Happy Wednesday!
New this week:
“Every family deserves the chance to start over. This Giving Tuesday, your gift helps families in Hancock and Washington Counties move from crisis to stability—and toward self-sufficiency.” This Giving Tuesday, we’re adding a little sparkle to the season. Families First Community Center is kicking off our “FFCC Rocks!” campaign — and we’ve got an amazing raffle to celebrate. Tickets are on sale now through November 24th, and every dollar raised helps FFCC support families rebuilding their lives after homelessness — right here in Hancock County.
Friday, December 5th, 8 – 9:30 am. REGISTER TODAY!! Invite a friend!: In this 90-minute interactive session, we’ll use our Biz Fit gathering for an annual Check In & Check Up regarding your business’ health for the new year as we explore “vital” signs of a thriving enterprise: External (Mktg., outreach, communications, vendors etc.) Internal (Ops, financials, HR etc.) Personal (Self Care as a business owner). Join us to listen to, share with, and learn from one another in curious conversation. This is an informal and supportive gathering of entrepreneurial women where we exchange ideas and share insights. Whether you are an aspiring or experienced business owner, bring your coffee, tea or smoothie and connect with other women across Maine.
The Beth Wright Cancer Resource Center invites cancer survivors to celebrate healing this holiday season with a unique opportunity to care for themselves and their bodies. The special event, “Celebrate Having Your Port Removed,” offers gentle 15-minute treatments designed to release scar tension, lower stress, and promote overall well-being. Whether your port was removed last month or several years ago, these sessions help support continued recovery. Any scar can tighten the area around it, which over time can restrict movement and create tension in surprising areas. Scars can also send subtle stress signals to the nervous system, increasing the body’s overall sense of stress. During your 15-minute appointment, you’ll experience a Dolphin MPS treatment using very low levels of direct current (DC) microcurrent, the same type of current naturally found in the body. This gentle, “friendly” approach helps reduce cortisol (the body’s stress hormone), release scar tissue, and prime the body’s natural healing response. Appointment Dates & Times:
- Friday, December 5: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm.
- Friday, December 12: 9 – 11 am or 1 – 3 pm.
- Friday, December 19: 9 – 11 am or 1 – 3 pm.
Each appointment is 15 minutes long, with 8 appointment slots per day for a total of 24 available appointments. If there is additional interest, more sessions may be added in January and February. To learn more or to schedule a session, please contact the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center at 207-664-0339 or visit www.bethwrightcancercenter.org.
Join Maine Seacoast Mission for two Christmas events in December. Visit the Mission’s Colket Center during the Northeast Harbor Christmas Festival to make crafts, enjoy a festive atmosphere, and welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus to town. Then travel Downeast to Cherryfield to celebrate Christmas with cookie decorating, games, crafting and more. There is also a special chance to join the Clauses for a Christmas cruise on the Sunbeam! On Friday, December 12 from 4 to 6 pm, the Mission’s 63-acre Cherryfield campus will host the Mission Downeast Christmas Celebration. During this event, children and adults can create crafts and enjoy games. In Weald Bethel Community Center there will be light refreshments and a hot chocolate bar will be available while campfire and s’mores will take place outside on Mission grounds. Both events are free and open to the public. To learn more about the Northeast Harbor Christmas Festival and additional activities offered that day, please visit the Mount Desert Chamber of Commerce website. For more information for the Mission’s Northeast Harbor events, please contact the Mission at (207) 288-5097. For more information about the Cherryfield event, contact the Mission at (207) 546-4466.
- Identify successes and challenges in supporting youth in accessing and utilizing mental health supports and mentoring.
- Gain knowledge about resources and ideas on how to best support youth who have been impacted by juvenile justice.
- Come together with colleagues and peers to network, deepen knowledge & understanding, and brainstorm what is most impacting your local community/region.
Formally RSVP to December’s event.
You are invited to participate in the 3rd Annual Behavioral Health Career & Field Placement Fair at the University of Maine in Orono! I am positive my list isn’t all inclusive so please share with others! The fair will be held on January 23, 2026 from 10 am to 2 pm in the Memorial Union. Due to usage of the Memorial Union, there is no snow date this year so keep your fingers crossed! If you joined us last year, the location is unchanged. More details will be sent as the event nears. We have consistently had a great turnout and are excited to do this again! Participation in this fair is FREE. The ask, if possible (this is not a requirement), from you is that your table is staffed by University of Maine graduates who are actively working in the field. This has been a big hit as it really gave the students the ability to speak with those working in the field who had the same education as them – and also helps to make this fair unique. It has been especially exciting when they are former classmates – it really heats up the “real” factor! Please register by December 19th – space is limited and last year, we had a waitlist for attendance. See flyer for details.
Want to better understand the impact of Medicaid in your state? Explore the Modern Medicaid Alliance’s interactive data hub. This resource offers key statistics and insights on how Medicaid provides essential coverage for millions of Americans, including seniors, people with disabilities, and families. It’s the perfect resource for advocates and stakeholders to find the facts and tell the story of Medicaid’s impact.
Receives Leaders & Luminaries Award
Camden National Bank has selected Jordan Stanwood, Board President of the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center, as one of five distinguished recipients of its 2025 Leaders & Luminaries Award. This annual recognition celebrates outstanding nonprofit board members across Maine who demonstrate exceptional leadership, dedication, and community impact. Under Stanwood’s leadership, the Center has continued to advance its mission to provide compassionate support, information, and resources to individuals and families navigating cancer. Her guidance has been instrumental in addressing the significant distances many rural Mainers must travel for healthcare and in developing innovative, community-centered programs. In recognition of her service, Camden National Bank awarded a $5,000 contribution to the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center on Stanwood’s behalf.
The Board of Directors of Down East Hospice Volunteers is pleased to announce the promotion of Arielle Richardson to the position of Executive Director, effective January 1, 2026. An Eastport native, Arielle has been a valued member of the Down East Hospice Volunteers team, serving as Executive Assistant and as a hospice volunteer. She has demonstrated exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, along with a deep understanding of human resources and case management. Arielle is dedicated to the organization’s 44-year mission of providing compassionate, volunteer-based support to Downeast individuals and families facing end-of-life illness and grief. In her new role, Arielle will oversee the daily operations of the organization, guide its strategic direction, and continue to nurture the spirit of volunteerism that lies at the heart of Down East Hospice Volunteers. Arielle will be taking over the helm from retiring Executive Director, Barbara Barnett, who is stepping down after 28 years of dedicated leadership and 35 years of volunteer service to Down East Hospice Volunteers. During her remarkable tenure, Barb has guided our organization with compassion, vision, and unwavering commitment to the hospice mission. She leaves behind a legacy of care, excellence, and community service that will continue to inspire us for years to come. We extend our deepest gratitude to Barb for her decades of service and wish her joy and fulfillment in this next chapter. Plans for a celebration of Barb’s contributions will be shared soon.
of the Centre Street Church Building
Located in the heart of Downeast Maine, our spire graces and defines the Machias skyline. The historic Centre Street Church building has provided opportunities for connection, creativity and service since 1836. The Centre Street Church was one of the earliest Maine structures added to the National Register of Historic Places. The building is now at a crossroads, and we are seeking to determine the next phase of this structure at the heart of our community. A recent assessment determined that the building needs significant work, and we are also looking to expand our role as a community resource. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts, ideas and resources regarding restoring and renewing the Centre Street Church building in this survey.
Executive Assistant – 24 hours/week
DEHV is seeking an organized, community-minded individual who enjoys working with people to manage daily office operations, coordinate volunteers, and provide administrative support in collaboration with the Executive Director and Board of Directors. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, works well independently, maintains strict confidentiality, and is comfortable using technology to manage office tasks and communications. Compensation negotiable. To apply or for a complete job description, please send your resume and cover letter to info@downeasthospice.org or mail Down East Hospice Volunteers, 24 Hospital Lane, Calais, ME 04619. For questions, please call 207-454-7521 ext. 9126.
Daughterhood, the Blog by Founder Anne Tumlinson: “Caregiving Wisdom: Three Mantras to Stay Grounded.” No amount of research can fully prepare you for caring for aging parents—the real lessons come from experience. This blog shares three mantras to help you stay steady: start where you are, try new paths when needed, and keep moving forward one step at a time. Read now.