Peaks Island Star : March 2026, Vol. 46, Issue 3

The Peaks Island Star is the newsletter of the island\u27s service agencies and other community news.https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/peaks_pisn_2026/1002/thumbnail.jp

A Maine love story : in one year, Jen Millard grew her canned water brand Mainelove to 500 stores.

Jen Millard founded mainelove in 2024 to package flavored seltzer, using water from Sebago Lake- considered one of the cleanest in the country- in recyclable aluminum cans. Today, the brand is in more than 500 stores, licensed in 21 states, and expanded into New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The company is based in Westbrook, and employs 7 workers

Run, boat, hike : outdoor recreation powers Downeast economy

Every year, thousands of runners congregate in Maine\u27s Downeast region for marathons, tens of thousands of boaters glide along the coastline, and millions of hikers, bikers and others gravitate to Acadia National Park. While the scale of participation varies widely, each event generates income for local businesses, supports jobs, and bolsters communities

Name of the game : what Maine companies gain from pro sports sponsorships

From banners at the ballpark to logos beneath the ice, Maine businesses are paying for visibility at pro sports events. For sponsors, the return on investment ranges from employee and client perks to brand exposure and community connections. The renaming of Hadlock Field (Portland Sea Dogs\u27 home) to Delta Dental Park, is an example

Peaks Island Star : May 2026, Vol. 46, Issue 5

The Peaks Island Star is the newsletter of the island\u27s service agencies and other community news.https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/peaks_pisn_2026/1004/thumbnail.jp

One the record : Tae Chong

As executive director of Furniture Friends, Tae Chong leads a Westbrook-based nonprofit provider of gently-used furniture to families in need across southern Maine, in 2925 alone, it helped 862 households and about 2000 people. Furniture Friends operates a 7,700-square foot warehouse, and is Maine\u27s only furniture bank. Chong is a former Portland City Councilor

New CEO of L/A Chamber knows how to \u27accelerate\u27 business.

Article about Susan Ruhlin, who previously led Dirigo Labs and took over as CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce in March 2026

Peaks Island Star : January 2026, Vol. 46, Issue 1

The Peaks Island Star is the newsletter of the island\u27s service agencies and other community news.https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/peaks_pisn_2026/1000/thumbnail.jp

A Portland campus becomes an intellectual and cultural hub : Jacqueline Edmondson oversees opening of Crewe Center.

Jacqueline Edmondson, who became president of the University of Southern Maine in 2022, has been instrumental in shaping the university into an arts hub. Under her leadership, last year USM opened the $63 million Crewe Center for the Arts, on the Portland campus, honoring the brothers Daniel and Bob Crewe, the late songwriter and record producer known for many of the Four Seasons\u27 hits. The center has a performing arts hall and is home to Dr. Alfred and Suzi Osher School of Music. This year, the university unveiled plans for a$15 million fine arts center on the USM Gorham campus

Corporate social responsibility : Maine businesses aligning purpose with practice

For Maine businesses, corporate social responsibility is more than a buzzword; it reflects a deliberate commitment to giving back in meaningful, multifaceted ways. A 2021 Harvard Business School analysis found that 77% of consumers are motivated to buy from companies committed to making the world a better place, while 73% of investors say efforts to improve the environment society influence their investment decisions. This article spotlights the entrepreneurship and social conscientiousness of Coffee By Design\u27s Mary Allen Lindemann, Norway Savings Bank\u27s Dan Walsh, and MaineWorks\u27 Margo Walsh