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Visit our website| www.bucksportbaychamber.com
In This Issue
Chamber Hours
We will now be closed Monday and Tuesday and open Wednesday-Friday 9am to 3pm until May. 

Information Center is open 24/7.
Playing at the Alamo Theatre...
Inferno

       
November 25-27, 2016 
Friday &  Saturday 
6 & 8:30pm  

Sunday  at 2 &  6pm   

Adaptation of Dan Brown's novel in The Da Vinci Code series 
action/adventure/crime 

When Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), and together they must race across Europe against the clock to foil a deadly global plot.

121 minutes
PG-13
Story Time
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The Buck Memorial Library  on Main Street in Bucksport  offers a free story time each 
Wednesday from 10:30AM to 11AM.

Children of all ages are welcome.

offers a  monthly s tory hour o n the first  Saturday of each month  through February  in 
Mary's Room, the library's 
colorful children's room.

12/3, 1/7, 2/4
10:00 - 11:00 am

Children of all ages are welcome!  The library is an all-volunteer  library located on Main Street  in Stockton Springs.  Everyone is welcome.  Light refreshments will be served.  207-567-4147
Free Small Business Advising for Bucksport Bay Area
Thinking about starting a business? Or do you already own one? There's a helpful (free!) small business resource for the Bucksport Bay area ready to help you with everything from starting, to maintaining and growing your business. The business advising is confidential, offered at no charge and provided by the Maine Small Business Development Centers. Space for the consultations is graciously provided by Bangor Savings Bank.

December 2
1/6, 2/3, 3/17, 4/7, 5/5, 6/2, 7/7
Bangor Savings Bank
89 Main Street
Bucksport
By appointment only
Please contact Betty Egner at 207.664.2990
Yoga with Naomi
BEGINNER-FRIENDLY
Healing Hatha Yoga

**No classes November 19th-November 28th**

Tuesdays 4-5pm
Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center, Ellsworth FREE

Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m.
OCC, Orland
$12/class

Wednesdays
3:30-4:30pm
Bucksport Regional Health Center ($12)

Thursdays 1-2pm
Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center Ellsworth FREE

Discounts for first responders
All classes FREE to Beth Wright Center clients

All classes are for adults and teens. Anyone under 18 must have a signed waiver from their parent or guardian. Children under 13 are only permitted by special permission from the instructor. Mats and props are provided and no yoga experience is necessary. 

Questions? Contact Naomi Graychase (Yoga with Naomi) 207.370.9589

More details online
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LEGO group 
Free LEGO Club at the Stockton Springs Community library

The Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) is proud to offer free LEGO programs on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 4:00 - 5:00 PM through April 20th 2017.

Focus age group is 4 through 10 years old, however children of all ages are welcome to participate in the LEGO Fun! No registration is necessary.

The purpose is to become a creative, engaged, lifelong learner while having fun. The library provides the LEGO bricks and participants provide their imagination and creativity! LEGO creations will be displayed in the library until the following month's LEGO Club.

December 15, 2016

January 19, 2017

February 16, 2017

March 16, 2017

April 20, 2017

No registration necessary! SSCL is located at 6 Station Street in Stockton Springs. For more information call 
567-4147.
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Nov 23, 2016 
Happy Thanksgiving
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Giving thanks

As we move toward the Thanksgiving holiday, we offer you our thanks for all you do throughout the year to help our community thrive.

We hope your Thanksgiving will be full of good company, good food, and many blessings.

Join us as we officially kick off the Christmas shopping season on Saturday for a Small Business Saturday Ribbon Cutting on Main Street in Bucksport. Read below for news of Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales from our members, as well as sales, deals, contests, and other special events, including the return of the #ThinkLocalFirst campaign, throughout November and December.

Scroll down for news about all of this--and more!

Have a generous week and...send us your news!
Main Street Ribbon Cutting
Small Business Saturday Ribbon Cutting November 26, 2016 at 10am
The Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Bucksport are encouraging people to  #thinklocalfirst  by shopping at Home for the Holidays. 

On Small Business Saturday, November 26th we'll cut a ribbon across Main Street in Bucksport at 10 a.m. to officially open the holiday season. Supporting independently owned businesses helps all of us in our community not just at the holidays but all year round. 

Invite everyone to come and shop, dine and enjoy the seasons best. 
See you then! Like us on Facebook 

November Business Buzz

November Business Buzz is Vital-Life, Preventive Care and Health Promotion. Bonnie Brennan with nearly 30 years of experience offers Therapeutic Medical Massage and Bodywork.

Bodywork offers several health benefits including reducing pain, enhancing physical and emotional well-being, stress reduction, increasing circulation of blood & lymph, pre and post surgical benefits, helpful in the recovery of injuries, and improves mood and reduces winter blues.

For more information please contact Bonnie Brennan at 207.469.6589.
Shop at home for the holidays
#thinklocalfirst

The Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to "Think Local First" by shopping at Home for the Holidays. Supporting independently owned businesses helps all of us in our community not just at the holidays but all year round.

On Saturday, November 26th we will cut a ribbon across Main Street in Bucksport at 10 am to officially open the holiday season. We invite you to do the same! It is a great way to draw attention to your beautiful   downtown and invite everyone to come and shop, dine and enjoy the season's best.

As part of our month long celebration we are bringing back a contest where shoppers can win a prize! Entries will be accepted from Small Business Saturday through January 1, 2017! $100 Cash Prize provided by Main Street Bucksport plus a "No Fuss Feast" ($50 gift card) provided by Ming's Garden Restaurant. 

We need your help to encourage your customers to shop local and show them how they can win! Anytime someone shops with you for goods or services and "Thinks Local First" they can present their receipt to the Chamber and fill out a ballot to enter to win. Another way they can enter to win is to sign the Pledge Board pledging to shop local. This board will be traveling to downtown businesses throughout the season. Finally, shoppers can also qualify if they take a selfie while shopping with you, "check-in" to your business and post it to the Chamber's Facebook page using the hashtag #thinklocalfirst. 

We want to make it as easy as possible for you and your customers. Please notify Leslie or Alecia at the Chamber at 469-6818 if you have any questions.

The "Think Local First" Shop at Home for the Holidays will be supported by and ad campaign in the Bucksport Enterprise. Watch for the shoppers post on the Chamber's Facebook page and thanks for helping your communities thrive! 
Christmas is coming

It's almost Christmas Season in Downtown Bucksport!

Here's an update from the dedicated elves who make up the Town's Decorating Committee. We're excited to get back into the swing of the holiday season, and are especially glad to be able to involve you too! 
 
Make a Donation
To offset some of the cost of purchasing trees and maintaining lights, barrels, and decorations we're asking for each organization's support of $20. 

Checks can be made payable to Town of Bucksport Decorating Committee, and dropped off at: 
Town Office
ATTN: Decorating Committee
50 Main Street | P.O. Drawer X
Bucksport, Maine 04416
 
Important Dates & Times
We're always looking for help. If you're interested in volunteering during some of the following work sessions and events, please let us know! 
 
Help out this weekend! It's our first event, and the most important... help us organize the trees into the barrels!! 

Official Lighting Ceremony | Saturday, 11/26/16, 5:00 p.m., Town Office
Parade of Lights | Saturday, 12/10/16, 5:00 p.m., Main Street
 
Christmas Trees & Decorations
Annually the Decorating Committee places trees at select businesses and locations along Main Street and Route 1.

We'll be contacting each business on our list individually to ensure you'd like a tree again this year. Remember, we request a donation of $20 for a tree this year to offset the costs of new barrels and decorations.

If you'd like to use your own lights and decorations, please send us a message so we know not to collect them at the end of the season. 
The trees will not be lit until the official Lighting Ceremony event scheduled for Saturday, 11/26 at 5:00 p.m. at the Town Office. 

In addition to the trees, we string other lights and decorations around town and are looking for folks to assist with that as well. 

Lighted wreaths will be placed on the poles in time for the Lighting Ceremony and will be turned on during that event. 
We'll decorate other buildings and trees as well. If you're a business owner who we have decorated your facility in the past, we're planning to continue that this year. Other trees, parks, and buildings along Main Street will be decorated with lights. 
 
Lighting Ceremony
Scheduled for Saturday, November 26 at 5:00 p.m. in front of the Town Office we will officially kick-off the holiday season by powering up all the lights and decorations along Main Street. 

Be sure to follow the Town's Facebook page for further information: www.facebook.com/bucksportme 

This is a free event for all our community members to participate. Come stroll down Main Street and enjoy the lights and decorations, socialize, and enjoy free hot chocolate provided by Bucksport Public Safety's Guns & Hoses group!
 
Parade of Lights - NEW!! 
New this year we'll celebrate the holiday season with a parade of lights along Main Street in downtown Bucksport. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, December 10 at 5:00 p.m. 

For up-to-date information about the parade, follow the Facebook event: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/204073193368702/
Or, the Town page: www.facebook.com/bucksportme 
 
With questions or comments about the Downtown Decorating, contact: 
 
Chris Grindle
Town of Bucksport
chris.grindle@bucksportmaine.gov
207-949-7500

Also, to learn of other holiday events happening in Downtown Bucksport, follow the Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce's community calendar as well as Main Street Bucksport's Facebook page. 
SFCU is collecting new socks
Sock-in-a-box
Bring in a new pair of men's, women's, teen, or children's socks for the needy to our locations in Bucksport, Ellsworth, and Hermon and stuff them in our Sock-In-A-Box box. We will distribute to The Bangor Homeless Shelter, the Shaw House in Bangor, and The Emmaus Center in Ellsworth. We will distribute the socks the week of December 12 so that they can have warm feet before the snow flies. Please 'like' and share this post with your friends.
WERU news
Technology upgrades
On the communications tower atop Blue Hill Mountain (above), WERU recently replaced the thirty year-old transmission cable between the 89.9 FM radio transmitter (14,000 watts) and transmitting antenna. 

We also replaced the small 99.9 FM Bangor transmitter (40 watts). Finally, we replaced all the equipment destroyed by the lightning strike we experienced at our offices and studios in July. Our sound and tech health are very good these days, so thank you for all of your support! 
Big sale at BookStacks
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday SALE at BookStacks! 
 
30% off hardcovers
(40% off when you buy more than two)
20% off  Everything Else*
Nov. 25 & 26 only
Open 9 to 6

*Please note that this sale does not include the purchase of any gift certificates,  special orders, better bottles of wine,  and/or periodicals; it further excludes the purchase of any cup of pretty good coffee;  as are any stray polydactyl ginger cats who may wander by,  keenly indifferent,
and apparently annoyed,  depending.

Thank you.
Sales and Specials at Huckleberries
Sales, sales, sales
Sales every week at Huckleberries in Bucksport!

Victorian Christmas
Free admission
Friday, December 2, 4 pm to 6 pm, and Saturday, December 3, 10 am to 4 pm, Fowler-True-Ross Sea Captain's House
Admission is free.  Our Ship Captain's house is beautifully decorated for the holidays and filled with live music and holiday-themed readings. Town of Searsport's Tree Lighting And Carol Sing are on Friday night.
Christmas shopping
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Indoor Yard Sale

The Bucksport WSCS will be holding an indoor yard sale on  December 3rd  from 8-2 at the Bucksport Methodist Church on Franklin Street. Tools, homemade jams, soaps, and relishes, Scentsy, LuLaRoe, and lots of great deals on quality, used items. Kitchen will be open selling food. Come grab some great buys for Christmas.  
"One Maine Christmas Eve"
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Reading 

On  Saturday, December 3rd at 10:00 am  Douglas Coffin will read his book "One Maine Christmas Eve" as part of the Stockton Springs Community Library's monthly story hour. The library is located on the corner of Main and Station Streets in Stockton Springs.

Coffin is nationally known for his work as professional letter cutter in stone (there are only about two dozen in the country), but this is his first published book. He explains: "I wrote and illustrated a Christmas poem many years ago, with the same flavor as 'The Night Before Christmas' by Clement Moore, and now have expanded it into this book. "One Maine Christmas Eve" celebrates Mainers' can-do approach to problems and the joys of simply giving."

"One Maine Christmas Eve" is an enchanting story told in verse that begs to be read aloud. On Santa's most important night of the year, he's been grounded by sick reindeer at Miss Moody's farm. It turns out that Santa couldn't have picked a better spot for an emergency landing, though, because who's more adept than a Maine farmer at getting a broken-down machine (or sleigh) back into service?

Miss Moody, her beloved dog Smittens, and Miss Moody's two boarders, Emery and Millie, leap into action when they find that Santa needs their help. Before long, a barnyard full of animals, and even a derelict skidder named "The Grunter," are pressed into service - "In a rattle of wrenches there came a great roar/'The Grunter was chugging through snowdrifts once more."

Coffin's charming, colorful illustrations perfectly complement this story-in-verse. From the opening two-page spread of an aerial view of the farm, resplendent and quiet in winter white, to the colorful final spread showing Santa driving his earnest-yet-zany pick-up team, "One Maine Christmas Eve" will enchant readers of all ages.

Dahlov Ipcar, esteemed Maine author and illustrator, says that Coffin's book is "A delightful variation on the Santa Claus legend, in which not Rudolph but a whole gaggle of critters save the day, or rather the eve."

Coffin has a background in graphic design, calligraphy and typography, and produced a nationally syndicated cartoon strip in the early 1980s. He published editorial cartoons in a weekly newspaper in Maine for 20 years and, in 1987, began his career as a letter cutter in stone. He lives in Stockton Springs. "One Maine Christmas Eve" is his first book.

The event is free, all are welcome, and light refreshments will be served. For more information visit  www.stocktonspringslibrary.org  or call 207-567-4147.
Help someone you love win a makeover
Contest!!! Contest!!! Contest!!!

Do you know an extraordinary woman? It could be your mom, sister, wife or bestie! Tell us about her and she has the chance to win a Makeover. Melissa and I will be picking the winner December 11th
 at Bucksport Blush.

 Like us on Facebook

Christmas is for Kids
'Tis the season

The donation cans will be out until early December.

Christmas is for Kids is through Bucksport Community Concerns, the local food cupboard and benefits children from Bucksport, Verona Island & Orland

The angel trees are going up soon!  The first tags can be found at the Seaboard Federal Credit Union and will soon be followed by The Local Variety and MacLeod's Restaurant!   

Please make sure to sign out your tags at the location you pick them up from and return ALL toys (with tags attached!!) unwrapped to Seaboard (regardless of where you picked the tag up from, return to Seaboard!!).  All gifts must be turned in by  Friday, December 9th .

Businesses that currently have cans:
BookStacks
Bucksport House of Pizza
Coastal Energy
Community Pharmacy
Dave's Auto Repair & Towing
EBS
Fort View Variety
Huckelberries Card & Gift
Grindle's Insurance
Lethabo Massage Studio & Day Spa
Local Variety & Bake Shop
Outback Towing
Snowman's
Studio 83
Toziers Variety
True Value
Verona Wine & Design

Total amount raised from cans so far: $504.36
If any business would like to have a can, please contact Aimee Lozier at 745-4371 - please leave a message.
GPMCT news
Christmas events

Christmas Trees in the Wildlands, Sunday, Nov. 27, 12-3 pm...Find a wild Christmas tree and some old-fashioned fun - a hayride, hot cocoa, goodies and a bonfire! Cut-your-own OR pre-cut trees, both sheared and open-grown available. Visitors may also cut balsam greens for wreaths and decorations. Cost $25 per tree, includes hayride and treats. Cutting help and handsaws available; no chainsaws please. South Gate open on Rte. 1 (near the Rte. 176 junction in East Orland) or North Gate on Bald Mountain Road (0.2 mi from Winkumpaugh). Check web or Facebook for weather updates, changes or cancellations. 469-6929 or info@greatpondtrust.org for more info, or 974-7097 that weekend. Thanks to our sponsors: Ellsworth-Bucksport Dental Associates and Dave's Tractor Services.

Christmas Trees at Barlow's, Sunday, Dec. 4, 12-3 pm... Like your Christmas trees a little fuller? Want to choose and cut a fresh one without a hike? Join us at John & Diane Barlow's, 15 Cross Road in Orland Village, where nearly 200 trees, both sheared and open-grown, large and small, await. Cookies and cocoa, cutting help and handsaws available; no chainsaws please. Take Dark Mountain Road off Rte. 166 (was 175) in Orland Village, turn left on Cross Road. Proceeds benefit the Wildlands. Check web or Facebook for weather changes or cancellations. 469-6929 or info@greatpondtrust.org  for more info, or 974-7097 that weekend.
Yoga schedule update
No yoga 11/18-11/28
Naomi will be on vacation for Thanksgiving week. No Yoga with Naomi classes between 11/18 and 11/28.

Om shanti!

Like us on Facebook
Main Street Bucksport
Main Street Bucksport (MSB) helps bring Holiday Events to downtown Bucksport! 

On  Saturday, November 26 at 10am  The Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce will have a ribbon cutting on Main Street to kick off Small Business  Saturday . Skip the driving and the crowds by shopping in downtown Bucksport this holiday season. Not only will you save time and gas money, but shopping locally has a real impact on the economy. A recent study conducted in Maine concluded that for every $100 you spend locally, $55 goes back into the local economy compared to only $38 when you shop at a big box or national retail store. ("Going Local: Quantifying the Economic Impacts of Buying from Locally Owned Businesses in Portland, Maine." Garrett Martin and Amar Patel, Maine Center for Economic Policy, Dec. 2011.)

On  Thursday, December 8  from  5-8pm , local shops and restaurants will feature free live music and stay open late for holiday shopping. Spend the evening in downtown Bucksport and enjoy some live music and holiday cheer. Schedule to be announced.

On  Saturday, December 10 , Santa arrives at BookStacks, accompanied by the Bucksport Fire Department. Time to be announced. Bring the kids and tell them to bring their wish list for Santa!

On  Friday, December 16  from  5-7pm , Main Street Bucksport hosts a holiday party! Thanks to a generous grant from the Hancock County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, we'll host our second fundraiser of the year. Special holiday-themed drinks, live music, delicious food, and plenty of holiday cheer to celebrate with your friends and neighbors. Location to be announced.

On  Sunday, December 18  from  1-3pm , volunteers will be at the Heart and Soul Building to wrap your gifts! We'll have gorgeous wrapping paper, bows, and special decorations and all you have to do is bring in your unwrapped gifts. Drop off your gifts and pick them up later in the afternoon or stay and enjoy cookies, hot cocoa, and holiday music. Free! 
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Stockton Springs 
The Grinch

Everyone's invited to the Stockton Springs Community Library for a holiday screening of the animated film "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" on  Friday, November 25th at 6:30 PM .

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas"  is a classic 1966 animated film based on the children's book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. It is the story of The Grinch trying to take away Christmas from the townsfolk of Whoville below his mountain hideaway. Boris Karloff, in one of his final roles, narrates the film and also provides the speaking voice of The Grinch.

There will be beverages, snacks, and surprises.  The event is free and all are welcome.  For more information call 567-4147.
Craft fair


Community Thanksgiving-Eve service
Ever Thankful Hearts
Bucksport United Methodist Church at 71 Franklin Street will host a Community Thanksgiving Eve service "Ever Thankful Hearts" at  6:30 p.m.  on  November 23rd . The love offering for the service will benefit the "Helen's Kitchen Community Assistance Fund" of the Bucksport Community Concerns. The fund helps fill the gap for families in need with utilities, car repairs, medical co-pays, fuel for appointments, and other special needs. If you are unable to attend and would like to donate, please make checks payable to BCC- Helen's Fund P. O. Box 603 Bucksport ME 04416. FMI please call 469-3622. All are welcome to attend regardless of church affiliation.
Maine Department of Labor
Free classes
Above is a list of Maine Dept. of Labor's free workplace safety and information classes for the rest of 2016. Note that we are offering two opportunities to attend a class on the new federal overtime rules.
 
To register for any of these classes, please call 623-7900 or visit  safetyworksmaine.gov.
Holiday crafts for kids




Internal Revenue Service Webinar
2016 Federal Tax Updates

Presented by: Internal Revenue Service

December 13, 2016  1:00 pm (EST)

This FREE webinar is for:
* Tax Professionals and Organizations
* Small Businesses and Organizations

One CE credit will be offered for this webinar

Description:  
Senior Stakeholder Liaison Richard Furlong, Jr. will provide tax law updates for 2016.  The topics to be discussed will include:  
  • Temporary and Permanent Extenders from the "Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015".
  • Revised Due Dates for 2016 Business Tax Returns
  • What's New for Refundable Credits:
  • Earned Income Tax Credit
  • Additional Child Tax Credit
  • American Opportunity Tax Credit
  • Affordable Care Act Reporting for 2016
  • New Rules for ITIN Holders
Register & Attend:
Click   here  to register for the session.
Solstice Celebration
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Let there be light

Bald Mountain Community Center winter solstice event on  Saturday, December 17 at 5pm . Potluck followed by lantern walk, bonfire, poems, songs, and open mic. Family friendly. BYOB, BYO instrument. $5 admission or free with $20 annual membership to BMCC. Children under 5 are free. More information at  https://www.facebook.com/events/315027268881408/
Fort Knox gift shop
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Creative gift-giving
The Fort Knox gift shop has a variety of gift options to please history buffs and park aficionados, including tee shirts, caps, replica cannons, and park passes. 

Art classes for kids
Register online at:
www.Lighthousearts.com
Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce | office@bucksportbaychamber.com | www.bucksportbaychamber.com
207.469.6818
52 Main Street | Bucksport, ME 04416