"Electricity prices are rising fast, and Maine households are struggling to pay," said Rockland Public Library, in a news release. "Want to know why?"

Thursday, March 5, at 6 p.m., at the library, join Maine Community Power Cooperative, Maine Conservation Voters, and Maine Climate Action Now for a presentation on “What’s on your Utility Bill - Empowering Ratepayers."

Maine Department of Labor will hold a Wage & Hour Compliance no-cost training, April 1, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Rockland CareerCenter.

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors.

"Labor laws can be complex," said MDOL, in a news release,

United Midcoast Charities (UMC) is now accepting community nominations for its 2026 Rising Tide Award for Philanthropic Excellence, an annual honor recognizing individuals whose generosity and leadership help strengthen life across Knox and Waldo counties.

The award celebrates people whose actions, whether highly visible or quietly behind the scenes, contribute to a stronger local community through philanthropy, volunteerism, advocacy, or acts of generosity that support neighbors and nonprofit organizations.

PORT CLYDE — Herring Gut Coastal Science Center invites the community to beat the winter chill at its Winter Open House on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free, drop-in event is open to all ages and offers hands-on learning, exploration, and seasonal fun.

On Thursday, February 26, the City of Rockland will host a Safe Routes to South School Community Workshop. The workshop will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m., in the Gymnasium at the South Elementary School, 30 Broadway in Rockland.

The public is invited to attend the workshop to help the City plan for better bike and pedestrian access to the South School.

ROCKPORT — MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital welcomes Reza Rahbar, MD, to its Gastroenterology Rockport practice.

Dr. Rahbar comes to Pen Bay Hospital after spending the last six years as the medical director of colorectal surgery at UNC REX Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to that, he spent two years as section chief of colorectal surgery at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

BELFAST—Nicolle Littrell, founder of DoryWoman Rowing, unveiled a new service to her business, a wood-fired six-person sauna at 15 Front Street Belfast, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, January 29.

Littrell, a licensed Maine Guide who rows a traditional-style 19-foot, 5-inch wooden Swampscott dory, takes clients out on rowing  lessons, nature/wildlife tours, workouts, and specialty rows in Belfast Bay. Her new sauna service took nine months to develop.

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Secretary of State’s Office mailed postcards in January to 148,000 registered voters who did not cast ballots in the past two federal elections. The postcards are to verify the individual’s residency and eligibility to vote in Maine, according to the State Secretary's Office, in a news release. The mailing is part of Maine’s routine maintenance of its voter lists under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). 

A city-wide parking ban in Rockland will be in effect from 10 p.m. tonight, February 10, until 8 a.m. tomorrow, February 11.

"Please use the Winter St. and MacDougal parking lots during this time," said the City, in a parking ban notification. "Guests of 250 Main may park in Harbor Park along the stage. Thank you for helping us keep Rockland safe!"

The Maine Arts Commission has launched Make it Maine, a new community crowdfunding initiative developed in partnership with Patronicity, a national civic crowdfunding platform, according to the Commission, in a news release.

"The program empowers residents, artists, and community organizations to bring creative, community-centered projects to life by raising funds locally and engaging their communities directly," said the Commission.

Central Maine Power (CMP) transformed its Augusta headquarters into a real-life Super Nintendo game as employees and Make-A-Wish Maine surprised seven-year-old Khloe Drew and her family with a dream trip to Super Nintendo World in Orlando, Florida. Khloe was diagnosed with leukemia in 2024. 

University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host a webinar on managing insect pests in cut flower production on Monday, March 2, from 6 - 7:15 p.m.

“Managing Pests in Cut Flowers” will help growers protect cut flower crops from pest damage that can lower quality and reduce sales, according to UMaine Extension, in a news release.

The session will be led by Jason Lilley, assistant Extension professor of sustainable agriculture and maple industry educator with University of Maine.

ROCKPORT — This March, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) invites all ages to learn about making maple syrup from scratch (sap) at Aldermere Farm’s Sugar Shack, 70 Russell Ave in Rockport. 

"Cabin fever setting in?" said MCHT, in a news release. "Looking for a sweet pick-me-up?"

Individuals may register for one or more hands-on sessions to learn about the syrup-making process: identifying sugar maples, tapping trees, collecting sap, and running the evaporator.

Town of Montville Cemetery Committee is one of 14 community groups across Maine receiving a Maine Semiquincentennial Commission grant. The grants aim to support communities, organizations, and institutions in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

ORLAND — After a quarter-century at the helm of WERU Community Radio, General Manager Matt Murphy has announced his intention to retire in 2026.

“For 25 years I have had the honor, privilege, and joy of serving as General Manager of WERU,” said Murphy, in a WERU Board of Directors news release. “I feel the time has come for me to pass the torch on to the next generation of leadership of this great organization.”

The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce will hold the 30th anniversary of Arts in the Park on Friday and Saturday, June 27 and 28, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Steamboat Landing Park on Belfast’s waterfront.

Arts in the Park is free and open to the public, and is produced by the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Belfast.

Feb. 4, 2026 update: A revision has been made to the Vision and Planning Order for the Flanagan Center based on community feedback and to provide clarity on the intent of Phase 1 Visioning and Comparative Analysis, according to Mayor Adam Lachman. The revised order can be found at the bottom of this article. 

United Midcoast Charities (UMC) will host the next session in its LEARN@UMC workshop series on February 11, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., at the UMC office in Camden. The workshop will offer hands-on, expert-led training designed to help small and rural nonprofits build fundraising capacity and access tools that are often out of reach due to geography and cost.

The Knox County Maine Republican Committee February meeting is being held on February 12, at 6 p.m., at the committee's headquarters, 336 Limerock Street, in Rockland.

The guest speaker this month is Representative Laurel Libby with Lead Maine.

There will be light refreshments and announcements.