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.

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.

Stanley Auto Group is once again honoring local educators with its annual Teacher Appreciation Event on Tuesday, May 5, "continuing a tradition that has brought gratitude, recognition, and community support to teachers across Downeast Maine for more than 20 years," said Stanley Auto Group, in a news release.

Throughout the first week of May, Stanley Subaru and Stanley Chevrolet will deliver care packages, gifts, and words of appreciation to teachers across the region as part of Stanley Auto Group’s ongoing Teacher Appreciation initiative.

BELFAST — Families in the Midcoast region now have improved access to early autism screening and evaluation services, thanks to expanded diagnostic testing available at MaineHealth Pediatrics Belfast, located at 9 Fahy Street. The initiative focuses on identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children under age three — "an important window when early intervention can significantly influence long-term development outcomes," said MaineHealth, in a news release.

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.

BRUNSWICK — passivhausMAINE (phME) and the German Consulate, Boston coordinated a trip to Germany last fall focused on workforce development practices in Germany, attended by educators and workforce development experts in Maine.

On Thursday, May 14, the group will gather to host a panel discussion on lessons learned in Germany and how they can beneficial to workforce development policy and practice here in Maine.

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".

BELFAST — MaineHealth Pediatrics Belfast, located at 9 Fahy St., will host an open house, Tuesday, May 5, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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.