David Paine, Window Panes, Dennis Foods, Pick a Pearl, Sarah Gilbert and Liz Graves Among Winners.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The 1932 Criterion Theatre.
BAR HARBOR—There was a theme at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Awards Night.
It wasn’t about money. It wasn’t about honor. For every person and business that received their honors and spoke, it was about gratitude and appreciation.
For Window Panes, the thanks was about their staff and each other and an honor to their mum who sat at the table.
For David Paine, it was about all the patrons and friends that had lifted him up, his family, and Jordan’s Restaurant throughout its decades on Cottage Street and even before.
For Bar Harbor Pick-a-Pearl’s Adam Babbitt, it was about staff and his husband and everyone’s loving support.
For Dennis Foods, it was about family.
Throughout the night, recipients of the multiple Bar Harbor Chamber Awards presented on October 25 at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center reminded each other of just how local business in Bar Harbor often is.
David Paine, owner of Jordan’s Restaurant, won the Bar Harbor Chamber’s highest honor—The Cadillac Award.
The restaurant was started by the Paine family in 1976. David’s been here even longer. A multi-time course champion at Kebo Valley Golf Course, he started caddying there as a teen. He’d sleep over on the course so he could get up and golf first thing, an early-bird practice that likely helped him get to Jordan’s by 5 a.m. and start cooking.
In a video created by Jeff Dobbs, friend after friend teased Paine and testified to his tenacity, his athletic prowess, and his ability to make “a damn fine blueberry pancake.”
Paine, in turn, thanked the community that raised him and then supported his family business, looking toward his family members seated at a nearby table and lauding them as well.
Eben Salvatore called Paine a “staple of the community.” Paul Paradis said he was someone “I always looked up to.” Becky Jordan spoke to Paine’s personality and his family.
He was also called a “great friend to a lot of people.”
Bob Collier said of Paine, “He’s always been an asset to this town.”
A stunned Bar Harbor Finance Director Sarah Gilbert and Town Clerk Liz Graves received the President’s Award at the beginning of the evening.
Town Manager James Smith had told both women that the other had received the award and to stay mum, but to come to the ceremony to support each other.
They both shrieked, shocked, and then hugged as their names were announced. The award is meant to honor their service and leadership to the town. They were both selected by outgoing president Bo Jennings.
“When picking this year’s president award winner, I wanted to focus on someone who has a positive impact on our community, and our members,” Jennings said. “The more I focused on that criteria, it was evident there was not one, but two deserving winners. Sarah Gilbert and Liz Graves do much for our town, and all of the businesses in Bar Harbor. We all benefit from their expertise, professionalism, and dedication to their work. Bar Harbor is better off because of Sarah and Liz!”
Rachel Crater, of Witham Hotels, is the new chamber president and presented the award.
According to a Bar Harbor Chamber press release, “The Rising Star Award is awarded to a business that, while still in its early years, has shown significant growth and progress in its business and community endeavors.”
Bar Harbor Pick-A-Pearl received the Rising Star honor.
They have become a part of the community’s heartbeat, speakers said.
“The Community Impact Award honors a business or individual who has displayed an extraordinary commitment to making our community a better place for its residents, businesses, and guests,” the press release stated.
The Bar Harbor Story received that award.
“The member business that has demonstrated a commitment to high standards of customer service, employee relations, and operational excellence is named the Business of the Year. Business of the Year, Neighbor Business of the Year, Community Impact, Rising Star, and Cadillac Awards were all nominated by members of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and selected by the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors,” the press release stated. “The Neighbor Business of the Year Award was bestowed upon a business member located outside of Bar Harbor who has made meaningful contributions to the local business community and displays an overall commitment to its employees and customers.”
Dennis Food is, Matt Horton said, profoundly committed to serving its extended community, to lifting up the people in it. The business, which is 100% employee owned and based in Hampden, received the Neighbor Business of the Year Award and their table roared in celebration.
The same can be said of Window Panes, which was awarded Business of the Year and has extensively fundraised and volunteered for the town, for organizations, for kids, for more than three decades. Julie and Greg Veilleux celebrated their staff, their community, and each other in a loving testament of what partnership and kindness does both for a family and for a community.
The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce also recognized the 2025 Board of Directors and announced four newly elected directors starting their board terms.
The 2025 Board of Directors included Bo Jennings (president), John Bench (first vice president), Rachel Crater (second vice president), Krystal Jordan (secretary), Deborah Vickers (treasurer), Kristi Bond, Steve Boucher, Matthew Horton, Chris Kemna, Brandon Monroe, Bryan Paxton, and Eben Salvatore.
The new directors announced were Angela Chamberlain from Acadia Brochures of Maine, Rachel Crater from Witham Family Hotels (re-elected), Krystal Jordan from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust (re-elected), and Eben Salvatore from Ocean Properties (re-elected), who were among candidates representing active Bar Harbor Chamber members and voted on by members of the Bar Harbor Chamber over the course of several weeks.
The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce 2025 Annual Dinner was presented by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust and sponsored by First National Bank, Machias Savings Bank, Versant Power, Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center, and Cape Air. Additional contributions were made by The Acadia Shop, Bar Harbor Pick-a-Pearl Company, Bay Ferries, Cape Air, Dobbs Productions, Geddy’s by the Sea, My Darling Maine, and Queen Anne’s Flower Shop.
“The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank everyone who made the night possible and congratulate all award nominees for the work they do within our community,” the chamber said in a press release.
A QUICK NOTE FROM US: This story was a bit hard for us to write because we won an award and it felt … weird? Awkward?
But, we really want to not ignore an event that celebrates neighbors celebrating each other. So, apologies for the awkwardness and congratulations to all the winners. And also apologies for not really writing much about ourselves other than that we won the award. That just felt a bit too weird.
Unless otherwise specified, photos by Bar Harbor Story/Carrie Jones/Shaun Farrar.
HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY
You can help us keep going on.
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyTogether, We’ve Built Something Special
When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it.
But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other.
We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories take time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going.
If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship.
It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light.
Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now.
Thank you so much for being here.
Founding member information can be found here.
Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you.
Discover more from Bar Harbor Story
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.