Summertime: Your guide to the season in Midcoast Maine

Nicholas Krunkkala, chef at The Thistle Inn in Boothbay Harbor, took two top honors at the fourth annual Claw Down at the Ocean Point Marina Boatyard in East Boothbay on Thursday night, Sept. 17.

Krunkkala took both the Judges and People’s Choice Awards.

With his first place finish Krunkkala will go on to the Lobster Chef of the Year competition in October at Harvest on the…

Just when we'd had a full week of fog and heat and rain and humidity, we got Saturday! What a gorgeous day.

Low humidity, cooler temperatures, nice breezes for the boating crowd — a welcomed change. The harbor was busy on the water and in the streets. People everywhere seemed to be pleased.

School schedules are driving the bus these days, good weather or not. I photographed a family from Atlanta in July. They started school Aug. 5!

Yikes! August in Atlanta! Could there be a…

Are you inspired by the tranquility of running on rustic trails deep in the Maine woods? Do you enjoy the challenge of highly varied terrain, where slippery roots or loose rocks demand your concentration and sharpen your focus? Then you should register for a beautiful fall “Race Through the Woods” at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson.

Explore the exciting mix of single and double-track trails over rolling terrain in this challenging racecourse. Find the race map online at…

The Boothbay Railway Village continues its 50th anniversary season with a special event on Saturday, Sept. 5, celebrating the one and only, Manley E. Stover Sr. Manley Stover was a key staff member at the Museum for three decades.

Manley Stover joined the staff of the Boothbay Railway Village just a year or two after the Museum first opened. A true jack-of-all-trades, Manley was able to do anything from working on antique cars to servicing the steam train to moving buildings. According…

On Saturday, Sept. 12, volunteers will be offering to wash windshields at select Irving Oil and Circle K gas stations in Maine. Irving Oil will make a generous donation to Special Olympics Maine following the event.

Customers will have the opportunity to make a donation to their local team, as volunteers from the Boothbay Charities Classic organization washes their windshield.

…

With over 30 antique emporiums in a 10-mile radius, the Wiscasset area is an antique lover’s mecca.

One can spend days on foot leisurely exploring the many shops clustered around downtown Wiscasset. More adventurous souls will be doubly rewarded by a short car trip out of town, where unique antique shops, historic villages and scenic vistas await.

Richard Plunkett, who owns the Wizard of Odds and Ends in historic Head Tide Village in Alna, became enthralled with antiquing at the…

Debbie Beam is a performer.

The Edgecomb woman's debut performance was playing the lead in “Li'l Abner.”

“Like a lot of us, I fell in love with being on stage,” she said.

Beam sings and performs throughout the region, doing mostly music theater, but also choral singing, acting and more.

She's…

When Robert Mitchell was growing up in Central Pennsylvania's Coal Country, he thought of photography as a hobby.

When he moved to the Boothbay region some 40 years ago, he said the area's beauty not only inspired him, but convinced him to pursue photography as a career.

The stunning natural scenery tends to have that effect, Mitchell said.

“It doesn't matter what you use — a point and shoot…

Christmas Cove concluded its summer sailing with season awards for the CC-21 one design fleet championship going to Brigham Prescott and his father Neal aboard Dancer. In the handicap class, season PHRF honors went to Sherman Scott aboard his Alerion…

Usually when she drives, Toni Crouch has a lead foot.

So when she realized she was driving the speed limit from her vacation in Maine back to her home in Washington, D.C., she knew something was up.

“I didn't want to go back to that city life, the congestion and the traffic jams,” she said. “So I got home, I quit my job, sold my condo and moved up here.”

That was over four years ago, and Crouch now lives in Damariscotta and is the executive director of the Damariscotta…

The Boothbay region wears a lot of hats, so to speak.

It's home to world class boatbuilding, fine dining, incredible Maine scenery, and opportunities to get closer to nature.

But, maybe above all, the Boothbay region is known for its vibrant art scene.

With multiple galleries, studios and organizations, the region has become as well known for its galleries as it…

She knows what family entertainment and vacations all about.

Margaret Hoffman, assistant director of the Boothbay Railway Village, has been involved with planning, providing and promoting family fun for many years, despite her youthful appearance.

A New Jersey native, Hoffman has worked at summer camps, was employed with the Girl Scouts of America, and promoted the state of Maine in a position with the Maine Office of Tourism before settling in the Boothbay Harbor region.

"…

Cherie Scott is a transplant.

Cherie, her husband Guy, and their daughter Sophia moved to Maine from New Jersey about seven years ago. And even though closing on the family’s new house in Boothbay was the first time Cherie had stepped foot in Maine, within a few days, she had landed a job at Spruce Point Inn. 

“I'm a true witness to relocation,” she said.

Cherie, who now works for the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, said she loves living off the beaten track in…

Matthew Burnham, a junior at Boothbay Region High School, is a fourth generation lobster fisherman.

Lobstering isn't an easy occupation by any stretch. It requires physical strength and mental perseverance.

It can also be dangerous — the waters off Boothbay Harbor are cold and sometimes treacherous.

“I went lobstering with my grandfather, and then with my uncle (Robbie Begin),” Matt said about his first trips out to sea. “My grandfather died when I was six.”

His…

Elaine Jones' mother always said she was going to be a teacher. As a child, Elaine would take bottles out of the cupboard and pretend to teach them lessons.

A biology major in college with a concentration in education, Jones taught in the public school system for eight years before spending eight years at home raising her three children.

She was offered a job as the Maine Department of Marine Resource's education director in 1991. After approaching her husband about taking the…

It was the great outdoors that lured Boothbay Region Land Trust Environmental Educator Tracey Hall to the Boothbay region 13 years ago, and it’s the great outdoors that keeps her and her family here.

On the Boothbay peninsula, Hall has found a perfect niche in a career and region where unspoiled nature is in easy reach.

Hall had an unusual introduction to the region. For her first seven years here she spent most of her time “in Boothbay Harbor” on Damariscove Island, fives miles…

Barbara Rumsey is the go-to person for historical information about the Boothbay region.

Rumsey, who began volunteering at the Boothbay Region Historical Society museum on Oak Street, Boothbay Harbor in 1985 after her children started high school, has penned close to 600 articles about local history for the Boothbay Register. She has also written seven books on local history.

“I loved research and cataloging, so I started volunteering…

Captain Bill Campbell is a second generation excursion boat captain in Boothbay Harbor. He has been taking people out on the waters around Boothbay Harbor, and to Monhegan Island, for 40 years.

Campbell started his life on the ocean at age 15, as a deckhand on deep sea fishing boats, and on the Squirrel Island Ferry, Maranbo II, with Capt. Bob Fish.

In 1981 Campbell's father, Capt. Bob…

The 11th annual Boothbay Region Fish & Game Association Saltwater Fishing Tournament was held this past Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 and 9, and the sunny weather drew a good crowd of enthusiastic entrants.

The fishing for mackerel and pollock was very good, although catching a legal-size striper over 28 inches proved to be somewhat of a challenge for many anglers.

The winning striper in the Adult Division was a 34.5-incher caught by Connor Tagg, who received a check for $200.…

For anyone looking for something a little out of the ordinary to do while visiting Boothbay Harbor, Cabbage Island Clambakes is a destination that defies the mundane.

On Aug. 6, the Bennie Alice, named for the matriarch of the Moore family, owners of Cabbage Island and the clambake business, was filled to capacity with 175 passengers as it left the dock in Boothbay Harbor.

The boat…

The Olde Bristol Days 2nd annual Vintage Car Show organizers announced that all types of vehicles are participating in this year’s show on Aug. 15, including rare and unusual cars and trucks not often seen.

Already scheduled to be there, amongst others, are a 1930 Model A Woody Wagon, 1957 Corvette, 1974 Jeep Commando, 1957 Corvette, and traveling all the way from Verona Island (Bucksport) a replica 1902 Cadillac Pie Wagon.

Car Show organizers are excited to offer the new “Kid’s…

St. Columba’s Episcopal Church held its 10th annual Blueberry Festival on Saturday, Aug. 8, at its chapel on Emery Lane in Boothbay Harbor.

The event featured a blueberry pancake breakfast, a bake sale and silent auction.

Spokesperson Gloria Walter said that the church has held the blueberry festival every year since they moved into the new church 10 years ago. Previously the congregation had services at the Knights of Pythias Hall, the East Boothbay Methodist Church and at the…

Meghan Smith, daughter of local lobsterman Hazen and Jennifer Smith, is interning at the Maine State Aquarium through a partnership with University of Maine Farmington, where she’ll be a senior at this coming fall.

Smith grew up in Boothbay Harbor and graduated from Boothbay Region High School in 2012. She is majoring in elementary education, and is acting as an aquarium educator for the summer.

Though she…

The Boothbay Railway Village will host a special guest visitor on his way back to Massachusetts. Thomas, the True Blue Engine, is stopping by to say hello, and good-bye, to his Maine fans between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Edaville USA amusement park, located in South Carver, Massachusetts, has been given the rights from HIT Entertainment (the parent company of Thomas the Tank Engine) to open the very first Thomasland theme park in North America. The new theme park is…

The 11th annual Westport Island Shore Run Road Race (Maine’s Best Little 10k Road Race) takes place on Sunday, Aug. 16, beginning at 9 a.m. The 10k road race on bridge-accessible Westport Island takes place on a USATF-certified course through scenic pine and fir tree forests and over two bridges spanning inlets to Heal Cove and Montsweag Bay.

The…

It’s time once again for the Book and Bake Sale at the Southport Memorial Library, Friday, Aug. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is the 86th year for the sale, a favorite event on Southport Island that also draws many book lovers from all over the Boothbay region.

Books, etc., will be available until 3 p.m., but if you want any of the famed Southport cooks’ baked goods, better get there at 9 a.m. People in the know start lining up before the doors open for those…

The 2015 edition of Woolwich Day set for Saturday, Aug. 1 gets underway with a road race, continues with kids events, including a water slide and bounce house, and finishes with a performance by an Elvis tribute artist.

The day’s activities will go on rain or shine, but the weather forecast is for plenty of sunshine. All of the activities will be held on the grounds around the town office and fire station including the waterfront park.

This year’s event features a free…

The Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club will host its 41st annual regatta, featuring sailboats entered from Maine and all down the East Coast, on Aug. 1 and 2. Advance registrations indicate that this will be the largest such regatta on the coast of Maine this summer.

Races will be under the direction of Charles Barclay, accredited Principal Race Officer and director of the Junior Program at BHYC. They will take place in…

Plans are set for the region’s biggest, most comprehensive Auction and Flea Market taking place Saturday, Aug. 1, on the Boothbay Common.

The Rotary Club’s Charity Auction has been an integral part of the Boothbay Region summer scene for 58 years. Old-timers know that the auction is a haven for bargain hunters and flea market aficionados. They all come to make a deal on items large (boats, cars and furniture) at the live auction…

Maine native Don Barter of Jefferson spends the offseason driving a school bus for Lincoln Academy in Damariscotta. During the summer, Barter continues to drive, but instead of a school bus he drives the new Newcastle-Damariscotta-Boothbay Harbor trolley.

The trolley runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Sept. 5 from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. It travels through the twin villages of Newcastle and Damariscotta every half hour, stopping at the train depot, Newcastle Publick House,…

Join us Saturday, July 25, for our sixth annual Lobster Roll 5k and kids fun run. The event is held on Emery Lane beside Boothbay Region High School in Boothbay Harbor. The race begins at 8 a.m. and is followed by the kid’s fun run. Sign up as an individual or join the team challenge with a group of three or more runners. Awards for overall winners (male and female), the first two finishers in each age group and the team challenge. Go to lobsterroll5k.weebly.com for more information.

…

Summertime in Boothbay for your average teenager typically involves trolley rides, multiple trips to the Ice Cream Factory, the occasional afternoon at Barrett Park, and of course, balancing the fun stuff with one of your first summer jobs.

Members of the Boothbay Region High School Lady Seahawks basketball team partake in all these endeavors. They also meet twice a week, every…

During the 51st anniversary of Antique Auto Days on July 18-19, you'll see dozens of classic, vintage, antique, hot rods, muscle cars and much more all parked on the Village Green at the Boothbay Railway Village. This all makes and models show in partnership with the Maine Obsolete Auto League is actually older that the museum itself.

Anyone who owns a classic, antique, hot rod, muscle car, rat rod or other cool…

Smell that? It’s the haddock chowder steeping and readying for the first of two summer chowder suppers at St. Philip’s Church, 12 Hodge St., Wiscasset. Monday, July 20, will be the first dinner with seatings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. A second supper is also scheduled for Monday, Aug. 17. 

Many have called for the return of the staple summer dinner, so the people of St. Philip’s have bowed to demand. It’s exciting, too, to have Gail Grundy, past chowder chef, back in the driver’s seat…

The Boothbay Fire Department is hosting the Walker Circus as a fundraising event at the Boothbay Railway Village on Thursday, July 23.

There will be two shows, one at 5:30 p.m. and a second at 7:30 p.m. The midway will open one hour prior to the first show. The event will be held rain or shine.

The fire department is currently handing out free passes to the shows for children 14 years old and younger. Adult tickets are $15 before the event and $18 at the gate. There is a limit to…

Mark your calendar! The University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center (DMC) in Walpole marks its 50th anniversary this year.

To celebrate, the center is offering a full line-up of summer activities, including Wednesday Walking Tours, Science on Tap Seminars, and an open house.

Learn more about the DMC facility, marine science, and the far-reaching impacts of our research at these fun, informative and free public events. Additional event information can be found on…

Pull! Pull! Pull!

And they did.

The first ever tug of war across the harbor on Saturday, June 27, during the Windjammer Days festival was an awesome experience for everyone.

There were five tugs in all with one team pulling in the parking lot near the footbridge and the opposing team on the east side at Boothbay Harbor Electric.

First up (and this was for the bragging rights of being the winners of the first competition of this event, the first tug during …

The first of several events planned at the Southport Memorial Library this summer is an author’s talk by Betsy Wing, an East Boothbay resident who will share her insights on her latest book: “Now History: One Home Front in World War II.”

The talk, sponsored by the Library Aides, will take place on Wednesday, July 8 at 2 p.m. The author will read a…

The Newcastle-Damariscotta-Boothbay Harbor Trolley begins its weekend schedule just in time for Independence Day festivities. By next Friday, July 3, new trolley stop signs will decorate the Twin Villages, and riders will find new stops in downtown Boothbay Harbor and on the Pemaquid Peninsula.

The trolley will run Friday-Saturday-Sunday from July 3 through Labor Day. On Fridays and Saturdays, the free Twin Villages route runs from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., with many stops along Main…

South Bristol seceded from Bristol on March 15, 1915, and will celebrate its centennial on July 17, 18 and 19 with events for all ages.

The Centennial Committee has worked closely with selectmen Christian Plummer, Kenny Lincoln and Chester Rice to make all the plans for this celebration. Centennial Committee members include Caril-Anne Crocket Lincoln, Tammy Plummer, Tamara Kaler, Betsy Graves and Donna Plummer. All are invited to join in the fun at the following events.

The village of Wiscasset’s first art walk of the 2015 season is on Thursday, June 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitors from away and local residents are invited to park their cars and stroll the village. Visit gorgeous art galleries and studios, peruse Wiscasset’s remarkable array of unique shops, sample tasty treats at a variety of food venues, and enjoy beautiful Sheepscot River views from the pier. And be sure to notice the abundance of historical architecture throughout the village.

A…

It’s not too late!

There are still a few open spots for Heartwood’s 13th session of summer camp, running June 29 through July 8, for students entering grades 1-12. Scholarships available by request.

The focus of Heartwood’s summer training is skill building, preparing students to perform in productions throughout the school year and increasing confidence, both onstage and off. A show and tell performance will be open to the public on Wednesday evening, July 8^.

…

Downeast Dog News has come out with its “Best of the Best” for 2015, where readers vote for the best pet-related places in all of Maine.

Through paper ballots and online, voters choose the best trainer, veterinarian, daycare, groomer, pet product, pet store, rescue and lodging throughout all of Maine. Out of these eight categories, half of the winners are from the Boothbay region.

Best lodging went to Flagship Inn in Boothbay Harbor, which has accepted pets for a long time.

Year three of Wings Over Wiscasset has been canceled due to revenues falling short of the event’s costs, according to a Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce official and a press release from the event’s planning committee.

In its first two years in 2013 and 2014, the event at Wiscasset Municipal Airport honored…

The Damariscotta River Pirate Rendezvous promises a host of pirates both large and small to invade the Twin Villages in search of lost treasure on Saturday, June 20.

“This is an event that is for and about children,” said Greg Latimer, event director of the Pirate Rendezvous. “The event raises funds with an emphasis on benefiting local children and their families, and during the…

It’s a very special year for the Boothbay Railway Village. It’s the museum’s 50th anniversary and the season is full of distinctive celebrations.

The most important event of the 50th anniversary will be a fundraising party June 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., to honor the museum for 50 years of preservation, education and service to the community and to raise funds for its continued operation.

The evening includes passed hors d’oeuvres and a full bar including two signature cocktails by Red…

Saturday, July 25 is the 6th annual Lobster Roll 5k and kids fun run. The race begins at 8 a.m. and is followed by the kids fun run. Sign up as an individual or join the team challenge with a group of three or more runners.

There will be awards for overall winners (male and female), the first two finishers in each age group, and the team challenge.

Registration is now open at www.imathlete.com. Or go to www.lobsterroll5k.weebly.com for more information. All proceeds support the…

The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club is planning its 58th annual benefit auction and flea market, to be held on Saturday, Aug. 1 on the Boothbay Common.

This extravaganza includes everything from collectibles to antiques, from vehicles and boats to household furnishings, and from tools and toys to china. The event, now in its 58th year, draws hundreds of buyers from all over the Region…

Good day, Boothbay region residents.

Our job, should we choose to accept it, is to help raise $10,000 for the region’s annual Windjammer Days and Fourth of July fireworks displays.

This mission comes with its own brand of danger: Should we fail in reaching this goal, our 53rd festival and Independence Day will lack the drama and excitement fireworks add to each celebration.   

This mission will be known as Operation Firecracker.  

People flock to the waterfront, the…

Another year, another Boothbay Region Home and Garden Tour! This year will feature Homes of Distinction and Guest Houses. Sound interesting? Read on.

In no particular order, participants will shuttle down a winding lane to a newly built, tastefully lavish home with a spectacular view. A guest house and a…

As part of its summer-long adoption specials, Lincoln County Animal Shelter will participate prominently at Rescue Day at the Railway, which will take place at the Boothbay Railway Village at 586 Wiscasset Road (Route 27) in Boothbay on Saturday, June 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Our morning dog friends will include Gracie, a blind beagle; Bosco, a robust St. Bernard; and Jake and Nala, two wonderful chocolate…

The next Boothbay Civic Association (BCA) meeting will be held Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m. in the Boothbay Town Office.

Member Joan Rittall said a few new faces showed up at the last meeting when the call went out that the group needed help.

“Some younger people came to the meeting, which was excellent to see,” said Rittall. “We will welcome any help we can get, especially with the Fourth of July celebration on the Common coming up. Come to the next meeting to find out how you…

Music and entertainment will be high-flying at the Opera House this June. On Friday, June 5 the U.S. Air Force brings its Heritage of America Brass Band to Boothbay Harbor and the next night the acclaimed juggling duo, The Tardy Brothers, arrive on the historic stage.

Comprising 10 brass players and a percussionist, the Heritage of America Brass Band will present a diverse repertoire featuring patriotic favorites, jazz standards, orchestral transcriptions and new compositions. As…

St. Philip’s Church will be holding its 63rd annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

As part of the event, there is a craft fair with booths both inside the hall and on the grounds at 12 Hodge St. in Wiscasset. St. Philip’s encourages crafters wanting to make their wares available to the public to take part. Both inside and outside spaces are…

May 17, “Seedling Sunday,” is the official start of the 2015 Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta. While may area residents have been busy getting flower and vegetable gardens prepped for the summer season, 55 Great Salt Bay Third Graders took a field trip to Pinkham’s Plantation, where they learned about growing pumpkins — from sanding and soaking the seeds, to amending the soil to ensure maximum growth. These young Squashbucklers helped get…