ROCKPORT — MaineHealth Obstetrics and Gynecology Rockport is elevating patient safety, infection prevention and workflow efficiency with the addition of a state-of-the-art, high-level disinfection system. This new equipment allows the department to work more efficiently in disinfecting semi-critical instruments used each day for women’s health imaging. 

MaineHealth has received a five-year, $2.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to join the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN). The research network addresses disparities in pediatric research by including children from rural or underserved populations in clinical trials and by building pediatric research capacity in states like Maine and New Hampshire with historically less NIH funding.

ROCKLAND — Following a swearing-in for returning councilors-elect to Rockland City Council, November 17, 2025, the five returning councilors voted among themselves for the 2025-26 mayoral position.

Jacqueline Crucet will replace Kerry Hadley as gallery manager at Maine Art Gallery (MAG). Hadley is retiring after guiding project management and development activities of the organization for the past five years. Crucet will take over these duties as well as that of the onsite gallery administrator.

"An arts and cultural leader with extensive experience managing exhibitions, community programs, and nonprofit partnerships, Crucet has proven her skills in strategic planning and revitalizing cultural spaces," said MAG.

The Maine Library Commission is expected to consider a proposal Monday that would require public libraries to sign an agreement so they can maintain access to interlibrary loan services and internet access.

Under the proposal, all libraries would be required to pay their directors and remain open to patrons at least 12 hours per week or risk losing those services.

Lady Knox Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, launched a bucket challenge that became a State Meeting Project in partnership with the Maine State Organization, DAR (MSODAR).

Lady Knox Chapter challenged DAR chapters around the state to fill a bucket with a pre-set list of cleaning supplies. Lowes, in Thomaston, generously donated 30 five-gallon buckets for the Challenge.

ROCKLAND — Rockland City Councilors voted 4-1 (Kalloch) to allow an immigration ordinance proposal to continue to the December agenda, though the vote follows lengthy discussion during the November 10 City Council meeting, including a potential false perception toward local police officers by the public, attempts to further differentiate between orders and ordinances, as well as further attempts to understand when and where councilors can create ordinances that direct staff.

The current proposal, according to Nicole Kalloch, is an overstep of the City Council’s reach.

ROCKLAND — On Monday, November 10, the Rockland City Council designated Rockland’s first Local Historic District by passing an amendment to the Rockland Historic Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 20. The new Main Street Local Historic District includes all the buildings and two city parks on both sides of Main Street from Park Street to Summer Street— from Main Sports Outfitters at 279 Main Street to the former First Baptist Church at 500 Main Street.

NEWRY — Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation and Hurricane Island Outward Bound School (HIOBS) have announced a new partnership that ensures the continued use of HIOBS’s basecamp in Newry, Maine, as a hub for outdoor education, recreation, and community engagement, according to a news release. 

Maine Health Care Association (MHCA) and the Maine Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) honored 20 long term care workers with the Excellence in Long Term Care Award, November 13, at Thomas College’s Spann Student Commons. The prestigious Excellence in Long Term Care Award recognizes Maine’s most dedicated and inspired caregivers who tirelessly serve thousands of older and disabled individuals living in Maine nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and those too receiving in-home care services.

On Saturday, December 6, Aldermere Farm, a preserve of Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT), will ring in the holiday season with cows, hot cocoa, and ugly sweaters during its annual Beltie Holiday. The event will be open to all ages and held from 9 a.m. to noon at Aldermere’s Welcome Center and Program Barn at 20 Russell Ave, Rockport.

Maine's CareerCenters and employers statewide will participate in a virtual hiring event on December 10, from 1 - 3 p.m.

Trekkers, a nonprofit youth mentoring organization serving Midcoast Maine, has designed a new sliding scale fee structure for families participating in its programs.

"This change reflects Trekkers’ commitment to equity, accessibility, and community care," said Trekkers.

In response to growing economic pressures and limited time and resources among families, Trekkers is replacing student-led fundraising events—including the Community Auction, Local Treats, and the annual 5K—with a flexible fee model that allows families to contribute what they can.

The official schedule of events for the 39th annual Christmas By The Sea weekend, to be held December 5-7, 2025, has announced is now available for viewing and printing online.

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/christmas.by.the.sea.camden.maine and https://instagram.com/christmasbythesea_maine to access the schedule of events and to source more details as the event draws near.

BELFAST—Sadie Samuels, a young lobsterman who got her start in the restaurant industry in 2019 with a food truck in Belfast  named Must Be Nice Lobster, has expanded her enterprise into the former Dockside Restaurant space just up the street. They held the grand opening Wednesday, November 5.

Belfast doesn't have a lot of zones for restaurant spaces that aren't already in use, so when Jeff and Lisa Mosher, owners of Dockside Restaurant, told Samuels that they wanted to spend more time with their family, she jumped at the chance to take over the restaurant.

ROCKLAND — They say he might have rolled his eyes at having an affordable housing complex named after him, but they also say that if he were here today, he’d be right in the thick of this event’s preparation, assisting with flag placement so that each symbol of Marine pride floated proudly in the breeze.

CAMDEN and BLUE HILL —  One hundred and 20 businesses across Midcoast Maine and the Blue Hill Peninsula raised $57,000 for the grassroots nonprofit Finding Our Voices through its July Into the Light! Yellow Festival. 

University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host a webinar on starting and managing a successful flower farming operation, Monday, Dec. 1, from 6 - 7:15 p.m.

“Right-Sizing Your Flower Farm: What I Learned from Three Different Setups” will feature Julia Baecher, owner of East of Eden Flower Farm, who will share insights from more than a decade of experience growing her business, from a six-acre leased plot in 2012 to her current operation.