Boothbay Harbor second annual buoy tree glows over Pier 1

Mon, 11/22/2021 - 11:00am

    The Boothbay Harbor Pier 1 buoy tree is alight for the second year in a row. Mark, Dianne and Eric Gimbel brought several local people and businesses together to get the 925-buoy tree up before the beginning of Thanksgiving week.

    “We love it,” said Mark Gimbel, owner of Windjammer Emporium and Gimbels Country Store. “Last year we had 800 buoys, but I made the mistake of starting it too low. We didn't want to go back and redo it, so you’ll see how there are smaller buoys up top.”

    The Gimbels thanked Tom Minerich of Linekin Home for building and installing a copper lobster weathervane, Ben Rankins from Boothbay Apparel, Ralph Smith for sending staff to help, Betty Maddocks of Janson’s Clothing Store, Rendall Jones for assembling the frame, Robbie Campbell for using his boom truck for some of the work, and Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce and several others for their help and support. Fishermen's Wharf is having lobster-trap chairs set up at the base of the tree, said Mark Gimbel.

    Log Cabin Shoes owner Eric Gimbel said last year’s odd buoy out – the only one not sporting traditional buoy design – has made a return in Where’s Waldo fashion. “Last year, people would be looking at it like 'What the – there's a pirate right there.'”