Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I N O. X X V O C T O B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 6 10 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E diggers can get back to work on a section of the coast between Isle au Haut to Winter Harbor. "We can't speculate, but we continue to test shellfi sh and phytoplankton along the coast, both inside and outside the impacted areas, and will reopen areas as soon as test results allow," Jeff Nichols, a spokesman for the Department of Marine Resources, told the Press Herald. Cranberry growers expect better harvest Some cranberry growers in the state are reporting their largest yields ever, with large fruit size and weight, quelling the fears about the potential impact Maine's ongo- ing drought could have had on the harvest. Charles Armstrong, a cranberry expert with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service, told Maine Public that growers had to irrigate their crop to combat the drought. e harvest could yield 1.5 million pounds of cranberries. is year's harvest could also prove to be a turnaround in low price points that have affl icted cran- berry growers for recent years, with Armstrong telling Maine Public that experts are hearing that prices could be on the rise once again. In 2015, a number of Maine cranberry growers declined to harvest because of low prices. N O T E W O R T H Y M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden was named the preferred insurance agency of the American Schooner Association. The First Bancorp, parent com- pany of First National Bank in Damariscotta, announced operating results for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2016. Net income was $13.7 million, up $1.3 million or 10.1% from the fi rst nine months of 2015 and earnings per common share on a fully diluted basis of $1.27 were up 11 cents, or 9.5%, from the same period in 2015. The company also announced operat- ing results for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2016. Net income was $4.6 million, up $374,000, or 8.9%, from the third quarter of 2015 and earnings per common share on a fully diluted basis of 42 cents were up 3 cents, or 7.7%, from the same period in 2015. Flowers by Hoboken opened at 15 Tillson Ave. in Rockland. Verizon closure will eliminate 218 Bangor jobs Verizon Wireless is closing a call cen- ter in Bangor and off ering 218 employ- ees jobs outside of Maine. e call center, at 6 Telcom Drive, is one of fi ve Verizon will close as part of a larger consolidation, spokesman Michael Murphy told the Bangor Daily News. e Bangor location will close on March 24, 2017. Some 3,200 Verizon employees will be aff ected by the closings. "When we looked across the diff erent real estate options we have, we found we had some extra seating at some of our larger call centers. We are making this move to consolidate as many customer service providers under as few roofs as possible," Murphy told the BDN on Wednesday. "Our main message to our employees is, you have jobs available for you if you are willing to relocate to other centers around the country." Relocation options include sites in Florida, Ohio, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas, the BDN reported. Employees will receive a $500 stipend to research other call center locations if they choose and those who do relocate will receive a $10,000 stipend for the move. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), which is based in New York City, has 162,700 employees worldwide had had revenue last year of $131.6 billion. No cake for you! Bangor bakery closes Pastry chef Basant Paradis perma- nently closed her downtown Bangor bakery, citing lack of demand for the high-end products. e bakery, which was at 6 Water St., made custom cakes costing as much as $400. "Bangor can't handle the prices that I need to be charging for my products," Paradis, the owner of Cake Concoctions, told the Bangor Daily News. "A lot of people want custom cakes, but they just don't want to pay for the labor." Paradis said that her made-from-scratch cakes are labor intensive and can take upwards of fi ve hours to go from concept to fi nal form, according to the BDN. In addition to custom cakes, Paradis also sold cookies, scones, cupcakes and Brian Rayback ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE Molly Liddell TRUSTS & ESTATE PLANS Eben Adams REAL ESTATE, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT Margaret Minister INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LITIGATION Matt Stein TRADEMARK, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Rebecca Greenfield REAL ESTATE, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT Chuck Graceffa CORPORATE, SECURITIES, M&A Katharine Rand EMPLOYMENT LAW For 125 years, Pierce Atwood has built a reputation in Maine as a firm that attracts and retains superb legal talent, delivering superior client satisfaction and exceptional value. Our attorneys help startups grow into vital Maine businesses, advise companies on succession planning and valuation, navigate financing and land use issues for major real estate developments, facilitate strategic acquisitions and mergers, protect ideas and new technologies, and assist employers in recruiting and retaining skilled employees. Pierce Atwood is pleased to be a 2016 Mainebiz Momentum Convention sponsor. Look for firm partner Chris Howard to introduce this year's keynote speaker, Eimskip Chairman of the Board Richard d'Abo, and find us on the convention floor in Booth S3. How can we help take your business to the next level? Let us know. We're here to help. Pierce Atwood. There's a reason… Investing in Maine's Future 157 Capitol Street . Suite 3 . Augusta, Maine 04330 | Merrill's Wharf . 254 Commercial Street . Portland, Maine 04101 pierceatwood.com N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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