Sebasticook Valley FCU’s Lemieux elected Maine Credit Union League board chairman

Jim Lemieux, president/CEO of Sebasticook Valley FCU of Pittsfield, was elected chairman of the Maine Credit Union League Board of Directors at its annual meeting recently.

The group is made up of Maine’s 60 credit unions and their 655,000 members, according to a release from the association.

The board also elected Rick Lachance, president/CEO of Connected CU of Augusta, as vice chairman; Kyle Casburn, president/CEO of Seaboard FCU of Bucksport secretary; and David Desjardins, president/CEO of Acadia FCU of Fort Kent treasurer.

New board members, who will serve three-year terms, include Joann Bisson, president/CEO of Trademark FCU of Scarborough; Scott Chretien, president/CEO of York County FCU of Sanford; and Vicki Stuart, president/CEO of Central Maine FCU of Lewiston.

Lemieux said in the release he looks forward to serving as board chair for the coming year, and working to “continue the significant growth of Maine’s credit unions in the past year, and remaining a leader in implementing new products and services to help credit unions and members throughout Maine.”

Augusta Downtown Merchants hosting a cash mob Thursday

The Augusta Downtown Merchants are hosting a cash mob on July 16.

The group urges anyone who wants to participate to bring $20 and meet at Merkaba Sol, 153 Water St., the site of the last cash mob event. The group will then go from there to another business to spend the money.

The event is part of an effort to support local businesses.

MEMIC honors Kennebec Anesthesia Associates for outstanding workplace safety

Maine–Kennebec Anesthesia Associates was recognized for workplace safety from workers’ compensation insurer MEMIC.

The business was one of three in the state and eight out of more than 20,000 policyholders nationwide honored with a safety award at the Portland-based insurer’s annual meeting recently, according to a news release from the organization.

Augusta-based Kennebec Anesthesia Associates is a group of physicians, nurse anesthetists and support personnel providing a wide range of anesthesia services to MaineGeneral Medical Center.

Other Maine winners were H.B. Fleming Inc. of South Portland and Mid Maine CPL of Lewiston.

Those recognized also included Arbors of Hop Brook LP of Manchester, Connecticut; Chroma Technology Corp. of Rockingham, Vermont; Computer Components Corporation of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lindt & Sprüngli Inc. of Stratham, New Hampshire; and Zweigle’s Inc of Rochester, New York.

TMDE Calibration in Richmond, North Country Rivers in Bingham, get REAP grants

Two central Maine businesses will receive grants from the USDA Rural Development Energy for America Program, according to a news release from the agency.

TMDE CAlibration Labs of Richmond and North Country Rivers of Bingham are among 13 businesses in the state to get the grants, which are designed to “help the businesses achieve long-term sustainability through lower energy costs, and will help preserve Maine’s pristine environment through utilization of renewable energy sources,” according to the release.

A total of $119,700 was awarded through the REAP Program.

TMDE Calibration Labs got $18,750 to buy and install a roof-mounted 25 kW solar PV system that is expected to meet all of the business’ energy demands by producing 33,565 kWh annually.

North Country Rivers Inc. got $7,772 to install a high-efficiency, ductless, air source heat pump to provide supplemental heating and cooling, saving more than 1,819 kWh of energy per year.

REAP was created by the 2002 Farm Bill and was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The new Census of Agriculture shows the number of farms using renewable energy production has doubled in the last five years, according to the release.

Eligible agricultural producers and rural small businesses may use REAP money to make energy efficiency improvements or install renewable energy systems, including solar, wind, renewable biomass (including anaerobic digesters), small hydroelectric, ocean energy, hydrogen and geothermal, the release said.

“President Obama’s historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger,” said the release. “Under his leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way — strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.”

Mills reminds consumers of free inspections for Bath Fitter customers

Maine Attorney General Janet T. Mills is reminding consumers who received services from National Bath Systems, which does business as Bath Fitter, that the deadline to request an inspection of their bath installation is Sept. 1.

Bath Fitter engaged in unlicensed plumbing activities, used non-conforming construction contracts, installed plumbing before a plumbing permit issued, misrepresented employees’ license status, and engaged in plumbing installations that may violate the Maine State Internal Plumbing Code, Mills said.

Homeowners with a Bath Fitter plumbing installation can request a free inspection of the installation by an independent licensed plumber to determine compliance with the plumbing code. If the plumbing does not comply with the code, permits and corrections will be made at no cost to the consumer, according to the release.

Those seeking inspections should call Bath Fitter before the Sept. 1 deadline at 1-855-798-4646.

Compiled from contributed releases