ROCKPORT — To celebrate the opening of its new Cardiac Rehab gym, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital will hold an open house for patients and community members Wednesday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the gym’s new home inside the Pen Bay Physicians Building, located at 4 Glen Cove Drive, Suite 109, Rockport.

Guests are welcome to meet members of the Cardiac Rehab team, tour the new facility and enjoy light refreshments.

For more information, call 207-301-8989.

“We try to keep it simple and inviting rather than ‘perfect’ and overwhelming,” says Bruce Bryant of the garden he and Linda Hollis have crafted together since 1996.

On Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Bruce and Linda, along with next-door neighbor Lisa Edwards, will open their gardens to the public as part of the 2025 Open Garden Days sponsored by the Belfast Garden Club. The gardens are located at 15 and 19 Huntress Avenue in Belfast.

The Rockport Garden Club will hold its June monthly meeting on Thursday, June 5, with Cindy Wright as the guest speaker, starting promptly at 1 p.m. The program will highlight “Establishing a Wildflower Meadow or Garden Patch with Wildflower Seeds.”

Vose Library will hold a Plant and Bake Sale, Saturday, June 7, from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., at 329 Common Rd., Union, Maine.

The Rockland Public Library and Bartlett Woods Retirement Community present a screening of Shelf Life from Executive Producer Robyn Metcalfe, directed by Ian Cheney.

Household hazardous waste drop-off event is being held Saturday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Belfast Transfer Station, 32 Little River Drive. 

Accepted items: 

From the house: Adhesives / Resins, Moth Balls, Hobby / Artist Paints, Flea / Tick Control, Rechargeable Batteries, Cleaners / Drain Openers, Polishes, Photo Chemicals, Nail Polish / Remover, Thermometers / Thermostats, Bleach, Removers, Fluorescent / CFL Bulbs, Hairspray / Hair Color, Asbestos

Due to forecasted inclement weather this Saturday, June 7, the spring Farmers’ Market at MaineHealth Waldo Hospital has been postponed. The Farmers’ Market originally scheduled at MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital for this past Saturday, May 31, was also postponed due to inclement weather. Both events have been moved to this Fall, with more information to follow.

Initial news release

ROCKPORT and BELFAST — Community members are invited to attend farmers markets on the MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospital campuses this spring.

On Friday, May 30, from 12 to 4 p.m., the Camden-Rockport Middle School, at 34 Knowlton St., in Camden, will host a free afternoon of learning and fun, open to all. 

Meet representatives from over a dozen environmental organizations, connect with experts and enjoy a wide range of activities. 

Learn what conservation projects are happening, get involved in local initiatives and explore how to take action.   

The 2025 Belfast Pride Parade will be immediately followed by a celebration in Heritage Park, rain or shine, Saturday, June 7. Belfast Area High School’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance Group (GSA) is organizing and leading the parade.

Join Valerie Robinson for “Rooted in Rhythm: A Circadian Wellness Workshop,” Sunday, June 8, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., at Good Tern’s Hole In The Wall Bagels, 754 Main Street, Rockland. This is a grounding workshop exploring how syncing with the body’s natural circadian rhythm can support deeper sleep, steadier energy, and greater overall well-being. This offering invites an exploration of the rhythms of nature and how they affect the inner cycles that guide digestion, hormone balance, mood, and vitality.

On Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., textile artist Deborah Ketter will open her garden and studio to visitors as the first of nine Open Garden Days sponsored by the Belfast Garden Club. The event, which will be held rain or shine, will take place at 188 Bluff Road in Northport. Admission is $5.

Dick Vermuelen will lead an outdoor demonstration on beekeeping, Tuesday, May 27, at 4 p.m., at Merryspring Nature Center.

Dr. Gregory LeClair will lead a Vernal Pool Walk and Exploration, Tuesday, May 27, at 12 p.m., at Merryspring Nature Center. 

Dr. LeClair is a biologist from the Beginning with Habitat program at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. LeClair will review vernal pool ecology and lead a visit of the on-site vernal pool where attendees may be able to apply their new knowledge and observe wildlife in this unique habitat. 

PORTLAND — The John T. Gorman Foundation awarded 77 grants totaling $1.2 million to support nonprofits providing food, shelter, and other essential services to Mainers in need. Distributed through the Foundation’s 2025 Direct Services Grant Program, the funding will reach all 16 counties in the state.

The public is invited to celebrate the official launch of Camden Seed Library on Saturday, June 7, from 3 - 4:30 p.m., in the Picker Room at Camden Public Library, with a special launch party and community seed swap.

Witness the unveiling of the brand-new Seed Library, hear from and chat with seed-growing and seed-saving experts, participate in a community seed swap, learn how to make your own DIY seed packets out of scrap paper, and more.

The sputtered drone of a vacuum pump filled the former milking barn that now houses Kennebec Valley Community College’s heat pump lab. Instructor Dave Whittemore, who held the yellow vacuum in one hand and displayed an app tracking atmospheric pressure on his phone in the other, explained in a raised voice how to do an “evacuation,” ridding the heat pump of air and moisture to avoid malfunctions down the road. 

ROCKLAND — MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals will hold a community town hall, Monday, June 16, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., at the Rockland Public Library, located at 80 Union Street in Rockland.

The event is free and open to the public.

At the event, hospital leaders will share updates about the health care landscape and community members will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in conversation.

For hundreds of Midcoast children, the Penobscot Bay YMCA’s Summer Camp is more than just fun — it’s a lifeline. As one of the few affordable, all-day, full-week programs in Knox County, the Y’s four camps offer safe, enriching environments where kids build confidence, form friendships, and make lasting memories — while giving working parents peace of mind and dependable care all summer long, according to a news release from the Y.

THOMASTON — Families, neighbors, and friends are invited to gather on the Thomaston Green this summer for a new community event series: Second Sunday Picnics in the Park. The relaxed, family-friendly gatherings will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month — June 8, July 13, August 10, and September 14 — with rain dates scheduled for the following Sundays.

Waldo County Technical Center (WCTC) honored its highest achieving students from the 2024 - 2025 school year on May 14, by inducting them into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). The ceremony was held at the Belfast Boathouse and was presided over by Travis Wood, WCTC’s director and Bonnie Kein, advisor and WCTC’s student services coordinator.