U.S. Green Building Council

BANGOR – Richard Graves, WBRC principal, has been elected to the National Board of U.S. Green Building Council. Graves will represent the upper northeast region for three years starting in 2007. He is the first board member from Maine to serve on the coalition of leaders working to promote sustainable buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places.

The council has created the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Green Building Rating System for developing high-performance and sustainable buildings.

Graves was a founder the Maine Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and has served as chairman for three years. He also served on the Upper Northeast Region of U.S. Green Building Council as vice chairman, on the chapter steering committee and the Integrated Business Plan task force of U.S. Green Building Council.

As WBRC principal and director of the education studio, Graves has designed many projects for the firm. He currently is working on MDI Biological Laboratory’s new laboratory.

“Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory’s new building is an inspirational LEED project which is breaking new ground for laboratory buildings nationally and setting new standards for all buildings in Maine,” said Graves. MDI Biological Laboratory project is a LEED registered project.

As WBRC’s expert on sustainable design and LEED, Graves has cultivated WBRC’s high performance building standards and has encouraged the increase of LEED accreditation within the firm. Graves speaks regionally on LEED, high performance buildings and green building issues.

Organization workshop

BANGOR – The Bangor Region Leadership Institute Alumni Association will hold an organization workshop 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Husson College Richard Dyke Center for Family Business. The workshop is for those who want to have more impact on direct reports, with peers, with customers and their executive leaders. Participants get firsthand experience in running a business with activities such as producing products for customers, making payroll and creating partnerships. Instructors are David Green and Ginger Ward Green of the Ward Green Group.

For information, call Amanda Kitchen at the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce at 947-0307, or e-mail brccevents@bangorregion.com. To register, RSVP by Monday, Nov. 27.

New restaurant

OLD TOWN – The City Park Grille at 170 Main St., owned by Martha Gervais, has opened in Old Town. The new restaurant features Italian Night, Trivia Fun and Happy Hour 4-6 p.m. each day. The menu is American cuisine with a modern flair.

The restaurant’s pub offers beers on tap and complimentary electronic trivia where patrons may play against one another or bars nationwide. A pub menu offers light lunch, dinner and snack choices.

“We want to create a sense of community where patrons can come by to have a fun time,” Gervais said. “I really enjoy getting to know our customers and would like them to think of the Grille as a home away from home.”

The dining room seats 160 and offers a view of the Old Town dam. For more information, call Gervais at 827-3030.

Expanded showroom

BANGOR – Qualey Granite and Stone Fabrication has announced the grand opening of its newly expanded showroom at 995 State St.

Patrons are invited to come in 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, to view the inventory and new displays of all types of natural stone, including granite, marble, soapstone and slate, as well as low-maintenance Quartz Surface and Eos Solid Surface.

For information, call 947-7858 or visit the Web www.qualeygranite.com

Business breakfast

BANGOR – A Husson business breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Dickerman Dining Commons, Husson College. Featured speaker will be M. Michelle Hood, president and CEO of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems. She will provide perspectives on the health care environment in Maine and speak to the collaborative and innovative goals of EMHS.

Hood received a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from Georgia State University.