Thousands turned out for the annual Summer Sostice Festival in Rockland, Maine

Click here to see some more photos from the event.

P.J. Walter, left, and Frank Isganitis, center, accept the chamber's Beacon Award on behalf of The LimeRock Inn Saturday night at the Samoset Resort. The resort's General Manager Connie Russell, right, presents the award. (Photo by: Daniel Dunkle)

The presentation is as follows:

     After relocating to the Penobscot Bay region from New Jersey, these partners purchased an existing business that was already successful.  Together, they represent the principle that individuals working together can achieve results greater than the sum of the parts.  This idea is paramount in the way they run their business, interact with their colleagues and reflected in the industry brand that they have helped create.

      One of these individuals is a bit more low key choosing to stay behind and “man the fort” in order to allow the other the opportunity to be more overtly community minded.  However, he works tirelessly using social media and other online outlets like when Rockland was nominated by Captain Brenda Thomas of the schooner, Issac Evans, as one of the Coolest Small Towns In America last year.  Through his efforts, Rockland came in second in the online voting and received the “Editor’s Choice” designation in the October issue of Budget Travel magazine.

     The other individual is likely better known in the community.  Despite being “from away”, Rockland has embraced them with open arms allowing this individual to become a founding member of Rockland Main Street, Chairman of Rockland’s Economic Development Advisory Committee AND Rockland’s Comprehensive Planning Commission.  He is also a member-at-large of Rockland’s Board of Assessment Review and an Executive Committee member of the Chamber.

      Through their efforts, the region has hosted celebrities like Bobby Flay, Samantha Brown, and Rachel Ray.  In addition, the region has received television recognition on the Food Network, HGTV, Wheel of Fortune, CBS Good Morning, The Today Show, and at least four appearances on WCSH6-NBC Portland as well as countless local, regional and national print publications.

     They use all of these opportunities to shine a light on and promote the Penobscot Bay region, and I never get the impression the attention is about them or their business. They always make their efforts about the region and local community and why it’s so great to come here. They are tremendous ambassadors of the Penobscot Bay region.  For all these reasons, we offer the Beacon Award to The LimeRock Inn owners, PJ Walter and Frank Isganitis.

We are so incredibly honored and humbled by receving this award.  The way we operate is reflected in a quote from the Community Person of the Year Winner, “If you see something that needs to get done, do it.  If you don’t know how to do it, learn.”  These are words to live by!

This sounds like an exciting and delicious evening!! From Lily Bistro:

Ameranouche (pronounced uh-MARE-uh-noosh), the Gypsy jazz, acoustic power trio will be performing a concert at Lily Bistro in Rockland on MONDAY, February 15, 2010.

The trio features two French acoustic Gypsy jazz guitars and upright bass, and is a two-time winner of Best of New Hampshire awards as well as being veterans of the famed Newport Jazz Festival. The group tours nationally, year-round and has released two albums, largely of original music inspired by legendary Gypsy guitarist, Django Reinhardt.

National Lampoon director, Kevin Wheatley, calls Ameranouche “the new sound of America”. After hearing these folks sail through a melodious tune with such love, musicality, and signature, jaw-dropping velocity, you’ll be hard pressed not to agree. www.ameranouche.com has plenty of tunes to check out — if you’ve never experienced hot acoustic swing music, now’s your chance to fall in love with the joyful, uplifting, and dance-inducing sounds of Gypsy jazz!

Ameranouche – hot Gypsy jazz power trio LIVE at Lily Bistro
MONDAY, February 15, 2010
8pm
$15 for the show; seating is limited
optional $15 also for wine tasting (come early!)
207-594-4141 for reservations

This morning we had one of the most bizarre and amazing coincidences of peoples paths crossing. There is an Aunt and neice visiting from the UK, one lives in England and the other Scotland. We also had a newlywed couple from NYC. After breakfast, the neice approached me to ask if the NYC couple, whom she’d not met, had just gotten married in Central Park. You see, prior to arriving at the inn, the aunt and neice had spent some time in New York City and toured Central Park. While there, a wedding was taking place in the Shakespeare Garden and they decided to stay around a bit to watch the bride and groom have their photos taken. Well, when this young couple walked into the dining room this morning, the neices jaw nearly fell to the ground as she thought this was the couple that she witnessed getting married in Central Park. A short while later, the couple confirmed that they indeed did get married and it was the same ceremony viewed by the aunt and neice.

Now I ask you, what are the coincidences that both sets of people would end up here are the LimeRock Inn in Rockland on the same date? It is just amazing and is one of the many reasons we love what we do!!!

Starting August 7th is the annual Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors show.  This is the largest in the water boat show in the country and draws people from all over.  The show also features many fine furnture craftsmen.  A good friend of ours, Paul Smith of Cathedral Woodworking, will be showing again the year.  Last year, we purchased a beautiful porch swing for the front of the inn. 

Guests have throughly enjoyed using the swing.  It is truly beautiful.  As Paul now lives in Michigan, our swing will be in display at the show this year as a sample for visitors to see.

One of the highlights of the event is the Boat dog trials.  Here is a photo of last years winner.