Community members are invited to explore meaningful volunteer opportunities supporting marine education and lighthouse preservation at an upcoming Volunteer Recruitment Fair hosted at the Maine State Aquarium.

Veggies to Table, a non-profit grow-to-donate vegetable and flower farm in Newcastle, has been selected by Hannaford Supermarkets as a beneficiary of their Fight Hunger Bag Program at the Boothbay Harbor branch, located at 180 Townsend Avenue, for all of March.

The Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag Program makes it easy for shoppers to give back to the community. Throughout the month of March, Veggies to Table will receive a $1 donation from every purchase of the $2.50 Fight Hunger Bag.

Charlotte K. Hilton of Newcastle was named to the dean's list at Saint Michael's College for the fall 2025 semester. Students who complete at least 12 credits of classes and achieve a grade point average of at least 3.5 in a particular semester are cited on the dean's list for that semester.

Due to high demand, Coastal Rivers has scheduled a second session of the hands-on tool sharpening workshop for Thursday, March 5, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Denny Conservation and Education Center at Round Top Farm. 

Wiscasset's school committee declined Monday night to hire an independent investigator to, as Vice Chair Jonathan Barnes put it in his motion, "investigate a complaint received by the board."

No one seconded Barnes' motion. "The motion dies," Chair Tracey Whitney declared.

Three residents offered to fill the seat Victoria Hugo-Vidal left on Wiscasset's school committee. And Monday night, the committee picked Brycson Grover. Members said Grover is a regular at their meetings and will fit smoothly into their ongoing budget work.

"It'd be nice to have someone fully aware of everything you're working on," member Doug Merrill said in support of Grover's appointment. The term ends in June, according to the department. 

A budget draft Wiscasset Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson presented Feb. 11 would ask 12.4% more from local taxes than the 2025-26 budget did. The draft budget included an overall 9.35% hike, or $1,005,097. 

Since Raye Leonard took over as education director at Boothbay-Wiscasset Regional Adult Education (BWRAE), it has been a goal to bring a driver’s education program for high schoolers and young adults back to the region. Leonard estimates an initial investment of about $50,000 would be required to launch the project. This includes purchasing and customizing the vehicle, hiring an instructor and expanding supportive administrative jobs.

If a car were donated, this would speed up the process and possibly reduce share costs from Boothbay and Wiscasset.

On Thursday, Feb. 12, Troop 213 gathered at the Damariscotta American Legion for its triannual Court of Awards ceremony. During the evening, Scouts were recognized for an impressive 13 rank advancements, including eight Scouts achieving the rank of Scout and one each advancing to Tenderfoot, Star, Life, and Eagle. In addition, 23 merit badges and several special awards were presented.

Midcoast Senior College (MSC) is pleased to announce its Spring Term II 2026 lineup of engaging, non-credit courses for adult learners. Running from April 6 through May 15, the term features a wide range of in-person and online classes in the humanities, sciences, social issues, arts, and contemporary topics. Registration opens March 9.

University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) Provost Joseph Szakas announces the fall 2025 full-time president’s list and the fall 2025 full-time dean’s list.

The Telling Room has named Center for Teaching and Learning sixth-grade student Adley Cawthon as the Lincoln County winner of its annual writing contest. Cawthon was awarded for her poem “My Interlaced Hands.”

A coalition of Midcoast Christian churches banded together to raise funds for heating assistance for local families. They held a public event, “Helping Hands, Heating Homes” on Saturday evening Feb. 7 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Newcastle. The event included a spaghetti dinner, silent auction and concert. “Helping Hands, Heating Homes” raised over $8,200.

This winter’s Noontime Series programs feature a trio of CSC members whose governmental careers total nearly a century of service. The second program, “Reagan and the Russians: A Conservative Program That Worked,” led by Louis Sell, will be held at noon on Monday, Feb. 23, at the Waldo Theater in Waldoboro.

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust announces major improvements to La Verna Preserve in Bristol, including a new, larger parking lot and expanded land conservation, while continuing a fundraising campaign for further enhancements. 

Alna Fire Department (AFD) welcomed Wiscasset Middle High School seniors Jan. 29 to gain a deeper appreciation of civic service and the importance of volunteer fire departments in the heart of Maine communities. 

Beth Whitney, president of the fire department, stated, “Volunteer fire departments are not just about fighting fires; they are about making a difference in the community. Members of a volunteer fire department understand the importance of their role and the impact they have on people’s lives.”

Thursday evening, Feb. 5, Wiscasset school committee member Victoria Hugo-Vidal resigned, because she is no longer a Wiscasset resident. The resignation is effective immediately, Hugo-Vidal wrote in the email to Chair Tracey Whitney and cc’d to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson. 

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve this community,” Hugo-Vidal wrote.