The last paragraph of an article published in the “Boothbay Register” on July 19, and written by Cheryl Rust, regarding the retirement of community member and advocate Holly Stover, reads this way:

“Many of us simply know Holly as Holly — a dear friend — an amazing neighbor — a woman who loves her community whether defined as Boothbay, the Midcoast, or the entire state of Maine — and, perhaps we have not known the specifics of her tireless service to the most vulnerable people of our beloved state.”

While the extent of Stover’s service may remain a mystery, her many friends and admirers honored that service by surprising Stover on Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Congregational Church in Boothbay Harbor, when both the state and her community thanked her with a Legislative Sentiment. The text reads: 

State of Maine

Be it known to all that

We, the Members of the Senate and

House of Representatives,

join in Recognizing 

Holly B. Stover 

of Boothbay, who retired from the position of Director of the Office 

of Violence Prevention in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services 

after 23 years of service. Ms. Stover has served in the department in a variety 

of roles, including as Director of the Bath Children's Home, Region II Mental Health 

Team Leader, Region II Director and Acting Director of the Office of 

Multicultural Affairs, as well as serving as the lead for food security 

issues with the United States Department of Agriculture and working 

with Maine Community Action Agencies. We extend to Ms. Stover 

our congratulations on her retirement and offer her our best wishes; And be it ordered that this official

expression of sentiment be sent forthwith 

on behalf of the 127th Legislature and the people of the State of Maine.

Sen. Christopher Johnson presented Stover with the Sentiment. A Sentiment can be issued for a variety of reasons, explained Johnson. “The legislature can issue a Sentiment for a major event in any person's life or for company/organization milestones. We issue them as memorials of people's death, for wedding anniversaries of 50 years or more, for birthdays of 100 years or more, retirements, and for achieving awards or significant achievements.”

In Holly’s case, said Johnson, “The sentiment recognizes someone who has dedicated her life’s work to helping people in need — whether suffering from homelessness, domestic violence, mental illness, hunger, addiction, or experiencing one of life’s unexpected hardships. Holly has a fierce commitment to protecting vulnerable people, righting wrongs, and helping people find hope, opportunity, and support for bettering their circumstances. She served 23 years in her job in Health and Human Services, making Holly and her work on behalf of the people of Maine and this community worthy of celebration.”

Congratulations.