Capt. Sharp guest speaker at Union chamber dinner April 25
Union — Do not be surprised if the tang of salt spray is felt in the evening air on Thursday, April 25 at the Union Masonic Lodge on Senebec Road in Union as Capt. Jim Sharp speaks at the Union Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet.
After sailing more than 50,000 nautical miles in all kinds of craft, Sharp will be regaling the audience with sea tales of his many experiences and talking about the Sail, Power & Steam Museum he founded and continues to operate in Rockland.
A self-proclaimed boat addict, Sharp’s passion for boats led him to own more than three dozen boats of every shape, size and kind in his long career. A tug boat captain and a locally well-known captain of the famous 122-foot Grand Banks schooner Adventure for more than 24 years, he also managed to find time to author two books, prepare research for three additional books as well as write numerous articles for boating magazines — all this while exploring nearly every waterway in the U.S. and Canada. He and his wife have also voyaged all over Europe in their Dutch canal boat. This is certain to be an evening of spellbinding sea stories from a man dedicated to maritime preservation and an evening you won’t want to miss. Captain Sharp’s book, “With Reckless Abandon,” will be available for sale that evening.
The Dinner & Awards ceremony sponsored by Tidewater Telecom will begin with a social hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. 7 Tree Farm and Greenhouse is donating the table arrangements while catering is by The Village Bakery. Dinner will begin with appetizers of baked brie bites in homemade puff pastry, crudite with homemade hummus, and assorted cheeses with homemade baguettes. The main course is a choice of an individual meatloaf (beef) with gorgonzola and caramelized onions or a vegetarian option of eggplant rollatini served with garden salad and fresh baguettes. Dessert is a choice of cupcakes — chocolate with mocha buttercream or carrot with lemon cream cheese frosting. A gluten-free option of baked apples will be available.
Tickets are $25 per person in advance, $30 at the door the evening of the event, and is open to the public. Reservations are requested. Checks should be made out to UACOC and mailed to PO Box 603, Union, ME 04862. Confirmation receipts of your reservation payment will be returned to you by mail. Reservations must be submitted by April 23.
Awards will be presented for Business of the Year, Nonprofit of the Year, Community Service Award and Special Recognition Award. There will also be a raffle and a silent auction. Silent auction donations should be arranged prior to the event by contacting Lyle Cramer at 785-2030. Gift certificates can be mailed to: Lyle Cramer, 11 Seven Tree Lane, Union, ME 04862.