CAMDEN, Maine (October 26, 2011) –   On Friday, December 2, Camden Harbor lights up!  A spectacular fireworks display will kick off the 25^th anniversary of the popular Christmas by the Sea weekend. It’s just one of many events planned for this year’s holiday season.

“Santa” Don Green will be back, coming into town by boat as he has done for almost two decades. He’ll light the Christmas tree on the Library lawn overlooking the Harbor and then stand back for the fireworks display.

And you can bet that Nancy Bergeron and her family and friends from Tyngsboro, Massachusetts—all thirty of them—will be there.

“We never miss Christmas by the Sea,” says Bergeron. “My Dad started the tradition twenty years ago. We all stay at the same hotel, we go shopping on Friday night when the stores offer discounts, we see Santa, the live Nativity, and we do it all. The kids really look forward to it every year.”

Dan Bookham, the executive director of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, says Midcoast Maine knows how to celebrate the holidays with that special “Maine” touch.

“People come to visit us every year,” says Bookham, “because there are few places that offer the range of authentic, fun Maine experiences that happen here.”

The festivities begin the weekend after Thanksgiving when the city of Rockland takes center stage with its glorious Festival of Lights. Join in the fun as the floats in the “Light Parade” make their way through downtown, the lobster trap Christmas tree is lighted and carolers gather around the traditional bonfire.

Along with the lights, great shopping and wonderful food, including a fabulous Dutch cooking class, there’s Santa—who traditionally comes to town on a lobster boat and lights the giant Christmas tree on the Library lawn. There’s the “gingerbread lady,” who brings more than 100 gingerbread houses to the annual Holiday Fair and there’s retired firefighter, Bob Oxton, who treks up nearby Mount Battie to light the holiday star on top of the mountain—a star which can be seen for miles down the coast.

The Festival of Lights and Christmas by the Sea create a week full of events; with great food, fabulous shopping, special lodging packages and a slew of holiday activities for the family that you won’t want to miss.

WHAT: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
WHEN: NOV. 25—27TH
WHERE:  ROCKLAND
HIGHLIGHTS:  Santa arrives by boat on Saturday, The ever popular “Light Parade,” lobster trap Christmas tree, bonfire and carolers, horse drawn wagons, 32^nd Annual Craft Fair on Saturday Nov 26 at the Samoset Resort

WHAT: CHRISTMAS BY THE SEA
WHEN: DEC. 2-4^TH
WHERE: CAMDEN, Rockport, Lincolnville
HIGHLIGHTS:  Fireworks over the Harbor! Frozen 5k road race to benefit ALS research, Tree lightings in at the Cellardoor Winery Villa in Rockport, Harbor Park in Camden, and on Lincolnville Beach, all with Santa, Christmas parade, beach bonfire and caroling, great food and great deals on shopping

If you’ve never been—this is the year to go. If you’ve enjoyed this wonderful week- long event in the past, you’ll be glad you came back.

For a detailed list of events, visit www.camdenme.org

The Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership association that seeks to promote the interests of business and encourage economic development. For more information visit the Chamber at www.camdenme.org or email us at chamber@camdenme.org.

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Shane Flynn, owner of Wayfarer Marine and Cabot Lyman, owner of Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding have teamed up and are adding a new regatta for sail and power to the August schedule. The Penobscot Bay Rendezvous, August 18-21st promises to be the regatta of the season. The expected fleet of at least 100 yachts ranging from super yachts, to classics to performance racers, Picnic Boats and lobster yachts will gather in Rockland Harbor for Thursday night and will move to Camden Harbor for the following two nights. Local windjammers are also expected to participate. The Maine Windjammer Association’s fleet of 13 is celebrating 75 years of offering the “windjamming” experience to paying guests. The Penobscot Bay Rendezvous is a celebration of boating and boatbuilding.

The three day event for sail and power will not only feature daily races for sailboats and a poker run and Photo Pursuit event for powerboats but the participants will have access to both world-renowned boatyards and will be hosted each night at a different exclusive venue.

“Penobscot Bay is such an incredibly beautiful body of water with islands, mountains and the most charming coastal towns and it offers some of the most spectacular sailing and boating. Yacht clubs and boaters from away come here every summer to enjoy this place, Cabot and I thought why shouldn’t we organize a regatta to highlight the Penobscot Bay experience,” explained Flynn.

On Thursday, Lyman-Morse will open their doors to participants for behind the scene tours of Lyman-Morse’s boatbuilding facility in Thomaston, Maine. Over the years Lyman-Morse has launched such magnificent yachts such as the C. Raymond Hunt designed 94′ MV Electra to the Setzer-designed 84′ MV Acadia and 80′ Magpie to a custom S&S designed 52′ SV Fairweather to sportfisherman to catamarans to racing sleds, picnic boats and daysailers. That night the Lyman family will host the fleet at a welcoming dinner at the yard (Cabot’s son Drew runs the service business). Fireworks over the St. George River will cap off the night. Transportation has been arranged to shuttle guests to and from Rockland to Thomaston’s events.

Ted Smith, the regatta’s Primary Race Officer and Marc Lorraine, Camden Yacht Club’s Fleet Captain will officiate the weekend’s on the water activities. Three-days worth of fun and scenic courses and exciting and competitive racing will be offered. There will be a class and level of intensity to fit every sailor. With PHRF Racing Divisions, Cruising Division, DH/SH Division, as well as Multi-hull and One Design Divisions being offered. Bucket Rules and Jim Teeters Bucket Ratings will apply for the super yacht division. The NOR and SI instructions can be found at www.penobscotbayrendezvous.com Local one designclasses are encouraged to sign-up; a six boat fleet will qualify for their own start.

On Friday, the power and motor yachts will take off on a Photo Pursuit. This is not a race, rather each powerboat will be given a list of well-known Penobscot Bay landmarks or features to photograph. Extra points will be given to photographs of wildlife. The event will combine the navigation skills and creativity of our power fleet. A panel of professional photographers and other distinguished Judges will judge the work. Awards for the top three shots of each destination will be presented at Sunday’s Awards Ceremony.

Sailboat racing will be on a variety of windward-leeward and/or “around the buoys” courses set in Western Penobscot Bay.The fleet of power and sail will end up in beautiful Camden Harbor at the end of the day. The Camden Yacht Club, the regatta’s sponsoring yacht club will host the gathering for cocktails Friday night. Awards will be given out for those who have distinguished themselves that day. Our marine photographers’ and the Power Pursuit’s images will be shown. Guests will then have the evening at their leisure to explore and dine in beautiful Camden, Maine.

Wayfarer Marine will host Saturday and Sunday’s events, in Camden. All participants are invited to take advantage of behind the scenes access to the talented crew of this world class, full service yard. Current projects display the skills available, as repair and refit continue on a range of boats from a 126’ Winteringham steam yacht and two classic Fifes, to a Farr 72 and Swan 46.

Saturday’s on-the-water events will include some dramatic racing off Camden Harbor. The power fleet will continue the Photo Pursuit to North Haven and Rockport. Saturday night’s dinner dance at Wayfarer will surely be a highlight of the weekend. Again special recognition will be awarded to those who have distinguished themselves. Fireworks will cap off the night.

On Sunday, after a final day of racing and after the powerboats have completed a Poker Run that will take them to Lincolnville Beach, Islesboro, Camden and other points, the Awards Ceremony at Wayfarer Marine will wrap up the weekend. Of course serious awards will be given for achievements on the racecourse and the winners of the Photo Pursuit will also be announced but in keeping with the tenor of the weekend special awards of distinction will be given. Everyone is sure to leave the weekend with great memories, new experiences and plans to return next year whether they have come from the next harbor over, from the Caribbean or other points.

The all-inclusive fee of $360 covers all events (3 breakfasts, 2 dinners, cocktail party at CYC and Sundays award ceremony) and racing for 2 people. $180 for each additional person. Mooring, dockage and launch service is extra. Registration is open now. The event is limited to 500 people. For more information go to: www.penobscotbayrendezvous.com

Designing Women was established in 1991. Its current membership of women designers and artists now exceeds 120, with most of the artists hailing from Maine and New Hampshire. In addition to providing unique, handmade creations to the public, Designing Women collaborates with non-profits to raise funds for programs that directly benefit women and girls. At the September 4 show, 100% of the suggested $2.00 door donation will go to New Hope for Women. Each donor will also be entered into a drawing to win select prizes provided by Maine businesses.

New Hope for Women, which will mark its thirtieth anniversary next year, offers assistance to all persons affected by domestic and dating violence in Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties. It provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, support groups, legal services, safe homes and transitional housing, school programs, community outreach and workplace training. New Hope also operates Time for Change, a certified batterer intervention program.

Staff and volunteers from New Hope will be serving lunch beginning at 11:00 a.m. Menu items include homemade chili and chicken salad, bagels, desserts, coffee and water. Information about New Hope’s programs and services will also be available.

Here is some additional information about the featured craftspeople mentioned above.

Joelle Leavitt Webber binds one-of-a-kind books and editions for clients, rebinds old books, and has created a line of blank books, gift boxes and albums. Her designs are based on historical models, built with traditional tools and techniques and use only archival materials.

K. Dale Turdo creates original, hand-built sculptures that are realistic in style. Turdo has received many awards and exhibits in Maine and across the country. She finds great pleasure and peace creating these beautiful works of clay and feels that sculpting is good for the soul.

Wendilee Heath O’Brien is versed in conventional painting techniques from eastern and western cultures. She transcends and manipulates these techniques to create a visual dialogue with her viewers, using watercolor, pastels and Asian ink.

Mary Ann Small is the owner of Maine Island Rag Rugs, whose rugs grace homes all over the world and provide warmth and beauty underfoot. Her rugs have been displayed at the Blaine House in Augusta, the Archipelago and the Jonathan Frost Gallery in Rockland, the Art Gallery at the University of New England’s Westbrook campus, the National Folk Festival in Bangor and most recently at the Camden Garden Club’s Showcase House rooms sponsored by Phi Home Designs.

For more information about Designing Women, check www.designingwomen.org. For more information about New Hope for Women, check www.newhopeforwomen.org.

Date: October 29, 2007 Contact: Rick Cloutier, MAMA President Office: 207.786.0631 | Email: manager@flytome.com Maine Airport Managers Association elects new leadership Rockland, ME:

The Maine Airport Managers Association (MAMA) held their Fall conference on October 24, 2007 at Knox County Regional Airport. State Representative David Miramant provided the opening remarks. Ron Roy, Director of the Maine Department of Transportation, gave an overview of current Maine legislation that is important to the aviation industry and it impact to Maine airports. LaVerne Reid, FAA, New England Regional Director and other FAA staff were present to address the Airport Managers and provide an update on the status of FAA Reauthorization. Currently the Airport Improvement Program is operating under continued resolution. The operations of the FAA will continue as normal, however FY08 grants will not be released until the AIP program is reauthorized. Additional information can be found at http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=9712 . Maine is first in the region to under take localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches. Currently, six Maine Airports are under going LPV approach studies. This technology will enable airports to have near-precision approaches, lower minimums, and improve safety. MAMA also elected new board members. President: Rick Cloutier, Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport Manager. Vice President: Evan McDougal, Sanford Regional Airport Manager. Secretary: John Guimond, Augusta State Airport Manager. Treasurer: Jeff Northgraves, Knox County Regional Airport Manager. For additional information, contact Rick Cloutier, MAMA President at 207.786.0631.

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About Maine Airports Managers Association MAMA is a 501 (c) 3 volunteer organization that was formed in the1990s to provide Maine Airport Managers assistance in maintaining their airports through provision of information, education, legislative advocacy and networking. With over 100 members, MAMA welcomes any one working or interested in the future of Maine airports to join.