This time, Maine’s Ashley Hebert gets her pick of suitors as ‘Bachelorette’ | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Ashley Hebert is the new "Bachelorette."

This time, Maine’s Ashley Hebert gets her pick of suitors as ‘Bachelorette’ | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram.

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Madawaska woman sent home from ‘The Bachelor’ | Bangor Daily News

Madawaska woman sent home from ‘The Bachelor’ | Bangor Daily News

Mainer survives two-on-one date on ‘Bachelor’ | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Mainer survives two-on-one date on ‘Bachelor’ | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram.

Madawaska dentist on ‘Bachelor’ tonight | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME

Madawaska dentist on ‘Bachelor’ tonight | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME.

Sweet smell of success: Perfumery growing in St. John Valley | Bangor Daily news

MADAWASKA, Maine — The bottles slide through various points in their manufacturing life cycle.

They’re filled with perfume at one station, pumps are inserted at another, and caps top the package down the line. In several places around the floor, they’re tucked carefully but efficiently into colorful boxes. All through the process, workers lift bottles up to the light and peer intently at the contents, or scrutinize boxes for imperfections.

At one area, each box is clearly stamped with the important “Made in the USA” imprint.

“The made in the USA label is still worth something worldwide,” said Jeff Albert, owner of Evergreen Manufacturing. “There’s money in manufacturing.”

He would know.

Click to read the rest of this story by Matt Wickenheiser in the Bangor Daily News.

Fall Foliage Festival draws community outside in Madawaska | Bangor Daily News

Fall Foliage Festival draws community outside in Madawaska | Bangor Daily News.

Northernmost Maine? I-95 won’t get you there | NPR

Northernmost Maine? I-95 won’t get you there | NPR

I’m not sure how I missed this part of the NPR package on Interstate 95 the other day (Paying a local price for I-95’s global promise | NPR), especially since it includes information on where I grew up. I was born in Fort Kent, traveled to Caribou to eat and shop, and drove those roads in my late teens and early 20s.

Extending Interstate 95 to Fort Kent or Madawaska would be good for the region to get goods and services that far north and products back south, but the comments point out that there are other pressing needs as well.

5 things to do in Maine this weekend

5 things to do in Maine this weekend

Fraser execs got bonuses as company sought bankruptcy

(This sort of corporate greed really irks – but does not surprise – me, especially since we’ve seen so much of it on Wall Street. Frankly, Wall Street is going to bring upon itself a revolution if it is not careful. – KM)

Union workers miffed

after taking cut in pay

MADAWASKA, Maine — As Fraser Papers Inc. stock tumbled in 2008 and losses culminated with Fraser seeking bankruptcy protection in mid-2009, its six top-level executives received $50,000 to $162,500 in bonuses, the company’s spring 2009 report to stockholders revealed.

Fraser’s highest-paid executive was Chief Executive Officer Peter Gordon. He received a $162,500 cash bonus atop his $325,000 base salary, stock option awards of $637,500, another $15,750 in pension value and $3,126 in “other compensation.” His take in 2008: $1.14 million.

Click on the link for the rest of the update by Nick Sambides Jr. of the Bangor Daily News.

Here’s a link to another story about the bonuses: “Bonuses at Fraser small compared to other mills“

Fraser aims to heal pain of workers

MADAWASKA, Maine — Having just completed a painful contract negotiation with its largest American union, Fraser Papers Inc. now will work to heal divisions within the local paper mill and to finish the company’s emergence from bankruptcy protection, its chief contract negotiator said Tuesday.

“We are pleased that the agreement is ratified,” said Bill Peterson, Fraser’s human resources director. “We know it was difficult for people and it is one giant step that had to occur in order for [a new company] to be born, or to emerge into existence.

“We are obviously closer to the finish line today than we were yesterday,” Peterson said Tuesday.

About 65 percent of the 460 members of United Steelworkers Locals 291, 365 and 1247 approved a new three-year deal Monday that put into effect an immediate 8.5 percent wage cut. Union votes on Nov. 22 and Dec. 30 had rejected the contract overwhelmingly.

Management declared last week that the new deal is among three conditions the re-formed, post-bankruptcy Fraser company, temporarily called Newco, must meet to prevent the closing and scrapping of the 680-worker mill and its sister pulp mill across the St. John River in Edmundston, New Brunswick.

Click on the link for the rest of today’s story by Nick Sambides Jr. of the Bangor Daily News.

 

Madawaska union accepts 8.5% pay cut

Fraser officials say

3-year pact critical

to survival of paper mill

MADAWASKA, Maine — The United Steelworkers union will take an immediate 8.5 percent wage cut in accepting a new three-year contract Monday that Fraser Papers Inc. management calls critical to keeping the town paper mill going.

About 65 percent of the 460 members of USW Locals 291, 365 and 1247 approved the three-year deal in voting Monday. They didn’t do it happily, said Duane Lugdon, Maine’s USW international representative.

“The members have been running in and out all day voting and expressing their dismay. They don’t consider this a fair deal but they recognize that the company has a gun to their heads,” Lugdon said Monday.

Click on the link for the rest of today’s story by Nick Sambides Jr. of the Bangor Daily News.

Madawaska’s future hinges on mill dispute – Bangor Daily News

Madawaska’s future hinges on mill dispute – Bangor Daily News.