Happy Wednesday!
New this week:
Please see our announcement in the “Updates” section of this Newsletter below.
WHRL will host an engaging, fun, free, family-friendly Butterfly Festival at Milbridge Commons Wellness Park on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Join us for “Monarch’s Milkweed and Magic.” We’ll have educational stations to see Monarch caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies up close; a pollinator garden education station; a nature scavenger hunt; a story walk; captivating butterfly crafts for children; and a butterfly parade around The Commons. Learn more here. Come dressed as your favorite butterfly for a morning of summer fun! Download a flyer to share.
August 25th, 2-3 pm, virtual: The National Council for Wellbeing invites you to a policy briefing series session on Food is Medicine (FIM), an approach that integrates nutrition into health care to help prevent and manage chronic conditions. As states increasingly incorporate FIM services into Medicaid, new opportunities are emerging for behavioral health organizations. Joining us to discuss the growing role of FIM in Medicaid is Amanda Bank, MPH, senior program officer at the Center for Health Care Strategies. Register today.
August 27th, 1 pm Caregiver webinar: f you are caring for a veteran, you already know how overwhelming it can be. Between managing doctor appointments, tracking down health records, and figuring out what benefits your loved one actually qualifies for, it quickly starts to feel like a full-time job. With over 9 million veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, it is a massive network to navigate. If you have felt lost or frustrated trying to get answers, we want you to know one thing: It’s not you. Caregiver Action Network is hosting a free webinar featuring Leah Christensen, a licensed clinical social worker and former national leader within the VA’s Caregiver Support Program. With over 13 years of inside experience helping roll out programs that support over 70,000 caregivers, Leah knows exactly how the system works—and how to make it work for you. Register here.
- Myers-Briggs Advantage: What Makes People Tick? Ever wonder why some people plan everything while others just wing it? Or why you click instantly with some people and struggle to understand others? Learn more about your own personality, strengths, communication style, and the different ways people approach work and everyday life.
- Networking: Conversations & Connections That Open Doors. Making connections doesn’t have to feel awkward! Learn practical ways to start conversations, communicate with confidence, meet new people, and build connections that can be helpful at work, in your community, and in everyday life.
Whether you’re working, retired, changing careers, starting out, or simply interested in understanding and connecting with people better, these classes are for you. Take one or take both — everyone is welcome! Download a flyer for more information.
August 31st, 10 am — 6 pm, 311 Main Street, Calais: Join us in remembering those who have lost their lives to overdose. Visit anytime from 10 to 6 at the Calais Recovery Support Center. Download a flyer to share.
September 9th, virtual: The first three years of life are the most consequential window in human development, and today, that window is unfolding alongside AI. Already embedded in toys, baby monitors and parenting apps, AI is reaching children at the exact moment that relationships, play and language are shaping the brain for life. ZERO TO THREE and the Center for Universal Education at Brookings will host the Generation AI Starts Early Symposium to convene some of the nation’s leading researchers, technology leaders, policymakers and practitioners to explore how AI can support healthy early development while confronting the risks it poses to young children and families. We’re livestreaming this critical discussion and hope you’ll join us virtually. Register today.
Thursdays, Sept 10th — Oct 29th, 10:30 am — Noon, Cobscook Institute: 0-8 years old with parent/guardian. This is a community led group, a secular, nature-based homeschooling co-op focused on creating community and exploring the great outdoors! Not sure you’re a homeschooler? Come anyway and play! All are welcome. RSVP by email to: LindaPendarvis@gmail.com
September 11th, 8 – 9 am online: What are the basics you need to know, use, and rely on to make business decisions? 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. Who Should Attend? This program is designed for Maine-based female entrepreneurs at any stage of their business journey. Register today and invite a friend.
The Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center is pleased to announce a new 8-week mindfulness series beginning Thursday, October 1, 2026, led by instructor Jen Harry. The program is based on the book Mindfulness: An 8-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World and is designed to help participants build practical skills for stress reduction, emotional wellness, and everyday balance. Sessions will be held weekly on Thursdays, with two participation times available:
- Morning Session: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Afternoon Session: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Jen Harry will facilitate the series in person at the Beth C. Wright Ellsworth Center. Participants may also join from the Baileyville Center via Polycom, with staff available onsite for support. For those unable to attend at either location, a remote option via Zoom will be available. The mindfulness series is open to anyone impacted by cancer, including patients, survivors, and caregivers, as well as the general public. Pre-registration is required for this free, in-person and remote event. Click here to sign up online. Call 207-664-0339 with questions.
Caregiver Action Network Community Facebook Group
There are things caregivers think but rarely say, even to the people closest to them. One member wrote that most caregivers, if they’re honest, feel grief and frustration and anger at some point, and that having those feelings while still showing up every day is the part that actually matters. Another pointed out that unless you’ve done this work, you can’t really grasp that it’s 24 hours a day with no days off. Whether you’re caring for a parent, a spouse, a child, or a friend, and whether the diagnosis is Alzheimer’s, stroke recovery, autism, mental illness, or something you’re still trying to get answers about, there are people in this community who understand what your days look like. Ready to find your people? Join us today. Take what you need—whenever you need it.
Help Shape a New Housing Training Program
Sunrise County Economic Council is exploring a new training program for people interested in developing small-scale housing projects in Washington County to be held in late fall/early winter. The program is designed for anyone interested in helping create more housing in Washington County – including builders, contractors, property owners, landlords, investors, community members, and others who may have an idea, property, or interest in taking on a small housing project. Learn more and help us by taking a short survey here.