Penobscot says thank you to employees and volunteers
Local church throws special dinner for the employees, officials and volunteers who keep the town running
Sylvia Tapley rings the dinner bell at the appreciation dinner for Penobscot employees, officials and volunteers. Photos by John Boit.
March 30, 2026
By John Boit
By John Boit
PENOBSCOT–Nearly 70 people packed the meeting hall of the Penobscot Methodist Church on March 28 for an appreciation dinner thanking municipal employees and volunteers for their work in helping to run the small town of 1,100 people.
Penobscot road commissioner Billy Hutchins, left, and Jack Snow share a laugh.
Each table had a centerpiece that speaks to Penobscot’s history.
Sylvia Tapley, one of the organizers of the dinner, said the event, made possible through a grant from the Dymant Foundation, was created to “bring the community together.” Workers from the town office, elected officials, school teachers and workers, and members of the Penobscot Volunteer Fire Department attended the dinner.
“These people have thankless jobs and never get much credit,” Tapley said. “It’s amazing what they do for the town…It’s all about loving one another and helping others.”
Attendees were greeted with music played by a pianist, and treated to a dinner of beef stew, chili, cornbread, muffins, and a cake adorned with the Penobscot town seal.
Each table was adorned with a special centerpiece that spoke to the town’s unique history: a brick from the bygone days of Penobscot’s brick industry, clam shells from Northern Bay, peat moss from a once-thriving peat operation, and a blueberry.
A gallery of additional photos from the dinner is below.
A table full of cards from local children thanking those who serve Penobscot.
