BELFAST — Concepta, who goes by her first name, is a fixture at the United Farmers Market of Maine in Belfast every Saturday. Behind the hot bar where she serves up chicken curry, minced beef curry, and lentil and potato curry, all over white rice, she is a one-woman powerhouse, selling out of her food and products every weekend, all the while conjuring up more angles for her business.

Join Allyssa Gregory for a walk to see "How Historical Events Shaped the Forest of Merryspring," Tuesday, June 2, at 12 p.m., at Merryspring Nature Center.  

Learn how historical events, both natural and human, shaped the forests of Merryspring. This walk will complement her previous online presentation on this topic. During the walk, participants will have the opportunity to see the evidence of past disturbances that created the forest we have today.

Maine Department of Labor announces its no-cost trainings for June 2026.

Upcoming classes:

Establishing or Improving Your Safety & Health Committee – June 2, 2026 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, Department of Labor, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

SEARSMONT — To date, more than 150 interviews of responders, employees, and victim’s families have been conducted in the wake of a fire and subsequent explosion at Robbins Lumber, Friday morning, May 15, 2026. Investigators have now recorded 299 firefighters and 46 fire departments who responded to Searsmont over the course of 48 hours.

“And we’re still counting,” said Fire Marshal Shawn Esler.

The State of Maine is celebrating its newest cohort of County Teachers of the Year. On Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Hall of Flags in the Maine State House, the Maine Department of Education (DOE), in partnership with Educate Maine, announced the 16 teachers, representing every county in the state, who were selected for this honor.

Three educators from Children’s House Montessori School were among others celebrated as part of a statewide spotlight on inspiring early childhood professionals during the Week of the Young Child in April, 2026

On April 16, 2026 the Waldo County Commissioners hosted the 15th Spirit of America ceremony honoring outstanding volunteerism in Waldo County at the Waldo County Commissioners Courtroom, 39B Spring Street, in Belfast. The ceremony recognized individuals who were chosen as winners of the Spirit of America Foundation Tribute for outstanding volunteer community service. Awards were presented by the Waldo County Commissioners.

ROCKPORT — In April, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital’s Family Birth Center welcomed two new original art pieces by an artist with a personal connection to the hospital.

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District is holding a Pond Construction and Management Workshop, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Inn Along the Way, in Damariscotta 

"If you have ever considered adding a pond to your property – whether it be for wildlife, irrigation or recreation – this is the workshop for you," said SWCD, in a news release.

Midcoast Health Collective will open its doors to the community on Friday, June 5, from 4 to 6 p.m., pairing a tour of its downtown wellness space with an exhibition of new paintings by practitioner and artist Erika Manning.

Timed to coincide with Rockland's First Friday Art Walk, this free event invites community members to tour the collective at 558 Main Street, meet the practitioners, ask questions about services, enjoy light refreshments, and view Manning's artwork.

Featured Art Exhibition

The Town of Brooks will hold a special Memorial Day event on May 25, 2026, at 2 p.m., at Wentworth’s General Store, in Brooks.

November 25, 1940 Robert P. Grant, 21 years old from Brooks, enlisted in the US Army Air Force and was trained as an aircraft gunner. In 1941, he sailed to the Philippines with the Headquarters 27th Bombardment Group. Robert Grant made the Bataan Death March and died of malaria as a prisoner of war.

Friday, May 22, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) invites the public for a guided bird walk with MCHT steward and naturalist Kirk Gentalen, at Erickson Fields Preserve, located at 164 West Street in Rockport. From 8 to 10 a.m., Gentalen will lead a group around MCHT’s Teen Ag garden and through the woods, teaching how to identify birds by sight and sounds, and discover what other creatures inhabit the preserve.

A $7,500 grant awarded to Finding Our Voices by First National Bank is funding safety and peace for Maine women and children who are domestic abuse survivors and a groundbreaking dating-abuse prevention program for teens, according to FOV, in a news release.

THOMASTON — Periwinkle Needlepoint is celebrating one year in business in downtown Thomaston this June. Owner Jen Webber will mark the occasion with an open house celebration, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from 4 to 5 p.m., at the shop, located at 159 Main Street. The community is invited to stop by for snacks, bubbles, and a chance to celebrate Periwinkle Needlepoint’s first year in town.