Open Farm Day

ORONO – More than 115 farms throughout Maine, including the UMaine Page Farm and Home Museum, will open its doors to the public as Maine celebrates Open Farm Day on Sunday, July 20.

Activities at the Orono farm and home museum, located in the last original agricultural building on the University of Maine campus, will include tours of the museum grounds, field day activities, a blacksmithing demonstration, heritage garden tours, ice cream making and taste tests, field games for children and adults, and a potluck picnic at noon.

Page Farm and Home Museum Director Patty Henner invites members of the public to stop by 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for a vision and a taste of what farm life is all about.

A list of participating farms can be found at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources Web site www.getrealmaine.com/visit/

openfarmday.html.

The Page Farm and Home Museum houses an ever-growing collection of farm implements and household items from the period 1865-1940. It contains equipment and vehicles used for clearing land, and harvesting and storing crops. Some of the many exhibits include poultry, dairy, 4-H and ice harvesting. In addition to the main museum building, the Page Farm and Home Museum has a blacksmith shop, a carriage house and a one-room schoolhouse.

For additional information, call Henner at 581-4100.

DEDHAM – Celebrate Maine’s agricultural diversity on Open Farm Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, July 20, at Peaked Mountain Farm, 16 Ellery’s Lane.

Peaked Mountain is the home of the original Bite O’ Blue Wild Blueberry Dog Treat, which features the natural antioxidants of organic wild blueberries grown on the farm – “baked with wind power and packed in recyclable and biodegradable packaging.”

Special attractions include a guided farm tour at 11 a.m. and a Bone Pinata event for dogs and kids at 1 p.m.

For information, call 843-6484.

British company in Bucksport

BUCKSPORT – British-based Waymouth Northumbria, a specialty engineering firm offering CNC machining services, announced the opening of Rowenters LLC in Bucksport’s Buckstown Heritage Park. Rowenters LLC is the ninth company to locate to the Buckstown Heritage Park since opening in 2000.

The facility will be the first U.S.-based plant for Waymouth Northumbria. For 40 years, Waymouth Northumbria of Nothern England has provided advanced production processes for the company’s European-based clients.

“Our comprehensive manufacturing facilities allow us to work with virtually any kind of material, delivering components in a wide range of sizes, and in quantities from one-off to batch production,” said Roger Peters, president of Waymouth Northumbria. “Our Rowenters LLC facility in Bucksport will serve our North American customer’s supply-chain requirements for Just-in-Time, Kan Ban, and Line-side Feed as well as other production needs.”

Peters credited Maine & Company for providing introductory services for both site location and employment data. Peters applauded the commitment of David Milan, economic development director for the town of Bucksport, for working closely with the company and its Maine-based, North American sales manager, Randy Nichols.

“We worked for 18 months on this project,” said Peters. “David Milan’s enthusiasm and ability to provide an overall package for our company made Bucksport the right choice for our first U.S. facility.”

“This is the kind of business we like to see locate in Bucksport,” said Milan. “Roger Peters and his wife pride themselves in operating a family-orientated business and Roger has an education background that drives him to help young people make a life for themselves without having to leave the state.”

Roger Peters announced Rowenters LLC’s first phase: warehousing and delivering products to the company’s recently acquired facility in the Buckstown Heritage Park. After the first phase, CNC machines will be added as needs are identified. Employment levels will be determined as production needs are determined.

“This is an important economic announcement for the state of Maine,” said Matt Jacobson, president, Maine & Company. “A British-based company found Maine an attractive location to open its first U.S. location. Also, Rowenters is a specialty manufacturing facility, which is a significant development for Maine’s manufacturing industry.”

Buckstown Heritage Park, developed in 2000, is located on Route 46. The 63-acre park offers town water, town sewer, three-phase power, natural gas, business assistance program, streamlined permitting process and free land for qualifying businesses. For more information, visit www.bucksport.biz or call Bucksport’s Office of Economic Development at 469-7368.

Maine & Company is a private, nonprofit corporation that provides free and confidential site selection assistance to companies considering Maine as a business location. Maine & Company services include real estate site searches, data collection and analysis, incentive identification and valuation and site visit coordination. Visit www.maineco.org for more information.

Apparel store

BANGOR – A store called aerie, an intimate apparel and dorm wear collection brand by American Eagle Outfitters, opens its doors on July 17 in the Bangor Mall.

The opening of the 4,067 square-foot store is part of the company’s plan to open 80 standalone aerie stores this year. Last year, the company opened 39 aerie stores.

Customers will find a free aerie undie offer at the Bangor store while supplies last. Free aerie undie offers also will be distributed with a fresh gerbera daisy to mall customers noon-8 p.m. the first two Saturdays of operation.

The store will operate according to mall hours, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

The store aerie by American Eagle offers:

. Dormwear and intimate apparel, including four styles of bras in a variety of patterns and colors, fives styles of undies from boybriefs and thongs to cheekies and tangas. The collection also includes camis, hoodies, robes, boxers, super-soft sweats and leggings.

. Workout Wear: aerie f.i.t. (fun, inspirational, technical) includes exercise clothing and accessories such as pants, leggings, shorts, sports bras, Ts, tanks, hoodies, wind stoppers, vests, caps and headbands.

. Personal Care: aerie kiss includes a complete lip care line. The aerie touch collection offers body washes, lotions and home fragrance.

Visit www.aerie.com for more information.

Pet care certification

BANGOR – Rachel McLeod, kennel manager at Green Acres Kennel Shop, achieved certification through the Pet Care Services Association as advanced pet care technician. McLeod also is a licensed veterinary technician.

In order to receive certification from the association, a pet care technician must pass a comprehensive exam which covers breed recognition, small animal anatomy and physiology, boarding care, emergency care and first aid, geriatric and degenerative disease care, contagious disease, parasites, zoonotic diseases, pesticides, customer relations, principles of management, staff supervision and business and personal development.

A Green Acres employee since 2003, McLeod became kennel manager in 2006. Under the tutelage of Green Acres senior groomer Shannon Bodwell, McLeod started training as a groomer this spring. She is transitioning into the role.

Retirement party at airport

BANGOR – Bangor International Airport administration and staff held a retirement coffee June 19 for outgoing airport finance manager Penelope Olson. On hand for the occasion were city councilors, Bangor Airport Sheraton representatives and airport personnel.

“Penelope leaves us after nearly 13 years of committed service,” said Airport Director Rebecca Hupp. “In those years Penelope proved herself to be a valuable asset to this airport and this community. Her financial acumen, guidance and leadership played no small part in our success over the years and she truly will be missed.” Hupp presented Olson with a trophy denoting her years of service at the airport.

Olson joined the staff at BIA on Oct. 16, 1995, and was named finance manager under then-airport director Bob Zieglaar.

“I was really excited to get the position and though the job has changed significantly over the years, I still enjoy coming to work every day and I know I’ll miss the work and the staff,” Olson said.

Olson’s last day on the job was June 27. She and her husband, Ron, moved to Benzonia, Mich. Olson is from Michigan and was eager to move “back home” where she and her husband will stay with Olson’s mother, Betty. Their two children, Kristina and Jeff, who work in Mesa, Ariz., and Homestead, Fla., respectively, are looking forward to spending vacations in Michigan.

Olson plans to take the summer off, but hopes to find part-time work in the fall doing basic bookkeeping. She’s also interested in volunteering at a humane society, even though she is allergic to cats, in “learning how to relax.”

Energy assessment business

HAMPDEN – Everett “Bud” Poll of Hampden has launched My Energy Workshop, an independently owned energy auditing business.

“We can’t control energy costs,” he said, “but we can decide to use less energy. Don’t wait until cold weather arrives.”

Poll uses “blower door” and infrared camera techniques to assess where heat is leaking and cold is coming in. He also conducts electrical power auditing.

Poll is a former research technician with Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. He also operated Branch Computer Services for 16 years. He holds energy assessment certification from the Maine State Housing Authority.

To obtain information or to schedule an appointment, call Poll at 570-2275 or e-mail bud9051@tds.net.