The Community School District planning and vote on the $89 million school renovations and building dominated the local news in 2023, with the end result being the voters turning down the plan in November. This coming year, voters will be asked to approve or disapprove plans for renovating Boothbay Region elementary and high schools.

Other top stories included the flood at Boothbay Region Elementary School, the ongoing Eastside Waterfront Park disagreements, and discussion on providing affordable housing in the region.

Following are the top stories from each month of 2023.  

JANUARY 

When President Biden signs the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill into law, Maine’s lobster industry will take a six-year step back from the brink thanks to the efforts of Maine’s congressional delegation which secured a last-minute addition that put further restrictions to protect endangered right whales on hold. 

But Boothbay area lobstermen caution this does not end their concerns. “The pause doesn’t mean this is over,” said Boothbay’s Troy Plummer, member of Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) board of directors and lobster boat operator for nine years. “Everything is status quo until 2028, but we’ll have to do our homework,” said Boothbay Harbor’s Clive Farrin, lobsterman for more than 20 years and past president of Downeast Lobstermen’s Association.  

Edgecomb Selectman Dawn Murray read her resignation letter aloud Dec. 27 citing an ongoing harassment case and health concerns as reasons for leaving her post. She had hoped to finish her term which expires in May, but could not, and she decided she would officially resign effective Dec. 31.  

Another Edgecomb selectman is resigning. Selectman Ted Hugger announced he is resigning on April 17. Hugger has served eight years on the board and won re-election last May to a three-year term. But his future in town government became complicated when he sold Cod Cove Inn.  

Boothbay Harbor selectmen voted 5-0 on Jan. 9 to accept Fuller Marine Services’ two bids for repairing the footbridge. Fuller Marine of Boothbay Harbor was one of three bidders who submitted proposals to renovate two bridge sections. Fuller Marine bid $1,419,048.49 for section one work. Chesterfield Inc. of Westport Island bid $1,547,665 and CPM Constructors, Inc. of Freeport bid $1,978,325. For section two, Fuller Marine bid $113,518, followed by Chesterfield Inc. with $152,480 and CPM Constructors with $235,190.  

Boothbay Region Housing Trust, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3), has broken ground to build seven affordable homes in Boothbay Harbor. The three-bedroom, two bath homes will be located off Park Street.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies continue their search for Thomas P. Harris, 60, last seen the evening of Monday, Jan. 2, working in the yard outside his home at 170 Butler Road, Boothbay. Wednesday, Jan. 11, Maine Warden’s Service helped by flying its plane over the Boothbay area searching for any signs of Harris. Nothing of significance was observed.  

The Community School District School Board voted 4-1 on Jan. 10 to support proposed changes to the school charter. Last summer, Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor selectmen began exploring the possibility of updating the nearly 70-year-old document. The two towns were eventually joined by school officials in developing a “repeal and replace” approach to updating the document’s language to match current state statutes and change from the current budget meeting format to a budget validation referendum for approving the annual school budgets.

There will be no spring vote on a new Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District building complex. On Jan. 25, the Building Exploratory Committee decided to delay a vote into the next fiscal year.  

On Oct. 30, 2021, Boothbay Harbor Appeals Board remanded a decision back to the planning board regarding Eastside Waterfront Park’s proposal. The appeals board sent a letter seeking clarification on four points regarding Joseph and Jill Doyle’s appeal of the project abutting their Atlantic Avenue home. On Jan. 31, 2023, the appeals board received a written response to its four questions dating back over a year ago. After a 90-minute review, the appeals board, once again, remanded the appeal back to the planning board seeking more information.  

FEBRUARY  

BRES was shut down this week after a major water leak damaged several parts of the building over the weekend. The water leak through the school sprinkler system was caused by the extremely low temperatures during the polar vortex on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4. Planning for returning to regular classes began immediately. 

During an emergency meeting, Community School District Superintending Committee members officially heard how administrators planned on handling the elementary school flooding. On Feb. 7, school officials provided initial plans for handling the school’s closure. Beginning, Feb. 13, the plan called for pre-kindergarten to grade five students to attend daily classes at the high school. Sixth through eighth graders will attend classes at Boothbay Region YMCA. And on Feb. 9, high school students were to begin remote learning.  

On Wednesday, Feb. 1 at First National Bank in Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay Sea and Science Center (BSSC) closed on the Estate of Mildred A. Carter located at 12 Carter Road in East Boothbay. This working waterfront property will support BSSC’s seasonal program, extend the reach of its in-school seaweed farming program, and provide a platform for the development of after-school sea and science programs serving the youth and families of the Boothbay region and beyond.  

The Boothbay Region Seahawks boys varsity basketball team lost one and won one and finished the regular season this past week with a season record of 12-6. A Class C South tournament prelim game at home against Traip Academy was scheduled for Feb. 15. The 10th-seeded Traip Academy Rangers showed confidence, quickness and tough rebounding as the York County school took down the Boothbay Region Seahawks, 68-53, at BRHS in the Class C South prelim game.  

Boothbay Harbor Police Department has been short-staffed for months and a resident believes if the situation is not addressed soon, it will result in adverse consequences. Resident Kate Sullivan urged selectmen Feb. 13 to take action regarding a police force which had only four of eight full-time jobs filled.  

On Feb. 17, Doug Snyder was sworn in as the town’s new top cop. Snyder has worked as a Boothbay Harbor police officer for 6.5 years. During the ceremony, he told friends, family and co-workers he was excited to start a new chapter of his career. Snyder is from Maryland and was stationed at the Coast Guard at Boothbay Harbor from 2002 to 2006.

Boothbay Region Greenhouses was sold Jan. 31. The new owner is Squirrel Island Village Corp. Rob Hopkins is the corporation’s island manager. He confirmed on Feb. 24 the corporation bought the property which will be used for parking.  

The Boothbay Region Y Arts competition team traveled to the National Performing Arts Festival at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida Feb. 16-19 and received the highest ranking of “Superior Performance” for its adjudication piece, “Let’s Go to the Movies.”   

On Feb. 28, Community School District committee members unanimously approved a plan designed by administrators to resume full-time in-person learning for high schoolers and reoccupying the elementary school after April vacation. All Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor students were scheduled to resume in-person learning on March 8. The committee approved a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 classroom reorganization plan which will send students to five different buildings. Under the plan, pre-Kindergarten through grade two would remain in the high school’s upstairs north wing. Grades one and two would share a classroom. Grade three would use the Boothbay Region YMCA, Grades four and five would use Camp Knickerbocker. Grade six would use the Boothbay fire house. Grades seven and eight would travel to Camp Kieve in Nobleboro. Grades 9-12 students would return to the high school on March 7.  

MARCH  

After closing 10 months ago, acquiring a new owner and four months of improvements, the Thistle Inn restaurant will open March 31, according to owner Jenny Chen, who said diners will see the results of the efforts in the 162-year-old building.  

40-year-old Matthew Plummer was arrested and charged early Monday morning, March 20 by the State Police tactical team and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies following a standoff on Reed Road in Boothbay Harbor Sunday night. The incident began at about 4:35 p.m. Sunday afternoon when witnesses in the area of Campbell Creek Apartments reported seeing a man with a gun and hearing gunshots in the parking lot of the apartment complex. Before deputies arrived, the victim, identified as a 34-year-old man from Wiscasset, arrived at the local urgent care facility seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. Witnesses reported that a man, later identified as Matthew Plummer of Boothbay Harbor, had gone back into an apartment at Campbell Creek following the incident and was believed to still be inside.  

Geoff Smith, Boothbay Harbor’s code enforcement officer, notified the Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation board on March 10 that three stop work orders regarding Eastside Waterfront Park have now been rescinded. BHWP board president John O'Connell said this week, the notice from Smith will allow the board to do some work on the park when possible, including work on the Hodgdon House.  

The Boothbay Harbor Board of Appeals upheld an appeal March 30 by concluding the planning board did not sufficiently document reasoning behind granting Eastside Waterfront Park a permit. The board of appeals twice remanded questions back to the planning board seeking its rationale for approval, and nearly issued a third remand March 9 before tabling the decision. Instead, the board of appeals wanted to review records via planning board minutes from Nov. 10, 2021, and Nov. 23, 2021.  

Boothbay Harbor Police Department is getting a little help from its friends in dealing with a manpower shortage. Two more resignations take place in April as patrolman Jennifer Gosselin resigns April 1 and Sgt. Pat Higgins resigns April 15. Last fall, the town entered into a temporary agreement with the county sheriff’s department for added coverage. Now with an even more depleted department, Boothbay Harbor has reached a tentative deal with the sheriff’s department for six more months. 

Boothbay region business owner and philanthropist Paul G. Coulombe was presented with the 2023 Maine Office of Tourism’s Governor’s Award for Tourism Excellence at the annual Governor’s Conference in Bangor on Tuesday, March 28.   

APRIL  

“I was out at an all-day training seminar for staff and volunteers from YMCAs across northern New England and I’m pretty jazzed about the opportunities for our Y,” said Boothbay YMCA Board of Trustees Chair-Elect Bruce Harris of Southport. Last summer, Harris led the Y’s Strategic Planning Task Force (SPTF), which engaged about 50 volunteers, community stakeholders and staff in a forum that assessed and analyzed the Y’s strengths, community impact and future opportunities. The result is a Strategic Road Map document that leverages the Y’s assets in new, multi-use formats, solidifies the focus on impact programming, and defines ways the Y can assist with other unmet needs in the community.  

The Boothbay Region Seahawk math team capped a stellar season by taking third place in its class at the State of Maine high school math tournament on April 4 at Augusta Civic Center. The Seahawks’ top individual students at the state meet were senior Ryan Clark with 32 points, sophomore Sawyer Blake with 29 points, senior Rachel Barter with 22 points, freshman Abby Orchard with 21 points, and sophomore Abbie Clark with 17 points.

Frederick “Fritz” Freudenberger joined the Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper staff this week as a full-time reporter, according to editor Kevin Burnham. Freudenberger’s coverage area will be Boothbay Harbor, including the town boards, school boards and organizations, general assignments, sports and more.  

The Boothbay Harbor Board of Appeals on April 27 denied a request for reconsideration of its previous decision on property at 65 Atlantic Ave. The denial effectively halts progress on Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation’s construction of Eastside Waterfront Park there. “Obviously, we’re very saddened and frustrated by the decision,” said BHWP President John O'Connell. “Despite all the time we’ve spent on this we are not where we need to be. My own view is that the system has failed. This is not a proud moment for the town.” 

The Boothbay region Building Exploratory Committee voted unanimously April 26 to move on with further review and cost estimates of constructing a new high school building. The BEC also approved progress on a new site plan for the building, which was unveiled at the meeting. Votes came after a review of design plans and a project update from Joe Britton with Lavallee Brensinger Architects.  

MAY  

Boothbay region seventh and eighth grade students returned to classes in their wing at Boothbay Region Elementary School on May 2, according to Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler. Middle school students have been displaced since earlier this year due to flooding issues at the elementary school.  

BRES art educator Jessica Nadeau has been named Maine Elementary Art Educator of the Year by Maine Art Education Association (MAEA), a member-based group that supports art programming in schools and communities.   

Boothbay Harbor failed to pass an article tied to a controversial state law aimed at tackling Maine’s housing crisis. At the annual town meeting May 6 at the fire house, the other 21 articles passed, including the proposed $4,289,558 million town budget for 2024. “It was a contentious and difficult to understand piece of legislation,” said Selectmen’s Chair Michael Tomko. “I expected there would be quite a bit of debate ... I worry about putting the town at risk by not having this approved.”  

Maintenance and repair issues in the BRES building were aired at the Community School District Board of Trustees’ May 2 meeting. Trustees discussed the need for quick action to keep the 1977 building safe and operational for students. Director of Facilities Dave Benner said progress has been made on BRES projects and he complimented the crews making the repairs. He said flood damage demolition and painting are mostly complete, and the gym floor has been installed, sanded and sealed and should be complete this month.  

Incumbent Charles “Chuck” Cunningham and newcomer Julie Roberts were elected as Boothbay selectmen on Monday, May 1 in the town’s annual meeting vote. Cunningham received 390 votes and Roberts had 308. Erik C. Bertelsen received 252 votes and Karen Kusnierz had 67.  

Mark Osborn and Mark Gimbel won the two contested seats in the Boothbay Harbor selectmen’s elections May 5. The results, certified by moderator Nicholas Upham, showed Osborn with 374 votes and Gimbel with 323. Incumbent Denise Griffin lost with 226 votes. 

Cunningham told fellow board members May 10, he was disappointed in Maine Department of Transportation’s response to pleas for road improvements this year to Route 27. Four Boothbay selectmen attended an MDOT meeting between Edgecomb selectmen and two state engineers managing the 2024 pavement preservation project. “I would like to see our board send a letter to the department and copy our local legislators. I’m disappointed at seeing how the two engineers passed the buck when we asked about addressing the road this year,” he said. “They can at least start filling those potholes before tourists start coming here by Memorial Day.”  

The Boothbay Harbor town hall was close to capacity for the May 8 selectmen’s meeting. A crowd came to show support for a working waterfront and the fishing community in light of recent struggles to find space in the harbor. A decision by the appeals board on April 27 halted progress on Eastside Waterfront Park, which would include space for lobstermen to use. This move was one of the latest in a years-long conflict between Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation and park abutters.  

Boothbay Harbor Sewer District honored John ‘‘Jolly’’ Arsenault May 20 for his service to the community by dedicating the water reclamation facility on Sea Street in his name. Arsenault, lifelong resident of Boothbay Harbor, served the district for over half a century and was one of its founding members. 

The Boothbay/Wiscasset girls’ track and field team finished second May 16 at the Mountain Valley Conference meet in Lisbon.  

The Boothbay Region High School tennis team won five matches this past week to finish 9-1 on the regular season and atop the Class C South standings.  

Voters approved the entire proposed $11,742,320 Community School District 2024 budget at the CSD Annual Meeting May 25. Over 150 citizens from Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor gathered and passed all 22 articles.  

Police Chief Doug Snyder reported the department has hired a sergeant. Jacob Powers, who has been a reserve officer for several months, will take the job. Snyder said Powers has six years’ experience.  

The Boothbay Harbor planning board conditionally approved an application to install eight floats on the east side of the harbor May 22 in front of a full house at town hall. BHWP applied May 18 to reconfigure and install eight 10-foot by 20-foot floats, in addition to a 14-foot hoist, for commercial use on the south pier at the property.  

Little League baseball is back in full swing in Boothbay as a new diamond is now ready. On May 26, local philanthropist Paul Coulombe cut the ribbon which officially opened the new Little League field and athletic complex. In 2020, Coulombe was instrumental in turning a $250,000 federal grant into a $1.18 million playground and athletic complex.  

JUNE 

Bolstered by strong performances by Kayden Ames and relay teams, the Boothbay/Wiscasset boys’ track and field team finished sixth Saturday, June 2 in the state Class C Championship meet held at Cony High School in Augusta. Ames won two state titles. He won his second consecutive discus championship with his 153-foot, six-inch throw. He defeated second place finisher Owen Moore of Maine Central Institute whose attempt went 131 feet and seven inches. In the shot put, Ames’ 44-foot, 4-inch throw beat second place Noah Parker of Orono, who had a 44-foot one-inch attempt.   

Maine Department of Transportation made a U-turn in its plans to wait until next year to address safety issues on Route 27. On June 5, Commissioner Bruce Van Note responded to letters from Boothbay Town Manager Dan Bryer and State Rep. Holly Stover who implored the department to act on short-term remediation and safety hazards on the much-traveled route.

In a major victory for Maine’s lobster industry, a federal appeals court on Saturday, June 17 has ordered the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to go back to the drawing board and re-work the most recent federal regulation to protect endangered North Atlantic Right Whales.  

Boothbay’s fire chief, Richard Spofford, is retiring from the job effective July 1 after 22 years as chief, 45 years and counting with the department. “It’s time for the others to move up,” he said. Spofford will remain active in the department, issuing burn permits, going out on calls, fighting fires and serving as forest warden after Assistant Fire Chief David Pratt takes over as chief.  

The Eastside Waterfront Park conflict went to Lincoln County Superior Court June 15 when Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation and park abutters John and Jill Doyle delivered arguments for review.  After a series of legal moves, the superior court ordered both parties to present consolidated briefs. This is the latest action in an ongoing conflict between the Doyles and BBHWP regarding the construction of a park at 65 Atlantic Ave. According to President John O’Connell, BBHWP made an April court appeal to counter a Boothbay Harbor Board of Appeals decision that would effectively stop progress on the park.  

Boothbay Region Elementary School celebrated their graduating students June 20 during the annual Eighth Grade Recognition Night. Assistant Principal Julianne Hansbury led the event celebrating the 37 students in the BRHS class of 2027 and recognized them for their efforts and achievements throughout the year.  

Boothbay Harbor selectmen Mark Osborn and Alyssa Allen are creating a committee to help affordable housing in the region. Osborn made the announcement at the June 26 selectboard meeting, but the new group will not be part of town government. “We all have tremendous interest in affordable housing in the Boothbay region and are trying to figure out the best way we could contribute to that,” Obsorn said. “What I would like to do is form a housing committee made up of a number of people in the area to think about options and opportunities we have in the area for affordable housing.”  

The Boothbay Regional Development Corporation (BRDC) finalized the purchase of nearly 31 acres of land on Butler Road on Thursday, June 15. The parcel was sold to the non-profit organization by Elbridge Giles, whose family has owned the land for generations. “It’s been a good piece of property for the Giles family,” Mr. Giles said while signing the closing documents.  

Boothbay Harbor has opened its footbridge full-time. Although the renovation project is not 100% complete, the town announced the opening June 30. "The footbridge has always been iconic; it's been a focal point to our town,” said Selectboard Chair Michael Tomko. The footbridge had been opened for day use the previous day but was made fully open after night safety concerns were addressed, according to Town Manager Julia Latter.  

JULY 

With students returning early September and a town bond vote in the fall, pressure remains steady for the Community School District (CSD) Board of Trustees to help manage repairs on school buildings at the Boothbay Harbor campus. Despite progress on several fronts, board members expressed concern July 18 about completion timelines. CSD Director of Facilities Dave Benner said there was progress including flooring repairs and protecting the Boothbay Region Elementary School envelope from water intrusion. However, complications with the aging structures, from roof parapet repairs to other flooring issues, have added to construction woes.  

The Mike and Heather Hills family of Boothbay, who have been synonymous with the Boothbay Region YMCA Dolphin swim team for a decade, has been chosen to chair the Y’s 2023 Annual Fund fundraising campaign.  

The Building Exploratory Committee voted July 26 to recommend a referendum question on funding the $89 million project to renovate the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District campus. The 3-1 vote is the BEC’s final recommendation to both the CSD School Board and Board of Trustees on the project.  

American Legion Post 36 in Boothbay and auxiliary announced a banner idea to honor local military veterans. Next spring, the post is planning to honor them with banners with each veteran’s photo in each town. Vietnam veteran Jim Singer and auxiliary member Sue Burge outlined their plans to hang banners on telephone poles from Edgecomb to Southport during the July 26 Boothbay selectmen’s meeting.  

Nick DeGemmis said he kind of fell into his career. A potentially unfortunate metaphor for a waste-water treatment professional, but the new Boothbay Harbor Sewer District superintendent is enthusiastic about his job. “I think it's a fantastic field,” he said. “It's a huge community service. I’m an environmentalist at heart, so I think you're a last line of defense for environmental protection.” DeGemmis, 42, has been working in wastewater treatment for over 15 years in both the private and public sectors.  

AUGUST  

On Saturday, Aug. 5, the U.S. Postal Service notified customers it will suspend service at the East Boothbay office on Aug. 15. A note distributed to EBB customers said suspension is due to health, safety and structural issues identified in the building. The note, signed by Donald Chasteen, identified only as manager of post office operations, said change always causes concern. He said officials have not made a final decision to permanently discontinue the East Boothbay Post Office. “Should any such decision be made in the future, the Postal Service will solicit feedback from customers on any potential discontinuance actions,” Chasteen’s note said.  

Southport Bridge will receive a major facelift this fall. A $20.9 million Maine Department of Transportation rehabilitation project is scheduled to begin late September or early October. Project Manager Jason Stetson sent selectmen an Aug. 2 email updating them on the project’s tentative schedule.  

A new set of LED lights at the Fishermen’s Memorial in Boothbay Harbor has created neighborhood tensions on the east side. A group of Lobster Cove Road neighbors brought the issue to selectmen Aug. 14. “It’s like being in a football stadium, and it was like daylight in my bedroom all night long for the first week,” said Carrie Langlois.  

Former Boothbay Fire Chief Richard Spofford left the Lincoln County Fire Chiefs Association meeting Aug. 16 with a little lighter heart and heavier arms than he came in with. Spofford was recognized twice for his longtime service to the community, winning both the Chief “Bob” Maxcy 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award and the Association’s President’s Award, with standing applause.  

The Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame has announced its induction class for 2023. Inductees include Boothbay Region High School graduates David Gaw (posthumous) and Melissa “Missy” Williams.  

The Community School District (CSD) Board of Trustees voted Aug. 22 to approve referendum questions to fund the $89 million Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor school renovation project. The questions will split the issue into two parts around renovating the middle-elementary school and building a new high school. The trustees voted 5-0 on draft language, which will be finalized by attorneys and discussed at a joint CSD Board of Trustees and School Board meeting Aug. 28 to call and sign the warrants.  

In the Aug. 28 Boothbay Harbor selectboard meeting, Boothbay Region Fishermen’s Memorial Board President Andrew Morley accused Selectman Michael Tomko of inappropriate conduct. Morley said the selectboard chair has been inciting conflict around the new set of LED lights at the memorial and getting in the way of finding a friendly solution. Morley’s claims involved an email Tomko sent around Aug. 21 to resident Robert Gill, encouraging Gill to bring the lighting problems to town officials as an ordinance issue.  

“We stand in remembrance,” began Gov. Janet Mills as she addressed a crowd of about 100 people in Boothbay, Thursday Aug. 31, on International Overdose Awareness Day. Mills’ speech was in conjunction with the 716 Candles Project, hosted by Healthy Lincoln County, to provide information and resources for those struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) and to support those who have lost loved ones.  

SEPTEMBER  

Isaac Molt of Bristol and captain of the Redemption, took the top prizes at the 2023 Boothbay Harbor Tuna Challenge, winning a total of $40,000. He and crewmate Steve Termine caught the heaviest fish, a 749.5-pound tuna on Sept. 7, and a total of 1,594 pounds of tuna during the tournament to win the overall weight category. According to organizers, 75 boats participated in the competition and caught 48 tunas; 11 captains caught more than one fish, and three, including Molt, caught three fish. Fishing started Sept. 3 and concluded Sept. 7, and Carousel Marina hosted a lobster bake and awards ceremony Sept. 9. In second place, Jeremy Westhaver landed a 729-pound tuna on Mistress to win $17,500. 

For the 16th year, The Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame has selected 10 finalists for the 2023 Student Athlete of the Year Award. Among the male and female finalists are Wiscasset’s Emily Gilliam and Boothbay’s Kayden Ames. 

Experts from around the state came to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Sept. 14 to discuss a complex group of chemicals known as PFAS. These potentially harmful “forever chemicals” have been the focus of much research in Maine, but experts say the issue is a societal problem that is much larger than one state. President Gretchen Ostherr said she wanted to host the event because tests revealed PFAS in the Gardens’ well water earlier this year. She said conditions are currently safe, but she is still unsure about the cause, which is a common story.  

Sixteen new members were inducted into the Boothbay Region High School chapter of the National Honor Society on Thursday evening, Sept. 14. The new members are Ariel Alamo, senior; Neal Baldwin, junior; Kari Blake, senior; Kate Campbell, senior; Laura Chapman, junior; Abigail Clark, junior; Catherine Clifford, senior; Lydia Currier, junior; Charlotte Fuchswanz, senior; Anna Gosselin, junior; Hannah Hills, junior; Harriet McKane, junior; Lilliana Nein, junior; Madeline Orchard, junior; Spencer Pottle, junior; and Cleyton Splaine, junior.  

After months of planning and construction, renovations on the iconic Boothbay Harbor Footbridge are complete. Town Manager Julia Latter said the last inspections for the project took place in September, including final approval from Maine Department of Transportation. As reported in the Register, Boothbay Harbor residents approved financing around $1.3 million in January for the renovation. In total, the project cost around $1.5 million with $250,000 support from the state, according to Latter.  

Boothbay Harbor needs a little more help providing 24/7 police protection. On Sept. 19, commissioners approved extending a current agreement for additional deputy sheriff patrols until Dec. 31. The extension would provide another 30 hours per week of patrols. The current interim agreement ends Sept. 30.  

Boothbay Cornhole Classic (BCC) raised $60,000 for Special Olympics Maine (SOM) on Sunday, Sept. 24, after the tournament had been delayed for a week due to tropical storm Lee. Seventy-two teams participated in the competition to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics athletes and the communities that support them.

The Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Long Range Planning subcommittee met for the first time Sept. 26 to discuss collaborative opportunities in the region. According to AOS 98, the sub-committee is exploring questions of expanded educational opportunities and efficient use of resources for all students. The district said the meeting was to clarify which communities would like to be involved, determine how best to engage with regional communities, and begin identifying both existing and desired connections.  

On Sept. 21, Boothbay Harbor Sewer District (BHSD) Superintendent Chris Higgins received the Al Jellison Lifetime Achievement Award at the Maine Water Environment Association (MEWEA) annual conference at Sunday River Resort in Newry. Higgins was unaware he had been nominated and was further surprised to receive the award. Higgins is set to retire from BHSD Dec. 31. Nick DeGemmis, incoming superintendent, will have spent five months training with Higgins and will take on the department’s potential seawall construction project.

OCTOBER  

On Friday morning, Oct. 6, detectives with the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central arrested 29-year-old Tyler Witham-Jordan of Edgecomb, charging him with murder in connection with the Christmas 2022 death of 3-year-old Makinzlee Handrahan. On Oct. 12, he was arraigned in Lincoln County Unified Criminal Court. He is being held on $250,000 bail at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.  

Heavy rains over the weekend did not stop the 55th annual Fall Foliage Festival and may have brought out the best in people. Around 2,500 visitors came to Boothbay Railway Village to celebrate the season with live music, vendors and family activities Oct. 7 and 8.

The Boothbay Register and Wiscasset Newspaper took home 12 awards, including two special awards, at Maine Press Association’s annual Fall Conference and Better Newspaper Contest held Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in South Portland. Wiscasset Newspaper won first place in the weekly 1 specialty category for its website and Boothbay Register took third place in weekly 2 special category for Advertising Excellence.  

Ocean Gate waterfront resort, which offered guest rooms on 33 acres in Southport since the 1950s, will open next May as LOGE Southport after an investment of “just north of” $5 million in renovation and development by its current owner LOGE Camps, according to Executive Vice President of Brand & Marketing Slate Olson.  

NOVEMBER  

Efforts to explore a new regional high school on the Boothbay peninsula are facing barriers. Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Long Range Planning Committee co-chair Kelly James said during the committee’s Nov. 2 meeting, the option for a new regional school in Edgecomb is not likely going to happen. James said she personally thought the option is off the table because Edgecomb officials have not said they want it. 

Ariel Alamo, Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) senior and officer of Interact Club, a high school arm of Rotary International, has designed “Lewiston Strong” bracelets for sale for $3 each. All proceeds go to families affected by the Oct. 25 mass shootings in Lewiston.  

After Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor voters rejected two town referendum questions to fund an $89 million school project on Nov. 7, one big question remains: Now what? The Community School District (CSD) Board of Trustees met Nov. 8 to confirm the results and discuss next steps. The bottom line is that it's going to take more referendums and public engagement to get the schools in good repair, according to the board. “We’ve got our compass bearing, and we know where we were headed, which is all we wanted from the beginning,” said Board of Trustees Chair Steve Lorrain. As reported in the Register, Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor residents voted down Question 1, to renovate the elementary-middle school building, 1266 to 1162. Voters were more decisive about Question 2, rejecting it 1688 to 718. The votes were aggregated between the towns and confirmed by the board. 

Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) is pleased to announce the purchase and conservation of a large tract of forested land off River Road in Edgecomb. The property, which transferred ownership to BRLT on Oct. 13, includes just over 100 acres of mostly forested land with frontage on River Road. The land abuts existing BRLT conservation land on the backside and is contiguous with numerous other conserved properties as part of the River~Link system.  

With most of the water on the island shut off for the season, firefighters faced significant challenges containing a fire that destroyed the maintenance building on Squirrel Island Sunday, Nov. 19. The building was a total loss but there were no injuries, according to Southport Fire Chief Gerry Gamage. Crews said the response went as well as it could have fighting a fire that could be seen from the mainland. The fire’s cause was not known; Gamage said the fire marshal will investigate. “A real mystery to us. (There was) nothing in there running. There's no heat or anything like that on,” said island manager Rob Hopkins. "We've all scratched our heads trying to figure out what started this thing.”  

A tight housing market will likely become tighter in the next 10 years. A county-wide housing study commissioned this spring by Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission showed 1,048 housing units are needed to keep pace with current growth. In response to this forecast, the commission is meeting with municipalities in an effort to identify future affordable housing locations.  

A new Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District (CSD) charter took effect Oct. 25. The document updated the charter first established in 1953 and reworked many times since. According to officials, the new version is streamlined to simplify language and better align with state law. The bill was sponsored by District 48 Rep. Holly Stover. According to Stover, the former charter met local needs for daily operation of the schools but did not completely meet state law. She said there had been many changes to the charter since the high school opened in the 1950s, some of which conflicted with current law. She said the new version cleaned that up.  

Fourteen decorated fire trucks and rescue vehicles and a Lewiston Police Department car containing grand marshals LPD’s Chief David St. Pierre and Lt. Trevor Campbell, passed by the hundreds of people gathered along the route of the 2023 Lighted Fire Truck Parade on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 25.  

Members of the selectboard and planning board came together Nov. 30 for a workshop months in the making to discuss the future of several Boothbay Harbor ordinances. Participants reviewed issues including housing, mixed-use buildings, and how space is used in the downtown business district as they prepare for the May town meeting.  

DECEMBER  

A recent study says an average 44% of income-earning households on the Boothbay peninsula struggle to afford the cost of living. The report, the first of its kind from United Way of Maine, spotlights challenges for residents who earn more than the federal poverty level, but not enough to afford the basics of where they live. Released in October, ALICE in Maine: A Study of Financial Hardship refers to people who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed (ALICE).  

On Dec. 5, Lincoln County commissioners approved a $13,743,701 2024 budget. The budget represents an 8.99% increase.  

Boothbay Harbor Sewer District trustees on Dec. 5 approved a $2.1 million budget and an 8% rate increase. The trustees are expect to sign the budget at their next meeting; the increase will go into effect Jan. 1. “The budget is just keeping what we’ve got going,” Superintendent Chris Higgins said at the meeting. “It’s a pretty lean budget. Basically, it's just treatment costs and maintenance costs.” 

Thomas Harris was last seen Jan. 2, at night, in Boothbay fiddling with his home fuel tank. Nobody has seen him since. For nearly a year, law enforcement has searched for Harris without any success.

Boothbay Region Historical Society, a cornerstone of the peninsula’s cultural heritage, proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Aimée L. Keithan, as its first-ever executive director. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in the society's commitment to preserving and promoting the area’s rich history.

A powerful rain and wind storm on Dec. 18 knocked out power to nearly 400,000 Central Maine Power customers around the state. In the Boothbay region, the outages continued into a third day with Boothbay still having 1,200 people without power on Dec. 20.