2016 Honor Roll for Business

HALF CENTURY IN BUSINESS

for Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union

Dexter Shoe Federal Credit Union first opened its doors in April 1966. Since then the name was changed to Dexter Regional Federal Credit Union in 1970 and then to Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union in 2005. Over this time, the credit union’s field of membership grew to include the communities of Brighton, Cambridge, Charleston, Corinna, Dexter, Exeter, Garland, Harmony, Mayfield, Ripley, Rockwood and Stetson, as well as all of Piscataquis County.

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DOVER-FOXCROFT LOCATION

The new main office located at 73 Main Street in Dexter opened its doors in 2004. The recently renovated Guilford office is located at 23 Hudson Avenue. The new Dover-Foxcroft office is located at 955 West Main Street. The Brownville office is located at 194 Main Road. The Greenville office is currently at 160 Moosehead Lake Road but will be relocating to Greenville Junction in 2017.

Today, the Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union employs 42 people in its five offices.

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DEXTER LOCATION

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GUILFORD LOCATION

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BROWNVILLE LOCATION

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GREENVILLE LOCATION

DOVER-FOXCROFT CHIROPRACTIC CENTER
reaches 25-year milestone

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Since its founding by Dr. Kevin Chasse in 1991, the Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center has provided quality chiropractic care to patients from across the Penquis region. The Center’s mission is to provide the highest quality chiropractic care for patients in a comfortable and friendly setting, with treatment methods focusing on relieving acute and chronic pain syndromes through evidence-based treatment techniques and patient education.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

25 YEARS HELPING HEAL THE COMMUNITY — Later this year Dr. Kevin Chasse, center, will mark the 25th anniversary of his opening of the Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. Dr. Chasse is one of three brothers who are chiropractic providers, following in the footsteps of their father and two uncles who also are chiropractors. Working with Dr. Chasse are Joi Stevens, left, and Pam London.

Dr. Kevin Chasse is part of a second generation of three brothers of chiropractic providers as he and his older brothers Dr. Dan and Dr. Carl, who have practices in Fort Kent and Madawaska respectively, have followed in the footsteps of their father Dr. Marc and two uncles Dr. Tom and Dr. Roland. The six doctors all practice independently in Maine, with Dr. Marc Chasse starting in 1963.

“It’s kind of a unique thing,” Dr. Kevin Chasse said, about a half dozen family members working as chiropractic providers.

“I wanted to be in a small town, close enough to be connected to family but far away enough to be independent,” Dr. Chasse said about establishing the Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center on Sept. 23, 1991 shortly after graduating Summa Cum Laude from the Palmer College of Chiropractic. An avid sportsman, Dr. Chasse said he wanted to live close to a lake and skiing opportunities and he said on his initial trip to the area he climbed Mt. Katahdin.

For his near quarter century in operation, Dr. Chasse has worked at the 48 East Main Street location in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. “Part of the reason I came here was this building was available,” Dr. Chasse said about the highly visible space by the intersection with South Street. The home of the Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center has ample parking, with two spaces dedicated for handicapped parking.

“We are still here, we just had our 9,000th patient today,” Dr. Chasse said last week. “That for me is something to be proud of and I’m very grateful to the community. It’s a milestone in conjunction with 25 years.”

The staff includes Pam London and Joi Stevens. “They both have been with me for, I believe, eight years now,” Dr. Chasse said. “It’s nice to have them.”

Stevens has been working as the practice manager and London has been working hands-on with patients as a certified chiropractic assistant. The two are now certified hypnotherapists with a treatment space located a very short distance away at the Mill complex, helping their patients in areas such as weight loss, smoking cessation and stress relief.

“We have got a great arrangement as they work for me and they also work on their own,” Dr. Chasse said.

He said the Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center offers spine, neck and back care and sports and workplace injury treatment among its services for patients. Treatment plans include those in the office and advice on home care methods to help assist the healing process and speed recovery.

“I do help with general health, getting back to an active lifestyle,” Dr. Chasse said. He said stress can play a role in pain “and it is difficult to get people as healthy as they can if they are dealing with daily stress. Pain can a de-motivator too, it may feel like you don’t want to exercise but if you just get going you always feel better afterwards.”

“I recommend spine care patients get involved in spine care exercises,” Dr. Chasse said, to help patients further help themselves. “I have found yoga works as a particularly good spine care compliment as well as massage therapy.”

“Our philosophy for people with neck and back pain problems is to consider conservative care first,” he said. “There is a place for medications short-term and there is a place for steroids and surgery,” but physical medicine, such as chiropractic massage, should be considered first before jumping to a quick fix such as surgery or prescriptions.

Dr. Chasse said hands-on manual therapy can help get the mechanics of the spine to work more freely, getting this part of the body to work better and alleviate pain. He mentioned performing such a procedure recently to help unhinge a patient’s nerves, resulting in surgery not being needed.

Should a patient need surgery, then Dr. Chasse will make a referral. “In 25 years here I have been able to work each year more cooperatively with the medical community,” he said, saying a number of his patients are themselves medical providers.

Dr. Chasse is currently serving on the medical staff, as an allied health professional, at Mayo Regional Hospital, “which is a unique place for a chiropractor to be and quite unique for a rural community.” He explained this position came through Dr. Skip MacDonald and Dr. David McDermott “and is something for us to be respectful and appreciative of.”

Today the Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center has its office notes and health records computerized. “We have digital X-rays on site which is a nice addition for us for patient convenience and affordability.”

Later in the year, Dr. Chasse said he is looking to hold a 25th anniversary open house through the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, one of the organizations he is involved with both as a business owner and as a member of the community.

The Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center is located at 48 East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft. For more information, please contact 564-2211 or go to http://dfchiropracticcenter.com, http://chassechiropractic.com or the Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center Facebook page.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

CENTRAL LOCATION — The Dover-Foxcroft Chiropractic Center has been located at 48 East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft since opening in September of 1991. The location features plenty of parking for patients, including several handicapped spots for greater convenience.