G.E.A.R. Parent Network invites you to a webinar on May 5th from 1 – 3 pm, kicking off Children’s Mental Health Action Week: “ACEs, Being a Trauma-Informed Parent: Linking Childhood Trauma to Long-Term Health & Social Consequences” Presented by Cindy Seekins, Certified Family Peer Specialist, Director and Diane Bouffard, Certified Family Peer Specialist, Team Leader and Regional Parent Support Coordinator. See flyer for details.  Register here.

Download a flyer to share for Dr. Sue Carroll Duffy’s May 5th community workshop, Creative Listening: a fun, hands-on way to deeply listen.  Learn more in the One-Time Events section of this Newsletter.

The Local Food Switchboard is a brand-new Maine project focused on connecting fishermen, farmers, and food businesses to processing, storage, and distribution infrastructure, markets, and resources — all with the goal of getting more local food in Maine schools. The Switchboard is an initiative of the Maine Food Convergence Project, and will take the form of an online platform, map and database that will help to streamline local food procurement and facilitate connections across Maine’s food system. There will also be a Switchboard “Operator” who will help to coordinate supply chain logistics and long-term maintenance of the platform, with an initial focus on local food procurement by public schools.  This spring, the Switchboard team is hosting community gatherings across the state to learn directly from local food producers, distributors and buyers about how this project can best serve them. Feedback from these “Research Roadshow” events will inform the development of the Local Food Switchboard. We invite you and others in Washington County to join us, eat some delicious food, and share your expertise and experience in the local food system. Here are the event details:  May 7th, 4 — 6 pm at the Maine Veterans’ Home, Machias. Register here.  As appreciation for your participation, the Switchboard will offer a $60 Hannaford gift card for your time at the event ($40 to help cover the cost of logistics and $20 for travel and child and elder care). If you require accommodations such as translation or transportation, please email localfoodswitchboard@gmail.com. It’s critical to the Switchboard project that this event is accessible to all who would like to attend.

Biz Fit is an informal, confidential, and supportive gathering where we exchange ideas and share insights. Location: MaineStreet Business Building 19 Main Street Machias, ME 04654. Light refreshments will be provided. Register today!

Washington County Extension Association is hosting an annual meeting from 10 am to 1 pm Saturday, May 31, at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension office, 116 O’Brien Avenue on the campus of the University of Maine Machias. The rain location is the Larson Conference Room in the Reynolds Center.  The free public event includes the annual meeting of the Washington County Extension Association where the Norman W. Duzen Community Service Award will be presented to an outstanding volunteer. The program highlight will feature 4-H’er Kai B. sharing details from her experience at the National 4-H Conference in Washington D.C.  The event will include lunch and showcase programs and services offered by UMaine Extension. Attendees will enjoy a goat petting zoo and a screen printing activity. Attendees can pick up free seeds, tick spoons and soil tests while supplies last.  For more information and to RSVP for the meal, visit the Washington County Extension Association Annual Meeting webpage by May 21. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Tara Wood at 207.255.3345 or tara.a.wood@maine.edu.