Local farms profiled in new book

Central Maine farms are among those profiled in a new book by Mary Quinn Doyle, a Maine writer, photographer, and teacher, who traveled throughout Maine over the past two years visiting 178 farms. The book, Unique Maine Farms, is due to be released in September, according to a press release from Doyle. The Unique Maine Farms project also includes a traveling slideshow exhibit and discussion.

Additional Images

“Unique Maine Farms” is due to be released next month and features a number of central Maine farms. Contributed image

PETERS

Some of the farms included in the book include KiwiHill Farm in Sidney; Maine Academy of Natural Sciences in Hinckley; Snakeroot Organic Farm in Pittsfield; Unity College’s Veggies for All, Mackie Family in Unity; Entwood Bonsai in Burnham; Freedom Farm in Freedom; New Beat Farm and Thor-Nox Farms in Knox; Super Chilly Farm in Palermo; Bark-Eater Farm in Dexter; and Barry Dana’s farm in Solon.

Eight agricultural programs taking place in conjunction with the University of Maine are also profiled, including the Lyle E. Littlefield Ornamental Gardens, J.F. Witter Research Center; Master Gardeners, 4-H, FoodCorps, the Page Farm & Home Museum, Rogers Farm, and the Emerald Ash Borer project.

Doyle said in an email Thursday that the book is printed by Penmor Lithographers in Lewiston on paper produced by Sappi Fine Paper, which has mills in Skowhegan and Westbrook.

Peters joins Eaton Peabody Consulting Group

John Peters has joined Eaton Peabody Consulting Group in Augusta, according to a press release from the firm.

Peters, president of Downeast Energy Corporation for the past 30 years, has experience in management consulting, business succession planning, management of family owned business, estate planning for small business owners, energy markets and acquisitions.

Peters is a native of Maine and a graduate of the University of Maine, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics. He is also actively involved in local community groups such as the Mid-Coast Regional Redevelopment Authority, Maine Early Learning Investment Group, Norway Savings Bank and Lee Auto Group.

Eaton Peabody is a multi-disciplined consulting team with a staff of 11, and an affiliate of the Maine law firm of Eaton Peabody with offices in Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick and Ellsworth.

NRF Distributors expanding warehouse

NRF Distributors has started construction groundwork for an expansion that will increase size of its warehouse on Gabriel Drive in Augusta by around 50 percent, from around 100,000 square feet to more than 150,000 square feet.

The flooring distribution company has another 180,000 square feet of storage space at its headquarters on Old Belgrade Road.

Norman Pomerleau, president and founder of NRF Distributors, said the addition is expected to be finished by January. The expansion is needed because the company has been renting other storage properties in Augusta to accommodate its products, he said.

The company employees around 330 people. The expanded warehouse may require additional workers, but Pomerleau said he wasn’t yet sure how many more will be needed.

The company had to donate a 14 acre parcel of land west of Garbiel Drive to the city as mitigation for the development impact on a small area of wetland next to the warehouse.

Women’s fashion store to open at Marketplace

Charming Charlie, a women’s clothing store, will open at the Marketplace at Augusta Monday and a grand opening will be held Saturday.

The grand opening will include a raffle and goodie bags, according to a press release from WS Development, owner of the Marketplace shopping complex.

According to the press release, “Charming Charlie made its debut in 2004 with one very colorful and clear mission: help every woman, everywhere, find her fabulous,” and features “a multitude of brands” at “affordable prices.”

Related Stories