The Safe Routes to South School Community Workshop has been postponed. Initially scheduled for Thursday, February 26, the workshop has been rescheduled to March 26.

Initial press release:

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.

BOOTHBAY HARBOR — Community members are invited to explore meaningful volunteer opportunities supporting marine education and lighthouse preservation at an upcoming Volunteer Recruitment Fair hosted at the Maine State Aquarium.

The event, presented in partnership with the Keepers of Burnt Island Light, will take place Thursday, March 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Aquarium, located at 194 McKown Point Road in Boothbay Harbor.

"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."

Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) has accepted a $20,000 donation from The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation in support of the PCHC Seaport Dental Center in Belfast. The eight-chair clinic is located on the second floor of Seaport Community Health Center’s new integrated primary care clinic.

The dental program is projected to provide critical care to more through more than 7,000 patient encounters annually, regardless of the patient’s financial situation, according to a PCHC news release.

BELFAST — Habitat for Humanity of Waldo County (HFHWC) has completed installation of a new rooftop solar array at its recently opened ReStore, which will offset 100 percent of the facility’s electricity use, marking a major step toward cutting operating costs and expanding affordable housing efforts across Waldo County, according to Everybody Solar, in a news release. The 18.92-kilowatt system, installed in partnership with nonprofit solar provider Everybody Solar, is expected to go live in the coming days.​

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will be closing the Augusta Memorial Bridge to westbound traffic to perform a routine inspection of the bridge on February 17 and February 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drivers and pedestrians should follow detour signs, according to MDOT, in a news release.

Drivers traveling eastbound from Western Avenue will be able to cross the bridge.

WALDO — A $1,500 scholarship for Waldo County residents entering their first or second year of post-secondary education is available through the Waldo County Extension Association, in cooperation with the Maine 4-H Foundation. 

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,

THOMASTON — "Being the fire chief, sometimes you've got to make some hard decisions," said Thomaston Fire Chief David Hanna. "That requires weighing different perspectives, using your experience, judging personalities, ensuring the timing is right for the organization, and defining the needs of the department before moving forward." 

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.

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. 

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.