Don’t miss Maine Hospice Council’s listening session on Living with Complex and Serious Illness, May 15th at UMM in Science 102, from 10:30 am — 1:30 pm.  See flyer for details.

Joint the G.E.A.R. Parent Network on May 10th from 10 am — 1 pm for a Virtual workshop, Defusing Challenging Behaviors: How to Effectively De-escalate Your Child, Presented by Heather Williams, Certified Family Peer Specialist, Regional Parent Support Coordinator.  The point is NOT TO make things worse in those intense situations. Join us in learning to use different techniques that can help defuse a situation before it gets worse.  See flyer for details.  Register here.

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The Fourth Annual Pennamaquan Alewife Festival is Saturday, May 24th 10 am — 3 pm in Pembroke.  Free, family-friendly fun, including smoked fish, free lunch, biologist talks, bike tune-ups and more.  Learn more here.

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May 31st, then 4th Saturdays through August: Join Maine Master Naturalists Kris and Allison Paprocki for a series of four plant workshops at Cobscook Institute to get started in native plant identification. Participants will learn some basic botanical terminology and plant identification skills. This beginner-friendly workshop will go over key features of plants; how to use a dichotomous key; identifying plants by species, genus, and family; and more. At the end of each session, we will take a walk on campus to identify local wild plants using what we have learned. We will meet on the fourth Saturday of every month from 9:30–11:30 a.m.   Learn more and register here.

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Maine Seacoast Mission has opened registration for its 2025 EdGE summer camp. Camp opportunities are offered at three locations across Downeast Maine in Addison, Machias, and Milbridge for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. EdGE Summer Camp provides children fun, safe, and social peer experiences, while also helping parents and guardians maintain routine work schedules.  Camp experiences also help children develop a sense of community and social relationships with kids older and younger than themselves.  Learn more here.

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8 – 9 am June 6th on Zoom or June 11th in person at the MainStreet Business Building in Machias:  What does it take to be a skilled business owner? All of the attributes that can be labeled “soft skills” are often the key difference between successful and challenged businesses. These skills are now recognized as ESSENTIAL qualities for anyone to be professionally effective. Skills like Creative Thinking, Conflict Resolution, Networking, Time Management are just a few examples of those qualities.  How do these skills show up in your life and business? Learn more and register for June 6th on Zoom or June 11th in person.

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Save the date of June 11th for a CCC training at Cobscook Institute, 9 am — 12 pm, on What Brain Science and Toxic Stress Teach us about Weathering Rough Roads, presented by Clinical Director Julie Redding with a special guest presentation — details coming soon.

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The Tri-state Learning Collaborative on Aging invites you to a webinar on June 24th, 2 – 3:30 pm, Innovations in Dementia Care.  This session will delve into practical strategies, emerging technologies, and compassionate approaches that are transforming the landscape of dementia care, including the CMS GUIDE Model, a key initiative aimed at improving dementia care.  Learn more and register here.