The Rockland Community and Resource Center (CRC), located at the Flanagan Center, at 61 Limerock Street, invites the public to celebrate its Grand Opening and Open House on Friday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community members are invited to tour the space, meet volunteers, and learn about the programs and services the CRC will offer. A special presentation about the CRC will take place at noon. Free roundtrip door-to-door rides will be offered by Flagship Taxi for those age 65 and older. 

A "Shredding on Site" event will be held Friday, May 15, at the Bath Savings Bank parking lot next to the Chapman-Hall House, 270 Main Street, Damariscotta. Shredding will take place between 8 a.m. and 12 noon. 

The event is sponsored by the Chapman-Hall House Stewardship Committee and Bath Savings Bank. 

THOMASTON — Georges River Land Trust (GRLT) formally announced the opening of its new Rockland Bog Preserve trailhead on Beechwood Street in Thomaston.

"From this trailhead, users can access over seven miles of trails, creating great opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, birding, and more," said GRLT, in a news release.

Join the land trust, Thursday, May 21, at 5 p.m., for a celebration and exploration of the new trails at the Rockland Bog Preserve. Refreshments and maps will be available.

Herring Gut Coastal Science Center and the St. George Conservation Commission invite community members to attend a free educational program focused on protecting local forests from the invasive Emerald Ash Borer beetle.

The program, part of Herring Gut’s Spring Fever Series, will take place Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 10 a.m., at Fort Point Trail, 947 River Road, in St. George.

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.

ROCKPORT — MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital welcomes Monika Gulyas, MSN, CNM, to its Obstetrics and Gynecology Rockport practice.

Gulyas joins Pen Bay Hospital from MaineHealth Obstetrics and Gynecology Damariscotta, where she spent nearly six years as a certified nurse midwife. Prior to that, she spent almost three years as a certified nurse midwife at Connecticut Childbirth and Women’s Center at Dansbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut.

Riley School has been awarded grant funding from the Maine Community Foundation to support an innovative, place-based service-learning initiative connecting students with the people, industries, and ecosystems of Midcoast Maine.

The town of Frankfort has launched Rapid Renewal. Rapid Renewal is the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicle’s online service for renewing motor vehicle registrations, according to Secretary of State Shenna Bellows's office, in a news release.

With the addition of Frankfort, located in Waldo County, the Rapid Renewal service is now available in 358 municipalities. Municipal participation in Rapid Renewal is optional, according to the Secretary.

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.

The Owls Head Transportation Museum is inviting first responders from across Maine to attend its first-ever First Responder celebration weekend event on June 27-28 to recognize and give tribute to the dedication and service of the state’s emergency personnel.

Throughout the weekend, the museum will be recognizing the contributions of firefighters, law enforcement, paramedics, and all the departments that serve on the front lines of public safety.

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.