Chamber Connections - July 2nd
Open for Business
Maine exempts 3 more states from quarantine

Visitors from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey soon will be exempted from Maine’s requirement that they quarantine for 14 days or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, Gov. Mills said yesterday. The three states join New Hampshire and Vermont that were previously exempted because of their low case prevalence and rates of positive tests.

The quarantine and testing exemption for visitors from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, which goes into effect Friday, shows the three states have a lower rate of positive tests for the coronavirus than Maine and a similar virus prevalence that continues on a downward trend.

“We were satisfied their rates were coming down sufficiently to put them on par with the state of Maine,” Mills said at the briefing Wednesday, the same day  a new stage of reopening began , allowing entertainment venues such as movie theaters, bowling alleys and arcades to open.

For the time-being visitors from Massachusetts & Rhode Island and other states outside New England still need to abide by the Keeping Maine Healthy plan, which allows visitors in lieu of quarantine to sign and submit a certificate of compliance to their lodging facility that they have received a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their visit.
Face masks
Gov. Janet Mills announced yesterday that she will also toughen mask-wearing requirements in areas of Maine “Especially seeing the dangerous trends in southern and southwestern states after they lifted restrictions dramatically, we have to take this virus seriously, and we must continue to protect one another,” Mills said at a media briefing. New Executive Order.

Wearing masks, especially in indoor public places, is a key strategy to containing the virus. Thanks for keeping our community safe! Read the state guidlines
Open for Business

With the current situation constantly evolving, we maintain a list on which businesses are open in the region and what services they are offering.  If you would like to add or update your information, please contact us .
July 4th - First Friday Art Walk
The First Fridays Arts Tour highlights the art of the Boothbay Region. Held July through October, this free self-guided tour offers fresh art exhibits, open house receptions and artist demonstrations. Up to fifteen galleries and studios participate; all are located within minutes of each other on the Boothbay Peninsula and are open 9am – 9pm. 

Pick up a map at participating site or Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. Begin at any participating venue.
St. Andrews Auxiliary - Thrift Shop has the Fourth of July festive spirit in their store front windows. Stop by to dress up all your summer festivities. Prices are low and they are open for business. Call (207) 633-5014 for more information

Made up of all volunteers, the store proudly works to help support our regional health care. Your support helps us achieve our mission. Past donations have been to scholarships, the Zimmerli Pavilion, the Gregory Wing, Assisted Living, Urgent Care, and Safe Havens.
July 10th - Seth Warner Band
The line-up for our show on July 10th at The Opera House includes Seth Warner on acoustic guitar and vocals, Marty Joyce on drums, Scott Elliot on base and Andy Argondizza on electric guitar playing a mix of blues, folk, old country, R&B, American via the singer-songwriter genre and a special set of John Prine classics.


LIMITED SEATING. Reserved seats only – $20. Call the box office 207-633-5159. No tickets available online. For more information visit us online .
Botanical Gardens Announces New CEO
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ Board of Directors is pleased to announce that, as of July 6, Gretchen Ostherr will become the Gardens’ next President and CEO. “Gretchen brings a strong record of vision and commitment to mission,” says Judy Parkhill, head of the search committee, “a passion for the outdoor environment, demonstrated leadership, and superb communication skills. It was a unanimous decision.”

The Gardens began its search for a CEO in August, 2019. “After consulting with staff, volunteers, donors and community members, we conducted a lengthy and exhaustive search, committed to finding the right person to achieve our mission and goals, to meet our challenges, and to be the right fit with our staff, our Board, and constituents,” Parkhill says. “I am very pleased to say that, in Gretchen, we have found her.” Visit Online .

Transfer your Prescriptions to Nathan's
We are very excited to join the community and hope to have a great impact on every customer. Our Pharmacy will be providing personalized consultations, compounding prescriptions, great prices on prescription drugs, a huge variety of local creams and tinctures, DNA testing, and discounts for local customers.

As pet lovers we provide veterinary prescriptions, compounding prescriptions, custom medications free of dyes or allergens and holistic pet remedies for cats and dogs.

Our vision will be focused on old fashioned pharmacies. We will also provide an apothecary with a large amount of spices that will help you heal in a very natural way. A coffee bar and a comfortable waiting area will be part of the pharmacy as well. We hope you can come join us! Visit us Online.
Shannon's Unshelled - Bigger is Better!
How do you improve on something that is already perfect? As the only dedicated Lobster Shack right in the heart of Boothbay Harbor’s historic waterfront for the past 7 years, Shannon’s Unshelled is taking on the challenge! Not wanting to leave her beautiful spot overlooking the Footbridge at 23 Granary Way, owner Shannon Schmelzer has decided to expand instead - In a big way!

First, it was time to bring in a new shack - almost twice the size of the old one to be able to keep up with continued demand and to make room for some new equipment. “The additional space has allowed us to add a dedicated fryer so we can now add fried clams, shrimp, scollops , Haddock and even fried Pickles to our newly expanded menu.” Shannon says. “We are first & foremost, a waterfront restaurant with close ties to the local fishing community. We want to promote them and feature all that is special about our area. Our signature overstuffed Lobster Rolls containing a fresh, whole unshelled lobster, will now be joined by other extraordinary dishes featuring the best of Maine seafood. This year also sees the the addition of Chef Michael Morrissette who brings a wealth of experience to the team. We couldn’t be happier!

Over the next few weeks we will be unveiling our new menu, new logo and website, along with a partnership with neighboring Footbridge Brewery that will offer specials making it easier for customers to share a local brew while having a delicious lunch! Our beautiful outdoor garden seating area provides the perfect place to dine while observing social distancing. During this difficult time, we want to give people a place where they can unwind and forget the stresses of the outside world. We have plenty of parking and view that can’t be beat! Our goal is to continue providing stellar service to our existing customers while listening to requests about ways we can improve. We are just getting started!”

Shannon’s Unshelled is open from 11am -4pm Monday through Thursday, Friday & Sat open till 8pm, Sun 11 - 2pm (or till they sell out). Call or text now at (207) 350-7313 to place your order.
Closed for 2020
The following will not happen Summer 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Business owners who wish to be listed may send an email, with or without an explanation, to  news@boothbayregister.com

BUSINESS

  • Boothbay Railway Village will not open this summer. BRV’s board of directors held off on deciding as long as it could, changing scenarios to reflect Gov. Janet Mills’ latest COVID-19 guidelines. Full story.

  • Maine State Aquairium is temporarily closed as a precautionary effort to protect the public and limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). "We understand the disappointment this brings, but we are adhering to recommendations that ensure the safety and well-being of our guests, employees and volunteers. For updates, please visit www.maine.gov/dmr/education/aquarium/index.html

  • Hendricks Hill Museum, Southport - After careful consideration, the trustees voted not to open the museum to the public this summer due to the current COVID-19 social distancing requirements. We look forward to re-opening during the summer of 2021, will continue to work on projects that forward the museum's mission and, in the meantime, please join in on the Hendricks Hill Museum Community Photography Project to help us document life on Southport during 2020. 

  • Carousel Music Theater, Boothbay Harbor - It is with a heavy heart that we must announce due to business restrictions and health concerns caused by COVID-19 we are unable to open for our 2020 season.

  • Kaler’s Crab & Lobster House, Boothbay Harbor


EVENTS

  • Windjammer Days - The 58th Windjammer Days Festival set for June 21-29 has been canceled. .According to Capt. Pete Ripley, board member of Friends of Windjammer Days, the decision was made after Gov. Janet Mills announced her four-part plan to reopen the state. “There’s no way we can keep crowds down to less than 50 people,” Ripley said. “Here’s looking toward 2021.”

  • Claw Down - It is with a heavy heart that we have had to postpone this year's Claw Down event which had been scheduled to happen July 11th. With restrictions still in place for large gatherings, at this time we have to err on the side of safety. Thanks to our team of Midcoast Hospitality, Maine Magazine & Hodgdon Yacht for all their hard work. Looking forward to 2021.


  • Harbor Fest - Lori Reynolds, organizer of the annual Harbor Fest event in Boothbay Harbor, has announced that the ninth annual, late summer, 10-day event (Sept. 3-12) has been canceled for 2020, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

  • 4th July Fireworks - Like many towns and cities in Maine and across the U.S., Boothbay Harbor will put off July 4 fireworks. Following the canceled Windjammer Days by a week, the event would be in the middle of Gov. Janet Mills’ order to keep public gatherings to at most 50 people. Full story.

  • Pumpkinfest - Even though sadly we have had to make the decision to cancel Pumpkinfest 2020, as an expression of our hope in the future, and our agricultural mission, we encourage people to grow Giant Pumpkins this year in their gardens. Free Giant Pumpkin seedlings will be available for no-contact pick-up from May 16-30 at Pinkham's Plantation at 431 Biscay Road, Damariscotta, and Louis Doe Home Center at 92 Mills Road, Newcastle. Please visit our website for growing information.
For up-to date news - visit our Chamber COVID 19 page