining. Keeping that in mind,
R.S. Osgood & Sons has moved forward, ready to
help those people who are looking to produce
their own food on a small amount of land and still
need reliable equipment to perform day-to-day
tasks. Homeowners are doing a lot of gardening,
people with five to 15 acres. They may have a few
horses or cattle; some have small gardens and
many have larger gardens, Osgood said. We
have the equipment to help those people be
successful, as well as those working larger farms.Nestled in a small western Maine community
has been a positive factor in the continued
growth of the company. Through their reputation
of service and reliability, R.S. Osgood & Sons has
developed a niche that customers have come to
rely on, one that has given them a broad base of
returning and new customers. I like where we are
situated, Osgood said. We dont lose touch with
the customers. For the most part we have known
most of them forever.
Helping to support that base has been an
exceptional parts and service departments.
Brad Whittemore and Debbie Wentworth
continue to excel in their expertise in the parts
department, while shop foreman David Haynes,
Jody Thompson and Kent Wagstaff boost a
knowledgeable service department.
Osgood also relies on the experience and
knowledge of John Conant in sales; Chipper
Osgood, with 16 years in the service and warranty
department; and bookkeeper Susan Richards,
who has been with the company for 20 years.
In addition to offering a full line of Kubotas,
R.S. Osgood & Sons also sells lawn and garden
equipment, including Toro, Cub Cadet, Stihl,
Honda and farm equipment by Kuhn and Woods
and Landpride.
Trends motivate their focusBy Dave McLaughlin
Freelance Writer / Photographer
Parts department personnel Debbie Wentworth
and Brad Whittemore with customer Billy Mallett.
Sales Manager John Conant
Above, shop foreman David Haynes and Jody
Thompson in the service department.
Above, Kent Wagsta in the service department.
17PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
18/48
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201018 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
19/48
Jim Piper of LA Auto Company in Lew-
iston opened his doors for business inFebruary 2009 and since then he has con-
centrated on doing everything right. In a
challenging economy where competition
is tight, he has dedicated himself to pro-
viding his customers service that reflects
his commitment to them and to the vehi-
cles he sells.
We specialize in inventory that is
meticulously serviced and restored to
almost new condition, explained Piper.
We want our vehicles to be dependable,long-lasting, well-maintained, and rea-
sonably priced. Thats why we offer the
three-month/3,000-mile warranty. He
continued, I have two on-site mechanics
and one full-time reconditioning profes-
sional. We want to sell our customers used
vehicles that they can feel proud to drive.
When it comes to preparing a car for the
lot, my staff knows not to skimp.
According to Piper, the business over
the past year has carved itself a niche inused foreign cars. He admits the direction
was not intentional; his lot features a wide
inventory of used vehicles ranging from
Ford Mustangs and Honda Accords to
Audis, Volvos, and Mercedes Benz.
I have a passion for cars, said Piper.Every Thursday I travel to New Hamp-
shire and Massachusetts for auctions. I
go early, before the auction starts, to view
the inventory, check for vehicle condition,
and determine what will be required to
move a car from the back of my building
to the front. He laughed when he said he
searches for cars with eyes, those that
catch the attention by their design, color
and styling. He focuses on the high-end
features including moon roofs, leatherinteriors, and heated seats, among other
details, and generally tries to stay with
2004 or newer models with mileage
under 100,000 miles.
We can also locate specific vehicles
for customers, said Piper. I can sit down
with a customer to determine budget,
features, make and model of a car of his or
her choice. If customers know what they
want, I can find it. And from the first to
the last car he has located for a customer,every one has left his lot happily satisfied.
A car with eyes is exactly what
brought Steve Roop of Auburn to LA
Auto Company. I saw Jim driving around
in a car that I liked the looks of. When I
stopped in, he had already sold it, but hesaid he knew what I was looking for and
he went to auction, Roop said. I was on
vacation at the time. He brought back a
beautiful 2003 Mercedes S Series sedan
and I went in and bought it.
Roop, who has always driven used vehi-
cles and trucks said that while he likes the
higher end inventory LA Auto Company
offers, he especially likes the convenience
of local servicing for his new car. A lot of
what can make owning cars like Volvo,Mercedes, and Audi expensive is servicing
them out-of-town, added Roop.
Pete Nadeau, of Greene, Maine, is another
satisfied customer of LA Auto Company.
We purchased two cars from Jim, one
for my son, and another for my wife, said
Nadeau. Jim bent over backwards to make
sure we were happy. He called me from the
auction when he was searching for a car
for my son. Even after the sale, if we had an
issue, Jim took care of us. I was impressed.Hes been very good to us.
A year ago, Piper set out on a business
venture to build a better car buying expe-
rience for his customers, one less painful
than a visit to the dentist. A year later, he
has happy buyers, including Roop and
Nadeau, confirming his success. It was a
fantastic experience.
733 Sabattus St.
Lewiston, Maine777-0047
LA Auto: Convenience of local servicing makes for satisfied buyersBy Donna Keene Rousseau
Freelance Writer / Photographer
Green from Day One is the firstthing youll notice, on the sign at
the driveway entrance to the new
Chapman Collision Center, at 2085
Lisbon Rd., in Lewiston. Because
we opened this shop from
scratch, just this past December,
said Bob Chapman, we were
able to do everything right. We
were able to help protect the
environment, provide a healthier
workplace for our own people,
and do the best possible job ofmatching f actory-original paint
jobs, all at the same time.
Using a waterborne basecoat
from PPG Industries instead of the
more conventional solvent-based
systems can reduce the amount of
smog and ozone-damaging VOC
chemical compounds released
into the air by as much as 80%.
This is the latest technology in
use in as much as 90% of auto
man ufac t ur in g , C h ap man
explained, but its a relatively
new capability in collision repair
facilities. Not only is it good for the
environment, but because its the
same process as the factories use,
it enables us to precisely match
factory colors. Chapman knows
what hes talking about. Before
opening his own shop, he had
spent 19 years running body shops
in Augusta and Lewiston-Auburn.
The new technology lets us do
a better job for our customers,
he said. Controlled, consistent
pressure from new stainless steel
paint guns provides a consistent
coating that is virtually the same
as the original. Youd be surprised,
he added, by how many subtle
variations there are to each color
produced by each manufacturer;
but we can match them all. The
shop is equipped with a Devilibiss
direct gas-fired baking booth along
with a Drive on 360 degree frame
machine.
Chapmans 8,000 square foot
shop, with 15 working bays, is
three miles from Turnpike exit 80.
It can accommodate everything
from custom-paint jobs on
motorcycle tanks to huge tour
buses and dump trucks. It is the
only heavy-duty repair facility in
the area, with a 14x14 door and
an 80-foot-long bay.
If it rides on the road, it can fit inour shop, Chapman laughed. They
have personnel licensed to operate
big rigs, and they can provide
on-site estimates wherever the
equipment might be.
Chapman Collision handles all
insurance paperwork for their
customers, including rental cars
(drop-off and pick-up as well). Our
goal, Chapman explained, is to get
our customers vehicles repaired in
the right amount of time, the first
time. He tells the story of a driver
from Massachusetts who was rear-
ended in a collision in Portland
recently. That customer was
referred to Chapman by a friend,
and was happy with the repair job.
Unfortunately, the same driver
was involved in a second accident
two days later, and was back at
Chapmans.
Eventually, the whole industry will
move to the kind of technology
were using now, Chapman said,
but we are well ahead of the curve.Its expensive to convert existing
equipment to what is needed for
these new coatings, but weve
been able to get it right to go
green right from the start.
Chapman Collision Center went green from day oneBy Rich Livingston
Freelance Writer / Photographer
Bob Chapman keeps a close eye on technology that allows for better job results.
Chapman Collision Center 2085 Lisbon Rd., Lewiston 782-2022
19PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
L A t M ll R lli f d d l ki h d
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
20/48
Ittakes a solid foundation of quality
product and excellent customer serviceto maintain and even increase growth
in the face of the current recessionary economy,
but thats what Lee Auto Malls is achieving.
John Isaacson, CEO of The Lee Auto Malls, said,
We are successful because we have built a
diverse line of franchises. The list of autos sold by
Lee now includes Dodge, Chrysler, Cadillac, Jeep,
Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Scion, and GMC trucks.
In the face of recession, the past year has seen
the addition of 70 new employees statewideand eight additional locations. We have a lot
of long-term employees who work hard to take
care of our customers, Isaacson continued. He
noted that Lee Auto Malls is often making sales
to fourth generation customers.
Shopping for a new or used car at Lee Auto Malls
is easy and pleasant. The huge lots are filled
with selections and there are multiple bright
and shiny showrooms. Repair service is quick
and easy, with a comfortable new lounge area
with snacks and high-definition TV available in
Auburn.
Isaacson outlined the company history that goes
back to a 1936 DeSoto-Plymouth dealership
named Advance Auto Sales on Franklin Street
in Auburn. Neither the original building nor the
street are now in existence. In 1969 Shep Lee, son
of the founder, moved the business to what was
then a two-lane outer Center Street.
It was a huge risk, Isaacson said. It was like theedge of the earth. The Auburn Mall did not exist,
the Veterans Bridge was not yet built and there
were no other car dealers in the area, just farms.
Today, every new car sold in this county is sold on
outer Center Street.
Nevertheless, the company grew steadily. Shep
Lee was the first in Maine to own more than one
auto dealership. Lee Auto Malls now comprises
six auto dealerships in Lewiston-Auburn and
20 across Maine Presque Isle to Saco and
Topsham to Norway making it the largest auto
sales organization in the state.
Bill Menke, Lee Auto Malls general manager, said
people are keeping their cars longer and they
are paying attention to proper maintenance.
When they shop for a new car, they are focusing
on gas mileage and safety. In addition to Hybrid
vehicles, he said there will be a lot of progress in
the near future in clean-running diesel vehicles
and full-size, fully electric cars.
Energy efficiency in the cars they sell is also
reflected in the companys attention to goodenergy practices in their buildings. New lot
lighting that uses less electricity and causes less
upward light loss was installed at the Center
Street location recently. More efficient lighting
and other green measures have been taken
inside the buildings. Menke also explained
that Lee Auto Malls has become the first local
business to utilize Zero-Sort for 100 percent
waste paper recycling.
Support for many community organizations and
events has always been an important part of
the Lee business philosophy. Isaacson said, We
take very seriously the obligation to give back to
our communities. More than 1,000 requests for
donations are received by the company every
year. Isaacson said funds are given to as many as
possible, and every request, whether funded ornot, receives a written response.
With its 75th anniversary celebration coming up
in 2011, Isaacson sees emphasis on continued
growth for the locally-owned and managed
firm. The Web site at www.leeauto.com offers
a wealth of up-to-date information about the
availability and price of hundreds of vehicles,
and the inventory can be searched by new, used,
year, make, style and price criteria. Theres also
plenty of information about financing.
By David A. Sargent
Freelance Writer
Lee Auto Malls: Rolling forward and looking ahead
At Lee Auto, We never forget whos driving.
AUBURN
777 Center Street
Toll free (888) 343-5695Local (207) 784-5441
www.leeauto.com
John Isaacson (above left), CEO, and Bill Menke (above right), general manager of Lee Auto Malls, stand in the Center St. showroom.
Photo: Jose Leiva
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201020 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
hi d h f h d
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
21/48
Atow-behind camper delivered to
your avorite campsite can provide
your amily with an afordable,dependable vacation home or much less
than you might expect. A big, Class-A diesel
pusher motorhome, ully equipped with
such amenities as 40 plasma TVs, convec-
tion ovens, Corian counters, washers and
dryers, lets you roam the countryside at
will, to ollow the concert or racing circuits,
or to ollow the weather, wherever you like.
Whited Motorhome and RV Center, on Hotel
Road in Auburn, celebrates its ninth year
with millions o dollars o new inventory,and an open house with rereshments and
specials on parts and service. This is already
shaping up as the recovery year or the RV
industry, said Whited General Manager Gary
Mynahan. Theres pent-up demand rom
people who have postponed their purchase,
and theyre ready, now. There are great
new nancing options in place, both rom
local Maine nancial institutions and rom
national sources. Whited is in terric shape,
with lots o RVs arriving every week.
Diversication helps, or sure, Mynahan
explained. And, were diversiying the RV
line this year, too: were now an ocially
authorized Winnebago dealer rom small,
Class-C gasoline models, vans, and up to
Class-A gasoline models, too. Thats in addi-
tion to the big diesel Tin, Fleetwood and
Forest River motorhomes and the tow-able
travel trailers were known or. Adding Win-
nebago to the Ford and Peterbilt trucks
the company also represents means that
Whited now ofers three o the most iconic
American brands on the road.
Shopping or an RV is like buying a home,
Mynahan said, and so it helps that we have
people like Scott Lewis and Bill Strauss
who have been part o this industry or more
than 15 years. Its an educational process, and
people like to take their time. And we make
it un, too. Its a kid-riendly place, because
kids need to be a big part o the decision
process, and they really enjoy exploring all
the nooks and crannies, he added. The Web
site www.whitedrv.com provides direct
access to the entire Whited inventory, lets you
browse options, pricing, parts, and learn how
to take advantage o the RV experience.
Because Whiteds RVbusiness is affiliated
with the larger, heavy-truck business next door,the company didntexperience the full extent
of the recent downturn.
Whited Motorhome & RV: Icons of the open roadBy Rich Livingston
Freelance Writer/Photographer
Whited Motorhome & RV2160 Hotel Road, Auburn, Maine
1-800-235-3613
A
ter nearly 90 years as, arguably,
the preeminent social and goling
club in the Lewiston-Auburn area,
Martindale Country Club opens its doors and its links to the general public in a
semi-private nature. Co-owners Jim Day
and Nick Glicos (who also serves as director
o gol) have committed to making every
aspect o the Martindale experience as
rewarding as possible, or both members
and guests alike.
The main dining hall, reurbished along
with the rest o the clubhouse, remains
available or weddings, business meetings,
and all sorts o private unctions, with
exceptional menu options. The public is also
invited to dine in the popular Grille Room,
where there is also an ambitious new menu.
General manager Mike Williams said, We
expect the new Martindale to be one o
the great dining experiences in Lewiston-
Auburn. Fresh ingredients, innovative
dishes, and moderate prices are evident on
the new menus. This will be a destination
or everyone, not just golers. We really
want everyone to treat Martindales Grill
Nineteen like they would any other inerestaurant in town.
Martindale remains, oremost, a gol
acility. We want everyone members,
guests, and the general public to simply
have un here and enjoy the exceptionally
conditioned gol course, superb
ood and beverage acility, and
proessional atmosphere, said
Glicos, who has a distinguished
20-year career in Maine gol and
is president o the Maine chapter
o the New England PGA.
Jim and I are really committed
to Martindale long-term, Glicos said.
Jim is an exceptional businessman and has
extensive experience in ood and beverage,
real estate development, and brings a
wealth o knowledge to the operation. Jim
has been a member o Martindale or many
years and is very active in the community.
For he and I to operate Martindale together
is very exciting. I think our skills complement
each other and we have worked closely onimproving the clubs acilities and operations.
The keys to success at Martindale will be
close proessional management, both in the
restaurant and on the gol course, Glicos
asserted. Day and Glicos have brought in
certiied CGSA, Scott Cybulski, as their new
gol course superintendent, one o only
three certiied gol course superintendents
in the state o Maine. Cybulski had servedthe past 15 seasons at the Falmouth
Country Club. Scott is one o the states
top superintendents without question.
His work over the years at Falmouth
demonstrates this. Maine gol has been
given a nice head start by Mother
Nature this spring, Glicos said. The
course came through the winter
in amazingly good condition,
and players should have a great
experience right rom the start.
All 18 greens are in super shape to
start the year. We have a number o
on-course upgrades, that will take place
throughout the season, that will be evident
to everyone playing here this year. Players
will also ind an entirely new leet o gol
carts in place, another sign o how things
are changing.
There are leagues or men, women, and
couples. Women who are not members o
the club are invited to play in leagues and
it is not necessary to commit to the entireseason. They can play once, once in awhile,
or as oten as they like. Tee times or the nine-
hole league will be between 4 to 5 p.m. on
Mondays, starting on May 17. Those playing
will also be able to enjoy gol lessons, weekly
games, wine tastings: Its all about having
un, said Glicos.
Membership has its privileges, too,
including a ull tournament schedule,
preerred tee times, billing privileges,
discounts on lessons and club services,
as well as a number o social unctions
throughout the year. The membership is
enthusiastic about the outcome o the sale
o the club, Glicos said. Were really excited
about bringing them a great product and
service. The public is welcome at select
times each day. The cost o membership
has gone down considerably and we expect
that 75% o our play will be derived rom our
members. But it is a whole new experience,
and we really want everyone to be able to
enjoy this wonderul acility.
Martindale Country Club527 Beech Hill Rd., Auburn
782-9074
www.martindalecc.com
By Rich Livingston Freelance Writer
Martindale Country Club opens its doors and links
21PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
Aff d bl E S l d fi h fi l
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
22/48
Stepping into Aordable Eyes on Center
Street in Auburn is like going on a shop-
ping trip with an old friend. Proprietor
Bill Nadeau believes that it is very important
that his customers feel comfortable with
the process of purchasing eyeglasses and at
Aordable Eyes the customers do.
Nadeau began his career in eye care more
than 30 years ago as an optical technician. In
1995, Nadeau became a certied optician and
became passionate about providing excellent
customer service.
Approximately four years ago he put his many
talents to use at Aordable Eyes. Nadeau con-
siders the purchase of eyeglasses to be similar
to the purchase of a piece of jewelry. This
should be a fun experience, he exclaimed
with a smile, referring to his product as face
jewelry.
The simple coziness of the Aordable Eyes
showroom allows Nadeau to give friendly,
honest and professional individual attention
to each visitor. With more than 240 frame styles
to choose from, he takes his time helping yound a style and t that ts your style.
From wire frames to plastic, black, brown, silver
and gold to bursting with color and light, men,
women, boys and girls will nd something
that looks great. Aordable Eyes has some-
thing for the entire family.
Born and raised in Maine, Nadeau understands
that Mainers want both friendly customer
service and quality products that will stand
the test of time and wear. Although frames are
purchased from various distributors, all lenses
are crafted on-site in accordance with each
customers prescription.
Single vision, lined and no-line bifocals are
all available, as are sunglasses. Lenses can be
tinted to any color you like, and new lenses
can be cut to t in a frame that you have pur-
chased elsewhere, or even an old frame that
you just dont want to give up.
Perhaps the most striking dierence between
Aordable Eyes and other eyewear retailers is
the price. Depending on the brand of frame
that you choose, and your prescription, your
new eyeglasses will cost anywhere from $59
to $159, with a second pair starting at just $40.
Aordable Eyes is open every weekday from
9:30 until 6:00 and Saturday from 9:30 until
1:00, although they do close the third Saturday
of every month. For more information, they
can be reached by telephone at 333-6927.
Aordable Eyes stands behind its products
and Nadeaus goal is to make sure you will be
completely satised with the way you look
and the way you see.
Your comfort, both after you receive your
eyeglasses, as well as while you are choosing
and tting your face jewelry, is what makes
Aordable Eyes a clearly good choice when
the time comes to purchase eyewear.
Joanne Hillwig, of Lewiston, sits with Bill Nadeau and
tries on a pair of eyeglasses.
Affordable Eyes: Style and fit that fits your style
229 Center StreetAuburn, Maine 333-6927
By Deborah Conway
Freelance Writer / Photographer
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201022 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
SpringblossomsatDonnasGreenhouses
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
23/48
W
hat began as a small vegetable
stand in 1986, has grown and
blossomed into a colorful and
expansive array of products and services to
suit the fancy of any gardener. From soil and
compost materials, to annual and perennial
flowers, vegetable plants and herbs, as
well as fruit trees and bushes, Donnas can
get you started. With a variety of fertilizers
and mulches, all available for pick-up or
for delivery in bulk, Donnas will help you
keep your garden healthy and beautifully
maintained.
For those who enjoy decorating, Donnas
carries a large assortment of Massarellistone garden accent pieces and bubbling
fountains. Owners Donna and Chuck McNally
travel extensively, visiting art auctions and
other out-of-the-way places, and delight in
bringing unique and affordable decorative
pieces to offer their clientele.
In addition to their five greenhouses and
multiple meandering outdoor garden paths
with well-stocked tables and trays, bountiful
hanging floral baskets, and landscaped areas
teaming with colorful flowers and delightful
statuary, Donnas has a lovely gift shop
stocked with locally made Blackcat Pottery,
pottery by Wayne Messer of Cumberland,
bird feeders, sundials, candles and gifts for
the nature enthusiast, as well as all of the
essential garden tools and seeds.
Donna and Chuck have mastered the
art of gardening and enjoy sharing their
knowledge as much as they enjoy sharing
their flowers. For the gardener who wants toenhance his or her ability to get a plant from
seed to garden, Donnas offers weekend
classes in Growing Seedlings. Chuck will
provide all of the supplies and assistance
needed to start and grow 72 plants for your
garden. Donna will be leading Container
Gardening classes on how to create awindow box or other container garden
with plants of your choosing, whether you
prefer flowering, vegetable or herb. These
classes are offered through a local Adult &
Community Education program and require
preregistration by calling 345-3217.
In addition, every Saturday in May, Chuck
will teach a Raised Bed Gardening class
on techniques and resource development
for creating raised bed gardens. Call or visit
Donnas Greenhouses for more information
regarding classes. Although the raisedbed gardening class is free, the fee for the
Adult Education classes is minimal. In mid-
June, Donnas will participate in the annual
Country Garden Tea & Tour over four days
of plants, tea and snacks. FMI, visit www.
countrygardenteaandtour.com.
Donnas Greenhouses, 216 Ricker Road,New Gloucester, is open every day until 6 p.m.
Visit their greenhouses and gift shop and take
a stroll through their gardens, or call Donna
and Chuck at 926-3776 to see how they can
help you make the most of your green thumb
by gettin dirty at Donnas.
April showers bring Mayflowers, and so muchmore this time of year atDonnas Greenhouses inNew Gloucester.
By Deborah Conway
Freelance Writer
Spring blossoms at Donna s Greenhouses
Donnas
Greenhouses
216 Ricker Rd., New Gloucester926-3776
23PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
24/48
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201024 Sun Journal,Lewiston,Maine,Saturday,April 10,2010 25PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal,Lewiston,Maine,Saturday,April 10,2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
25/48
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 20106 Lewiston, Maine, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
26/48
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201026 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
27/48
27PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
Reggies Sales & Service: Time to grow and mow
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
28/48
Its name - Reggies Sales and Service may,
technically describe the business, but itdoesnt begin to explain what they do or
how they do it. Specialists in a wide range
of outdoor power equipment, for lawn,
garden, commercial landscaping and for-
estry, along with a broad array of protection
and safety gear, Reggies is as much about
service (and parts) as it is about sales.
Our goal, said Reggie Emery Jr., a 20-year
veteran of the business, is to make sure our
customers can get their work done, whetherwere talking about homeowners or woods-
men. We want to be sure they have the
right equipment for their jobs, and that the
equipment works the way its supposed to.
With an extensive assortment of power
equipment from such dependable names
as Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, Jonsered Chain
Saws, and a new line of commercial-grade
blowers and weed wackers from Shindaiwa,
Reggies tools are built to last, to handle
tough jobs in the field. We know that timeis money, Emery explained. Well keep you
in the field.
Reggies may be among the biggest inde-
pendent purveyors of snow blowers and
home-oriented winter gear in the Lewiston-
Auburn area, but their biggest focus is on
what comes out of the ground rather than
what falls on to it.
Reggie Emery Sr., a supplier to the most
rugged outdoors industries for more
than three decades, built the companys
reputation by servicing woodcutters. The
company always has at least 250 chain saws
in stock, including more than 40 different
models, suitable for any size lot, variety of
tree or harvesting operation. And Reggies
will gladly fulfill any special orders that may
be beyond their inventory, as well.
The company is a family-friendly enterprise
that also meets homeowners needs, any
time of year. We have a great reputation
for snow blowers and generators, Emery
said, but our busy season really starts in
the spring, when mowers and landscap-
ing equipment displace snow blowers in
the big lot on the hill overlooking Minot
Avenue, in Auburn.
Exmark, for example, is among the biggestnames in mowing and landscaping, and
they are constantly bringing the latest tech-
nological innovations to the industry, Emery
added. But, while Reggies has always been
about managing things that grow, new
this year will be a focus on actually growing
things. Beginning this spring, Reggies will
add a new commercial greenhouse capac-ity to the Minot Avenue location, providing
unusual varieties of vegetables, savories,
flowers and seedlings.
Specialized peppers, for example,
Emery said, or Oriental eggplants.
People might be surprised by the
variety of produce that can be grown
in Maine. Reggies greenhouse opera-
tion will offer grow-to-order plantings for
landscapers, and also have a direct retail
element.
Ive been growing for years, Emery said.
Weve had commercial greenhouses in
the past. But moving to this location will be
much more convenient for customers lots
of parking, more display space.
For several years, Reggies has given away
tomato plants through local foodbanks, and
to school and veteran organizations. How
great is it for people to be able to grow their
own food?
gg gBy Rich Livingston
Freelance Writer/Photographer
Reggies
Sales & Service
1334 Minot Avenue,Auburn, Maine 04210
207-783-0558
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201028 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
Aqua-Max of Maine:
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
29/48
Aqua Max of Maine:Free your home and water supply of pollutants and poisons
Aqua-Max of Maine 914 Sabattus Street Lewiston, ME 04240 207-782-1005www.aquamaxofmaine.com
Side-by-side tap
water comparison:
Polluted (left)versus
Clean (right)Over the last 16 years Dan and Brenda
Cote have expanded their busi-
ness at Aqua-Max of Maine, locatedat 914 Sabattus Street, Lewiston, with the
addition of four sta members. Today, they
continue to educate the public about water
quality and its eects along with the impor-
tance of buying products and services from
people who are certied in their trade by the
Water Quality Association.
CERTIFICATION
Cote said it is a great honor to be a member
of WQA, an international trade association
representing the residential, commercial,
industrial and small community water treat-
ment industry. Cote also sits as a Board
Member for the Eastern Water Quality Asso-
ciation which serves the eastern part to the
United States.
When making proper equipment com-
parisons, who would you depend on for
the answers a store employee/ trades-
man with generic knowledge or a certied
knowledgeable educator/salesperson whohas passed WQA exams and has also been
factory trained? In a typical big box store or
hardware supply house you may not be able
to nd an employee with knowledge about
water chemistry, or for that matter, proper
sizing experience.
Cote noted that theres a move for national
certication to be required of all vendors of
water quality products and he is hoping that
certication does in fact catch on; this way,
consumers will feel safer and will have more
knowledge about their water chemistry and
how the system actually works.
At Aqua-Max of Maine, being certied
means we have the knowledge and experi-
ence to explain to the consumer the whys
and hows of a system and why quality of a
product is important. Quality and proper
sizing will give you more buy for the buck,
Cote said, dont short change your op tions.
At Aqua-Max of Maine, we are proud of
Wayne Bates, our top educator/salesperson
of the year for Hague Quality Water Prod-
ucts in the North East region which incor-
porates New Jersey, New York and the six
New England States, said Cote. Bates follows
the WQA industry code of ethics along with
participating in the annual certication pro-
grams. Bates is proud to be a member of
WQA; it makes his job easier to explain to
the customer the importance of eld testingand customizing options along with infor-
mation on new innovative techniques.
QUALITYCheaper is not necessarily good or bad, but
before, during, and after your water treat-
ment purchase, ask yourself, Who can and
will answer your questions professionally?
Dont be fooled; always get an independent
lab test done and always, always ask for a full
explanation of the results, what they actually
mean in regards to health and the eects on
your home plumbing and heating. I promise
it will save you dollars, said Cote.
INNOVATIONProducts constantly evolve and, said Cote,
We need to stay up-to-date with the current
changes to our environment. You can rest
assure that when you buy from Aqua-Max of
Maine, youre dealing with educated instruc-
tors/salespeople who will let you know what
your options are even before you make apurchase.
Aqua-Max of Maine can help you deter-
mine your living and working water needs.
Cote said, Not sure what the dierence
is between living and working water? Ask
us at Aqua-Max of Maine. Want to know if
your existing water treatment products are
ecient or wasteful or part of the go green
movement? Call us at Aqua-Max of Maine at
782-1005.
In addition to certied water treatment
products, Aqua-Max of Maine provides
quality Water and Air Radon Mitigation
Services. Reducing radon from your well or
the air in your home is a job for a certied
expert.
Cote explained, Most people are not aware
that a home in the city can also have radon
issues in the air. Call A & L Laboratory for a
radon test kit at 784-5354 or pick up a kit atHotel Road, Auburn, Maine.
Aqua-Max sta are certied radon mitiga-
tors and are registered with the state of
Maine radon department. The Aqua-Max
team has been initially certied by the
Rutgers University in New Jersey following
the Maine state standards.
CASH-AND-CARRYSHOWROOMFor those who like to do
their own home repairs,
Aqua-Max of Maine
now oers a cash-
and-carry showroom
located at 914 Sab-
attus Street, Lew-
iston. The team is
qualied to explain
what equipment and
installation proce-
dures are needed to
properly x issues the
right way. We encour-
age people to bring intheir water report for
a full explanation of the
results. The showroom has
an area where we can test for some con-
taminants. Cote added, Bring in a water
sample or obtain an A & L Laboratory kit at
our showroom.
TECHNOLOGY The white mailboxes in front of the show-
room have A & L Laboratory kits available for
pick-up and drop o during business hours
or after hours, which ever is more conve-
nient for the customer. If a person wants an
appointment for in-home testing, Aqua-Max
of Maine will dispatch a person to the home
for a free water analysis without any pres-
sure to buy anything.
Aqua-Max of Maine sta carry an exten-
sive portable lab when they are on the
road so we can bring the lab to your
home to test and treat your water onsite, said Cote. The benet of having your
water tested on site, right in front of you,
is that the visibility of the test procedure
should alleviate any skepticism you may
have about the integrity of the water test
and actually see how well the recommended
system would work by utilizing a miniature
water treatment device at your own kitchen
sink. Cote said, As we
used to say, the proof
is in the pudding.
An overview, whether
you are treating
water stains, odors
or carcinogens such
as arsenic, or water
and air radon in your
home, Aqua-Max
of Maine can makeresolving such issues
less complicated with a
visit to the showroom or call
for an appointment and we will visit you.
SAVINGS FOR YOU
The team at Aqua-Max of Maine can show
you examples of untreated water along with
its eects. Cote said, As an example, most
people dont realize that simple water treat-
ment can cut energy costs by 29% that
is huge. Water treatment can lower main-
tenance on heating elements and treated
water will heat faster producing immediate
hot water savings.
Treated water means septic systems are not
exposed to harmful detergents, and even
results in huge savings on cleaning supplies.
Aqua-Max carries all natural biodegradable
cleaning and personal soap products that
can save up to a $1,000 dollars per year, for
an average family of four, said Cote, and allof these products are manufactured with
plant-based materials totally hypo-aller-
genic concentrated soaps that dont have
any chemical preservatives and are ideal for
new front loading washing machines. Visit
the showroom to see these products for
yourself and get a full explanation of their
benets to you.
29PR FILESUN JOURNAL 2010Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
Hammond Tractor wants to know: Is it spring yet?
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
30/48
Although Hammond Tractor, on
Minot Avenue in Auburn, providesa wide range of winter equipment, it
is spring and summer when the company is
busiest. The largest farm, garden, commer-
cial, golf and turf, and commercial chipper
dealer in New England, Hammond Tractor
helps you take care of the work that needs
to be done outdoors: dairy and vegetable
farms, construction job sites, golf courses,
and your own backyard.
Nothing runs like a Deere, is, of course, the
famous signature of the company with its
modest beginnings in the prairies of the
1830s, and that philosophy is fulfilled every
day by the folks at Hammond Tractor.
Although Hammond provides the most
diverse inventory of John Deere equipment
of any retailer anywhere near its territory, it
also offers a wide range of equipment from
more than two dozen other dependable
manufacturers, enabling a perfect match
between the work that must be done andthe means to do it. Such familiar brands as
Mahindra Tractors, DR, Walker Mowers, and
Kuhn, are well represented.
The company sells and services a large line
of Honda power equipment such as gen-
erators, lawn mowers, pumps and more,
and has recently added Stihl chain saws
and trimmers. Theres a wide range of used
equipment and even an array of kid-sized
John Deere gear.
Family-owned for more than a genera-
tion, Hammond is dedicated to Auburn.
Gary Hammond, an Edward Little gradu-
ate, believes in investing in the city, and the
company is well-positioned to be here for a
long time. Stan Spilecki, general manager of
the Auburn dealership, explained that, We
do a lot of long-term, strategic planning,
thats constantly updated. It helps keep us
innovative and efficient. Thats especially
important in tough economic times, he
added, because customers know they can
count on you.
The business is built on the combination of
superior service with a staff of thoroughly
experienced certified technicians, com-
bined with a huge inventory. Hammond
continues to service equipment that hasbeen in the field for decades and has com-
puter access to the lifetime history of every
John Deere tractor brought to its service
department.
With additional locations in Union and Fair-
field, Maine, Hammond Tractor has a staff
of 90, and a massive inventory of all sizes of
tractors suited to every size job and site, suit-
able for homeowners and small farmers.
The company also stocks, sells and services
workhorse tractors and commercial site-
work equipment including mini-excavators
and specialized agricultural tractors and
commercial mowing equipment, with the
latest technology and most ergonomically-
correct operator features.
That diversity ensures that all customers,
regardless of how modest their needs might
be, have access to a level of professional
knowledge and skills that is unchallenged
in the industry. Hammond Tractors motto is
Committed People, Exceptional Value.
The Web site, www.hammondtractor.com,
provides convenient links to all the brands
carried at all the Hammond locations,
making it easy to find the right equipmentfor the job. Back yard or back-40, Hammond
Tractor has what it takes to cut the work
down to size.
g y
Hammond Tractor1110 Minot Avenue,Auburn, Maine 04210
207-782-8921www.hammondtractor.com
By Rich Livingston
Freelance Writer/Photographer
PR FILESUN JOURNAL 201030 Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 10, 2010
Pineland Lumber: Nearly 100 years of commonality
8/9/2019 Profile 2010
31/48
Doing business locally is more
important today than ever before.For nearly 100 years, Pineland
Lumber has remained committed to its
community and responsive to their needs.
According to Neal Ouellette, who co-owns
Pineland Lumber along with Ruth Gallagher,
the business has been a proud contributor to
the economic growth in Lewiston-Auburn
and, throughout its history, has looked for
opportunities to give back to the community
that has supported its business success.
Ouellette expressed an increased need forsupporting local community organizations
and businesses in economic times like
these. As with many businesses, Pineland
Lumber receives solicitations weekly for
supplies and materials for various group
and organizational projects throughout
Androscoggin County.
Alongside its community support is
Pineland Lumbers effort to help individual
building contractors control the costs to
their customers in a tough, competitive
market. With this in mind, Pineland Lumber
is a member of Lumbermens Merchandising
Corporation, the largest buying co-opavailable for independent lumber dealers.
Pinelands membership allows them to level
the playing field, keeping them competitive
pricewise with the larger big box stores.
Perhaps one of Pineland Lumbers greatest
secrets to success in a slow economy,
however, is its ability to deliver customer
service with a veteran team of professionals
ranging from the company owners to
yardmen, from inside and outside sales staff
to project designers. Together they boastmore than 250 years experience in the
building industry. As Ouellette put it, Here,
the owners are in the store. We dont need
to call a board meeting to make a decision
about whether we can provide a product for
a particular project. We can decide right here,
right now with a customer.
Ouellette continued, There is something
that no amount of
Recommended