Jean Sylvester said of her announcement, “It’s hard to believe thirty years has gone by, it seemed like yesterday when I started as a part time teller for Casco Bank & Trust, which became Key Bank and finally Northeast. I must say I’m going to miss the customers and knowing everyone, it’s been amazing to watch all the kids grow up and now have families of their own.”

Sylvester received numerous awards over the years for her sales and customer service efforts, including two years as Retail Sales Manager of the Year and recently two years in a row as Sales Person of Year.

“Jean was never satisfied with market share, even though Buckfield was a small town, there were no boundaries in Jean’s mind when it came to service and bringing new customers to the bank. The Buckfield branch is consistently in the top tier for growth. We will definitely miss Jean for her can-do attitude and friendly persistence, though we know she will not be too far away,” said Tom Babineau, Director of Retail Banking for Northeast Bank.

A retirement Open House to thank Jean Sylvester for her service will be held during the week of March 29th. Customers and community members alike are invited to visit, enjoy some refreshments and share a story or two with Jean. Her last day will be April 2, 2010.

What: Buckfield Branch Open House

Where: Depot Street, Buckfield

When: March 29th – April 2nd

Time: During Banking Hours

Details: The public is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served

About Northeast Bank

Northeast Bank, a leader in delivering one-stop shopping for financial services, is headquartered in Lewiston, Maine and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northeast Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBN). The Company has approximately $612 million in assets as of December 31, 2009 and operates 23 retail outlets, including 10 bank branches, 12 insurance offices and 3 financial centers serving the financial needs of western, central, mid-coastal and southern Maine, as well as seacoast New Hampshire. Information regarding Northeast Bank can be found on its website at www.northeastbank.com or by contacting 1-800-284-5989.

Fan NEB on Facebook * Join the NEB group on LinkedIn * Follow NEB on Twitter: @northeast_bank * Check out the NEB YouTube Channel

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AUGUSTA On March 18, 2010, Maine Legislature’s Utility and Energy Committee held a  2 hour work session on LD 1810, the bill to implement the recommendations of the Governor’s Ocean Energy Task Force.  Scroll down   to listen to the speakers and legislators at this worksession (mp3s) Listen to March 11th public hearing on LD 1810 Mp3s

Due to the presence of Maine fishermen  and oceanic beauty in virtually every square foot of Maine state ocean waters, commercial windfarm companies may be required by the legislation to keep out of Maine state waters; in exchange, the industry seeks nonconfrontation with the fishing industry further offshore.

“Fishermen, resorts, the schooner fleets, a variety of human users are already fully exploiting Maine’s nearshore natural resources.” said Ron Huber “They can only be harmed if the industrial wind companies began leasing nearshore waters.”

Because of the complexity of the 38 page bill,  (see pdf copy of LD 1810 with state waters parts highlighted) the committee could not get through the entire bill and will meet again on Tuesday at 1pm

The Maine Lobstermen’s Association will work through the weekend on acceptable wording protecting fisheries.  Doubtless other fisheries as well.  The ocean windmill industry is no doubt busy, too,  hoping to reinclude permssion to do windpower in state waters in the bill.

Listen to speakers at the March 18, 2010 Hearing

* Introduction to the Worksession 4min

* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky describes proposed changes to Bill Part A 17 minutes

* MDEP’s Nagusky Q&A session 11 minutes

* Patrice Farrell, Maine Lobstermen’s Association 3 & 1/2 minutes

* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky describes proposed changes to Part B of LD 1811

* Suzanne Sayre 2 minutes

* John Ferland Ocean Renewable Energy Corp 1 minutes

* Dianne Messer, advocate, Liberty Maine 2 minutes

* Chris O’Neill, Friends of Maine Mountains 1 minutes

* Todd Rousette (sp?) Preti Flaherty lawfirm 2 minutes

* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky describes more changes to Part B

* MDEPs Beth Nagusky on changes to Part C of bill

* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky on changes to Part D of bill

* MDEP Beth Nagusky on Changed to Part E of Bill
* MDEP Beth Nagusky questioned on Part E 7 min

* MDEP Beth Nagusky questioned more 10 minutes

* University of Maine Dr Dagher 12 minutes

* Final stakeholders and close of work session  11 minutes

The unexpectedly loud powerful opposition to the bill by Maine scallopers, shrimpers and groundfishermen, joined by ocean resort and sailing interests and conservation activist Huber, may be bearing fruit.  “We won’t just stand by and let  the Department of Conservation start leasing out Maine’s legendary fishing and sailing grounds to big energy companies out of Boston and New Jersey.” said Huber  who is the litigant in the aforementioned  Huber v Bureau of Parks and Lands lawsuit over the Monhegan floating test site.

He said the bill would allow companies to seek 20, 40 and 50 year leases over state waters. “Are we really ready for that?” Huber asked. “I don’t think so.  Neither do most fishermen I know.“    The ocean windmill industry is probably busy this weekend too, he said,  hoping to regain language in the bill allowing windpower in state waters in the bill.

Heuber said That  the Maine Lobstermen’s Association leadership, which had been negotiating behind closed doors with the wind industry, had to be taken to task by scallop, shrimp and groundfish fleets and its own rank and file  before it stopped supporting DMR’s “Prepare to Share”  campaign, as  described by George Lapointe at the  wind energy seminar at the 2010 Maine Fishermens Forum.

On March 23rd, all interests will be back in Augusta before the Utility and Energy Committee for a 1pm  final  showdown on LD 1810

About the seminar

Despite our love affair for all things technological, in a recent survey of top sales and marketing professionals, event marketing was voted the number one discipline for producing results. Bob Tiernan, President of Cameo Marketing, will explore the power of one-on-one event marketing and how it can help your organization build strong consumer relationships that result in the creation of brand evangelists and drive sales. You’ll leave with a greater appreciation for the importance of maintaining human connections, especially in today’s world, in which we as marketers have become increasingly dependent upon electronic and digital communications.

Topics include

• The definition of event marketing and its history as a relatively new marketing force.
• The seven key benefits of event marketing and how well-crafted brand experiences can connect your organization with its consumers.
• Why and how event marketing continues to deliver an exceptionally strong ROI.
• Real-world examples of how Cameo Marketing clients have benefited by strengthening their connections with customers through event marketing.

About Bob Tiernan

Cameo Marketing was founded in 1992 by Bob and his wife Bonnie, and represents the fulfillment of Bob’s dream to build a second career. A native New Englander, Bob spent much of his professional life in the broadcasting industry and held executive level positions at Selcom, Westinghouse Broadcasting and CRN International. Bob provides leadership and creativity in the design of Cameo projects – from concept to fabrication to execution

Networking and registration for the seminar, which is open to both MMA members and non-members, begins at 11:00 AM. The presentation starts promptly at 11:40 and ends at 1:00. The cost for lunch is included in the fee: $15 members, $35 non-members, $10 students. TechMaine members may also attend at the MMA member rate. To register for the Lunch & Learn, please click HERE.

The Maine Marketing Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing ongoing marketing-related education and support to its members and to the region’s business community. It is the first group of its kind in Maine, dedicated exclusively to marketing education. Membership is just $89 for a full year.

“Patient Advocates’ goal is to reduce health care costs for clients by getting people the right care at the right time and to help them take better care of their health. One way we do this is through our wellness programs that help employers increase the health of their employees and thus lower health care costs,” says Jim Ward, President of Patient Advocates LLC. “Renee brings a lot of experience and creativity to our wellness team, and our clients will benefit from her expertise.”

“I’m excited to be a part of Patient Advocates’ one-of-a-kind healthcare team and to bring new and creative wellness ideas to employers who want to improve the quality of life for their employees,” says Lizotte of her new position with Patient Advocates.

Lizotte, of Portland, graduated from Saint Josephs College with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. She has a professional background in cardiac rehabilitation, clinical exercise physiology, health coaching, and employee wellness programs.

About Patient Advocates

Patient Advocates LLC has been helping clients navigate the health care system since 1995. Employers trust PA to help manage their costs while ensuring the highest quality of care for their employees. Built on the premise that access to the highest quality health care results in greater cost-savings over time, Patient Advocates offers innovative patient advocacy and disease management services, award-winning wellness programs and creative benefit plan designs with third-party administration. www.patientadvocatesllc.com

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Contact: Linda Varrell, Broadreach Public Relations. info@broadreachpr.com. 207-846-3826

In the midst of Northeast Bank’s recent expansion, the company has exceeded its original plan of creating 10 new positions to handle the increased mortgage volume. So far this year, the bank has hired 12 new mortgage loan officers and continues to add positions within its mortgage division.

“Linda has over 25 years of experience in mortgage loans and has assisted thousands of families with home financing options. She will be a great asset for our organization and for all of our customers in the seacoast area,” says Marcel Blais, Senior Vice President & COO of Northeast Bank

“I believe a mortgage should be about building relationships, and helping my customers achieve their home financing goals, not just a transaction,” says Saunders. “As a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer with Northeast Bank, I customize each home financing solution to help customers achieve their home financial goals. Many loan officers can get you a loan. My mission is to get you the right loan.

Saunders is a member of the Seacoast Board of Realtors Education Committee and teaches Finance 101, which provides three Maine and New Hampshire elective continuing education credits through the Board of Realtors offices. She resides in North Hampton.

About Northeast Bank

Northeast Bank, a leader in delivering one-stop shopping for financial services, is headquartered in Lewiston, Maine and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northeast Bancorp (NASDAQ: NBN). The Company has approximately $612 million in assets as of December 31, 2009 and operates 23 retail outlets, including 10 bank branches, 12 insurance offices and 3 financial centers serving the financial needs of western, central, mid-coastal and southern Maine, as well as seacoast New Hampshire. Information regarding Northeast Bank can be found on its website at www.northeastbank.com or by contacting

1-800-284-5989.

Fan NEB on Facebook * Join the NEB group on LinkedIn * Follow NEB on Twitter: @northeast_bank * Check out the NEB YouTube Channel

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Contact:

Chris Delamater, Director of Marketing. 207-786-3245 ext. 3548.  cdelamater@northeastbank.com

The fishermen fear that this could take place if the legislature approves LD 1810, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Governor’s Ocean Energy Task Force.

The bill would  authorize the Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Parks & Lands to lease nearshore state waters to the wind industry, and loosens the state’s and municipal environmental and conservation laws, rules and ordinances to be used the state waters windfarm application decisionmaking process.

LD 1810’s public hearing took place March 11th. At the hearing, Marine Resources Committee co-Chair Leila Percy told the Utility & Energy Committee, which is considering LD 1810,   that to protect marine resource users, the 35 page bill – which was only introduced in committee that week – required careful scrutiny before any final action is taken “I want to speak about the bump in the road, “ Percy told the committee. “I haven’t had a chance to read the bill. bsp;And a lot of my constituents haven’t had a chance to read the bill.” Percy said she had spoken with fishermen at the Seminar on Ocean Windfarms & Maine Fishermen at the  2010 Maine Fishermens Forum l

Percy called for the bill to passed as a “resolve”, then brought before fishing and tourism based coastal communities and before the Marine Resources Committee and the Natural Resources Committee,  before final action on a bill in 2011.
“I think having everyone’s voice in a much greater conversation would be helpful” she said.

Other portions of the bill  have also come under fire. If passed,  the Bureau of Parks and Lands could:

* Offer 2 year “lease options,  3 year predevelopment leases”,  5 year “pre-operation leases” and 30 year operating leases. In addition the Bureau plans to offer 50 year  leases of the state’s submerged marine lands to wave and tidal energy interests

LD 1810 would also:

* Allow the banning of commercial fishing within the wind leases using any gear that wind industry insurers deem risky to wind farm’s underwater cables and  structures.

* Allow wind companies to use eminent domain on shoreline and inland property owners, to allow the industry to cut powerline and tower rights of way through private land as needed to connect the offshore developers to the national grid.

* Forbid coastal towns from assessing property taxes on wind turbines or related equipment and facilities in the municipalities’ waters that are “below the mean low-water line on waters subject to tidal influence.”

* Forbid coastal resorts from challenging nearshore windfarms for threatening to  degrade economically critical, measurable scenic values without penalty or need to compensate other users for lost values.

* Forbid Maine citizens from filing appeals of Maine Department of Environmental Protection windmill project decisions to the Maine Board of Environmental Protection. Would-be appellants would need to go straight to state court.

* Forbid the Maine Board of Environmental Protection from assuming jurisdiction over Maine Department of Protection windmill applications.

Critics say  the result of the relaxed and weakened standards could stimulate a wild west style  submerged lands rush, with speculators staking exploratory claims over Maine fishing grounds, then selling their leases for a tidy profit to one of the big energy concerns that hope to dominate the wind energy business.

“Who wrote this junk bill?” said fishermen  Brian Preney of Boothbay, a member of the state’s Sea Urchin Zone Council.  “Would anybody with any civic responsibility propose such a poor piece of legislation?  I would like to know who wrote it and who they represent, because it certainly is not me or the people of Maine.”

As a result of the fishing industry’s concerns, political leaders are taking action. Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree has pledged  that the bill  will be extensively modified.

“I think we’ll scale down the bill significantly”, she reassured one concerned constituent.  ”We were disappointed the bill came from the Governor so late in the session with so many big issues to be resolved.”

The state’s heating industry is also up in arms about the bill, which proposes phasing that business out and requiring Mainers to use electricity for heating their homes and workplaces.

Final action on LD 1810 takes place 1pm Thursday March 18th, when the Maine legislature’s Utility and Energy Committee holds its work session on the bill.

Bangor – Affiliated Pharmacy Services and Miller Drug announced today that their pharmacy operations will be combining into a single entity with four locations in the Bangor area, creating one of the largest independently owned, community pharmacies in the Northeast.

For more than 50 years Bill and Gloria Miller have operated Miller Drug from their landmark location on State Street. Affiliate Pharmacy Services operates three locations: Riverside Pharmacy on the EMMC campus, Westgate Pharmacy in the EMMC Healthcare Mall on Union Street in Bangor and Whiting Hill Pharmacy in the Lafayette Family Cancer Center in Brewer.

It is anticipated all regulatory and licensure changes will be completed by early summer and the four locations will operate as a single service network, improving on the extraordinary standard of access each company’s respective customers have come to expect. The three APS locations will all be re-branded as “Miller Drug” and the very familiar Miller Drug jingle will now say “Miller Drug-Our Family Serving yours – Now from four locations.”

Community pharmacies are all about local families caring for local families. This partnership means that the community pharmacy model will continue to thrive in our region.

“It has long been our primary goal to offer good healthcare and great customer service to each and every resident of this region. And this new partnership will make that even easier,” says Bill Miller of Miller Drug. “We believe our customers will see this change as smooth and simple. Every aspect of the work we do will be improved – our four locations will mean better access, better hours, and increased convenience. We will be able to offer the same level of care and service that my family, the Miller family has shared with our region for more than fifty years.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to join forces with Miller Drug,” says Miles Theeman, President and CEO of Affiliated Healthcare Systems, Affiliated Pharmacy’s parent company. “At AHS we pride ourselves on great relationships with our customers and the quality of products and services we offer.  In the pharmacy business, both APS and Miller Drug have set the bar extremely high for both quality and service and for more than four decades nobody has done it better than Billy, Gloria and their team. Joining these two great organizations will ensure that Miller Drug’s incredible legacy of outstanding family-owned, community-based service to residents of eastern and northern Maine will continue for years to come. ‘Miller Drug – Our family serving yours – now from four locations’ isn’t just our new jingle, it’s a way of doing business.”

The combination of Affiliated Pharmacy and Miller Drug into a single, locally-owned community pharmacy means many things for our region: local ownership and decision-makers, a commitment to the health of our region, and access to specialty prescriptions.

Most importantly, this new partnership creates a gold standard for pharmacy customer service that will be available in four locations: Miller Drug on State Street, Miller Drug, Riverside, Miller Drug, Westgate, and Miller Drug, Whiting Hill.

“This change is a realization of a dream for me and I hope you will join Gloria and me in celebrating the new Miller Drug family,” finishes Bill Miller.

RE/MAX By The Bay is also pleased to announce that Susan Scanlon has joined the firm as a Maine Licensed Commercial Broker. Scanlon brings with her, 9 years of commercial & residential experience in the sale and leasing of commercial properties throughout Southern Maine. She is actively involved in the non-profit community including the Junior League and serves as Interim Crisis Team Manager for the Trauma Intervention Program.

“We are fortunate to have Susan Scanlon on board and feel positive about the commercial market in Southern Maine“, said Michael Banks, Director of Operations at RE/MAX By the Bay. “Our entrance into the commercial real estate market in Southern Maine, is part of our commitment to expand our services to our current and prospective clients.”

About RE/MAX By The Bay

RE/MAX By The Bay is affiliated with RE/MAX of New England and RE/MAX International. Since its inception in 1985, RE/MAX of New England has grown to over 250 offices with more than 3,000 sales associates throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, providing residential and commercial real estate.

For more information, contact Michael Banks 207-773-2345

Susan earned her B.A. from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in public relations from Boston University College of Communication. She is a member of the Maine Public Relations Council (MPRC) and the United Way of York County’s Marketing and Communications Strategy Committee. She enjoys volunteering at Equest Therapeutic Riding Center, hiking and antiquing, and visits to Monhegan Island in Maine. Susan lives in Kennebunk with her husband and their Westie, Sydney.

Portland, MAINE (3/4/10) – Norman Patry’s journey from the desk of an investment office to a bicycle seat in coastal Maine is not just the story of a man who pursued – and caught – his dream. It’s also a tale of how one person’s vision can inspire others.

Patry’s business, Summer Feet, is celebrating its 10^th anniversary, in providing van-assisted bicycle tours, where all lodging, food and other logistics are handled for clients.

The business grew out Patry’s cross-country bicycle adventure, which he took as a break from his work with annuities and other financial instruments, even though he had not being on a bike for 13 years. Today, Summer Feet trips spur others to get out of their homes and, in many cases, onto bicycles for the first time in years.

“I hadn’t been on a bicycle outside for at least 16 years,” said Colleen Harwood, a nurse who lives in Bolton, Mass. “But two years ago, I decided to take a trip with Summer Feet to coastal Maine, as a way to get my husband away from his Blackberry and laptop.”

“A trip like that just does so much good for your psyche,” she said. “You let things go.”

The day after her return from the trip, Harwood bought a bicycle. She is now an avid cyclist who has twice completed 50-mile fundraising rides for charity. It also helped her reconnect with family, she said.

“This trip said to my husband and me that we really are still connected as a couple and can have fun together,” Harwood said. “I think it’s good for any relationship to do something like this.”

Summer Feet offers bicycle tours to some of the most stunningly beautiful locations in New England, Canada and New Zealand. Four new trips are planned for this summer. Two are geared for all cyclists:

• Quebec, where riders will take the Route Verte, which was first among the Top Ten Bike Routes selected by National Geographic Magazine. The trip includes Quebec City, as well as historic villages and beautiful natural features such as the spectacular Montmorency Falls.

• Cape Breton, which has been described by Bicycling Magazine as one of the best rides in North America. This trip includes Cape Breton Highlands National Park and incorporates the Scottish flavor to be found in this part of Nova Scotia.

Summer Feet’s other two new trips are being adapted to meet the needs of deaf people. These vacations will be led by experienced bicycle-trip guides who also are fluent in American Sign Language. The first of these trips will take place Aug. 27-29, in and around Acadia National Park, near Bar Harbor, Maine. The other will be Sept. 24-26 to the area around scenic Camden, Maine.

“It’s amazing how much I’ve learned doing this,” Patry said. “I love riding my bike, of course. That’s how I got started. But I also really enjoy the other part of the business — making sure clients have incredible, sometimes life-changing experiences.”

Andrea Schall took a Summer Feet trip to the Maine coast in 2006, even though she was not much of a bicyclist at the time.

“It was one of the best vacations I’ve ever been on. Norman and his guides totally understand what you need, and they take care of you,” said Schall, who lives in Los Angeles. “It actually got me into biking to the point where I bought a bicycle and bike all the time now.”

Summer Feet is different from many of the large tour operators, in its ability to find unique local experiences that higher-volume businesses miss. His trips to Camden, Maine, for example offer sunset dinner cruises on schooners.

“Summer Feet is very purposeful in how they run the trip to make sure that you have a wonderful experience,” said Tom Braun, a middle school teacher from Iowa who was an active bicyclist even before his first Summer Feet trip. “A lot of the places you stay are right on the water. The food is great. And you don’t carry a suitcase at any time in the trip, because they take care of all that for you.”

Patry began his cross-country trip by taking a book out of his local library and getting a map of Virginia through the Adventure Cycling Association. A few years later, he stopped working with finance in Massachusetts, so that he could move to Maine and start Summer Feet.

“The first year we had 11 clients, total,” Patry said. “Today, we help hundreds of people explore beautiful, new areas every year. Some of our clients bike all the time. But others really fall in love with bicycles on our trips, the same way that I did on that ride across America.”

Based in Portland, Maine, Summer Feet offers travelers assisted bicycle tours and the most-authentic experiences available of beautiful locations in Maine, Canada and New Zealand. Summer Feet has a decade of experience in providing van support, knowledgeable guides and logistics for memorable bicycle vacations. More information is available at www.summerfeet.net, via email to info@summerfeet.net, or by phone at 866-857-9544.

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