James Gerety, general manager of the Bangor Mall, sees increasing numbers of Canadian shoppers — a trend likely to get a boost from impending tax changes

ON THE COVER

Bargains, exchange rates drive Canadians to Maine to shop and stay

May 28, 2012 06:00 am

Late last October, James Gerety, general manager of the Bangor Mall, was driving on Bangor Mall Boulevard after leaving work, when he witnessed a Kodak moment: a sports utility vehicle...

FEATURES

Robin Alden, executive director of Penobscot East Resource Center and a presenter at TEDxDirigo's Engage conference, found the event “inspiring”

TEDx evolves in third try

SARA ANNE DONNELLY | May 28, 2012 06:00 am

The latest offering from TEDxDirigo, the ambitious Portland-based volunteer effort modeled after the popular multidisciplinary online TED talks, featured speakers presenting 10- to...

Pyrotechnic professional Steve Marson has opened four fireworks stores in Maine, with a fifth planned to open in June

An expert in fireworks displays takes his wares to the people

Matt Dodge | May 28, 2012 06:00 am

A fixture on the Maine pyrotechnics scene for over 30 years, Steve Marson says he was surprised when he heard the state would legalize the sale of fireworks as of Jan. 1. "I never...

Greg Kesich, editorial writer at the Portland Press Herald

Maine’s daily newspapers grapple with a changing industry and a well-heeled newcomer

DOUGLAS ROOKS | May 28, 2012 06:00 am

Times are tough for daily newspapers across the country, but Maine readers braced in March for the nearly unthinkable — the demise of the Portland Press Herald, flagship of...

Focus on Travel & Tourism

Online hotel reviews: Are they a distraction or a valuable tool?

GERARD KILADJIAN General manager, Portland Harbor Hotel | May 28, 2012 06:00 am

When I had my first experience with online reviews on sites such as TripAdvisor and Yelp, it took me back to my younger years. It felt...

A new insurance law could help a growing number of tourism-based farms

May 28, 2012 06:00 am

When Wendy Sheriff and her husband, Mark, went looking for a lifestyle change six years ago, they moved from Massachusetts to St. Albans...

Training for the hospitality industry gets a boost from three institutions

Matt Dodge | May 28, 2012 06:00 am

Consistently rated as the largest service sector industry worldwide, tourism is an especially important economic driver in Maine where...

Columns

Maine should rectify its dearth of roadside markers and spotlight its unique natives

BY John McDonald

Have you ever been driving along a lonely road in the middle of nowhere when you come upon an impressive-looking historical marker that...

An open attitude between developers and municipal officials generally leads to satisfactory results

BY Justin Lamontagne

"They are impossible to deal with." It has been said about every town and city hall in Maine. Yet, commercial real estate...

Lists

Maine's highest-paid public company executives

Ranked by total annual compensation, 2012

Rank	Executive, location	Total annual compensation (1)/Organization's revenue (in millions)
1	Jonathan Ayers, president/CEO Idexx Laboratories Inc., Westbrook	$3,824,198/$1,293.3
2	Michael Dubyak, president/CEO WEX Inc.(2), South Portland	$1,945,545/$623.2
3	Jay Mazelsky, executive vice president Idexx Laboratories Inc, Westbrook	$1,333,386/$1,293.3
4	Michael Williams, executive vice president Idexx Laboratories Inc., Westbrook	$1,134,498/$1,293.3

(1) Total annual compensation includes salary, bonus and other annual compensation, but not long-term compensation. (2) Formerly Wright Express Corp. On May 1, 2013, Melissa Smith assumed the position of president as part of a leadership succession plan that will culminate in her taking on the additional role of CEO of WEX Inc. on Jan. 1, 2014. Michael Dubyak will remain chairman and CEO of WEX Inc. during the transition period, and will assume the newly created role of executive chairman of the board on Jan. 1, 2014.

Source: U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission company Proxy Statements (14A); each company's financial statements./Compiled by Roger Magnus.

Maine's largest commercial property sales

Ranked by sale price, 2012

Rank	Property, location	Sale Price/Square footage
1	56 Milliken St., Portland	$6,457,000/200,625
2	125 Industrial Way, Portland	$5,800,000/100,000
3	1 Wallace Ave., South Portland	$5,500,000/100,000
4	638 Congress St., Portland	$4,509,000/133,424

Source: Each commercial real estate firm, press releases and municipal assessors' records./Compiled by Roger Magnus.

Largest Finance Authority of Maine loans

Ranked by FAME exposure amount, 2012

Rank	Company, location	FAME exposure (1)/Loan amount
1	Twin Rivers Paper Co. Inc., Madawaska	$4,750,000/$5,277,778
2	Biddeford Internet Corp. (2), Biddeford	$3,875,000/$4,750,000
3	Granite Coast Properties LLC (3), Portsmouth, NH	$2,512,500/$3,350,000
4	N.C Hunt Inc./Pine View Property LLC (2), Jefferson/Newcastle	$2,054,500/$2,845,000

(1) Amount of loan guaranteed by FAME. (2) Multiple loans in total to borrower.
(3) Parent company of Planet Fitness. Maine locations in Augusta, Portland and Westbrook.
SOURCE Finance Authority of Maine/Compiled by Roger Magnus

Largest Maine-based banks

Ranked by total assets as of Dec. 31, 2012 (all dollar figures in thousands)

Rank	Company, location	Assets/Maine Offices
1	Bangor Savings Bank, Bangor	$2,871,725/59
2	Camden National Bank, Camden	$2,525,375/53
3	The First, Damariscotta	$1,380,841/16
4	Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Bar Harbor	$1,305,930/15

Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Co./Compiled by Roger Magnus

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Maine's highest-paid public company executives

Maine's largest commercial property sales

Largest Finance Authority of Maine loans

Largest Maine-based banks

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