Windjammer Days Heroes

2021 compelled us to take stock of what is important. Our sponsors would like to take a moment to shine a light on a few people who have made the world a little bit brighter. For it is these kinds of actions that have great ripple effects and make the world a better place for all.

On a rainy day in November Kenzie, who had recently graduated from college with a nursing degree, saw a man collapse in a parking lot in Boothbay Harbor. She ran to him and found him unresponsive. Kenzie began CPR until the ambulance arrived. The Boothbay Harbor Police Department said it best, “On this day before Thanksgiving, please join us in being thankful for Kenzie, her quick recognition, medical knowledge, and selfless action at a scene which most likely saved a man’s life.” Kenzie, like most humble public servants, did not wish to be recognized wanting instead for the focus to be kept on front line workers. We are very grateful for you, Kenzie!

Wreaths Across America honors veterans and active military members by placing live wreaths on the headstones of veterans. These evergreens have been used for centuries as a living tribute. Wreaths Across America embodies a core mission to Remember, Honor, Teach. Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve and their families, and Teach future generations about the sacrifices made to preserve our freedoms. It is a privilege to have them join us for Windjammer Days. Learn more about their visit here.

Holly is serving her 2nd term in the Maine House and represents most of Lincoln County. She serves on the Health & Human Services Committee, and has sponsored many pieces of legislation that have had positive impacts on Maine families. She is also the executive director of Lincoln County Dental and the program director of the Addiction Outreach Program of the Boothbay Region Community Resource Council. She is extremely involved in our community and has helped many individuals and families, whether it be food or housing insecurity, domestic situations or addiction issues, by working in conjunction with local police and the BRCRC to provide support and resources to those in need. Holly recently sponsored a bill that received unanimous support from the legislature, which addresses the need for increased access to treatment for substance abuse by increasing reimbursement rates, a crucial step in addressing treatment needs in our state. Thank you Holly for all you do for us!

Tindal & Callahan Real Estate is proud to recognize the peninsula's four volunteer Fire Departments who, together with other local and regional emergency agencies, work selflessly 365-days per year to save the lives and protect the property of our community's residents and visitors. Firefighters' dedication to training, courageous response, and compassionate service benefit our community in ways often taken for granted. To all department members, "thank you"!

The entire team at the Boothbay Harbor Hannaford Market has all worked endless days and nights to ensure that groceries, supplies and essential items are available at all times. This includes working with local resources to ensure that those who are unable to come in and shop during the pandemic are able to have their groceries delivered. They have ensured the health and safety of all customers and associates while providing their high level of customer service standards.

In the face of the pandemic’s uncertainty and unpredictability, the teachers of AOS schools demonstrated commitment to their work through the willingness and ability to adapt and respond to ever-changing restrictions and requirements of the last 16 months. Their selfless attitude and enduring commitment to the importance of education is a shining example of public service and evidence of their passion for what they do. From virtual learning to adapted afterschool programming, the teachers of AOS schools put their students above all else, supporting children and families throughout the region through the insistence that access to a good education should withstand even a crisis of international scale. We’re honored to nominate them to this year’s Windjammer Heroes as exemplary role models of perseverance in our community.

First National Bank is proud to recognize Boothbay V.E.T.S. Boothbay Veterans’ Emergency Temporary Shelters began with American Legion Hall #36’s Ed Harmon, Arthur Richardson and John Hargreaves. Their mission is to provide short term shelter for homeless Veterans. Using donated funds, services and labor they outfit trailers with super insulation, refrigerators, microwaves, beds, heaters, and bedding. V.E.T.S. currently have 5 trailers outfitted and used in partnership with the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services to help identify Veterans in need across the state.

We would like to thank Ed Harmon, Arthur Richardson and John Hargreaves of Boothbay V.E.T.S. for their continued hard work and dedication to supporting the homeless Veterans in our communities.

Captain Craig was an avid fisherman who was happiest when he was on the water. He led the boat excursions at the Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort. He always greeted guests with his warm and infectious smile, and had many stories to tell. Our hearts go out to his wife Suzy, his family and many dear friends. He will be missed dearly by all that loved and knew him. Captain Craig, may you have fair winds and following seas on your next journey, and thank you for all the wonderful memories dear captain.

We selected Maine Medical Center as our “hero” for their central role in serving the medical needs of Northern New England for nearly 150 years.  Founded in 1874, it is the largest regional hospital serving all of Maine and parts of Vermont and New Hampshire.  In addition to being a teaching hospital with ties to numerous prestigious universities, MMC is also a leader in biomedical research.  They have 647 licensed beds and perform over 27,000 surgeries annually while being structured as a non-profit, private corporation with volunteer trustees.   

Currently in the midst of a much-needed building renovation campaign, and with multiple campuses throughout the state, they continued to serve as the fulcrum for all of Maine’s patients’ medical needs throughout the presence of the generational Covid-19 Pandemic.  As the hospital dealt with Covid-related operating restrictions, which changed daily, they continued to meet the medical needs of Maine’s patients.

Most people who need emergency medical care can be appropriately transported by ground ambulance. The sickest patients, however, need the critical care and speed that LifeFlight provides.

LifeFlight’s vision for Maine is a place in which every person, in every community, has access to critical care and medical transport when they need it.

We do this by working with our EMS partners to transform the critical care transport medicine system into an integrated, high quality, patient-centered system worthy of the public’s trust.

Howard Wright, Sr., retired Coordinator Emeritus of Counseling Services, U of M. Retired Cooperating Professor of Psychology, U of M. By appointments of Education Commissioners and a Governor, serving(21yrs.) on a Federal Committee to advise on the education of children with special needs. Past State Chair.

Recognized by the State Legislature for his commitment to improving the lives of youth and families, plus his counseling and teaching career at U of M. A Maine Children's Alliance Giraffe Award honoree for "sticking his neck out" for children, youth and families. Past Board Member, St. Andrews hospital. The hospital's first mental health clinician on staff. Past Pres. of Southport Island Assoc. and of Lincoln Arts. Picked up his lacrosse stick in his early 80's to help coach in the Y's new young ladies' lacrosse program. Former longtime lighthouse keeper in Burnt Island's Living History Program. Past President.

David Patch is a retired U.S. Navy Commander who served his country for 25 years, including three tours in Vietnam, Patch is still on a mission—to serve his fellow veterans in Maine. Patch is commander of American Legion Post 36, and serves on several boards, including Honor Flight Maine.

In the private sector, he was president of two separate companies that developed technology for the first Zumwalt-class destroyer “When they turn on the lights on the Zumwalt at night, the lights you see are mine—that’s kind of cool,” he says. “We developed the optics to display it so the light source is inside, meaning that there’s no heat signature on the surface of the ship.”

Honor Flight Maine is an organization created solely to honor America’s Veterans for all their service and sacrifices. They transport heroes to Washington, D.C. to tour, experience and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to our most frail veterans from all conflicts and wars.

Food for Thought

Childhood food insecurity is a serious problem in our community—while our total poverty rate is below the national average, in families with children, especially young children, the rate of poverty locally ranges between 40-87%. Many local children rely on school cafeterias for their most nutritious meal of the day—in some cases this may be the only full meal a child receives.  

Food for Thought provides nutritious, child-friendly, easily accessible healthy snacks for families in need.

Every Friday, this food is delivered to the homes of children for weekends and out-of-school times.   

These deliveries are made by volunteers committed to fighting childhood hunger on our peninsula. Similar programs, called “backpack food programs” in other communities, have been shown to increase school attendance, decrease behavior problems, improve concentration abilities and improve student academic achievement.

Officer Larry Brown has been protecting and caring about the people of the Boothbay Harbor region for over 11 years, and that is on top of a full career as a Lewiston Police Officer. All in all, he has over 33 years in law enforcement. He is well known around town for his friendly nature and positive attitude. Officer Brown is quietly generous both with his time and money always looking for opportunities to help others. He is keenly aware of who is struggling and who is in need of a little extra kindness. In a year where that need has grown exponentially, we salute Officer Larry Brown for his never ending love and dedication to our community.

The true definition of a Hero is someone that does truly amazing things yet do so quietly in the background. Toby LeConte is that perpetual hero- living and working among us, doing amazing things that most do not know about, but those that have the fortune to know Toby truly understand the power of her work throughout the last 45 years in the Boothbay education system and surrounding communities. Toby has devoted her life to working as a special educator and with the Special Olympics for over 47 years, developing the Special Education program at Boothbay Region Elementary School and finally retired last year. Anyone that has ever passed through the Boothbay school system knows of Toby and her commitment to the program, not to mention her trademark braids!! All that know her glow about her devotion to her work while being one of the humblest of educators they know. It is no surprise that ever since the announcement of her retirement, hundreds have sent well wishes as she moves on to a new chapter in her life.

Pine State Trading Company is proud to announce that this year’s “Hero” for the 2021 Windjammer Festival is being awarded to the team of individuals responsible for the COVID 19 vaccination clinic held at the Boothbay Harbor YMCA. The “Covid Conquerers”Team is being represented by volunteer Lori Grinnell and represents the best that people can do when working together in community for a common purpose. They all went above and beyond during this year full of personal and professional challenges and we feel privileged to recognize the extraordinary effort of every member of this team.

“It has been my pleasure to work for Lincoln Health providing vaccines to our Lincoln County residents however, I could not have done it without all of the other heroes that I work with every day. Those “heroes” being Senior Leadership for Lincoln Health, Brian Blethen, Stacy Miller, and Andy Russ, the front line clinical staff dealing with sick patients, and all of the nurses, medical providers, registration staff and pharmacy staff that I work with every day. We have had parking lot attendants working in the brutal cold of February to assure that our patients feel confident that they will be cared for quickly and safely an in an organized fashion. This undertaking took a “village” to accomplish, I just happened to be one of those “villagers” helping make it happen.”

For the people who work in and around the waters of Boothbay Harbor like us at Bristol Marine, we know just how lucky we are to have a Coast Guard Station around the corner. The men and women of the US Coast
Guard are the ones who at a moment's notice, under the cover of darkness, in the worst of weather and the roughest of seas will spring into action to find and rescue mariners in distress. The crew at U.S. Coast Guard Station Boothbay Harbor are responsible for about 1000 square miles of
the Maine Coast from Cape Small to Muscongus Bay. They are always there
standing watch both day and night. They have our backs. We would like to
take this opportunity to thank the members of US Coast Guard Station
Boothbay Harbor for taking responsibility for our maritime safety, security and environmental stewardship. Though we do not say it enough, we are forever grateful for your service. Thank You.

Stephanie Hawke is well-known in the Boothbay region as a hard working, honest and personable member of the community. She lives in Boothbay Harbor with her husband Andrew and together they own Hawke Motors. Stephanie is passionate about helping others. She serves on the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor school committee and is active in several local non-profit organizations, including Rebuilding Together which helps neighbors in need with home repairs to keep them living independently. She also spends her Sundays cooking breakfast for the Sunday Breakfast Buffet at American Legion Post 36. A former state representative, she’s not afraid to jump in when needed for any community organization. For years she was the Street Parade Chair for the Windjammer Days Festival and was instrumental in helping to secure the Budweiser Clydesdale team for 2022. Stephanie Hawke is a caring and benevolent member of our community, and we are proud to honor her as our hero.

“Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors.”