“Downeast Schooner” top Classic American Yellow Mustard, “Winter Garden” takes Bronze

EASTPORT, MAINE – Raye’s Mustard Mill has once again won international acclaim – this time for two of the stone-ground mustards produced in their authentic turn-of-the-last-century mill in Eastport.

Karen and Kevin Raye, proprietors of the historic Eastport mill, received word last week that their Raye’s “Down East Schooner” Mustard has earned the gold medal in the Classic American Yellow Mustard category at the 2009 World-Wide Mustard Competition in Napa Valley, California. Meanwhile, Raye’s “Winter Garden” Mustard, noted for its dill, garlic and celery accents, won the bronze medal in the Herb Mustard category.

This year’s medals are the latest in a long line of honors and accolades for North America’s only remaining traditional stone-ground mustard mill. The World-Wide Mustard Competition is held annually with the world’s leading mustards competing for honors. Down East Schooner has won a gold medal three of the last four years, and various Raye’s Mustards have won well over 40 prestigious national and international awards in the past few years.

“We are thrilled to continue Raye’s winning tradition,” said Karen Raye. “It’s a very competitive business, so we’re delighted that our mustards continue to stand out year after year. It’s a wonderful achievement for a little family-run mustard mill in Down East Maine, and it’s great news as we work to increase our national distribution and sales.”

“In this challenging economy, it’s great to receive this recognition,” said Kevin Raye. “These medals are a tribute not only to our unique and authentic stone-grinding process, but also to our terrific crew and the standards of excellence and quality that they work so hard help us achieve every day. We’re proud of our product and the people who help us produce it!”

A working museum, Raye’s Mustard Mill uses a cold-grind process developed in Europe during the Middle Ages. Kevin and Karen Raye are the fourth-generation of Rayes to own and operate the mill, which was originally built to supply Maine’s once-thriving sardine industry. The mill features the Pantry Store, a retail outlet and gift shop. Free tours are available. For more information, visit www.rayesmustard.com or call 1-800-853-1903.

The medals will be presented at a March 13^th ceremony at Black Stallion Winery in Napa, California.

CONTACT:
Charles “Wick” Johnson III
Kennebec Technologies
207-626-0188 ext 201
207-626-0198
clj@kennebec.com
www.kennebec.com
Augusta, ME — February 25, 2009 — Kennebec Tool & Die, Inc. is not taking the current economic crisis lying down. The high-precision machine-parts manufacturer has launched an aggressive growth strategy that includes changing its name to Kennebec Technologies, Inc., and a complete re-branding initiative.
“This change is the culmination of a two-year-long process of capital investment and internal systems integration,” said company owner and president Charles “Wick” Johnson. During that time, the company has invested more than $2.5 million in state-of-the-art manufacturing machines and integrated business systems.
“These changes and our rebranding provide a solid foundation from which to aggressively broaden our market presence,” said Johnson. “The new name better describes the scope of our expertise, which has evolved significantly over the years. Getting out there to showcase ourselves demonstrates that we’re leaning into this economy, not just hunkering down and waiting it out. We’re moving forward with purpose and vigor, which makes us the kind of partner leading manufacturing companies want to work with.”
Johnson, who bought the company in 1984, built Kennebec Tool & Die from a small shop with manual machines and systems to what it is now: a world-class, award-winning manufacturing company specializing in complex, high-precision components for aerospace, defense, alternative energy, medical, semiconductor, and telecommunications applications.
“Work is still out there to be had, in spite of the severe manufacturing decline, and we are pushing to grow our share of it”, said Johnson. “Maine is home to some of the most highly skilled and motivated workers in the country, and we tell that story everywhere we go.”
Investments Kennebec Technologies made in recent years to upgrade its highly sophisticated engineering, production, and quality-control technology enable the company to produce complex parts to very tight tolerances quickly and efficiently. With bar-fed milling and turning (done-in-one) machining centers, they can produce complex parts completely in one operation, with a solid piece of material going in, and a finished part coming out.
“I am very enthusiastic about what new technology allows us to do,” said Johnson. “But I credit the company’s success to our employees. Their talent, skill, motivation, and dedication are critical to delivering high-quality product and service to our customers. Machines alone can’t do that.”
ABOUT Kennebec Technologies — Established in 1972, Kennebec Technologies is a full-service high-precision machine products manufacturer specializing in complex, high-value-added parts and assemblies for the aerospace, defense, alternative energy, medical, semiconductor, and telecommunications industries.
For additional information about Kennebec Technologies, contact Wick Johnson, or visit www.kennebec.com.

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On March 18, 1990, the largest art theft in modern history took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston (estimated at over $500,000,000).

Anthony Amore, Director of Security, is working with Attorney Alec Sohmer on behalf of Robert Beauchamp, an inmate at MCI Norfolk.  Beauchamp is believed to have credible information as to the theft and possible whereabouts of the stolen art.

George Reissfelder, one of the suspects, is believed to have committed the crime along with two (2) other accomplices.  Reissfelder had stolen the art so as to negotiate its return for a lesser sentence on an unrelated crime.  This is not uncommon, the MFA having had art stolen some time earlier for this very purpose.  According to information, Reissfelder was entrusted with the art so as to negotiate its return through his former attorney (now Senator John Kerry).  Senator Kerry’s representation of George Reissfelder is a matter of public record.

Reissfelder is believed to have stored the art in a “safe house” in Maine, where he periodically stored various items.  A friend owned the home where Reissfelder constructed a false wall where the items were stored.  The friend participated in the arrangement without his wife’s knowledge.  The homeowner unexpectedly died with the art still stored in the home.  Within a short time after the homeowner’s death, Reissfelder also died never having retrieved the stolen art.

Beauchamp had a personal relationship with Reissfelder for many years.  Prior to his death, Reissfelder disclosed to him the general location in Maine of the safe house.

Working with his attorney, Beauchamp has been in constant communication with Special Agent Geoffrey Kelly of the FBI and Anthony Amore of the Gardner Museum.  Given the information, it is believed that the exact location of the stolen art may be determined.

On February 20, 2009, a Memorandum had been given to Amore detailing the circumstances of the crime along with the potential location.

Beauchamp and his attorney are being interviewed on February 26^th for a segment to air on America’s Most Wanted.  The airdate is scheduled for March with a related story to appear in the Boston Herald.

For further inquiry, please contact Attorney Alec Sohmer at (781) 248-3627.

PORTLAND, ME – Savvy, Inc., Maine’s preeminent public relations and communications firm, has merged with Boston-based DBMediaStrategies Inc., a renowned PR firm serving corporations, non-profits and medical industry clients.

The combined resources of the two firms will offer clients in both states and the region more services and greater depth, including expert advice on crisis communications, media training, political campaign management and new media techniques (blogging, podcasts and social media).

“Although it serves many business clients, Savvy is best known for its political campaign consulting and management,” said Dennis Bailey, president of Savvy, Inc (www.savvy-inc.com). “DBMediaStrategies is best known for its work with corporate clients, sports teams and the health care industry. It makes sense to merge our firms as a strategy for growth, and offer clients across New England a greater range of services and expertise.”

Doug Bailey, twin brother of Savvy President Dennis Bailey, is the founder of DBMediaStrategies Inc. (www.dbmediastrategies.com). A former business reporter and editor at the Boston Globe, Bailey was senior vice president of Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications Inc. for six years before starting his own firm in 2008. His clients include Cambridge Health Alliance, Arbella Insurance Group, Planet Aid, Hybrivet Systems Inc. and more.

Last year the two brothers received wide publicity when they joined forces to help Casino Free Mass defeat Gov. Deval Patrick’s plans for three Las Vegas-style gambling casinos in Massachusetts.

“DBMediaStrategies has seen phenomenal growth in the last year and more of its clients have needs in Maine and throughout New England,” said Doug Bailey. “And like Maine, Massachusetts frequently has controversial referendum questions on the ballot affecting businesses and taxpayers. Merging with Savvy, Inc. will provide one-stop-shopping for our clients and make our firm a regional player in the PR, corporate communications, government affairs and new media fields.”

Doug and Dennis Bailey are Maine natives with extensive media experience. Dennis Bailey worked as a reporter for several Maine newspapers, including the Lewiston Sun Journal, Maine Times and the Portland Press Herald before entering politics as press secretary for US Congressman Tom Andrews. He later served for six years as communications director for Gov. Angus S. King, Jr. before founding Savvy, Inc. in 2000. He lives in South Freeport with his wife Kristen, vice president of The Moseley Corporation, a food and beverage consulting firm in Franklin, Massachusetts.

Doug Bailey was a reporter for the Journal Tribune in Biddeford and the York County Coast Star before joining the staff of New England Business Magazine in Boston, a Yankee Inc. publication. He later became a business reporter for The Boston Globe and served as the paper’s deputy business editor, political editor and assistant metro editor for health and science. He lives in Newton with his wife Fiona, an editor with The Boston Globe.

The combined firm of Savvy, Inc. and DBMediaStrategies will have about a dozen clients with annual billings approaching $1 million.

CONTACT: Dennis Bailey, 207-347-6077, dennis@savvy-inc.com

                   Doug Bailey, 617-663-5704, doug@dbmediatrategies.com

CAMDEN, ME. An organization that is addressing the most critical daily needs of those without sufficient food and shelter in the Portland area has received a scholarship from Planning for Good, a Maine-based firm out of Camden that offers education, training and support to non-profit organizations seeking to build their endowments through planned gifts

“This is an opportunity for us to ‘walk the talk’ of supporting sustainability.          Preble Street is working to relieve the suffering of some of the most vulnerable in Portland’s population.  We are glad to be able to help Mark Swann, the board and staff of Preble Street have the tools to support the financial sustainability of their operation in pursuit of their critical mission”     Said Sr. Consultant, Sarah Ruef-Lindquist. FMI about these organizations, visit www.planningforgood.net and www.preblestreet.org.

Many non profit organizations are feeling the effects of the economic downturn and facing the difficult decisions of whether to reduce program offerings, staff or other operations. Many realize that if they had a more robust endowment when the economy turns sour, they would have greater financial stability to ride out the storm. In 2009, Planning for Good is offering a series of Workshops designed to support organizations beginning or continuing to develop their planned giving efforts, and has given a scholarship for a board member and staff person from Preble Street to the five programs in the series.