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

Click here to see some more photos from the event.

Frank starts removing the old carpet.

Interesting floor details.

All the old carpet completely removed.

 As was very common in older homes, at least in Maine, rough wood was used in the center of the room knowing that you would always have an area rug.  That’s the Yankee mentality!!

New padding made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles....how green of us!!

New carpet installed.

Humpty Dumpty put all back together again. Just in time for a full house of guests tonight!!

Crabmeat Quiche

3 large eggs

4 ounces Swiss cheese (shredded)

¼ cup finely chopped onion

½ cup mayonnaise

5 ounces lump crab meat

Salt & pepper

 9 inch tart dish

     Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll out your favorite pie crust as thin as possible and lay over tart dish after coating with non-stick baking spray.  Fold edges over into dish and press into the edge to create the outer pie crust.  Evenly distribute chopped onion and shredded Swiss cheese over the pie crust.  In a small mixing bowl, combine eggs, mayonnaise, crab meat, salt & pepper, to taste.  Add egg mixture to pie crust and bake in pre-heated oven for 45 minutes.  Serve warm. (Tip:  After baking and turning off the oven, cover the quiche with aluminum foil in the oven to keep it warm until serving.)

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!

“Our readers have spoken and the LimeRock Inn has unanimously received the greatest number of votes in this category by their loyal B&B guests and regular visitors to LanierBB.com, said Pamela Lanier, author of the guidebook series. “Innkeepers, P.J. Walter & Frank Isganitis, certainly earned this prestigious award. Their hard work and effort has not gone unnoticed by the traveling public,” finished Lanier.

Located in Midcoast, Maine, Rockland’s LimeRock Inn serves guests with extraordinary comfort and unparalleled attention to detail. Warm, welcoming and full of character, the LimeRock Inn offers travelers an ideal base for a relaxing in a memorable bed and breakfast retreat, which translates to value. “We could not be more excited about this recognition,” stated co-owner, Frank Isganitis. “This confirms our belief that we can deliver a five-star experience without the five-star price tag,” said Isganitis.

Guests at the LimeRock Inn are always the top priority of innkeepers. “Everything we do comes after careful and thoughtful consideration of how it will impact our customer.” said PJ Walter, LimeRock Inn’s other co-owner. “We are honored to receive this award, but knowing our guests participated in the award is the ultimate reward for us. It means they really understand our motto of comfortable elegance.”

Pamela Lanier’s Bed and Breakfasts, Inns and Guesthouses International has been assisting inn goers with a comprehensive variety of boutique lodgings since 1982, announcing an “Inn of the Year” winner for 26 consecutive years. The oldest B&B vote program in the world, guests may now vote for any bed and breakfast in over 80 categories on LanierBB.com, all votes are tallied and winners are announced at the beginning of each year in Lanier’s print guide, The Complete Guide to Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and Guesthouses International, website, newsletters and with press affiliates.

Five Tips for Finding Affordable Luxury at the LimeRock Inn
Need a pick me up? It’s on the house at LimeRock Inn

1. Complimentary transportation to/from the Rockland airport and island ferry is offered upon request.
2. Complimentary snacks and hot and cold beverages are available 24-7. No mini bar charges here.
3. Complimentary and secure wi-fi service and public desktop computer and printer are available for those who need to stay in touch.
4. Complimentary concierge services including restaurant and attractions reservations, directions and insider’s advice.
5. Complimentary bell hop service, so even luggage gets a “pick me up” here.

About LimeRock Inn:
Within an easy stroll of downtown Rockland, ME, the LimeRock Inn is a turreted Victorian mansion offering an exquisite example of Queen Anne architecture. Featuring two front parlors, eight spacious guest rooms and an inviting wrap-around porch, the LimeRock Inn offers guests the chance to experience affordable luxury and elegance in a gracious historic setting with modern amenities. New in 2010, each guest room has been updated with cable flat-panel HDTV/DVD combo and IPOD/MP3 docking clock radios. The inn has been included in Food Network and HGTV segments, and was featured on Wheel of Fortune. A certified Maine Lodging Environmental Leader, the exterior color is not the only green theme you’ll find here. Extreme care goes into creating a sustainable eco-friendly experience for those who wish to leave a smaller footprint where they travel.

LimeRock Inn
96 Limerock St
Rockland, ME 04841
800-546-3762
www.limerockinn.com
Email: Info@LimeRockInn.com

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High-res photos available upon request.

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