Beginning this year when driving on Route 27, you will see a new sign celebrating the success of our student athletes. It will be located where the Water Department tells us the water will be turned off the third Thursday of October. The sign identifies high school teams that lived the dream of winning a state championship. Each of the team members will always carry a feeling of exceptional accomplishment. As a community, we all swell with pride at the remarkable moment of holding high a championship trophy. Do you not smile when, on the night of the championship game, you start to hear the unmistakable crescendo of fire and police sirens announcing the victory? Yes! I smile. The best in the state - say it again - the best in the state. Wow!

As I pondered the successes in our schools and specifically, the athletics teams, I began to think of the thousands of visitors seen on the peninsula every year. They come into town and have wonderful experiences at award winning rooms, suites, and homes, fabulous restaurants, world class botanical gardens, and extraordinary sunsets on the harbor. Not to mention, sightseeing on tour boats or kayaks, local breweries, and shopping. Residents here make all the events and experiences possible.

Do visitors have any information about our quality of life?

Boothbay Region is more than just a place to visit, it’s a heck of a place to live, to raise a family, and a place to succeed. Hopefully, the sign will play a part in delivering a message of community pride and success. A tangible display that the area is more - a lot more – than just a temporary playground or destination for lobster. People living here are winners! Kids growing up here can achieve great things, in academics and athletics. We work hard at growing our businesses, providing excellent services, and proactively taking care of vulnerable residents.

My wife, Cathryn, and I opened Sweet Bay in downtown Boothbay Harbor in 2007. With few exceptions, all employees were retirees looking for a few hours, pizza money, and the social interaction of working in a shop. In 2016, I became convinced that we, the local business owners, should be much more proactive with high school students. I reached out to the high school who helped with an announcement over the PA. The announcement stated a job opportunity was available at Sweet Bay. The opportunity I had in mind was not “just” a part time job. I committed to showing and involving the student in all aspects of the business. Choosing and ordering products, cleaning, maintaining supplies, daily cash reconciliation, opening and closing the store, and accounting to see if the store was profitable or not. All the things needed to operate a successful business. Three students responded. The student we chose was Alexis Davison, who was a member of the Seahawks’ basketball program. Alexis was a sophomore at that time and continued to work with us through the summer after her high school graduation.

We learned about basketball activities and the good work of Coach Brian Blethen. She learned retail and Sweet Bay. We became hooked as Seahawk fans. The next year, we hired Madison Barter, another member of the 2019 Championship team.

Both of those students have become amazing young women. It certainly enriched our lives to work with them. Alexis will graduate from UMaine Orono this year with a degree in pre-veterinary medicine.

Thank you to Allan Crocker, BRHS athletic director for his in-depth research, his time and conversations and officer Larry Brown for his research, support, suggestions, and his love for all students. Many others around town helped by being part of informal “focus groups” to discuss the sign. Special thanks to the trustees of the Boothbay Region Water Department and General Manager Jonathan Ziegra. They approved placing the new sign on the Route 27 water department pole. The sign will be displayed from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Finally, a thank you to Carrot Signs, located in Brunswick, who produced and painted the sign.