A mountain of thanks

“A Mountain of Possibilities Artisans Auction” was a fun and tremendous success thanks to the generosity and talents of many. The auction raised more than $140,000 toward the campaign goal of $4.5 million in private funds. These funds will also go toward our immediate target to match an anonymous $400,000 challenge gift. In addition to bidding on exquisite items from area artisans, bidders pledged to sponsor seven new ““Give a Lift Chairs” at $10,000 each! With $2.7 million raised to date, plus the exciting momentum generated from this wonderful event, the Campaign and Events committees want to express gratitude to the community and the following businesses and individuals.

We wish to thank event sponsors for their generous donations: Brimstone Consulting Group. LLC, Camden Real Estate Company, Waterfront Restaurant, Rockport Marine, Antonia Munroe and Jay Fischer, Smith & May, Inc., Lisa McRee, Harbor Builders Associates, and Liv Rockefeller & Ken Shure. Thank you to our incredibly generous and gracious hosts Caroline and Wayne Morong and to Bruce and Becky Gamage, auctioneers. Heartfelt thanks to all who provided their behind the scenes support and materials: Ben Magro - photography, Geoffrey Parker - media consultant, Julie Crane - Arch Framery, Tom Hedstrom - electrician, All That Jazz, Seasons Downeast Designs, Adventure Advertising, Samoset Resort, Camden Rotary - tent, Beth Ward - Camden Parks & Recreation, GPS Packing & Shipping, Camden Regional High School - displays, Pen Bay YMCA - shuttles, Allison Kuller - photography, and Swans Way Catering.

The Auction Events Committee is a truly special group of hard working, fun loving, devoted volunteers. Thank you to Suzanne Dunavent-White, Patty Eddy, Jeannie Fischer, Eliza Haselton, Hillary Jackson, Kitty Jones, Susie Laidlaw, Casey Leonard, Anna Remsen, Dana Rodman, Marianne Smith, Aline Taylor, Lori Van Dusen and Sue Wooton.

With nearly 250 guests attending, we are grateful to the intrepid Host Committee: Liv Rockefeller and Ken Shure, Linda and Phil Lewis, Libby and Frank Simon, Vicki and Ed Doudera, Tina and Joe Pyne, Kate and Mike Pierce, Andrea and Pete Conover, Beth and Parker Chamberlin, Mazie Cox and Brink Thorne, Lucinda, Ziesing and Des Fitzgerald, Andrea and David Tassoni, and Lisa McRee.

This community event would not have been possible without the lovely and generous donations by the following artists: Joan Freiman, Dana Rodman, Polly Ryel, Chris Pinchbeck, David Vickery, Susan Williams, Anne Kilham, Hannah Nelsbach, Kimber Lee Clark, Saturday Cove Gallery, Tim Van Campen, Susan Van Campen, Greta Van Campen, Paul Caponigro, Amy Lowry, Marianne W. Smith, Jim Nickelson, Mary Jane Doubleday, Molly Brosnan, Christina Eckerson, Lindsay Hopkins-Weld, Mary Bourke-Greenhut Galleries, Gideon Bok, Fair Cape Woodworks, T. Allen Lawson, Patrisha McLean, Mike Rich, Richard Jason, Robert Eddy, Karl Gerstenberger, Chris Van Dusen, Whitney Wing Oppersdorff, Patty Bolz, Melissa Sweet, Lily Hamill, Cig Harvey, Swans Island Blankets, Alison Kuller, Jackson Landscape Services, Beauty Mark Spa, Small Wonder Gallery, Barb Bausch, Geoffrey Ohland, Nancy Linkin, Kate Fitzgerald, Benjamin Leavitt Metalwork Inc., Richard Saltonstall, Seasons Downeast, Carrie Hedstrom, John Kelly, Lulla Smith, Jacob Hessler, Carver Hill Gallery, Samoset Resort, Camden Snow Bowl, Saltwater Farm, Stone Coast Crossfit, Joyce Tenneson, Dell Babb, Josiah Glover, Matt Berta, Ingrid Ellison, Michael Remsen, Caroline Morong, Ducktrap Bay Trading Co. - Marianna Duford, Ralston Gallery, Antonia Munroe, Julie A. Crane, Colin Page, Monica Kelly, Linda Leonard, Maine Media Workshops, Michael Good Gallery, Eric Hopkins Gallery, Bill Pettee, B.J. Rainville, and John Bryan.

On behalf of the dedicated people involved in the Capital Campaign for the Redevelopment of the Ragged Mountain Recreation Area, thank you to everyone who has supported this event and campaign.

Maureen Gordon

Wendy Weiler

Event Committee Co-Chairs

Ragged Mountain Recreation Area Foundation

Celebrate with us

There are many things to love about Maine: our rich history, active local communities, natural beauty, spirit of entrepreneurship, and the innate good work ethic amongst our people. I have the pleasure of working with and introducing many people to another, sometimes less recognized, aspect of Maine: her windjammer coast.

Along with my husband Captain Barry King, I am fortunate to be co-captain of the Maine sailing legend schooner Mary Day which is one of the 13 vessels in the Maine Windjammer Association that carry passengers for 3, 4 or 6 day cruises up and down the Maine coast between Rockland, Camden, Rockport, and Mt. Desert Island.

We know that the sailing grounds in Maine are second to none and that our woods and waters are a resource we should all treasure and protect. Through our lives, Barry and I have experienced sailing throughout the world and have captained several vessels. Traveling as students with the National Audubon Society’s Expedition Institute while earning master’s degrees in experiential environmental education gave us in-depth experience in a diversity of human and natural communities ranging from a sub-arctic fishing village in Labrador to the Native American desert southwest. These experiences made us realize our passion for sharing the unique experience of sailing aboard a windjammer as a means of travel, vacation, and education.

But it's Maine that we have always come back to for the love of the coast line and the treasures that lay within. Through the Schooner Mary Day we are able to share with folks the beauty of Maine and the wildlife that live here with little or no impact at all. It's great to get folks out of the cities, offices or from in front of the computer screen and give them the binoculars to see a seal cub up close, to look at the full moon on a star studded night or to hand them the wheel and let them feel the Mary Day gracefully slide through the waters with a brisk breeze in her sails. Seeing all the other windjammers under full sail is also a sight to behold, reliving the days gone by where these vessels prevailed on the coast. And it's all about being with people, sharing experiences, laughter and songs, again another treasure not to be lost.

This year, we celebrate Mary Day’s 50th birthday: 50 years since her first launch at the Harvey F. Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine; 50 years of sharing the beauty of Maine’s schooner coast with passengers; and 50 years making memories that last a lifetime for those who sail aboard her.

In commemoration of this event, we will be holding a celebration on Sunday, Sept. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mary Day dock in Camden. Local blue grass musicians Erica Brown and Matt Shipman will be playing and complimentary refreshments will be available. Barry and I will also unveil a surprise 50th anniversary present for Mary Day (even a boat deserves a birthday gift!). The event will happen in conjunction with the Camden Windjammer Festival and is open to the public.

Capt. Jen Martin

Camden

A Huge Success

The 2012 Camden High School Alumni Banquet, held Aug. 11 at Point Lookout, was a huge success. That's what the Board Members of the Camden High School Alumni Association agreed on at their Aug. 15th meeting. People came for near and far to enjoy the evening, many saying what a great time they had, and what a wonderful place to hold the banquet. It was a beautiful summer's evening. Point Lookout was, again, the ideal setting; the meal was delicious, and the service was very professional.

The Silent Auction was a great success, thanks to all the donations form alumni and businesses. It was agreed to repeat it next year, and make it even bigger. Anyone wishing to donate something of value to the auction throughout the year may do so by emailing David Ames at damesref@tidewater.net or calling him at 789-5118.

Two of last year's CHS Alumni Scholarship recipients, McKenzie Meservey and Adam Landwehr, were guests. They each gave brief summaries of their first year college experience, which were very interesting and well received.

The highlight of the evening was the Special Recognition Awards. CHS alumni members Frances Schipper (Class of 1936), Barbara Dyer (Class of 1942) and Jack Williams (Class of 1945) were each presented with a plaque recognizing their outstanding service to Camden and the surrounding communities over the years.

The reunion classes for next year (2013) will be 1943, 1948, 1953, 1963 and 1968. Elaine Alley Davis is the contact person should anyone have questions or need banquet information for their reunion classes. She can be reached at (207) 236-2304.

By unanimous decision, Point Lookout will again be the location for the 2013 Camden High School Alumni Banquet on August 10, 2013.

A big "Thank You" to everyone who attended and contributed to the huge success of the 2012 banquet.

CHS Alumni Association Board Members