ONLINE CALENDARS Free Press Online Check out their Events Calendar. CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE * Rockland-Thomaston Calendar * Islesboro Island events * Belfast Area Chamber Calendar * Deer Isle Calendar * Waldo County Calendar (under construction) CONTINUING Thursdays 1-3 pm Rockland area Penobscot Bay Report: a two hour radio show on WRFR 93.3 FM Rockland Community Radio featuring the latest Bay and Gulf of maine-related news and science, as well as interviews with conservationists, fishermen, Coasties, marine resource agents and...seagulls! Thursdays 4-4:30 Bay region. Radio Active News A half hour radio show on WERU FM 89.9fm Covers Maine and global environmental issues and the latest on the peace and social justice movements.

COMING EVENTS October 27. Searsport. Sears Island penultimate JUPC meeting. 1pm Searsport Congregational Church. The port wannabes are worried. This is a special meeting to agree on some last minute horsetrading to make the Joint use Plan for Sears Island palatable to the Maine legislature. For all the wrong sell-the-island-out reasons. Come and speak truth to power. May 24 Sears Island Walk with Sierra Club Maine Coast Heritage Trust will soon hold the easement of 600 acres of conservation land on Sears Island. Join some of the members of the Sears Island Joint Use Planning Committee to walk and learn about this new area of protection on this 931 acre jewel. Call Sierra Club outings leader Joan Saxe (939-2634) for more information and to sign up. April 30, 2008 Bagaduce Tidal Energy meeting, Castine. Public discussion on the proposed Tidal Energy Device Evaluation Center (TEDEC), Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 7-9 p.m., Harborview Room, Harold Alfond Student Center, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine. The public is encouraged to attend and participate. For more information on TEDEC, visit http://tedec.mma.edu/, Jarlath McEntee, Interim Director, TEDEC, 207-326-4311; Ron Beard, Maine Solutions Coordinator and University of Maine Professor, 207-667-8212. Nov 15, 2007. 10am to 2pm Searsport. Sears Island Joint Use Planning Committee. Updates on: Interagency Meeting (November 13, 2007) Resource Data and GIS Mapping Layers; Interactive Mapping Exercise; Easement Drafting Preparation; "Port Development Strategic Plan" presentation by the Cornell Group; public input. Location: Searsport Public Safety Bldg (next to Searsport town office.) October 15-19 Maine Trawl Survey does Penobscot Bay. Tentative schedule: * Oct. 15th – Whitehead Is. to Junken Ledge; * Oct. 16th – SE of Monhegan and 11 Mile Ridge; * Oct. 17th – Upper Penobscot Bay; * Oct. 18th – Matinicus Rock to 3 Fathom Ledge; * Oct. 19th – Seal Is. to East Penobscot Bay. (Dates are tentative) About the Fall '07 trawl survey October 17 DMR Advisory Council. 1 p.m. Dept. of Human Services (DHS) Conference Room, 442 Civic Center Drive, Augusta. Minutes from January meeting October 18, 2007. Maine Scallop Advisory Council. 4-6:30 p.m. at the Ellsworth Public Library, 20 State Street, Ellsworth. October 24 Zone D Lobster Zone Meeting. 6:30 pm Rockland Ferry Terminal. October 24, 2007. Sears Island Joint Use Planning Committee meets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, in the Searsport Public Safety Building. About earlier meeting Past Events August 25 at 10 a.m.Rockland Breakwater Swim A mile and a half and a 3 &1/2 mile race, with both wetsuit and no-wetsuit categories. For more information, Lower Penobscot Watershed Coalition will meet in Stockton Springs Town office from 9am – 12noon. Agenda includes a report by the steering committee, reports from working groups on Education, Land Use/Regulations, Land Conservation, and Research & monitoring. These will be followed by a discussion of common needs, a list of available expertise, and a discussion of LPWC roles for 2007 and 2008: (stream crossing surveys, state of the watershed, an Environmental Solutions initiative, a diadromous fish festival, and a regional stream clean up. June 11, 2007 Augusta. Seal Island Naval Bombing Range Cleanup progress report. Seal Island is about 6 miles east of Matinicus Island. The mile-long ribbon-like island had thousands of artillery shells and rockets rained upon it by trainee pilots during World War Two and the Korean war Congress recently appropriated money to fund an interagency effort to examine this old marine gunnery range, survey it for unexploded ordnance and other military wastes, and come up with a plan for what cleanup, if any, to do. A Plan Development Team will give a presentation to the June 11th meeting of state and federal agencies. According to project manager Sheila Holt of the Army Corps of Engineers, the planning process has moved along swiftly; there are high hopes that the evaluation and cleanup of Seal Island's miltary wastes will serve as a prototype for further marine gunnery range cleanups in other ocean locations arond the United States. March 8, 2007 6:30pm Rockland Ferry Terminal Lobster Zone D Council meeting 6:30 pm Rockland Ferry Terminal March 1,2,3,2007 Maine Fishermen's Forum Samoset Resort, Rockport. Seminars cover topics such as aquaculture leases, global warming, herring's future, underwater videography, ICES 2006, and more. Exhibitor trade show features 118 vendors. Live auction Fri. benefits college students of families involved in the seafood industry. FMI: 442-7700 or See Forum website. February 25, 2007 Bangor. Lower Penobscot River Watershed Coalition meets. Sponsored by Penobscot River Restoration Project. Time/Place: 10:00am – 2:00pm, Fish & Wildlife Building, 650 State Street, Bangor, ME. More info: Gayle B. Zydlewski 207-862-3382 Agenda: 1. Review agenda 2.Introductions & Updates 3.Values of the Lower Penobscot Watershed that are worth preserving 4.What needs to happen to preserve these values 5.Overview of the Penobscot River Restoration Project 6.Discussion of Land Trusts and Watershed Councils 7.Elements of a Mission Statement 8.Discussion of organizational structure 9.Action items/next steps 10.Schedule next meeting 11. Other February 21, 2007. 5-7pm Rockland WRFR Community Radio 5th year anniversary. Celebrate five years of great music and the only local talk radio shows on the western Bay! Come to the station, on 20 Gay Street in Rockland, for good food & great company. Free! Info (207) 594-0721 Station website February 13th, Rockland Harbor Commission to hear a proposal to zone the Breakwater area of the city harbor as a lobstering/fishing reserve. Rockland Harbormaster's office. Time: TBA February 5, 2007 Sears Island Planning Initiative meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Searsport. Jan 31st 10:00 am Maine Legislature. Marine Resources Committee briefings by Downeast Lobstermen’s Assoc., Maine Offshore Lobstermen’s Assoc., Maine Charter Boat Captains' Assoc. Briefing on results of Taunton Bay bay management project. Jan 31st 1:00 pm Marine Resources Committee Public hearings on LD# 140-A/A to List the Shortnose Sturgeon as a Marine Endangered Species. LD# 77-A/A to Provide for the Safety of Elver Fishermen Using Dip Nets. November 20, 2006. 5-7:30 pm. Maine Bay Management Study: Public Meeting to Review the Draft Recommendations! Location: The Belfast Boathouse, 34 Commercial St., Belfast. About the study. Note: the draft bay management report will be available online around November 20th. Stay tuned. Sept 8-10 Searsport Fiber College. 44 fiber arts classes lasting two to four hours each. FMI Click Here. Sept 20, 2006 7-9 pm Ellsworth City Hall. Community Forum On Big Box Development and your local economy. Hosted by the Eastern Maine Fair Economy Commission Sept 25, 2006. 7-9pm Alamo Theater, Bucksport, Community Forum On Big Box Development and your local economy. Hosted by the Eastern Maine Fair Economy Commission Wednesday Aug 26- Saturday 29. Asian Shore Crab hunt. Help search the shores of Penobscot Bay for the invader Hemigrapsus Sanguineus, a threat to lobsters and mussels. Wednesday Deer Isle, Thursday Searsport, Friday Belfast, Saturday Owls Head. All wecome! Info 975-0655. Wednesday, May 20, 2006 Searsport Sears Island's future at stake at meeting. On May 30th the Sears Island Planning Initiative Steering Committee will meet at the First Congregational Church of Searsport from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. All are welcome. Dept of Conservation info on Sears Island meetings Click Here Draft Agenda I. Welcome, Introductions and Agenda Review II. Goals for the process III. Proposed Groundrules for Effective Communication and Dispute Resolution IV. Proposed Steering Committee Protocol V. Composition of Steering Committee and Resource Circle VI. Overview of Process, Proposed Work Plan and Timeline; discussion of public participation event(s) VII. Creation of Subcommittees: * Education (including materials) * Public Participation * Site Visit * Other VIII. Identification of Issues IX. Summary and Adjourn If we can get more of the parts of the marine ecosystem working together again then jolly well for the good. May 2, 2006. 7am - 2:30pm Rockland city-wide. Spring Cleanup Bring your bagged leaves,tree limbsand yard and garden debris out to the curb or shoulder ofyour road if you don't have a curb. No Other Items Will Be Taken Please arrange limbs all going the same way May 8,2006 4:30 PM Rockport Harbor Committee. Location: Richardson Room, Rockport Town Office. Saturday, April 15, 1pm. Maine Light House Museum, Rockland. US Coast Guard Motor Life Boat discussion. Petty Officer Thatcher Mills of Coast Guard Station Rockland will cover the heavy-weather operations of the station’s 47-foot motor life boat, with spectacular video footage of the boat in action. Tour of the boat at the Coast Guard station pier after the talk. Free. FMI: 594-3301. Tuesday, Feb 14 7pm. Thomaston Town Office. The Thomaston Appeals Board will hear an appeal of the Lowes site-plan approval. Again, a good showing will be important. February 17, 2006 9 am-4pm. Maine Bay Management Steering Committee Work Session, Belfast Armory, RT 1, Belfast Date: from 9 am until 4pm Snowdate: March 8, 2006 Tuesday, Feb 21. Final hearing on the Lowes application ­ Thomaston Planning Board 7pm, location unknown, but probably Watts Hall. According to the organizers: "It will be very important that we are out in force, urging the Planning Board to take seriously their responsibility to assure that the requirements of the Ordinance are being met." November 5, 2005 9am-4pm Belfast Sears Island Symposium. Troy Howard MIddle School. Are there costs to NOT protecting Sears Island? Following a keynote address by Jon Erickson, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont, scientists and fisheries experts Ted Ames, Brian Beals, Curtis Bohlen , Diane Cowan, and Charles Curtin will discuss Sears Island and the bay from their perspectives. Lunch and a reception are included with a pre-registration of $15. For more information or to register call Leanne Krudner at 761-5616 or send an email to maine.chapter@sierraclub.org. November 12, 2005 Colby College, Waterville. Maine Environmental Action 2005 Conference. Gathering of Maine and New Hampshire activists working on issues of clean air, clean water, sprawl, energy, land use, sustainable communities and other important environmental and public health issues. Cost: $20, or 30 for 2 as 'co-sponsors' of the event. Info: Will Everitt, Toxics Action Center, will@toxicsaction.org phone: 207.871.1810 November 15, 2005. Camden Public Library. 6:30pm LNG Update. David Moses Bridges, a Passamaquoddy tribal member from Pleasant Point, will discuss the environmental and cultural controversies sparked by proposals for LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminals on Passamaquoddy Bay October 18, 2005 6pm. Maine Harvest Pot Luck Supper and Talk by MOFGA 's executive director. First Universalist Church, 345 Broadway, Rockland (Dinner at 6 PM. Talkr at 6:30 PM October 19, 2005 Lobster Advisory Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m at DHS, 442 Civic Center Drive, Augusta October 20, 2005, 1pm Augusta. MDEP Public Hearing on Significant Wildlife Habitat Ch. 375, No adverse environmental effect standard, shorebirds habitat and seabird nesting islands. Holiday Inn/Ground Round, Augusta. More info: Judy Gates, Maine DEP (207) 287-7691 or judy.gates@maine.gov . October 13, 2005 Rockport Public Hearing for Atlantic Herring 6:00 - 9:00pm Samoset Hotel 207-594-2511 October 3, 2005, Lobster Zone D meeting. 6:30 p.m. Rockland Ferry Terminal October 3, 2005. 5:30 pm New England Fishery Council to Hold Fisheries Ecosystem Mgmt Stakeholder Workshop. Tradewinds Motor Inn, 2 Park Drive, Rockland. The workshop will facilitate discussion about an “ecosystem-based” approach to fishery management. The meetings will solicit information on four primary areas: Local or regional ecosystems and issues specific to them; ecosystem-level indicators of a healthy fishery; community-based or collaborative fisheries management and matching management ‘tools’ to management objectives. The general public is encouraged to attend. July 25, 05. Saturday. Peace Flotilla, Belfast Harbor Calling All Boats, and Canoes, and Kayaks, and Rafts, and Sailors, and Paddlers, and Rowers! The Aegis Destroyer Leyte Gulf , will be in Belfast Harbor during the Belfast Bay Festival during the third week of July. Citizens are allowed to visit the ship once they have been suitably frisked and screened, and they will be greeted on the Destroyer by very young men and women in spiffy uniforms who can serve as bait for recruitment of Belfast's unwary crop of high school graduates. To counter the popular attraction of the Destroyer, the Waldo County Peace and Justice Group will sponsor a Peace Flotilla of sailboats, canoes, kayaks, rafts, rowboats - whatever floats - to navigate the waters below the park on July 23rd, Saturday, following the parade - at noon. All sailors and floaters should make banners, or wear hats, or deck out their crafts and/or themselves with signs or flags or hats and come to Belfast Harbor to participate in an hour-long demonstration. We will gather on the beach (landlubbers) or in the water (seafarers) at the bottom of the Belfast City Park, at the south end of town. If you are willing to be part of this fun event, or if you know of someone who might want to, please e-mail peacework2 at hotmail.com or Charlotte Herbold Tel: 338-5019. Citizens are allowed to visit the ship once they have been suitably frisked and screened, and they will be greeted on the Destroyer by very young men and women in spiffy uniforms who can serve as bait for recruitment of Belfast's unwary crop of high school graduates. Our theme will be "We all have a choice!" - that is, we do not have to follow the Bush war agenda like dummies. Literature about the conscientious objector option will be available on the beach. "Support our troops. Bring them home." is also appropriate because the parade theme is "We Welcome Our Troops." June 25, 2005 Maine Lighthouse Museum & Gateway Center. Grand opening. One Park Drive, Rockland. July 3, 2005 Grand re-opening of the historic Strand Theatre. Main St., Rockland. June 5, 2005. NSD takes Dragon Cement to court for polluting the air and water. March 8, 2005 7:30 am - 9:00 am Biodiesel talk Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine March 3-5, 2005 Maine Fishermen's Forum, Samoset Rockport, Maine > February 3, February 8. Maine Bay Management public meetings scheduled "SHARING PUBLIC WATERS: a "community discussion" on managing Maine's Bays. See: Maine DMR's Bay Management website. Maine Coastal Program and the DMR are co-hosting a three public listening sessions along the Maine coast to hear your input on whether and how the state treats the marine life, marine resource users and shorefront landowners that inhabit, use and live around Maine's bays, and what reforms are needed. The results will be analyzed and presented to the legislature with recommendations for reforming and consolidating bay-related laws and regulations Bring your ideas and concerns to one or more of these three upcoming public meetings. * Rockland (Rockland High School) Thursday February 3, 2005 (snow date: Feb. 9) 7-9 p.m. Portland (Portland High School) Tuesday February 8, 2005 (snowdate:Feb. 10) 7-9 p.m. DMR's Bay Management point of contact: Lorraine Lessard at 207-287-1486. 2004 Happenings Archive 2003 Happenings archive