Gift to MMA

CASTINE – Gov. John E. Baldacci joined Maine Maritime Academy President Leonard Tyler and members of the MMA community on Aug. 19 to announce a $2.5 million gift to the college.

The gift is from the American Bureau of Shipping, an international ship classification society.

“Their donation of $2.5 million is the most significant corporate gift we have ever received,” said Tyler. “ABS already employs many of our graduates, and we hope that in years to come, they and other companies involved in the shipping industry will continue to benefit from the training our students receive.”

“I want to recognize Robert D. Somerville, chairman and CEO of ABS, for this generous contribution to Maine Maritime Academy,” said Baldacci. “Maine Maritime Academy is a premier institution recognized for the outstanding quality of education in burgeoning fields here in Maine.”

The governor noted that Maine Maritime Academy is a vital component of economic development efforts in the state, producing a quality workforce for the state’s developing industries.

In addition, Maine Maritime Academy has been recognized in US News & World Report as one of the 50 best public colleges in the Northeast.

The college is part of an important and growing expansion into renewable technology and has taken steps to review energy savings.

“With this gift, Maine Maritime Academy will be able to enhance its engineering program, better preparing Maine’s workforce of tomorrow and benefiting Maine’s economy. I thank ABS for their generous gift and congratulate Maine Maritime Academy for earning it,” said Baldacci.

Speaking on behalf of the board of trustees, students, staff and faculty of Maine Maritime Academy, MMA President Leonard Tyler unveiled preliminary plans for a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly classroom building to be named in honor of ABS.

While still in the preliminary planning stages, the ABS Center for Applied Engineering and Research is slated to occupy a central location on campus and is envisioned as an educational hub for student residences, student dining and social facilities, and other classroom and athletic spaces.

The building will employ green technology and energy efficiency.

Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit

BANGOR – Maine Real Estate and Development Association, or MEREDA, will be the host for the Bangor Breakfast Seminar set for 7:30-9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Sea Dog Banquet and Conference Center, 26 Front St. The topic of the meeting will be “Revisiting the Maine Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit.”

The Maine Legislature expanded this year the credit to provide a Maine state credit equal to 25 percent of qualified rehabilitation expenditures.

Projects that involve a substantial affordable housing component receive a credit at a 30 percent rate. The federal credit adds an additional 20 percent of qualified rehabilitation expenditures. The combined credits provide a powerful financial resource for the preservation of Maine’s historic buildings and downtown redevelopment.

A panel of speakers, Amy Cole Ives, founder of Sutherland Conservation and Consulting in Hallowell; and John Kaminski and Gary Vogel, attorneys at Drummond Woodsum & MacMahon in Portland, will discuss the legislative process to enact the expanded credit, the requirements and potential uses of the credit as a tool for historic preservation and development, the linkage of the increased credit to affordable housing and the impact that the credit is expected to have on historic preservation in Maine.

The cost to attend the meeting is $25 for MEREDA members, $35 others. The fee after Friday, Sept. 19, will be $35 MEREDA members, $45 others.

To obtain more information or to register, call the MEREDA office at 874-0801 or register online at www.mereda.org.

Forest Products Society

ORONO – Barry Goodell, University of Maine professor of wood science and technology, was elected vice president of the Forest Products Society at the 62nd International Convention held June 22-24 in St. Louis.

With 3,000 members and subscribers around the world, the Wisconsin-based Forest Products Society is a global leader in technical information transfer in the field, furthering the socially beneficial use of wood and fiber resources, according to the society’s Web site. The society is an international nonprofit technical association founded in 1947 to provide an informational network for all segments of the forest products industry from standing tree to finished products.

The society’s members represent public and private research, development, industrial management, production, marketing, education, engineering, sales, supply and consulting interests.

Goodell has been at the University of Maine since 1983.

Accredited auctioneer

BANGOR – John Cheney, a Bangor auctioneer, recently received designation as Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate from the National Auctioneers Association Education Institute.

The program provided Cheney with the training to market residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial real estate. The program also gave training in evaluating property, preparing financial documents and preparing property for auction.

The designation requires completion of three courses, a case study and at least 10 real estate auctions.

Cheney is an auctioneer with Realty of Maine. He specializes in residential and commercial real estate auctions. He is one of 336 auctioneers in the United States who have earned the accredited auctioneer designation.

100th anniversary event

BANGOR – As part of its 100th anniversary festivities, Aubuchon Hardware in Bangor announced its sponsorship of the American Folk Festival to be held Aug. 22-24. In honor of the festival and to celebrate 100 years in business, the company will host a centennial event all weekend at its store located at 21 Washington St.

The store will have a table set up with giveaways available while supplies last. The store also will run 10-percent-off promotional coupons as part of the weekend celebration.

For more information about Aubuchon Hardware, visit www.hardwarestore.com.

Fuel, soil quality workshop

EXETER – Area agricultural producers looking for ways to save fuel and improve soil quality are being invited to attend a workshop set for 1:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at Stonyvale Farm in Exeter to learn about no-till for field crops.

Event guest speaker Joel Myers is a former USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service state agronomist. He has 20 years of experience with no-till cropping and manure management on his farm in Pennsylvania and through working with farms over his career with the conservation service. Myers has spoken at national conferences, written two publications on no-till techniques, and is currently technical coordinator for the Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance.

During the workshop Joel will answer questions on transitioning, equipment and management.

At Stonyvale farm, the Foglers have a test plot of no-till silage corn. During the field portion of the workshop Myers will offer on-site guidance to the Folgers.

For more information, call Chris Brewer at 990-3676 or visit www.penobscotswcd.org.

Junior Achievement grant

TD Banknorth, through the TD Charitable Foundation, has donated $9,500 to Junior Achievement of Maine to help fund the JA Economics for Success program.

The company also offers support to Junior Achievement through sponsorship of JA Job Shadow Day, as well as by providing volunteers in classrooms throughout the state.

Junior Achievement inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy by providing trained business volunteers to work in K-12 classrooms across Maine.

These volunteers use JA’s professionally developed curriculum to conduct hands-on activities with the students. The funds from the TD Charitable Foundation will support JA Economics for Success, a program for middle school students that explores personal finance and students’ education and career options based on their skills, interests and values.

“We are thrilled to accept this generous donation, and we appreciate the support of TD Banknorth in helping to make a real difference to young people in Maine,” said Melissa Bourque, president, Junior Achievement of Maine.

New purse business

BREWER – Purse Hollywood is now open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday at 114 South Main St., Brewer. Purses featured are originals, designer inspired, one-of-a-kind and celebrity styles.

Wholesale accounts are also welcome, as are free purse parties. Free Purse Bingo is available 6-7 p.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m.-noon Saturdays for children age 7 and older. For information, call 989-3939 or visit www.Pursehollywood.com.