J. Edward Knight Insurance (JEK) is pleased to announce the acquisition of The David Chapman Insurance Agency, with an effective date of June 15, 2026.

Nature Trail Work Party is being organized for trail improvements to the connector trail between Lincolnville Central School and the library, as well as invasive plant and trash removal. The event takes place Saturday, May 16 with shifts scheduled for 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 - 4 p.m.

Volunteers are wanted for a Town-wide Clean Up Day in Thomaston, Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Two different sessions will be offered: 10 a.m. to noon and Noon to 2 p.m. There will be a sign-up sheet.

"Our focus will be to clean up our neighborhoods, parks, schools, Downtown, and Town-owned roads," said event sponsor Thomaston Conservation Commission, in a news release.

Participants will meet behind the Business Block, where the Commission will provide bags, gloves, and a limited number of grabbers and vests.

Herring Gut Coastal Science Center invites community members to experience one of Maine’s most remarkable natural events during a special Spring Fever Series field trip to the historic fish ladder in Damariscotta Mills on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

Participants will meet at Herring Gut at 9 a.m. to carpool by van to the fish ladder, where millions of alewives make their annual migration upstream to spawn.

Christine Engel has been appointed to the Board of Directors of United Midcoast Charities (UMC).

"Engel brings a rare blend of nonprofit experience, human resources leadership, and community-centered service to UMC," said UMC, in a news release.

Engel began her career in social services, running grant-funded programs including an emergency food pantry and a child abuse prevention program that provided temporary childcare for families in crisis.

Maine Department of Labor announces its no-cost trainings for May 2026.

Upcoming classes:

Public Sector Compliance – May 4, 2026 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Department of Labor, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Finding Our Voices has won a Purple Ribbon Award for its Finding Our Smiles, a "groundbreaking program of donated dental care featuring 40 Maine dental providers across nine counties voluntarily restoring the smiles and lives of women survivors of domestic abuse," according to FOV, in a news release. The nonprofit won a Purple Ribbon Award in the category of "Most Innovative Service".

ROCKLAND — The numbers aren’t in yet, but Jenny Carter guesses that more cigarette butts were picked up during this year’s Earth Day Cleanup in Rockland than last year’s estimated 6,000 butts. Science shows that cigarettes are toxic to marine life and coastal rain sweeps cigarettes into the ocean, prompting a grimace to the number 6,000 by many seemingly unrelated industries.

KITTERY — Starting April 26, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will begin work on the Kittery Visitor Information Center parking area and access road for a paving project involving ADA and drainage improvements.

There will be nighttime closures of I-95 NB for the on ramp onto I-95 from the visitor center and the off ramp from I-95 into the visitor center from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., from Sunday through Friday.

PORTLAND — The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will be performing maintenance work on the Casco Bay Bridge at mile 1.5 over the Fore River (Casco Bay) between Portland and South Portland on April 29 and May 19 in order to complete rehabilitation of the bridge's span lock power feeds.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the Casco Bay Bridge, according to MaineDOT, in a news release.

CAMDEN/LINCOLNVILLE — Starting on April 27, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will begin work on Route 1 for a highway rehab and reconstruction project in Camden and Lincolnville.

Motorists should expect delays of up to 10 minutes during normal work hours between 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., according to MaineDOT, in a news release. The project area begins 0.55 miles north of Sagamore Farm Road and extends north 1.56 miles.

The Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has launched its new mobile branch, a portable unit that can deploy in towns without direct BMV services and to underserved communities. Branded BMV4ME, the mobile unit was unveiled in Augusta on April 23, 2026 before hitting the road for a ribbon cutting in Belfast, where mobile services will be offered on an ongoing monthly basis. 

American Legion Post 30 will join the Five Town Little League (FTLL) community on May 2, at 11 a.m., to dedicate the baseball season to the memory of Specialist 4 Jerald “Jerry” W. Carr. In a ceremony held at the FTLL fields, members of Post 30 will raise the American flag to honor Carr’s legacy of military service and his lifelong commitment to the Midcoast community.

A Wage and Hour Compliance class is being offered May 13, 2026, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., at the Rockland CareerCenter.

U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson joins the Department of Justice and communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) April 19-25.

"During NCVRW, we recognize the accomplishments of the victims’ rights movement and reflect on how far we have come," said a news release. 

SWANVILLE — University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hosting a Tractor Safety workshop on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from noon - 3 p.m., at Waldo County Gardens, 685 Swan Lake Avenue in Swanville.

AUGUSTA — On Thursday, April 16, Gov. Janet T. Mills signed into law legislation to expand access to critical training infrastructure for Maine firefighters. 

DAMARISCOTTA — Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust will host the 9th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Thursday, April 30, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Lincoln Theater, in Damariscotta.