Annual Celebration Dinner & Auction
Wed. Sept. 9, 2026
Thank you for an incredible evening and congratulations to this year’s Awardees
🍂 Autumn Harvest Gathering  🌿
Celebrating our roots and sowing seeds for the future
Celebrating our roots and sowing seeds for the future
We gathered for an evening of community-building and rustic feast beneath the historic timbers of member business, Crawford Farm Weddings and Events.
Annual Awards
2026 Annual Awards
Each year we ask our community to tell us who is most deserving for recognition and then announce the awardees at the Annual Chamber Celebration. The 2026 Awardees were selected in five categories, plus the President’s Award, and announced on Sept. 9 at our 2026 Annual Celebration & Silent Auction.Â
Congratulations to the 2026 Awardees:
- Community Service (Individual) – Karen-Ann Hagar-Smith, CLC-YMCA Community Navigator
- Community Service Organization – Healthy Lincoln County
- Business of the Year – First National Bank
- Businessperson of the Year – Jane Gravel, Blue Lobster Real Estate & Smashed Burgers & Brews
- Rising Star – Caleb Farrin, Jefferson Market & General Store
- President’s Award – Melissa Palmer-Karas, Renys
2025 Annual Award Winners
The Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce’s annual Celebration on September 10, 2025 included recognition for six honorees:
- Jack Meehan, WoodChippers – Community Service AwardÂ
- Inn Along the Way – Community Service OrganizationÂ
- Hearty Roots – Business of the YearÂ
- Sheila McLain – Businessperson of the Year
- Brynne Whitney – Rising StarÂ
- Marva Nesbit – President’s Award
2024 Award Winners
- Marilee Harris, Stepping Stone Housing, Inc – Small Business of the Year
- Ted Perkins, Hammond Lumber Company – Large Business of the Year
- Tom Anderson, Volunteer Extra-ordinaire – Person of the Year
- Angelina Walz, Bangor Savings Bank – President’s Award
2023 Award Winners
- Karen Bachelder, Stepping Stone Housing, Inc. Individual Community Service Award
- Erica Berman Veggies to Table Community Service Award
- Bangor Savings Bank Bristol Business Enhancement Award
- Dennis Hilton, Cheney Financial Companies Business Leader of the Year Award
- Jane Gravel Newcastle Realty- President’s Award
2022 Award Winners
- Mark Hagar, Hagar Enterprises – Individual Community Service Award
- Central Lincoln County YMCA – Organization Community Service Award
- Bristol Parks & Recreation – Business Enhancement Award
- Dusty Hancock, Strong-Hancock Funeral Home – Business Person of the Year
2021 Award Winners
- Chief Jason Warlick, Damariscotta Police Department – Individual Community Service Award
- Lincoln County Television (LCTV) – Organization Community Service Award
- N.C. Hunt Lumber – Business Enhancement Award
- Jim Donovan – Business Person of the Year
2020 Award Winners
- Marva Nesbit – Individual Community Service Award
- Rotary Club of Damariscotta-Newcastle – Organization Community Service Award
- Broad Arrow Farm – Business Enhancement Award
- Robert Clifford – Business Person of the Year Award
- Jane Gravel – “Pandemic Hero” Award
2019 Award Winners
- Billy Claflin – Individual Community Service Award
- Renys – Organization Community Service Award
- The Shuck Station – Business Enhancement Award
- Frieda and John Hanlon – Business Person(s) of the Year Award
- Rick Hagen – Individual Community Service Award
- Lincoln County Publishing Co. – Organization Community Service Award
- Buzz Maine – Business Enhancement Award
- Brothers Don, Jeff, and Steve Pierce – Businessperson of the Year Award
- Bruce Lutsk – Individual Community Service Award
- Jane and Gary Gravel – Organization Community Service Award
- Tidwater Telecom / LCI – Business Enhancement Award
- Mike Hall – Hall Funeral Home – Business Person of the Year Award
- Ted Silar – Individual Community Service Award
- Community Energy Fund – Organization Community Service Award
- Dow Furniture – Business Enhancement Award
- Randall Miller – Newcastle Chrysler – Business Person of the Year Award
- Grace Goldberg, Savory Maine – Individual Community Service Award
- Spectrum Generations – Organization Community Service Award
- Lincoln Academy – Business Enhancement Award
- Wayne Moore – Business Person of the Year Award
- Kathy Anderson – Individual Community Service Award
- Damariscotta River Association – Organization Community Service Award
- Mexicali Blues – Business Enhancement Award
- Jean Kerrigan – Damariscotta River Grill – Business Person of the Year Award
2013 Award Winners
- Dennis Hilton – Individual Community Service Award
- Miles Memorial Hospital League – Organization Community Service Award
- Lincoln Academy – Business Enhancement Award
- Scott Lash – Business Person of the Year Award