Home improvement company Spray-Net seeks franchise owners for Waterville

Canadian home painting franchise Spray-Net is seeking Waterville-area franchise owners as it expands into the U.S., according to a news release from the company.

The company offers exterior siding painting, door and window painting, exterior brick spray-painting, industrial and commercial painting and more, and uses an exterior spray-painting technique and proprietary formula to paint homes and businesses in one day, according to the release. It says the technique is “a permanent and cost-effective solution that offers a real and affordable alternative to replacement.” The release said the proprietary spray-paint product has a blend of high-grade resins and additives perfected for use in Canadian climates that are similar to Waterville’s.

The company was founded in 2009 in Montreal by Carmelo Marsala, who had run a College Pro painting franchise for three years. It began franchising in 2013, according to the rlease, and now has 36 units in Canada.

For more information on Spray-Net, go to www.spray-net.com or www.spraynetfranchise.com.

Seely takes permanent assignment with Farmington Family Practice

Dr. Karren Seely has joined Franklin Health Farmington Family Practice permanently after providing interim care there, as well as at Franklin Health Livermore Falls Family Practice, over the last 10 months.

Seely received her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine, then completed a three-year residency at the Maine Dartmouth Family Residency Program. She has a professional interest in LGBT issues (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender).

Franklin Health Farmington Family Practice is on the ground floor of the Franklin Health Medical Arts Center on the Franklin Memorial Hospital campus in Farmington. Besides Dr. Seely, other health care providers include Drs. Kristine Sanden and Jacqueline Caldwell, physician’s assistants Calli Meader and Linda Seabold, and social worker Brent Laflin.

Executives’ adviser to talk on ‘time leadership’ Thursday at Business Breakfast

Renaissance Executive Forums’ CEO/owner Douglas A. Packard is scheduled to give a talk titled “Time Leadership: Maximizing Return on Time” on Thursday at the next Business Breakfast, presented by Thomas College and the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce in Waterville.

The breakfast will be held from 7:15 to 9 a.m. in the Spann Student Commons Summit Room on Thomas College’s campus at 180 West River Road in Waterville.

Packard gained over 20 years of leadership and management experience before starting his consulting practice in 2001. He had success in a number of different positions in the information processing industry including account manager, district manager, domestic marketing, international product management and strategic planning. He was involved in multiple industries, worked with businesses of all sizes and traveled extensively worldwide.

In 2001, Packard opened his practice with Renaissance Executive Forums and dedicated himself to helping top executives and business owners accelerate their success. He organizes and leads custom designed peer groups, provides individual coaching, and helps leaders increase the effectiveness of their management teams.

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce holds monthly presentations on a variety of educational business topics at Thomas College’s Spann Student Commons. The cost of the Business Breakfast is $17 for members, $19 for late registration (after Friday before the event), $25 at the door and for nonmembers. Breakfast is included with the reservation. To register, e-mail customerservice@midmainechamber.com or phone 873-3315.

Event center owners to speak Sept. 8 at Winthrop chamber breakfast

The owners of a new wedding and event destination center will be the featured speakers Thursday at the Winthrop Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce’s breakfast, according to a news release from the chamber.

Gene Carbona, owner of The Barn at Silver Oaks Estate, a destination for weddings, proms and other events, and his wife, Veronica, recently bought and renovated a barn on Route 133 in Winthrop that stands on 10 acres sloping down to Maranacook Lake.

The Carbonas will speak about how they expect their wedding and event destination to affect local businesses. The breakfast event is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. at the Commerce Center on Main Street in Winthrop. The breakfast talks cost $7 for Chamber members and $10 for guests.

The Carbonas have booked 30 weddings for 2017 and another eight in 2018.

“Some of theses wedding parties have guests of 100 and three have parties as big as 400,” Carbona said. “It’s exciting that Winthrop and other local businesses will reap the reward of all these people coming to town for the weekend.”

Most of the weddings will take place from June through the end of October. The Carbonas have been collaborating with local restaurants, salons, and antique shops to provide services and decorations to their barn, which is decorated in a vintage, rustic chic style.

The Barn at Silver Oaks Estate plans to host an open house at 11 a.m. Sept. 18 with caterers, photographers, wedding planners and other vendors.

For more information on the Carbonas’ Winthrop Chamber breakfast talk, contact the Chamber at 377-8020 or info@winthropchamber.org.

Camden National announces three-for-two stock split

Camden National Corp. has announced that its board of directors has approved a three-for-two stock split to be effected in the form of a stock dividend on the company’s common stock. The three-for-two stock split is payable Sept. 30 to its common shareholders of record at the close of business on Sept. 15. Shareholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional share of common stock that they otherwise would have been entitled to receive in connection with the split, except that participants in the company’s Dividend Reinvestment & Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan will have fractional shares credited to their accounts. The price paid for fractional shares will be the closing price the last trading day immediately prior to record date.

“The Company has delivered strong financial results through the first six months of 2016 as we continue to realize the benefits of the strategic acquisition of SBM Financial, Inc., the parent company of The Bank of Maine,” said Gregory A. Dufour, president and chief executive officer of Camden National, in a news release. “We believe this stock split will place the market price of the Company’s common stock in a more attractive range for investors and, by increasing the number of shares outstanding, we also expect this action will help increase the liquidity of the Company’s common stock.”

Dead River poses $10,000 hunger prevention challenge

Dead River Co. again is taking part in Hunger Action Month and inviting northern New Englanders to help keep their friends and neighbors fed starting in September, which is Hunger Action Month.

As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to fighting food insecurity and hunger, Dead River is providing ongoing support to food banks and pantries in its service areas in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and northern Massachusetts where the need is great.

In Maine, 202,910 people, including 1 in every 4 children do not have enough food on a daily basis, according to the company.

During Hunger Action Month, Dead River Co. is offering a way for the public to help the needy: From Tuesday to Sept. 18, submit a back-to-school photo and Dead River Co. will donate $5 to a local food bank; and for every new “like” on Dead River’s Facebook page, the company will donate another $5 — for a total combined donation of up to $10,000.

According to Feeding America, each dollar donated to fight hunger equals 11 meals. All money donated by Dead River Co. will be distributed among the local food banks in the company’s service area. In Maine, that agency is Good Shepherd Food Bank.

Berstein Shur forms law unit assisting food, beverage entrepreneurs

Bernstein Shur, one of northern New England’s largest law firms, announced the formation of its Food and Beverage Industry Group. The group is composed of attorneys providing industry entrepreneurs with legal counsel from start-up through late-stage growth and exit.

Jim Keenan, chairman of Bernstein Shur’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, said the group provides advice on all aspects of the food and beverage industry, both locally and nationally. This includes regulatory compliance, licensing and certifications, supply and distribution contracting, real estate development, debt and equity capital raising, employment matters and intellectual property protection.

The group represents a wide range of clients, from farmers to food producers, brewers and distillers to coffee roasters, distributors and retailers to restaurants, as well as food and beverage guilds and associations, according to a news release from the firm.

Rafting company offers free Sept. 11 rides to first responders, military

On the 15th anniversary of 9/11, Magic Falls Rafting Co., of West Forks, Maine will honor and thank all active-duty firefighters, emergency personnel and military personnel for the work they do in protecting Americans’ lives and property.

On Sunday, Sept. 11, Magic Falls is offering 100 free whitewater rafting trips on the Kennebec River to these first responders and three of their immediate family members. Reservations must be made in advance and will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

Magic Falls Rafting Co., founded in 1989 by owners Donna and Dave Neddeau, offers whitewater rafting trips on the Kennebec and Dead rivers from May to October. Reservations may be made by phoning 800-207-7238. Magic Falls’ web address is www.magicfalls.com.

Compiled from contributed releases

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