We will now be closed Monday and Tuesday and open Wednesday-Friday 9am to 3pm until May.
Information Center is open 24/7.
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February menu
Meals are served at 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Center, 125 Broadway, Bucksport. For reservations call 469-3632. $5 per meal. All ages welcome.
Download the menu (.pdf) here.
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Bucksport United Methodist Church
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Church services
The Franklin Street United Methodist and East Bucksport United Methodist Churches have combined to form Bucksport United Methodist Church.
The
Sunday service is at
10 am at 71 Franklin Street in the fellowship hall. (Wednesday evening service is there also, at
6:30p.m.)
Any questions or concern, feel free to contact the church office at 469-3622. Office hours are
Tuesday and Thursdays from
9:00-2:00p.m.
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Private Home Care, Inc., a personal care agency, serving Belfast and surrounding areas is now accepting new clients.
We provide non-medical in home care, 3 to 24 hours.
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The Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce this year's Bucksport Bay Festival dates! Friday, July 21, Saturday, July 22, and Sunday, July 23, 2017.
#Thinksummer and join us
for #bayfest2017! For more info call 207.469.6818 or visit the festival website.
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Playing at the Alamo Theatre...
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Fri 24 Feb, 6:00 pm
Fri 24 Feb, 8:30 pm
Sat 25 Feb, 6:00 pm
Sat 25 Feb, 8:30 pm
Sun 26 Feb, 2:00 pm
Sun 26 Feb, 6:00 pm
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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.
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Free Small Business Advising for Bucksport Bay Area
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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.
Bangor Savings Bank
89 Main Street
Bucksport
By appointment only
Please contact
Betty Egner at 207.664.2990
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BEGINNER-FRIENDLY
Healing Hatha Yoga
Tuesdays 4-5pm
Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center, Ellsworth FREE
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.
More details online
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Respite care
Private Home Care, Inc.
is your local source for personalized non-medical in-home care for loved elders.
School break, personal time or appointments always leave caregivers with too much to handle. Please contact us to discuss flexible respite care - we can offer you peace of mind. Please call 207-338-2100 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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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.
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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Thank you!
Thank you for another wonderful
Frost Fest
! We offer our warm thanks to everyone who helped out and came out to have fun in the cold.
This year, the weather cooperated--boy, did it cooperate! Thank you to everyone who came out to help us move the snow and get set up for Frost Fest! The community effort involved was truly spectacular and we appreciate your help tremendously.
We had wonderful attendance at Frost Fest and lots of fun in the sun...and the snow!! Thank you to our volunteers and everyone who came out to participate!
Our Community PTO joined us this year. All proceeds from the
food and drink sales
benefitted the PTO.
The winning snow sculptures were a Dalek and a snake (left), which tied for first place! Well done! Congratulations to all who participated. The sculptures were all very creative.
A special thank you goes out to all the sponsors: Seaboard Federal Credit Union, PCT Communications, BookStacks, Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, and Huckleberries Cards and Gifts. Your contribution to your community shows how very much you care. We are so proud to have you as our members. We couldn't do it without you!
Scroll down to hear news of the Hancock County Food Drive, a sale at BookStacks, opportunities for promoting or expanding your business, free workshops, our Annual Awards--and more!
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Increase visibility for your business!
Production has started with the 2017 edition of our Visitor's Guide. Advertising opportunities begin now and include some new choices and same affordable rates!
If you're not a member yet, and would like to join, this is the perfect time for that! You still have time to join and get the member discount rates on your ad in our 2017 Visitor's Guide.
Download an application (.pdf) today and receive all the year-round benefits of Chamber membership including these discounted advertising rates for 2017!
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Sponsor our Annual Awards
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Annual Meeting & Awards
Our Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at The Alamo Theatre in Bucksport. Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar start at
6pm and then we head into the screen room at
7pm.
Come celebrate a year of Bucksport Bay Area Chamber accomplishments while highlighting those members that have had an exceptional influence on the Bucksport Bay Area community and economy. Board Members are celebrated for their commitment to the Chamber including announcing new Board Members and thanking out-going Board Members.
By sponsoring, your organization will reach local businesses and community leaders who recognize and appreciate companies that help support sound economic development initiatives that create a healthy business climate. Your recognition as a sponsor within the business community will insure you make those important connections necessary for the future growth and success of your business.
Please let us know what level sponsorship you would like to contribute.
You can email
[email protected]
or give us a call 207.469.6818 during office hours.
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The Chamber belongs to the MTA
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Maine Tourism Association
The Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is one of the 1500+ members at Maine Tourism. The Maine Tourism Association promotes us and all we offer to visitors and residents of Maine. Among the benefits:
BBACC can advertise in seven Maine Visitor Information Centers throughout the state via brochures and/or exhibits and videos and take part in the Official State Travel Planner, "Maine Invites You."
Our voice at the statehouse on important issues will be heard:
The MTA advocates protecting tourism funds and advancing public policy at the statehouse to improve tourism businesses and enhance our success.
We can take part in social media initiatives:
Social media is an important part of the MTA's strategy to share members' stories with visitors. They've created a social media plan that highlights events, member news, and general interest pieces on Maine.
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Are you feeling the Spring in the air? Like it or not, it's time to emerge from our Winter projects and move towards the energy of Summer.
We are working on HOBBA's 2017 version of "Your Adventure Begins at the Head of The Bay" community map. This rack map is distributed through the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce, the Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, both Maine Tourism booths in Calais and Kittery, local hotel/motels and local businesses. We will be distributing approximately 10-15 thousand of these maps.
Last year we focused on expanding our efforts by providing an integrated website to better serve our group and re-vamped our Facebook group page. Please check it out at
www.explorepenobscotbay.com
and like HOBBA on Facebook to promote your business and events.
$35 gets your business on the map and on the website or at no cost, your business name and information can be listed on our website.
It's an insane bargain!
If you are a returning business and want to be on our 2017 map/website, please forward a check for $35 payable to HOBBA to me at the address below or drop your check off at the Bangor Savings Searsport branch. Please include updates to your contact information if it's changed. Please have your payments in by March 15th so we can get the brochures printed early.
If you are new to our map and would like to be added, please fill out the attached form that will gather your information and forward the completed form and payment to me at the address below.
Thanks to everyone for your participation. We are excited for the continued outreach of our map project!
Head of the Bay Business Alliance (HOBBA), is an informal alliance of area individuals, organizations, and business owners. HOBBA is 100% volunteer based, working to promote businesses between the bridges from Belfast to Bucksport with the goal of attracting people to the area for longer periods by showing them all we have to offer.
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Service Technician wanted
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Full-time position
Island Pool & Spa is hiring a service technician for a full-time year-round position. Download the full job
description here (.pdf)
.
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"Trolls" at the Stockton Springs Community Library
Everyone's invited to the Stockton Springs Community Library for a special screening of the animated "Trolls Movie" Friday, February 24th at 6:30 PM.
"Trolls" is a 2016 3D computer-animated adventure comedy film based on the Troll dolls created by Thomas Dam. The film revolves around two trolls on a quest to save their village from destruction by the Bergens, creatures who eat trolls.
Movie snacks will be served. Wear your jammies, bring your favorite stuffed animal and pillow.
The event is free and all are welcome.
For more information call 567-4147 or visit
www.stocktonspringslibrary.org
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Cabin Fever Reliever Sale This Weekend
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It's Huge! It's Enormous!
It'll Save You a LOT!
It's the BookStacks
20th Annual
Cabin Fever Reliever
SALE
Feb. 24, 25, and 26
Starting this Friday, Feb. 24,
and running through Sunday, Feb. 26:
30% OFF HARDCOVERS
40% OFF WHEN YOU BUY THREE HARDCOVERS
15% OFF PAPERBACKS, CARDS & GIFTS, AND TOYS*
So get here early--and often--there will be coffee.
BookStacks is OPEN every day
Monday through Saturday 9 to 6
Sunday 9 to 3
and Thursdays 9 to 8
469-8992
*Fine print: Sorry to say that the sale does does not include the purchase of magazines, newspapers, special orders, gift certificates, coffee, muffins, wine, or cats. But you knew that.
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Hancock County Food Drive
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Begins March 1
The 2017 Hancock County Food Drive is fast approaching. This month-long, countywide effort to collect food and funds kicks off
March 1st
, and will benefit various food pantries, community meal sites, and school food programs across Hancock County. In 2016, the food drive generated enough money and food items to provide nearly 12,500 meals for families and individuals in need.
This year, Healthy Acadia hopes to do even more, and needs your help. The public health organization is seeking additional businesses, non-profits, schools, churches, and other organizations to serve as sponsors and collection sites for the 2017 food drive. Please contact Healthy Acadia's Emily (at 667-7171 or
[email protected]
) for more information about how your business or organization can support the 2017 Hancock County Food Drive.
"Financial donations are just as important, if not more so, than donations of food items," notes Emily Herwerden, Anti-Hunger & Opportunity Corps/Maine Hunger Initiative VISTA with Healthy Acadia. "Just $1 can provide 4 meals to families in need, since pantries can often buy food items at wholesale/reduced cost." To donate to the Hancock County Food Drive, text FeedMe2017 to 41444 or click
app.mobilecause.com/form/ppQMpw
.
Friends & Family Market, located at 390 State Street in Ellsworth, will host the kick off event for the Hancock County Food Drive on
Saturday, March 4
from
9am-1pm
. They will be offering special deals to shoppers who donate to the food drive during the event. Tune in to Star 97.7 FM during the event to learn more about the food drive, and about deals being offered by Friends & Family Market.
The Hancock County Food Drive is organized in partnership with Healthy Acadia, Maine Community Foundation and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and sponsored in large part by United Way of Eastern Maine, Star 97.7, and the Maine Coast Mall. Complete information about the Hancock County Food Drive can be found at
www.healthyacadia.org
, including ways to donate, a list of benefiting organizations, and official collection sites and sponsors.
The Chamber is a drop-off location! Drop your donations off with us any time we're open.
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Equipment loans from EMDC
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Funding for business owners
Okay so maybe it's not a backhoe. Maybe it's a new commercial oven, or a new POS system. But at some point in any small business, it will be necessary to upgrade, improve upon, or replace various pieces of equipment. Equipment can include such things as: medical and dental machinery; restaurant ovens, cookware, phone systems; computer monitors, furniture, tools, vehicles, industrial equipment, and more...
This is where equipment loans are a sort of lifeline to any business owner. They can mean the difference between success and failure when it comes to running a small business.
As a direct lender, EMDC has funding programs for business owners with less than perfect credit history, newer businesses and those businesses that perform well but can't show it with financial statements. We will work with to structure a loan that fits your needs.
At whatever stage you are, we will work with you to help you achieve success.
Contact Us Today!
Phone: 207.942.6389
Email: [email protected]
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Robin's Nest opening for the season
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| Advertising opportunities |
Special inserts
The Ellsworth American has some special advertising opportunities coming up, including the
Business Neighbors special insert (
Ad Deadline: March 1,
Publishes: April 13) and the Staying Well lifestyle special section (Ad deadline: March 1st, Publishes: March 23).
Business Neighbors gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself and your employees, talks about changes in your business and drives home the fact that you are a locally-owned business.
New upbeat lifestyle special section featuring Recreation Activities, Exercise Programs, Mind Improvement and Healthy Eating Ideas.
Contact
Fred Berry,
Advertising Sales
Ellsworth, Bucksport, Bangor, Brewer, Trenton and NE Harbor
[email protected]
667-2576 ext. 265
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Positive Youth Development Focus of March 8 Workshop
The Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) and Healthy Acadia are partnering to host a free workshop that offers adults who work with youth effective tools, resources and strategies for building successful youth-adult partnerships. "Creating Successful Youth/Adult Partnerships" will be held on
Wednesday, March 8, 2017 from 9:00am - 2:00pm
at the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Train Station 1898, 2 Kilton Lane, Machias.
"Creating Successful Youth/Adult Partnerships" will explore the important role of adult advisors in supporting youth wellness, youth empowerment and positive social development. The workshop is designed for a broad range of youth professionals, including student advisors, youth workers, community builders, youth group volunteers, educators and administrators. Participants will learn strategies to recruit and engage youth, build sustainable youth groups, increase commitment and follow-through from students and adults, and employ best practices for promoting youth voice in school and community. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences and to learn about Healthy Acadia and MYAN's work with area youth groups and continued commitment to engage and empower youth through Youth Policy Boards and Youth Taking Action groups.
There is no charge to attend the session and lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Register online at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MACHIASMYAN
. For more information, contact Tracey Carlson at
[email protected]
or 255-3741 x112.
The Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) strategically collaborates, convenes, and partners with communities and organizations around Maine to build young people's leadership on issues of social justice, restorative practices, and public health; and to increase the capacity of adults, organizations, and systems to use positive youth development and social-emotional learning principles in their work with youth. Learn more at
www.myan.org
or find MYAN on Facebook.
Healthy Acadia is a community health coalition building vibrant communities and making it easier for all people to lead healthy lives throughout Washington and Hancock counties. For more information about Healthy Acadia's initiatives, please visit
www.HealthyAcadia.org
or find Healthy Acadia on Facebook.
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FREE workshops offered
Healthy Acadia, in partnership with Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, will offer a free, six-week "Taking Action for Health" workshop series at Emerson Hall, 67 Court Street, Castine. Classes will meet weekly on Wednesdays from
10:00am to 12:30pm
beginning
March 22 and continuing through April 26, 2017
. "Taking Action for Health" is Healthy Acadia's Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, an evidence-based program to help those living with a chronic disease discover new tools for managing their chronic condition and maintain an active and fulfilling life.
"Taking Action for Health" is a free, interactive series that is open to anyone living with a chronic health condition, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, obesity, arthritis, migraines, asthma, eating disorders, depression and more. Caregivers are also welcome. Participants will learn appropriate use of medications; how to evaluate new treatment options; appropriate exercise for maintaining/improving strength, flexibility and endurance; nutrition information; how to communicate effectively with family, friends and health professionals; techniques to manage frustration, pain, fatigue and isolation; and decision making processes. Visit
http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/programs/cdsmp.html
to learn more about "Taking Action for Health."
The process in which "Taking Action for Health" is facilitated makes it effective, even for those living with multiple chronic conditions. Classes are highly interactive -
participants share their progress and successes and provide mutual support and encouragement. This helps increase participants' self-assurance in their ability to manage their health and maintain active, fulfilling lives. Workshop participants will each receive a copy of the companion book, Living a Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions, and an audio relaxation CD, "Relaxation for Mind and Body."
This "Taking Action for Health" workshop will be facilitated by Gordana Hassett, LCSW, CADC and Raeann Hodgson, RN of the Castine Community Health Center. Pre-registration is required. Contact Raeann Hodgson at 326-4348 or [email protected] to register for this workshop or for more information about "Taking Action for Health."
"Taking Action for Health" is supported by Grant Number
D04RH28404 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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The Net Result: Our Evolving Fisheries
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Tee-shirt design contest
In 2017, Penobscot Marine Museum will explore Maine fisheries in
our new exhibit The Net Result: Our Evolving Fisheries. To fit with this focus we are asking Maine students to help us design a fisheries related t-shirt. A panel of area artists and art enthusiasts will choose one student's fish design to be incorporated into a t-shirt that will be sold in our Museum Store. The student whose design is chosen will receive a life-time membership, as well as free museum admission for their class. Please have entries to PMM by April 1.
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Museum-Based Learning Award
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Robin Bray Award
Attention Area Teachers:
Robin Bray Award
March 1st Application Deadline
The Robin Bray Museum-Based Learning Award was established in honor of Robin Bray, an Orland Consolidated School teacher who supported student learning by advocating the use of experiences beyond the classroom. It annually provides a professional development stipend of $500 to a Blue Hill, Brooksville, Bucksport (including Orland, Prospect, Verona Island), Penobscot, Sedgwick, or Surry 5th - 8th grade teacher to develop a project that integrates the resources of the Wilson Museum with a regular curriculum component in their classroom. Teachers of all disciplines are encouraged to consider developing a project that would be enriched by the resources and support provided by the Wilson Museum.
For 2017-18 information, click here.
For 2017-18 application, click here.
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Myths and Facts from the IRS
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2017 IRS "Dirty Dozen" Tax Schemes
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IRS Resources
Phishing Schemes
:
Watch out for fake emails or websites looking to steal personal information.
Phone Scams a Serious Threat:
Aggressive & threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remain a major threat to taxpayers.
Identity Theft:
Tax-related Identity theft - with its related scams to steal personal and financial data from taxpayers or data held by tax professionals - remains a top item on the Dirty Dozen list.
Return Preparer Fraud; Choose Reputable Return Preparers:
There are some dishonest preparers who set up shop each filing season to perpetrate refund fraud, identity theft and other scams that hurt taxpayers.
Fake charities set up by scam artists to steal your money or personal information.
Be alert to unscrupulous tax return preparers touting inflated tax refunds
.
Taxpayers should watch for improper claims for business credits.
Avoid the temptation to falsely inflate deductions or expenses on tax returns.
This scam involves inflating or including income on a tax return that was never earned, either as wages or self-employment income, usually to maximize refundable credits.
Taxpayers should avoid unscrupulous promoters who encourage the use of phony tax shelters designed to avoid paying what is owed.
Promoters of frivolous schemes encourage taxpayers to make unreasonable and outlandish legal claims to avoid paying their taxes.
Avoid hiding money or assets in unreported offshore accounts remains.
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Community Matters More--time to vote!
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Make your vote count!
The 2017 Community Matters More voting takes place during the month of February, beginning February 1 and ending February 28. Winners will be announced in April.
It's easy to vote for your favorite nonprofits by visiting Community Matters More or stopping by any of our 54 branches statewide.
A complete list of voting guidelines and eligibility requirements for write-in nominations are available at www.bangor.com/cmm.
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