Happy Wednesday!
New this week:
Please join the Washington County Community Action Team to celebrate those in Recovery, Families in Recovery and Recovery Allies, as we continue to battle the substance use epidemic that so greatly impacts our communities. The 9th annual Walk for Recovery, September 19th starting at 6 pm, will gather at the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce lawn, head down Main Street and end at Bad Little Falls, for an inspiring program with local speakers. Following the walk, a reception will be held at the MainStreet Business Building, 19 Main Street, Machias for refreshments and connection. Download a flyer to share.
ReShine Free Shopping Day at Cobscook Institute
Horticulture and Gardening Training Programs
- Enrollment for the Horticulture Apprentice Training opens Monday, September 22, 2025 at noon and space is limited. For course fees, schedules and more information, visit the Maine Horticulture Apprentice Training website.
- Enrollment for the Maine Gardener Training opens Monday, September 29, 2025 at noon and space is limited. For course fees, schedules and more information, visit the Maine Gardener Training website.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Extension horticulture team at 207-581-3188 or extension.gardening@maine.edu.
The Late Season Garden: Reflections and Tasks
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will present its second fall gardening webinar, “The Late Season Garden: Reflections and Tasks,” from 6–7:15 pm on Tuesday, September 23. Horticulture professional Jennifer Cappello-Ruggiero will lead the session, offering insights on the past growing season, what worked well, and what could be improved. The webinar will cover essential fall tasks to help wrap up the gardening year and set the stage for greater success next season. Topics include seasonal planning, planting strategies and winter preparation. This session is ideal for gardeners ready to reflect, reset and prepare for the year ahead. This session is the second of four in the UMaine Extension’s Fall Gardening Webinar Series. Registration is required; sliding scale fee options are available. Register on the event webpage to attend live or receive the recording link. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Rebecca Gray at 207-356-1348 or extension.gardening@maine.edu.
Cider Pressing and Open House
Grow Great Garlic Workshop at Cobscook Institute, in partnership with the Lubec Garden Club: Saturday, September 27, 3 – 4:30 pm, in the Commons building. Local farmer Felicia Newman (Three Dog Fahm, Lubec) will share tips and tricks for growing excellent garlic Downeast in this Q&A discussion. Suitable for beginner and experienced garlic growers. Free/by donation, registration not required. Cobscook Institute, 10 Commissary Point Road, Trescott. Download a flyer to share.
Understanding the Financial Challenges of Cancer Caregiving
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and CancerCare are hosting a listening session on September 29th from 1 – 2:30 pm, to hear directly from cancer caregivers. These conversations will highlight challenges caregivers face and identify where better support is urgently needed. The goal is to outline a path toward a more supportive care system by better preparing caregivers for the vital roles they play. If you are a cancer caregiver, we warmly invite you to participate in this session. If you are not a cancer caregiver, please consider sharing this opportunity with your networks so it reaches those who many want to join. NAC research shows that family caregiving can have a severe financial impact, with many caregivers stopping saving, taking on debt, or having difficulty paying for basic expenses. This session will explore the financial hardship faced by cancer caregivers, including the out-of-pocket costs and lost wages. Register for the listening session.
- Understand the role employers play in creating recovery-friendly workplaces
- Hear from leaders expanding access to treatments and resources
- Learn about innovative therapies and support for caregivers and families navigating recovery
Native Plant Webinars
for Commercial Growers and Home Gardeners
- The first session, “Passion, Patience & Product: Starting a Native Plant Nursery,” will be held Monday, October 6, from 6 to 7:15 pm. Ivonne Vazquez, owner of Bas Rouge Farm & Forge, will share insights into launching and operating a native plant nursery, highlighting the values, logistics, and lessons that shape a sustainable business. Registration available on the program website. The presentation is part of UMaine Extension’s Commercial Horticulture Webinar Series, held on the first Monday of each month.
- The second webinar, “Growing Native Plants from Seed,” takes place on Tuesday, October 7, from 6 to 7:15 pm. Led by Extension horticulture professional Pamela Hargest, the session will cover simple, practical methods for starting native plants from seed. Topics include seed sowing, protecting seedlings from pests, and dividing perennials. Registration available on the program website. This is the third event in the Fall Gardening Webinar Series.
Registration is required; sliding scale fee options are available. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Rebecca Gray at 207-356-1348 or extension.gardening@maine.edu.
21st Annual Turkey-A-Thon
Join Healthy Acadia for this year’s Turkey-A-Thon Fundraiser on Friday, October 10th, and help spread warmth (and full bellies!) across Washington County! We’re rallying the community to collect CASH or CHECK donations at 7 fun-filled locations throughout the day—and 100% of what we raise will go toward gift certificates from local grocery stores. These will be shared with every food pantry in the county to help our neighbors enjoy a healthy holiday meal. Here’s where you can find us on the 10th:
📍 Game Time Bar and Grill – Baileyville
📍 Bayside Market – Milbridge
📍 Four Corners Shop-n-Save – Columbia
📍 Flat Iron Corner – Lubec
📍 Dunkin – Machias
📍 VL Tammaro – Calais
📍 First National Bank – Eastport
Want to do more than donate? We’d LOVE to have you on board as a volunteer at any of the 7 locations! It’s a great way to give back, see friendly faces, and be part of something truly heartwarming. Click here to sign up for a volunteer shift!
New CCC Training: Guiding with Purpose
The CCC is excited to be bringing partners a new training: Guiding with Purpose: Strengthening Skills for Collaborative Dialogue, presented by Abby Frutchey, LMSW, LADC, CCS. This 3-hour virtual training, developed for FFD but open to all CCC partners, is designed to enhance participants’ ability to lead meaningful, person-centered conversations that foster connection, motivation, and growth. Emphasis is placed on the practice of deep listening and the use of collaborative strategies to create an empowering environment that supports sustainable change. Through interactive exercises and “real-play” practice, participants will refine foundational skills such as open-ended questioning, affirmations, reflections, and summarization. These techniques strengthen rapport, encourage personal autonomy, and build co
nfidence in facilitating collaborative dialogue. Because the training is highly interactive and skill-based, full participation and attendance for the entire session is requested. Participants will receive a certificate for three contact hours. Register for this training by clicking/tapping on this link or this QR code:
Save the date of November 14th for Sunrise County Economic Council’s annual economic summit, 8:30 am — 2:30 pm, Jobs & Prosperity in Washington County: Workforce Attraction, Retention & Development Strategies that Work Here. Registration details will be available soon.
Ongoing yoga and movement classes at Cobscook Institute are: Tuesdays – Align and Flow Yoga at 10:30 am, Balance and Bone Builders at 1 pm; Wednesdays – Yin Yoga at 4:30 pm; Fridays – Be In Motion at 1 pm; Sundays – Vinyasa Yoga at 10 am. Cobscook Institute, 10 Commissary Point Road, Trescott.