Content about Maine

May 13, 2013
Quality Insulation expands in Maine

Quality Insulation, part of the Masco Contractor Services family of companies, recently announced its expansion into the Bangor, Maine market. 

The company provides a variety of installation services to builders and homeowners including insulation, gutters, fireplaces, garage doors, shelving and storage systems and more.

April 8, 2013
Inside the Beltway

The great H.L. Mencken wrote: "A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar."

Is he right? I don't know, but it seems as if Washington, D.C., is quite a mess these days, with a mounting deficit and acrimonious factions.

Still, one of the highlights on the HCN calendar is the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. This year's event, in addition to several rounds of strategizing and lobbying, featured presentations from not one, but two politicians.

March 27, 2013
True Value elects new chairman of the board

The Chicago-based co-op tapped Brent Burger, owner of hardware stores in Maine.

Chicago-based True Value Co. tapped Brent Burger, owner of hardware stores in Maine, as chairman of the board.

Burger replaces outgoing chairman Brian Webb, owner of Krueger’s True Value in Neenah, Wis. and Grand Rental Station in Appleton, Wis.

Burger has served on the board since 2007, sitting on the compensation and corporate governance committees. He also serves on the board of the True Value Foundation.

February 12, 2013
King, the independent, to speak at NLBMDA event

Senator Angus King of Maine has been added to the NLBMDA's lineup for its Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference.

Senator Angus King of Maine has been added to the NLBMDA's lineup for its Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference.

The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) announced that Senator Angus King (I-Maine) will be a featured speaker during the Washington Briefing breakfast at the Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference.

The conference will take place March 18 to 20 at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Va.

January 16, 2013
Aubuchon Hardware closes its store in Bangor

An Aubuchon Hardware location in Bangor, Maine, has closed its doors.

A sign on the door of the Aubuchon Hardware store in Bangor explained the team was happy to serve the community. Customers were directed to nearby stores in Brewer and Old Town. 

An article in the Bangor Daily News reported that the location suffered from poor sales despite the chain’s best efforts to keep it going.  

January 9, 2013
Will Porter joins BlueTarp Financial as new CFO

Portland, Maine-based BlueTarp Financial named Will Porter as its new chief financial officer.

Porter brings more than 18 years of experience working with both public and private companies. Most recently, he served as the CFO at Signiant, a global software provider focusing on the transferring of digital files. Previously, Porter was the VP finance at Phase Forward, a data management solutions provider. 

November 5, 2012
Ballots weigh on business

Voters in 38 states will consider 174 statewide ballot measures on Nov. 6, 2012, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). These proposals are wide-ranging, with a number of them having potential workplace implications.

Questions appear on the ballots in more than one state concerning:

• Medical marijuana use;
• Legalization of marijuana; and
• Same-sex marriage.

October 26, 2012
Kents Hill Lumber closing hardware store, lumberyard

Kents Hill Lumber is closing its lumber and hardware business in Readfield, Maine, Nov. 3 after 36 years of operation, according to an article in the Kennebec Journal. Owner Stephen Monsulick cited the poor economy and its effect on the business. 

"The real issue is the decline in the housing starts," Monsulick said.

August 29, 2012
D.C. Hotline: Senate Finance Committee approves 25C extension

By Ben Gann, director of legislative affairs, NLBMDA

On Aug. 2, by a 19-5 vote, the Senate Committee on Finance approved legislation to continue dozens of expired or soon-to-expire tax breaks known as “tax extenders” through 2013, including the residential energy efficiency (25C) tax credit. The proposal was not supported by five of the committee’s 11 Republicans.

August 29, 2012
D.C. Hotline: Senate Finance Committee approves 25C extension

By Ben Gann, director of legislative affairs, NLBMDA

On Aug. 2, by a 19-5 vote, the Senate Committee on Finance approved legislation to continue dozens of expired or soon-to-expire tax breaks known as “tax extenders” through 2013, including the residential energy efficiency (25C) tax credit. The proposal was not supported by five of the committee’s 11 Republicans.

June 28, 2012
Russin Lumber expands outside sales force

Montgomery, N.Y.-based Russin Lumber has announced the hire of Lauren Litwin to join its expanding outside sales force.

She will work with the company’s existing dealer base on Massachusetts’ North Shore, in southeastern New Hampshire and throughout the state of Maine.

May 28, 2012
Fifty winning retailers, state by state

For the second year in a row, HCN has compiled a state-by-state list of high performers, innovative retailers and classic stores. It’s called the 2012 Home Chanel News Hardware Store All-Star list. Strong customer service is the common thread for all 50 retailers. From there, community involvement, company history, great products and interesting niches set these businesses apart from the competition. 

May 9, 2012
Deering Lumber acquires two units

Deering Lumber, the Biddeford, Maine-based pro dealer, has purchased two stores from New England Building Materials, according to a report in Wired Weekly, the newsletter of the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA). Deering now operates four retail locations.  

April 10, 2012
Hunter Panels extends energy efficiency

Portland, Maine-based Hunter Panels announced its new "Hunter Xci" product line for use in exterior commercial wall applications. The launch of the Xci product line boosts Hunter's offerings of insulation products for the commercial building envelope.

"With recent upgrades to the I-Codes calling for continuous insulation, Hunter Polyiso is a perfect fit for commercial wall assemblies," said Alma Garnett, VP of Hunter Panels. 

March 22, 2012
Hammond Lumber responds to inquires about reported fires

Hammond Lumber Co. has issued a statement about a recent incident in the town of Rumford, Maine, on March 11 about the reports of trespassing by two 15-year-old boys who created two small fires at 80 Prospect St. After receiving many calls with concerns from customers and vendors about the situation, the company issued the following statement: 

March 22, 2012
Hammond Lumber responds to inquires about reported fires

Hammond Lumber Co. has issued a statement about a recent incident in the town of Rumford, Maine, on March 11 about the reports of trespassing by two 15-year-old boys who created two small fires at 80 Prospect St. After receiving many calls with concerns from customers and vendors about the situation, the company issued the following statement: 

March 19, 2012
Emery-Waterhouse launches rebranding campaign at spring market

Emery-Waterhouse, the Portland, Maine-based distributor of hardlines and building materials, held its Marketplace 2012 at the Rhode Island Convention Center March 16 to 17, with the usual face-to-face meetings between customers, manufacturers, and Emery-Waterhouse representatives. But the Portland, Maine-based wholesaler also used its spring market to unveil the company’s new rebranding initiative.

February 13, 2012
BlueLinx partners with Weyerhaeuser in New England

Atlanta building products distributor BlueLinx has announced an agreement with Weyerhaeuser to become the independent distributor of Weyerhaeuser's engineered wood products in New England, including Trus Joist, TJI joist, TimberStrand LSL, Microllam LVL, Parallam PSL and TJ Rim board. The agreement is effective Feb. 13, 2012.

December 8, 2011
Maine governor issues green edict

Maine Governor Paul LePage has decreed that equal recognition be given to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), American Tree Farm System, and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification systems when incorporating green building standards into any new or expanded state buildings.

December 8, 2011
Maine governor issues green edict

Maine Governor Paul LePage has decreed that equal recognition be given to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), American Tree Farm System, and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification systems when incorporating green building standards into any new or expanded state buildings.

October 11, 2011
Hammond Lumber expands to 12 locations

Belgrade, Maine-based Hammond Lumber Co. will acquire three building material stores located in Damariscotta, Boothbay Harbor and Pemaquid, from Sanford, Maine-based New England Building Materials.

The move brings the 58-year-old Hammond Lumber footprint from nine Maine locations to 12.

October 11, 2011
Hammond Lumber expands to 12 locations

Belgrade, Maine-based Hammond Lumber Co. will acquire three building material stores located in Damariscotta, Boothbay Harbor and Pemaquid, from Sanford, Maine-based New England Building Materials.

The move brings the 58-year-old Hammond Lumber footprint from nine Maine locations to 12.

August 31, 2011
Lights out for incandescent bulbs?

The phaseout of the standard, energy-inefficient incandescent light bulb has caused confusion, controversy and more than a few myths as the 2012 deadline approaches. Thomas Edison’s descendents have even been dragged into the controversy. Separating fact from fallacy is not all that difficult (as long as you steer away from politics). After interviewing manufacturers, retailers and trade organizations involved in the world of light bulb commerce, Home Channel News has put together a list of misconceptions about the upcoming phaseout. 


August 29, 2011
In the Northeast, the post-Irene cleanup begins

According to an article at Bloomberg.com, some 6 million people were affected by lost power from North Carolina to Maine. 

August 29, 2011
In the Northeast, the post-Irene cleanup begins

According to an article at Bloomberg.com, some 6 million people were affected by lost power from North Carolina to Maine.