BOARD OF DIRECTORS MESSAGE: We’re well into the busy summer season for all of us, residents, business owners and visitors alike. So “Happy summer” to everyone from the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber.

We encourage all to take advantage of the warm weather and bright blue skies and participate in the plethora of activities in our own backyard. Start out by taking a stroll and receiving a fresh look at the downtowns of Bath, Brunswick, Wiscasset and Richmond. Each is unique and conveys a real sense of community.

Some have very wide streets, some are an architecture lover’s dream and all have different river views. Enjoy window shopping (or buying) at specialty shops, art galleries, antique stores. Scenic drives will help you appreciate the village centers, rural nature and historic sites found in Edgecomb, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell (216 miles of coastline) and Phippsburg. And everywhere you can enjoy eating inside or outside at the incredible variety of restaurants found intown and down our many peninsulas.

How about a picnic and a walk along the sand at Thomas Point Beach, Peacock Beach State Park or Popham Beach State Park? Or take a scenic and peaceful ride through Arrowsic and Georgetown to Reid State Park, all the while smelling the fresh sea air and perhaps stopping in to local pottery galleries.

Maybe you’d like to cruise the Kennebec River and view lighthouses or bird watch via kayak or canoe around Westport Island or Merrymeeting Bay around Swan Island. For those that want to catch their supper, hire a fishing charter. History buffs can tour museums and historic homes and buildings in all of the towns, including Dresden (Pownalborough Courthouse) and Woolwich (a 19th century farmhouse).

There’s easy ways to get your exercise by discovering walking and hiking paths galore in each of the 16 towns, including Hamilton Sanctuary in West Bath.

Last but not least, enjoy the top-notch special events from the agricultural Topsham Fair to the professional Broadway musicals at Maine State Music Theatre to classical world renown performances at the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

It’s time for everyone to get outdoors and enjoy the wonderful activities that we are blessed with in the southern Midcoast Maine region’s 16 communities. Go to www.micoastmaine.com/explore-theregion for more ideas.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

— July’s Chamber After Hours is Wednesday, July 23 and hosted by the Topsham Fair Mall. Come discover their professional office space on the second floor. The event is open house style from 5 to 7 p.m. Business owners and their staff are invited to attend free of charge for some of the most energetic networking in the Mid-coast region. Fairground Café is catering the refreshments and samples from Ebenezer’s Brew Pub/Lively Brewing Company will be available.

See our scrolling calendar at www.midcoastmaine.com for more information and to register for all events. For some, the seating is limited. Don’t miss out.

Thank you to our annual sponsors: Mid Coast Health Services, Mechanics Savings Bank, Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, Burgess Computer, RE/MAX Riverside, The Brunswick Hotel & Tavern, Electricity Maine, Coastal Ortho Performance Training Center, FairPoint Communications, Southern New Hampshire University, Parkview Adventist Medical Center, Atlantic Regional FCU, TownSquare Media, The Cryer, WCME Radio 9 and The Times Record.

Welcome New Members: The chamber welcomes Augat Chiropractic and Sports Injuries, Berries Hearing & Optical, and SymQuest Group to its membership.

The chamber proudly serves 760 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.