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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S M I D C O A S T & D OW N E A S T M A I N E seasonal workers to 60 full-timers and 120 part-time and seasonal work- ers at the peak season. "Our goal with the year-round operation is to move more to 120 year- round," Cullina said, noting that while recruitment and retention haven't been a problem, seasonal efforts can be tough. "We try to pull from the local community pretty much exclusively," he said. "at builds loyalty and people tend to come back." In the shorter term, the gardens are preparing for the end-of-year Gardens Aglow festival and plan to use a $50,000 grant from the Maine Office of Tourism to market the event in Hartford, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore. Cullina said Gardens Aglow admission prices were slightly increased this year — to $14 for adults and $8 for kids — to reflect higher operating costs and three times the num- ber of lights since the first year, adding: "We're still trying to keep it affordable comparable to a night out at the movies." Darling Marine Center's $3M waterfront makeover East of the Damariscotta River shellfish belt, the Darling Marine Center in Walpole has been an active center of marine research and education since 1965. Part of the University of Maine, the 200-acre campus includes two flowing seawater labs and a fleet of vessels. As it looks ahead to the next 10 years, a strategic plan released in August calls for a $3 million waterfront revitalization project that includes upgrades to its flowing seawater system, renovating its oldest seawater laboratory, and replacing the nearly half-century-old main pier — a project expected to create 50 jobs at marine-related companies. e plan also calls for expanding under- graduate and graduate educational opportunities and forging stronger links with industry, government and community-based groups. "We're thinking long-term and we're thinking big," says Darling Marine Center Director Heather Leslie, in the midst of whittling down a 150-page master plan due out in coming months. "It's incredibly exciting." Renee Cordes, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at rcordes @ mainebiz.biz We're in business to help your business. We provide businesses with local decision-making and a full suite of solutions and services to help your business succeed. 1.877.226.4671 | www.bangor.com Member FDIC Treasury & Payment Services Merchant Card Processing Payroll, HR Solutions, & Tax Services Online & Mobile Banking Innovative Financial Solutions Workplace Advantage for Employees Coastal Gardens revamp timeline 2005–11 Phase 1 construction 2012 Master planning on Phases 2 and 3 2017 Construction on Phase 2 2018–19 Expansion of existing restaurant 2019 Plant nursery and horticultural research center construction 2021 Glass conservatory and gardens construction 2022–23 Expansion of education campus S O U R C E : www.mainegardens.org/ master-plan/timeline P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y DA R L I N G M A R I N E C E N T E R Darling Marine Center in Walpole plans a $3 million waterfront revitalization project that includes upgrades to its flowing seawater system, renovations of a seawater lab and replacement of the main pier.

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