Ho Ho Ho Ho-Ho-Ho Boys & Girls! The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, at the organization's Fall Frolic, held on November 2, acknowledged Santa and Mrs. Claus with a Community Service award. The chamber presents this award to a business, group or individ (Photo Lisa Kristoff)

Community awards highlight Chamber's Fall Frolic

Members of the community and the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce gathered at the Opera House on Friday, November 2 for an evening of celebration and civic acknowledgement.

The chamber's annual event, previously held for members only, was opened to the community.

The 115+ attendees danced to music by The Coronados after feasting on a soup-to-nuts menu meal by Laura and Steve Francis of The Gallery.

The highlight of the night, however, was the community and citizenship award presentations and moving acceptance speeches.

Outgoing chamber president Rick Prose acted as master of ceremonies, backed up by incoming president Lori Bailey.

Bob Boyd of Boothbay Region Greenhouses accepted the Community Improvement award for the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to a standing ovation.

Said Prose in introduction; "Anyone in this town knows what an impressive job the board of directors has done there raising eight million dollars that has resulted in the largest botanical garden in New England. Since the official grand opening May 1, 40,000 people have visited the gardens."

Boyd thanked everyone for the award saying, "We are on our way. We are creating two more gardens and continually strive to create programs to draw visitors to the area."

This year the chamber honored an individual who has given unselfish service to his community.

"Nothing I have written here can truly express what this man has meant to me personally, and to this community," Prose said. "Neal has touched the lives of more than 3,000 kids through his work as coach, director, mentor and friend since 1984."

The Boothbay Region YMCA's Neal Verge, who is retiring in March, received the Citizenship award to a standing ovation.

"The real reward is to be able to work with the children of our community," began Verge. "I always wanted to be a teacher and working with our children for the last 24 years has been the best thing. My wife, Mary, came and worked with me at the Y - what better life could you have?"

The Community Service award was given to two individuals that were introduced by Bailey.

"We call them every year and every year they say yes; yes to leading a merry band of elves, greeting young children at Laptime where they patiently and lovingly listen to the hundreds of children who wait to see them. We know they don't want a fuss, but we are very happy to present this award to two people, known to children and Santa and Mrs. Claus, but known to us as Barry Johnston and Debbie Butterfield."

The leaders of the North Pole Band, Johnston and Butterfield accepted their awards to the evening's third standing ovation.

"This is just so cool of you all to do this for us," said Butterfield, a.k.a. Mrs. Claus for 14 years. "We just really love what we do, we love kids."

Johnston said, "I have been doing this for 20 years and I have loved every moment."

J. Edward Knight & Co. and Janson's Clothing Store were the two businesses that received a Community Improvement award.

Accepting for J. Edward Knight & Co. were Rob Wheeler and Roy Lewis and Sewall Maddocks for Janson's (so named because his mother's name is Jan - Jan's son…) to the fifth standing ovation that night.

Wheeler thanked everyone for their support and the acknowledgment. He also apologized for not having a speech prepared because (Roy) Lewis was supposed to give one.

Maddocks' acceptance could be summed up by one key phrase: that things can be accomplished - as long as we all are "working together."

Maddocks was also presented with a second, and unexpected award that had been intended for last year, the "Above and Beyond the Call of Nature" award for building, and then maintaining clean restroom facilities for the town, and visitors, to the region at his own expense at approximately $7,000 per year.

"The chamber wants to recognize Sewall's outstanding contribution to the local hospitality industry," said Prose.

And yes, there was another standing ovation as Maddocks accepted, reiterating, "…it is all about working together."

The chamber announced directors leaving the board at the end of their terms and thanked them for their service and dedication.

They were Mary Ripley of Tindal & Callahan Real Estate - six years of service; Steve and Laura Francis of The Gallery - three years of shared service and Rick Prose of Harborfield's - five years.

Incoming board members: Laura Honey (for a second time) of Fisherman's Wharf Inn; Molly Hutchins of Molly Hutchins Designs, Win and Lori Mitchell of 1828 Vintage House & Cottages; Cindy Mastrella of The Greenleaf Inn and Richelle Ponteau of the Boothbay Harbor Savings Bank of Maine.

Returning board members are Lori Bailey of Boothbay Region Rental Properties - president, Dianne Gimbel of Gimbel's of Maine, Inc. - vice president, Mitch Weiss of The Lobster Dock - treasurer, Nan Davison - secretary, Val Wilson of Knickerbocker Home Services, Audrey Curtis of Sherman's Book & Stationery, and Susan Hodder of The Welch House.