PORTLAND – An $11 million plan to develop a business and technology park in the Bayside neighborhood is the city’s latest proposal to revitalize a blighted cluster of scrap yards and weed-infested former railroad property. With the federal government paying most of the cost, the… Read More
LEWISTON – Retiring state workers and public school teachers soon will be able to return to their jobs while drawing a full pension. A state law that takes effect Sept. 21 was intended to give retired state workers a way to supplement their pensions. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
PORTLAND – A bill before Congress that would outlaw employment discrimination based on sexual orientation has the backing of three of the four members of Maine’s congressional delegation. U.S. Reps. Tom Allen and John Baldacci, both Democrats, are co-sponsors of the bill that was introduced… Read More
WASHINGTON – Sargento Foods Inc. is recalling certain batches of shredded cheese that may be contaminated with dangerous bacteria. Recalled are 8-ounce packages of Sargento Fancy Shredded Mozzarella that bear the dates 19OCT01 and 20OCT01, and Sargento 6 Cheese Italian Blend Shredded Cheese that bears… Read More
SCARBOROUGH – Shop ‘n Save stores from Biddeford to Yarmouth soon will have a new name: Hannaford. The name change is part of the chain’s strategy to expand and renovate Portland-area stores, build new ones and drive home an image of brand quality. The Shop… Read More
CUTLER – The U.S. Navy has selected a contractor to establish the Navy’s new civilian employee benefits call center in Cutler, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe announced Thursday. Superlative Technologies Inc. of McLean, Va., received the $1.45 million Navy contract, which will cover the initial establishment… Read More
Bath Iron Works is getting a $113 million contract to help build a new class of warship, U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said Thursday. The Navy awarded BIW and Litton Avondale Industries of Metarie, La., the contract to build up to 12 of… Read More
BANGOR – Edwin N. Clift, president and chief executive officer of Merrill Merchants Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq: MERB), the parent company of Merrill Merchants Bank, reported a net income for the company of $824,000 for the quarter that ended June 30, an increase of 25 percent over the same… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – David I. Dorsey, president and CEO of First Citizens Bank, has announced the bank’s board of directors approved a dividend of 20 cents per share on second-quarter earnings at its June 26 meeting. The second-quarter dividend for 2001 reflects an 11 percent increase over the… Read More
BOSTON – The souring capital markets hit FleetBoston Financial hard, dragging second-quarter profits down 45 percent and leaving the bank well short of analysts’ expectations. FleetBoston, the nation’s seventh-largest financial holding company, reported profits for the quarter ending June 30 of $531 million, or 48… Read More
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – A strong performance by General Dynamics’ combat systems division led the company to an 11 percent increase in quarterly earnings, matching Wall Street expectations. The parent company of Maine’s Bath Iron Works announced Wednesday a profit of $227 million, or $1.12… Read More
AUGUSTA – DaimlerChrysler Corp. has agreed to repurchase 35 state-owned Dodge pickup trucks that were taken off the road last week because of front-end problems. The year-old trucks shake after hitting bumps in the road, which can cause accidents, said Dwain McKenney, who supervises the… Read More
DETROIT – At Kmart stores across the country, shoppers cruising the aisles for diapers, garden hoses and microwave popcorn can also find ammunition for everything from pellet guns to handguns. But some of those shelves soon will be empty as Kmart phases out the sale… Read More
SKOWHEGAN – Philanthropist Harold Alfond is offering to give the former Dexter Shoe Co. factory building to the town for free, with no strings attached. John Emery, a lawyer for Alfond, presented the offer to the town’s board of selectmen Tuesday night. Alfond owned Dexter… Read More
DAMARISCOTTA – The board of directors of First National Lincoln Corp. (NASDAQ: FNLC) has declared a quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share. This second-quarter dividend, which is payable on July 31 to shareholders of record as of July 6, represents an increase of 4… Read More
PORTLAND – The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on Friday began notifying employees they would be laid off or be eligible for early retirement programs as part of the newspaper’s cost-cutting measures. The newspaper announced last month it planned to cut its work force by… Read More
LEWISTON – Hannaford Bros., the supermarket company, has taken the lead as Maine’s largest private employer, surpassing Bath Iron Works and L.L. Bean, officials said. The grocer employs 10,021 part- and full-time workers, according to its payroll. The shipyard employs nearly 7,000. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
WILBRAHAM, Mass. – Friendly’s Ice Cream Corp. is recalling its half-gallon packages of mint chocolate chip ice cream because they may contain pistachio ice cream. The pistachio ice cream may contain small pieces of pistachio nuts that could cause an allergic reaction in some people. Read More
PORTLAND – A consultant hired to help Casco Bay Lines improve its work culture quit because the ferry line’s workers were disrespectful. Casco Bay Lines hired The Greenshoe Group in December 1999 because employees were complaining of sexual and racial harassment. But the consultant quit… Read More
CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island – Some food stores on Prince Edward Island aren’t easily forgetting the recent U.S. ban on province potato exports. The stores said they would no longer sell American spuds. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
BATH – Bath Iron Works will lay off 185 workers later this month because of lack of work, a company spokeswoman said Friday. Susan Pierter said the company will lay off 75 electricians, 75 painters, 32 designers and three technical clerks. Their last day of… Read More
AUGUSTA – Most Mainers have an optimistic outlook for their state as well as themselves despite a downturn in the economy, a new survey suggests. The poll shows that 63 percent of Mainers do not believe the state is in the grip of an economic… Read More
WASHINGTON – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will pay a $1 million fine to resolve charges that it violated environmental laws while building stores in four states. The chain, which builds more than 300 stores a year, also agreed Thursday to monitor future construction better. The Environmental… Read More
PORTLAND – The new owner of the international cruise ferry Scotia Prince has filed a $1.2 million counterclaim to a lawsuit brought last month in U.S. District Court by three former crew members who say they were forced out of their jobs. Matthew C. Hudson… Read More
ELLSWORTH – Union Bankshares Co., holding company of Union Trust Co., has reported just more than $3 million in net income, with assets in excess of $345 million, as of Dec. 31, 2000. Officials reported earnings per share of $5.19, return on equity of 9.5… Read More
GUILFORD – The planned expansion of the Leonard G. Saulter yarn-making facility has been announced. Guilford of Maine is expanding the plant’s capacity in order to meet future production requirements. Construction at the factory to make room for one new carding machine, two new spinning… Read More
WASHINGTON – The government is suing Wal-Mart for failing to report dozens of injuries caused by some home exercise equipment sold in its stores. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Justice Department said in a statement Friday that the retailer and its subsidiary, Icon… Read More
WILBRAHAM, Mass. -Friendly Ice Cream Corp. is recalling half-gallon packages of its “Candy Shoppe Sundae” ice cream because they may contain undeclared egg whites. The company said a printing error caused some ice cream that contains egg whites to be distributed in packages indicating they… Read More
PORTLAND – Fritz Grobe knows how to inspire an audience. He knows how to psych himself up for a performance. But he doesn’t know how to break into the business world. Fortunately, a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts will help the… Read More
PORTLAND – A longtime L.L. Bean executive and supporter of the University of Southern Maine will be remembered with a $1 million gift in his memory to create the first endowed chair for the USM School of Business. The gift, from L.L. Bean and several… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Bar Harbor Bankshares, parent company of Bar Harbor Banking and Trust Co. and BTI Financial Group, has an-nounced earnings of $1,090,000 or $.33 per share of capital stock, for the quarter ended March 31, compared with $1,286,000, or $.38 per share, for the same quarter… Read More
WALDOBORO – New England 800 Co., founded in 1983 as Maine’s first customer-service call center, has changed its corporate name to Taction, according to President and Founder Steve White. The company employs about 200 year-round and seasonal employees, provides a wide range of specialized, 24-hour… Read More
BANGOR – Creative Print Services has recently completed a buyback from the parent company, Precept Business Products of Dallas. The new owners, Michael Bazinet, Gil Coffin, Ed Curtis, Dale Mower and Jim Mullen, completed the purchase on March 23 after several months of negotiations. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
BINGHAM – North Country Rivers of The Forks, has bought Maine Whitewater, of Bingham, to create the state’s third-largest white-water rafting outfitter. North Country and Maine Whitewater took a total of 10,700 customers down the Kennebec, Dead and Penobscot rivers last year. The combined annual… Read More
SANFORD – New England Mailing Systems notified its workers this week to begin looking for new jobs. Owner Robert Pride said he is still evaluating the company’s future, but he is pessimistic about its prospects. More than 36 people work for the company, and they… Read More
DETROIT – Michigan’s attorney general on Monday filed a federal class-action lawsuit in cooperation with 14 other states, including Maine, and the District of Columbia alleging a French pharmaceutical company violated antitrust laws. The lawsuit alleges that Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc., the producer of the heart… Read More
BANGOR – Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. (NYSE: BGR) has announce revised unaudited quarterly earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, which were $.61 per common share compared to $.53 per common share for the same quarter a year ago. Previously Bangor Hydro reported a decline… Read More
WESTBROOK – “Ready for the e-Future” will be the theme of the Maine Credit Union League’s 63rd annual convention at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta on Friday and Saturday. Nearly 650 credit union representatives from across Maine are expected to attend the two-day convention. Read More
BOSTON – FleetBoston Financial, the nation’s seventh-largest bank, is reducing some ATM and checking account fees in a bid to improve its poor reputation for customer service. Fleet spokesman James Mahoney said Thursday the bank has stopped charging 50 cents for check and ATM transactions… Read More
ERLANGER, Ky. – Comair could go out of business if striking pilots reject a government proposal to end the walkout, management said Wednesday. “That’s how serious this is,” company spokeswoman Meghan Glynn said. “If they reject the proposal, the consequences to the airline are frankly… Read More
Katahdin Trust Co. has recorded a 113 percent increase in its first-quarter earnings, with a net income of $535,000, according to President and CEO Jon J. Prescott. Highlights of the first quarter included an asset growth of 65 percent over the same period in 2000… Read More
NEW YORK – Northrop Grumman Corp. officials Wednesday said their proposed purchase of Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. is better than General Dynamics Corp.’s offer because the latter combination would create a nuclear shipbuilding monopoly. Not surprisingly, General Dynamics officials disagree, saying there has been no… Read More
BANGOR – The National Association of Women in Construction will hold its monthly meeting at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at the China Wall restaurant at the Crossroads Plaza. Guest speaker Frank Robinson will talk about holding a golf tournament. NAWIC is open to women in the construction… Read More
BANGOR – Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility will present “Doing Well by Doing Good, How Social Responsibility is Good for Business,” from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at the Maine Discovery Museum. Exhibits open at 4 p.m., a social hour will be held… Read More
AUGUSTA – To celebrate Mother’s Day, U.S. Cellular is offering local residents free phone calls to their mothers across the country through May 13. Residents can stop by any U.S. Cellular retail store in Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina,… Read More
WASHINGTON – Emmpack Foods Inc. of Milwaukee is recalling 471,000 pounds of ground beef because of possible contamination by potentially deadly E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria, the Agriculture Department said Saturday. The meat was produced on March 6 and distributed nationwide for retail use in five-pound… Read More
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Navy has awarded a $5.4 million contract to Bath Iron Works in Maine and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi to continue development of the DD-21 destroyer program, Maine’s U.S. senators said Wednesday. The two shipyards make up the DD-21 Alliance,… Read More
FRESNO, Calif. – A state appeals court overturned a $101 million verdict against General Dynamics, the parent company of Bath Iron Works, in a lawsuit that claimed the defense contractor defrauded 97 former managers of overtime pay. The state’s 5th District Court of Appeal ruled… Read More
WASHINGTON – On Capitol Hill these days, milk is not a matter of smiling celebrities sporting milk mustaches. Dairy supporters are pressing hard to renew and expand a government milk price control program in the Northeast and create a new one in the South. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
WATERVILLE – Conferences on Maine Sales and Use Taxation for Manufacturers will be held at the Best Western Waterville Inn on Main Street from 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 24, and from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, May 29, at the Portland Marriott on Sable Oaks Drive… Read More
WASHINGTON – The United States is lifting a 6-month-old ban on potatoes from Canada’s Prince Edward Island as long as the spuds are washed and treated to guard against spread of a plant fungus. The Agriculture Department imposed the ban in October after the disease,… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Maine Municipal Bond Bank, an independent state authority created by the Legislature in 1971, has been awarded the highest possible credit rating, AAA, from the Standard and Poor’s national credit rating company. The bond bank was created to provide better access and lower cost for… Read More
FREEPORT – L.L. Bean has set May 4 as the opening date for its second retail venture outside Maine, a 30,000-square-foot store in Columbia, Md. The store at The Mall in Columbia is part of L.L. Bean’s plan to open three to five new retail… Read More
BANGOR – Merrill Merchants Bancshares Inc., parent company of Merrill Merchants Bank, reported a net income of $666,000, or $.21 diluted earnings per share, for the three months that ended March 31, according to President and CEO Edwin Clift. The income was an increase over… Read More
ELLSWORTH – The spring convention of the GFWC/Maine Federation of Women’s Clubs will be held May 11-12 at the Holiday Inn, Ellsworth. A luncheon presentation at noon Friday, May 11, will feature guest speaker Ollie Wilder, development director of the Institute for Global Ethics, a… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – The First Citizens Bank has approved a dividend of $.20 per share on first-quarter earnings. The first-quarter dividend for 2001 reflects an 11 percent increase over the dividend paid for the same period last year. The dividend is payable on April 27 to stockholders of… Read More
PORTLAND – Eric Conrad was named managing editor of the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram on Tuesday. Conrad, 39, has been serving as acting managing editor since Curt Hazlett left the newspaper in December. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
Maine-based Mid-Maine Communications has just expanded its Internet service statewide to home and business computer users in towns served by Verizon Telephone Co. Mid-Maine Communications provides facilities-based DSL and is a competitive local exchange carrier providing dial tone to businesses. The company also is a… Read More
BATH – Bath Iron Works in Maine and Mississippi’s Ingalls Shipbuilding will share a $29 million contract for continued development of the Navy’s DD-21 destroyer, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe said Tuesday. BIW is lead yard in this phase of the development of the next-generation warship,… Read More
SOUTH PORTLAND – National Semiconductor Corp. has been ordered to pay more than $320,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violating hazardous waste regulations. The EPA said it found numerous violations during an inspection in August 1999, including failure to have a complete hazardous… Read More
BANGOR – American Eagle Airlines on Monday began regional jet service from Bangor International Airport to New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The 37-seat American Eagle Embraer jet can fly higher and faster than the Saab 900 turbo-props, which currently shuttle passengers between the two airports, according… Read More
NORWAY – Norway Bancorp, parent company of Norway Savings Bank, has agreed to acquire the parent company of Portland-based Coastal Bank for $27 million, the companies announced Monday. Under the agreement, Norway Bancorp would pay $21 for each outstanding share of First Coastal Corp., the… Read More
WESTBROOK – Both of Maine’s congressmen are co-sponsoring legislation to reduce pollution drift from unregulated power plants in the Midwest. U.S. Rep. Tom Allen of Portland said Monday he is introducing a bill that would close a loophole allowing utilities, primarily in the Midwest, to… Read More
BOSTON – The New England Newspaper Association elected Richard J. Warren, publisher of the Bangor Daily News, as its 20th president Friday. Warren succeeds Brian J. Long, vice president and general manager of The Springfield (Mass.) Newspapers. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
BOSTON – The New England Newspaper Association on Friday honored four New England newspapers as recipients of its annual “Publick Occurrences” awards for courage and independence. The association also cited nine daily and Sunday newspapers and two weeklies as newspapers of the year in their… Read More
LEWISTON – Falcon Shoe is laying off 40 of its 200 employees, a cutback linked in part to a worldwide leather shortage arising from outbreaks of mad cow and foot-and-mouth disease. “There’s a couple of things” that led to the layoffs, said owner Nick Bailey,… Read More
SANFORD – Layoff notices for some Vishay Sprague workers have arrived earlier than expected. Sanford’s largest employer said in late February that it would begin laying off more than 320 of its 800 workers April 23. But 30 were let go Friday, according to Paul… Read More
PORTLAND – A New England business delegation will be bound in late April for France’s Brittany region in search of electronics, Internet service and application, telecom, information technologies and value-added manufacturing companies to create partnerships with Maine firms. The project is a joint effort of… Read More
The National Association of Investors Corp. will hold its annual Computer Fair from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at the Civic Center in Augusta. The all-day seminar, which is open to the public, will be led by Brian White, who will show among other things… Read More
BANGOR – Staffing Productions Inc. will hold Job Fair 2001 from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the Sheraton Hotel at Bangor International Airport. Firms represented at the fair will be Sprowl Building Components, Franklin Memorial Hospital, Adecco, KeyBank, University of Maine, Norumbega Medical, Big… Read More
WATERVILLE – Colby College will hold its 50th annual program for Maine workplace leaders, the 2001 Colby Institute for Leadership, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, at the Colby campus. Gov. Angus King will speak at noon about Maine and the global economy and present… Read More
PORTLAND – The Maine International Trade Center and the Partners of the Americas will hold Brazil Night from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Trade Center, 511 Congress St. Maricio Costa, the Brazilian consul general to New England, will discuss Maine business… Read More
PORTLAND – The Manufacturing Extension Partnership will hold a Lean Manufacturing Workshop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 2, at the Maine International Trade Center, 511 Congress St. Deadline to register is Feb. 27. Cost is $175 for members and $200 for nonmembers, including breakfast and… Read More
PORTLAND – The Maine International Trade Center and Maine Composites Alliance will hold the Composite Round Table from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Trade Center, 511 Congress St. Rob Fuller and Chris Evans of Sabre will discuss composites and new markets. Admission is $25… Read More
AUBURN – The board of directors of Farm Credit of Maine has declared a patronage dividend of $1 million for 2000. The statewide credit cooperative will distribute the cash portion of the dividend this spring to its members throughout Maine who are producers and harvesters of a variety… Read More
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Firestone announced Tuesday a voluntary safety recall of approximately 98,500 tires after an analysis showed a design flaw has caused cracks in certain tires. Most of the recalled P205/55R16 Firehawk GTA-02 tires are fitted on the 2000 and 2001 models of the… Read More
TRENTON, N.J. – Lechters Inc., one of the country’s largest housewares retailers, has announced a restructuring that will close 166 of its 490 stores and eliminate 725 full-time jobs, or one-third of its full-time staff. All four Maine Lechters stores will remain open, according to… Read More
WISCASSET – Directors of Maine Yankee have elected Wayne Norton as company president, a post that includes overall responsibility for managing the decommissioning of the closed nuclear power plant. Norton has worked at Maine Yankee since 1991 and was named nearly a year ago as… Read More
BAR HARBOR – John P. Reeves, chairman of the board of Bar Harbor Bankshares, has announced a recent vote by the board of directors to pay 19 cents per share cash dividend on March 15 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 23. Bar Harbor… Read More
BAR HARBOR – The board of directors of FNB Bankshares, parent company to the First National Bank of Bar Harbor has announced record earnings for the year 2000. The net income of $1,345,000 is up 162 percent over 1999. At the end of 2000, assets… Read More
BANGOR – The Dunlap Corp., a 150-employee insurance firm based in Auburn, has merged with a Richmond, Va., insurance company. The merger, which took effect Feb. 1, folds Dunlap into the Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton Co. (HRH), the nation’s seventh-largest insurance company. The exact terms… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Maine State Housing Authority has reduced the interest rate on its popular first-time homebuyer program to 5.99 percent, according to MSHA Director Michael Finnegan. Effective Feb. 1, the interest rate on the program is more than a half-point below the previous rate… Read More
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Port Authority has spent years trying to persuade travelers to use Boston’s Logan International Airport. Now it’s trying to talk them into flying somewhere else. Logan is simply too crowded. The state will spend $500,000 this year to promote regional airports through a unified… Read More
BANGOR – Ruby Tuesday, a national bar and grill restaurant chain, plans to open a new store at the Bangor Mall later this month, according to Bruce Soper, general manager of the mall, said Thursday that the restaurant plans to open its 6,040-square-foot store Wednesday, Jan. 17 –… Read More
BANGOR – “Running Effective Meetings: Using Facilitation” will be presented by Helena Peterson, director of Patient Care Systems, St. Joseph Hospital, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, in Room 501A in Rangeley Hall at Eastern Maine Technical College. The session is part of a series put… Read More
WASHINGTON – Truly paperless electronic tax filing will be available for most taxpayers this year from the Internal Revenue Service, which projected Tuesday that a record 42 million will choose the e-file option. People who want to zap their returns to the IRS will select… Read More
MADAWASKA – The Bureau of Motor Vehicles photo license unit will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 16. Applicants needing extensions on their licenses may contact License Services at 624-9000 or may write to the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, State… Read More
ASHLAND – The Bureau of Motor Vehicles photo license unit won’t be in Ashland on Jan. 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. However, the unit will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19. Applicants needing extensions on their licenses… Read More
FORT KENT – Optometrist Timothy Rioux will present eye care lectures at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Northern Maine Medical Center’s In-service Room; 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, at the Madawaska Acadia School’s basement-level room; 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the Long Lake Regional Health Center… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A Gouldsboro man was issued a summons for forgery and attempting to acquire drugs by deception Friday when he tried to use an altered prescription form to get medicine from a pharmacy. Detective Dotty Small of the Ellsworth police department summoned Frank L. Read More
SOUTH THOMASTON – A Camden man was charged with operating under the influence of intoxicants after a two-vehicle crash on Saturday that injured three people. Michael Crockett, 37, of Camden was taken to Penobscot Bay Medical Center by South Thomaston ambulance after the 4:10 p.m. Read More
Trigger locks proved to be in such demand Friday and Saturday that the Bangor Police Department ran out of the 100 it had on hand at 10 a.m. Saturday. The trigger locks supplied by the Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence Foundation were given away free… Read More