The Boothbay/Wiscasset boys’ track and field team finished sixth out of 19 Mountain Valley Conference teams May 4 in Lisbon. This was the conference’s mid-season meet. The team scored 35 points. Lisbon won with 151.5 points. Winthrop finished second with 104. Mt. Abram finished third with 68.5. Mountain Valley had 47 and Buckfield scored 36.

The team had eight members finish in the Top 6 of 19 events.

In the 100M dash, Boothbay/Wiscasset’s Austin Trask finished with a 12.11-second time. Lisbon’s Emmett Mooney won in 11.4. In the 200M dash, Trask finished second in 24.47. Telstar’s Joseph Lauria won in 24.4. In the 1600M run, AJ Crocker finished fifth with a five-minute, 12.85 mark. Carrabec’s Desmond Robinson won with a 4:47.36 mark.

In the 3200M, Crocker finished second with a 10-minute, 57.97 time. Dirigo’s William Morris won in 10:55.88. In the 110M hurdles, Alton King finished fourth with a 19.29-second mark. Lisbon’s Emmett Mooney won with a 16.39 mark. In the 4X100M relay, King, Trask, Tucker Davenport and Aidric Canada finished sixth with a 50.28-second time. Mountain Valley won in 47.34. Discus, Mason Clark finished fourth with a 111-foot, 4-inch throw. Mt. Abram’s Aiden Brann won with a 147-02 throw. In the 1600M race walk, Ross Gaffney finished third with a nine-minute, 10.65 time. Mt. Abrams’ Carter Butterfield won with a 7:41.43 time.

The team’s next meet is Tuesday, May 7 at Wiscasset Middle High School. 

The Boothbay/Wiscasset girls’ track and field team had 23 athletes finish in the Top-6, May 7, in 18 Mountain Valley Conference events held in Wiscasset. The team also recorded five individual meet wins. Karen Higgins won the 1600M and 3200M runs. Sophia Mansfield won the 100M hurdles and 300M hurdles. Rose Campbell won the discus. 

In the 100M dash, Olivia Rittall finished second with a 14.8 second mark. Hyde’s Koda Hall won with 13.5. In the 200M dash,  Rose Campbell finished second with a 29.73 second time. Winthrop’s Isabel Folsom won with 31.48. 

In the 400M dash, Rose Campbell and Emily Gilliam finished second and third. Campbell ran a one-minute, 8.73 second time and Gilliam ran in 1:11.68. Lisbon’s Addy Burkhardt won with 1:04.97. In the 800M run, Boothbay/Wiscasset placed in four of the top five spots. Maddie Orchard finished second with a two-minute, 43.05 second mark. Karen Higgins finished third at 2:47.72. Abbie Clark was fourth at 2:52.61. Rittal place fifth with a 2:56.01 mark. Winthrop’s Haley Williams won with 2:36.47.

In the 1600M, Boothbay/Wiscasset placed three runners in the Top-4. Higgins and Truesdell finished first and second. Higgins ran a five-minute, 50.96 second time. Truesdell followed with 5:59.41. Meredith Ames finished fourth with 6:51.57. In the 3200M run, Boothbay/Wiscasset took the top two spots. Higgins won with a 13-minute, 16.63 second mark. Truesdell finished second with a 13:55.39 time. 

In the 100M hurdles, Sophia Mansfield finished third and Gilliam finished fourth. Mansfield ran a 20.37 second time. Gilliam ran in 20.54. Monmouth’s Annabelle Carlton won with 19.23. In the 300M, Mansfield won with a 57.65 second mark. In the 4X100 relay, Boothbay/Wiscasset’s team of Gilliam, Bailey Lewis, Tatum French and Campbell finished second with a 56.74 time. Winthrop won with 55.13.

In the 400M relay, Boothbay/Wiscasset’s team of Gilliam, Clark, Orchard and Rittall finished second with a 4:50.3 mark. Lisbon won with 4:45.01. In the high jump, French placed fifth with a three-foot, 10-inch jump. Carrabec’s Alexandria McDonough won with 4-06. In the long jump, Lewis finished second with a 13-foot, five-inch leap. Winthrop’s Isabel Folsom won with a 15-08 leap.

In the javelin, Orchard finished fifth with a 68-foot, eight-inch throw. Hall of Hyde Academy won with a 83-00.5 mark. In the 1600M racewalk, Linnea Andersson finished second with a 13-minute, 8.57 time. Lisbon’s Rachel Morse won with 11:05.75. In the discus, Campbell won with an 83-foot, eight inch throw.

The team’s next meet is Tuesday, May 14 at Maranacook Community High School in Readfield.

The Boothbay/Wiscasset boys track and field team had 10 athletes place in the 18-event competition’s Top 6 on May 7 during the Mountain Valley Conference meet in Wiscasset. The team had two athletes finish second. King finished second in the long jump and AJ Crocker finished second in the 1600M.

The following Boothbay/Wiscasset athletes placed in their event’s Top 6. In the 100M dash, King finished sixth with a 12.65 second mark. Winthrop’s Teddy Wagner won with a 11.95. In the 400M dash, Austin Trask finished fourth with a 58.48 second mark. Winthrop’s Alfie Cognata won with 55.93. In the 800M run, AJ Crocker finished fifth with a two-minute, 25.08 mark. Winthrop’s Gabriel Corey won with 2:12.87. 

In the 1600M run, Crocker finished second with a five-minute, 10.22 second time. Winthrop’s Christopher Pottle won with 4:52.41. In the 3200M, Ross Gaffney finished second with a 14-minute, 9.12 second mark. 

In the 300M hurdles, King finished third with a 49.13 second time. Lisbon’s Emmett Mooney won with 40.8. In the 4X100M relay team, Lysander Lefevre, Finn Gaffney, King and Trask finished third with a 50.17 second mark. Lisbon won with 47.34. In the discus, Robbie Shaw finished sixth with a 93-foot toss. Winthrop’s Hunter Reynolds won with a 103-09 throw. In the 1600M race walk, Ross Gaffney finished third with a nine-minute, 10.65 second time. Lisbon’s Ryan Hanlon won with a 9:07.71 mark. 

In the long jump, King finished second with an 18-foot, four-inch mark. Trask finished fourth with a 16-05-foot jump. Lisbon’s Nick Powell won with 18-04.

The team’s next meet is Tuesday, May 14 at Maranacook Community High School in Readfield.

An unfavorable weather pattern threatened to dampen yet another race day at Wiscasset Speedway on Saturday, but the track powered through and successfully hosted their first Group 2 night race of the 2024 season without any delays to the main racing program.

The racing action kicked off with a 30-lap spotlight feature for the Chestnut Auto Roadrunners. Carl Conant took off with the early advantage in the feature, but Dylan York was hard charging at the front of the pack, overtaking the lead on lap 3. Several heavy hitters fell victim to multiple cautions over the course of the feature but Dylan York held strong at the front of the pack. Although the leaders faced heavy lap traffic in the closing laps of the race, York maintained command, picking up his first feature victory in the division.

The Wicked Good Vintage Racers also visited the track on Saturday and both divisions put on a spectacle. Chris Oglivy, who is an accomplished doctor by trade but race car driver by hobby, took home the victory in the Early Late Models. Meanwhile, Ed Hughes held strong in the Outlaws and was crowned the race winner.

Jet Decker secured the early lead in the 40-lap feature for the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Models, which was their final tune-up prior to the $15,000 to win Coastal 200 on May 26th. While Decker paced the field, Jon Emerson was slowly biting into his lead, overtaking James Doucette for second on lap 15 before swiftly taking over the top spot. Emerson held a full straightaway lead with ten laps to go, but Brett Osmond suffered an equipment failure with just 4 laps remaining, halting the racing action. Jon Emerson maintained command following the restart, picking up his first feature victory in the division. He happily celebrated with a large group of friends and family in Victory Lane and Jet Decker and Tiger Colby rounded out the podium.

Reed Reno had quite a day in the T&L Automotive Modifieds, scoring the heat victory and leading the majority of the 30-lap feature. As the laps began to wind down, the handling started to fall off on Reno’s #77 machine, making way for veteran driver Chuck Colby as the leaders battled lap traffic. Colby took over with a handful of laps to go and held strong following a late-race caution, picking up the feature victory. Reed Reno (top career finish) and Brian Treadwell completed the top 3.

The night concluded with a 25-lap feature for the Portland Glass Strictly Streets. Multiple early race cautions plagued the racing action but once the field settled, Jeremy Glazier took off with a less-than-comfortable lead. Zach Emerson and Ashton Burgess remained pinned to Glazier’s back bumper but were in their own battle for the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Dan McKeage, Jr. was quickly charging through the field and had mowed down over a dozen competitors in the second half of the race, joining the lead pack. The top 5 were deadlocked with just two laps to go and it was truly anybody’s race to win. Drivers were 3-wide for third coming into the final turn, but Ashton Burgess was unable to hold onto it, taking a spin as the leaders crossed the finish line. Jeremy Glazier scored the win while Zach Emerson followed. Wade Kennedy completed the top 3, picking off his teammate Dan McKeage, Jr. at the line to pick up his first podium finish of the season.

Saturday’s program, especially the Street Stocks, had fans on the edges of their seats until the very last lap. It truly epitomized the thrill of short track racing and Wiscasset Speedway can’t wait to be the host of many more memories like these over the course of the 2024 season!

Catch the next Group 1 race on Saturday May 18, which will also include the first Enduro race of the 2024 season. Grandstands open at 4:00 pm, racing begins at 5 p.m. and admission is still just $5 for adults and free for kids 6 and under.

For the official track schedule, race results and more, please visit http://www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

Spruce Point Inn and the Maine Model Yacht Club are proud to announce the SPI Cup, a regatta race on the Spruce Point Inn waterfront for skippers of radio-controlled model yachts. Beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 23, this inaugural event kicks off the first day of Boothbay Harbor’s 62nd annual Windjammer Days festivities.

The schedule of activities runs all day long, with two heats of racing, a trophy presentation, and a Learn to R/C Sail demonstration in Spruce Point Inn’s newly refurbished oceanside pool for those who want to try their hand at skippering. The event is free and open to the public, with parking available on-site at Spruce Point Inn.

The Maine Model Yacht Club, the race’s organizers, will officiate the competition. MMYC was created to promote the design, building, sailing, and racing of model yachts. Many of MMYC’s members are themselves former or current racers of full-scale sailboats too. “R/C racing lets people learn how to appreciate sailing in a low risk, affordable, friendly, and competitive atmosphere” says MMYC Commodore Jeff Van Peski, “and, it’s a year-round activity.” And indeed their schedule is full, with a race nearly every Sunday, from Camden Harbor to Tennyson Pond (and beyond).

Model yacht racing is a tradition that reaches back more than a century. The earliest iteration of the pastime required skippers to trim their sails with a long cane, reaching from either the shore or a nearby rowboat. Today, model yacht racing is powered by remote control, giving skippers the opportunity for greater precision in competition. More than 30 classes of model yachts race across the nation. The SPI Cup will feature DF95 class racers, a popular 950mm One Design sloop model.

Says Spruce Point Inn General Manager Drew Strout, “We’ve had a lot of fun working with MMYC on this. We’re excited to host the event in sync with Windjammer Days and, with our oceanside pool and dock looking better than ever, we can’t wait to host the first crowds of summer to watch the race.”

For more information, or to register your boat for the race, visit www.sprucepointinn.com/spi-cup

The Boothbay/Wiscasset girls’ track team finished third May 14 in an eight-team Mountain Valley Conference meet in Readfield. Boothbay scored 111 points. Maranacook won with 165.5 points. Madison finished second with 128. Three Boothbay/Wiscasset runners also won four individual events. Karen Higgins won the 1600M and 3200M races. Olivia Rittall won the 400M dash. Maddie Orchard won the 800M dash. 

Besides the four first place wins, the team scored 10 Top-6 finishes in the 18-event meet.

In the 100M dash, Rose Campbell and Rittall finished second and third. Campbell ran a 13.97 second time. Rittall ran a 14.14 time. Maranacook’s Hope Webb won with a 13.69 time. In the 200M dash, Campbell finished second with a 28.67 second mark. Webb won the event with a 28.36.l mark.

In the 400M dash, Rittall won with a one-minute, 6.7 second time. She beat Telstar’s Ella Akers, who ran a 1:11.35 time. In the 800m run, Maddie Orchard won with a two-minute, 36.79 mark. She beat Maranacook’s Lilly Mushlit, who had a 2:42.59 mark. 

In the 1600M run, Higgins won with a five-minute, 48.02 second time. She beat Maranacook’s Kira Pelletier who ran 6:05.51. Julia Truesdell finished third with a 6:07.73 time. Higgins scored her second victory in the 3200M. She registered a 12-minute, 44.83 second time. Madison’s Bryanna Hagopian finished second at 13:15.47. Boothbay/Wiscasset’s Meredith Ames finished fourth at 14:38.96. In the 300M hurdles, Emily Gilliam finished fifth with a 56.95 second time. Maranacook’s Olympia Farrell won with a 51.77 time.

In the 4X100M relay, Gilliam, Campbell, Tatum French and Bailey Lewis finished third with a 57.57 time. Maranacook won with a 55.30 time. In the 4X400 relay, Boothbay/Wiscasset's Abbie Clark, Gilliam, Orchard and Rittall finished second with a four-minute, 41.96 second mark. Maranacook won with 4:41.2.

In the long jump, Bailey Lewis finished second with a 12-foot, 10.75-inch mark. Hall-Dale’s Violet Clark won with a 13-06.75 mark. In the shot put, Linnea Andersson finished sixth with a 21-foot and one-half inch throw. Maranacook’s Hannah Toye won with a 28-10.25 mark. In the discus, Campbell finished second with a 75-foot throw. Madison’s Allison Tuscan finished first with a 76-foot throw. 

The Boothbay/Wiscasset Boys’ Track team scored 96 points May 14 in a narrow victory over second-place Madison, 95, in an eight-team Mountain Valley Conference meet in Readfield.

The team also recorded four individual event victories. Mason Clark won the discus. Austin Trask won the 100M dash. AJ Crocker won the 1600M and 3200M runs. The team had 16 Top-6 event finishes.

In the 100M dash, Austin Trask won with a 12.13 second time. Alton King finished sixth with 12.99. In the 200M, Trask finished second with a 24.92 second time. Telstar’s Joseph Lauria won with 24.39. In the 400M dash, Trask finished third with a 58.03 mark. Dirigo’s William Morris won with 55.43.

In the 1600M run, AJ Crocker won with a five-minute, 15.06 second time. In the 3200M, Crocker won with an 11-minute, 5.51second mark. Ross Gaffney finished fifth in 14:26.10. In the 110M hurdles, King won with a 19 second time. 

In the 4X100M relay, Boothbay/Wiscasset’s Tucker Davenport, Aidric Canada, Trask and King finished second with a 50.93 second time. Madison won with 48.07. In the long jump, King finished third with a 16-foot, 5.5-inch leap. Telstar’s Cyrus Mills won with 19-01.5. In the discus, Clark won with a 107-foot, two-inch throw. Lysander Lefevre finished fourth with 86-01. In the javelin, Ismael Martinez finished sixth with a 102-foot, six-inch throw. Monmouth’s Lewis Lamoreau won with 116-09. 

Lace up your sneakers and join a foot race in honor of Edgecomb’s 250th Birthday! The event includes a 10K race, a 5K race, and a Kids’ The race follows leafy, scenic Cross Point Road past lupine meadows, farms, and the Sheepscot River.

The road race will be held Saturday, June 22, at 10 a.m. Following the race, hot dogs, Blanchard’s ice cream, and popcorn will be available and prizes will be awarded. The race is free, but participants may choose to make a donation upon registering for the race. All donations will benefit the Edgecomb Community Church and the Edgecomb Green. Preregistration is required for the 10K, 5K, and Kids’ Race. 

Parking is at the Edgecomb Community Church and the Center for Teaching and Learning on Cross Point Road. Because space for parking is limited, race participants and spectators are urged to carpool.

While Cross Point Road will not be officially closed, residents are being asked to refrain from driving on or occupying Cross Point Road between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on June 22. 

To register, scan the QR code or visit https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/Edgecomb/Edgecomb250thRoadRace 

Memorial Day weekend is quickly approaching and that can only mean one thing: The Coastal 200 is just around the corner! On top of hosting their normal weekly divisions, Wiscasset Speedway has been hard at work preparing for their first marquee event of the season. 

The Coastal 200 is widely known as one of the biggest Late Model races in all of New England. Although the race has always been larger than life, the track has found even more ways to make the event bigger and better in 2024. This starts with track upgrades, as the brand-new infield pit row is slated to debut on Coastal 200 Sunday. 

Track owners Richard and Vanessa Jordan, along with track promoter Ken Minott, began planning this weekend’s festivities before the conclusion of last race season. Together, they decided to give the fans a little bit more to be excited about and extended this year’s Coastal 200 weekend to three days. It all kicks off on Friday, May 24 with an on-track dance party sponsored by Moody’s Collision Centers. The all-ages event will include a concert by the Motor Booty Affair, food trucks, classic cars and more! The fun starts at 6 p.m. and tickets can be purchased for $25 on the day of the show.

Saturday will bring the annual “Coastal Cruise-In” Fun Day to benefit the Special Olympics. The event, presented by Bozzutto’s Inc. and Wicked Cornhole Events, will feature a car show, charity cornhole tournament, food trucks and there will be even more music to enjoy as the Crooked Cabin Band takes the stage. The festivities kick off at 10 a.m. and admission is just $5.

The big show is slated for Sunday at 2 p.m. and the Coastal 200 payout is also bigger than ever before with the race winner set to take home a hearty $15,000 check. None of this would be possible without the presenting race sponsors: Colbrook Trailers, GT Overhead Doors and CLH & Sons. Race fans, local businesses and more have also pitched in to sweeten the overall race purse, sponsoring laps for $50 a piece. Lap sponsors are also eligible to win various contingency prizes, with the biggest being a $1,000 payout. Some laps are still available for purchase but the track is working overtime to sell out all laps come race day. 

Defending race winner Mike Hopkins will be back in the lineup and looking to reclaim his throne. Ben Ashline, a 3-time Coastal 200 winner, is sure to give him a run for his money. Heavy hitters in the field will also include 2-time race winner Josh St. Clair, who thrives in nearly every division at the speedway.  Other notable figures include multi-time Oxford 250 winner Ben Rowe and Johnny Clark, who picked up his first career Super Late Model win in the Coastal 150 back in 1997.

Dave Farrington, Jr. and TJ Watson are two more veterans that cannot be swept under the rug, but you also have to look out for the division newcomers as well. Jon Emerson just picked up his first Late Model win at the speedway and Tiger Colby, Sylas Ripley, Brett Osmond and Jett Decker have also shown a lot of speed throughout the season.

Regardless of the outcome, it’s sure to be a thrilling weekend at Maine’s biggest and fastest race track: Wiscasset Speedway. Help pack the stands and bring the family out for one of New England’s biggest race events of the season. As always, admission on race day is just $5 for adults and free for kids 6 and under!

Boothbay/Wiscasset won two individual Capital City Classic Track & Field events May 17 in Augusta. Maddie Orchard won the 800M run and Karen Higgins won the 3200M run. The team had 11 Top 6 finishes at the meet which included Mountain Valley and Kennebec Valley conference teams.

In the 100M dash, Rose Campbell finished second with a 13.89 second time. Olivia Rittall finished fifth with at 14.23. Erskine’s Sovie Rau won with a 13.55. In the 200M dash, Rau, of Erskine, won again with a 28.17 second time. Campbell finished second with 28.58. 

In the 400M dash, Campbell finished sixth with a one-minute, 6.24 mark. Mt. Blue’s Eliza Stinson won with 1:02.91. In the 800M run, Orchard won with a two-minute, 35.18 second time. 

In the 1600M, Higgins finished third with a five-minute, 46.45 second time. Winthrop’s Haley Williams won with 5:40.4. In the 3200, Higgins won with a 12-minute, 27.83 second time. In the 4X100M relay, the Boothbay/Wiscasset team of Abbie Clark, Tatum French, Bailey Lewis, and Emily Gilliam finished sixth with a 58.76 second time. Cony won with 55.18. In the 4X400 relay, Boothbay/Wiscasset’s team of Orchard, Clark, Gilliam, and Rittal finished third with a four minute, 41.4 second mark. Mt. Blue won with 4:30.5.

In the long jump, Lewis finished sixth with a 13-foot, one-inch leap. Winthrop’s Isabel Folsom won with a 15-05 mark. In the discus, Campbell finished fifth with a 78-foot, seven-inch throw. Mt. Blue’s Cassidy Hardy won with 102-11.

The Mountain Valley Conference Championship is their next meet in Lisbon on Thursday, May 23.

Boothbay/Wiscasset racewalker Ross Gaffney won the 1600M event during the May 17 Capital City Classic Track & Field event in Augusta. The boys’ team had seven Top-6 finishes in the 13-team event which had participants from the Mountain Valley and Kennebec Valley conferences.

In the 400M dash, Austin Trask finished fifth with a 58.12 second time. Cony’s Patrick Sergent won with 53.33. In the 3200M run, AJ Crocker finished third with a 10-minute, 48.33 mark. Winthrop’s Christopher Pottle won with 9:43.98. In the 110M hurdles, Alton King finished third with an 18.41 second time. Cony’s Ethan Vose won with 17.87. In the 300M hurdles, Tucker Davenport finished fifth with a 48.06 second mark. Mt. View’s Wyatt Evenson won with 42.79. 

In the 4X100M relay, Boothbay/Wiscasset’s team of King, Finnegan Gaffney, Lysander Lefevre, and Davenport finished sixth with a 51.45 second mark. Winthrop won with 46.67. In the long jump, King finished second with a 17-foot, 9.25-inch leap. Mt. View’s Wyatt Evensen won with 18-10.25. 

The team’s next meet is on Thursday, May 23 during the Mountain Valley Conference championships in Lisbon.

The Bowdoin, the official sailing vessel of Maine, will return to Boothbay Harbor May 25. The crew will set sail May 29 for the Arctic, mirroring the ship’s historic voyages that left from the same Maine waters.

The schooner Bowdoin was built in 1921 by Hodgdon Brothers Shipyard in East Boothbay for explorer and researcher Donald MacMillan to work in the Arctic. Now, Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) owns and operates the vessel, which it acquired in 1988. The vessel was in Boothbay Harbor in 2023 and returns largely thanks the Friends of Windjammer Days, who helped organize the visit.  

“It’s about bringing Boothbay region history back into the present for the younger generations to understand by seeing it replicated,” said Mark Gimbel of the Friends of Windjammer Days. “The past becomes the present!" 

Captain Alexander Peacock said the crew of 16 will take the ship on a six-week, 5,000-mile route to Greenland, as far north as the 70th parallel. It’s the first time the ship has been past the Arctic Circle since 2008, and it’s the first time Peacock will make the milestone.  

“I've been telling people it never really sets in until after the fact, of course. But, short of being a huge honor, (I’m) just really grateful for previous captains at Maine Maritime for really paving the way. Keeping that legacy alive and being good stewards of the boat since they've taken her on.” 

The voyage also has historical merit. According to MMA, Bowdoin has made 26 voyages past the Arctic Circle from 1921 to 1954, and two more under MMA’s ownership. Historically, these trips often departed from Wiscasset or Boothbay Harbor. According to Peacock and Gimbel, this year’s route may be the same as the first that MacMillan took to the Arctic.  

Peacock said the route follows the same ports of call, including some of the glaciers and fjords MacMillan was tracking. That provides a unique opportunity for research. MMA is working with Bowdoin College to match historical records with data that could be collected on this year's journey. The ship has scientific equipment on board to gather information about sea conditions, including temperature and salinity through the water column. Using that and other data, a comparison could provide insight into environmental changes tied to specific locations.  

It is a valuable educational experience for the 10-student crew and the six professional sailors guiding them. Peacock said some students have been on voyages aboard Bowdoin before but most have not, with most of their experience around Castine and training day-sails. He said the students will be going on the voyage to take it all in, hearing from the locals and seeing the environmental conditions before starting careers that may send them back with professional responsibilities. 

“It's renewing the legacy and keeping that legacy looking forward. It's keeping the boat in doing what she was built to do originally. And it's giving the next generation of mariners and professionals firsthand experience with no commercial agenda in these waters,” he said. “So, hopefully, they can ... become appreciative of that and have a steward's eye for the area ...” 

But the beauty of northern waters comes at a price. Peacock said weather is the biggest challenge, coupled with keeping rested. With 16 people on an 88-foot vessel, he said one person down from seasickness or injury can be a significant setback. “We have a great crew, but you're trying to facilitate that small microcosm in a way that everybody's looking out for each other and taking care of themselves and getting adequate sleep and being fed,” he said.

The Bowdoin has had several upgrades Peacock said make the voyage safer. Thanks to modern technology, the crew can take advantage of regular weather updates, accurate radar, and systems to spot other vessels at sea, all with relatively low power consumption. As for entertainment, the crew will have to wait to catch up on their favorite shows. Satellite communications are too limited for internet or streaming.  

While in Boothbay Harbor, the ship can offer limited tours and dockside visits to school classes or similar groups, weather and schedule depending. Contact Peacock at alexander.peacock@mma.edu

Seaspray Kayaking will once again hold its Sheepscot River Race. This year’s race for canoes, kayaks, war canoes, sea kayaks and paddleboards will be on Saturday, July 6. The race starts in Newcastle at 1 p.m. and ends in Wiscasset.

This is a six-mile race starting at the Route 1 Rest Area bridge in Newcastle and finishing at the Wiscasset waterfront. One of the most scenic Maine Paddling Race Courses with four miles of moving water meandering through beautiful protected marshes and riverbanks. This race is part of the Maine Canoe & Kayak Flat Water Racing Series.

Due to health and safety risks, there will be no awards ceremony. Results will be emailed or texted to the participants. This race is organized and run by Seaspray Kayaking with door prizes generously donated by local businesses. All pre-registered participants will receive a Sheepscot River Race T-shirt.

Registration is $15, $20 on the day of the race.

More info? Call Scott Shea in Brunswick at (207) 751-3450, email info@seaspraykayaking.com, or visit https://www.seaspraykayaking.com/

The Boothbay/Wiscasset girls’ track & field team finished second out of 14 teams May 23 in the Mountain Valley Conference Championship meet at Lisbon High School. The team scored 89 points which trailed only Maranacook’s 105. Winthrop finished third with 81 and Madison placed fourth with 77. 

Olivia Rittall finished third, in the 200M; Maddie Orchard, in the 800M, was second; Karen Higgins, 3200M, first; Higgins, third, 1600M; and 4X800M relay team of Abbie Clark, Julia Truesdell, Higgins and Orchard, first. 

In the 100M dash, Rose Campbell finished fourth with a 13.67 second time. Buckfield’s Mya Austin won with 12.92. In the 200M dash, Rittall finished third with a 28.54 second mark. Austin of Buckfield won with 26.96. 

In the 400M dash, Campbell finished fourth with a one-minute, 5.11 second time. Rittall finished fifth with a 1:06 mark. Buckfield’s Brittany Carrier won with 1:02.31. In the 800M run, Orchard finished second with a two-minute, 36.23 second time. Higgins finished fifth with 2:39.93. Julia Truesdell finished sixth with 2:41.26. Winthrop’s Haley Williams won with 2:32.97.

In the 1600M run, Higgins finished third with a five-minute, 47.95 time. Truesdell finished fifth with 6:02.78. Williams of Winthrop won with 5:34.57. In the 3200M, Higgins won with a 12-minute, 50.48 mark. Truesdell finished fourth with 14:17.1 and Orchard finished sixth with 16:05.68.

In the 100M hurdles, Emily Gilliam finished fifth with a 19.23 second mark. Mountain Valley’s Brooke Chase won with 55.21. In the 4X400 relay, Boothbay/Wiscasset finished fifth with a four-minute, 48.55 second time. Lisbon won with 4:34.87. In the 4X800 relay, Boothbay/Wiscasset won with an 11-minute, 19.01 second mark. 

In the discus, Campbell finished second with a 94-foot throw. Winthrop’s Madeline Wagner won with 97-06. 

The next event is the Class C State Championships on Saturday, June 1 at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

Memorial Day weekend is home to one of the biggest Late Model racing events in New England: The Coastal 200. This year, Wiscasset Speedway decided to up the ante and make the race bigger and better than ever before, hosting an action-packed 3-day weekend which would include an infield kickoff party featuring the Motor Booty Affair, charitable car show and cornhole tournament benefiting the Special Olympics and the $15,000 to win Coastal 200 to round out the 3-day affair. 

Over 3,300 fans and 36 Late Model drivers flocked to the track on Sunday for the Coastal 200, which was presented by Coldbrook Trailer & Equipment, GT Overhead Door and CLH & Son, Inc. The program also included the Portland Glass Strictly Streets, T&L Automotive Modifieds and the visiting NELCAR Legends.

Division standout Dan McKeage, Jr. topped the leaderboard in practice and powered through the field to pick up his first win of the season in the Strictly Streets over Ashton Burgess. (Results remain unofficial for this division, pending tech.) Meanwhile, Jase Mungeon beat out Josh Parsons to secure the victory in the NELCAR Legends. Ryan Ripley dominated the better half of the Modified feature but shockingly retired from the race early due to a mechanical issue. Adam Chadbourne won the battle of attrition, picking up yet another feature victory in the division. 

Defending race winner Mike Hopkins topped the leaderboard in two practice sessions for the Coastal 200 while Nick Hinkley secured the top spot in the other. Although both drivers showcased their strength in practice, neither scored a heat win. These victories went to Ben Ashline, Johnny Clark, Travis Stearns and Josh St. Clair, putting 3-time race winner Ashline on the pole for the main event. 

Tiger Colby and DC Alexander earned their starting spots for the big dance through a last chance 15-lap qualifier while Frank Moulton and Bryan Lancaster were given provisionals for the event.

Ben Ashline led the field to green and took off with a sizable lead. Meanwhile, defending race winner Mike Hopkins was quickly maneuvering through the field after starting back in 15th, cracking the top 5 on lap 31. While battling for position, Hopkins tangled with Shane Clark on lap 62, an incident that resulted in a caution. Both drivers were forced to restart from the tail-end of the field.

Multiple mid-race cautions followed, including one for a Ben Rowe spin on lap 103. This caution changed the trajectory of the race as most of the leaders took to the pits while Mike Hopkins, who pitted early-on in the race, stayed out. Brandon Bailey and TJ Watson tangled on the restart, making way for Hopkins, who quickly took over the race lead as Ben Ashline lingered closely behind.

As the laps wound down, the #15 machine seemingly grew stronger and stronger. The leaders successfully navigated through lap traffic in the closing half of the race, leaving just 4 cars on the lead lap with 50 laps to go.

Hopkins maintained command through a handful of late-race cautions, securing his second straight Coastal 200 victory and the $15,000 grand prize. He happily drove off into the sunset following the big win, doing a backwards victory lap as he waved to the crowd. Hopkins was later greeted by a large group of family and friends in Victory Lane, who joined him in celebrating his success. Ben Ashline and Chris Burgess followed, rounding out the podium. 

Mike Hopkins continues to impress in the marquee events at Wiscasset Speedway, proving that he has what it takes to get it done at Maine’s biggest and fastest race track. He hopes to keep the winning streak going and reclaim his throne in the Boss Hogg 150 on Labor Day weekend. 

Until then, you can catch more Group 1 racing action this coming Saturday, June 1st at Wiscasset Speedway. Grandstand admission is just $5 for adults and free for kids 6 & under!

For official race results, track information and more, please visit http://www.wiscassetspeedway.com. 

The Boothbay/Wiscasset boys’ track & field team finished seventh May 23 at the Mountain Valley Conference Track & Field Championships at Lisbon High School. The host, Lisbon Greyhounds, won the meet with 164 points in the 15-team field. Winthrop finished second with 128 points and Mt. Abram placed third with 58. The team’s top performers were Ross Gaffney, who finished second in the 1600M racewalk, and AJ Crocker, who placed third in the 3200M run. 

Austin Trask finished sixth in the 100M dash with a 11.91 second mark. Lisbon’s Emmett Mooney won with 11.15. In the 200M dash, Trask finished fourth with a 24.31 second mark. Mooney of Lisbon won with 23.08. In the 400M dash, Trask finished fourth with a 58.18 second time. Winthrop’s Teddy Wagner won with 54.71.

In the 1600M run, Crocker finished fifth with a five-minute, 4.89 second time. Winthrop’s Christopher Pottle won with 4:47.31. In the 3200, Crocker finished third with a 10-minute, 42.9 second mark. Pottle of Winthrop won with 10:38.18. In the 110M hurdles, King finished fourth with a 17.91 second time. Mooney of Lisbon won with 16.34.

In the 1600M race walk, Gaffney finished second with an eight-minute, 56.81 second time. Mt. Abram’s Carter Butterfield won in 7:23.65. 

The next meet is the Class C State Championship on Saturday, June 1 at St. Joseph’s College in Standish. 

With three morning hikes in June, the Midcoast Conservancy’s seasonal hiking series of “Wednesday Wanders” and “Saturday Saunters” is in full swing, offering opportunities to enjoy nature in Alna, Whitefield, and Friendship.  All the hikes start at 10 a.m. and all have at least one Maine Master Naturalist to lead the group and talk about what is of interest to participants. 

Our first June hike will be on Wednesday, June 5, at Trout Brook Preserve in Alna, which protects over 4,200 feet of the lower reaches of Trout Brook as well as frontage along the main stem of the Sheepscot River.  Maine Master Naturalists Chuck Dinsmore and Susan Cottle will lead a gentle hike through both a portion of former farmstead that has now returned to forest as well as some older forest growth.  With such variety, we hope to see an array of plants as well as enjoy the brook.  Parking is available at the trailhead on Rt. 218 in Alna.

Our second hike in June May will be on Saturday, June 8, at Maguire Preserve in Whitefield.  This walk will provide a lovely forest walk out to Weary Pond, where we may catch some sign of beaver if not of other wildlife.  The gentle ups and downs along the forest trail will be naturally decorated by ferns, mosses, lichens, etc.  Parking is also available at the trailhead on Heath Road.          

On Wednesday, June 12, we’ll be visiting Martin Point Wildlife Preserve in Friendship, where we can enjoy the moss-carpeted spruce-fir forest and have choices about taking one or more of several loop trails, along which we have the opportunity to visit Crystal Pond and a bit of Muscongus Bay. On this third hike of the month, we’ll spend some time looking at and learning about mosses, but we’ll also be enjoying other plants and aspects of nature we find. Parking is available at the trailhead on Martin Point Road.  

All are welcome on these hikes and encouraged to wear good hiking shoes or boots.  To learn more about the preserves themselves, check out www.midcoastconservancy.org .   And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wanders and Saturday Saunters throughout the summer and into the autumn.  If you have any questions about the hikes or about Midcoast Conservancy’s recreational programming, you can email landmcc@midcoastconservancy.org.  Hope to see you on the trails! 

The two brightest stars in this spring’s Boothbay/Wiscasset track and field’s constellation were senior Austin Trask and freshman Karen Higgins. The two were named most valuable players for the boys’ and girls’ team during a May 30 banquet at Wiscasset Middle High School.

The MVP award is given to the individual male and female athletes who scored the most points during the 2024 spring season. This was the second time Trask received the spring MVP honor. 

Coach Nick Scott described Trask as a “student of track and field.” Scott added that besides being a gifted athlete, Trask was a team leader. “If there were no coaches, he could probably coach all the athletes in their individual events.”

Higgins set the Boothbay Region High School record in the 3200M. She scored points in four MVC (Mountain Valley Conference) championship events. “She was laser focused all season, on reaching her goals,” he said. Higgins also made First-Team All-Mountain Valley Conference. 

Freshman AJ Crocker was the boys’ coaches award recipient. His third place finish in the 3200M MVC championship resulted in his being named third team all-conference. “He is probably one of the nicest kids I’ve ever worked with,” Scott said. Senior Emily Gilliam was the girls’ recipient. “She embodies leadership. She is dependable and goes above and beyond for the team. We are really going to miss her,” he said.

Sophomore Ross Gaffney and senior Julia Truesdell received most improved honors. Gaffney was named to second team all-conference for his second place finish in the 1600M racewalk. “He went from being a participant last year to a competitor this year,” Scott said. “Ross dropped his times substantially this year and had a great season.”

Truesdell was a top performer last season and had an even better season this spring. She dropped her time in the 800M by 16 seconds and, in the 1600M, dropped it by 30 seconds. “To drop her times by as much as she did after having posted high-level results last season is truly amazing,” Scott said. 

The Hammer Award went to sophomore Rose Campbell. The award goes to an athlete who gives an extra effort in trying circumstances. “She is fast and agile,” Scott said. “And she’s been a point-scoring juggernaut for us all season. She really brought it to a new level this season scoring personal record, after personal record.”

Rookie of the Year went to freshman Olivia Rittall. This season, she scored in four events at an MVC meet. “She epitomizes hard work,” Scott said. Maddie Orchard received the Competitor Award. “She has made huge strides since the fall. She knows how to improve her level to score a better time or move up in a race to score points,” he said. 

This Saturday, June 8, rally a couple of friends for a very fun paddle on the Damariscotta River, starting at Glidden Point Oyster Farm and finishing off at the Shuck Station, where a private party will be complete with live music from Primo Cuban and auction! Paddlers are encouraged to create teams, wear costumes, decorate their watercraft, and make their way upriver at their own speed.

Be part of Hearty Roots' 3rd annual Paddle for a Purpose! Your participation in this event will directly contribute to the incredible work of Hearty Roots, a Maine non-profit dedicated to creating children's programs that foster connection, adventure, and life-skill experiences, making a significant difference for local kids.

Secure your tickets for the Paddle, priced at $100 for adults and $35 for kids aged 12 and older. These tickets offer a comprehensive package, including a shuttle service from town to Glidden Point Oyster Farms, a refreshing morning snack and coffee, a Paddle For A Purpose cup as a memento, one drink ticket, entrance to the party, and a base donation to Hearty Roots. This is not just a ticket, it's an investment in a worthy cause and a day of fun-filled activities.

Do you have a friend who wants to join you but is unsure about paddling? Tickets to the Party are $25 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and over. Kids under 12 are free.

To purchase tickets and learn more: heartyroots.org/paddle-for-a-purpose.

The 62nd Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days shifts into high gear Sunday, June 23 with sailboat racing, the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet; and Boothbay's Got Talent, where local youth ages 7-18 compete for the titles of Royal Windjammer and Top Royal. Events culminate with Harbor Aglow, formerly the Lighted Boat Parade. 

What makes this event different is that the lights on pleasure, fishing and commercial tour boats moored in the harbor or at a boat slip are lit prior to the parade! 

The Friends of Windjammer Days (FWJD) encourage all boat captains to participate, to light up the harbor with white and multi-color lights. Dig out those Christmas lights, including the netting ones for shrubs (those make it quick, easy and effective!) or order from Amazon, but let’s light up our harbor!

Over the years, we’ve seen pirate dueling, giant inflated lobsters, dancing, and other forms of celebration! Who recalls the boat captain who had himself tied up with lights on his ship, and won first place. Themes run the gamut from island paradise to “Pirates of the Caribbean!” Metal  lobsters, American flags and other images have been alight on board as well. Or use a favorite song to decorate your boat.

Use your imagination and color with lights. Delight the landlubbers and your passengers, too!

There is a grand prize of $500 for the best lit boat. The judges will be at Boothbay Harbor Marina. Judges include members of FWJD and guests of the Marina. 

And, as a special incentive, for those who travel a bit far to participate, docking will be available at the Marina at no charge for the night.

The grand prize is $500 cash for Best In Show; there will be gift certificates, generously donated by area businesses, and lovely gift bags, too!

Boat captains can choose to keep their decorated vessels docked  or join in the parading around the Harbor – twice – to the delight of the yelling, whooping and hollering fans.

Registration is free! Go to the official festival website: www.boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org/lighted-boat-parade and receive your boat number that will be used by the judges.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up already!

The Boothbay/Wiscasset girls’ track & field team finished 16th out of 32 teams June 1 during the Maine Class C State Championship at St. Joseph’s College in Standish. The team scored 15 points. Orono won the team championship with 122 points. North Yarmouth Academy/Maine Coast Waldorf  finished second with 116 and Bucksport finished third with 88. 

In the 4X800 relay, the Boothbay/Wiscasset team of Abbie Clark, Karen Higgins, Julia Truesdell and Maddie Orchard finished third with an 11-minute, 6.04 seconds mark. Orono won with 10:29.68. 

In the 100M hurdles, Emily Gilliam finished 23rd with a 19.99 second time and Sophia Mansfield finished 24th with 20.16. Sumner’s Ada Fisher won with 15.88.

In the 100M dash, Olivia Rittall finished 18th with a 13.71 second time. Bucksport’s Haley Rose won with 12.6.

In the 1600M run, Truesdell finished 14th with a six-minute, 2.82 second mark. Teanne Ewings of Houlton, Greater Houlton Christian Academy, Hodgdon won with 4:58.65.

In the 4X100M relay, Gilliam, Clark, Bailey Lewis and Mansfield finished 22nd with a 58.29 second mark. North Yarmouth/Maine Coast Waldorf won with 52.24.

In the 400M dash, Rose Campbell finished 10th with a one-minute, 5.27 second time. Ritall finished 11th with 1:05.83. Bucksport’s Haley Rose won with 1:00.81. 

In the 300M hurdles, Mansfield finished 23rd with a 57.73 second time. Gilliam finished 26th with 1:00.14. Grace Bila of North Yarmouth Academy/Maine Coast Waldorf won with 46.06.

In the 800M run, Orchard finished seventh with a two-minute, 35.53 mark. Soren Stark-Chessa of North Yarmouth Academy/Maine Coast Waldorf won with 2:19.72.

In the 200M dash, Rittall finished 10th with a 28.59 second time. Campbell finished 19th with 29.34. Bila of North Yarmouth Academy/Maine Coast Waldorf won with 26.27.

In the 3200M run, Higgins finished sixth with a 12-minute, 30.12 second mark. Truesdell finished 14th with 13:49.88. Ewings of Houlton, Greater Houlton Christian Academy, Hodgdon won with 10:33.65. 

In the 4X100M relay, Gilliam, Orchard, Rittall and Campbell finished 11th with a four-minute, 44.68 mark. Bucksport won with 4:25.22. In the long jump, Lewis finished 28th with a 12-foot, five-inch mark. Sarah Moore of North Yarmouth Academy/Maine Coast Waldorf won with 17-09.75. 

In the discus, Campbell finished fifth with a 94-foot, four-inch mark. Ava Goulette of Piscataquis Community High School won with a 111-foot, five-inch throw.

The Boothbay/Wiscasset boys track & field team competed against 36 other teams June 1 at the Maine State C Championship at St. Joseph’s College in Standish. The team had seven members competing at the meet.

In the 110M hurdles, Alton King finished 20th with a 21.24 second time. Hassan Hobbi of Winslow won with 15.52. In the 100M dash, Austin Trask finished 26th with a 12.01 second mark. Richards won with 11.08. 

In the 1600M race walk, Ross Gaffney finished in a three-way tie for 14th. Carter Butterfield of Mt. Abram won with a seven-minute, 26.44 second mark. In the 4X100M relay, Finn Gaffney, King, Lysander Lefevre and AJ Crocker finished 18th with a 49.86 time. George Stevens Academy won with 45.13.

In the 200M dash, Trask finished 22nd with a 24.91 second time. Winslow’s Richard won with 22.48. In the 3200M run, Crocker finished 10th with a 10-minute, 41.53 second time. Sumner’s Ren Salisbury won with 9:57.92.

In the long jump, King finished 28th with a 17-foot, 2.25-inch jump. Richards won with a 22-foot, one-half inch mark. In the discus, Mason Clark finished 16th with a 104-foot throw. Orono’s Cooper Sawyer won with 152-0. 

Winslow won the meet with 89 points. Orono finished second with 85. Lisbon/Oak Hill finished third with 82.

According to the Complete Guide to Lobster Boat Racing, the first organized Maine races were held in 1964. Sixty years later, we are counting down the days for the race that kicks off the season right here in Boothbay Harbor. The Charlie Begin Memorial Lobster Boat Races are Saturday, June 15; start time is 10 a.m.

Boat captains from up and down the coast will sign up at Brown’s Wharf at 121 Atlantic Ave. between 8:45 and 9:45 a.m. Entry fee is $20 with one exception: boat captains 18 or younger can enter for free to encourage their participation and keep the sport going strong.

If you want a 2024 commemorative T-shirt or sweatshirt, be at Brown’s at 8 a.m. Both shirts are heather gray with cream color lettering. T’s are $20 and sweatshirts are $35.

Ashleeann Lowery, who has been organizing the Races for 18 years, noted 2023 was the first time it rained during her time at the helm. Fortunately for fans, lobster boat racers are a passionate bunch and have no fear of water drops … getting wet’s a given with all that wake they kick up! There are usually 45 boats in the Boothbay Harbor races, so Lowery is hoping for the sun’s return.

Said Lowery, “It will be interesting to see who comes. We will be looking forward to seeing some boats come up from Portland. It’s always nice to see those guys.”

The first three places in all categories except Fastest Boat receive cash or a gift card of equivalent value: First place is $150, second is $100, and third is $50. Race winners make a pass by the Prize Float to see Lowery for these prizes.

In last year’s competitions, the Fastest Working Lobster Boat award went to Jeff Eaton of Deer Isle/Stonington. His boat, La Belle Vita, took the prize with a speed of 40.2 mph. Andrew Taylor’s Blue Eyed Girl won the race in 2021 and 2022, but didn’t enter it last year. Taylor did win first place (49 mph) for Fastest Working Lobster Boat with Boothbay’s Caleb Knapp, in Evangeline, taking third place in the race; John Albaum in Beluga came in second. Knapp took first in Wooden Boats 36 feet and over (any horsepower).

First Place in the Diesel Free For All was Jeremy Beal in Maria’s Nightmare flying across the water at 57.5 mph with Blue Eyed Girl coming in second place. Other racing categories are: Work boats under 24 feet, gas-powered boats 24-feet and over, diesel powered vessels 24-feet and over. For the complete 2023 winners list of races, visit https://tinyurl.com/4mtvpy6d

Lowery noted the much-anticipated event is 100% sponsor-funded with sponsors’ names printed on the back of each year’s commemorative shirts. The monies raised are used for the prizes and funding of the Charlie Begin Memorial Scholarship, awarded to four Boothbay Region High School seniors.

If you cannot be out on the water for the races, the course is in front of Tumbler Island, there’s that great lawn at Maine State Aquarium on McKown Point Road in West Boothbay Harbor and, in the Harbor, try Brown’s Wharf and Whale’s Tale. Binoculars are also a good idea from any viewing point.

After the races, Lowery, committee members, some local racers, and spectators head over to Robinson’s Wharf for a celebration. Robinson’s has School Street Band booked for the occasion! And Lowery will be bringing any unsold T’s and sweatshirts with her to the celebration.

Don’t miss any of the 33 Maine lobster boat races during this 60th year! Many fans travel up the coast for all or most of them. For a complete list of 2024 races, visit https://shorturl.at/UjPP0

You may have seen a display at a marina, town office, or boating supply store and wondered what it was all about. The U.S. Coast Guard must assume a vessel found adrift with no one aboard left shore with at least one person in the boat, no matter how large or small the boat might be. Kayaks, canoes, and other “paddlecraft” can be particularly troublesome because many owners have not marked their craft with permanent identification information that would allow a quick call or text to resolve the “missing mariner” issue.

It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to grasp how expensive it can quickly become to have Coast Guard assets trying to find the real, or assumed, occupant(s) of the unmanned vessel.

A practical side of why adding an “If Found” sticker to your paddlecraft is the simple advantage that you would stand a much better chance of ever seeing your vessel again if it’s been carried away by a high tide or come untied from a temporary mooring.

The “If Found” stickers have a heavy-duty waterproof adhesive and should be filled out with a “laundry marker” vs a standard “permanent” marker or other less durable marking method.

If you’d like to get an “If Found” sticker your yourself or a a handful of them for your boating organization, contact the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 2-5 in Boothbay Harbor at this web address: http://www.flotilla25.org.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8, about 75 paddlers departed Glidden Point Oyster Farm on a five-mile route to Damariscotta Town Landing for Hearty Roots’ (HR) third annual Paddle For A Purpose fundraising event. Paddlers enjoyed favorable tide and wind conditions, and only about 10 minutes of light rain mid-course. Karol and Walt Batansky of Boothbay took first place in the unofficial race with a time of 58 minutes, earning the Speedy Gonzales award.

The dark clouds that loomed would later dump heavy intermittent rain on the after-party at the Shuck Station with nearly 200 supporters in attendance, dry under tents. Partygoers were entertained with Latin music from the six-piece set, Primo Cubano, heard talks from HR staff and students, sampled free oysters, browsed HR swag, and participated in a live auction.

The event is a key fundraiser for HR and increases in size and scope each year. The event is supported by over a dozen businesses and sponsors (Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, Oxbow, Maine Behavioral Health, Bissell Brothers, First National Bank, Carson Douglas Landscape Architecture, Midcoast Kayak, First National Wealth Management, Knickerbocker Group, Whaleback Farm, ALKU Foundation, Glidden Point Oyster Farm, Riverside Butcher Co., Bred in the Bone, and The Silver Street Group) and artists such as Laurel Averill, Dan Ucci, Joseph DiMauro, Sonjay Bergquist, Carpenters Boat Shop, Kenneth and Angela Kourtmeyer, and Doug Gimbel donating art that raised almost $9,000 in the auction. Other popular auction items included Patagonia swag, a vacation at the Lodge in Carrabassett Valley, a kayak, and the now-famous paella dinner for 10.

“With the purchase of our land and camp, we are here to stay,” said founder and director Haley Bezon. “We are hoping to end the day with the ability to purchase wheels. We’ve been using our personal vehicles and it’s a bottleneck – more transportation means more access for campers who couldn’t get to HR otherwise. We need to raise $10,000 to receive a $10,000 match from Reny’s Charitable Foundation.” The wish would come true. After the auction, HR received a $5,000 pledge, four $1,000 pledges, and two $500 pledges. The event is expected to bring more when amounts are tallied soon.

Camper turned staff member Olive Pine spoke of what HR has meant to her. “This is a great community that breaks economic barriers to access. I’ve learned so much – I’ve learned ocean kayaking, woodworking, and so much more.”

“This event runs in parallel with our mission – guiding people off the grid and into their hearts. It’s about connection, adventure, and reflection. And get out and celebrate in the community,” said deputy director Jess Ruhlin Donohoe.

In one year’s time, HR has purchased 100 acres of wilderness on Biscay Pond in Bremen to establish a permanent location. HR has secured a Maine Department of Education MOLI grant, enabling 131 teens to attend camp and 122 hours of support for teens at three local schools for free, received $25,000 in scholarships to ensure equal access, and expanded to 32 adventure program offerings.

This year’s “Spirit Paddle” prize for the paddlers showing the most fun and flare was awarded to two families: the Hendersons and the Larner-Lewis family. The “Smelled All the Roses” award for coming in last went to Molly Thibault, who finished the course swimming instead of paddling after heroically giving her canoe to a fellow paddler in need.

Bezon concluded the event with a final plea for help preparing the new property to welcome campers in just three weeks. “We need volunteers badly – bring your chainsaws, clippers, rakes, and work gloves. We need trail clearers and volunteers to help with clean up and set up.” To volunteer, visit https://www.heartyroots.org/join-our-team

The Boothbay/Wiscasset girls’ track and field team had 14 athletes earn a varsity letter this spring. The team’s top scorer was Karen Higgins with 167 points in eight meets. Rose Campbell was second with 149 points. Maddie Orchard finished third with 145. She scored in seven meets. 

Athletes who scored eight points in a season earn a varsity letter. Joining Higgins, Campbell and Orchard as recipients are Olivia Rittall, 115; Abbie Clark, 90; Emily Gilliam, 86; Julia Truesdell, 83; Bailey Lewis, 74; Tatum French, 51; Sophia Mansfield, 31; Nerla Laventure, 17; Meredith Ames, 14; Abby Orchard, 14; and Linnea Anderson, 13.

Grace Greene scored four points. 

Registration is open for the 19th annual Westport Island Shore Run 10K Road Race that will take place Sunday, Aug. 18 on bridge-accessible Westport Island, Maine. "Maine's Best Little 10K Road Race" will start at 9 a.m; the 3.5-mile "Fun Walk" will start at 8:30 a.m. 

This exciting 10K road race on Westport Island takes place on a USATF-certified beautiful course that winds through scenic pine and fir tree forests and over two bridges spanning inlets to Heal Cove and Montsweag Bay. 

Josh Miller and Lisa Smith got involved in coaching softball for the same reason: It was for their children. 

“Softball is my daughter’s favorite sport,” explained Miller. 

So, last year when his daughter Blythe’s coach stepped down, Miller decided to take over despite his lack of experience. “I haven’t played baseball since I was in middle school. Pretty sure I got cut from the team in seventh grade,” he recalled, laughing. “So, I just sort of hit the ground running.”

Miller oversees Boothbay’s Major League team. Softball is split into two divisions: Minor League (typically ages 5-11), and Major (ages 9-12), although due to a lack of numbers, some girls play for both teams. 

Smith started coaching due to her twins, Izzy, and Abby LockeSmith’s, involvement in the sport. She began as an assistant coach for Boothbay, but switched to Wiscasset due to its lack of a coach, and currently oversees a combo Boothbay/Wiscasset Minor team. 

“I didn't want the girls to not have the same opportunity (as Boothbay),” said Smith. “Town does not matter to me. What matters to me is just getting these girls out there and having fun.”

The girls have so much fun, they often don’t realize they’ve won – and Smith’s team is currently undefeated. “They're not playing it just to win, they're playing it because they're enjoying it. And that's what I love to see. I just love to see the love of the sport and see these kids doing something besides being stuck on phones, or tablets.”

Both coaches have found ways to keep kids engaged and off their phones. Smith has even integrated her players’ tech-saviness into her coaching style, encouraging them to watch videos on their off days to help them with techniques they may be struggling with.

This goes back to Smith’s and Miller’s shared goal of getting more kids involved and seeing the program flourish. 

Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) hasn’t had a school-run softball team for almost a decade. According to Miller, the softball field is also an issue. It has not been maintained. A few years ago, the dirt infield was filled in with grass to accommodate the field hockey program. There has been some thought to potentially sharing the baseball field, but Miller isn’t sure this would work due to the logistical differences between each sport’s field set-ups. Meanwhile, according to Smith, Wiscasset’s varsity team was recently recategorized as JV due to decreased players. 

But Miller is optimistic about the numbers to create an official middle school team in Boothbay, and eventually a high school team. If not, daughter Blythe only has one more year before she’s potentially done with her favorite sport. 

For Smith, the long-term solution to the numbers problem is combining teams. “Watching my girls' sports struggle because there's not enough of them to keep it going is really sad. It's sad to watch these programs just kind of disappear.” 

In the meantime, players from both Miller’s and Smith’s teams are trying out for spots on the all-star teams. A summer of state tournaments may be ahead.

To honor Edgecomb’s 250th birthday, the Schmid Preserve is offering an interesting new tour that invites visitors to learn about Edgecomb’s history by exploring remnants of the lost community at Mount Hunger. 

The Schmid Preserve, consisting of 700 acres donated by Charles and Constance Schmid to the town of Edgecomb in 1979, provides public access to miles of trails, streams, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and historic sites. Numerous cellar holes, wells, mines, and stone walls provide glimpses into a community that was once large enough to have its own school and store. The “Lost Community of Mount Hunger” was detailed by Katherine Chase Owens in volume 2 of her book Early Edgecomb, Maine. She interviewed long-time residents and collected memories of the families, homes, and stories of Mount Hunger. 

Becky Schaffner with the Schmid Preserve Advisory Committee has developed a self-guided tour of ten historic sites found within the boundaries of the Schmid Preserve. Flyers are available in the kiosk at the Old County Road parking lot, including a map and brief descriptions of each site. The tour takes 1-2 hours to complete, depending on your pace, and is focused around sites in the center of the Preserve, mainly on Mount Hunger Road and Old County Road. 

Download the tour flyer and map: https://bit.ly/SchmidTour

The Boothbay 36ers faced a tough pitcher in Riverking hurler Silas Tibbetts June 17 as they managed one run on three hits and struck out 13 times in a 5-1 loss to Skowhegan. This is the 36ers’ second season competing in the Maine American Legion Southern Division. The 36ers will play 16 games prior to a double elimination playoff tournament at season’s end. 

This year’s team has five Boothbay region players and 13 others from around the Midcoast. In their season opener, Skowhegan scored first with one run in the third. Boothbay tied in the inning’s bottom half. 36er catcher Blade Brann doubled and second baseman Sam Markowitz knocked him in with a single. After that, Boothbay only managed one more single from Brann, as Skowhegan pitching shut them down.

Tibbetts pitched 6.1 innings and threw 104 pitches with 73 for strikes. He walked three. Noah McMahon pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief. He recorded one strikeout. Boothbay left five men on base.

Boothbay had three pitchers. Starter Jacob Watkinson pitched three innings allowing three hits, one earned run, four walks and one strikeout. Bryson Mattox pitched two innings and allowed two runs, two hits, and struck out one. Liam Jacobs pitched two innings and allowed one hit (home run), two walks and struck out four.

Boothbay coach Adam Harkins played all 17 36ers who suited up for the opening game. Harkins expects to insert a more traditional lineup as the season progresses. “We have a deep team,” Harkins said. “There are 10 or 11 who can pitch, and at each position, we go three to four deep. The biggest challenge is keeping everyone interested with enough playing time,” he said.

Markowitz played on last year’s squad and is glad to see so many returning players. “I haven’t seen most of these guys for a year, and it’s great to see them,” he said. “I’m glad to play ball in the summer. Legion is very competitive, and you see a lot of great pitching each night.”

The 36ers were set to travel to Waterville for a game versus Messalonskee on Tuesday, June 18 at Colby College.

The Schmid Preserve Advisory Board presented Bob Leone, past Schmid Advisory Board chairman, with two trail signs made by Joe McSwain, to recognize his trail design and construction on the Schmid Preserve during the past two decades. The 766 acre Schmid Preserve now has approximately 8 miles of trails including a large portion of the River Link Trail which Leone laid out and constructed. Since his tenure, several more trails have been added for mountain biking. We wanted to thank Bob for his generous donation of time and expertise to establish the Schmid Preserve trail network and his leadership over the years.

The Advisory board has hired John Copeland of Kennebec Trails to review the current trail network and make suggestions for trail improvements and rerouting that might be required due to changes in use and the results of a changing climate since the first design was established by Bob Leone.

An excellent crew of volunteers maintains the trail network and has work days several times a year, spring and fall while doing additional trail work off and on throughout the year. Mike Smith, former Edgecomb selectboard chair and past Advisory Board member, presented the trail signs to Bob at a potluck cookout for the board.

Chewonki alumni and friends, join us for a rare treat: Two full summer days where beautiful Chewonki Neck is all yours! On Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17, the downtime between camp sessions, you can explore our 400-acre campus and enjoy a special reception with Chewonki leaders. The days will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 485 Chewonki Neck Road, Wiscasset. 

Tuesday, July 16: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., open campus: Visit the farm and walk our nature trails. 9:30 a.m., Guided Nature Walk. Join former Chewonki President Don Hudson for a guided nature and birding walk. Meet at the Center for Environmental Education and bring your own binoculars. No RSVP is needed.

4 p.m. to 5:30 pm: Special Reception with Nancy Kennedy, André Heard and Tim Ellis. Have you ever wondered how Chewonki evolved into the outstanding nature-based nonprofit it is today? Are you curious about our vision for the next decade? Then you must attend this special reception with current and former Chewonki leaders, including Kennedy, our newly appointed president; Heard, our newly appointed board chair; Ellis, president from 1970 to 1991; and Don Hudson, president from 1992 to 2010. This rare gathering promises to be filled with fascinating stories and insightful discussions about Chewonki's past, present and future. Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with the people who have shaped and will continue to shape our journey. Light refreshments will be served. We kindly request your RSVP by Monday, July 15 (although last-minute guests are welcome!). 6 p.m. campus closes for the evening.

Wednesday, July 17: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. open campus. Visit the farm and walk our nature trails. 4 p.m., farm chores. Join farm manager Jeremy Aines and fellow alumni and friends for a group farm work project. Please wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and bring a hat, water bottle, and sunscreen. 4:30 p.m., Guided Nature Walk with Don Hudson. Join Hudson for a guided nature and birding walk. Meet at the Center for Environmental Education and bring your own binoculars. 6 p.m., campus closes.

Questions? Contact Alumni Manager Alexis Grillo at agrillo@chewonki.org

The town of Edgecomb celebrated the halfway point of its year-long Semiquincentennial with a rain-drenched road race on Saturday, June 22. More than 50 runners braved the weather to participate in the 10K, 5K, or Kids Run that followed a scenic route along Cross Point Road.

Perry Lebreton of Milford came in first for the 10K, with Jessica Sutras of Boothbay Harbor taking the top spot for female runners. 

D.J. Kelly of Boothbay Harbor won the 5K with Maura Nicholson close behind. Eleven-year-old Jacob Verge of Edgecomb was the first under-18 runner to cross the finish line, placing third overall in the 5k. 

Lebreton, who finished the 10K with a time of 37 minutes, 22 seconds, is an experienced runner who enjoys 10Ks and particularly enjoyed Edgecomb's, despite the rain. “It was awesome, the rolling roads and just the view,” he said. “The weather wasn't nice but it felt good running.”

The free event was spearheaded by the town's 250th Birthday Committee member Forrest Carver. Cross Point Road provided a scenic route with rolling hills. Runners passed the Singing Meadows Preserve, two working farms, and Carver’s favorite spot by Modockowando Trail where a dip in the road provides glimpses of the Sheepscot River. “That  little valley down by the water is really beautiful,” Carver said. There was also what Carver called “a pretty brutal hill” leading up to the turnaround for the 10K. “…It's a little punishing (with) lots of little false peaks so I knew people weren’t going to love that,” he said.  Indeed, runner Victoria Foust was not a fan of that section of the race but displayed a philosophical attitude after successfully completing her run. “Every time you go up, you come back down,” she said about running in hilly terrain. 

Carver said the town was able to produce the race at minimal cost thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers and prize donations from the local business community.

Tindal & Callahan Real Estate of Boothbay Harbor donated the cost of providing T-shirts designed by Cross Point Road artisan Laurel Averill. The shirts, which featured Fort Edgecomb’s 19th century block house flanked by stylized pine trees, were given to every runner and volunteer. 

Prize bags for the winners included maple syrup from Sweetwoods Farm, pottery pieces from Sheepscot River Pottery and Edgecomb Potters, and items from Bath Cycle and Ski and Mid-Maine Millwork. Blanchard’s Creamery donated ice cream certificates for the kids run. 

The Edgecomb Fire Department was instrumental in setting up the course, providing water stations and radios along the course, and serving up hot dogs and popcorn at the finish line. The Edgecomb Community Church offered its parking lot and facilities to the runners. 

The extensive group effort made for a fun day for all, and although the race was planned to be a one-time event, runners are already looking forward to returning next year. “Given how little it cost to put it on and the enthusiasm of the volunteers,” Carver said “I would definitely leave the door open for doing it again.” 

With rain plaguing the Northeast every weekend, it’s safe to say that June has not been too kind to race fans. Wiscasset Speedway was hoping for brighter skies for Saturday’s $3,000 to win Shipbuilders Pro Stock 100, presented by General Dynamics/Bath Iron Works. Unfortunately, the track lost the battle and fought scattered rain showers throughout the day.

Despite the weather, the speedway still decided to give it a go and introduced an abbreviated program. This moved the racing up one hour and cut qualifying heat races for all support divisions. Nick Hinkley, Josh St. Clair and Jeremy Davis topped the speed charts in practice for the Norm’s Used Cars Pro Stocks. Josh St. Clair went on to capture the first heat win over Dan McKeage, Jr. while Kevin Douglass picked up the win in the other.

Following heat races for the Pro Stocks, the Kennebec Equipment Rental Thunder 4 Minis took to the track for their 25-lap feature. Drivers were 3-wide for the lead early, with Ricky Austin taking over the top spot. There was some mid-pack melee on lap 1 as an on-track incident collected Gunner Josselyn, Kyle Willette and Zach Audet.

Derek Cook took over shortly following the restart, but Zach Audet made a quick recovery from the early incident and began making his way through the field. He entered the top 5 on lap 5 and continued his pursuit in the coming laps, officially taking over the lead on lap 8. He sailed off into the sunset, picking up another feature win in the division. Derek Cook and Spencer Sweatt followed, rounding out the podium. 

With wet weather approaching the area, Josh St. Clair took off with the early lead in the Shipbuilders 100. Nick Hinkley was fast approaching, clearing Dan McKeage, Jr. for third on lap 7. 

Kevin Douglass was biting into Josh St. Clair’s lead little by little and made his way to St. Clair’s outside on lap 29, swiftly taking over the top spot. Meanwhile, Logan Melcher and Dan McKeage, Jr. were going door to door for fourth. Battles were happening all over the track as Nick Hinkley made his way to Josh St. Clair’s inside on lap 32, challenging for the runner-up spot. 

Jamie Wright took a spin in front of the leaders on lap 39, prompting a caution. Josh St. Clair reclaimed the top spot following the restart, holding a slight edge over Kevin Douglass, who was glued to his door as Nick Hinkley lingered closely behind. Jeremy Davis also entered the fray on lap 52, making it a 4-way battle for the top spot.

Josh St. Clair got bent out of shape on lap 65, forfeiting the lead back to Kevin Douglass. It was a dog fight for second on back, which resulted in devastation on lap 68 as Josh St. Clair, Jeremy Davis and Nick Hinkley tangled, resulting in an untimely caution as the rain started to fall. The race was deemed official under yellow and Kevin Douglass picked up the win; his third in three races at the track. Logan Melcher and Matt Beers followed, completing the top 3.

Unfortunately, Wiscasset had lost the track at this point due to the rain and the remaining races were called off. Make-up feature races for both the Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros and Gosline Insurance Group Super Streets will be announced at a later date.

Mother Nature won the battle yet again, but Team Wiscasset hopes that the sky will clear for 350 SMAC Night this coming Saturday, July 6th. The program will feature all Group 2 divisions plus the visiting 350 SMAC Super Modifieds, who always put on a great show. The green flag flies at 5:00 pm and as always, adult grandstand admission is just $5!

For the official track schedule, race results and more, please visit http://www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

Basketball players in grades 2 through 8 are invited to sign up for the Boothbay Region Seahawks Summer Basketball Camp which will be held at the Boothbay Region YMCA July 29-Aug. 1. The camp will be held daily from noon to 3 p.m.

Conducted by BRHS boys basketball coach Dan Hallinan, the camp will include: Skills & Drills, Dribbling, Shooting, Rebounding, Passing, Early offensive and defensive procedures, Competitions, Games and Controlled Scrimmaging. There will be guest appearances by former Maine players and coaches.

To register or for more information, call Hallinan at 207-380-5933.

Fee is $130 per player.

With clear skies above and no rain on the horizon, it was the picture-perfect day for some racing on Maine’s Coast on Saturday. Wiscasset Speedway took full advantage of the weather, hosting a jam-packed Group 2 racing program that included double features for both the T&L Automotive Modifieds and the Wood Pellet Warehouse Late Models.

The racing action kicked off with the first 40-lap feature for the Late Models. Will Collins took off with the early lead, but by the mid-point of the race, there were battles all over the track. Will Collins and Brandon Bailey went head to head for the top spot, but Bailey got bent out of shape with 10 to go. This opened a hole for Branden Fowler, who powered into the lead as Will Collins began to fade into the distance. Fowler fought through lap traffic in the closing laps of the race, yet maintained his lead over Jon Emerson, picking up his first win in over 4 years at the track. Shane Clark followed, rounding out the top 3.

Reed Reno led the field to green in the first 30-lap Modified feature while multi-time champion Adam Chadbourne quickly moved into the runner-up spot over Chuck Colby. A lap 5 caution brought the field back together and Chadbourne got the upper hand, pulling away with a sizable lead. Multiple cautions led to a start-stop effect for the remainder of the feature, but Chadbourne held strong, picking up another victory in the division. Chuck Colby and Reed Reno followed, completing the podium.

During intermission, multi-generation driver Jonathon Emerson was awarded the “May Driver of the Month” award, which is given to one driver at the conclusion of every month that exudes excellence both on and off the track. Emerson will now be eligible to receive “Driver of the Year” honors at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

Following intermission, the Chestnut Auto Roadrunners took to the track for their 30-lap spotlight feature. Gavin Gerow held onto the lead for the first half of the race, but a sudden mechanical failure on lap 12 devastatingly ended his day prematurely. Alec Brown inherited the lead on the restart and pulled away. Dylan York, another heavy hitter in the division, took a spin with just 9 laps to go, bringing the field together one final time. Alec Brown held off the competition on the restart, securing his first feature win at the speedway. Ken Turner and Carl Conant rounded out the official top 3 following tech.

Will Collins took off with a sizable lead once again in the second Late Model feature. Multiple cautions plagued the first half of the race, but it was Tiger Colby who got the upper hand once the field settled. He powered to second on lap 20 following a mid-race restart as Ryan St. Clair rode his heels in third. Colby continued his mission in the coming laps, taking off like a rocket on a lap 27 restart to catapult himself into the lead. After a solid showing all day, Will Collins retired to the pits on lap 34. Tiger Colby was able to hold off the competition in the closing laps of the feature, picking up the win over Alex Waltz and Ryan St. Clair.

Scott Eck pulled out to the early lead in the 30-lap Portland Glass Strictly Street feature. There was melee on the backstretch on the initial start, but Eck maintained command of the field. While battling for position, Landon Tapley and Alex Cromwell made contact on lap 20, changing the trajectory of the race. Dan McKeage Jr., who started deep into the field back in 19th, went wide right in a bold move to avoid contact, powering his way up to third. From there, it was go-time for the young driver. He powered around Zach Emerson-Mains for the runner-up spot and it was a drag race to the finish between himself and Scott Eck. Both drivers gave it all they got, but it was McKeage who took home the win by a nose in an exhilarating finish. Zach Emerson followed, completing the podium.

The night concluded with another 30-lap feature for the Modifieds. An early caution delayed the racing action, but Brian Treadwell took off with the lead once the field went green. Zach Bowie was also on the move early, breaking free of lap traffic on lap 8 before tracking down the leader. Bowie lost his air cleaner on lap 15 but kept rolling, overtaking the top spot from Treadwell the lap following. A late-race caution for debris brought the field back together on lap 18 but Bowie held strong, picking up the win over Chuck Colby and Reed Reno. 

Saturday’s Group 2 program was loaded with exciting racing action, but there’s still more excitement to come. Wiscasset Speedway will be celebrating their 55th birthday this coming Saturday, July 27th with a full Group 1 program, Hall of Fame celebration and the Ward & Sons Super Street 100 followed by fireworks!

As always, general admission is just $5 for adults and free for kids 6 and under.

For the track schedule, official race results and more, please visit http://www.wiscassetspeedway.com. 

It seems like everyone is fascinated by wild mushrooms, from foraging and eating, to medicinal use and the use of psychedelics to improve learning and address depression. The only thing standing in the way is acquiring the knowledge and confidence to tell the good mushrooms from those that can sicken someone. The good news is that there are a handful of common, easily identified, great edibles or medicinals that can satisfy most peoples hunger for mushrooms. Maine is home to a number of world-class edible mushrooms easily found on a walk through the woods and fields. 

On Sunday, Aug. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., mushroom expert Greg Marley will lead a day-long workshop at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson to help build the basic knowledge needed to identify common mushrooms and to begin a lifetime of wild mushrooming. The class will combine indoor lecture and outdoor experience in the forest to explore identification features, ecology and the seasonal occurrence of mushrooms. The group will look at edible as well as common poisonous mushrooms and may end the day by cooking some of the mushrooms they find. This is an opportunity to learn a few common edible and medicinal mushrooms, and build skills to identify more. 

Participants should come prepared for a mild hike and a fun learning day, and are invited to bring fresh examples of mushrooms from their local woods and fields. No experience is needed. To learn more and register, go to https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events-list/mushrooms-foraging-24 

Greg Marley has been collecting, studying, eating, growing and teaching mushrooms for over 45 years. He spreads his love of mushrooms to hundreds through walks, talks and classes held across New England for over 35 years. Marley is the author of “Mushrooms for Health; Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi,” (Downeast Books , 2009) and the award-winning “Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares; The Love Lore and Mystic of Mushrooms,” (Chelsea Green, 2010).  

Saturday was a special day at Wiscasset Speedway as they were celebrating an event that only comes around once a year: their birthday! On top of celebrating 55 years of the speedway, Team Wiscasset used the day to honor their new 2024 Hall of Fame inductees and there was even a celebrity roaming around the grounds. You may know him as “Slugger”, or more formally, Slugger the Sea Dog. 

The night’s racing action kicked off with a 20-lap makeup feature for the Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros. Jacobee Thacker and Max Parlin went head-to-head for the early lead, but defending champion Ben Burgess was quickly making his way through the field. He cleared Parlin for the runner-up spot on lap 4 and then made quick work of Thacker for the lead. Burgess continued to lead the charge through multiple restarts and ultimately picked up another win in the division. Jack McKee and Jacobee Thacker (first career podium) rounded out the top 3.

Jaxson Moreside held the upper hand in the opening laps of the second feature, but Ben Burgess was on a mission once again. He cleared John Ricci for the runner-up spot on lap 8 and then set sights on Jaxson Moreside, quickly maneuvering his way back to the top of the leaderboard. Burgess held strong in the closing laps of the feature, sweeping the night in the 4-Cylinder Pros. John Ricci and Jack McKee followed, completing the podium.

Jamie Wright got out to a sizable early lead over racing veteran Kelly Moore and Shane Lane in the 40-lap feature for the Norm’s Used Cars Pro Stocks. While the top 3 pulled away, the field behind them was gridlocked from fourth on back. Dan McKeage, Jr. broke free from the traffic on lap 15 and began tracking down the leaders. Fortunately, they had built up enough of a lead that could not be broken. Jamie Wright took home his first feature win in 5 years while Kelly Moore and Dan McKeage, Jr. rounded out the top 3.

Zach Audet powered into the early lead over Spencer Sweatt in the 20-lap Thunder 4 Mini feature. Mike Landry and Kyle Willette battled it out for third for the vast majority of the race, but collided on lap 15. This resulted in a caution, bringing the field back together one final time. Audet took off on the restart, sailing away with the win while Spencer Sweatt and Ben Audet followed, completing the top 3.

The night concluded with the $1,500 to win Super Street 100, presented by Ward & Sons Builders. Bubba Pelton pulled ahead with the early lead, setting the pace. By lap 22, the leaders began approaching lap traffic. A 3-car collision on lap 39 resulted in a caution, but Pelton held strong on the restart.

While the leaders pulled out to a half track lead, a 3-way battle for third was taking place behind them. Zach Bowie won the battle over David Greenleaf and Kevin Sherman, but his night ended prematurely on lap 76 as he made hard contact with the turn 3 wall. Nick Morton entered the picture in the closing laps of the feature and remained glued to Bubba Pelton’s back bumper, ready to strike. Pelton persevered through the pressure, taking home the victory over Nick Morton and Noah Haggett. Not only was Pelton awarded with a massive trophy, he also took home $1,900 in total winnings and enjoyed a catered feast from Bingo’s BBQ after the finish was deemed official, of which he enjoyed with his family and crew members. 

The last few weeks at Wiscasset Speedway have been jam-packed with exciting racing action, but there is still more yet to come! They will be hosting their next Group 2 program this coming Saturday, August 3rd. The green flag flies at 5:00 pm and as always, adult admission is just $5!

For the official race results, track schedule and more, please visit http://www.wiscassetspeedway.com. 

Yoga instructor and past triathlon participant Sarah Anne Plummer is organizing a swim clinic for triathletes at Pemaquid Beach Park from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Participants will have an opportunity to swim the course, get a feel for conditions at the beach, and gain experience with an open water swim. Anyone who is registered for the 2024 Pemaquid Beach Triathlon can take part for free by bringing their email confirmation with them (on a phone or printed out). Otherwise, participants may pay the standard park entrance fee.

Advertised as “Maine’s most beautiful triathlon,” the Pemaquid Beach Triathlon is a fundraiser for Bristol Parks and Recreation. It is a sprint triathlon, with a 400-yard ocean swim off of Pemaquid Beach, a 17.4-mile bike ride around the Pemaquid peninsula, and a 3.1-mile out-and-back run along Pemaquid Trail.

Participants may compete as individuals or create a relay team of two or three people. Early-bird registration, available through July 31, is $90 for individuals and $100 for a relay team. Starting August 1, prices increase to $100 for individuals and $120 for relay teams. Registration is online at runsignup.com/Race/ME/NewHarbor/PemaquidBeachSprintTriathlon.

The founder of Maineoutdooryoga.com, Sarah Anne Plummer has been teaching group exercise and yoga classes for the past 35 years. During the summer months, she teaches yoga on Pemaquid Beach from 8:00-9:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Plummer has done many triathlons over the years and provides tips and training for those new to the sport. Plummer can be reached at sarah@maineoutdooryoga.com.

Beginning Friday, Aug. 9, a new Maine law goes into place that prohibits the operation of a motorboat engaged in a wakesurfing activity in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline. 

Wakesurfing activity is defined as an activity that involves using a surfboard, wakeboard, or similar device while being propelled by a motorboat’s wake or while on or in a motorboat’s wake directly behind that motorboat.

Watercraft dealers who sells a motorboat in the State must provide the purchaser of that motorboat with information related to the boater safety and education courses offered by the department as well as information related to those operators who are required to complete those courses.

Boater Safety and Education: Participating in a recreational boating safety education course will teach you how to safely operate and maintain a boat and introduce you to Maine boating laws and resources. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, a person born on or after Jan. 1, 1999, may not operate a motorboat greater than twenty-five (25) horsepower for recreational boating purposes on inland waters of this State or territorial waters, unless that person is 12 years of age or older and has completed a boater safety and education course. These persons must possess and present a boater safety and education course certificate for inspection upon request to a law enforcement officer. Exceptions: registered Maine guides (hunting, fishing, and recreational guides only), commercial fishermen, daily boat renters, and merchant mariners. 

A person born after Jan. 1, 1999 is also required to complete a boater safety and education course and be at least 16 years of age to operate a personal watercraft (such as a jet ski) on inland waters and territorial waters of the State or to supervise a person under 12 years of age who is operating a motorboat.

For more information, visit Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife website page - https://shorturl.at/h8MtL

The Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame announces their Induction Class for 2024. Seven individuals from the midcoast area will be honored at the 17th annual Induction Banquet on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Rockland Elks Lodge. Those being inducted are; Angel Tibbetts Ames, Melissa Hodgdon, Patrick Kelly, Matthew Lash, Leon Oliver, Christopher Perry and Paula Roberts.

Angel Tibbetts Ames – Angel was a 1990 graduate of Boothbay Region High School where she was an outstanding track and field athlete. She won 55 individual events during her high school career, which included 6 Mid-Maine Conference championships, 3 in the discus, 2 in the shot put and 1 in the javelin. She won 5 Class C State Championships, 3 in the discus and 2 in the shot put, and 1 All State Championship in the discus. In that meet she set the state record for the discus throw, a record that stood for 25 years. Unfortunately an injury incurred while playing basketball her senior year ended her throwing career. Angel continued to promote Boothbay track and field by volunteering as a coach, and most recently has been hired as a paid assistant coach.

Melissa Hodgdon – Melissa was a 1987 graduate of Boothbay Region High School where she excelled in field hockey and basketball. She was selected All State in field hockey in 1986. Her most notable sport though was basketball. She was the first player, male or female, to be a 1,000 point scorer for Boothbay. She was a member of the Class C State Championship team in 1983-84, plus her team won the Mid Maine
Conference Championship in 1986-87. She was team captain in 1986-87, was voted the team MVP, was a McDonald’s All Star and voted All State Honorable Mention. Melissa went on to Springfield College where she lettered for four years on the women’s basketball team, still holding the single game assist record and voted captain and team MVP twice. Melissa’s greatest accomplishments in basketball though may have come as a coach. She has been a coach at the collegiate level. She has been an assistant coach at Framingham State, Niagara University, Holy Cross and the University of New Hampshire and head coach at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Wheaton College. She was head coach at Wheaton from 2003 to 2019 where she holds the school record for most wins in a career at 214. Twice she was voted Conference Coach of the Year. In 2019 Melissa took the top assistant coach job at the University of Hartford and was the interim head coach in 2021-22.

Patrick Kelly - Patrick was a 1982 graduate of Camden-Rockport High School where he was an outstanding member of the wrestling team. He accumulated a 94-4 record during his 4-year career at CRHS. He went undefeated his sophomore and senior years, going 22-0 and 28-0 respectively, winning the Regional and State Class A Championship his senior year, after placing 2nd in the State his junior year. Patrick went on to the University of Maine where he captained the Black Bear Wrestling Club, was a four time All Academic Athletic Scholar, having 122 wins versus 20 defeats. His junior year he placed 1st in the NCAA Northeast Championships and 2nd during his senior year. Patrick has been the wrestling coach at Camden Hills Regional High School for 19 years where his teams have accumulated 453 wins versus 39 losses. His teams have won 7 State Titles, 9 Regional Titles, 11 KVAC Championships. His wrestlers have won 31 Individual State Championships, 3 Individual All State Championships, 5 New England Placers
and 1 Individual New England Champion. In 2007 Patrick was inducted into the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame.

Matthew Lash - Matt is a 1993 graduate of Medomak Valley High School where he was a varsity letter winner in basketball and track. He went on to the University of Maine at Machias where he was a four-year letter winner in basketball, being selected as team captain his senior year. He graduated from UMM in 1997. He was assistant men’s basketball coach in 1998/99 and head men’s basketball coach from 2000 to 2003. In 2003 he took over as the athletic administrator at Medomak Valley High School and has been in that position ever since. In 2009 he was chosen KVAC Athletic Administrator of the Year, has received the MIAAA Past President Special Achievement Award, the Guest Speaker Award, the President of MIAAA Award, the Leadership Award and the 20 Year Service Award. He has served on the MPA Wrestling Committee as chairman and also on the Basketball Tournament Committee. Matt is the longest serving athletic administrator in Medomak Valley history.

Leon Oliver – Leon is a 1982 graduate of Lincoln Academy. where he was a varsity letter winner in cross country, golf and basketball. In basketball twice he scored 40 points in a game and during his junior year he was the second leading scorer in the Mid Maine Conference. Golf is where Leon had his most accomplishments. He qualified for the States 3 out of 4 years. At age 15 he was the youngest ever Wawenock Golf Club Champion, winning 3 other Wawenock Club titles before turning pro at age 20. Leon has 4 course record scores at Lemon Bay GC, Wawenock GC, Bath GC and Sheepscot Links GC. He has won 2 Maine Chapter Golf Championships in 1998 and 1999, 2 Maine Pro Championships in 1994 and 2004, was Maine Chapter Player of the Year in 2017, 3 Pro Senior Championships and in 2022 he was inducted into the Lincoln Academy Sports Hall of Fame and the Maine Golf Hall of Fame. Leon has coached the golf teams at Lincoln Academy, Morse and Wiscasset high schools, is a 25-year member of the PGA and presently is the owner of Sheepscot Links Golf Course.

Christopher Perry – Chris is a 1984 graduate of Lincoln Academy where he won 12 varsity letters in soccer, wrestling and baseball. In wrestling he won 4 regional titles, 1 State Runner-up award and 2 State wrestling titles. Chris went on to Springfield College where he was a 4-year letter winner in wrestling, twice achieving Northeast runner-up. After graduation from Springfield in 1988 Chris embarked on a teaching and coaching career that has been exemplary. In 1990 he became the physical education teacher and athletic administrator at Bristol Consolidated School where he has coached various sports for the past 35 years. He has very successfully coached coed soccer, baseball, Jump Rope Demonstration Team, wrestling and basketball in Bristol and Lincoln Academy. In 2012 Chris was inducted into the first class of the Lincoln Academy Sports Hall of Fame.

Paula Roberts – Paula was a 1975 graduate of Lincoln Academy where she was on the field hockey, basketball, gymnastics and softball teams. She went on to Springfield College where she played 4 years of college field hockey, graduating in 1979. Paula returned to Lincoln Academy as the women’s field hockey coach, a position she held for 11 years. Her teams accumulated 106 wins against 45 losses and 13 ties. In 1987 the team won the Eastern Maine Class B Title and State Class B Championship. Her teams also won the Mid Maine Conference Championship in 1985 and 1989. Paula may be best known though as the sports writer for the Lincoln County News. She has covered Lincoln County sports for over 30 years, being totally dedicated to the faithful and comprehensive coverage of sports in that area.

In 2023 the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame initiated a Legends category, recognizing individuals that have done a lot through sports for their community. This year, four more individuals will be recognized.

Kevin Burnham – Kevin was a 1975 graduate of Boothbay Region High School where he participated in football, basketball and track and field as a student athlete. He has covered Boothbay area sports for the Boothbay Register for over 35 years. His dedication to covering local sports has preserved the history of sport for the area. He also has served as the timekeeper for the high school field hockey program and coached girls basketball for BRHS. Kevin is currently the editor for the Boothbay Register.

Leigh Campbell (posthumous) – Leigh was a graduate of Wiscasset High School. He was always an avid follower of local sports teams and players. Leigh served for 39 years as director of financial aid at Bates College. Leigh was a lifelong fan of basketball, serving as the official scorer for the MPA Tournament in Augusta for many, many years. He was also the official scorer for Bates men’s basketball for nearly 50 years. Leigh was inducted into the Bates College Scholar/Athlete Society in 2012 and in 2019 was recognized by the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame as a Legend. Leigh passed away in 2020.

Gene Drinkwater (posthumous) – Gene was a 1971 graduate of Georges Valley High School. He was a lifelong lobsterman. For over 40 years Gene was a fixture in youth sports in the Rockland area. He helped coach football at the junior high and high school level in Rockland and was instrumental in getting the Pee Wee Football program started there. He also coached youth softball, with his team winning the
Busline League Championship the 2nd year of coaching them. Gene knew that coaching was not all about X’s and O’s. He worked diligently to positively affect the lives of each and every player. He was known to be a positive mentor to the players, helping them keep their grades up or providing equipment for ones that could not afford it. Even as Gene’s health failed he continued to coach, providing a very positive image for those he touched. Gene passed away in 2015.

Bill Stuart – Bill has been a lifelong resident of the Tenants Harbor/St George area. He played sports himself as a youth but is most noted for his dedication and commitment to youth sports in that area as a coach, volunteer and mentor. He has been a sports official for many years in soccer, basketball and baseball, serving numerous schools in the Midcoast Area. Bill also ran the BJ Stuart Memorial Scholarship program that was a fundraiser to help send local youth to summer sports camps. Bill has served as president of the Little League program and coached St George Middle School basketball.

The 17th annual Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame Banquet, where all these individuals will be recognized, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Rockland Elks Lodge starting at 5 p.m. For ticket information contact Dave Ames at (207)789-5118 or damesref@tidewater.net.

Get ready for a day of fun, friendly competition, and community spirit at the 4th annual Boothbay Cornhole Classic, a fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics Maine and the Bath Area Family YMCA Unified Champion Club. This rain or shine charity event will take place on Sunday, Sept. 8 at the Boothbay Railway Village Museum.  

The Boothbay Cornhole Classic, professionally organized by Wicked Cornhole Events, promises to be the premiere event of the summer, offering a great way for families, friends, and residents to come together. The round robin, double elimination tournament is open to people of all ages and skill levels. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the bags fly at 10 a.m. 

Registration is $60 per team and four games are guaranteed. The tournament will feature food provided by Performance Food Service, a cash bar by Mine Oyster and tended by local celebrity bartenders, $2,000 in cash payouts for the top three teams, and an Airmail Challenge with a chance to win up to $1,000.  

Participants and guests can bid on items at the silent auction offered throughout the event or join the live auction which will start around 1 p.m. The auction is open to the public and free to attend. Items will feature unique experiences, getaway packages, products from local shops, autographed memorabilia from sports legends and more. 

"We are thrilled to host the Boothbay Cornhole Classic once again at the Boothbay Railway Village," said Brenda Blackman, event co-chair. "This event is a fantastic opportunity for our community to gather, have fun, and raise money for the athletes of Special Olympics Maine and foster the growth of inclusion at the Bath Area Family YMCA through their Unified Champion Club. We look forward to seeing everyone there, whether they’re playing or cheering on their friends and family." 

Last year, with the generous support of a variety of sponsors, volunteers and teams, the Boothbay Cornhole Classic raised over $60,000 for Special Olympics Maine and had over 70 registered teams. 

For more details and to register, visit https://www.somaine.org/get-involved/fundraising-events/ or contact Sawyer Boulette at Sawyer.Boulette@outlook.com.  To volunteer, contact Brenda Blackman at 207-380-7770. To become a sponsor, contact Rob Wheeler at rob@jedwardknight.com