BROOKSVILLE — Horse owners and equine enthusiasts will have a rare opportunity to learn from nationally recognized liberty horsemanship trainer Patrick, of Gamilah Unbridled, when he visits Bagaduce River Equine Rescue (BRER), 111 Bagaduce Rd., in Brooksville on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

According to a news release, the free one-day educational event will introduce participants to the principles of liberty horsemanship while emphasizing trust, communication, and partnership between horse and human.

Last week, over 250 friends and supporters of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences came together for an evening of discovery and inspiration. Through the Big Splash fundraiser, the institute raised over $800,000 in sponsorships and bids — far exceeding the original fundraising goal — all of which will go to support the institute’s “bold science for our blue planet.”

On July 29, 2026, the Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) officially undertook the responsibility of regulating manufactured housing in the state through the Manufactured Housing Program, formerly known as the Manufactured Housing Board.  

MOCA will regulate modular housing, manufactured homes, and manufactured housing communities. These responsibilities were previously held by the Manufactured Housing Board within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. 

From August 3 to August 27, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will conduct night work between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. for striping operations. The roadwork will be done in Benton, Brunswick, Burnham, Clinton, Fairfield, Newport, Oakland, Palmyra, Pittsfield, West Bath, Bath, and Waterville. 

According to MaineDOT, in a news release, the project locations include U.S. Route 1 in both the northbound and southbound directions, extending approximately 5 miles each way from the Cooks Corner interchange in Brunswick to the Viaduct in Bath.

The community is invited to Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District’s Annual Banquet and Conservation Awards Celebration on August 13, from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. The banquet will be held at Beaver Lodge, in Hope, with dinner by Megunticook Market from Camden, and homemade pies from D-Zerts by Daphne from Westport Island.

SOUTH PORTLAND — From August 9 to August 11, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will close Route 1 between Billy Vachon Avenue and the I-295 southbound on ramp at Exit 4, including the ramp from Veterans Memorial Bridge, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., each night as part of a highway construction project. Traffic will be detoured via Main Street, Westbrook Street, and Broadway to the I295 southbound onramp at Exit 3.

One of Maine’s oldest food cooperatives, the Belfast Community Co-op, has reached fifty years serving the communities of the Midcoast and beyond. The downtown Belfast store is celebrating this anniversary with special programs and events, including an exhibition of Co-op-related art and memorabilia that will be on display at Waterfall Arts in winter 2027. 

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is currently pursuing applications for its Industrial Rail Access Program (IRAP). IRAP is a Public/Private freight partnership program overseen by the Office of Freight and Business Logistics at MaineDOT, according to a news release. IRAP provides financial assistance to businesses and shippers for investment in rail or freight rail related infrastructure located on, within or adjacent to the general railroad system.

ROCKLAND — AIO Food & Energy Assistance Executive Director Alan Kearl will retire from his position following years of dedicated leadership and service to the organization and the people of Knox County, according to The Board of Directors, in a news release.

ROCKPORT—With little fanfare and no grand opening, Kiri coffeehouse opened on the corner of routes 1 and 90 in Rockport on June 6, two weeks before its sign appeared on the lawn at the busy intersection.

Owner Ebinumo Amabebe, 37, has clocked some time in the coffee business. He grew up in Camden (with several moves to other states in between) and returned in 2021. 

Amabebe's family is from Nigeria, and the word "Kiri" is a word in the Nembe language meaning "earth" or "gathering place."

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) has released the documentary Connecting Blue Hill Through History: The Stevens Bridge, a 30-minute film exploring the history of the Blue Hill area through the lens of the ever-changing Stevens Bridge. This documentary brought together community members, local officials, historians, and cultural partners to reflect on the legacy of the Stevens Bridge and its role in shaping the identity of the Blue Hill region.

ROCKPORT — Children's House Montessori School (CHMS) has signed an Option Agreement to purchase 3 Cross Street in Rockport, "marking an exciting new chapter for the school and a significant investment in nature-based learning for children," said CHMS, in a news release.

The Penobscot Bay YMCA, in partnership with RSU 13, is relocating its Rockland Harbor child care program to a new home within the South School building in Rockland.

Beginning this fall, three new classrooms in South School will welcome toddlers, three year olds, and the YMCA’s third year of Public Pre-K students. Enrollment is now open for the toddler and 3-year-old classrooms, with daily child care available from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Eight exceptional educators from across the state are semifinalists for 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year. On Thursday, July 23, 2026, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Educate Maine officially announced these semifinalists, who will deliver keynote speeches, submit professional portfolios, and participate in an expert panel discussion about educational equity, teacher leadership, and education policy as part of the next phase of the Maine State Teacher of the Year selection process.

Camden Hills Regional High School senior Madison Hannan was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship from ConvenientMD as part of the organization's annual Student Scholarship Program. This year, ConvenientMD awarded a total of $20,000 in scholarships to 11 graduating seniors across Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts who plan to pursue higher education in healthcare-related fields.

ROCKPORT—Thriftworthy, a new store that opened June 24 at the corner of routes 90 and 17, is like a community Goodwill — only better. 

"The entire impetus behind this initiative was to create something that would do something for the community, bring people together, and most importantly, create a revenue stream that supports the critical work of Homeworthy," said Molly Feeney, executive director of Homeworthy. 

BLUE HILL — Camden National Bank has donated $7,000 to Finding Our Voices as lead sponsor of the Down East edition of their "Into the Light!" July Yellow Festival. The gift brings the bank's total support for Finding Our Voices to $71,826 over the nonprofit's five-year history, according to FOV, in a news release.

 MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals have extended the registration deadline for their inaugural Partners in Care Community Golf Classic, to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at the scenic Samoset Resort in Rockport.