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Join the Street Parade in the 51st Annual Windjammer Days Festival

May 8, 2013 in Activities,Around Town,Events,In the News,Maine,Seasonal,Shopping,Vacation  |  No Comments
Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days Street Parade

Boothbay Harbor, Maine  (May 7, 2013)— The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce is putting the call out for residents and businesses to enter a float in the Windjammer Days Street Parade.  The parade will take place on Wednesday, June 26, at 5 p.m. This year the new parade theme categories include:  Most Nostalgic, Most Outrageous and Most Nautical.

The grand prize will be awarded to the overall “Best Float” and the winner will also receive the trophy rights for a year. The first place in each of the categories will also receive prizes. Participants are encouraged to pre-register before June 17 and receive a free Windjammer Days t-shirt.

New for 2013 the Chamber would like to encourage participants to pre-register online at the Chamber’s Windjammer page (www.boothbayharbor.com/windjammer-days) or drop off or mail in a Street Parade Registration form by Monday, June 17th.  Pre-registrants will receive an Event t-shirt (valued at $15) that can be picked up at the Chamber on Friday, June 21st.  Float captains will need to pick up t-shirts for the entire float team at the Chamber office.

Registration fees are based on the number of participants per float:

  • A single participant is $10
  • 2-9 participants is $35
  • 10-19 participants is $50
  • and 20+ participants is $75

Non-profits are not required to pay a registration fee but they will not receive a free t-shirt.  Event t-shirts will be available for purchase at the Chamber Whale Park booth on June 25-26, 2013. Thank you to Lincoln County Healthcare for being the official 51st Annual Windjammer Days Event t-shirt sponsors.

On the day of the parade, June 26th, line-up for floats will begin at 3 p.m.  at the high school. Float judging will commence at 3:30 p.m. All participants in the parade will be required to sign a participation waiver form.  For more information and to register online please visit www.boothbayharbor.com/windjammer-days or stop in at the Chamber’s office and pick up a registration form.

The 2013 Windjammer Days is scheduled to take place June 25 & 26, with the schooners appearing inLinekinBayon Tuesday the 25th and in the harbor on Wednesday the 26th.

To learn more about Windjammer Days and to track updates, visit the Chamber’s Website at www.boothbayharbor.com or find us on Facebook.

Windjammer Days 2013 is presented by Maine Magazine and The Brand Company and includes the following sponsors: Fisherman’s Wharf Inn, Tugboat Inn, Boothbay Harbor Inn members of the Lafayette Group, 94.9 WHOM, WMTW News 8 ABC, Pepsi, Amtrak Downeaster, Lincoln County Healthcare, Boothbay Harbor Country Club, First Federal Savings, The Thistle Inn, McSeagull’s Restaurant, Rocktide Inn, J. Edward Knight Insurance, The First, Flagship Inn & Suites, Boothbay Region Land Trust, Marshall Tent and Event Rental, Hannaford, Brown’s Wharf Restaurant Motel and Marina, Cabbage Island Clam Bakes, Oak Street Provisions, Capt. Terry Arford & Jon R. Doyle, Esq., Paul E. Luke Boatyard, Southport Island Marine, LLC, Ocean Point Marina, Edgecomb Boat Works, Inc., Boothbay Region Boatyard, Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, Topside Inn, Atomic Studios, Maine State Aquarium, Hodgdon Island Inn, Tile Connection & Cottage Connection, Wiscasset Ford, Pat Farrin & Sons, Good n’ You, The Boothbay Register, Central Maine Pyrotechnics, Boothbay Region Y-Arts Chorus, Boothbay Playhouse, Boothbay Fire Department, US Coast Guard, Coastal Shipping, Captain Peter Ripley, Tidal Transit Kayak, Hay Val Charters, Blake Builder’s, Laura Blake Realtor at Pottle Realty Group,  Town of Boothbay, Town of Boothbay Harbor and Town of Southport.

For more information about this year’s Boothbay Windjammer Days Festival, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce at 207-633-2353 or visit the Chamber’s website: www.boothbayharbor.com.

Hope to see you there!

Media Contact:

Angie Helton,Northeast MediaAssociates

(207) 653-0365

nema@maine.rr.com

Photo by: Steve Demeranville



Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Hosts Captains Dinner

April 9, 2013 in Activities,Around Town,Events,Food and Drink,In the News,Maine,Seasonal,Thoughts,Vacation  |  No Comments

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Windjammer Days Captains Dinner at McSeagulls Water Front Restaurant & Bar on Friday April 5th.  Every year the Captains’ Dinner kicks off the Windjammer Days festivities with sea-faring camaraderie.  Owners Ralph and Elena Smith sponsored the event and offered guests the entire main floor to mix and mingle while sipping cocktails. Guests enjoyed an elegant buffet while the staff outdid themselves with their attentive service and hospitality.

Photo Credit: Richard Riley
Thank you to Central Maine Pyrotechnics for donating the sparklers!
Front Row: Chamber Member Services & Event Manager Cherie Scott, Boothbay – Harbor Master – Peter Ripley,
Second Row: Fireworks Chair Dianne Gimbel, Retired Fireworks Chair Sally “Sparkle” Bullard , Chamber Board President Pamela Byrne Riley, Chamber Executive Director Catherine Wygant Fossett , Elizabeth Chaousis, Jim Chaousis Boothbay Town Manager
Back Row: L to R- Jeremy Boyd, Andrew Luke – Windjammer Days Chair, Bruce White – Hayval Charters & Friendliest Catch Lobster Tours

Over 35 guests attended including Schooner American Eagles’ Captain John and Kathy Foss, Schooner Bowditch’s Captain Owen and Cathy Dorr and Schooner Eastwind owners Jennifer and Tom Smith. Schooners Bowdoin, Heritage, Lazy Jack, Lewis R. French, Timberwind and Sherman Zwicker will all be participating in this year’s Fleet of Sail but were unable to attend due to previous obligations. Captains Randy and Nate Jones, father and son duo, and owners of friendship sloop Sarah Mead and tour company Sail Muscongus and the Pirates of the Dark Rose’s Captain Tom Tomlison of the Mustroos vessel also attended. There will be a total of 10 vessels and counting that will parade in the Fleet of Sail on June 26th at 2:00 p.m. at the Boothbay Harbor Public Landing.

After dinner Board President Pamela Byrne Riley thanked the captains for their support and the Windjammer Committee for their renewed efforts in making this year’s festival a tremendous success. Chamber Executive Director Catherine Wygant Fossett also brought everyone up-to-speed on the 51st Annual Windjammer Days festival details. Finally,  Peter Ripley – Harbor Master of Boothbay, wrapped up the evening’s remarks with a big thank you to all the captains for including Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce’ s Windjammer Days festival into their respective schedules.

As the sun set over the Harbor, guests were asked to head out on to McSeagulls’ newly renovated deck and bar for the surprise of the evening.  For the last 10 years, Fireworks Chair Sally “Sparkle” Bullard has led a highly successful coordinated effort along with a dedicated team of ladies to raise funds for Community Fireworks. She received her title from Bob “Sparky” Memory who had spearheaded the Community Fireworks campaign before her. This year Ms. “Sparkle” retired as the Fireworks Chair. In an effort to honor Sally’s dedication and years of service the Chamber and the Windjammer Days Committee put on a sparkle display. But the display was more than a community celebration it was also a symbolic ceremony: Sally accepted the sparkler from President Pamela Byrne Riley and passed it on to her capable and dynamic successor, Dianne Gimbel.  In her touching speech, Sally made sure to wish Dianne years of success and also nicknamed her as the new Ms. “Dazzle”.

Year after year retailers, restaurants, and lodging establishment’s remark upon the influx and spikes in their revenue for the duration of the festival. Based on estimates from the US Bureau of Tourism, overnight visitors generate $381 of spending and day visitors $47 per day. Last year, the Maine Department of Transportation conducted a study that tracked an additional 3,286 vehicles on Route 27/96 during the festival time frame, which conservatively generated over $529,678 in revenue for area businesses.

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, since being founded fifty-one years ago in 1962, has grown into a first-rate, multi-service membership organization that currently serves over 370 members.  Its signature fund-raising event, the Windjammer Days Festival, marks its 51st anniversary this year and will be held June 25-26th, 2013.  Please contact Cherie Scott, member services and events manager at 633-2353 or Cherie@boothbayharbor.com if you are interested in joining the Windjammer Days Committee or sponsoring this community-wide event.



AMERICA’S TOP TWELVE SMALL-TOWN ARTPLACES – Boothbay Harbor!

April 5, 2013 in Activities,Around Town,In the News,Maine,Thoughts,Uncategorized,Vacation  |  No Comments

Arts & Culture in the Boothbay Harbor RegionBoothbay Harbor, ME: (April 5, 2013) – The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that America’s Top Twelve Small-Town ArtPlaces includes Boothbay Harbor.  Yesterday ArtPlace, a collaboration of leading national and regional foundations, banks, and federal agencies committed to accelerating creative placemaking—putting the arts at the heart of a portfolio of strategies designed to revitalize communities, made the announcement.

ArtPlace Director Carol Coletta said, “Earlier this year, ArtPlace announced America’s Top Twelve ArtPlaces in major metropolitan areas—vibrant communities identified as being exceptionally successful in combining the arts, artists, and venues for creativity and expression with independent businesses, restaurants, and a walkable lifestyle. It is equally important to recognize and celebrate dynamic Small-Town ArtPlaces and the unique qualities that make them well worth the journey to explore and enjoy.”

The twelve communities had the highest concentrations of arts non-profits, core arts-oriented businesses, and workers in creative occupations among smaller towns in the United States, according to data analyzed Impresa, Inc., a Portland-based firm specializing in the study of regional economies.

In alphabetical order by state, the Top Twelve Small-Town ArtPlaces for 2013 are:

  1. Eureka Springs, AR
  2. Crested Butte, CO
  3. Ketchum, ID
  4. Vineyard Haven, MA
  5. Boothbay Harbor, ME
  6. Lanesboro, MN
  7. Highlands, NC
  8. Taos, NM
  9. Marfa, TX
  10. Stowe, VT
  11. Eastsound, WA
  12. Saratoga, WY

America’s Top Twelve Small-Town ArtPlaces is a new annual ArtPlace initiative recognizing smaller communities in the country where the arts are central to creating the kinds of places where people want to live, work, and visit.

America’s Top Twelve Small-Town ArtPlaces:

Eureka Springs, AR

Eureka Springs, located in the Ozark Mountain in northwest Arkansas, is a mountain resort of approximately 2,000 residents. In the late 19th century, people came for the therapeutic qualities of the towns’ springs. Many of the Victorian buildings erected during this boom time remain. Eureka Springs hosts an annual art festival in May, the highlight of which is the Artrageous Parade. The town boasts over 200 working artists and more than 20 galleries as well as a writers’ colony and fine arts colony.

www.eurekasprings.org

Crested Butte, CO

Crested Butte is a town of less than 1,500 people in mountainous Gunnison County, CO. A former coal-mining town and now primarily a ski destination, it is also home to a robust arts scene throughout the year. The annual Crested Butte Arts Festival, which includes visual, performing and culinary arts, is preparing for its 41st iteration in August. The town also hosts an annual, month-long music festival, numerous theater and dance productions, and evening Artwalks.

www.crestedbuttearts.org / www.crestedbutte-co.gov/

Ketchum, ID

A resort city of 2,689, Ketchum is a small town adjacent to Sun Valley, a popular ski resort.  In addition to monthly gallery walks through town, the Sun Valley Center for the Arts is a hub of arts activity.  The Center presents five exhibitions a year devoted to contemporary art and hosts a range of multidisciplinary projects including exhibitions, performing arts, family events, readings, and talks.  For over four decades, the Center organizes a popular arts and crafts festival in August, drawing artists and shoppers from across the country.

http://ketchumidaho.org

Local Contact: Mayor Randy Hall, Mayor of Ketchum, 208-726-3841, rhall@ketchumidaho.org

Vineyard Haven, MA

Vineyard Haven is a coastal community of about 2,000 permanent residents located in the town of Tisbury, on Martha’s Vineyard. The town is centered around the picturesque harbor, once one of New England’s busiest ports. The community participates in an annual Cape Cod arts festival, Fall for the Arts, through the month of October.  The Vineyard Playhouse is home to a year-round professional theater company. A local collaborative promotes the high concentration of artists and cultural offerings including art galleries, theaters, boutiques, and restaurants.

www.artsmarthasvineyard.org / www.mvy.com

Local Contact: Nancy Gardella, Executive Director, Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, 508-693-0085 (x16), nancy@mvy.com

Boothbay Harbor, ME

A historic port and safe haven, Boothbay Harbor is on the coast of southern Maine, just north of Portland.  While a popular summer destination and active harbor, the year-round population is 2,200.  For over thirty years, the town has hosted the Lincoln Arts Festival, a lively event showcasing poetry, music, and art and supporting the region’s community of artists.  A range of performances are held in the Boothbay Playhouse, Carrousel Music Theater, and Opera House.  The town also has numerous galleries, boutiques, and eateries

http://www.boothbayharbor.com/

Local Contact: Catherine Wygant Fossett, Executive Director, Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, 207-633-2353, Catherine@boothbayharbor.com

Lanesboro, MN

Lanesboro, a town of fewer than 800 residents, is located on the Root River in the southeast corner of Minnesota. It features numerous arts and culture offerings including two theater companies including the 25-year-old Commonweal Theatre Company which moved into an expanded facility in 2007. The Lanesboro Art Center showcases work by local artists and galleries and studios are plentiful. In June, the town hosts its annual “Art in the Park” festival which brings more than 90 fine arts and craft exhibitors to town, www.lanesboro.com

Local Contact: Julie Kiehne, Executive Director, Lanesboro Chamber of Commerce, 800-944-2670, Julie@lanesboro.com

Highlands, NC

With fewer than1,000 permanent residents, Highlands is located on a plateau in Macon County in the Appalachian Mountains on the borders of the Carolinas and Georgia. In the summer, Highlands draws large numbers of vacationers and Southerners eager to escape the heat and humidity of low-lying area and the population swells to 15,000. The arts scene is active year-round with the new Bascom Center for Visual Arts and four theaters as well as antiques dealers, restaurants, and galleries.

www.highlandchamber.org / www.thebascom.org / www.artleagueofhighlands.com http://www.highlandsnc.org/

Local Contact: Jennifer Smathers, Director, Highlands Visitor Center, 828-526-2112, visitor@highlandschamber.org

Taos, NM

Adjacent to the Taos Pueblo, the millennium-old village and tribe from which the town takes its name, Taos is a well-liked destination for art-lovers.  With a population of 5,716, the town is home to 80 galleries and three art museums. The Taos Center for the Arts hosts exhibitions, performances, film series, and various special events. In 1915, the Taos Society of Artists was formed and the studios of some of the original artists are now attractions of their own.  Throughout the year, the town also has an active calendar of festivals, fiestas, ceremonies, art shows, tours, concerts, workshops, and demonstrations.

http://taos.org/visit/

Local Contact: Joanie Griffin, Griffin & Associates, 505-764-4444, jgriffin@griffinassoc.com

Marfa, TX

Marfa is situated in the high desert in western Texas, with a population of less than 2,000 permanent residents. Originally founded as a railroad water stop, it served as a military base, and is now the home of Donald Judd’s Chinati Foundation. The Foundation began with a permanent collection of works by Judd, John Chamberlain, and Dan Flavin and expanded to include works by some of the most prominent artists of our time, special exhibitions, an artists’ residency program, internships, and public programs.  Other cultural activities include film screenings, readings, and gallery shows.

www.visitmarfa.com

Local Contact: Minerva Lopez, Director, Visit Marfa, 432-729-4772, minlopez49@sbcglobal.net

Eastsound, WA

Eastsound is a lively community of just over 3,000 on Orcas Island, the largest of the scenic San Juan Islands in Puget Sound, about midway between Seattle and Vancouver. Located at the top of a fjord, the village is home to galleries, boutiques, and eateries. The galleries display a mix of locally produced art including ceramics from the three pottery studios on the island. Eastsound also has a vibrant performing arts scene including a Chamber Music Festival held every August.

www.visitsanjuans.com

Local Contact: Barbara Marrett, Communications Manager, Visit San Juans, 888-468-3701 (x6), Barbara@visitsanjuans.com

Saratoga, WY

Located in south-central Wyoming in the Platte River valley surrounded by mountains, Saratoga sits above an active mineral hot springs. Its 1,700 residents and many visitors who come for the rugged natural beauty enjoy a vibrant boutique shopping and dining district. The cultural anchor is the Platte River Community Center, providing visitors and residents with a roster of concerts, art shows, lectures, theatrical performances, and community events.

http://www.saratoga.govoffice2.com/ http://www.saratogachamber.info/ChamberWeb2010/index.htm

Local Contact: Stacy Crimmins, Executive Director, Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, director@saratogachamber.info

Stowe, VT

Stowe, a town with a population of 4,400, is situated in a valley between Mount Mansfield and the Green Mountains, in central New Hampshire. The robust offerings include galleries, art centers, antique shops, arts and crafts shows, and many other seasonal events. The Stowe Theater Guild, Stowe Performing Arts, and the Waterbury Festival Players stage theatrical productions throughout the summer and the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center offers concerts, comedy, dance performances, and theaters throughout the year.

http://www.gostowe.com/events/

About ArtPlace

ArtPlace is an initiative of national and regional foundations and major banks to accelerate creative placemaking across the U.S. ArtPlace provides grants and loans, supports research, and conducts outreach and advocacy. To date, ArtPlace has awarded 80 grants totaling $26.9 million to 76 organizations in 46 U.S. communities.

Foundations participating in ArtPlace include Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Ford Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The William Penn Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, The Surdna Foundation, and two anonymous donors.

ArtPlace is also supported by a $12 million loan fund capitalized by six major financial institutions and managed by the Nonprofit Finance Fund. Participating institutions are Bank of America, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Chase, MetLife, and Morgan Stanley.

ArtPlace also seeks advice and counsel from close working relationships with various federal agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Education, and Transportation, along with leadership from the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Domestic Policy Council.

About the methodology

The 2013 Top Twelve Small-Town ArtPlaces comprise arts-centric communities in single-town zip codes in non-metropolitan areas and metropolitan areas with a population of 100,000 or less. The selection was based on three factors identified by Impresa Inc., a Portland-based consulting firm specializing in the study of regional and metropolitan economies. The factors were the per capita numbers of; arts-related non-profits; arts-related businesses; and people working in creative occupations. The scores were normalized on a percentile scale (100 being the highest score and zero the lowest) and multiplied. The towns selected had the highest scores in the country.

For more information about ArtPlace, visit http://www.artplaceamerica.org.

About the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, since being founded fifty-one years ago in 1962, has grown into a first-rate, multi-service membership organization that currently serves over 370 members.  Its signature fund-raising event, the Windjammer Days Festival, marks its 51st anniversary this year and will be held June 25-26th, 2013.  For more information about the BBHRCC, visit



Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Welcomes New Windjammer Days Chairs

March 29, 2013 in Activities,Around Town,Events,In the News,Maine,Seasonal,Uncategorized,Vacation  |  No Comments
2013 Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Windjammer Days Chairs

Photo Credit: Richard Riley
Cherie Scott, Mary Yokabaskas, Catherine Wygant Fossett, Andrew Luke, Pamela Byrne Riley (left to right)

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Board and staff are pleased to announce the 51st Annual Windjammer Days Chair Paul E. Luke, Inc. and Mary Yokabaskas, branch manager for Key Bank as the Windjammer Days Sponsorship Chair.

Paul E. Luke, Inc. has been a family run boatyard for over 75 years.  Having made 75 wooden and 35 aluminum boats, the yard also has a worldwide reputation for marine hardware, most notably automatic feathering propellers, three-piece storm anchors and ventilators.

Now in its third generation, the yard’s focus in on storage and repair.  Andrew Luke is an East Boothbay native who has returned to the peninsula after 20 years in New York doing marketing and advertising for a large fashion company.  He happily brings back corporate experience to the small town that taught him his work ethic and is pleased to be the point person for the chairmanship for the company for the 51st Windjammer Days Festival.

“I’m thrilled to be involved with such an iconic event for the community.  As a little kid, Windjammer Days was always the highlight of the summer.  Seeing the community come together to put on the festival is an example of one of the things I missed most when I was in New York.  Everyone’s contribution of time, services, goods and money is valuable and graciously received.  With more, we could do more to make it an even bigger draw to the community helping more people experience the kickoff to summer,” stated Luke.

Mary Yokabaskas grew up in Gardiner Maine and attended University of Maine Farmington where she was involved in student government, played collegiate soccer and worked as a ski instructor at Sugarloaf on the weekends. The summer between her junior and senior year of college she lived and worked in Boothbay Harbor which was her first introduction to this amazing community. After moving to CT and living there for 20 years, she jumped when Key Bank offered her the bank manager position in this beautiful and historical community.   She moved back to Maine a year ago this month and lives in Bristol Mills with her family.  Yokabaksas states, “I’m thrilled to accept the position of Sponsor Chair and to be more deeply involved with Windjammer Days!”

Year after year retailers, restaurants, and lodging establishments remark upon the influx and spikes in their revenue for the duration of the festival. Based on estimates from the US Bureau of Tourism, overnight visitors generate $381 of spending and day visitors $47 per day. Last year, the Maine Department of Transportation conducted a study that tracked an additional 3,286 vehicles on Route 27/96 during the festival time frame, which conservatively generated over $529,678 in revenue for area businesses.

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, since being founded fifty-one years ago in 1962, has grown into a first-rate, multi-service membership organization that currently serves over 370 members.  Its signature fund-raising event, the Windjammer Days Festival, marks its 51st anniversary this year and will be held June 25-26th, 2013.  Please contact Cherie Scott, member services and events manager at 633-2353 or Cherie@boothbayharbor.com if you are interested in joining the Windjammer Days Committee or sponsoring this community-wide event.



Boothbay Harbor Region 2013 Visitor Guide, one of first to print in the state!

February 5, 2013 in Activities,Around Town,Events,Fall Foliage,Food and Drink,In the News,Maine,Seasonal,Shopping,Thoughts,Uncategorized,Vacation  |  No Comments

Relax, Rejuvenate & Reconnect in our Friendly Coastal Community

Boothbay Harbor, ME: (February 5, 2013) If you’re on the lookout for the pseudo-pocket-book guide to planning your trip to the Boothbay Harbor Region then you’re in luck. The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce is one of the first in the state to print its 2013 Visitor & Resource Guide (with the second largest print run after Bar Harbor) filled with 148 color glossy pages chock-full of new and expanded editorial, 180 fun things to do in our region in our Calendar of Events, 280 local business listings and close to a 100 advertisements, reflecting an expanding and thriving economic region.  Don’t worry about losing your way on the Peninsula either – the visitor’s guide contains three area maps that entail the entire Boothbay Harbor Region, a detailed two-page Recreations & Activities map including sectional legends, and for all those art lovers out there: an Art Trail map.

This year the Chamber is proud to announce that it’s going MOBILE and will host a profile on Maine’s only award-winning Mobile App m.gotravelmaine.com. This is exciting news for chamber members who will now enjoy a wider presence on a virtual travel map. For visitors, The travelMAINE Mobile Map gives them a convenient way to find information on over 365 chamber members representing places to eat, stay, play, shop, services and so much more right at their fingertips from their mobile devices. The mobile app is a win-win for both tourists and chamber members.

Our special thanks to artists Lynne and John Seitzer, owners of Joy To The Wind Gallery, for their stunning cover design and artistic contributions on the front and back covers of the 2013 guide. “I think it’s appropriate to have art images incorporated into the cover, says Lynne Seitzer. “Boothbay Harbor Region has historically been an art colony with over 200 artists residing or exhibiting their work at the Boothbay Region Art Foundation (BRAF) and various galleries in and around town during the summer.”

The Boothbay Harbor Region is also a boat lover’s paradise and ranked as one of Yachting Magazine’s 50 Best Towns for 2012 .Come on down to the harbor and explore our waters, but first read through our newly added Boating section.

In April, 2012 the Chamber celebrated its 50th Anniversary at its Annual Awards dinner gala at The World Is Mine Oyster restaurant. Chamber President, Pamela Byrne Riley and the Board of Directors felt it was important to recognize the significant contribution that certain organizations had made to the success of our Chamber and particularly our region. The three recipients of these awards for Business, Community and Community Service Improvement are featured under the Annual Awards section.

The Chamber’s 50th anniversary celebration ended on a high note with the First Annual Claw Down Chef’s Lobster Bite Competition.  In conjunction with the Maine Lobster Promotion Council’s Lobster Lovers Celebration, an effort to promote buying and eating more Maine lobster in support of the lobster industry, the sold-out culinary event was held this past fall at the historic Opera House at Boothbay Harbor.  Stay tuned for the 2nd Annual Claw Down event where top local chefs will once again compete for the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice award. Visitors can log onto our Claw Down Facebook page or enjoy the two-page spread with decadent details of the winning lobster bites in our visitor’s guide.

Over 60,000 guides will be distributed to AAA’s offices from Albany NY to Louisville KY, across the East Coast and into Canada plus visitor centers and chambers state-wide from York to Bar Harbor to Aroostook, train stations, airports and several other public locations statewide and beyond.  Over 35,000 guides will be distributed locally to our members and 10,000 picked up at our office and our Downtown Information Center.  With another 5,000 mailed to people interested in our region and from our Yankee magazine leads.

Chamber members who wish to get their guides now, are welcome to stop by the chamber office.  “For a long time now, this guide has been referred to as the most trusted and comprehensive source of information for visitors coming to our region,” says Catherine Wygant Fossett, Chamber Executive Director. “We print and distribute over 115,000 guides a year and have 4,000 visitors downloading the guide on our website that gets over a million hits a year.” For a digital copy visit: http://www.boothbayharbor.com/visit/

Rachel Tibbetts, Visitor Relations Coordinator often needs an intern or volunteer to help her keep up with the mailings from April-September.  “I mail out around 40-60 guides a day in peak season to countries as far as India, Colombia, Italy and New Zealand, not to mention the influx of visitors that come in each day and walk out with the guide in-hand.” The Chamber office is open 7 days a week in-season.  If you are interested in volunteering to greet visitors or assist with mailings, please come in and speak with Rachel. We also encourage any member business attending a travel show this spring to promote our region by distributing our popular guides at their booth. Give us a call at the Chamber office at 633-2353.  Your Chamber staff: Catherine, Cherie, Brooke, Rachel and furry friend Bella Boo would love to hear from you and hand you a glossy guide hot-off the press.



Restaurant Week in Boothbay Harbor Kicks off with the Crowning of the Claw Down Chefs of the Year!

September 20, 2012 in Activities,Around Town,Events,Food and Drink  |  No Comments

Boothbay Harbor, Maine (September 20, 2012)—The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce announces  Micah Jones of Brown’s Wharf  Inn as the Judge’s Choice Award in a blind judging competition for the Claw Down Chef of the Year.  Fiona Dunlap of the Newagen Seaside Inn & Restaurant was voted as the People’s Choice Award winner of the Claw Down competition event that kicked off Restaurant Week in the area last night.   The Judge’s pick, Executive Chef Micah’s bite,  was a “Polenta & Truffle Lobster Bite” fresh lobster meat served over a sun-dried tomato and polenta cake, finished with lobster sauce and truffle oil. Executive Chef Fiona’s bite was a Petite corn cake topped with native corn puree, Maine lobster, butter sauce and candied tarragon.

Attendees at the event enjoyed savory lobster bites from 17 local Chefs while sipping on wines from Central Distributors and M.S. Walkers last night at the historic Boothbay Harbor Opera House.  Each chef’s lobster bite was in a blind judging contest and the attendees also voted on their choice for the Claw Down Chef of the Year.   Judges for the event included Meredith Goad, writer of the Portland Press Herald “Soup to Nuts” column; Dane Somers, executive director of the Maine Lobster Promotion Council; and Kelly Patrick Farrin, 2010 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year and chef at Primo restaurant in Rockland. Lynn Archer (a.k.a The Queen of Clubs), owner of Archer’s on the Pier and the Brass Compass Cafe and winner of the “Lobster Dekkah” challenge on the Food Network Show “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” emceed the event along with Mike Rovin of  94.9 WHOM.

Part of the proceeds of the sold out event will go to the Boothbay Region Community Resources and help the Chamber in its efforts to bolster local businesses; serve as guardian of the region’s economic well-being; advocate on behalf of area businesses; and promote avenues of tourism for the communities of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, East Boothbay, Edgecomb, Monhegan, Newcastle, Southport, Westport and Wiscasset.

This event kicked off “Restaurant Week” in Boothbay Harbor which runs from September 22—28, 2012. Restaurant Week is a celebration of the cuisine scene in the Boothbay Harbor Region. From fine dining to casual, participating restaurants will feature special menu items, including an appetizer, entree and dessert for the special price of $24.95 per person (tax and gratuity not included).

Restaurant Week participating restaurants include:

Andrew’s Harborside Restaurant

The Boathouse Bistro & Tapas Bar

Boothbay Harbor Inn

Boothbay Lobster Wharf

Brown’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf Inn

Kalers Restaurant

McSeagull’s Restaurant

Ports of Italy

The Rocktide Inn

The Tugboat Inn & Restaurant

The World is Mine Oyster

Sponsors for Restaurant Week include Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and Seagate Motel.

The Claw Down event was hosted by the Boothbay Region Chamber of Commerce as part of its 50th Anniversary celebration and in conjunction with the Maine Lobster Promotion Council’s Lobster Lover Celebration (lobsterfrommaine.com) an effort to promote buying and eating more Maine lobster to support the industry. Event sponsors included:  Central Distributors, 94.9 WHOM  “Classic Hits & Today’s Favorites” from “Continuous Lite Rock.”, Maine Lobster Promotion Council,  Boothbay Region Greenhouses, The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, Marshall Tent & Event Rental,  Jim Taliana, Ted Axelrod Photography, Lobster Maine, M.S. Walker Inc. and Hammond Lumber Company.

Photo Credit–Photo by Ted Axelrod

Photo Caption–From left to right: Mike Rovin of 94.9 WHOM, Fiona Dunlap/People’s Choice Winner, Catherine Wygant/Executive Director of the Boothbay Region Chamber of Commerce, Micah Jones/Judge’s pick and Lynn Archer of the Brass Compass Cafe.

Media Contact:

Angie Helton, Northeast Media Associates

(207) 653-0365

nema@maine.rr.com



Claw Down: First Annual Chef’s “Lobster Bite” Competition

August 29, 2012 in Activities,Events,Food and Drink  |  No Comments

Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Announces “Claw Down“    SOLD OUT!!!

Local Chefs vie for the title of best lobster bite at the kick-off event for restaurant week 

Boothbay Harbor, Maine  (August 29, 2012)—The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce has issued a Claw Down for local chefs, challenging them to come up with the best lobster bite for the title of Claw Down Chef of the Year.

The event will take place on September 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the historic Boothbay Harbor Opera House.  Attendees will get to enjoy all of the savory lobster bites and vote on the People’s Choice Award while sampling a selection of wines from Central Distributors.  The winner will be selected in a blind judging competition.

Tickets are $35.00 and a portion of the proceeds from the event will go to Boothbay Region Community Resources and help the Chamber in its efforts to bolster local businesses; serve as guardian of the region’s economic well-being; advocate on behalf of area businesses; and promote avenues of tourism for the communities of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, East Boothbay, Edgecomb, Monhegan, Newcastle, Southport, Westport and Wiscasset.

“As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Chamber we really wanted to create a new and exciting event, ‘Claw Down’ to kick off Restaurant Week that brings the community together by not only promoting and supporting our talented chefs in the area but also supporting our local lobster industry and a charity that helps our community,” said Catherine Wygant, executive director of the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce.

Lynn Archer (a.k.a The Queen of Clubs), owner of Archer’s on the Pier and the Brass Compass Cafe and winner of the “Lobster Dekkah” challenge on the Food Network Show “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” will emcee the event along with Mike Rovin of  94.9 WHOM Classic Hits & Today’s Favorites!  Judges will include Meredith Goad, writer of the Portland Press Herald “Soup to Nuts” column; Dane Somers, executive director of the Maine Lobster Promotion Council; and Chef Kelly Patrick Farrin, 2010 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year and Chef at Primos restaurant in Rockland.

Participating restaurants in the “Claw Down” include:

The Boat House Bistro & Tapas Bar – www.theboathousebistro.com

Boothbay Harbor Inn – Windows on the Harbor – www.boothbayharborinn.com/dining.html

Boothbay Lobster Wharf – www.boothbaylobsterwharf.com

Brown’s Wharf – www.brownswharfinn.com

Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant – www.fishermanswharfinn.com

Davis Island Grill – www.davisislandgrill.com

McSeagull’s Restaurant – www.mcseagullsonline.com

Newagen Seaside Inn – www.newagenseasideinn.com

Oliver’s at Cozy Harbor - http://www.facebook.com/OliversCozyHarbor

Ports of Italy – www.portsofitaly.com

Robinson’s Wharf & Tugs Pub – www.robinsons-wharf.com

The Lobster Dock – www.thelobsterdock.com

The Rocktide Inn & Restaurant – www.rocktideinn.com

The Thistle Inn – www.thethistleinn.com

TugBoat Inn ~ Restaurant & Marina - www.tugboatinn.com

 The World is Mine Oyster – www.mineoyster.net

Under Currach Tavern – http://www.facebook.com/UnderCurrach

This event is hosted by the Boothbay Region Chamber of Commerce as part of its 50th Anniversary celebration and in conjunction with the Maine Lobster Promotion Council’s Lobster Lover Celebration (lobsterfrommaine.com) an effort to promote buying and eating more Maine lobster to support the industry. Event sponsors include:  Central Distributors, 94.9 WHOM Classic Hits & Today’s Favorites!, Maine Lobster Promotion Council, Boothbay Region Greenhouses, The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, Marshall Tent & Event Rental, Jim Taliana, Ted Axelrod Photography, Lobster Maine and MS Walker Inc.

The Claw Down will kick off Boothbay Harbor’s Restaurant Week which runs from September 22—28, 2012. Restaurant week is a celebration of the cuisine scene in the Boothbay Harbor Region. From fine dining to casual, participating restaurants will feature special menu items, including an appetizer, entree and dessert for the special price of $24.95 per person (tax and gratuity not included).

Cocktail attire is suggested for the Claw Down event.  Tickets can be purchased online by visiting Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce (www.boothbayharbor.com) or by calling 207-633-2353.

Media Contact:

Angie Helton, Northeast Media Associates

(207) 653-0365

nema@maine.rr.com



Opera House at Boothbay Harbor Reopens March 5th!

March 3, 2011 in Activities,Around Town,Uncategorized  |  No Comments

The historic Opera House in downtown Boothbay Harbor received a facelift this winter.  The sound of music that typically fills the the old hall was replaced with the sound of hammers and saws and drills and sanders as nearly two dozen painters and craftsmen installed new flooring and railings, raised the stage, painted ceilings, and patched walls and restored the House from top to bottom.  Insulation was added and a new, efficient heating and hot water system was installed.  New lighting and an in-house sound system were also added this winter. The work was undertaken to both preserve the old building and improve the experience of audience members by improving sight lines.

The work began with the rebuilding of the front stairway on Townsend Avenue last fall, and will continue with additional work throughout the spring.  With the completion of the new entryway on Townsend Avenue, ticket buyers may now use the front door during the week versus entering through the side parking lot door.  The performance entrance remains on Smith Street.

The first performance of 2011 is this weekend’s Hometown Hootenanny on Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 PM.  The event is both a cabin fever reliever and a fundraiser for the Opera House, with all proceeds going to assist with the ongoing operation of the building and programming.

Funds are still being raised to complete the maintenance and restoration work.  In an effort to meet the Bosarge Challenge, the Opera House must raise $95,000 between now and September.  Those interested in supporting the effort are invited to contact the Opera House at (207) 633-6855.

Courtesy Robert Mitchell Photography



A Very Caring Community

February 8, 2011 in Activities,Around Town,Events,Uncategorized  |  No Comments
Let’s Fill the Bus!

Volunteering. Caring. Sharing. Community!

The Boothbay Harbor Region is known for its deep commitment to caring for those in need in our community.  A perfect example is the Have A Heart Food Drive, organized by the Boothbay Harbor YMCA to help replenish the Boothbay Region Food Pantry. This year’s third annual Have A Heart Food Drive is this Saturday, February 12, from 9am to 2pm.  Come and join the YMCA staff and volunteers in filling the YMCA bus in the Hannaford Supermarket parking lot with donations of nonperishable items.  Items of Need:  dry and hot cereal, bottled juice, canned and boxed soup, box pancake mix, boxed mac & cheese, jelly, flour, sugar, vegetable oil, coffee, boxed pasta, and canned fruit, fish or veggies.  Karen Greenleaf, Membership & Marketing Assistant at the Y, tells us that food is welcome from many sources:  Hannaford, other markets, even your own pantry!  Hannaford is located at 180 Townsend Ave. (Route 27) in Boothbay Harbor.  Not in the area that day but want to support the cause?  No worries! You can drop off your items (cash donations also welcome) at the Y. Please contact Karen at the Y at 207.633.2855 for details on how you can Have a Heart!



Early Bird Sale November 20th!

November 12, 2010 in Activities,Around Town,Events,Seasonal,Shopping,Uncategorized  |  No Comments

Early Bird Shoppers REALLY love a great sale!

Early Bird Shopping in Boothbay Harbor Gets Even Better!!

Shop in Comfort!  The Boothbay Harbor Early Bird has always been a winning combination of great shopping and great fun, and this year the Early Bird Sale is getting even better with addition of severl great new activities.  It all kicks off in the wee hours of the morning on November 20th when shoppers gather on the streets on Boothbay Harbor in their Pajamas!  Yep, you heard right, shopping in your pajamas is fun!  Most stores open at 6 a.m. with great reductions in prices, usually the earlier you shop the greater the discount. Many establishments offer door prizes and delicious refreshments.  Shopping continues throughout the day, provided the merchants don’t run out of things to sell, because of these great sales.

 Pajama Parade! Wait, wait, and wait!  There is so much more to come.  Anybody love a parade?  All Pajama clad shoppers are invited to line up on the Library lawn in the center of town at 10 a.m for the Pajama Parade through town. Prizes, prizes, prizes will be awarded when the parade ends up back on the Library lawn - great gift bags supplied by area merchants. Categories include Best Jammies, Best footwear, Best headwear, Best Children’s PJ’s under 12, and The Very Best Group of Shoppers, you know matching pajamas and all that sort of thing.

Bed Race! Okay, we aren’t done yet.  Next up is the Bed Race, where teams of five maneuver their beds down Howard St. two by two as fast as they can.  It’s an elimination race, with winners moving on to the next race.  Participants will be wearing their pajamas, of course, and there are more prizes.  The winner will receive a $25.00 check and a trophy will be awarded to the top 3 winners!  There will also be awards for the Best Decorated Bed and Best Team cheer. 

Window Display Contest!  Almost done…while in town shopping and parading and racing beds, don’t forget to vote for your best window display!  Many merchants have gone the extra mile this year by decorating their windows early for the Holidays.  Shop at all the stores, choose what you think to be the very best window and drop your vote in the beautifully wrapped box on the Library lawn.  Shoppers won’t win a prize for this event, but, a lucky creative merchant will.  The winning merchant will receive a $75.00 display advertisement donated by the Boothbay Register. 

So, please don’t miss out on this unusual and fun filled event, where else but in Boothbay Harbor could you find all these events in one spot?  Great shopping, funny pajamas, friendly merchants, a window display contest, a parade, a bed race and lots and lots of prizes.  See you there on November 20, 2010.  Wake up, get out of bed, don’t get dressed and head on down Route 27 to the lovely village of Boothbay Harbor where we know how to have fun!



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