The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce will host its 53rd Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 28 at the Sheepscot Harbor Village and Resort Water’s Edge Banquet Facilities, Edgecomb from 5 to 8 p.m.

Every year the chamber honors members of the community that have made a significant contribution. This year’s nominations were sent in by our members, staff and board of directors. The award categories were Business Improvement, Customer Service Excellence, Community Improvement, Environmental Award and Community Service.

Customer Service Award has been awarded to Mid-Town Motel located in downtown Boothbay Harbor. Mid-Town Motel has been owned and managed by Tim Lewis and his parents, Carl and Mary Lewis, for 60 years and was one of the first motels to open in Boothbay Harbor in 1955. The motel stayed open year-round for 20 years and developed a nice commercial business during the winter months with the help of the shipbuilding trade. Over the 60-year period it attracted a very loyal group of repeat guests. Some of the production crew of the musical "Carousel," which also celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, were guests at the Mid-Town Motel. Mid-Town Motel has survived commercial and residential growth, a car crashing through one of the rooms, and changing tourism trends. This award recognizes an organization or business entity that goes above and beyond expectations to consistently provide superior customer service.

Community Improvement Award has been awarded to Boothbay Region Community Television (BRCTV.) BRCTV is a nonprofit entity comprising a small but dedicated group of volunteers who began a conscious effort to improve the quality and diversity of the programming on the channel in 1995, in the hopes that they would thereby be able to interest more volunteers, better serve the viewing audience and raise the level of awareness in the community about what needs can be met by locally-produced television. This award recognizes an entity that often goes the extra mile to get involved in programs and activities that benefit the communities in which they live and work. The nominee displays leadership, innovation, initiative, creativity and dedication.

Environmental Award has been awarded to Heliotropic Technologies. Heliotropic Technologies was created to help the world become a better place by doing its part to reduce energy consumption and energy’s contribution to human-induced global climate change, while offering rewarding jobs to its employees. Efficiency Maine selected Heliotropic Technologies to survey the Boothbay Region and develop an energy efficiency program to reduce the regional summer peak electric load. Heliotropic Technologies won the contract to install the LED lighting program through Efficiency Maine; Heliotropic Technologies also bid directly into the GridSolar project and installed seven solar electric generation projects. This award is given to an individual, organization or business entity that has championed steps towards creating a sustainable/resilient local community through positive solutions that may include energy efficiency, renewable energy, local foods development and innovative modes of transportation.

Business Improvement Award has been awarded to Hannaford, Inc. Since 1982 Hannaford, Inc. has been serving the needs of the Boothbay Harbor Region. Since Jan. 4 of this year, Hannaford has undergone a massive renovation with an additional aisle, 700 new items, including additional gluten-free and organic items displayed on brand new, floor-to-ceiling shelving. Changes to the flow of the store with additional cart storage inside have been helpful and enhanced the shopping experience. Along with the aesthetic changes to the outside décor there have been numerous improvements to the inside décor with the upgrade storage coolers store-wide, lighting, flooring and a produce area. Hannaford hires 70 staff in the winter with a swell to 115 in the summer season. Within the community, its outreach is well known from the Set for Success event to the chamber’s Winter Harbor Lights celebration. Hannaford has rallied behind the Hannaford Helps Schools initiative and will be providing the Boothbay Region Community Resource Council’s Food for Thought program with a $2,000 gift card at the grand reopening ceremony on June 13. Several Hannaford staff members serve on various community and municipal boards and volunteer their time to nonprofit organizations year round. This award acknowledges the challenges of setting up and maintaining a business in the region and recognizes the business' contributions in promoting the economic growth, stability and improvement of the area in which the BBHRCC serves.

Community Service Award has been awarded to Susan Brackett. Susan Brackett was an active board member at the Opera House from 2007-2014 and served in the position of president for a number of years. She currently holds an emeritus position with the board and co-chairs the Friends of the Opera House group. Throughout all this time, Susan was an active and enthusiastic volunteer at the Opera House. She has served on the board of the Boothbay Region Historical Society. She has used her creativity to paint many canvases, including the faces of many young actors while doing make-up for Y-Arts and Boothbay Playhouse productions. Most recently, she worked closely with the Teel family in an effort to successfully save the historic Kenniston Hill Inn. This award is given to an individual who selflessly and tirelessly volunteers his/her/their time and labor to help make a difference in our community.

The chamber would like to thank its chamber members, board of directors, award recipients, nominees, dedicated staff and office volunteers for their commitment to the chamber and its success in the region over the years. In closing, the chamber would like to thank the following sponsors: The First, First Federal Savings, Bath Savings Institution, Tindal & Callahan Real Estate, Baldwin Realty, Sheepscot Harbour Village and Resort, Starlight Custom Cakes, Topside Inn–The Inn on the Hill, Cap’n Fish's Whale Watch, Eventide Epicurean Specialties, Cap’n Fish’s Waterfront Inn, Burgess Computers and Hodgdon Yachts.

Since being founded 53 years ago in 1962, the chamber has grown into a first-rate, multi-service membership organization that currently serves over 375 members. Tickets to the Annual Awards Dinner may be purchased at the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce at 192 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor or at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boothbay-harbor-region-chamber-of-commerce-annual-dinner-tickets-16158107334