Chelcey Dunham (right) accepts the Rising Star award from Chris Fogg (center), Executive Director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, and Nancy Tibbetts, board of directors member. (Bar Harbor Chamber photo) BAR HARBOR — A local woman whose cafe and flower shop has become integral parts of the Kingfield business scene is now making her mark on this coastal town.

Chelcey Dunham, former Kingfield resident and original owner-operator of the Orange Cat Café and Queen Anne's Flower Shop in Kingfield, recently received the 2008 Rising Star Award from the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce for her Queen Anne's Flower Shop in that town.

"Queen Anne's Flower Shop is all about creativity and beauty. They have a funny, but real slogan that they use to evaluate each project, which is 'Beauty is the Boss.' This means that when it comes to cost versus product quality —product quality wins," said chamber board member Nancy Tibbetts at the Oct. 23 awards ceremony.

Dunham graciously accepted the award on behalf of the shop and her employees, Tiffany Fifield, Barbara Lynn Walen and Drew O'Neil —the "beauty team," noted her mother, Suzanne Dunham, the present owner of the Kingfield Queen Anne's. Suzanne also noted that it was on the "beauty team" that she got her own start in the business.

Suzanne's pride in her daughter's accomplishments was clearly evident during

a phone conversation with her last week. "It's lovely to have her be so successful down there. It's really exciting — the most exciting for me is that's she really busy."

Chelcey did more than 60 weddings this past summer and provides flowers for many restaurants, hotels and cruise ships, her mother noted.

"During their second year of business, revenues tripled from year one. But the greatest evidence of success is happy customers, a good reputation and a wonderful sense of being welcomed and included by the community in such a short span of time," Tibbetts said at the ceremony.

The Rising Star Award is given annually to the Bar Harbor business member that started operating in Bar Harbor within the last two years and has shown significant potential for leadership in business or community endeavors and who is expected to continue to have a positive impact in the community.

"Feedback from the community is that the outside appearance of the shop, as well as its location has created a more welcoming entrance into Bar Harbor," Tibbetts concluded.

"It was lovely to see her interact with all the business people," Suzanne said. "It's a very, very good place for her."