Wednesday, June 26, 2013

CFAAM's "Gallery on the Green" Celebrates 15 Years


On Saturday and Sunday, July 27 & 28 and again on August 10 & 11, the Coastal Fine Art Alliance of Maine (CFAAM) will be hosting its annual juried art shows ont the Harbor House and Pemetic School greens in downtown Southwest Harbor.

With up to 35 artists per venue, a wide diversity of 2-dimensional art will be showcased. All of the exhibitors are either full or part time residents of Maine.

Over the years, many MDI residents and visitors have enthusiastically returned to support the artists as well as to view new works. A number of patrons have commented that the quality of art surpasses that of many oter shows around the country.

CFAAM is chartered as a non-profit charitable organization. After events promotions and security costs have been met, the remaining monies are donated to the Southwest Harbor & Tremont Chmaber of Commerce. With this year's anticipated contributions, that amount to date will have surpassed thirty thousand dollars. The events willbe helpd showers or shine.


For a preview and more information, go to: http://seamaineart.com/


Welcome to New Chamber Member Dr. Prunier, MS, DVM at Your Pet's Next Best Friend!

Welcome to New Chamber Member Dr. Prunier, MS, DVM at Your Pet's Next Best Friend! Dr. Prunier provides a vital service for our fellow family members with fur. Your Pet's Next Best Friend Veterinary Clinic is dedicated to providing your pet with the best service possible while making them feel safe and comfortable.
Welcome!


Salute to MDI Service Staff at Seal Cove Auto Museum

The Seal Cove Auto Museum is offering free admission to all staff working in the hospitality and service industries on MDI on Saturday, June 29, 10am - 5pm. We'll be playing music on the Museum's Diamond Disc Edison phonograph and popping popcorn as a part of this Salute to MDI Service Staff!


Friday, June 21, 2013

Thank you Pete and Suzanne Madeira!

Thank you Pete and Suzanne Madeira, from the Captain's Galley at Beal's Lobster Pier, for donating the very FIRST Okobterfest glass for our collection! We now have glasses from all 17 events to date!





Thursday, June 20, 2013

A Permanent Home for our Chamber

The question of a permanent home for the Southwest Harbor & Tremont Chamber of Commerce has been a topic of conversation off and on over the last few years.  In 2010 the Chamber Board sent a letter to the Southwest Harbor Board of Selectmen, excerpted here: 

We would like to make a proposal to you.  It is clear that the town is in need of year round public restrooms.  I have information from Robin Bennett that the town has set aside approximately $10,000 towards this capital project.  We would like to form a Capital Campaign Committee to raise enough money to be combined with the funds that have already been set aside to build a small visitor’s center with year round public restrooms on the site of the existing temporary restrooms.  We would like to propose the following arrangements as a starting place for discussion: the facility would be owned by the town; in exchange for operating the facility and paying for heat and electricity the Chamber of Commerce would be allowed to occupy the space rent free; the Town would contribute the monthly water and sewer for the facility. There are many other fine points that would need to be addressed, but this gives you an idea of what we are proposing.
We would like to know if this is something you would be interested in pursuing.

Recently we have been approached by Southwest Harbor Town Manager, Don Lagrange about actively pursuing this project.  Several Chamber of Commerce members have indicated their interest in making a permanent home for the Chamber of Commerce.  Chamber members, Skip Wilson, Sandy Johnson and Jim King have expressed their support.

If you as a Chamber member support the pursuit of this project we would very much like to hear from you!  We have some members willing to volunteer their time to make this project a reality.  Please share your comments on this blog or reply to info@acadiachamber.com.  Without your support and interest, the project cannot go forward.

Updating Restaurant Hours on our web site

I am working on getting all of our member restaurant's hours of operation updated on our web site!  Please check your listing and if it needs updating, give me a call or email me at cynthia@acadiachamber.com.  I'm in the office Monday - Friday from 9am to 4pm.  If you have sample or take-out  menus that we could display here in the office, it would be wonderful if you could bring some in!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Manset Little Farm and WLBZ 2

I visited Maureen McDonald at Manset Little Farm yesterday, she is going to be buying a $25 line listing on our newly enhanced Weddings Page.

She asked me to let you all know that she has invited WLBZ 2 to Southwest Harbor to do a This is Home segment on Southwest Harbor.  Maureen plans to squire the camera crew around Southwest Harbor on Wednesday, June 19.  She is going to try and visit every business.
                                                                                 

Maureen asks that if you see her with the camera crew be sure to smile and wave!
                                                                                    

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Please Join Us!

Greetings from The Gilley! We cordially invite you to our second annual Flight of Swallows on Wednesday, August 14, 2013. Don’t miss a lovely summer evening of tasting select French wines and listening to live jazz. You will be greeted with an opening taste of champagne and will receive VIP treatment from our volunteer team of wine aficionados, who will pour your wines using fine Riedel glassware. Hors d'oeuvres, masterfully matched with the wines, will be served throughout the evening.

Please mark your calendar and get your tickets for this fresh and unique MDI summer event. Also feel free to share this email with anyone you know who enjoys good wine and a good time! The Gilley appreciates yo
ur interest and looks forward to the pleasure of your company.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Blessing of the Cars & Bikes

Bass Harbor's Annual Blessing of the Cars & Bikes

Saturday June 22

At Gordius' Garage, Route 102, Bass Harbor

Event starts at Noon
Blessing at 2:30
Pig Roast at 4:30
Fireworks at dark at the Tremont Town Wharf

No entry fee!  Food and drinks will be served on a donations basis.


4th of July Fireworks in Southwest Harbor

Gilley's Head of the Harbor
344 Main Street
Southwest Harbor, ME
207-664-4238

EMAIL:
gilleysheadoftheharbor@gmail.com

WEBSITE:
https://sites.google.com/site/gilleysheadoftheharbor/

JOIN us for 4th of July Fireworks in Southwest Harbor hosted by Gilley's Head of the Harbor.
Fireworks will be located just off Dysart's Marina on Acadia Fuel's barge. Looking forward to
having fireworks and accompanying festivities in our beautiful town. Where will you sit and
enjoy them? Manset Shore, Clark Point Road, portions of Main Street, on a boat rafted up, at
the Dysarts Marina or of course we hope right at Gilley's Head of the Harbor overlooking the
marina with a comfortable chair and a beverage.... You will have the best view for sure!!
It will be a 20 minute show with lots of spectacular fireworks by a professional company.
There will be high ones, low ones, many color schemes etc... Bring your families out locally
and enjoy another great event in Southwest Harbor as we help support local businesses.
Thank you for your support!! We hope you and your family will enjoy the show!!

RAINDATE: July 5th

Welcome New Member!

Tom Johnson, owner of Liquor Locker Inc. in Southwest Harbor, has joined the Chamber!

Liquor Locker is a independent, full service, family owned beverage retailer, specializing in fine wine, craft beer & spirits from all over the world for over 30 years. They have an outstanding selection and knowledgeable staff to make your shopping experience an enjoyable one.

Liquor Locker will be having a Free In-Store Beer Tasting next Saturday 6/15 from 3-6pm.


Welcome to the Chamber!

Welcome to New Member

Frank Pendola, owner of Nostrano Private Dinner Club and Barbeque in Bar Harbor has joined the Chamber. The art of smoking and grilling has long been a part of Frank Pendola's love for the cooking process. You may have tasted his smoked meats at his Annual MDI Garlic Festival that started in the fall of 1998 as a way to celebrate Frank's garlic harvest.  

Nostrano is available all year for catered barbeque events for 20-200 people (or more). Ask us about our slow smoked brisket, pulled pork, iron skillet Maine crab cakes, smoked Atlantic salmon and side dishes.

Private Dinners for groups of 6-20 people (minimum of 8 on Fridays and Saturdays). We will design a menu for the evening including a selection of appetizers (anti pasti), first course (primi) second course (secondi) and dessert (dolci). The menu selection is based on seasonal availability of our garden fruits and vegetables as well as the chef's preference for preparing his favorite dishes or latest creations. Dishes that are based on a special ingredient or that are from a particular region of Italy are often featured.

Welcome!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Welcome New Members/New Businesses

Tammy Brouty, owner of All in One in Southwest Harbor behind the Library has joined the Chamber.  Tammy sells new and used furniture and clothes, books, kitchen ware and miscellaneous products for the home.  Everything in her store  is new or in good condition and reasonably priced.  She carries shoes, baby clothes and jewelry.

I have purchased several chairs from her and lots of supplies for the kitchens in my cottages.  Yesterday I bought a mirror.  Her shop is a great place to furnish your home or cottage economically and get some great clothes at reasonable prices.

Tammy also carries Fair Trade products a nice addition to what I see as her Yankee inspired business model of connecting good products with good people.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-In-One-Southwest-Harbor-ME/120169888007115

Ben Sawyer, There's Ben 460-8970, joined the Chamber yesterday.  Ben can fix your broken computer, set up your new computer, set up your wireless network, and get rid of pesky viruses and spyware.  You can also e-mail him: theresben@gmail.com

Welcome to the Chamber, Tammy and Ben!

Welcome to the community, April Eaton and the Blue Legume at 245 Harbor Drive in Bass Harbor, beyond the Bass Harbor Post Office on the way to Bass Harbor Head Light.  The Blue Legume Carry Out held its grand opening yesterday and the Chamber dropped off a New Business Welcome Basket.  I picked some menus for my cottages and went away with two black bean brownies, a peach-basil tart and a cup of coffee.

I have new Tremont town manager, Carl Young to thank for the notice that the Blue Legume was opening.  As always thanks to Gail Royal of Westside Florist for putting up the basket and thanks to all the businesses who donated items for the basket.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Charlotte Rhoades Park & Butterfly Garden Named a 2013 "Best of New England – Editor's Choice" Winner by Yankee Magazine

Charlotte Rhoades Park & Butterfly Garden has been recognized as a 2013 "Editor's Choice" winner in Yankee Magazine's Travel Guide to New England, on newstands now. This designation is awarded by Yankee's editors and contributors, who name select restaurants, lodgings, and attractions in New England to the exclusinve list. For 27 years, Yankee Magazine's Travel Guide to New England has been the most widely distributes and best-selling guide to the six-state region, providing readers with a comprehensive vacation-planning tool and daily reference.

The Butterfly Garden at the Charlotte Rhoades Park was established in 1998 to promote conservation education and gardening instruction in the community. Volunteers work throughout the season with school children and adults to learn more about butterfly habitat and observation. Suggestive of butterfly wings, the garden beds were designed by Bar Harbor landscape architect Bruce John Riddell and includes perennials, annuals, and shrubs that are butterfly host plants. Bring a picnic and enjoy coastal views, stroll amid blooming perennials, annuals, and see a variety of butterflies at this small seaside garden. The park is open daily dawn to dusk.

"Every one of the 300-plus places we highlight contains an untold backstory about someone striving for perfetion, having a dream, and having the vision to make a difference, whether it's a small artisan's studio or a lobster-in-the-rough shack or a dressed-up steakhouse on a tree-lined Boston street," says Yankee's editor Mel Allen. "While it maybe hard to create a business, the true challenge is in making it work, being good enough that it endures and brings people back. Those are the challenges we look for and reward when we say 'Best of New England.'"

Yankee Magaine's May/June 2013 Travel Guide, on newstands April 23, features 317 "Best of New England – Editor's Choice" winners, which include the region's best attractions, food & dining, lodging, and bargains. This special issue also names 120 top events aroundNew England and shares six island daytrips – from dawn to dark, pluss recipes for deltable island fare.


For more information visit: YankeeMagazine.com

About Charlotte Rhoades Park & Butterfly Garden: The Charlotte Rhoades Park and Butterfly Garden is located in Southwest Harbor, on Mount Desert Island. For visitors of all ages, it is exciting to experience a coastal butterfly habitat in Downeast Maine and see how careful organic gardening practices can sustain and protect butterflies. Charlotte Rhoades, a resident of Southwest Harbor, owned this property in the1950’s. In 1978 the property was given to the town in her memory with the request that it be used as a quiet park for children and their parents. The Town of Southwest Harbor is grateful to the following organizations for their support of the Charlotte Rhoades Park & Butterfly Garden: the Southwest Harbor Beautification Committee, the Garden Club of Mount Desert Island, the Bar Harbor Garden Club, Friends of Acadia, Southwest Harbor Coast Guard, and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Hancock County Master Gardener Volunteers.


About Yankee Magazine: Yankee Magazine was founded in 1935 and is based in Dublin, New Hampshire. It is the only magazine devoted to New England through its coverage of travel, home, food and feature stories. With an average circulation of 317,000 and a total audience of 1.7 million readers, it is published by Yankee Publishing Incorporated (YPI), a family-owned, independent magazine publisher. YPI also owns the nation's oldest continuously produced periodical, The Old Farmer's Almanac, and McLean publications. More information about Yankee: New England's Magazine is avaiable at: YankeeMagazine.com/press.

National Park Canoe and Kayak Rental

National Park Canoe and Kayak Rental: http://www.nationalparkcanoerental.com/ held an open house on Tuesday,  Cynthia and I went.  I won a door prize of $50 toward services.  There were some other cool prizes too plus burgers and hotdogs and beer and good company.  Thanks to Brian and Stephen and their staff for throwing the party!

I'm looking forward to cashing in my gift certificate for a free kayak - as soon as it gets just a little warmer!

                                                    



Schoodic Peninsula Visit

The MDI Regional Chambers of Commerce now DBA Acadia Regional Chambers of Commerce (ARCC) were invited to a Schoodic Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday night to plead the case for Schoodic's continued membership with ARCC.  As it turns out, the decision to remain had already been made in the positive and so we are happy to report Schoodic's continued participation and support.

The meeting was held a SERC: http://www.sercinstitute.org/.  We met in a room at the Schooner Club.  Before I left, I swapped a case of our Trail Maps, that Schoodic Chamber members seemed pleased to have for a big stack of Schoodic Peninsula Maps.  I'll be putting them in my cottages as I like to send my guests on day trips to Schoodic and the maps help with that.

I'll leave the extras at our office in Southwest Harbor.  While supplies last, you can get some from Cynthia or Linda if you want.


Quietside Representation at Thompson's Island

Thompson's Island Visitors Information Center has opened for the season.  Southwest Harbor & Tremont Chamber of Commerce  is of course a member or the Regional Chambers which oversees operations there.  This gives our own members access to the advertising services at very reasonable prices.

Many of you use the services already and we'd like encourage more of you to do so.  Bill and his staff and the Park staff do a good job of serving the entire Acadia Region.  When day trippers and new visitors looking for accommodations learn about the opportunities on the Quietside of Acadia they are more likely to make the decision to come here.

It would be particularly nice to see more of our restaurants represented at Thompson's Island.  Speaking from experience in our local information center, visitors are interested in looking at menus as well as excursions and activities brochures.

Please bring our local office copies of your most recent menus and if you are not already advertising at Thompson's Island please consider doing so.  You should have recently received an offer to advertise in the mail.

Questions, call Kristin 244-9687.

Thank GT Outhouses!

When Mindy and Chad Terry, owners of GT Outhouses in Southwest Harbor: http://www.gtouthouses.com/ read in the paper that the Park was going to be opening the top of Cadillac Mountain late, on account of the sequester and lack of $$, they picked up the telephone, called the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and donated three portapotties plus maintenance services until the Park could take over the job again themselves.

Chad told me that the morning they delivered they had the entire top of the mountain to themselves, which was pretty nice.  Afterwards, the toilets saw quite alot of use.

When you see Chad and Mindy you might thank them.  I was impressed not only by their generosity but their effectiveness.  They called the right people and they took action and the entire tourist business community of Mt. Desert Island was benefited.