When Joanie Nee decided to sell some of her antiques 23 years ago in the corner of her 1839 barn, she had no idea how large her business would be today. She had always dreamed of having a shop with a mixture of old and new, which led to her shop’s name, 1839 House Antiques and Country Things.

A Damariscotta couple hopes to bring authentic Mexican cuisine to Newcastle.

Residents and passersby in the immediate area of the two-story, white wooden building at 202 Main St. in Damariscotta may have noticed a subdued hustle and bustle taking place recently in the parking lot behind it as Branches Home Care Inc. moved out of the ground-floor space it had shared with Acasa Hair Salon for the past year and into a new space farther away from downtown on Main Street.

Kenneth Theobald, president and co-founder with his wife, Pamela, of the Waldoboro-based family business, Flame Grilling Products Inc., announced April 20 that the company has finalized its plans to open a satellite production and distribution center in Glennville, Ga.

Shelley’s Flowers & Gifts in Waldoboro recently received a Couples’ Choice Award from WeddingWire, a major online marketplace connecting consumers with wedding and event professionals. This honor is given to the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism. Shelley’s Flowers & Gifts received this honor based on reviews recently given by wedding couples.

Tony C. McKim, president and CEO of First National Bank and its parent company, The First Bancorp, recently announced several staff promotions. “I am pleased to recognize the hard work and dedication from our staff,” said McKim.

Approximately 10 months after Brad Sevaldson and Greg Uthoff decided to relocate to Maine and launch a business venture, Birch opened its doors on Main Street in Wiscasset. “Everything just fell into place,” Uthoff said, “right down to the ribbon-cutting.”

A Newcastle man with more than 20 years of experience as a mechanic opened a new auto repair garage on Route 1 in Newcastle on Monday, April 4.

A local developer is moving forward with plans to build a 10-unit housing development on Vine Street in Damariscotta.

A garage in Waldoboro has added some state-of-the-art technology, expanding the amount of work that can be done on location and offering customers a one-stop shop for their automotive needs.

Parents in Nobleboro and the surrounding communities have a new location to choose from for child care.

A business with a long history in Waldoboro will soon open its doors to the community once again.

A lampshade and antique store has returned to Main Street, Damariscotta after opening in the same location 20 years ago.