January 22, 2025

Vol. 03

Mark Your calendar!

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

14th Annual Wiscasset Chamber Dinner Meeting

Celebrate Picnic style with us at the Bath Ale Works

Games, Pie auction, Picnic Basket Raffle, Trivia and fun, fun, fun!

Always looking for a few volunteers to help make the event a success! Please contact the chamber. Thank you.

The Garden Club of Wiscasset

The Garden Club of Wiscasset

Invites you to join us for

“Vernal Pools”

Presented by The Chewonki Foundation

Traveling Natural History Programs

1:00 PM the afternoon of February 6, 2025

Meeting in Fellowship Hall

First Congregational Church

28 High St, Wiscasset

Refreshments after the Program

Public Invited Free of Charge

Maine B2B Trade show this year in Auburn Maine

March 27, 2025

Hosted by Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

for businesses who want to be doing business in Maine, or with Maine companies

• Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn, runs 11-5:30, cocktail hour at 4:30, single and double booths are available. 
• Booths get 2 included lunches, unlimited reps and additional lunches for purchase, electricity, pipe, drape, chairs, and a table. 
• Door prizes, mini learning and mini networking will occur throughout the day

More info to come soon!

One Stone at a Time: Restoration and Conservation of Ancient Burial Grounds

Lincoln County Historical Association (LCHA) will present a talk on Thursday, January 30 by Dave Probert of Dresden, Maine about his restoration and conservation work in local historic cemeteries. The online lecture will begin at 5:30 pm. Preregistration is required. The event is free, but a $5 suggested donation helps LCHA cover costs.

Preregistration is required to receive the link. Visit lincolncountyhistory.org and click on Upcoming Events. All donations are gratefully appreciated, but no donations are required.

Lincoln County Historical Association is a non-profit organization that provides stewardship for the 1754 Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta, the 1761 Pownalborough Court House in Dresden, and the 1811 Old Jail and Museum in Wiscasset. For more information, please visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org or Facebook at Lincoln County Historical Association (Maine).

Call today 207-882-9600!

Sunday Supper Series will begin January 26!

Sunday, January 26 - Pre-Prohibition

An exploration of 16th - 20th Century Cocktails

Sunday, February 2 - Prohibition through 1990s

History of Prohibition and Evolution of Cocktails through the 1990s.

Thursday, February 6 - Cocktail Revival

A deep dive into the modern mixology scene and revival of classic cocktails

*Inclement weather reschedule dates will be:

Pre-Prohibition: Thursday January 30

Prohibition: Wednesday February 5

Cocktail Revival: Saturday February 8

Please ensure you will be available for reschedule days when booking!

We’re thrilled to welcome our dear friend Zach Beeson to Maine for the month of January. 

Zach will be the host of our

SUNDAY SUPPER SERIES: History of Cocktails.

Together, we’ll explore pre-prohibition, prohibition, and post-prohibition cocktails in a three part Supper Series paired with plates he and Matt will design.

Maine Tourism Association News

New State Legislation

You can access the full list of printed legislation here and submit testimony on any bill here.

Since last week, here's a look at some of the new legislation we're following.

• LD 151 - "An Act to Allow Businesses to Impose a Surcharge on Credit Card and Debit Card Transactions", Rep. Will Tuell (R-East Machias). This bill would allow businesses to impose a surcharge on credit and debit card transactions, reversing current state law which prohibits such surcharges. Maine is one of only four states that does not allow businesses to charge these fees. We support this measure and encourage our members to testify in favor of the bill when the public hearing is scheduled.

• LD 191- "An Act to Support Maine Businesses by Establishing a Pass-through Entity Tax and Tax Credit", Rep. Tavis Hasenfus (D-Readfield). This bill allows pass-through entities, such as partnerships and S corporations, to elect to pay Maine income tax at the entity level starting January 1, 2025, providing a 90% tax credit to members for their share of Maine income taxes paid by the entity.

• LD 203 - "An Act to Provide an Income Tax Credit for Employer-supported Child Care", Sen. Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook). This bill establishes a new refundable tax credit starting in 2026 for employers providing child care support to employees, equal to 50% of expenses or $3,000 per child.

• LD 206 - "An Act to Protect Maine Businesses by Eliminating the Automatic Cost-of-living Adjustment to the Minimum Hourly Wage", Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin). This bill sets the minimum hourly wage at $14.65 and removes the annual cost-of-living adjustment.

• LD 229 - "An Act to Bring Fairness in Income Taxes to Maine Families by Adjusting the Tax Brackets and Tax Rates", Rep. Ann Matlack (D-St. George). This bill changes, beginning in 2026, the current income tax brackets by increasing the threshold amount of income subject to the current tax rates of 5.8%, 6.75% and 7.15%. The bill adds 3 new income tax brackets and imposes tax rates of 7.52%, 7.15% and 8.2% in those new brackets.

Happenings

Maine Art Gallery offers an exciting and diverse 2025 season with many opportunities for members to exhibit

The Maine Art Gallery (MAG) exhibition schedule for 2025 offers member artists numerous opportunities to participate in exhibits while inviting gallery visitors to experience the varied ways in which Maine artists are influenced by the beauty and quirkiness of life in this part of the world.

Detailed entry information and calls for art will be issued during the season and posted as available on the MAG website, www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org.

A nonprofit organization since 1958, the Maine Art Gallery, located at 15 Warren Street, Wiscasset, is dedicated to the advancement and preservation of the visual, fine and applied arts through exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations and educational programs for children and adults. More information can be found at www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org and on Facebook at Maine Art Gallery Wiscasset. Email info@maineartgallerywiscasset.org or phone (207) 687-8143.

On February 6th, Old Bristol Historical Society in collaboration with the Lincoln County Historical Association is inviting the community to register for "Slavery and Abolition in 19th Century Maine" featuring Maine author Carol Gardner.

Gardner will draw from her upcoming book, The Divided North: Black and White Families in the Age of Slavery. Maine was bitterly divided about slavery, and her citizens played key roles in supporting and undermining the institution. 

This Zoom presentation is free but attendees must first register at www.lincolncountyhistory.org/event/carol-gardner

Educational Opportunities

SCORE’s Small Business Training Workshops

Find low-cost, targeted training in both in-person and online formats on topics that matter to you and your small business. Join a business expert at an interactive in-person or virtual workshop or learn at your own pace with one of SCORE’s recorded webinars. Upcoming event topics include Grants & Programs for Your Business, Business Bank Loan Application Tips, Starting Your Own Business, and more.

Learn more below!

View Upcoming Workshops

Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce | www.wiscassetchamber.com

(207)882-9600

info@wiscassetchamber.com