Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is opening its doors next month to the public for its annual open house. Visitors are welcome from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, July 10 at the Bigelow Laboratory campus along the Damariscotta River in East Boothbay.

Visitors to the Farmers’ Market on June 11 would have had heard the happy sounds of music made by the Newagen Crew, Tim Hanley, Skip Simonds, Gerry Gamage and Tom Churchill singing and playing guitar, harmonica and keyboard to raise money for Boothbay Region Food Pantry. They were joined by Presley Crommett on the violin. Altogether they raised $70 for the pantry and show us one more way that we can support our neighbors. They will be performing again on July 9 and Aug. 20.

They started at 11 a.m. but by 11:30 on Tuesday, June 9, dozens of blue and gold balloons had already been tied up, strung together and hung up in Porter Memorial Gymnasium. "They" were members of the BRHS Class of 2026, alumni, parents and other volunteers who were decorating the gym for the 2026 graduation ceremonies which get underway Wednesday, June 10 with Awards Night at 6 p.m., followed by the Grand March and Alumni Ball on Thursday at 7 p.m., and concluding Friday with Class Day at 8 a.m. and Graduation at 2 p.m.

Enjoy the display strung from the gym ceiling this week!

The Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club is hosting its second annual Marine Swap (Flea Market) on Sunday, June 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the parking lot. Tables can be provided or bring your own. Clear out your gear, find hidden gems, and make some cash! We expect lots of cool gear! There’s no fee to participate, and you keep 100% of what you sell. You must man your table or space, no dropping off items.

Boothbay Region High School and George Washington University graduate Faith Blethen of Boothbay has joined the GWU Boards of Trustees. Blethen, B.S. '23, M.Acc. '24, and Luisa Borges, joined the board June 1.

“Hello Boothbay, I am overjoyed to be working at Shear Artistry. I have been doing hair for two years professionally. Ever since I moved to the US from Jamaica, I have had no one to take care of my hair aside from braiding it. I never realized I had a passion for styling hair until the opportunity fell into my lap.”

She was surprised by how passionate she was about doing hair when the opportunity to go to Bath Vocational Tech just fell into her lap.

The next Wiscasset edition of Ocean on Tap will take place on Thursday, May 14, 6 p.m. at Ækeir Brewing, 111 Main St. Wiscasset. Join Brigid Carr, a research associate at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, for a conversation about oil spills, plastic pollution and harmful algal blooms (a.k.a. what does a marine chemist do anyway?).

The next Boothbay Harbor edition of Ocean on Tap will take place on Thursday, May 21, 6 p.m. at Footbridge Brewery at 25 Granary Way. Join Lobsterman Eben Wilson of the F/V Lettie Elise to hear about his experience lobstering on Midcoast Maine for (nearly) 40 years and learn about how the industry has evolved and what it takes to make a living on the ocean today.

Join Boothbay Region Land Trust, in partnership with Boothbay Clean Drinking Water Initiative, Maine Forest Service, Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District, and Boothbay Region Water District, for a free, hands-on Live Staking Workshop at Oak Point Farm May 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. 

J. Edward Knight Insurance (JEK) is pleased to announce the acquisition of The David Chapman Insurance Agency, with an effective date of June 15, 2026.

Boothbay Harbor residents have many things they hope to see change in the town over the next decade. Following a public workshop to gather community feedback, members of VHB, Inc. presented initial findings April 30 to an advisory committee of elected town officials, business owners and residents as part of a year-long planning process to create a comprehensive plan.  

April 28, Boothbay Harbor selectmen voted 4-0 to approve construction work at Sample’s Shipyard, 120 Commercial St.  

These renovations include extending a 9-foot by 54-foot finger pier to 9 feet by 100 feet, extending a 6-foot 6-inch by 54-foot finger pier to 8 feet 6 inches by 50 feet, adding a piling and one dolphin piling (2x), adding two 8-foot by 50-foot floats and adding a 5-foot by 120-foot maintenance deck to the west side.  

Boothbay Harbor Sewer District (BHSD) was surprised this month by the discovery of a pump station at 17 Wharf St. that was installed without the district's knowledge about 15 years ago. Cap’n Fish’s Cruises has been using the station to discharge wastewater, which enters public sewer via a shared plumbing line between the Mine Oyster building and the pump-out on the dock.  

Weekly regular volunteers gathered Tuesday, April 14 at Brady’s for the Boothbay Harbor Community Lunch closing luncheon, marking the end of another successful season. Tancy ‘Momma T’ Mitchell welcomed the group and served a light lunch featuring Cheese Souffle, Avocado Salad, and a refreshing Limoncello dessert. Conversations centered on the number of lunches served each week, appreciation for the hosts, and plans for the 26/27 season.

After an extensive search and interviews with potential candidates, Geoff Smith has accepted the position of public works foreman for the Town of Boothbay Harbor. Effective May 11, 2026, Geoff will begin his new role, bringing both long-standing municipal experience and a background in construction management. 

The Boothbay Region's festival founded in 1962 remains the most anticipated event of the year. The 64th annual Windjammer Days week-long festival happens from Sunday, June 21 through Saturday, June 27. 

The availability of homes for sale in Maine continues to be tight, though Realtors have reported positive trends happening in many counties. According to Maine Listings, the statewide figure for sales of single-family existing homes in Maine remained unchanged from last March, and the median sales price (MSP) of $375,000 stayed the same comparing March 2026 to 2025. The MSP indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.