United Way of Mid Coast Maine is extending an invitation to the community to join them at their 2025 annual meeting. The event will take place on Tuesday, June 10 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Bowdoin College. The event’s theme “United We Thrive” will be an opportunity to come together as a community, for the community. 

Midcoast Humane is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year—and inviting the community to be part of a life-saving opportunity. In honor of this milestone, two longtime supporters have pledged a $75,000 matching challenge grant, doubling every donation made during 2025, up to the full amount. 

As of May 15, the organization has raised just over $65,000 and is urging supporters to help close the gap before the summer months, when animal intake spikes. 

After 40 and a half years working at the Boothbay Harbor Hannaford, working her way up to manager of customer service, Beth Hardwick of Boothbay “officially retired” on Thursday, May 15.

Her retirement celebration included a cake, balloons, cards, gifts and well wishes from store employees during the day. She was also given an “Officially Retired” blue and gold sash and a purple “Retired” crown.

Open the door to the 40th Student Art Show at Boothbay Region Art Foundation, and enter a world of exploration through color, technique, history, and imagination that has led to some thought-provoking work. All (approximately) told, 450 works of art are displayed! Yes, you’ll be there for a while … and not even realize time is passing!

Habemus Papam! On May 8, the world got a new pope after a little over a day of secretive cardinal decision-making. The quick turnaround was a surprise to many, as was the man who walked out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica: Chicago-born Robert Francis Provost, now Pope Leo XIV. 

“Shock would be the first word,” said Pastor Philip Tracy of All Saints Parish. The parish oversees several regional Catholic churches, including Boothbay Harbor’s Our Lady Queen of Peace. 

There is still time to join other female-identifying folks for the weather-postponed Hearty Roots “Interlude” gathering on Saturday, May 17, from 1 to 6 p.m. This is a chance to fill your cup, recharge your batteries, and find whatever your spirit is needing during this time of seasonal transition. Let the abundance of the natural world guide your experience at this event on the Hearty Roots campus in Bremen.

On April 28, Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust closed on the purchase of its largest independent acquisition to date in the town of Newcastle. The 270-acre Deer Meadow Brook Preserve is part of a block of nearly 4,700 acres of undeveloped wildlife habitat along Deer Meadow Brook.  

Located on West Hamlet Road, the property extends from the shore of Damariscotta Lake at State Route 215 (Pond Road) to Deer Meadow Brook, where it includes over 1,600 feet of stream frontage. 

On Saturday, May 17, a short documentary by a local filmmaker will be screened for the public at the Harbor Theater at 1 and 3 p.m. The film features the local cold water enthusiast group The Little Dippers, and takes a deep dive on how the group was started and the profound impact it has had.  Admission is free and all are welcome.  

Don’t miss the Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District Spring Plant Sale at Union Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plants have been chosen for their value as windbreaks, lakeshore buffers, bank stabilization, erosion control, and wildlife habitat – including songbirds, pollinators, and beneficial insects. Individual varieties were selected for productivity, pest and disease resistance, a variety of soil and light conditions – and to provide beauty and color in the home landscape from spring through fall.

At their May 8 meeting, the Wiscasset Masons of Lincoln Lodge No. 3 A.F. & A.M. presented five area food pantries with a total of $4,000. The funds were raised by the Masons during their Christmas drive held at Ames Supply in Wiscasset. The $2,000 raised at that event was then matched by the Masons Assisting Charities Fund.

Memorial Day is a solemn occasion to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. We attend parades, place flags at gravesites, and take quiet moments of reflection. But beyond the ceremonies and speeches lies another, often invisible war, one that too many of our veterans and active-duty service members are still fighting.

Are you a seasonal worker who needs transportation for the summer? The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club will be loaning bicycles to seasonal workers starting Saturday, May 10. At the time of pick-up we require a $100 cash deposit which is fully refundable when the bike is returned in good condition. We also require your local address and some form of identification.

As surely as the spring flowers open, so does the Boothbay Harbor Used Bookstore! The porch of Hyde House is “blooming” with books you can buy 24/7 by using the “pay whatever you want” donation box. The store itself is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The University of Maine announced funding has been restored for Maine Sea Grant to continue research and outreach. They said restored funds are in line with a funding plan abruptly terminated in February. 

According to a UMaine news release May 2, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially notified the university last week it was awarding three more years of funding for Maine Sea Grant; funds were made immediately available for the upcoming year, with funding for two additional years contingent on congressional approval.  

River rats, unite! Outdoor enthusiasts, assemble! Anyone who believes in the power of nature to change lives, prepare to make a difference! And everyone, mark your calendars for Hearty Roots’ fourth annual Paddle for a Purpose community fundraiser on Saturday, June 14. 

On Tuesday, April 29, Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol, and Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, presented a legislative sentiment to the Boothbay Region High School Drama Club in recognition of their victory at the Maine Drama Festival’s Class B Regional One Acts Tournament in March.