BATH

A civic-enhancement organization that has been recognized as one of the best in the country celebrated again on Monday night with first-class food, awards and words of praise from a local man who has gained notice from President Obama.

Main Street Bath celebrated its accomplishments with its 12th Annual Meeting at Maine Maritime Museum. Former State Sen. Seth Goodall of Richmond, now the New England Director of the Small Business Administration, was the guest speaker.

Morse High School students Nathaniel Curry, Anita Doughty, Meaghan Harper, Liam McDonough, Adrian McGowan, Juan Moore, Dillon Severt, Lynn Swanson, Casey Watson and Ethan Winglass served gourmet food prepared by local chefs, with fresh ingredients from the Bath Farmer’s Market.

Local, local, local.

“This is a great organization,” Goodall said prior to the presentations. “They’re a model for the state. They have a story to tell across the country.”

Goodall, a lawyer, knows something about running a small business. He and his brother run Goodall Landscaping.

In his new position, Goodall spends much time on the road, though he still lives in Richmond.

“I have to be in many places,” he said. “I help businesses access capital. That’s a high demand, but one that the SBA is up to.”

As guests dined on dessert, Main Street Bath President Brian Hatch delivered his opening address. Hatch presented Goodall with a gift basket.

“I am privileged to work with dedicated employees such as Samantha Ricker, our administrative assistant, and Ed Rogers, out go-to man of the streets who knows how to grab those sponsors for us and Jennifer Geiger, our director who dedicates herself to making Main Street Bath the quality program that it is,” Hatch said.

Hatch outlined some of the qualities needed to make such a nonprofit excel.

“Time. Commitment. Money. Passion. Service. Teamwork. Dedication. People. These are some of the words I think of when I hear the term non-profit. We have our share of them in our community — the Bath Garden Club, Bath Rotary (both of them), the Bath YMCA, Friends of Seguin, Fields for Our Future, and many more. And, of course, Main Street Bath.”

Hatch wound up his speech by naming the recipients of this year’s Spirit of Bath Awards:

— Polly Goldman, Design, presenting to Sagadahoc Preservation, Inc.

— Roger Heard, Economic Restructuring, to Kay Beveridge and Lu Lozano of Fields for Our Future.

— Gayle Hunt, Organization, to Elizabeth Knowlton and Susan Gillies, the Inn at Bath.

— John Marsh, Promotions, to Kari and Shane McKenna, Universal Gym.

— Brian Hatch, President’s Award, to Bath City Hall.

— Unsung Hero, to Greg Moyer, landscaper.

— Certificate of Appreciation to Roxanne Eflin, Maine Downtown Center.

lgrard@timesrecord.com