On September 10, 2025, the Owls Head Light Station will celebrate its 200th anniversary as a guardian of mariners near and far. This date marks the day in 1825 when Owls Head Light was first lit, according to a news release. At the time of its construction, Owls Head Light was the thirteenth lighthouse established along the rugged coast of Maine and served as the principal guide into bustling Rockland Harbor.

The Museum of Maritime Pets will host its second annual Mini-Golf Charity Benefit on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. - noon, at Golfer’s Crossing, 7 Country Way, Rockport. This event will fund the museum’s innovative education programs and provide an affordable and family-friendly way to support its fee-free admission policy.

Entry fees are $20 for adults and $12 tots to age 15. Prizes for individual and team best scores.

Thanks to the pilot program ADU Boost, Rockland homeowners interested in building an additional dwelling unit on their property may qualify for up to $10,000 in project costs.

The public is invited to attend an information session on Monday, Sept. 15, beginning at 5 p.m., in the Community Room of the Rockland Public Library, 80 Union Street.

Join Georges River Land Trust, Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District, and Midcoast Trails Stewardship for a hands-on workshop about sustainable trailbuilding practices, the ways trails impact ecosystems around them, and what makes the Rockland Bog ecologically special.

The workshop will take place Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Coffee and lunch will be provided.

Waldo County Extension Association (WCEA) will host The Ecology of the Maine Garden tour and Q & A with local Extension Educators on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. A brief business meeting will follow the tour.

The event is free and open to the public and will take place at the Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage, 25 Village Rd., Belfast. Light refreshments will be provided. 

ROCKLAND — Maine State Credit Union has announced that Paul Doody has joined the organization as Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking. With nearly 40 years of banking experience, including over 30 years of serving businesses in Waldo County, Doody will focus onbusiness development, commercial lending growth, and enhancing the Credit Union’s presence along the MidCoast, with a special emphasis on the upcoming Belfast branch, set to open in 2026.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension will present its second fall gardening webinar, “The Late Season Garden: Reflections and Tasks,” Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 6 - 7:15 p.m. 

ROCKLAND — On Wednesday, Sept. 3, "the community is invited to gather for a special celebration of democracy, recovery, and community care," said a City of Rockland news release.

The celebration will take place at 5:15 p.m., at the Council Chambers of Rockland City Hall, 270 Pleasant Street, prior to the City Council’s agenda-setting meeting.

Island Institute has promoted of Peter King to Chief Financial Officer. After seven years serving as Operations Coordinator, Budget Manager, and most recently Director of Financial Operations, King now joins Island Institute’s senior leadership team.

The Rockport Garden Club will hold its’ September meeting Thursday, Sept. 4, starting promptly at 1 p.m., with Bob Sewall and Mia Mantelo as the guest speakers. The program will highlight longtime organic apple grower in Lincolnville, Maine and his wife. They will explain how vinegar is made and will also speak about the many uses of vinegar, from cooking to medicinal purposes. He will also provide some history about his farm.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is urging Mainers to act against Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), an invasive plant that poses a serious threat to the state’s forests, wetlands, and communities.

Ardiah has transitioned to family ownership of the payroll and payment solutions business, which has been operating since 2008. In May 2025, Chris and Lindsey Austin purchased the company, marking a new chapter for the Maine-based business.

Chris Austin, who has served as president of Ardiah since January 2020, is no stranger to the company’s evolution. In 2018, he founded Austin Payment Solutions, later selling the business to Osman Page, LLC. That merger led to the renaming of the company as Ardiah in January 2020.

Maine Cancer Foundation has awarded eleven Cancer Prevention grants totaling $707,527 to support evidence-based initiatives aimed at reducing cancer risk for Mainers.

Cancer remains a leading cause of death in Maine, impacting thousands of residents annually. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to reduce cancer risk and even prevent certain types of cancer, ultimately reducing the overall burden of the disease statewide.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab recently achieved Core Accreditation through the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN). This designation highlights the lab’s commitment to excellence in plant disease diagnostics and its vital role in supporting plant health and biosecurity across Maine and the northeastern U.S.

The Maine State Beekeepers Association (MSBA) will be holding a Bee Fest, Sept. 7, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., at Viles Arboretum, 153 Hospital St., Augusta. This special outdoor field day event is for all beekeepers in Maine to gather and discuss hive management techniques and attract new “want-to-be beekeepers” to the art and science of keeping bees healthy and productive in Maine. The event is free to all; scan the QR code on the poster image to “Let Us Know You Are Coming”.

The City of Rockland has received a $8,655 dividend check from the Maine Municipal Association because of its good performance and loss prevention efforts. The association manages three self-funded pools for municipal and quasi-public entities in Maine:

The Colonial Theatre, owned and operated by the nonprofit organization Hawthorne Arts Collaborative, has announced that Meg Fournier has been appointed as the organization’s new executive director. 

Born and raised in Louisiana, Fournier has made Belfast and greater Waldo County her home for nearly 20 years.

Most recently, Fournier served as Operations Director and Producer for Points North Institute, whose programs include the Camden International Film Festival and Points North Forum.

United Midcoast Charities (UMC) presented its 2025 Award for Philanthropic Excellence to Christopher Beebe during its annual Rising Tide Party, held Thursday, August 21, at the Sail, Power & Steam Museum Boathouse in Rockland. The event welcomed community members, donors, and nonprofit partners for an evening celebrating the strength of local philanthropy and the impact of collective giving.

Coastal Recovery Community Center (CRCC), of 11 White St., Rockland, ME 04841, welcomes a new Recovery Support Worker: K. Fletcher.

Fletcher started duties at CRCC in mid-August, mans the office from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, and welcomes participants while assisting with navigating resources on their pathway to recovery.