SWANVILLE — University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host a workshop on the principles of pruning apple trees on Wednesday, March 25, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Waldo County Gardens, 685 Swan Lake Ave, Swanville.  

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.

CAMDEN — Herring Gut Coastal Science Center invites teachers to an engaging professional development workshop focused on wetlands. Dive into the importance of wetlands, explore hands-on activities, and gain valuable resources to bring back to your classroom.

Participants will receive a stipend, 1.5 contacts hours, and a class materials kit.

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.

In preparation for the Feb. 23, 2026 snow storm that is expected to accumulate more than 6 inches of snow along the immediate coast, as well as clock high wind gusts, Central Maine Power is staffing extra crews at its service centers across regions of Maine "so we can respond quickly and safely to any outages that may occur," said CMP, in a news release.

ISLESBORO — The National Weather Service is forecasting a significant snowstorm for Monday, February 23. To ensure crews can safely and effectively clear accumulated snow, a snow ban will be in effect at Grindle Point from Monday at 8:30 a.m. through Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Parking Restrictions During the Snow Ban

The following areas will be closed to parking:

•    Main parking lot

Rockland has issued a City-wide parking ban, to be in effect from 12 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 until 8 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Off-street parking will be available in the Winter Street lot, according to a City of Rockland parking ban notification.

Mid-Coast Audubon announces the availability of scholarships for individuals interested in learning about and experiencing the natural world. Scholarships are open to all, with priority given to students and teachers residing in Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties.

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.