RUMFORD — Promotional Thumbs Up! stickers are now available for the public to demonstrate their support for Envision Rumford! and their effort to establish zip lines here. 

Cherry Smith, owner of Ink Plaza at 64 Congress St., has prepared the promotional stickers, which are available in her store at no charge for the public. She is also one of 20 people on the Envision Rumford! committee and is doing this to demonstrate her support. 

Tom Carey, a member of the committee, said these removable promo logos can be used in windows in stores or on vehicles. These stickers will generate conversation about the zip lines as well as demonstrate support to entities such as Broomfield Power, NewPage and the Rumford Board of Selectmen, all of which are seen as key for the zip line project to be successful here. 

This support will only add to what Carey indicated is an expanding number of people on an email distribution list for information about the project. 

Glen Holmes, director of the Western Maine Economic Development Council, the business and economic development organization for Oxford County, said such a project would people to town who normally would not do so. 

“This is one of the most impressive things I’ve seen for Rumford in a long time,” he noted. 

Following the promotion sticker announcement last Wednesday, Holmes, Sysko and Carey met with Alton Palmer, a consulting engineer of Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers, Inc. of Gray, to do a walk around arranged by Holmes to have Palmer’s opinion of the regulatory hurdles they are facing. 

Zip lines, which Envision Rumford! introduced to the public in March, is their latest venture in an effort to energize Rumford’s business climate. 

“Rumford is fighting for survival,” noted Carey. “This once historic business community is now ravaged, like many other communities, by economic misfortune. Our group, Envision Rumford!, is our means of ‘fighting back.’ We are descendants of a long heritage of hardworking loggers and papermakers. We were the hub of business activity and economic growth for many years. A walk down our main street is a testament to our heritage with some of the finest architecture in Maine at the time of the industrial revolution. We are now tattered; but we are fighters.” 

“The zip line project is not whimsical or fanciful. It is not intended for a small elite group. It is an effort to exploit our assets – our roaring falls, beautiful river and landscape,” he noted. 

Carey said the zip line project is intended to be one of a kind. There are up to six potential zip lines sites, perhaps unmatched in the world, with over 14,000 feet of zip lines, with two of them alone measuring between 3,850 and 4,000 feet. Each of the zip lines will be within a matter of feet from Route 2, which is considered a “sweet spot” in the zip line industry, and Rumford’s business district. The zip line project will be an incubator for other businesses and vendors. The consequences of the project are endless but the seed needs to be planted and cultivated. The zip line project has both destination potential and the advantage of high traffic volume on Route 2. Hotels, restaurants, clothing vendors, gas stations and many more businesses will be the beneficiaries.

He said a critical part of their plan includes expert review of the zip line sites by a professional to determine their viability and also to generate a business plan that is mutually beneficial to the developer, manager and operator of the project.

In the March meeting of Envision Rumford!, they had a substantial telephone conference with Brad Morse of Canopy Tours, one of the largest zip line companies in the world. Carey said his consultants fee for doing exactly what we need is approximately $6,000, which would include his travel, lodging and consultation for one day during which time he would be able to assess the viability of the project, the location of the zip lines and the prospect of financing and actually operating the zip lines once constructed. 

“He indicated that the zip lines could employ upwards of 40 people with some reduction during the winter months,” said Carey. The committee is looking for a sponsor for these consultation costs.

Wow…this place is a true hidden gem.  It is well worth the drive from Sunday River (20 minutes) and a great way to fuel up before skiing or hiking all day.  We make sure we go there at least once on every trip now.  Seriously home made food…the bread, the hash, the soups, the pies, everything.  I am in love with their reuben omelet and farmers hash.  They have several different kinds of hash…the farmers has cabbage and carrots in it.  They have tons of savory and sweet items on their menu and special board.  Lobster benedict was on the board this week along with strawberry cheesecake stuffed French toast.  We’ve never had lunch here but the menu looks fantastic…lots of different burgers with different types of meat including buffalo.  They also have a baked goods counter.  We always get a massive breakfast for cheap and take home a loaf of oatmeal bread (divine) and some whoopie pies.  This is one of those hole in the walls that the locals frequent.  It’s ridiculously good.

So, what are you waiting for?  Get in your car and head to the Route 2 Diner!! The breakfast menu offers an endless variety of waffles, pancakes, French toast, omelets, egg dishes, homemade corn beef hash (traditional, farmer’s and red flannel) and, of course, the famous “Route 2 Pile Ups” of which there are a number of choices—western, Mexican, benedict, steak, and garden.

For lunch you will also find a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps, salads and award winning soups, chowders and chili. Plus, you can order Thai, Indian and Greek cuisine, and prime rib is served on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The Route 2 Diner is proud to serve local produce, beef, bison and fresh baked goods made daily in our kitchen, including a variety of breads—white, oat, wheat, cinnamon raison, English muffin, and rye.

Stop by today!

Mon. – Thurs.    7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Fri. and Sat.       7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (dinner is served 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Sunday    7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

1371 Route 2, Rumford Center, Maine

207-364-7777

Email:  Route2diner@hotmail.com

Owner and Head Chef:  Erin Hall

OXFORD HILLS — Do you dream of owning your own business? Or are you looking to expand your already existing business? 

Or perhaps you would like to acquire an existing business? 

The Community Concepts Finance Corporation (CCFC), located in Paris, can help make your dream a reality through a program called The Business Lending Center, says Dennis Lajoie, CEO of CCFC. 

“Community Concepts is the parent corporation,” says Lajoie. “Under the finance corporation, we have various loan pools — sources of money to lend to small and medium-sized businesses.” 

While the lending center is capable of serving businesses in any Maine County, it’s primary target is businesses looking to open or expand in Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties.

According to Lajoie, CCFC offers loan amounts from $500-$250,000-plus, through its collaboration with other local lending institutions. 

“It’s for starting a business, expanding a business; or if your current business has some issues with cash flow, we provide technical assistance,” says Lajoie. 

CCFC does partnerships with SCORE, a local non-profit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses, and with Women, Work, and Community, a statewide organization that helps individuals recognize strengths, overcome barriers, find resources, develop a plan, and take action towards their goals for starting a business. 

According to Lajoie, SCORE is a resource partner with the US Small Business Administration (SBA). Community Concepts, he says, has been an SBA lender since the 80s. 

“We have a number of [different] types of loan programs,” says Lajoie. Generally though, since CCFC has various pots of money, “CCFC doesn’t have people apply for that pot. We just say, ‘Come on in, let’s talk about your business needs, and let us decide, based on what you’re eligible for’. … Unless you are a business that’s illegal, we can make almost any type of business loan,” he said.  

Together, CCFC can help businesses or entrepreneurs with everything from logistics, creating a business plan, operations, marketing and more. 

No matter how small or large a business’ lending needs are, CCFC can help get the financing one needs to help their business take off, says Lajoie. 

Success stories

The relocation of Crazy Horse Racing in Paris, says Lajoie, is one success story owed to CCFC. 

The business, owned and operated by Mitch and Judy Green of Norway, is a race car fabrication company that recently moved from Andover to Paris to save on operating costs and to be closer to its target market.  

Crazy Horse works with Oxford Plains Speedway installing generic parts on race cars and fabricating cars. Thanks to CCFC, Mitch and Judy were able to move their business into a 224-square-foot new retail space and 2,704-square foot of operating space for vehicle repair and fabrication. 

With their new working capital, the Greens were also able to purchase office equipment, safety equipment, fabrication machinery, a compressor, and a lift which have already had a significant impact on more effective operations. 

“They helped us purchase the equipment that we needed to start up down here in South Paris,” said Judy. “It was a very big piece of the puzzle for our move from Andover.”

“Our intention was to get back to Oxford Hills, where we live. We found the building to move into — we just had to purchase equipment.”  

Crazy Horse relocated in December of 2011, and just this past November, the Greens acquired the rest of the building.  

“While we were in Andover, we just rented the space there,” said Judy. “They [CCFC] allowed us to buy the equipment so we could move on our own.” 

“They were a great help,” agrees Pat Paine, who with her mother, runs Hill Top Pools and Spas in West Paris. 

Hill Top Pools and Spas was established in 1996, and by 2006, had relocated from Route 219 to a more visible location on Route 26. 

“After the economy went downhill, we were trying to restructure what we had for debt,” says Paine.  

In 2009, real estate values plummeted and sales dropped substantially, which Paine said had caused the company to experience challenging times. 

“We used to buy more ahead of time, and when the economy went bad, we got stuck with a lot of inventory. It made it difficult to get things paid off when people weren’t buying.”

But with a loan from CCFC, Hill Top Pools and Spas was able to refinance debt and renew vendor lines of credit.  

“They were great at helping us restructure how we were doing business,” said Paine. “I don’t want it sound bad, like we are having trouble; but then again, we were at a situation where we could’ve had a really hard time if it wasn’t for them helping us out.” 

Now, says Paine, “things are constantly improving.” 

Financial support 

Lajoie, who’s worked for CCFC since 1982, but became CEO in February, says that business people aren’t concerned about the source of their funds; they care about whether their business is eligible for “any kind of financing.” 

That’s where CCFC comes in. 

“We’re the starting point for people who are having trouble getting financing,” says Lajoie. 

But with CCFC, individuals aren’t applying for a specific loan pool. 

“You just apply through us,” he said. “We may have 10 different sources of funds that we could loan to you. It’s not one loan pool, it’s many.” 

A lot of the time, he said, if a business isn’t quite ready, CCFC also offers businesses no-cost counseling services in all stages of development. 

“We tend to not turn people down automatically, because they don’t have two years of financials. We like to work with people for a while,” says Lajoie. 

The goal of CCFC, he says, “is to get people to a certain point in time, where they don’t need us anymore. So, their business grows, and then the next time they need to expand their business, they can go to a regular commercial bank [for help.]“ 

According to Glen Holmes, director of the Western Maine Economic Development Council, WMEDC and the CCFC work closely together to support and expand existing businesses. 

“One of the big benefits I offer, if a business is struggling, is to contact me,” said Holmes.

Alot of the time, though, if a business is struggling financially, Holmes will refer businesses to CCFC. 

“If it’s bankable, then they [CCFC] recommend [businesses] to go to a bank. But if they are struggling to the point that they need our assistance, because it may be a little more risky, then CCFC can take care of those issues.” 

“Sometimes we are the only lender, and sometimes we partner on deals where it makes sense,” said Lajoie. “Anything to do with running your business, starting your business, we can do.” 

Reprinted with permission from The Advertiser-Democrat

The means is called zip lines, which Envision Rumford! introduced last Wednesday as their latest venture in an effort to energize Rumford’s business climate.

A zip line is a means of moving people or equipment over rough or pristine terrain using a cable and special zip line trolley system. The rider fastens into a harness or seat and launches out over the expanse. It is a thrilling ride, moving quickly and covering rugged terrain. Zip line rides slow to a landing speed as the line levels out naturally at the other end.

Zip lines are very popular in various parts of the country. Those who watched the recent Super Bowl may have seen the zip line going down the streets of Indianapolis. Zip lines are in operation at Sunday River and Sugarloaf.

Tom Carey, member of Envision Rumford! led the presentation, made before some 35 people in Rumford Falls Auditorium, including Town Manager Carlo Puiia, Andrea Quaid from the office of U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, Diane Jackson from the office of U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, Shannon Ames of Brookfield Power, and five class officers from Mountain Valley High School.

At the start of the 90-minute session, a half-dozen different You Tube videos were shown about different types of zip lines, including one in South Africa proclaimed as the world’s fastest — 100 miles per hour over 1.2 miles of cable.

Carey said this project began this idea maybe four or months ago. He said right now, they’re looking at three zip lines, which may change from their proposed placements due to the transmission lines.

He said also onboard with the project is Jim Sysco, an engineer from Newry, who then talked about zip lines.

“For some reason, a couple years ago, I decided I wanted to build a big zip line,” said Sysco.

He had one that was 250 feet long, but this year, built one that’s behind his house that’s the third largest in the world. It drops about 500 feet and is about 5,000 feet long.

Carey actually went down that zip line a couple months ago, in the fastest time to date of one minute, 38 seconds. He did so after signing a waiver form he also developed.

In creating the zip lines, Sysco said he found that the grade of the cables are very important. “If it’s too flat, you won’t make it to the end. If it’s too steep, you’ll come to the end too fast.”

Since Carey contacted him, Sysco said he’s been looking a lot at this area and learned zip lines would work well here. “You need a 10 percent grade, or at least an eight percent, to make sure people get to the bottom without stalling half way. You wouldn’t want to be in the mist over the falls and get stuck.”

Sysco said the three zip lines, laid out on a large-screen display, would give a fantastic ride, “especially the one down Congress Street…It’s got to have a grade all the way to the end and yet, we’ve got to clear all the traffic; probably at least 20 feet above the truck traffic coming down Congress Street.”

The line down Congress Street would be about 3,400 feet.

“Imagine taking off and going right through the mist of the falls in the spring. It would be an unbelievable experience. Might need goggles,” said Sysco.

That line, ending in the area of the park and Morse Bridge, would be about 2,000-feet long, as would a third zip line, which would run right under the Memorial Bridge. “What a spectacular ride. That line could run very close to the water. But it would have to be above the 100-year flood (line),” he said.

On the Congress Street zip line, Sysco said they might be able to put parallel lines. “Kinda fun. You could watch your friend going down beside ya.”

Carey said the ending point would be by Rite-Aid. That last 300 feet before the landing would likely have to shut down when the zip lines were being used.

Sysco added, “Maybe not. It depends upon how high we can get the upper terminal. The higher we can get the starting point, the higher we can get the finish to be.”

Following the meeting, after a discussion with Rumford Economic Director Jim Rinaldo, Carey said a better finishing point with the Congress Street zip line would be to have it continue an additional 1,000 feet across the river close to the NewPage parking lot, only 100 feet away from viewers on the walking bridge.

On his zip line, Sysco said he’s using five-eighths cable. “I would suggest that we use the same. It’s 60,000 pound tension. Typically, we have a 10-to-1 safety factor on the cable. In other words, for a human, you have a cable that’s 10 times stronger than it has to be.”

He showed some of the equipment used, including a state-of-the-art traveling trolley, good for 16,000 pounds and up to 150 miles per hour; and a typical climbing harness, which is used to snap a person into when using his zip line.

Carey asked if they got everything approved, how long would it take to develop the zip lines?

Sysco replied, “Each one would take probably two or three weeks.”

Sysco suggested that perhaps all three of these zip lines could have parallel cables, or set up to add a parallel cable in the future. He said the anchorage is the important part, which is what holds the tension in the cable. “It’s just about as simple to build an anchorage that holds two cables as it is to hold one cable.”

How much would it cost?

Sysco said he would only be guessing, but suggested maybe $100,000 per zip line. He followed that up by saying that they should get other opinions as far as costs.

Preliminary plans include bids from private vendors to finance the project, including construction and operation.

Sysco noted that there is no reason that the zip lines can’t be built locally, but then have the operations handled by a professional group.

Carey then had Brad Morse, who owns one of the largest zip line companies in the world, speak to the group via a cell phone through a microphone.

Morse said the most important aspect is location. He asked that the group do their homework and have an environmental study conducted.

He guessed that the zip line project could produce 35 to 40 seasonal jobs, with about 15 to 17 of those existing if it were to operation year round.

Jennifer Kreckel asked about insurance.

Morse responded that zip lines are regarded as safer than something like football because of the precautions taken. In 27 years of doing this, he said he’s never been sued and no one has broken a bone.

“Insurance is not a problem. The cost is based on how many people use it,” said Morse, adding the cost of insurance on the low end would be $10,000 to $14,000.

Carey noted it was said that 10,000 visitors per year are needed to have a successful zip line.

After it was noted that people of all ages use zip lines, Lynda Hebert, owner of the Hebert Realty Group, noted that her father, at age 80, went over a zip line last year in New Hampshire.

Someone asked about the cost to use a zip line. Prices suggested included $20 to $50 on the low end, and $80 to $100 on the high side.

One MVHS student suggested that a discount be offered for a zip line user if he/she also purchased a ticket to ski at Black Mountain.

Rinaldo said an average of 10,000 cars per day pass through Falls Hill. Over the last year, 6,000 visitors signed the guest book at the Rumford Information Center, with another 15 to 20 percent who stopped there but don’t sign in.

Police Chief Stacy Carter and Fire Chief Bob Chase both voiced a concern for public safety, but also applauded the efforts to be creative to try to bring economic development to Rumford.

Carter was concerned about motorists being distracted where zip lines would be near Route 2. Chase asked who would oversee the project and was told it would be through the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

Puiia said he enjoys the perspective about this project from people outside this area because the project is not just for locals to use. “We’re trying to attract people coming in (to Rumford).”

Quaid said, “I think this is a marvelous idea.”

Ames said she was present to gather information for Brookfield Power. She noted that their company has never dealt with a zip line project.

Carey said a lot of preliminary work needs to be done and they are only in the beginning stages.

He said he has contacted the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Inland Fishering and Wildlife, Central Maine Power and politicians. He said he also needs to contact the Maine Dept. of Transportation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (jurisdiction on dams).

Carey said they met a representative with Central Maine Power last week and did a tour of the proposed zip line area, and will be getting back to him.

One of the zip lines is right near the power transmission lines. He said he’s waiting to hear from CMP what the clearance requirements are.

Carey said the whole goal is to help energize the island and the business community.

He noted one of the zip lines is located right near the snowmobile/ATV park-and-ride on Falls Hill, which is also in close proximity to the proposed mountain bike park behind River Valley Crossing. Also close by is the Rumford boat launch where people put in to use canoes and kayaks, as well as fishing.

“It’s a long wait if we expect businesses to just drop in here on their own. I think we have to take advantage of what we have here — the river, the mountains, the beauty, the recreational opportunities that are possible and really, I think, be an incubator for other businesses that follow that kind of energy. People will want to buy products that have to do with recreation, bike parts, gear, clothing. I think it has some legs. It just has to get started.”

People with comments about the proposed zip line project by Envision Rumford! are encouraged to send them to tscareylaw@gwi.net.

Reprinted with permission from the Rumford Falls Times.

Towns throughout the county will have a chance to be “open for business,” under the 2012 Certified Business Friendly Community Program, recently introduced by Governor Paul LePage.

The goal of the program is to encourage economic development in communities throughout Maine, announced LePage on March 6 at the Blaine House.

“The idea is to get communities to look at how they deal with businesses, and to make sure that we are doing the best we can to promote business and to work with businesses at the local government level,” said Glen Holmes, director, Western Maine Economic Development Council.

LePage is currently seeking applications from communities, chambers of commerce, development authorities, trade organizations, businesses, or interested individuals, according to Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

The first Business Friendly Community applications are due on April 6.

According to Holmes, the certification identifies communities that are business-friendly, which could affect a business’ decision to relocate.

The communities that choose to participate in the program, said Holmes, are required to submit an application to DECD, which will then be reviewed and scored by a volunteer scoring panel in May.

The review team will be looking at several items in order to determine if a community is “business friendly.” Items include looking at customer service, business involvement and collaboration, input from the public, and licensing and permitting, said Holmes.

Each community will be evaluated on an individual basis.

“If it meets the criteria, then that town will be certified as ‘business friendly,’ and they will be given an ‘open for business’ sign,” said Holmes.

He said that it’s similar to the “open for business” sign recently unveiled by Governor LePage, which is attached to the “Welcome to Maine” sign along Interstate 95 in Kittery near the New Hampshire border.

“The overall goal of the program,” said Holmes, “is to get businesses to understand that the state of Maine is taking very seriously the desire to be friendly towards businesses and to work with them to create economic development.”

All of the communities that become certified under the program will be recognized by the Governor in May. Certified Business Friendly Communities will also receive recognition on the Maine DECD website, said Holmes, “and the community will become a key part of Maine’s business attraction strategy.” 

“When businesses are looking where they want to locate, there will be a more prominent listing in those towns than others,” said Holmes.

In addition, Certified Business Friendly Communities will receive bonus points in future Community Development Block Grant applications, pending program approval, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office. Certification is for two years.

Holmes said that he will be meeting with towns throughout Oxford County over the next eight weeks to assist with the application process. While the first deadline is on April 6, Holmes said that towns also have the opportunity to submit their applications on July 6, and again on October 5.

For more information contact WMEDC at 739-6545 or visit www.maine.gov/decd/cbfc/ to apply.

Reprinted with permission from The Advertiser-Democrat.

Wells Wood Turning has been manufacturing high quality  custom turnings, wood finishing and manufacturing, serving a variety of industries since 1985.  Whether the need is for a simple turning, a complex finished part, or coating of wooden parts with stains, varnish or child-safe paints, Wells can deliver.  Wells’ custom wood turnings include wood tool handles, wooden knobs, wooden bottle caps, shaker pegs, wooden craft parts, wooden toy parts, custom wood table legs, wooden curtain finials, wooden plugs, wooden thread and wire spools, mini baseball bats and more.  While custom wood turnings are made from white birch, Wells can also work with other wood—yellow birch, ash, hard or soft maple, poplar, cherry, hickory and dymondwood.

46 John Ellingwood Road, PO Box 220,Buckfield,ME 04220
207-336-2400 / 888-206-3328
Website:  www.wellswoodturning.com
Email:  info@WellsWoodTurning.com
Co-owners:  Alan Chesney and Tom Wallace

The Red Hen Diner & Bakery specializes in food from pure and local ingredients when they are available.  When have you had a burger with a homemade bun?  Or an English muffin that was not from a package?  No mixes are used to make pancakes or frozen doughs for pizzas.  Even the pickles are homemade! 

The Red Hen tries to accommodate its customers’ eating pleasures.  For example, it does not thicken soups and chowders with flour for its gluten-free customers.  Gluten free pizza dough is also available.  

Thursday night is a pizza buffet with pizza, salad, a drink and dessert for $8.99.  Friday night the specialty is prime rib with chowders and other yummy specials, such as haddock, turkey and corn beef.  

Custom made baked goods are also available plus specials.  Check the Little Red Hen’s Facebook page for daily specials. 

Tues. – Wed.   6:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Thurs. – Fri.    6:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sat. – Sun.       6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

12 South Main Street, Andover, ME  04216
207-392-2253
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Red-Hen-Diner-Bakery/313760255305001
Email:  littleredhen04216@yahoo.com
Owner:  Melissa Smith
Culinary team:  Melissa Smith and Tina Farrington

Lambert touted many of the program’s strengths during a presentation to the SAD 17 Board of Directors.

The enrollment rate is triple the statewide average.

“If you look at all the students who are eligible to attend a technical school, [and see] what percentage actually do, the state average is 15 percent,” he said. “Our average is 45 percent. That’s just an incredible number.”

Lambert said that he didn’t deserve the credit for the staggering statistic.

“That’s nothing that I’ve done,” he said. “That’s me just inheriting something. The reason is the comprehensive model.”

OHTS is seamlessly integrated into the Oxford Hills High School, said Lambert, which allows a broad range of students to take advantage of a wide array of programs.

Other technical schools might have very limited offerings, such as truck driving and forestry.

OHTS does have programs geared toward similar blue-collar and service industry vocations, including not only forestry, but automotive collision repair, diversified occupations, automotive technology, culinary arts and building construction.

However, it also includes a variety of more white-collar and public service industries, such as business education, law enforcement, pre-engineering, banking, early childhood education, communications, computer-aided drafting design, graphic arts, and health care.

“The school has a very wide range of offerings,” said Lambert.

With classrooms that occupy space in the high school, and the sheer volume of careers on offer, it’s no wonder that OHTS draws in many students. Many students don’t even realize that they’re enrolled in OHTS.

“We try to blur the lines whenever possible,” said Lambert.

The approach seems to be attracting students like flies to honey.

This year, 82.5 percent of the school’s 992 slots were filled. The program boasts 437 students in programs that occupy two or three class periods.

With large numbers of mainstream students participating in OHTS, the school has also become a state leader in academic performance.

“On average, we perform much higher than most technical schools in the state,” reported Lambert. “In fact, we score 10 points higher than the AYP [Adequate Yearly Progress] goals that are required of us.”

The program is to the advantage of many students, who can, in many cases, earn college credits without paying for them.

Last year, 50 students picked up 189 college credits by participating in OHTS programs.

OHTS has developed a series of relationships with college institutions that help transition students into higher learning opportunities. The school’s relationship with Central Maine Community College has been a vital part of its success.

“OHTS has more … agreements with CMCC than any other secondary school in the country,” said Lambert. In turn, he said, “CMCC has more … agreements than any other college in New England. They’re a very big player in this, and we have more with them than anyone else.”

Another indicator of the program’s success, said Lambert, can be seen in the school’s annual Skills Challenge competition, which recently saw 300 students come together to demonstrate their skills in everything from fashion design to computer technology.

“Historically, we’ve always had students go to nationals,” said Lambert.

They don’t only go to nationals, said Tom Moore, a member of the board.

“When these youngsters go to nationals, invariably they come back placing in honors,” he said.

Last year, the Oxford Hills team took home eight medals from the SkillsUSA State Championship, including three gold medals.

One student, Melissa Lebel won fourth place in the nation in the Welding Sculpture competition.

Lambert said that in the future, he will try to build upon the program’s many successes.

“I’m smart enough to know when something’s good.”

Reprinted with permission from The Advertiser-Democrat.

Morton brought a large monitor and his laptop to Monday’s selectmen’s meeting to show the board the value of GIS technology in planning.

But before his presentation even began, he unexpectedly had an opportunity to use it to aid in a code enforcement discussion.

Selectmen had learned that a contractor recently drove an excavator across town property, knocking down several trees in the process, to get to an adjacent private property. As they tried to understand the layout of the two properties, Morton came to the rescue.

He called up an aerial photo on the big screen and zoomed in, helping the board and Code Enforcement Officer Dave Bonney to understand the route taken by the piece of equipment.

Bonney was expected to look into the matter.

Returning to the original purpose of his presentation, Morton said he had talked with developers about the possibility of using the monitor in their application presentations to planners, and received a favorable response.

Currently applicants provide maps for each planner.

“If we had the screen mounted on the wall, the applicant could plug in his computer, rather than all us of looking through our [paper] files to get the same map,” said Morton. “It would keep everyone focused, and we’d move through it faster.”

The aerial photos could serve the same purpose as site walks, in which planners schedule on-site inspections.

Morton also demonstrated how the digital maps can be overlaid with other features, such as wetlands.

But, he said, hard copy maps would still be required for records, and would be used with applicants who do not have the technology.

Morton and the selectmen agreed there was also potential for the equipment and technology to be used by town officials, including the Fire Department, for other uses, such as online training.

The board decided to buy the equipment, and chose a desktop for the computer.

Energy savings

In other business, selectmen discussed steps to take to improve energy efficiency for the town.

Town Administrator Loretta Powers said the town could save money on its electrical bills by enrolling online at Electricity Maine. The company’s website says it can sell electricity supplies directly to residential and small business customers at rates below the standard charged by Central Maine Power Co. The board decided to sign up.

The board also discussed an Efficiency Maine evaluation of the 50-year-old town office building.

Bonney listed a number of recommendations, including replacing the furnace and adding insulation.

The furnace, original to the building, had an expected life of 25 to 30 years. “We’re living on borrowed time with the furnace,” said Chairman Jim Largess. “My thinking is we start with the furnace.”

Bonney said the furnace was a priority recommendation from Efficiency Maine.

The board asked Bonney to get estimates for the furnace and duct work insulation.

Implementing all the recommendations would cost about $30,000, he said.

Selectmen also began a preliminary discussion of the 2012 municipal budget, which they will continue at a special meeting Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. at the town office.

Reprinted with the permission of The Bethel Citizen

“I have accepted the position of Director of the Western Maine Economic Development Council [WMEDC],” he wrote.

The WMEDC director position became available after Linda Walbridge resigned from that position. Walbridge’s last day was December 8.

The Buckfield Board of Selectmen held an executive session to discuss the details of Holmes’ departure; his last day with the town is currently slated for February 3.  The town will advertise to hire an interim town manager, and Holmes said that his final day might change based on that process.

Holmes was the town manager in Buckfield for seven years, and he said that he had 18 months remaining on his current contract.

Holmes said that he is looking forward to the challenges that his new job will bring.

“I think what I bring to the table is I’m a native to Oxford County,” he said. “Growing up here, I’ve seen the trials and tribulations of the economy. The number of years I’ve spent in the private and public sector gives me a view of both sides.”

In Buckfield, Holmes has been the target of a group of citizens who have expressed dissatisfaction with his performance.  During the town meeting in June, citizens attempted to remove an amount equal to Holmes’ $46,800 salary from the budget; instead, an amount that included his salary was approved by a vote of 36-22.

Holmes said that criticism had nothing to do with his departure.

“It had nothing to do with job dissatisfaction, or anyone in the town or anything like that,” he said. “It was just that there was this great opportunity and I felt I had something to offer.”

He said that the biggest issue facing Buckfield’s next town manager will be whether the town should purchase the old Oxford Networks building and move town services into that location.

Holmes had warm words for the town’s staff and volunteer citizens in his letter of resignation.

“I want to express my highest level of respect and admiration for the employees that I have worked with,” he wrote. “I have had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of other employees from towns all across this great state and can say without reservation: Buckfield has by far the best group of people I could ever hope to be a part of.”

He expressed his hope that the board will “continue to support and cherish the employees that we have. The volunteers in this community give so much more than the average resident knows.”

Looking ahead

Holmes said that he supports a major existing initiative within the WMEDC to map the region’s access to broadband and cellphone service as a means to bolster business.

He also said that he favors standardizing rules and regulations throughout Oxford County.

“It’s important to help our current business owners as much as to invite new businesses in,” he said. “The people who have put in the time deserve the help.”

Holmes also said that he felt Oxford County has received a bad reputation because of media reports that focus on the negatives.

“The negative press Oxford County has received is something we need to get beyond,” he said. “Let people know how vital and wonderful this county really is. We have so much to offer. When there are a few negative statistics and they get publicized it leaves the wrong impression.”

Holmes has been the town manager in Buckfield since October 2004. Before that, he spent five years as the director of media sales for MediaPower, a Portland-based firm.

In the ’90s, he worked in the asbestos removal industry, and also had a four-year stint as a sales manager for Lifetouch.

He was a Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1987.

Reprinted with the permission of The Advertiser-Democrat.

Photo:Glen Holmes