Community Calendar

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for family and friends of adults living with mental health conditions.

When you participate in NAMI Family-to-Family, you will gain information and strategies for taking care of the person you love. You’ll also learn that you’re not alone. The group setting of NAMI Family-to-Family provides mutual support and shared positive impact from people who understand your situation.

This helpful program is a designated evidence-based program. This means that research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition. NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussions, and interactive exercises.

We are excited to welcome a local Keynote Speaker this year - Valerie Sherman, JD CFP® Assistant Vice President, Major and Planned Giving at Colby College who will be opening the Conference with “Planned Giving in Campaigns: Considerations and a Case Study at Colby College”. The choice of a.m. breakout sessions are “Incorporating Planned Giving into a Comprehensive Program” or “Tax Law Changes That May Impact Planned Giving and Philanthropy” and the choice of p.m. breakout session are “One Person, Many Hats: Achieving success in Planned Giving when you’re the entire Development Team” or “AI for Prospect Screening and Donor Conversation”. The Conference will close with an interactive session “From Good to “Just Right”: Refining Your Planned Giving Program for Maximum Impact”. Here’s the link to our website for more information on the agenda, sessions, and speakers: mpgc.org/conference

This conference remains the largest annual offering for fundraisers in Maine. Conference attendees include Maine non-profit executive directors and development staffers, members of various professional associations as well as people who provide wealth management and trust services. Founded in 1995, MPGC is the sole Maine chapter of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners. The Council provides its members with information about the benefits of implementing planned giving programs and the ethical obligations of planned giving professionals through our annual conference and regular Lunch & Learn/hosted Webinar programs on planned giving techniques, strategies and trends.

In the midst of a tornado there is a still, peaceful center. Spend four days with Khenmo Drolma at Pilgrim Lodge discovering how to return home to your inherent peaceful heart/mind. Khenmo will offer classic meditation and mindfulness training in a beautiful lakeside setting. You will learn skills to navigate the chaos of life while dwelling in calmness, replete with resilience and authentic joy. This is the home that nourishes you and brings great benefit in all your relationships.

You will learn:

Calm abiding meditation
Exercises to decrease reactivity
Techniques to increase gratitude and compassion

Third Thursdays
In person drawing game nights at ArtWaves MDI!
Stuck in a rut?
Don't have any ideas for new work?
Want to try out new styles without commitment?
Just want to get out of the house???
Roll the dice!
Spin the wheel!
Pick a card!!
Let the game choose your topics, compete against yourself, and enjoy the company of your community!
BYOSnacks!
Free to attend, or you can donate at registration if you'd like to support ArtWaves.

Celebrate the changing seasons with a weekend ride through crisp air, quiet trails, and early autumn color. As summer fades and fall takes hold, you'll explore remote gravel bike trails by day and gather fireside by night. With a mix of skill-building sessions, scenic group rides, and seasonal lodge comforts, this weekend is all about slowing down and connecting with the land.

In this beginner’s class, participants will learn all of the techniques used in making a full sized, copper foiled stained glass panel, but in a smaller context. Participants choose one of 6 introductory projects. Steps include pattern cutting, glass selection and cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, and finishing with patina and wax. Please bring a packed lunch.

About the Instructors: Dave and Lisa Roy have been stained glass artisans for over 20 years. For 10 years, they owned and operated a full service stained glass studio in Bucksport. Their work can be seen in hospitals, churches, and many private residences across the world. You can see more of their work at www.stubborncowglass.com

Owlbear’s Rest is usually an escape from adulting for grown-ups—except on Sunday mornings! Bring the whole crew for a game-filled adventure that’s perfect for adventurers of any age. Your little halflings can enjoy a warm steamer while you sip on a well-earned latte (oat milk available!).

Family gaming time starts here!

✨ Keep an eye on our social media—some sessions will feature special organized activities just for kiddos!

Flies & Lies fly-tying group is open to anyone interested in fly tying and fly fishing. Meet at the Machias Savings Bank every other Sunday (twice per month) from October 6 to April 20 to promote fly fishing, conservation, and fun. Bring your own tools, materials and snacks.
For more information, contact Bob Bechtold Trichoptera42@gmail.com 207-288-4957 or go to https://downeasttu.org/ and Downeast TU on Facebook.

Come try out water polo with Southern Maine Water Polo! We are a club that welcomes all newcomers. The only requirement for the sport is that you are an experienced swimmer. We will help to teach the fundamentals of the sport throughout practice. Expect a fantastic workout while playing this fun sport! Make sure to check out our website for any changes to our schedule. We do not practice on holiday weekends.

VOLUNTEER IN 2025! Midcoast Literacy, a nonprofit that provides free literacy tutoring to people of all ages, is holding a 3-day training for new volunteer tutors this fall. The Read Together training is for those who want to work with school-age children. It will be held September 22, 24, and 26, from 9:00am-1:00pm each day. Pre-registration and participation in all three days of the training are required. Volunteer tutors must be at least 18 years old and make an initial commitment to tutor twice a week for 12 months (with occasional breaks for vacations or holidays). For more information or to sign up, contact Katie Clark at (207) 443-6384 or k.clark@midcoastliteracy.org.