November Breakfast Meeting

Wednesday, November 13, 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Winthrop Commerce Center Conference Room

Join us for a presentation by Bill Card from the SBA titled, “What Do I Want My Business to Do for Me?” Everybody is different, with different goals. What do you want your business to do for you? Do you want to grow bigger and bigger? Is it partly or mostly about money and profits? Or is it about quality of life?

Bill Card is an economic development specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration's Maine District Office. He has been with the agency for fourteen years, focusing on creating high-visibility SBA events and developing and delivering training and workshops to small businesses in Maine.

Before joining the SBA, Bill spent 9 years as a Regional Manager for U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins, where he was responsible for creating and facilitating economic development projects in Coastal and Central Maine. Prior to that, he started and ran his own small business, Title Checks Inc., for 15 years. Bill is a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy (1984) and received his MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. He lives in Bristol with his wife, Jennifer, and their two boys, Liam and Owen.

This event is sponsored by Dave’s Heat Pumps, and Ted's Trackside Grill will provide breakfast. The cost is $10 per person, payable in advance online or at the door (cash or check only).

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Winthrop Holiday Parade 2024

Saturday, December 7

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Get Involved in WLRCC

⏳Don’t Miss the Deadline! ⏳

The next WLRCC Newsletter will go out to inboxes on Friday, November 29.

We invite you to submit materials, announcements, and ads for this community publication for FREE to news@winthropchamber.org by Tuesday, November 19, at 5 PM. Submissions made after the deadline will incur a charge of $25.

Paid Family & Medical Leave Program

As we learned at our most recent Chamber Breakfast meeting, Maine is implementing its Paid Family and Medical Leave Program. Beginning in 2026, eligible workers in the private and public sectors will have up to 12 weeks of paid time off available for family or medical reasons, including illness, caregiving for a relative, or the birth of a child.

Although benefits will not go live until May 1, 2026, contributions will begin in 2025 to allow time to accumulate sufficient funds to pay for benefits and other administrative costs to operate the program. The Maine Department of Labor provides many resources on its website, and below are some additional materials that may also be useful as you prepare for this new initiative:

• What Maine Employers Need to Know for 2025

• Maine PFML Labor Law Poster

• Maine PFML Program FAQ

• Maine State Chamber PFML Webinar for Employers (10/16/24)

• National Federation of Independent Businesses MPFL Employer Webinar (10/23/24)

Join Winthrop Workspace for a special focus session with personalized support to help you comply with the new Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) filing requirements for small business owners.

The Corporate Transparency Act, enacted by Congress in 2021 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, establishes a beneficial ownership reporting requirement for corporations, limited liability companies, and similar entities formed or registered to do business in the United States. Reports must be filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a U.S. Department of Treasury bureau. For details on filing requirements, visit www.fincen.gov/boi.

Not sure if you need to file? Bring your laptop and a photo ID (required for filing), and we'll assist you in reviewing online documents and FAQs to ensure you're compliant. Tech Coach Linda will be on hand to answer your questions and help resolve any tech-related issues, guiding you through the online filing process with ease and confidence.

FOCUS Sessions are scheduled in 2-hour blocks, and the fee is $35. You may find filing to take more or less time, and you are welcome to stay longer if necessary to ensure completion.

Winthrop Historical Society

An Evening with Phil Morse

Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 6 - 7 PM

Winthrop History and Heritage Center

Phil Morse, a septuagenarian born in Portland, Maine, currently resides in Saco. A long-time member and volunteer of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Phil has served as Trustee, President/CEO, and Executive Director of the museum. He is now sponsoring the restoration of the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban coach railcar No. 14, named the Narcissus. Phil also administers a blog dedicated to this Narcissus Project, which features information on former Electric Railways in Maine and Theodore Roosevelt's connection to Maine as a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914.

In 2020, Phil published, copyrighted, and distributed the national award-winning book Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride by acclaimed Maine author Jean M. Flahive. All proceeds from book sales, eBooks, and audiobooks benefit the Narcissus project at the Seashore Trolley Museum. Phil’s upcoming talk will explore the history of the electric railways serving Winthrop from 1902 to 1928, as well as the history of the trolley park known as Island Park (1903-1959).

This presentation will be on zoom only. Come to the Center to watch on the big screen. To watch at home, email WHS at winthropmainehistorical@gmail.com  to request a zoom link. If you miss the presentation, the recording will be available on the WHS's YouTube channel at Winthrop Maine Historical Society. 

WHS Fall/Winter Fundraisers

For more information about our fundraisers, call 207-395-5199 or email winthropmainehistorical@gmail.com.

Quilt Raffle Fundraiser

Join us for the Winthrop Maine Historical Society's Quilt Raffle Fundraiser! Don’t miss the opportunity to see this beautiful king-sized double-sided quilt up close at the Winthrop History and Heritage Center. Pictures simply can’t capture its true beauty, so come by and experience it in person! Raffle tickets are just $5, and only 100 will be sold, so be sure to get yours for a chance to win this amazing piece of art.

Winthrop Grange #209

Meetings for November 2024 - March 2025 will take place at the American Legion on the first Wednesday of every month at 5:30 pm.

Meetings at the Grange Hall will resume in April 2025. For more information about Winthrop Grange #209, contact Master Kathy Ward at 207-500-9864.