We broke the news to her over the telephone and she still thinks we're “all crazy” here at the newspaper.

Mary Brewer, who retired last January after 50-plus years as reporter, editor and managing editor of the Boothbay Register, was recently informed she will pick up another prestigious honor. She will be inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association Hall of Fame February 8 in Boston during NENPA's annual winter convention.

Brewer, who was inducted into the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame in October 2012, will be one of six new members of the NENPA (formerly New England Press Association) Hall of Fame. Joining her will be Peter J. Caruso Sr., a media attorney; Thomas Heslin, Providence (R.I.) Journal; Morgan McGinley, The Day (New London, Conn.), Mary Pat Rowland, Foster's Daily Democrat (N.H.); and the late Peter Watson, Gloucester (Mass.) Daily Times.

On its website, NENPA writes the following about its Hall of Fame: “NENPA maintains a special place for newspaper professionals whose talent, hard work and exceptional accomplishments provide inspiration to all New England Journalists.

“More than 100 individuals have been singled out over the past 50 years as industry heroes that everyone who works at a newspaper can look up to while admiring their remarkable careers.”

Alan Baker, publisher of the Ellsworth American and Mount Desert Islander, and a fellow member of the Maine and New England Press Halls of Fame, said, “That Mary Brewer has been elected to the NENPA Hall of Fame is good news indeed. Mary’s reputation as a forceful champion of community newspapers is legendary throughout New England.

“A regular participant at our annual convention in Boston, her experience as a reporter and editor were welcome additions to seminar discussions. And, of course, Mary and her associates in Boothbay Harbor and Wiscasset earned a plethora of NENPA awards every year for outstanding journalism. Congratulations, Mary, for this well-deserved career recognition.”

Brewer and Baker are two of only nine Maine newspaper people in the NENPA Hall of Fame. Others include James Russell Wiggins, The Ellsworth American, Samuel Roberts, Lincoln County News, Raymond Gross, Courier-Gazette (Rockland), Winnifred B. French, The Quoddy Tides (Eastport), Paul Dietterle Jr., Sanford News, Alexander Bacon Brook and Robert Bissonnette, both of the York County Coast Star.