On Oct. 2, the Boothbay Region High School Class of 1971 celebrated its 50th anniversary and made a golden gesture toward a better future for the peninsula. The class donated its remaining treasury of $656.37 to the Clifford Park Project in Boothbay. 

Class member Tom Nickerson said his class wanted to help the community attract young families and believes Clifford Park’s renovation is a step in the right direction. Nickerson reported the class had 71 graduates. “We are all at retirement age. You can’t replace 71 with as few as 40 graduates like we have now. We want this money to help the region grow by attracting more young families to the region,” he said.

The town qualified last year for a matching $250,000 federal Land and Water Grant which is being matched by local businessman Paul Coulombe. Town Manager Dan Bryer expects the project to begin next spring. 

Boothbay Civic Association (BCA) is accepting private donations on the project’s behalf. On Oct. 26, Nickerson presented a check to BCA member Dawn Gilbert. Nickerson and Gilbert encourage public donations for the project. The BCA is a 501(c)(3) which qualifies as a federally recognized non-profit group. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to: Boothbay Civic Association, Post Office Box 81, Boothbay, ME 04537.