On Dec. 6, a Christmas Craft Fair will be held at the Old Brick School, 44 School Street, in Warren, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are welcome. Twenty-two vendors, and free entry.

The First Universalist Church in Rockland will hold "The Longest Night: Blue Christmas Service", Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m., for those who find the holidays difficult because of a loss or other struggles.

This special evening service will be a meditative time that will provide space for grief, for reflection and remembering, and for taking the time to simply be and seek out stillness. An offering of hope and healing, it is open to all.

The First Universalist Church is located at 345 Broadway in Rockland.

In Saturday morning, Nov. 29, Waldoboro fisherman Clint Collamore pulled up in front of the Waldo Theatre, in Waldoboro, with more than a few dozen lobster traps on the back of his truck.

Three hours later, with the help of fellow fisherman Buddy Murray and his wife Sierra, Theatre board member Barbara Boardman took on the lights, unrolling wheels of them that were draped and threaded through the traps.

The tree is the brainchild of Barbara Boardman, who remembered how Waldoboro used to have a gigantic tree in the center of the village festooned with lights.  

Rockland Main Street is ready for the annual Festival of Lights to get underway Friday, Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving.

On November 14, the Rockland Main Street board, along with several community members and organizations, kicked off preparations for the upcoming holiday season with “Build Day.” That included setting up Santa’s workshop, supplied by Shed City for over two decades, festooning in traditional red, green, and gold, with a focus on classic holiday favorites, including candy canes, Christmas trees, and gingerbread.

Some people who get up at 6:30 in the morning to run post-Thanksgiving-themed marathons.

Then there's the rest of us, staring into our refrigerators on Friday, November 28, thinking, "What am I going to do with all of these leftovers?"

The most common ways to reuse Thanksgiving leftovers are making sandwiches, casseroles, and soups, but today we're going to elevate that concept with individual mini turkey pot pies, made super posh by substituting pie crust for puff pastry.

The 99th annual Pageant of the Nativity will take place Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at 5 p.m., at First Parish Unitarian Universalist, 425 Congress Street, in Portland.

The People’s United Methodist Church in Union will be hosting the annual Winterberry Fair, Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

The Fair will be offering a variety of items for sale.

In a time when acts of goodness and kindness are overshadowed by less altruistic reactions, a story of two small coastal towns communicating and reaching a neighborly decision is worth noting.

ROCKPORT and BELFAST — In observance of Thanksgiving, MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals announce the following adjusted holiday hours and closures on Thursday, Nov. 27.

 The retail pharmacy at Pen Bay Hospital will be open for abbreviated hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 27.

 All physician practices, including walk-in care in Rockland and Belfast, will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27.

 Outpatient labs, radiology and cardiac testing will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27.

December 1 is the 37th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

A candlelight vigil will be held Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 4:30 -5 p.m., in front of the Post Office in Belfast, to remember those we have lost and honor those who are living with HIV/AIDS.

"The Good Tern Co-op wishes Happy Holidays to all with a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at the Good Tern’s Hole In The Wall Bagel Shop, 754 Main Street, in Rockland, on Sunday, December 14, from 9 to 11 a.m.," said Good Tern, in a news release.

Children of all ages and their families are invited for breakfast and a special meet n' greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids will be able to share their Christmas wishes with Santa Claus, decorate Christmas cookies and experience the joy of the season.

Coastal Recovery Community Center (CRCC) is anticipating the gift-giving season with its Third Annual CRCC Christmas Stocking Event, according to CRCC, in a news release. CRCC is asking the community to donate specifically needed items to fill stockings in December.

"Many people struggle with the essentials of living that strain already strapped budgets, particularly during the holidays," said CRCC.

Belfast Senior College will host a tour of the Waldo County Technical Center, at 1022 Waterville Road (Rt.137), on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from noon to 1:45 p.m.

The tour will begin with a light lunch prepared by the Culinary Arts students in their newly refurbished cafe. Tour participants will then be given a tour of the areas where eleven technical programs are taught.

This event is free and open to the public. To register, or for information, go to https://belfastseniorcollege.org or call 207-707-6010.

An effort in St. George to place wreaths on veterans' graves throughout town continues to grow, and organizers are asking for help this Dec. 13 to accomplish the goal.

Linda Cousins had already picked her Medicare plan when she qualified last year, but then she received a call from a woman claiming to be from the insurance company. Cousins, of Limington, said the caller pressured her into switching to a private Medicare Advantage plan with a different company. 

Coastal Mountains Land Trust (CMLT) has launched its new Learning Landscapes Grant Program, made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor to the Land Trust. 

Coastal Mountains Land Trust launched their Learning Landscapes program four years ago, with the vision of connecting children with nature by conserving land next to schools, creating outdoor classrooms, and supporting teachers in moving their curriculum outside, according to CMLT, in a news release.

With the holiday season approaching, kitchens and living rooms are not only popular for gatherings, but can also represent burn risks, especially in curious and eager-to-help children, according to Shriners, in a news release. Healthcare workers can see an increase in pediatric burn injuries during this season, and Shriners Children’s wants to highlight simple precautions parents can take to help ensure the holidays stay joyful and burn injury-free. 

Thomaston is getting ready to welcome the holiday season with a full weekend of festive events during the annual Thomaston Christmas Festival. From December 5 through December 7, residents and visitors will find celebrations happening all across town.

This year’s festival is built through close collaboration among local businesses, organizations, and community partners who have come together to create a warm and lively holiday weekend, according to a news release from the Town of Thomaston.