Happy Wednesday!
New this week:
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer an online workshop for entrepreneurs and farmers interested in starting a home-based, specialty food business in Maine from 9 am–noon on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Recipe to Market is a multidisciplinary program intended to introduce participants to key topics an aspiring entrepreneur needs to consider before starting a food business. Topics include the specialty food industry, business basics, an overview of the product development process, licensing and regulations, and food safety. During the half-day workshop, industry experts and successful food entrepreneurs will share experiences and provide valuable insights and tips for success. Instructors for the program include UMaine Extension professor emeritus Louis Bassano; professor emeritus of economics and Extension Jim McConnon; and Extension food science specialist, professor of food science and director of UMaine Food Testing Services Beth Calder. The fee for the workshop is $45; registration is required by November 17. The workshop will be recorded for registered participants and available for a limited time. For more information and to register visit the program webpage. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Melissa Libby Babcock, melissa.libby1@maine.edu; 207-581-.2788 or 800-287-0274 (Maine only) or Beth Calder at beth.calder@maine.edu or 207-581-2791.
- Council Business Items.
- Downeast Prevention Services: Mia Petrini, Julie Daigle and Maria Donahue, Healthy Acadia.
- Downeast Public Health Council: County Based Common Objectives and Strategies; Implementation of Committees 2025-2030 Strategies.
Please use this link to complete the survey. For more information about the Downeast Public Health Council or would like to be a member, please reach out to Alfred May, alfred.may@maine.gov or Kawther Mohamed, kawther.mohamed@maine.gov.
Stress Reduction for the Holidays Workshop
- Learn and practice simple relaxation and breathing techniques
- Explore how mindfulness can transform daily experiences
- Take part in a guided gratitude practice
- Discover practical ways to manage stress and create meaningful traditions
Friends-Giving & Coat-Drive
Healthy Acadia’s INSPIRE Recovery Center invites you to a Friends-Giving celebration on Wednesday, November 26, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at 24 Church Street, Ellsworth. Enjoy good food, warm conversation, and community connection! We’ll also be hosting an open house and coat drive. Meet our recovery coaches, learn about recovery support services, and discover how coaching can help you or someone you care about find the resources needed on their recovery journey. All are welcome! Come share gratitude, friendship, and connection this season! Download a flyer to share.
- Explore workforce challenges and opportunities across our region’s health sectors
- Share existing training, job shadow, and internship pathways for students
- Identify the skills and preparation students need to succeed in health careers
- Strengthen collaboration between employers, schools, and post-secondary partners
Whether you’re part of a hospital or clinic, local practice, EMS or recovery service, veterinary clinic, school, or training program, your perspective is vital to this conversation. Lunch provided | No cost to attend | RSVP by November 21. Register here: Healthcare Workforce Summit Registration.
Eastern Area Agency on Aging is expanding access to healthy meals for older adults (60 and older) and adults with disabilities (18 and older) who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing federal shutdown. To help meet increased community needs, EAAA is coordinating multiple nutrition assistance initiatives, including Grab-and-Go frozen meal sites, Community Café dining options, and additional meals to current Meals on Wheels recipients. See flyer for details.
Stewart’s Grocery & Take Out, along with local givers & suppliers are providing warm TOGO turkey dinners for Thanksgiving. See flyer for details.
2 Ways to Give This Holiday Season
- Donation Cards: Purchase a $5 or $10 donation card now. Or next time you’re in the store, grab a donation card from the Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger display and scan it at the register to help fight hunger in your community.
- You Buy, We Give: Now through December 6, for every participating product you buy, we’ll donate 50¢* to your regional food bank. Shop online, or look for the shelf tags in-store on participating products and help your neighbors in need. *Up to $100,000. All donations will go to regional food banks in ME, NH, NY, MA and VT.
Join the Maine Women’s Business List
CEI encourages women business owners to stand out, get discovered, and grow your network! Join the Maine Women’s Business List today. The Maine Women’s Business List is a free, statewide directory that shines a spotlight on woman-owned businesses across Maine. Created to increase visibility and opportunity, the list helps customers, organizations, and media outlets find and support female entrepreneurs. By joining, you’ll become part of a growing community that celebrates and supports women in business. It’s easy and fast to sign up, and it’s one more way to make sure your business gets the attention it deserves.
Daughterhood, the blog, by Founder Anne Tumlinson: Caring for an aging parent can feel like an impossible balancing act — juggling jobs, finances, and love. Too often, families are left facing heartbreaking choices about how to pay for care. In this week’s blog, we explore how to fund your future independence — with practical “Dos and Don’ts,” fresh ideas for preparing financially, and ways to build communities that support aging with dignity. Read now.