InTouchInTouchInTouch MONTHLY NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2011

50 ELM STREET, WATERVILLE, ME 04901 • TEL: (207) 873-3315 • FAX: (207) 877-0087 • E-MAIL: info@midmainechamber.com WEB SITE: www.midmainechamber.com • Bart Stevens, Chair of the Board • Kimberly N. Lindlof, President & CEO

Highlights in this Issue:

P. 2: From the President’s Chair P. 3: Member Events Calendar P. 7: Member People P. 8: Member Spotlight — RE-BOOKS Insert: Chamber Award Nominations Form

MMCC Board plans for 2012 By Kim Lindlof

Mid-Maine Chamber board of directors got closer to finalizing the 2012 Strategic Plan at its annual board retreat on Oct. 28 at Amici's Cucina.

Our strategic priorities will revolve around five key areas: Organizational Structure and Re-sources, Membership, Financial Stability, Mem-bership Advocacy and Education, and Economic Development.

Without getting into too much of the minutia of the plan, our goals are to enhance volunteer-ism, increase member participation and growth, strengthen member benefits, thus increasing re-tention, keep your Chamber on strong, fiscally sound financial footing, and advocate for and educate our members on issues affecting busi-ness.

We will strive to be a leader in economic devel-opment and business enhancement efforts region-ally and focus specifically on working with the area K-12 schools, JMG, LWIB, Business and Career Center and area colleges (as well as any other partner that we need to) in meeting the workforce needs of our area businesses.

By the beginning of 2012, our complete strate-gic plan will be available on our Web site: www.midmainechamber.com.

We invite you to review it and offer your sug-gestions and feedback.

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Give Chamber Gift Certificates

‘By the beginning of 2012, our complete strategic plan will be available on our Web site.’

Central Maine Motors hosts one of our BIGGEST!

The holidays are right around the corner, and the Mid-Maine Chamber has the perfect gift for every person on your list! Mid-Maine Chamber Gift Certificates are redeemable at over 175 local businesses in the greater Wa-terville area! Not only can they be used at a variety of locations, the Chamber Gift Cer-tificates help keep our money local - since their inception, more than $350,000 in gift certificates have been purchased. Please con-sider purchasing Chamber Gift Certificates for family, friends, and business clients this season. You can stop in at the Chamber of-fice anytime Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to purchase them. Cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted.

Few Mid-Maine Chamber members would argue that our monthly Business After Hours events are popular and well attended.

But Central Maine Motors out did them-selves for the November gathering. More than 400 people turned out for the gala mak-ing it one of MMCC’s largest.

CMM marked its 76th year in business and also the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet, one of their many automobile lines. At left, mem-bers give a thumbs up to both Central Maine and Chevrolet.

CHEERS!

27 Cool Street • Waterville, ME 04901 (207) 873-0721 • Fax (207) 877-2287

www.genesishcc.com Rehabilitation and Living Centers

www.centralmaine.com

- Kimberly

From the President’s

Chair

Bowdoin Photography

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Kennebec Electric Wednesday, Dec. 7

5:30-7:00 PM 3 Seavey Street, Waterville

Next Business After Hours:

Beer, wine, & hors d’oeuvres

Thank you to our 50/50 Sponsor:

• Gift Certificates

Continued from Page 1 Is your business interested in being included

on the list of local merchants now accepting Chamber Gift Certificates? If so, visit http://www.midmainechamber.com/chamber/about/gift_certificates.html for the list and download the “Gift Certificate Agreement Form” at the bottom of the page. Fill it out and mail, email or fax it back to the

Chamber office, and the staff will get your business included on the list. A special thank you to Kennebec Savings

Bank for its in-kind sponsorship of the pro-gram.

As a chamber member you are able to use your Chamber Advantage Discount Card to receive exclusive discounts offered by chamber member businesses. This is a wonderful way to not only get the most for your money, but to show your support for our local businesses. We have all heard the importance of shopping locally, and this is a perfect way to do just that as over 80 businesses are offering a discount for their goods or services. You can find an up-to-date list of these businesses on our Web site or just keep your card with your wallet and show it

when you shop. It’s time to support our local businesses!

Don’t forget your Chamber Advantage Card

Nutrition on the Go? If you have employees responsible for

transportation, we have a new resource for you.

Real Meals on 18 Wheels: A Guide For Healthy Living on the Highway is aimed at truckers to help them evaluate and maintain better health.

Each book is $13.95 plus shipping; discounts are available on bulk orders.

For more information, please contact www.realmealson18wheels.com.

At last week's board of direc-tors' meeting, the Mid-Maine Chamber voted in favor of the following: "That the Chamber support the expansion of the

natural gas project to the area as another energy alter-native for our business members, and advocate that members and citizens actively participate in local government to make their views known."

As a recent Morning Sentinel article illustrates, Augusta is the only community thus far to approve the TIF that KV Gas Company requires from each com-munity in order to move this project ahead. It is the belief of the Mid-Maine Chamber that we need this alternative energy source in order to be competitive and to maximize our potential in reducing energy costs regionally. We are strong advocates for our manufacturing sector since our manufacturers provide good wages, benefits and are great corporate citizens in our area. They need this option.

If you look at a map of the state of Maine and over-lay the current natural gas pipeline that's been in place since the 1990s, you'll see that there is a direct corre-lation between natural gas availability and lower un-employment and greater prosperity. It's not the sole reason, of course, but without the natural gas option our region is at a strategic disadvantage both by our current businesses trying to compete against those with a low cost of energy alternative, and in the area of business attraction.

Yes, KV Gas is asking for a TIF which means tax dollars will be returned to the company. But, as Josh Reny, Fairfield town manager, put it in the aforemen-tioned article, zero investment means zero tax dol-lars. Twenty percent of the tax dollars is that much more than each community had before. Municipali-ties that can tie this into their school and municipal buildings stand to gain as well by lowering their en-ergy costs. Overall, a gas pipeline would be an eco-nomic development win for our region. We encour-age you to speak up; contact your area town/city councilors and selectmen and vote. Make your voice heard or else this opportunity may pass us by.

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Full Service Office Supplies Retail Store and Furniture Showroom

in Downtown, Skowhegan

The Paper Klip New & Used Furniture

A Local, Independent, Family- Owned & Operated Company

www.WarrensOfficeSuppplies.com 800.924.9006

Earth Bound

Jennifer Bergeron 9 East Concourse

Waterville, ME 04901 Phone: 873-4810

earthbound@wtvl.net

The Brown House Properties, Inc Lindsay Burrill

71 Francis Street Waterville, ME 04901 Phone: 873-6483

lindsay@brownhouseproperties.com

Sandy River CFO Service Dorcas Riley

892 Sandy River Road Mount Vernon, Maine 04352

Phone: 242-4020 driley957@roadrunner.com

Lionel L. Tardif, Inc

Lionel Tardif 62 Main Street

Waterville, ME 04901 Phone: 872-7542

Priceless Mattress & Furniture

Peter Redmond 90 Main Street

Waterville, ME 04901 Phone: 877-7383

predmond@www.pricelessmattress.com www.pricelessmattress.com

Hardy Girls was hon-ored to partner with the Red Barn in Wins-low for the month of November. HGHW was selected as the recipient of all tips collected at both locations for the month .

Johnny’s Selected Seeds was voted the best

vegetable seed company by the Mother Earth News garden advisory group. This group consists of hundreds of gardeners, many of whom have been gardening for over 10 years. The article recapping the best vegetable seed companies has some interesting notes about what customers liked about the company. They said they liked doing business with an employee-owned company." Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/best-vegetable-seed-companies-zm0z11zsto.aspx#ixzz1dgmKUWxS

Webber Energy is holding a free Weatheriza-

tion Seminar at Care & Comfort, 180 Main St., Waterville on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 5:30 to 7 p. m. There will be a light supper and the chance to win a door prize. FMI: www.webberenergy.com to register by Dec. 2.

Sappi Ltd. is spending $13 million to upgrade

coated paper manufacturing at its Skowhegan Somerset Mill and expects it to be completed by next fall. The project includes rebuilding its No. 3 paper machine to improve its performance, reduce costs and allow it to produce a broader range of products. Somerset mill primarily makes paper for high-end magazines, books and catalogs.

Starbucks has bought juice company Evolution

Fresh Inc. for $30 million and plans to open new stores focused on juice.

Jobs for Maine Graduates received a $45,000

grant from the Walmart Foundation, which will support JMG’s goals of expanding pathways to employment opportunities and postsecondary enrollments for the 4,000 students it serves. JMG is an affiliate of the national program, Jobs for America’s Graduates. The Walmart Foundation gave Jobs for America’s Graduates an $800,000 grant.

Kennebec Behavioral Health is working to improve access to health care to residents of cen-

tral Maine. Recently, KBH opened its fifth clinic, and second in Waterville, at 16 Concourse West. The Concourse Clinic will offer adult and adolescent psychiatry services. FMI: http://www.kbhmaine.org/.

Planning a Holiday Party? Jokas' Discount

Beverages on Front Street in downtown Water-ville has it all. Over 1,600 Wines, over 400 beers, over 700 liquors with 24 cooler doors. Jokas' now takes Visa, Master Card and Discover.

New menu items at Silver Street Tav-

ern include cheese fries and a "Charlie's Got the Bleus" grilled pizza with bleu cheese and boneless buffalo chicken pizza tossed in Frank's Louisiana Hot Sauce. New entrees include The SST Pork Chop, Saint Louis Ribs, SST Sirloin Strip, SST Teriyaki Tips, Chicken Cordon Bleu (The Manor's original recipe), Almond crusted Rainbow Trout with an amaretto butter sauce, and Tuscan Egg-plant (vegetarian). Daily specials in-clude: Tuesday, half-priced pizza and Karaoke at 9 p.m.; Wednesday, $7 Burger Night and Open Mic at 9 p.m. hosted by Mike Reny; Thursday, Date Night with half-priced bottles of wine and live acoustic starting at 8 p.m.; Friday and Satur-day,The Prime Rib Weekender and live acoustic starting at 8 p.m.

Downtown Waterville's newest restaurant, 18

Below Raw Bar, Grill & Lounge, offers the following menu items - always fresh, never frozen and locally procured. Raw Bar: Oysters on the Half Shell & Little Neck Clams. Appetiz-ers: Oysters Rockefeller, Maine Crab Cakes, P.E.I. Mussels, Pan Seared Yellow Fin Tuna. Entrees: Bermuda Onion Crusted Yellow Fin Tuna, Panko Crusted Lobster Cutlets, Cara-melized Diver Sea Scallops, Maine Crab Stuffed Haddock, Seafood Paella, Rosemary Marinated Rack of Lamb, Char-grilled Prime NY Strip, An-gel Hair Pasta Pancakes, Spinach & Roasted To-mato Stuffed Portabellas. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Silver Street.

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Prime Financial You dream it...

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stand that each stage in life presents unique challenges and opportunities. We also know that wherever you are in life – expanding your business, adding to your family, looking

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Contact us today for a personalized consultation in regard

to your financial future. Securities offered through Investors Capital Corporation

Member FINRA / SIPC Advisory Services offered through Investors Capital Advisory

753 West River Road, Waterville, Maine 04901 800-877-9450 Fax 207-877-8876

Champions invites you to join its SilverSneak-

ers® Muscular Strength & Range of Movement class Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Be-sides exercise, they have social outings, parties, special fun days and more. It is an opportunity to make new friends and stay in shape. This class is the SilverSneakers core class for total body condi-tioning. Cynthia, a certified instructor, guides you through functional, daily exercise activities with resistance tools to be used at your own pace. Bene-fits: Improves overall strength, flexibility, posture and balance. Covered by many health insurances so bring your insurance card into Champions Fit-ness Club and let their staff check your eligibility.

Kennebec Federal Savings encourages people to donate new or gently used coats to the an-nual Coats for Kids campaign. Coats may be dropped off at either Waterville KFS location, 70 Main St., or 11 Washington St. -– now through Dec. 31.

Laura J. Hudson, vice president & marketing officer of Kennebec Savings Bank announced that the bank received the Maine Sports Legends 2011 President’s Award. The honor was presented at the organization’s 16th Annual Awards Banquet held at the Alfond Youth Center in Water-

ville. Several student athletes, sports enthusiasts and coaches were recognized at the event.

Each year KV Connect adopts a family through

the Family Violence Project and buys gifts for them. This year the group has adopted a disabled grandmother and her two grandchildren, a 3-year-old autistic boy and a 4-year-old girl, who are struggling and trying to start over. The wish list has been uploaded to www.kvconnect.org . The organization will accept items or monetary dona-tions. Gifts and checks may be dropped at Hardy Girls, 14 Common St.,Waterville, between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Monday through or may be sent to Nicole Desjardins c/o the Waterville Hampton Inn. Please email or call Nikki to notify her of what you will be purchasing so she can update the list at nicole.desjardins@hilton.com or 446-5792 cell.

The Banfield Charitable Trust (BCT) has awarded $5,000 to Spectrum Generations Cohen Center in Hallowell and its Muskie Center in Waterville for its AniMeals program, an extension of its Meals on Wheels program for pets. This grant will be used to buy pet food or cover direct expenses for your Spectrum Generations pet food distribution efforts.

Banfield Charitable Trust awards grants to Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) programs to fund or sustain pet food distribution programs across the country.

Dr. Charles Ruff, Orthodontics, hosted a Hal-loween Candy Buyback in November During the two-day event almost 250 pounds of candy were collected. Kids were given $1 per pound of candy donated along with a goodie bag and a chance to spin a wheel for a prize. All the candy received was donated to troops serving overseas and dis-tributed with the help of Operation Gratitude. The kids also wrote letters to the troops. This was Dr. Ruff’s second Halloween Candy Buyback. Amici's Cucina is now open for lunch on Main Street in downtown Waterville. Lunch hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Evening hours: Monday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 4-10 p.m. A Happy Hour Special Menu is offered in the Lounge, featuring $5 cocktails. Watch for their first year anniversary specials next month. Gift Certificates available.

According to a recent article in the Bangor Daily News, Central Maine Power Co. has started a

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Dec. 1, 3:30-5 p.m. student center, Learn about the Thomas College Internship Program. An excellent opportunity to meet and talk with current employers mentoring interns, as well as students from Thomas interested in future opportunities. FMI: Diane Anderson, andersond@thomas.edu or 859-1464. To register online: RSVP to internships@thomas.edu   Dec. 1, Empty Bowls, 5-7 p.m. Unity College Centre for the Perforing Arts. Suggested mini-mum donation: $10 Proceeds support local hunger relief including UBR;s Beggies for all project. Dec. 3, Waterville Public Library open house, 10

a.m. to 3 p.m.. Special programs, refreshments, dedication of the library building. Marnie Therhune, president of the library trustees welcome and dedi-cation at 10. Concert at 2 p.m. by members of Wa-terville senior and junior high jazz bands. FMI: 872-5433.

Dec. 3 celebrate the season in Downtown Water-ville at the downtown-wide holiday open house. (www.watervillemainstreet.org). Enjoy free sleigh rides in Downtown, caroling, free gift wrapping,

cookie decorating, food samples, retail sales and much more.

Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, Waterville Opera House pre-sents The Winter Wonderettes. New '60s Christmas musical by Roger Bean, directed by Debra Susi, music by the Gerry Wright Trio, choreography, Natalya Getman at 7:30 p.m. Also, Dec. 4, 11 at 2 p.m., Dance Studio, 93 Main St., Third Floor. Tick-ets $15 each. Sponsored by Sullivan Wealth Man-agement, LLC & Dr. Brian Gillis Dec. 11, 2 p.m., Christmas Sojourn, Waterville Opera House Studio Theater, 93 Main Street, First Floor. Tickets $12

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Good Health = Good Business

By William McPeck

According to a recent Aon Hewitt report, employee engagement worldwide remains at its lowest level since 2008.

In 2010, organizations with employee engagement levels of 65 percent or greater outperformed the total stock market index and posted total shareholder returns 22 percent higher than the average. Compa-nies with engagement of 45 percent or less had a total shareholder return that was 28 percent lower than the average return in 2010.

According to the recent Gallup Employee Engage-ment Index, September 2011, only 29 percent of American workers are engaged in their work. That leaves 71 percent of employees either not engaged or actively disengaged. This means that 71 percent of American workers are emotionally disconnected from their workplace and are therefore likely to be less productive. Gallup also reports significant link-ages between work engagement and health and well-being outcomes. Gallup also found that highly edu-cated and middle aged workers were less likely to be engaged.

If only a third of our workforce is engaged in their work, how can we successfully compete in today’s global economy against competitors who pay their workers so much less?

If you increased your engagement by even just 10 percent what would that mean for your bottom line?

recent survey by the management consulting firm rogenSi revealed the following:

• Nearly 25 percent of workers around the world are depressed • Only 12 percent of the global workforce feels

optimistic • 92 percent reported their emotions were in

someway controlled by the results they have been achieving at work • Worker confidence dropped 6 percent when

compared to 2009 data. • Only 5 percent of the workers described their

concentration at work as being rock solid Food for Thought: Depression tends to be more prevalent during the

winter and holiday season. Our stress level tends to

be higher during the holidays as we try to do yet more in the same amount of time. Research has shown a very strong link between the level of a person’s optimism and their physical health.

What does the lack of concentration mean for productivity and safety at your workplace?

Gallup also recently reported that fulltime workers who are:

• Of normal weight and who have no chronic health conditions report 0.34 unhealthy days each month or about 4 days (4.08) per year • Overweight or obese and who have no chronic

health conditions report 0.36 unhealthy days each month or a little over 4 days (4.32) per year

year.

• Overweight or obese and who have 3 or more chronic health conditions reported 3.51 unhealthy days each month or a little over 42 days (42.12) per • Overweight or obese and who have 1 or 2

chronic health conditions report 1.08 unhealthy days each month or nearly 13 days (12.96) per year

Food for Thought: An unhealthy day does not necessarily mean that

the employee will be absent from work. The research is very clear linking health to presen-

teeism. Even though the employee may be at work, when they don’t feel good, they are less engaged in work. So my questions to you are:

Do you know how engaged your employees are or your workforce’s overall health status?

As an employer, what are you doing about em-ployee engagement and health?

Bill McPeck is a Certified Worksite Wellness Pro-gram Consultant and Director of Employee Health and Safety for Maine State Government. Contact Bill with your questions and comments at 287-6783 or william.c.mcpeck@maine.gov.

Medical self care programs

Second in a series:

Childhood health and our prosperity

Today’s young children are tomorrow’s business leaders, policy makers, and parents.

Capable children are the basis of a prosperous and sustainable society.

Our future prosperity starts with their success. Interaction – Child development relies on the

“serve and return” process of relationships — the interactions that children have every day with caregivers at home and in their community.

The Touchpoints Relational Framework is a system of practical application of communica-tion strategies designed to promote supportive, collaborative relationships among families and providers.

Brazelton has done some important research on the interactions between a child and his/her caregiver. The facial expression and tone the caregiver uses is taken in by the child, they in-ternalize how their caregiver treats them, and expect to be treated that way by other adults. Parents must establish a positive reaction to the child’s wants and needs in order for the child to have healthy responses to adults in the future. ("Touchpoints and Child Care Quality Improve-ment: Reports from the Nationwide Brazelton Touchpoints Network." Brazelton Touchpoint Center. N.p.,\n.d. Web. 19 July 2011. <www.brazeltontouchpoints.org/docs/Touchpoints_&_Child_Care_Quality )

What your business can do to help caregivers have healthy interactions with children: Have posters of places parents can call for parenting support such as a Maine Parent Federation (1-800-870-7746).

For free children’s books and tips on how to make your business more child-friendly please contact Greater Waterville Alliance on Early Care & Learning, c/o United Way of Mid-Maine, PO Box 91, Waterville, ME 04903-0091. Call 873-0686 or e-mail tchap-man@unitedwaymidme.org

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Upcoming Events

Dec. 8 Fri. 7:30 a.m. Public Policy Chamber Boardroom

Dec. 15 Thurs. 8:30 a.m. Executive Board Chamber Boardroom

Dec. 16 Fri. 11:30 a.m. Board of Directors

Luncheon

Dec. 28 Wed. 8:00 a.m. Membership Chamber Boardroom

Internships a win for all involved By Tammy L. Rabideau, MLS

“Internships are learning partnerships in-

volving students, employers and the college. Employers can expect a valuable contribution from the student interns as they carry out their designated assignments in the workplace.” Thomas College Internship Program.

College internship programs are designed to benefit students and employers alike. Taking on a college intern to help your business can be a win-win situation for everyone. Interns often provide new energy and innovative ideas on how to get things done. They often can do some of the work that regular staff has not had time to accomplish or even start. In-terns can help evaluate current company prac-tices and offer suggestions of alternate op-tions. Your intern benefits from the learning experience and the opportunity to begin his or her career after college. Your company bene-fits because you increase productivity and/or solve problems. Interns also often represent a wonderful way to contribute to the knowledge and experience of another human being. You may find someone you want to hire and keep in your business. Several area colleges are a terrific place to turn to explore adding an intern to your business or organization. Con-

tact one or more of the internship coordina-tors below to learn more.

Shauna Hirshfield, Assistant Director for Internships & Employer Programming, Colby College sahirshf@colby.edu or 207.859.4140, http://web.colby.edu/careercenter/employers/post/.

Jim Peacock, Advising, Career & Transfer (A.C.T.) Center Director, Kennebec Valley Community College, 207.453-5082, www.kvcc.me.edu/career/.

Rich Grant, Director of Career Services, Thomas College, 207.859.1106, intern-ships@thomas.edu, www.thomas.edu/internships/employer/default.asp.

Nicole Collins, Career Consultant & Intern-ship Coordinator, Unity College, ncol-lins@unity.edu, 207.948.3131 ext 213., www.unity.edu/CareerServices/Internships/WorksiteSupervisor.aspx

Tammy Rabideau is Business & Career Center Coordinator at the Waterville Public Library. FMI: 207.680.2611 or busi-ness@watervillelibrary.org, http://www.watervillelibrary.org/departments/ness/, http://www.facebook.com/wplbcc

Dec 14: Business Breakfast Series

7:30-9 p.m. Thomas College Samurai Service: Think Like a Black Belt for Cut-ting-Edge Customer Service. Jim Bouchard will concentrate on the characteristic of "Focus," that is, turning off the noise and paying full attention to the needs of the customer. The program will center on the theme of Black-Belt Mindset, which is developing core characteristics and values essential to business and personal performance. Jan. 25: Meet the Reps 5:30-7 p.m. Chamber Boardroom The second in the Mid-Maine Cham-ber’s and KV Connect’s popular Meet the Reps program is scheduled for the last Wednesday in January. The evening affairs are designed to pro-mote and prolong communication between business leaders, professionals and young professionals with their local, state and national government officials. Complimentary hors d' oeuvres, beer & wine are pro-vided thanks to our sponsor, Eagle Rental.

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$33 million construction project that aims strengthen its system in Somerset County. Recently, CMP placed the 1st of 465 poles for the Somerset County Rein-forcement Project, which involves building a new 39-mile, 115-kilovolt transmission line from Moscow to Benton. MacDonald Page & Co. LLC reports that a new law provides tax credits for employers that hire veterans. The Vow to Hire Heroes Act gives an increased tax credit to employ-ers hiring vets with service-related disabili-

ties. It also repeals a three percent withhold-ing tax that was scheduled to be imposed on some government contractors. FMI: 622-4766 or cpa@macpage.com.

Gov. Paul LePage and former Gov. John McKernan, and business leaders, gath-ered recently to announce the donation of $11.3 million to Maine's Community College system. Donors included the Hannaford Charitable Foundation, Dead River Co., L.L.Bean, TD Bank and Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Nearly $5 million is marked as unrestricted funds for the campaign.

Dec. 7: Business After Hours 5:30-7 p.m. Kennebec Electric, 3 Seavey Street, Waterville.

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Maine State Chamber of Commerce is spon-soring a symposium on Maine's Environmental Issues, Dec. 7 from 8 a.m. to noon at Texas In-struments in South Portland According to the Maine chamber, over the past year there have been significant positive changes made to Maine's environmental laws and regulations that will help Maine's businesses. The symposium will present those changes and how they impact your business.

There will be a special announcement by Maine DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho. Panel discus-sions on the implementation of changes passed in LD1 (including beneficial reuse, Maine's new environmental audit law and changes to the BEP) and the significant changes to Maine's chemical regulation laws and how these changes can help your business. A Legislative panel with members of the Environmental and Natural Resource Com-

mittee will be looking forward to the upcoming legislative session and what's in store on the envi-ronmental issue front. After the Symposium tours of Texas Instruments will be available for those who want to participate. For reservations contact Amy Downing at adowning@mainechamber.org by Friday Dec. 2.

Symposium on environment laws slated Dec. 7

Thomas College President Dr. George Spann announced recently that after 23 years as president he will retire as of June 30, 2012. He is widely credited with revitaliz-ing the institution in the early 1990s, shortly after coming on board as its leader. While the prior decade was marked by a signifi-cant downturn in enrollment and accompanying financial chal-lenges, Spann, working closely with Thomas's Board of Trustees and administration, controlled costs and reinvigorated student recruitment and retention. These initial successes led in turn to the renovation and expansion of cam-pus facilities, a broadening and strengthening of academic pro-gramming, and a new era of phil-anthropic fundraising for Tho-mas. David V. Smith, co-branch man-ager, located at Sullivan Wealth Management, LLC, an independ-ent firm, 112 Clinton Ave, Wins-low, was recently named a “Rising Star” in recognition of his personal accomplishments in 2011. Reserved for those who have been with the firm for at least two full fiscal-year periods, this award recognizes advi-

sors who have achieved exceptional growth in personal production. Smith, who joined Raymond James in 2009, has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Kennebec Federal Savings has added two banking professionals to its staff. Laura Hayward joined KFS as Senior Branch Officer and will manage both Waterville branch offices. Prior to joining KFS, Laura

was employed by TD Bank for 34 years, most recently as the assistant branch manager in Fairfield. Vicky LaChance joined KFS as operations manager, overseeing the day-to-day back office operations at the main office at 70 Main St., in down-town Waterville. Vicky has over 23 years of banking experience.Prior to joining KFS, Vicky was employed by Bangor Savings Bank as VP, security risk manager for 15 months after leaving TD Bank, where she spent nine years as VP of electronic banking. Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area recently graduated five Hos-pice Volunteers from a 20-hour training program that was held at the Benton Grange Hall. Hospice Volunteers support terminally ill patients and their by providing com-panionship, respite for family mem-bers, assisting with errands, life review and help with letter writ-ing. Volunteers can support patients in their homes or in long-term care facilities. Graduates are Roger Ci-mon, Edna Boyles, Jennifer Bur-gess, Irma Escobar and Bethany Chapin.

Dr. Jerold Hurdle, MD, center, cuts the ceremonial ribbon at the opening of Kennebec Medical Consultants at 13 Railroad Square. With Hurdle for the event were Kim Lindlof, MMCC president, left, and Waterville Mayor Dana Sennett and many guests.

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50 Elm Street Waterville, ME 04901

PRE-SORTED STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT #146

Waterville, ME 04901

Have some news you would like to share? Submit a short announcement to the Chamber office by the 3rd Friday of the prior month. Inserts are also available for $125 per month. Call 873-3315 or email info@midmainechamber.com. Disclaimer: The Mid-Maine Chamber’s InTouch newsletter is published monthly as a benefit to members and affili-ates. All member news is compiled and submitted solely by our members; therefore, we reserve the right to omit and/or edit as appropriate, and cannot guarantee complete accu-racy of all announcements. Sponsorship inserts do not necessarily reflect the position of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce.

166 College Ave., PO Box 215 Waterville, ME 04903-0215

www.az-cpa.com

12 Monument St Winslow, Me 04901 207­872­2636 www.wcfcu.com

COMMUNITY PEOPLE YOU KNOW

A house barren of books is merely a building of rooms. But books add dimension to the home, give personality and life. Books allow our visitors to be-come more than guests but an extension of family through the family of books we have in our homes, our offices, and in our hands as we travel.

RE-BOOKS, located at 25 East Concourse, below the Children's Book Cellar, has out-of-print, used, rare, and well-done books for all appetites, consisting of a large variety of collectible contemporary and past-period hardcovers and paperbacks. Robert Sezak, owner of RE-BOOKS, is celebrating 18 years of busi-ness in Waterville, Maine with a sale from now un-til Christmas with up to 80 percent off selected books.

Robert was born in Maine and grew up in Orono. He has a B.S. in public administration. He lives in Fair-field with his partner Norma Larsson.

"I opened RE-BOOKS in November of 1993 and

have remained on The Concourse since. At the time of opening RE-BOOKS, there were five retail book stores serving the area with new books. I knew right away that Waterville would welcome a used bookstore in the mix. While the internet and electronic devices have drawn people away from brick and mortar stores, peo-ple who shop at RE-BOOKS enjoy real books rather than the artificial e-book. But the internet has also expanded the sale of used books to a worldwide mar-

ket. I have venues on half.com, amazon.com, and may be found at http://www.biblio.com/bookstore/re-books-waterville , as well.

Being on the internet allows me to search for books through the Maine Antiquarian Booksellers list-serve, to order books from Maine used booksellers, or to direct book seekers to other Maine used book-stores. As a brick and mortar store, I encour-age browsing the stacks. The serendipity of finding a long sought book or discovering a new author brings great delight to me as the owner and much joy to the book hound," Sezak said.

RE-BOOKS is open Monday through Saturday and will be open the two Sundays before Christmas, as well. FMI: 877-2484 or e-mail rebooks3@gmail.com. Located at 25 East Concourse ,open from 12-5 p.m. Monday and Friday and from 10 a.m.—5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and Saturday. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RE-BOOKS/116745773821

RE-BOOKS celebrating 18 years