Hello HBA members,

The Harpswell Directory has gone to print and will be direct mailed to all Harpswell mailboxes soon. Many thanks to Betsy Saunders ( Tile From Away),who took on the task and has done a remarkable job, virtually by herself, with the new  HBA Harpswell Directory.

We are pleased to welcome our newest members: Bailey Island General Store ( BIGS), The Wheelhouse Café, and Dan MacMahon Investments. Thank you for joining!

The next HBA Directors meeting is Wed., Nov. 2^nd at 6pm at The Harpswell Inn.

Our next regular monthly HBA meeting will be held on the 3^rd Wed. in November, Nov. 16^th, beginning at 6:30 with a meet and greet at The Harpswell Inn at 108 Lookout Point Rd..

The Town of Harpswell has arranged a special meeting at the Town Office to discuss business in Harpswell on Wed., Nov. 9^th at 6:30. Please attend this meeting because it will be an opportunity to speak directly to the Selectboard. The invitation notice is included at the end of this e-mail. Our friends from MCOG ( Midcoast Council of Governments) will be there explaining about their programs, and although we have had them as our guest speakers at two of our HBA meetings before, some of you may have missed those meetings. There has been talk of including some economic development money in the Town budget. Please contact the HBA if you would like us to include your ideas for projects and whether you plan to attend the meeting at info@harpswellmaine.org  or call Dick Moseley at 833-5509.

We have an HBA Holiday party in the works! If you would like to help please contact Melinda Richter (Island Candy Co. ) at 833-6639  or send us an e-mail at info@harpswellmaine.org.

There will be an annual Business and Community Expo presented on Nov. 5^th, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM , at the gym at Mt Ararat School, Route #201 , Topsham, Maine. Admission and parking is free. Best Buy has volunteered to recycle unused computers, monitors, and other items for a simple donation to the Midcoast Chamber’s Scholarship Fund. CHANS Home Health Services will provide free flu shots (donations welcome). There will be free tree saplings for the first 200 attendees provided by MPBN. There will be a Children’s Area and food vendors too. And the Chamber is also pleased to sponsor the Second Annual Science Fair project at the Business Expo. Local High School entrants will be eligible to win a 250 cash prize for their project.

The Harpswell Inn will host an Open House on Sunday Nov. 13^th,  from noon to 4,to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Inn property at 108 Lookout Point Rd..  Discounts on rooms, Nov. 11^th to Nov. 18^th , will be 10% with the third night’s stay just $17.61. They will have refreshments and give away Harpswell Inn mugs.

Jennifer Laskey VerPlanck

Vice President of The Harpswell Business Association

PO Box 125

Harpswell, Maine 04079

info@harpswellmaine.org

WHAT CAN BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT

DO TOGETHER?

Harpswell Selectmen Invite You

to Join Us for an Evening Exploring

Economic Development Opportunities

for Harpswell Businesses

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Harpswell Town Office

263 Mountain Road

6:30 to 7:00pm:      Informal Meet and Greet

Light Refreshments will be provided.

7:00 to 9:00pm:      Midcoast Council of Governments

Jeff Kobrock, Executive Director &

Jason Bird, Senior Program Director

• Overview of services and resources available to small businesses
• Facilitated discussion of small business needs in Harpswell
• Focus on possible ways for Town government and other agencies/entities to assist with economic development

 John and Jennifer Laskey VerPlanck

Our 2012 Harpswell Directory is ready for the printers, and then it will be direct mailed to all the Harpswell mailboxes. We have made a few changes. Since we have many seasonal businesses, we will be including a new symbol next to each business listing:

To indicate whether the business is open all year with regular hours(no need to call first)( O) ,

open seasonally with regular hours,( no need to call first) (S),

open by appointment/call first (A)

or  open seasonally with regular hours, then thereafter, open by appointment (S,A).

We have used the information you provided in your listing to determine which category best describes your business. If you have any questions about your listing in the 2012 directory please contact us immediately, Betsy at tilefromaway@gmail.com  or me at blacksheepme@comcast.net .  Now is your last chance to make sure all your information is correct; we won’t print another directory for a year. Some of your business e-mails or telephone have changed so please take a moment to check what is listed on our website, www.harpswellmaine.org , because that is the information we have used. Contact : info@harpswellmaine.org.

Our next HBA Directors meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 5at 6:30 at The Harpswell Inn.

Our next HBA membership meeting will be the following Wednesday, Oct. 12, at The Harpswell Inn, 108 Lookout Point Rd. at 7 PM. There will be a meet and greet social time from 6:30 to 7 PM. We will announce our agenda and speaker  after the Director meeting.

We are pleased to welcome some new HBA members : Dan MacMahan financial services , Bailey Island General Store and we’re welcoming back Wirenuts electrical contractor.

I hope you all enjoyed a successful and happy summer ,thank you for your membership,

Jennifer Laskey VerPlanck

Vice President of The Harpswell Business Association

PO Box 125

Harpswell, Maine 04079

info@harpswellmaine.org

Co – Owner of The Black Sheep Wine Shop
105 Mountain Rd.
Harpswell, Maine 04079
207-725-9284
www.blacksheepwine.com
blacksheepme@comcast.net

September News from The Harpswell Business Association

Hello Harpswell Business Association Members,

Please mark your calendars for our next regular HBA meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 14th at The Harpswell Inn, 108 Lookout Point Rd. at 7 PM. There will be a meet and greet social time from 6:30 to 7 PM. Our scheduled speaker will be Vaughn Stinson, CEO of the Maine Tourism Association ( www.mainetourism.com ). The HBA brochures are distributed through their Tourism Information Centers and we have a listing on their website as well. We hope you can make it!

The Annual 2012 Harpswell Directory is going to print. If you have not checked your listing please take the time to review the accuracy of your text, your contact information and your location that is posted on the HBA website and if you need to change anything do so immediately by filling in a form online at : www.harpswellmaine.org  .  Each HBA member is allowed 25 words of text in our printed publications due to limited space. These handy Directories will be mailed to each household in Harpswell, as well as being distributed to the Town office, area libraries and community centers, many operators of Harpswell accommodations and other venues in the area.

Also, we invite you to inform us of any special notices regarding your business such as your seasonal hours, if you will close for the season, current news, sales, specials or events , so we can include them on our own HBA site, our Facebook page, blog and in these monthly newsletters!

One of our members, MaineMadePhotography, has been awarded the “Best New Business “for the annual awards given out by the Southern Maine Midcoast Chamber. Congratulations, Robert and Ann Hutchins!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Laskey VerPlanck

Vice President of The Harpswell Business Association

PO Box 125

Harpswell, Maine 04079

info@harpswellmaine.org

This is just a brief note with news and to let you know there will be no more HBA meetings for the summer; the next one will be in September.

A great big “Thank you” goes out to our friends, John Halpin and Betsy Saunders ( from Tile from Away) for  stepping in to represent The HBA and pass out our new Visitor Map and Guides at the June 25th Harpswell Day Event at Harpswell Center. Good Job!

The HBA will also have a table this year at The Harpswell Festival; all members are welcome to promote your business at the table with your brochures and any giveaways as well.About 5000 people attend the Festival every year.  We will need some volunteers to man the table, so contact Dick or me if you are interested- all help is gratefully accepted!!

A reminder that I have a new HBA Information rack in our store for display of your brochures, so feel welcome to drop them off at any time. We have about a dozen 2011 Harpswell Summer Events Calendar posters left if anyone has a place to post one. Also we have a good stockpile of the new 2011 Harpswell Visitors map and Guide for everyone to give out at your business, event or leave at your rental ,etc. Thank you to everyone who helped to distribute them to the State Tourist Information Centers, the Harpswell  Town Office, Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce, the Bath Train Station, the Maine Botanical Gardens and many other places. We are grateful especially to Peter Boisvert  ( Cooks Lobster House) and Bob “Hutch” Hutchins ( Maine Made Photos) for their help in distributing the maps far and wide – “Thank you”!

Steve Wallace, President of the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber has kept open his  Harpswell business climate survey, he’s looking for a few more respondents. It is anonymous , gathered by Constant Contact and only takes about 2 minutes to complete. Please take a moment to participate.Here is a link : http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e4415i9mgp0ba6g3/a00vgp9pjfqa/greeting .

The Southern Midcoast Morning Chambers is this Thursday, July 7, 2011 from 7:30 am to 9 am at Common Table here in Harpswell.  Ken Wiley from Tri County Literacy plans an exciting presentation on identifying and improving literacy in the workplace. This is a free opportunity to network with other small business owners here in town and the surrounding communities. Feel free to bring a guest. Reservations are strongly recommended. This is the last morning chambers until Fall. You do NOT need to be a member of the Chamber to attend. Give Deb a call at 833-5564, respond by email : deb@commontable.com or stop by the Inn for more information or to reserve a spot. ( Note: Deb has guests at the Inn, so kindly enter through the front door.  The meeting will be in the library.  Thanks for your cooperation.) Address: Common Table Inn B &B Event Center, 1719 Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell.

Here is another opportunity to promote your business during the Harpswell Festival, taking place on July 23^rd this year. This year’s festivities will include a silent auction. More than 3000 guests are expected this year and by donating an item, service or some other aspect of your business that you would like to promote, you will increase your exposure not only to local folks but to those from neighboring communities at a very affordable rate. You will also have the opportunity to be listed as a sponsor of the event and be listed in the literature. For more information or to make a donation, please contact Jill Kennedy at jillck@maine.rr.com.  They also offer  business banner space rentals and fireworks, music and  event sponsorship; see their website for more information or contact the Fundraising  Chair, Tom Cole, 207-721-1000 ;  www.harpswellfestival.org .

And… The 24^th Annual  Harpswell  Lobster Boat Races (and Shindig) , July 24 , is requesting donations, goods, services, and gift certificates to be used as prizes for the Race events, to cover expenses  and to generate funds for the Santa Fund.  Crafters, food vendors and booth space is available to rent, or you can sponsor an event. Please contact  Alison Hawkes (751-9304) or Stacy Welner (650- 1992).

Celebrate Summer In Harpswell

The town of Harpswell will celebrate two days of cultural and community events, on Saturday July 9th and Sunday July 10th. A weekend destination event to promote and showcase all Harpswell has to offer. The celebration will be held along Harpswell Neck, Great Island, Orr’s island and Bailey Island. Thanks to the Harpswell Art and Craft Guild for putting the two day event together.

Print Full Size Poster by clicking on poster twice, press file, press print preview, and set scale at 90% and then press print

For more information

call Susan at: 833-6004 or email her at susan@ashcovepottery.com

Celebrate Summer in Harpswell Participants

1. Ash Cove Pottery – Handthrown Stoneware – 207-833-6004 – ashcovepottery.com
2. B. McFadden Gallery –Paintings & Notecards – 207-833-6940 – bradmcfadden.com
3. Bittersweet – Fine & Decorative Painting – 207-833-6721
4. C. Periwinkle & Co. Gifts & Gallery – Art, Antiques & Crafts – 207-833-8040
5. Common Table Inn – B&B – 207-833-5564 – commontable.com
6. Cook’s Island View Motel – 207-833-7780 – cooksislandmotel.com
7. Cook’s Lobster House – Oceanside Dining -207-833-5851 – cookslobster.com
8. Eartheart Gardens – specializing in irises – 207-833-6905 – eartheartgardens.com
9. Gallery at Widgeon Cove – Paintings, Jewelry, Handmade Paper – 207-833-6081 – widgeoncove.com
10. Gun Point Cove Gallery – Art & Restoration – 201-833-7303 – gunpointcovegallery.com
11. Harbor Works Gallery – Documentary Photographs – 207-729-9525 – harborworksgallery.org
12. Harpswell Community Bandstand – Buy your commemorative brick! – 207-833-2815
13. Harpswell Designs – Note cards & Artworks – 207-833-6484 – www.sukanyrahman.com
14. Harpswell Inn – Historic B&B -207-833-5509 – harpswellinn.com
15. Hati Modr / Blue Door – Oil Paintings – 207-833-2815 -
16. Hawkes Lobster – Nautically Inspired Gifts – 207-721-0472 – hawkeslobster.com
17. Henning Porcelain – Jewelry & Sculpture – 207-833-5556 – henningporcelain.com
18. Holbrooks Wharf Snack Bar and Grille – 207-729-9050 – www.holbrookcommunityfoundation.org
19. Island Candy Company – Ice Cream, Candy & More – 207-833-6639 -
20. LobstArt Studios – lobster-based Art – 410-336-1609 – www.lobstart.com
21. Log Cabin – An Island Inn – 207-833-5546 – logcabin-maine.com
22. Lynette Breton Design –Spoon Carving Classes – 207-725-9802 – holdingpatternsflowerpress.com
23. Maine Made Photos – at Lands End Gift Shop – 504-920-0910 – mainemadephotos.com
24. Margaret Leonard – Fine Art – 207-833-6051 – mflspictures.multiply.com/photos
25. Ms. Etta & Co. – Crafts & Gifts – 207-729-8234
26. Seaside Creations – Unique Handmade Gifts – 201-833-6645
27. Sebascodegan Artists Gallery – Fine Art – 207-833-5717- sebascodeganartists.com
28. Steve’s – Photo Gallery & More – 207-833-6329 – steveblackphotos.com
29. Tevake Sailing Charters – 207-841-9125 – seaescapecottages.com
30. Theater at Centennial Hall –Belle of Amherst July 12-29 – 833-5124 – www.theater1876.com
31. The Village Shop – Handmade Baskets – 207-833-6651
32. Tracy Johnson Fine Jewelry – Elegant, Handcrafted – 207-833-5600 – tracyjohnsonjewelry.com
33. Two Coves Farm – Pastured Meat & Eggs – 207-373-0399 – twocovesfarm.com

I hope to catch up with you soon and that you all enjoy your summer,

Sincerely,

Jennifer Laskey VerPlanck

Vice President of The Harpswell Business Association

E-mail for HBA :  info@harpswellmaine.org

The Harpswell Business Association is a non profit organization with over 100 Harpswell based businesses or non profits. The HBA welcomes new members and has open enrollment.

The Common Table Inn

I am writing to personally invite you to the Morning Chambers next Thursday, July 7, 2011 from 7:30 am to 9 am at Common Table here in Harpswell.  Ken Wiley from Tri County Literacy plans an exciting presentation on identifying and improving literacy in the workplace.

This is a free opportunity to network with other small business owners here in town and the surrounding communities.   Feel free to bring a guest.   Reservations are strongly recommended.  Give me a call at 833-5564, respond to this email or stop by the Inn for more information or to reserve a spot.

This is the last morning chambers until Fall.  Come and hear this great presentation and take advantage of  chance to meet fellow small business owners and to pass business referrals locally.   You do NOT need to be a member of the Chamber to attend.

Hope you can come.

Cundy’s Harbor Days Kickoff Ice Cream Social at 5:30pm- Ice Cream Social with a Square Dance to follow the Social; both will be at the Cundys Harbor Community Hall

Saturday,August 6, 2011 

7:30am – Registration  for 5K

8am: 5K run before the morning parade. Meet at the Cundy’s Harbor Community Hall for this event coordinated by Muriel Longley. Please contact Muriel with any questions! We are very pleased with this new addition to our weekend events and Muriel would like to see this become an annual tradition!

10 am:  Parade down Cundy’s Harbor Road from Millstone Road {Stuart’s Pond} to Holbrook’s Wharf and back. During the parade “Walking Tour Brochures” of Historic Homes in Cundy’s Harbor will be handed out to those who would enjoy a peek at our Harbor’s History! Everyone is invited to participate in the parade. Please contact Sue Hawks for your float entry or for any questions you may have about the parade.

11am-1pm: CHVFD Auxiliary Lobster Roll Luncheon at the Cundy’s Harbor Community Hall 837 Cundy’s Harbor Road.  This is a great time to meet and greet family and friends and it is a very well received delicious event!  See you there!  Jean Threston will head this event up.

2 pm: Come cool off or cheer on your favorite Lobster Crate Racer at the Annual Lobster Crate Races at Holbrook’s Wharf!! Any questions about this event, please contact Bill or Paige Magnum or Bruce Brandt.

Sunday,August 7, 2011

8am: Blessing of the Fleet and lobster boat parade at Watson’s Wharf, Watson Road {off Cundy’s Harbor Road}

1pm: Concert outdoors at the Cundy’s Harbor Church of the Nazarene. The LaClairs, a bluegrass/gospel group will be performing. {  If rain, it will be held at the Community Hall } Should be a wonderful time for all! Please contact Pastor Veronica Gonsior if you have any questions about the events for Sunday.

The Merry Meeting Art Association will be doing an Art Show at 2 Oakhurst Island Road Friday 12n-7pm, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 10am-5pm during Cundy’s Harbor Days!!
.
If you would like to join the CHVFD&R auxiliary call for more info: 207-373-2003.
Location: Cundy’s Harbor, Great Island,  Harpswell,Maine
Contact Name: Kay Kehew
Phone #: CHVFD&R 207-373-2003

For directions to Cundy’s Harbor click on place marker.

Young and not so young, come and join in for our Kickoff to Summer Fun, on Saturday July 2^nd , 12 noon, at Johnson Field, Bailey Island. Bring a picnic. Bring a kite, and bring your voices.  Award-winning, Matt Loosigian, folk singer/guitarist will bring out the kid in all of us with his interactive fun music show about the environment . Drinks will be provided. Admission is free; donations will be accepted.

Friends of Cedar Beach Come Together

Summer is upon us and we begin thinking about packing up and going to the beach, Cedar Beach in particular!  Cedar and Robinhood Beaches on the north end of Bailey Island are used by people from all over Harpswell and the nearby areas and have provided generations of year-round and seasonal Harpswell residents a wonderful place to swim, frolic, explore the shore, and enjoy a beautiful view of eastern Casco Bay. The beaches are a landmark on the island and part of Harpswell’s heritage.

Since the March Town meeting when the voters appropriated $220K toward the purchase of an easement that will keep access to Cedar Beach available to us all forever, the Bailey Island Association and Harpswell Heritage Land Trust joined to form the Friends of Cedar Beach.  The mission of the Friends is to explore how the additional money needed to acquire a permanent walking access easement to Cedar Beach could be obtained.  The Friends have commissioned their own appraisal of the value of such an easement and a survey that is needed to accurately delineate the easement area.  The Friends are also engaged in negotiations with the Abrahamson’s on a price for the easement and to allow for the time needed to raise the necessary funds.

Once agreement is reached, the Friends will be undertaking a campaign to raise the money needed to ensure that future generations will forever be able to create happy memories of their times at these wonderful beaches.

The HBA Directors have been working with Steve Wallace, the Director of the Southern Midcoast Chamber of Commerce , to see how we can work together to improve business opportunities .He has devised an online survey (that only takes about 2 minutes) to see what  Harpswell business owners have to say. Please join in and take a moment to complete the survey. He  is scheduled to address  the Harpswell Selectboard this Thursday .

The instructions are to go to the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber website   (See below)  scroll down to the left column  where the “Harpswell Survey” is listed and click “read more” and the survey will come up.  Fill it out and send so it will automatically add into the other completed forms.

A great way to market your event , open house , sale or news  for  FREE is to post it on our HBA website and calendar at : www.harpswellmaine.org . Save money, save time, and have more time to enjoy summer!

Also, we have our 2011 Harpswell Visitors Guide and Map  hot off the press. Pick up copies at our store, The Black Sheep Wine Shop, at the Town Office in the lobby, at Cook’s Lobster House or The Harpswell Inn .

One of our new Town  events will be Celebrating Harpswell’s History and Culture, Harpswell Day, organized by the Harpswell Historical Society, this weekend, June 25th from 11 to 5 pm at Hapswell center. Here is the schedule:
READINGS at Old Meeting House
11:00 and 11:40 am Native American Re-enactor
12:00 and 12:40 pm Revolutionary War sermon
1:00 and 1:40 pm The Whale in Lowell’s Cove
2:00 and 2:40 pm Harpswell Essays by Robert P. T. Coffin
3:00 and 3:40 pm Charlie York: Maine Coast Fisherman
4:00 and 4:40 pm Someone from “Away” who made Harpswell her home
5:00 pm Musicians in concert at Grave Yard
Also Ongoing All Day: Art in Bloom exhibits at Centennial Hall, Children’s events at one-room school behind Centennial Hall,Special Exhibits at the Museum ,Kellogg Church yard sale, tours & food ,Reviving a tradition – Organized by the Harpswell Historical Society.

More upcoming events you may want to attend, support or promote :

The Abbott Fletcher Sailing School is holding a pancake breakfast for benefit of the school, July 2 from 8 to 10.

Fireworks at Cooks Lobster House , July 5th 10PM.

A new two day “Celebrate Summer in  Harpswell”  event  has been organized by the Harpswell Art and Craft Guild and is scheduled for July 9 and 10th. Everything from the pancake breakfast at the grange (8 to 10:30) , to gallery receptions, basket making, wooden spoon making,pottery throwing demonstations,  farm tour and sheep dog demonstation at Two Cove Farm, Lobster dinner, open houses at many locations,  sailing excursions… See the  full line up on our HBA website!

July 16, Christmas in July  Craft Fair at the Merriconeag Grange.

The Harpswell Festival will be on July 23rd  from 11 to 9 PM  at Mitchell Field. (Looking for donations, volunteers)    For The festival contact Tom Allen  at info@harpswellfestival.org or call 833-0562.

The Harpswell Lobster Boat Races and Shindig will be July 24th from 10 to 4 at Mitchell Field..  The races begin at 11.  (Looking for donations, volunteers) For the Shindig Call Alison Hawkes at 751-9304 or Stacy Welner at 650-1992.

Bailey Island Fishing Tournamant July 25 to 30, Cooks Lobster House.

July 30, Kellogg Church Annual Chicken BBQ.

Thank you for your HBA membership,

Jennifer Laskey VerPlanck

Vice President of The Harpswell Business Association

Contact the HBA : info@harpswellmaine.org

John and Jennifer Laskey VerPlanck
The Black Sheep Wine Shop
105 Mountain Rd.
Harpswell, Maine 04079
207-725-9284
www.blacksheepwine.com
blacksheepme@comcast.net
Find current news,sales,events on our Facebook page:
The Black Sheep Wine Shop