Along with school back in session and temperatures cooling down, another key sign that fall is coming is Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens' annual Gardens Aglow ticket launch. From September 10, Aglow fans can snap up their preferred dates for this year's seasonal spectacular.

A spaghetti dinner and raffle drawings to raise money for an Edgecomb mother and son who lost everything in a house fire, will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, 4 to 6 p.m., at the Edgecomb Community Church, 15 Cross Point Road, Edgecomb.

The dinner will also include salad, garlic bread, dessert and drink. Donations only. There will be donated raffle items.

Contact Jennifer Manson at 207-350-0429 for more information or if you would like to donate a raffle item.

The chips may have been down for some, but the spirits were high Aug. 31 as Boothbay Harbor Country Club transformed into a casino for the second year as part of Action for Animals Maine’s (AFAM) annual summer fundraiser. Over 150 attendees enjoyed a full spread catered by the country club, a popcorn bar donated by Coastal Maine Popcorn, and game tables run by Casino Productions.  

AFAM Events Director Betsy Wildes said it was an “incredible” night. Wildes extended an extra special thanks to the country club for making it possible. 

Historic New England’s 1762 Bowman House in Dresden is set in a landscape that has seen many changes over the past 263 years. The only constant is the Kennebec River. Experience the beautiful setting and hear stories of the people whose lives and work made history here. Join Site Manager Peggy Konitzky on a walk around the grounds of this historic estate on Sept. 11 from 10 to 11 a.m. Tickets are $15/Historic New England members, $25/nonmembers Buy at https://my.historicnewengland.org/23829/life-along-river.

Surface Warfare Schools Command headquarters in Newport, Rhode Island hosted a momentous occasion July 18 as colleagues, family, and a host of distinguished guests gathered to celebrate the remarkable career of Capt. (Ret.) Floyston "Bud" Weeks. After dedicating over half a century to the United States Navy, both as a Surface Warfare Officer and as a civilian employee, Capt.

Saturday, Aug. 30 is International Play Music on the Porch Day, and the Skidompha Strummers, the ukulele ensemble of Skidompha Public Library, will mark the day with a public concert under the portico at the library’s front door. 

Their program will begin at 10:30 a.m. It’s free and open to all, and will include a variety of familiar popular songs. The library is located at 184 Main St. in downtown Damariscotta.

Three time winners of Scotland’s ‘Live Act of the Year’ award, Skerryvore have evolved from their humble beginnings to become one of the country’s leading forces in a thriving live music scene. At the forefront of a movement that has reinvented and reignited a traditional Scottish scene for a modern, multicultural audience, the band have brought their high energy performances to audiences across the globe. On Thursday, Sept. 4, the 7-member band arrives in Boothbay Harbor to play the historic Opera House as part of their 20th anniversary tour.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is seeking experienced singers to join its Senior Choir. This dedicated choir provides inspiring music for the 9 a.m. Sunday service and rehearses weekly on Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m., September through mid-June.

Under the leadership of Choir Director Linda Blanchard, and accompanied by organist Sean Fleming, the Senior Choir upholds a tradition of excellence in sacred choral music. Singers with prior choir experience who are eager to contribute their talents to a welcoming and supportive ensemble are encouraged to join.

Cordula Mathias, administrator of the Bettinson Art and Literary Trust, will present a PowerPoint presentation slide show with information about the genesis of the Brenda Bettinson Ravensbrück Series at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, 4 Oak St. in Boothbay Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 5:30 p.m. The talk will take approximately 45 minutes with time for a Q & A portion afterwards.

Join author and poet Maggie Dewane for a nature-inspired poetry workshop and reading from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Community Room at the Rockland Public Library at 80 Union St. on Friday, Aug. 29.

The Boothbay Railway Village Museum will celebrate its 61st season this Saturday, Aug. 23 with a summer gala under the stars. The event will honor the museum’s founder, George H. McEvoy, who we sadly lost earlier this summer.

Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a train ride to the Antique Auto Museum, where guests will enjoy the start of an evening filled with artisanal cuisine and specialty cocktails prepared by Mine Oyster Catering, and spectacular music by award-winning Maine musician, Don Campbell.

Midcoast Conservancy is hosting a free training for interested hikers and curious outdoorspeople to aid in the organization’s annual property monitoring process. The training will be held on Monday, Sept. 8, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., at the Midcoast Conservancy office at 290 Route One, Edgecomb. 

Saturday, Aug. 30 from 1 to 4 p.m., Brady’s will host Maine’s own blue-collar author, Jerry Farnham, as he launches his third book of the "Red At Night" series, "First Light." All are welcome to attend.

"First Light" is the prequel of the series with the backstories of main characters, native Mainer Jack Finn and PFA (person from away), Hollywood actress Melissa Andrews.

Craig Ferguson will be performing in his only Maine appearance on Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. at The Waldo Theatre. Ferguson is a multiple Grammy nominated, Peabody, and Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, producer, director and comedian with a diverse career that encompasses film, television and the stage. He is a New York Times bestselling author and has recorded numerous standup specials for Netflix, Epix, Comedy Central and Amazon.

Juggling, unicycling, balance acts! Welcome to the world of Maine Youth Circus, performing during Wiscasset Art Walk on Thursday, Aug. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m., on the sidewalks of Wiscasset Village.

Grab a teammate, bring your best toss, and join Mobius, Inc. for “A Hole Lotta Good”, a cornhole tournament fundraiser to benefit local individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The event will take place on Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Nobleboro Little League Field on Route 1.

Festivities kick off at 10 a.m. with concessions, games, music, and family-friendly fun. The highlight of the day is the cornhole competition, where teams of two will face off for cash prizes: $500 for first place and $250 for second place. Team entry is just $60.

Bands for Books is the major annual fundraising activity for The Friends of the Wiscasset Public Library. This year we will celebrate our 11th anniversary and are planning another special evening at Lakehurst Lodge in Damariscotta. This year we will be honoring Linda Winterberg who chaired our Fundraising Committee for many years and was the driving force behind Bands for Books.

Get ready to toss some bags for a cause! The Maine Cornhole Classic (formerly known as the Boothbay Cornhole Classic) is back for its 5th year on Saturday, Sept. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Railway Village in Boothbay. This charity tournament, run professionally by Real Wicked Events, promises a full day of friendly competition, live entertainment, and community spirit, all while raising funds for the Augusta Food Bank and Special Olympics Maine Unified Champion Clubs. 

The Maine Cornhole Classic will feature two divisions: 

It is widely agreed that our democracy is in some form of crisis, but with extremely divergent views on how we got here and what is wrong. Politics is increasingly described as ‘tribal,’ with far less communication across the divides.