Dear Editor:

Nearly 40 Penguin Plungers, despite the freezing cold weather, braved the cold waters of the Atlantic in Murray Hill, East Boothbay New Year’s Day at 11 a.m. This year marks the 12th year of the Plunge and was held in honor of Bill and Jo Haney. The Haneys are East Boothbay residents, members of the Y who swim daily, and are grandparents to Lucas and Duncan Hardwick, who learned to swim at the Y and now swim competitively on the Y Dolphin swim team.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Penguin Plunge benefit the YMCA’s free Learn to Swim program for all second graders at Boothbay Region Elementary School. Over $1,200 was raised!

Co-Directors Larry Brown and Shane Pennington, YMCA Aquatics Director as well as the Penguin Plunge committee, wish to thank the following individuals and groups listed below in no particular order:

1. Volunteer and staff committee members who coordinated and organized the event to ensure its success.

2. The hardy plungers and everyone who sponsored them and made a donation.

3. The Boothbay Fire Department, Boothbay Region Ambulance Service and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

4. Boothbay Region Cable TV, Jonne Trees for doing an excellent job capturing the plunge so everyone can enjoy it again and again.

5. Boothbay Public Work employees who sanded the very slippery boat launch at Murray Hill.

6. Harbor Embroidery for supplying a quality long sleeve T-shirt at a very reasonable price.

7. Bill & Jo Haney for being great role models for their own children and grandchildren.

8. The Knickerbocker Group for being the key sponsor of the Plunge for the past 12 years.

Hope to see you at next year’s plunge!

2014 Penguin Plunge Committee