Articles by Whit Richardson
Despite fiscal pressures, layoffs, MPBN sees journalism as way forward
LEWISTON, Maine — In February, Mark Vogelzang, CEO of the Maine Public Broadcasting Network, and Hank Schmelzer, chairman of its board, were waiting to meet with Sen. Angus King in Washington D.C. King was late. When he finally arrived at the Capitol, he was listening to MPBN’s stream through his ...
WHIT RICHARDSON (blog)
Pika Energy rakes in the capital, tops $1 million in funding
on May 02, 2013, at 7:11 p.m.
Correction: In my original post, I mistakenly referred to a $274,291 “grant” Pika received in June 2011 from the Maine Technology Institute. That was, in fact, a loan. I regret the error. Pika Energy continues to be the darling of Maine’s angel and venture capital investment community. The Small Enterprise ...
‘Powerful headwinds’ continue to slow housing market recovery in Maine, says Freddie Mac economist
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — While interest rates are at their lowest level in 65 years and home values are starting to creep up, there are still “strong headwinds” slowing the housing market recovery in Maine and the nation, according to a national expert who spoke Wednesday morning in South Portland. ...
Survey ranks Bangor Savings Bank highest in New England for customer satisfaction
BANGOR, Maine — Bangor Savings Bank was named the top-performing bank for customer satisfaction in New England and one of the top banks in the country, according to a national survey of retail banking customers. The bank, the largest Maine-based bank in the state, announced the recognition at a Wednesday ...
WEX announces CEO stepping down, first quarter financials
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — The financial services company WEX Inc. said on Wednesday that CEO Michael Dubyak will hand off the company’s reins at the end of the year. The company also released its most recent financial results, showing positive gains in revenue and income. Melissa Smith, 44, has been ...
Camden National’s net income drops in wake of Bank of America acquisitions
CAMDEN, Maine — Camden National Bank’s net income during the first quarter decreased 14 percent from the same quarter in 2012, a result the company said was expected as it absorbs the costs associated with acquiring 15 branches from Bank of America. Camden National reported a net income of nearly ...
Gardiner pipeline company faces $76,230 in workplace violation fines
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a Gardiner-based pipeline company for “alleged repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards,” the federal agency announced Monday. Everett J. Prescott Inc., which installs water and sewer pipelines and has offices in nine states, faces a total of ...
Maine seaweed company vies for $50,000 prize at national Slow Money event
BUXTON, Maine — After Tom Roth, a commercial fisherman for 28 years, decided to quit the groundfishing industry and sold his two long-line boats in 2005, he started looking for another way to make a living on the water. He started working on tugboats in New York to pay the ...
WHIT RICHARDSON (blog)
The Lincoln County News raises eyebrows on Wall Street
on April 29, 2013, at 12:52 p.m.
In the ongoing debate over the underlying value of newspapers, the focus has most often been on the struggles of the large daily papers. (The Boston Globe, The Times-Picayune, and The Chicago Tribune are all examples of papers that have had their troubles.) It’s true the valuations for the big ...
Bangor bus drivers vote to unionize
BANGOR, Maine — Drivers of Bangor’s public bus system voted this month to unionize. The 33 workers who drive buses for the Community Connector voted to join the Amalgamated Transit Union, which already represents approximately 100 bus drivers in Portland who work at the Portland Metro, according to a news ...
MaineToday Media accuses former CEO of stealing $500,000
PORTLAND, Maine — MaineToday Media has accused former CEO Richard Connor of misappropriating more than $500,000 during his 27 months leading the company. MaineToday Media owns the Portland Press Herald, Maine Sunday Telegram, the Morning Sentinel in Waterville and the Kennebec Journal in Augusta. The allegations were revealed in a ...
Idexx boosts Q1 revenue, but pulls back on bullish projections
WESTBROOK, Maine — Idexx Laboratories on Tuesday reported net income of $44.8 million during the first quarter of 2013, a roughly 10 percent increase from the $40.7 million posted during the same quarter last year. The Westbrook-based company, which produces diagnostic tools for the veterinarian and animal health industries, generated ...
Developer gets City Council approval to move ahead with $150M project for Portland’s Bayside neighborhood
PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council on Monday night unanimously approved an amendment to a height ordinance that will allow a company to move forward with a $150 million, mixed-use development proposed for the Bayside neighborhood, an area between Interstate 295 and downtown Portland that the city has targeted ...
$4-million turbine fire at Kibby Mountain puts wind energy under new scrutiny by state, opponents
A fire destroyed a multimillion-dollar wind turbine at the Kibby Mountain wind farm in northern Franklin County, which has generated concern about the safety and reliability of turbines, and the process by which these fires are reported to government officials and the public. Companies that operate wind farms in Maine ...
Dielectric closing Raymond facility, laying off 55
RAYMOND, Maine — A company that has manufactured radio and television antennas in Maine for almost 60 years announced on Friday that it would be shuttering its plant and laying off its workforce. SPX Communication Technology, formerly known as Dielectric Communications, will be closing effective June 29, according to an ...
Sponsor tries to muster support for lagging lobster bycatch bill
AUGUSTA, Maine — A legislative committee tabled a bill Monday that would allow fishermen to sell in Portland the lobsters they catch offshore while dragging for groundfish. Sen. Anne Haskell, a Democrat from Portland, the bill’s sponsor, requested that the Marine Resources Committee table the bill until Wednesday after she ...
Inside Portland’s gutted Eastland Park Hotel, and the vision for its resurrection
PORTLAND, Maine — From the outside it looks like the same old brick-encased Eastland Park Hotel that has been a fixture of Portland’s skyline for 86 years. But on the inside, you’d never recognize it. The 12-story hotel, which originally opened in 1927, has been completely gutted. Nothing was spared, ...
WHIT RICHARDSON (blog)
Last day to nominate someone for the Entreverge awards
on April 17, 2013, at 5:09 p.m.
I’ve been remiss in not highlighting the Entreverge awards before today… which also happens to be the last day Propel, the Portland Regional Chamber’s young professionals group, is accepting nominations. So what are you waiting for? I’m sure you know that entrepreneur — even if they don’t call themselves one ...
WHIT RICHARDSON (blog)
‘Let’s help heal Boston with beer!’ – Maine brewery sparks fundraiser for bombing victims
on April 16, 2013, at 6:25 p.m.
David Carlson declared that he’d be driving his brewery’s entire inventory of 16-ounce cans to Boston
CMP parent company’s website breach puts employee data at risk
Central Maine Power has revealed that a security breach of its parent company’s recruitment website has potentially exposed the personal data of anyone who has applied for or accepted a job at CMP or any of its sister companies in the past six years. Iberdrola USA, which is based in ...
Call put out for ground search volunteers in effort to find missing Glenburn teen
Kitchen Nightmares meltdown or: How to lose an argument online
Three indicted in Houlton meth bust, endangering welfare of child
Scandals, real and imagined
IRS targeting
In pursuit of the elusive tax-free status
Marcus Davis wins mixed martial arts main event at NEF VII
Gomes’ sacrifice fly in 10th lifts Red Sox past Twins
For those who are too fat for Abercrombie and Fitch
Market Basket in Biddeford starts hiring 300 workers
I cheated; now husband wants an open marriage. Is that fair?