New online tea service now brewing

Tea aficionados can start the new year with premium hand-blended teas, curated and packaged by a Maine mother-daughter team.

Jacqueline’s Teas is a new online subscription service with over 80 varieties of fresh loose-leaf artisan teas sustainably sourced from around the world and delivered by mail each month through https://bit.ly/2srWjaV.

Jacqueline’s Teas Owner Barbara Soley grew up above the British-style tea restaurant in Freeport that her mother Jacqueline opened in 2005 and operated until her retirement this past July. Inspired by the overwhelming wave of nostalgia from past patrons, Barbara returned to Maine to launch the new business. “Jacqueline’s Tea Room was a magical place where time stood still and loved ones listened to each other’s stories over delicious tea,” said Barbara. “I wanted to preserve this incredible experience by translating it into an at-home tea ritual. ”

Jacqueline and Barbara have designed five subscription tea offerings that capture the Tea Room’s greatest qualities: unique loose-leaf tea blends, a curated menu, delectable treats, and lessons about tea. Developed based on interviews with dozens of Tea Room customers, the subscriptions are designed to give recipients an opportunity to experience Maine hospitality from home while seeped in the calming tradition of tea.

Granted

Visit Freeport was among several organizations to receive a grant to promote tourism by the Maine Office of Tourism this fall. The $8,250 award will help publicize the Maine Pumpkin Trail, joining forces with Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and the trail’s founding members, Maine Maritime Museum and Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta. The partners plan to leverage each other’s assets to increase new visitors, visitor spending and encourage longer stays.

Recognition

For the third time in six years, the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted Mid Coast Hospital’s comprehensive cancer care program a three-year accreditation with Commendation at the Bronze Level. A national organization, the CoC is a team of experts dedicated to improving quality of life for cancer patients.

By achieving re-accreditation, Mid Coast Hospital is included in an elite group of just 30 percent of hospitals in the U.S. The commendation level of compliance is a special designation indicating that the Mid Coast program has not only met, but also exceeded benchmarks that represent the full scope and quality of cancer care available.

Hires, promotions, appointments

Richard Rottkov, a South Portland Land Trust board member since 2003 and a president of the nonprofit environmental organization from 2008-10, has been chosen by the board of directors to serve as president. The board has also re-elected Jeff Ryan as vice president, Sarah Stickney as secretary, and April Bolstridge as treasurer, effective in April. 

Avesta Housing, northern New England’s largest nonprofit affordable housing developer and property manager, has announced Marcella Bryant recently joined as the strategic planning & research officer. Most recently, she was the director of data and evaluation at The Community Builders in Boston. Michael L. Rayder has joined Avesta as the associate director of development, having most recently served as the TD Charitable Foundation manager for 14 years. 

Hospice of Southern Maine honored Dr. Marilyn R. Gugliucci, right, director of Geriatrics Education at the University of New England, with the Pope Leadership Award at its annual meeting in December at Congregation Bet Ha’am in South Portland. The award recognizes a person or organization for visionary leadership, commitment to advancing the work of hospice, and to supporting the mission of Hospice of Southern Maine.

BryantRayder

The Maine Bagel, located at the former Mr. Bagel on U.S. Route 1 in Scarborough, is now open for business. Specializing in bagels made from scratch, lunch, and catering. John, Matthew, and Nick Lancaster have over 30 years of combined experience in the bagel and food establishment world and are familiar faces in the Scarborough community.