[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16024-16025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMENDING WILD OATS BAKERY & CAFE

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I recognize a small business 
in my home State of Maine that admirably embodies the ideal dichotomy 
of being both a successful business and a well-regarded member of the 
community. Wild Oats Bakery & Cafe, an independently-owned dining 
establishment located in Brunswick, also provides guests with a 
quintessentially New England experience, as Yankee Magazine recently 
recognized the restaurant with the ``Best Taste of Home'' Editor's 
Choice award in its annual Best of New England listing.
  Opened in October 1991 by owners Becky and David Shepherd, Wild Oats 
Bakery & Cafe has remained a consistent purveyor of fresh, homemade 
foods for nearly two decades, resulting in its immense popularity among 
the local community and area Bowdoin College students. Located inside 
the Tontine Mall in downtown Brunswick, Wild Oats has grown from a 5-
employee operation to its current crew of over 20. Additionally, Wild 
Oats has doubled the size of its space, and has added a deck and patio 
for dining during the beautiful Maine summer, all the while maintaining 
a cozy and personable atmosphere.
  With a menu that includes baked goods, breads, soups and chowders, 
salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts, as well as frozen meals to bring 
home, Wild Oats offers patrons an appealing variety of delicious, made-
from-scratch products to suit a diverse array of taste buds. To support 
another Maine small business, Wild Oats sells Carrabassett Coffee, 
produced in the western Maine town of Kingfield. The company has also 
launched a unique delivery service to nearby Bowdoin College, where 
parents can surprise their sons and daughters with a delectable 
birthday cake accompanied by a Wild Oats coffee mug, water bottle, or 
t-shirt.
  From the beginning, Wild Oats has strived to make customer service 
the top priority and has consistently sought innovative ways to better 
serve its customers. These efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed as 
Wild Oats has become an increasingly integral part of the local 
community. In fact, Wild Oats' most recent distinction as the ``Best 
Taste of Home for 2009'' is just one of several awards the restaurant 
has garnered in recent years. Last year, the company was named Small 
Business of the Year by the Southern Midcoast Chamber of Commerce. This 
award came six months after it was acknowledged with the Small Business 
Leadership Award by Governor John Baldacci for the firm's 16-year 
history of employing persons with disabilities. The Shepherds have 
partnered with several Midcoast organizations, including Independence 
Association and Work Enterprises, to hire

[[Page 16025]]

workers with disabilities over the years.
  While the Shepherds operate and own Wild Oats, they are the first to 
point out that they rely heavily on their stellar and experienced 
employees, an extended family that they include in many decision making 
and leadership opportunities. Among them is Louisa Edgerton, the 
store's manager, who has been with Wild Oats since 1997 and brought 
over 20 years in the food service industry with her. Another notable 
employee is Frank Golek. Frank, who assists with food preparation and 
cleaning, has worked at the restaurant since 1996, affording him the 
distinction of the longest serving Wild Oats employee.
  Wild Oats' commitment to the local community goes beyond serving 
scrumptious lunches, dinners, and sweets. Both Becky and David 
Shepherd, who have lived in Brunswick since 1981, have been active 
members of the local community for many years. Becky has served on the 
Brunswick school and library boards, and both donate significant time 
and money to various community based projects both locally and 
throughout Maine, particularly regarding education and the environment.
  A mainstay of the Brunswick downtown for nearly two decades, Wild 
Oats Bakery & Cafe is a unique restaurant that has assuredly earned its 
exceptional reputation for quality service and delicious cuisine. I 
offer my sincerest congratulations to Becky and David Shepherd and 
everyone at Wild Oats Bakery & Cafe on their well-deserved 
accomplishments, and I wish them many years of continued 
success.

                          ____________________