The Pemaquid Watershed Association (PWA) hosted a Business After Hours open house for Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce (DRCoC) members on Jan. 19.
Despite icy road conditions, the PWA office suite off Main Street in Damariscotta above Salt Bay Café, was packed.
The PWA Board of Directors and staff visited with guests and shared delectable refreshments, including cranberry brie, shrimp cocktail, and homemade winter chocolate bark candy, along with a wine bar.
During the evening, there was a raffle drawing where three lucky guests won a PWA logo t-shirt, a 40-pound bag of birdseed, and a Maine Lakes photography coffee table book.
The Lady in the Red Cloak from Haunted History Tours made a special appearance to share a bit about the historical and paranormal past of the building that houses the PWA office suite, which is owned by Damariscotta Bank & Trust Co.
Pemaquid Watershed Association Executive Director Donna Minnis presented an overview of the organization, which has long roots in the community. Guests learned that PWA was incorporated in 1966 as a small grassroots group around Biscay Pond and now thrives with over 850 individual and business members in its mission is to conserve the natural resources of the Pemaquid Peninsula.
Minnis explained that PWA fulfills its mission through land and water stewardship projects and a suite of environmental education programming. She highlighted that PWA owns eight preserves that protect open space for public enjoyment, works to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic plants, conducts water quality monitoring at Pemaquid Beach, Biscay Beach and the Bristol Mills swimming hole to protect public health and environmental quality, and leads litter cleanups.
The PWA education program includes summer camp, working with local schools, Beachcombers’ Rest Nature Center and a Butterfly Garden at Pemaquid Beach Park in collaboration with the Town of Bristol, and annual “PWA Ponders” gatherings for information sharing about Biscay, Duckpuddle, McCurdy, Paradise, and Pemaquid Ponds.
In addition, the PWA Paddlers lead a suite of free weekly paddling trips each summer, fostering environmental appreciation through recreation. Minnis noted the PWA is able to accomplish so much because of its dedicated cadre of volunteers and the financial support from members.
Business After Hours events are held every month at a different Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce member business location and provide chamber members and their guests with opportunities to network while visiting and learning more about other businesses and providers in the Damariscotta Region.
For more information about the benefits of chamber membership, call the chamber at 563-8340 or email carisa@damariscottaregion.com for a media kit. For more information on PWA, visit www.pemaquidwatershed.org or call 563-2196.
