Honor Roll for Business

HONOR ROLL FOR BUSINESS

Dover-Foxcroft weekly started in 1838

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — For 176 years, The Piscataquis Observer has been the source for news throughout the Penquis region.
    Launched on June 1, 1838 as the Piscataquis Herald, the first issue laid out to the public the vision of owner and editor George Edes. “The Herald,” he wrote, “will … contain the news of the day, and such matters of general intelligence as will make it interesting as a Family Newspaper.”

Observer file photo

    ON THE ROAD — The Piscataquis Observer participates in many community activities each year including the Shiretown Homecoming Parade.

    That mission hasn’t changed. The Piscataquis Observer, to which its name was changed in 1847, is still concerned with bringing to the public the local news of the week along with the stories and views that breathe life into Piscataquis County and surrounding areas.
    “The Piscataquis Observer is one of the oldest continuing businesses in the region and we take our mission — ‘Serving the interests of Piscataquis County’ very seriously,” said Mark Putnam, managing editor. “Everything we do is focused on how best to serve the community – our readers.”
    Today the front page features news from school boards and selectmen, business developers and community activists, all laid out around a couple of colorful, and hopefully telling, photographs. On the editorial page, the important issues of the day are discussed and sometimes debated by local people who are engaged in their communities.
    The newspaper’s location has changed throughout the years. First, the newspaper was put together in a building in Merrick Square, then it moved to five locations around Union Square before going to the second floor of the current True Value Hardware building. In 1905, The Observer moved into the so-called Flat Iron building, which now is the home of The Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society. The paper stayed there until August of 1997, when The Observer took up shop in its current office on East Main Street.
    Today, the community newspaper features a staff of four — news reporters Stuart Hedstrom and Mike Lange, advertising sales representative Keri Foster, and customer service associate Jeannette Hughes. Chad Raymond and Leisa Scribner are employed part-time as drivers and delivery persons for the weekly newspaper. Tricia Dunham also fills in during staff vacations.
    All seven employees live in the region and are dedicated to providing a final product that people here are proud of. Together they share a wealth of newspaper experience that is demonstrated by accurate and in-depth reporting, a wide range of goods and services promoted through effective advertising and consistent on-time delivery to readers whether though the mail or at the checkout counter.
    “In 10 to 20 pages each week, the newspaper staff attempts to give complete and timely coverage of Piscataquis County and neighboring regions,” noted Putnam. “Through a combination of news and sports stories, photographs, community calendar items, letters to the editor, sheriff and court logs, obituaries, engagement and wedding announcements, display advertisements, classified advertisements, inserts and special supplements — readers are made aware of the goings on in their communities. If it sounds like a tall order, it is.”
    Through The Observer’s office, customers can also access a full line of printing services, including business cards, poster, raffle tickets, brochures, flyers, banners up to six-feet long and much more.
    Prospective brides can stop by the office and order printed wedding and social stationary and other bridal-related items, now offered at 20 percent off the list price.
    The Observer staff can be reached by calling 564-8355 or via e-mail at observer@nepublish.com. Customers can also stop by the office, located at 12 East Main St., Suite A., in Dover-Foxcroft or visit the newspaper website at www.observer-me.com.

Contrator’s certification course Feb. 6

    AUGUSTA — The Department of Environmental Protection will provide training in erosion and sediment control practices to ensure that excavation contractors who did not get DEP certification by Jan. 1, 2013 have a final opportunity to attend training.
    Classes in Basic and Advanced Erosion and Sediment Control Practices will be held in nine locations at various times, including the Greenville town office on Thursday, Feb. 6.
    For more information, contact Code Enforcement Officer Jack Hart.
    Legislation passed in 2008 requires that as of Jan. 1, 2013, a person certified by the DEP in erosion control best practices must be on-site of any activity that disturbs more than one cubic yard of soil — including earth moving and  landscaping operations — in the shoreland zone until work is complete and the site stabilized. The shoreland zone is an area defined as within 250 feet of rivers, wetlands, lakes and the ocean and 75 feet of certain streams.
    For companies with several sites being operated simultaneously, this means multiple employees — one for each job site — need to be certified.
    Other benefits to those who obtain certification include being exempt from the 14-day waiting period for stream crossing projects under DEP’s permit-by-rule program; being able to advertise — including for free on DEP’s website — as a certified contractor; free publications from DEP’s resource library; and receiving discounts at several suppliers of erosion control products in the state.
    In addition to courses for contractors, two new programs have been developed by the DEP to provide information to engineers, consultants and others on erosion and sediment control and stormwater practices: Design of Erosion Control Practices for Engineers and Consultants and  Inspection of Stormwater and Erosion Control Best Management Practices.
    Contractors interested in more information or registering for classes are encouraged to contact Bill Laflamme at 215-9237.

Kimball Insurance’s success based on personal service

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    GUILFORD — The average television viewer is bombarded with dozens of insurance company commercials per week, some featuring talking animals and catchy slogans.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    THE KIMBALL INSURANCE TEAM — From left: Shelby Taylor, Sonja Conner, Bob Kimball and Jamie Morrison.

    Kimball Insurance of Guilford, celebrating its 15th year in business, sells many of these same policies, but without the fanfare. “We represent around 30 companies including Allstate, Farmer’s, Progressive and Travelers,” founder Bob Kimball said. “But the difference is the personal service. Everyone in our office is a licensed agent, and we tailor every policy to fit your needs and budget.”
    In addition, Kimball’s son, Kamron, is a licensed stockbroker and offers securities through United Planner’s Financial Services of America. He also offers a wide assortment of financial products and services including 401k planning and developing a personal strategy for future retirees.
    Kimball has been in the insurance business for 40 years and started his career as a Prudential agent.
    While the concept of coverage hasn’t changed very much during that time, insurance companies today “are pretty picky,” Kimball noted. “They’ve taken some huge losses recently due to natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy. So in addition to making our clients happy, we also have to keep the companies happy.”
    Having access to several firms allows the agency and client to “shop around” for the coverage that best suits their needs.
    One piece of advice Kimball always offers homeowners is to consider replacement costs for property rather than its municipal valuation.
    “When there’s a loss, the insurance company needs to calculate how much it’s going to cost to rebuild or repair it back to its original state,” Kimball said. “So the amount you pay taxes on isn’t necessarily the actual value.”
    So what was the most unusual property that Kimball was asked to insure? “We got a call awhile back about covering a medical marijuana facility,” he recalled. “I looked into it for the client, but very few companies are willing to do it because of the conflict between state and federal law.”
    Maine passed a medical marijuana bill a few years ago, but the Controlled Substance Act passed by the Congress in 1970 still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug “with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
    However, anyone that wants to insure their home, rental property, RV, snowmobile, condominium, boat, or personal valuables such as firearms, computers and jewelry, is encouraged to contact Kimball Insurance Agency.
    In addition, they also offer business insurance packages including workers compensation, contractors and logging and sawmill equipment insurance, and commercial vehicles.
    Financial planning services include life insurance, group health, disability, long-term care annuities and individual retirement accounts.
    Visit Kimball Insurance at 35 Hudson Ave. in Guilford, online  at kimballinsuranceagency.com or call 876-9777.

Maine Stream Finance loan workshop Jan. 22

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Maine Stream Finance will present a free workshop on various financing programs and loan guarantees for startup, existing or expanding businesses on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
    The class will be streamed on the web starting at 6 p.m. and conducted live at Penquis, 22 Harlow St. in Bangor at the same time.
    Guest speakers are Vicki Bessette of Bangor Savings Bank, Linda Gilbert of Camden National Bank, William Card of the Small Business Administration and Jayne Giles of MaineStream Finance.
    The areas to be explored include making business bankable, need of a business plan, what to have ready for the loan process, dealing with credit issues, SBA guarantee loan programs, traditional bank loans and programs. other sources of financing, what to look for in a bank/banker; bank lending requirements and the importance of establishing a relationship with a banker before the need for a loan.
    These workshops are free, but participants are asked to pre-register. Visit  www.MaineStreamFinance.org and click on “Form” located in the upper right hand corner and then on “Classes and Workshops”.
    For more information contact James Macomber at Facebook at IWW – Incubator Without Walls of Eastern Maine, www.MaineStreamFinance.org or  at jmacomber@penquis.org.
    Maine Stream Finance is located at 50 North St., Dover-Foxcroft.