This week the Boothbay Register added reporter Matthew J. Stilphen to the staff. He will cover municipal government, education, high school athletics, community events and breaking news in Boothbay Harbor.

Stilphen is a veteran reporter who has had stints at the Coastal Journal in Bath, the Lincoln County News, and most recently with the Freeport-based Tri Town Weekly. In addition, he has contributed to various regional publications both here and in Austin, Texas where he lived for five years before returning home to Maine.

“I'm excited for the opportunity to live in and report on a community like Boothbay Harbor,” said Stilphen. “Having spent many summers here as a visitor and worker, I feel I have a rooting interest in the people, places and unique perspective the town presents. As Maine continues to transition economically, Boothbay Harbor represents a valuable prism into this change.”

In addition to his background in journalism, Stilphen has operated a social media marketing agency and created crowd funding campaigns for small businesses and entrepreneurs. He is also an avid landscape photographer. When not working, he spends his time collecting record albums, rare books, and taking advantage of the miles of hiking trails in the area. Stilphen lives in East Boothbay.