It was lights out on Capitol Hill on October 1, but not in Boothbay Harbor. The Harbor Theatre was abuzz with over 70 Chamber members, board members and staff who enjoyed an informal meet and greet with Gov. Paul LePage and first lady Ann LePage at the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber Business After Hours.

In early January the governor reached out to all Maine’s community organizations in an effort “to share concerns … understand the challenges we face locally help create solutions, eliminate red tape and use our limited resources more strategically.”

Executive Director Catherine Wygant Fossett took the initiative to invite the governor to a Business After Hours so he could meet and greet with local business owners and leaders in our community.

Theatre owner/operator Jason Sheckley was the consummate host and treated members to fresh buttery popcorn, light refreshments and a behind-the-scenes tour of the new digital projection booth as well as the theatre's 1930s era 35mm projection booth. River’s End Farm catered the event with an array of appetizers and delectable desserts and wine while the Boothbay Craft Brewery offered its local brews.

Chamber Board President Pamela B. Riley’s opening remarks included a thank you to Jason for hosting the Business After Hours and welcomed the governor and the first lady. Riley introduced new Chamber member Dave Prezioso, CEO of Ice Energy, who is currently in town from California, and working with Grid Solar on a new energy efficiency program offering businesses the opportunity to receive a free air conditioner.

She also welcomed guests Jerry Smith and Joan McCord from PineRidge Productions, who are the producers for the Getting Away Together show. In under two months, almost 100 businesses and over 250 people raised the nearly $55,000 required to promote the show. Riley thanked the talented duo for showing up to film the show in good faith and urged members to spread the word that the group is still in need of $14,000 to fully fund its share of the production cost by October 15.

Announcements were also made about the Chamber’s Annual Meeting scheduled for October 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

Chamber Executive Director Catherine Wygant Fossett quickly brought members up-to-speed with Chamber business and invited everyone to the next Business After Hours at Peapod Jewelry, Edgecomb on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. A few members even got lucky when their business cards were drawn for the evening’s prizes: Cathy Rayle from Sweet Bay won a screen ad for a year ($600 value); Joyce McDaniel from Sweet Bay and Dr. Toby Clarkson from Boothbay Family Dentistry both won free movie passes.

In between playing host and providing tours, Sheckely took a few minutes to share a bit of the theatre’s history and also made an impassioned appeal to members to purchase screen ads, buy gift certificates and passes to the theatre to keep it in operation. This past year 10,000 folks attended the theatre; but, to keep its doors open year-after-year, it needs an audience of at least 15,000 movie-goers year-round.

Sheckley asserted his apolitical stance in his opening remarks but in good humor he couldn’t resist presenting the governor with a list of measures that would help a single screen movie theatre stay in business such as “banning cable TV and DVDs — at least on weekends” or better yet, “a ban on all home entertainment would help immensely and people might even start talking again.”

At the tail end of the event, Sheckely ran a sample of classic shorts and snips from the 1930s onward to current previews and trailers of upcoming features. LePage and his wife particularly enjoyed sitting in the front row, especially since LePage intimated that he hadn’t been inside a movie theatre since the late 1960s.

“It Takes Money,” the Getting Away Together music video, also aired on the big screen and met with a round of applause.

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce has opened up the Business After Hours to members and non-members to encourage everyone from the business community to participate. The event is complimentary to Chamber members and $10 per person for non-members. To register to attend, visit our website: www.boothbayharbor.com.

Since being founded 51 years ago in 1962, the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce has grown into a first-rate, multi-service membership organization that currently serves over 370 members. The Chamber’s next big event will be the Annual Business Meeting, to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.