MAINE – 100+ Women Who Care Southern Maine will hold their next meeting on Monday, August 3, 2026, at The Elks Lodge on Congress Street in Portland. Doors will open at 5:45 pm for networking, socializing, and appetizers, followed by the meeting at 6:30 pm.

Founded in November 2014, 100+ Women Who Care Southern Maine is a growing community of over 515 women who raise funds for local nonprofits. Together, the group has raised over $855,000 for more than 100 nonprofits supporting a wide variety of causes, including food insecurity, veterans, teens, seniors, children with disabilities, domestic abuse survivors, animal welfare, and more.

Members commit to donating $50 each quarter to a nonprofit selected at each meeting. Three nominated organizations each give a five-minute presentation, followed by a five-minute Q&A session, before members vote to determine which nonprofit will receive the pooled donations.

Deb Bergeron presented Katherine Sargent, Executive Director of The Locker Project, donations made as a result of the May meeting, totaling $22,500. At the August meeting, The Locker Project will share how the donations have been used and the impact they are already making. The Locker Project’s mission is to connect food-insecure children in Maine with nourishing food to improve their learning capacity, health, and future. Their programs take a whole-family approach to addressing child hunger while remaining low-barrier, stigma-free, and environmentally responsible.The organization currently serves preschools, public schools, and youth programs in Portland, Westbrook, South Portland, and Saco by stocking school pantries with healthy staples. It also distributes thousands of pounds of rescued fresh food each month for children to take home and share with their families. The staff of three is supported by more than 80 volunteers each month who help manage the warehouse, collect and transport food, and host fresh food distribution events.

100+ Women Who Care Southern Maine welcomes guests to attend a meeting and experience firsthand what a group of generous and caring women can accomplish when they come together to support their community.

For more information, visit: www.100womenwhocaresouthernmaine.com.

  Katherine Sargent, The Locker Project and Deb Bergeron, 100 Women Who Care.

AUGUSTA, ME – Spend a summer evening enjoying live chamber music in an intimate setting while supporting the Augusta Symphony Orchestra’s mission to continue to bring free concerts to central Maine.

The Augusta Symphony Soirée is a special fundraising event featuring a chamber music concert made up of Augusta Symphony musicians, including Music Director and Conductor Jinwook Park, a talented violinist. Set in the cozy Fireside Lounge at the University of Maine at Augusta, this unique concert offers a rare opportunity to experience the artistry of ASO musicians up close in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere.

More than just a concert, the Soirée is an evening of music, conversation, and community. Guests are invited to gather with fellow music lovers, meet members of the orchestra, enjoy refreshments, and celebrate another exciting season of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra.

As the ASO’s only ticketed event of the year, the Soirée plays an important role in supporting the orchestra’s mission of providing free admission to its regular season concerts. Every ticket purchased helps offset the costs of music, guest soloists, rehearsal space, concert venues, and other operating expenses, ensuring that audiences of all ages and backgrounds can continue to enjoy live symphonic music without financial barriers.

Event Details

Date: Friday, August 21

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Fireside Lounge, Randall Student Center, University of Maine at Augusta, 46 University Drive, Augusta, Maine Attire: Dressy casual

Program: Bach after Vivaldi — Wind Quintet, Dvo?ák, “American” — String Quartet, and Dubois, Dectet for Ensemble

 A $40 ticket includes:

* Admission to the chamber music concert

* Catered light bites

* Soft drinks

* Cash bar

* Connecting with and enjoying time with other ASO supporters and players

Whether you are a longtime supporter of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra or discovering us for the first time, the Augusta Symphony Soirée is a great way to experience outstanding local musicians, connect with friends, and invest in the future of live orchestral music in our community.

Join us for a fun evening where music and community come together in support of a tradition that has enriched central Maine for more than a century.

For tickets and more information, visit:

This event is sponsored in part by generous donations from the University of Maine at Augusta, Oxford Federal Credit Union, Brickyard Hollow, and Central Maine Power.

AUBURN, ME – The Onion Foundation’s Environment Program wrapped its latest grant cycle by awarding 21 grants to nature-learning organizations across the state. Grant awards for this cycle total $664,000 and will be dispersed to organizations in 13 counties.

The foundation’s nature-learning strategy, led by program officer Rosalind Erwin, supports science-based programs that give Maine youth access to high-quality outdoor education. Public funding for these programs has dwindled in recent years, creating challenges for educators who strive to integrate nature learning into everyday instruction.

This latest round of grant awards shows that, despite the hurdles in their way, nature-learning nonprofits and their school-based partners are continuing to build a robust array of educational programs that are engaging students across the state. They’re responding to challenges with adaptability and collaboration, while working to expand access to an increasing number of youth.

“Some of these organizations are facing intense headwinds, but they’re more creative and scrappier than ever,” says Erwin. “This docket illustrates the wide variety of offerings and program models organizations are adopting to maintain — and even expand — their impact.”

The Boothbay Sea and Science Center, for example, has begun partnering with members of the Piscataquis Environmental Education Cooperative — a collaborative of nonprofits 130 miles away from Boothbay — to connect educational programs from the woods to the ocean.

With support from the Rural Aspirations Project, the Wild Seed Project is organizing a peer-support cohort to help past participants of the native plant teacher training program take their learning to the next level with implementation in their schools. To make their program more sustainable, ReTreeUS has established caretaker positions at participating schools to maintain school orchards and food forests and lead nature-learning instruction in these spaces.

These examples underscore the creative ways nature-learning organizations are helping schools and educators offer place-based programs that fully engage students and are rooted in Maine. The Onion Foundation is proud to support the critical environmental sector with this latest round of grant awards.

AUBURN, ME – Good Shepherd Food Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors: Laura Everett, CPA; Kim Bridgham; Micah Malloy; and Mark Page join the board as of June 2026. Together, these accomplished leaders bring decades of experience in finance, business leadership, communications and community engagement, further strengthening the organization’s commitment to ending hunger in Maine.

“These exceptional leaders each bring unique expertise and a deep commitment to our mission,” said Heather Paquette, Good Shepherd Food Bank president. “Their combined experience in financial stewardship, strategic leadership, communications and partnership development will help guide Good Shepherd Food Bank as we continue working toward a future where everyone in Maine has reliable access to the food they need.”

Laura Everett serves as Managing Principal at Albin, Randall & Bennett (ARB), where she leads firm strategy, operations and talent development. With extensive expertise in financial management, audit, compliance and advisory services, Everett has also been a dedicated supporter of Good Shepherd Food Bank, serving on its Audit & Finance committee since 2016. Her appointment strengthens the Board’s financial oversight and governance expertise.

Kim Bridgham is a retired senior finance executive whose career includes leadership positions as Vice President of Finance at ADUSA Supply Chain and Chief Financial Officer of Wishrock Investment Group. Earlier this year, Bridgham served as Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Interim Chief Financial Officer, helping guide the organization’s FY26 budget and long-term financial planning. Her deep experience in corporate finance, investments and organizational strategy will be a valuable asset to the Board.

Micah Malloy is President and General Manager of NEWS CENTER Maine (WCSH/WLBZ), where he leads one of the state’s most trusted media organizations. Throughout his career, Malloy has built expertise in communications, marketing and community engagement while serving on several nonprofit and civic boards. A longtime champion of Good Shepherd Food Bank, he brings strategic communications experience that is critical to advancing awareness and statewide impact.

Mark Page serves as President of Oakhurst Dairy and has held executive leadership roles in finance and operations throughout his career. His experience spans financial management, business operations and strategic planning. He has supported Good Shepherd Food Bank through Oakhurst Dairy’s philanthropic support and partnership and brings a personal commitment to food security efforts, particularly programs that benefit children and schools.

In addition to new members, the board welcomes a new slate of officers with Kate Rush named Board Chair, Mary Wright will serve as Vice Chair, Peter Richardson continues as Treasurer, and Michelle Drager takes on the role of Secretary. Phil Licari and Scott Maker round out the executive committee as Ex Officios.

Collectively, these members expand the Board’s expertise and provide leadership continuity while reflecting a shared commitment to ensuring all Maine people have access to nutritious food.

EAST BOOTHBAY, ME – Veggies to Table’s summer gala returns to Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences on Sunday, August 9. This years event To the Nines, invites guests to dress up, indulge in small plates from Solo Pane and Solo Italiano, oysters, macarons, and bites from East Boothbay General, an open bar and a lineup of extraordinary Live and Silent auction experiences.

Live Auction Highlights

The Live Auction features incredible travel experiences, including a stay in Aix-en-Provence; a Left Bank Paris apartment; a Provence villa; an Italian villa near Cinque Terre; a Tops’l Farm farmhouse stay, a Solo Italiano curated Northern Italy tour; a private dinner cooked by Paolo Laboa of Solo Italiano on the Veggies to Table farm, dining experiences at The Alna Store, Mr. Tuna, Bred in the Bone, and more!

Preview the entire live auction prize collection here: https://bit.ly/4vrWpMT

Silent Auction Highlights

The Silent Auction will be live from July 26 – August 9. The online auction is open to everyone, everywhere, with no event ticket required. Of Note: Every Live Auction ticket includes full access to the Silent Auction.

Bid on trips to Paris, Maine and Mexico along with dinner at Nina June, Mistral and Deuxave in Boston, VIP tickets to Gorillaz, the Indigo Girls and so much more.

View the entire Silent Auction prize collection here: https://bit.ly/454xeFf

A Golden Chance to Win!

Skip the competition with a Golden Ticket. For just $100, each Golden Ticket offers the chance to win nearly any Live Auction prize before the bidding even begins. Golden Tickets are available worldwide, and you do not need to purchase a Gala ticket, or be present, to participate.

This year’s event is made possible by our sponsors: Sotheby’s International Realty, Knickerbocker Group, Rising Tide Co-op, First National Bank, M.S. Walker, Coffee By Design, Bickling Financial Services, Bath Savings, Dead River Company, The Tipsy Butler, The Portland Yoga Project, Eat Drink Lucky, Orne’s Candy Store, Colby & Gale, Midcoast Federal Credit Union, Main Street Grocery, Pier 1 Pizza, Maine Community Bank, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Ideal Wine & Spirits, Mine Oyster, and First Federal Savings and our hosts: Gena Canning, Alexis Caris and Jack Rosenberg, Emily Whiting, Bonnie and Joel Berman.

To learn more about becoming an event sponsor or host email us at: erica@veggiestotable.org

About Veggies to Table:

Everything Veggies to Table grows, they donate in collaboration with 35+ local partners, including food pantries, schools, summer lunch programs and hospitals—filling hungry stomachs and lifting spirits along the way.

Event Information

To the Nines Gala & Auction

Sunday, August 9, 2026

5:00–7:30 PM

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME

For tickets, Golden Tickets, prize details, sponsorship opportunities, and more info, visit https://onecau.se/tothenines

Photos by Kory Theriault and Michael Wilson

AUGUSTA, ME – Spend a summer evening enjoying live chamber music in an intimate setting while supporting the Augusta Symphony Orchestra’s mission to continue to bring free concerts to central Maine.

The Augusta Symphony Soirée is a special fundraising event featuring a chamber music concert made up of Augusta Symphony musicians, including Music Director and Conductor Jinwook Park, a talented violinist. Set in the cozy Fireside Lounge at the University of Maine at Augusta, this unique concert offers a rare opportunity to experience the artistry of ASO musicians up close in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere.

More than just a concert, the Soirée is an evening of music, conversation, and community. Guests are invited to gather with fellow music lovers, meet members of the orchestra, enjoy refreshments, and celebrate another exciting season of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra.

As the ASO’s only ticketed event of the year, the Soirée plays an important role in supporting the orchestra’s mission of providing free admission to its regular season concerts. Every ticket purchased helps offset the costs of music, guest soloists, rehearsal space, concert venues, and other operating expenses, ensuring that audiences of all ages and backgrounds can continue to enjoy live symphonic music without financial barriers.

Event Details

Date: Friday, August 21

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Fireside Lounge, Randall Student Center, University of Maine at Augusta, 46 University Drive, Augusta, Maine Attire: Dressy casual

Program: Bach after Vivaldi — Wind Quintet, Dvo?ák, “American” — String Quartet, and Dubois, Dectet for Ensemble

 A $40 ticket includes:

* Admission to the chamber music concert

* Catered light bites

* Soft drinks

* Cash bar

* Connecting with and enjoying time with other ASO supporters and players

Whether you are a longtime supporter of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra or discovering us for the first time, the Augusta Symphony Soirée is a great way to experience outstanding local musicians, connect with friends, and invest in the future of live orchestral music in our community.

Join us for a fun evening where music and community come together in support of a tradition that has enriched central Maine for more than a century.

For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.augustasymphonymaine.org/augusta-symphony-soiree

This event is sponsored in part by generous donations from the University of Maine at Augusta, Oxford Federal Credit Union, Brickyard Hollow, and Central Maine Power.

HALLOWELL, ME – Great Falls Comedy Club announces a new ongoing live stand?up comedy series, Laughs & Slices, hosted at Burano’s Wood?Fired Pizzeria in downtown Hallowell. The series combines live comedy from regional professional comedians with Burano’s wood?fired pizza and beverage offerings. Guests will have access to Burano’s full food and drink menu, with an optional pizza buffet available for an additional cost. Each show will feature a rotating lineup of stand?up comedians.

Event Details

Laughs & Slices — Comedy Night at Burano’s Wood?Fired Pizzeria 

Every 4th Thursday —July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 26

Burano’s Wood?Fired Pizzeria 

192 Water St, Hallowell, ME 04347

Seating & Dinner at 6:00 PM

Showtime at 7:00 PM

Tickets: $20

Tickets & info: GreatFallsComedyClub.com

Lineup subject to change

AUBURN, ME – The Onion Foundation recently completed the first of two 2026 grantmaking cycles for its Arts Program, which supports nonprofit organizations that expand access to arts education, provide opportunities for public engagement in the arts, and build the sector’s collective capacity. Grant awards from this cycle total $1,322,900 and support 40 organizations spanning more than 25 cities across the state.

While the Arts Program primarily focuses on organizations’ programmatic work, the Onion Foundation team recognizes the unprecedented challenges arts nonprofits are facing today.

“We’ve reached out to organizations directly and learned that many are experiencing significant change, undergoing difficult strategic planning processes, or building capacity to support their programs for people across Maine,” says Nat May, Arts Program Officer. “We hear you, and we’re responding.”

Using the TCC Group’s Core Capacity Assessment Tool, for example, Topsham’s FLOR identified a need for greater administrative capacity to run its community flamenco classes. To help the nonprofit rightsize sooner than it forecasted, the Onion Foundation increased FLOR’s grant size.

Other organizations that were awarded additional grant funds to accelerate solutions to pressing capacity needs include:

Smooth Feather, which empowers young people through filmmaking

Denmark Arts Center, which offers programs for Maine artists and musicians

Celebration Barn Theater, which provides educational opportunities for theater artists

This grants cycle also included a higher number of multiyear arts grants than in prior years, awarding nine two-year grants and 14 three-year grants. Multiyear grants help organizations stabilize and plan for the future more effectively, while cutting down on administrative work.

Arts programs serve a critical purpose in Maine, helping bridge cultural divides, offering means for self-expression, deepening understanding of others, and increasing the capacity for joy. The Onion Foundation is proud to help make exciting arts programs available to Mainers across the state.

240 Strings, Photo credit: Claire Brassil

LEWISTON, ME – For more than a quarter century, the Knapp Morrison Scholarship Scramble has proven that a day on the golf course can make a lasting impact.

The 26th Annual Knapp Morrison Scholarship Scramble returns on August 17th at Martindale Country Club, bringing together businesses, community leaders, and golfers for the largest annual fundraiser supporting scholarships awarded through both the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Central Maine Community College Foundation.

Presented in partnership with the Central Maine Community College and supported by Co-Presenting Sponsors Central Maine Power and Fidium, the tournament continues a 26-year tradition of investing in the future of our region by helping local students and adult learners access higher education and workforce training.

Every dollar raised helps provide scholarships that open doors for individuals pursuing college degrees, career advancement, and new opportunities. Together, the Chamber Foundation and the Central Maine Community College Foundation are helping build a stronger workforce while reducing financial barriers for those striving to achieve their educational goals.

Participants will enjoy a full day of golf on one of Maine’s premier courses while supporting a meaningful cause. Team registration includes:

Lunch for the full team

Two mulligans per player

A chance to win $10,000 with a Hole-in-One

Closest to the Pin competition

Closest to the Case competition

Longest Drive competition

Door prize drawings

Social hour and awards following play

The day’s schedule includes check-in beginning at 8:00 a.m., followed by a shotgun start, with the social hour and awards ceremony beginning at approximately 3:00 p.m. The tournament is held rain or shine.

With limited team spots remaining, businesses and golfers are encouraged to register soon to secure their place in this long-standing community tradition.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available for organizations looking to demonstrate their commitment to education and workforce development while gaining visibility among regional business leaders. Businesses interested in sponsoring the event can contact Justin Morin at justin@lametrochamber.com.

Photos from Last year’s Tournament provided by Ryan Donovan, Ryan Captures Life

LEWISTON, ME – The Woman’s Hospital Association (WHA) Rotating Art Gallery at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston is delighted to display the works of four local artists during the month of July. These artists, Linda DeSantis, Judy Hierstein, Joan Kelley and Sharon Poulin are members of the Maine Friday Art Group which was organized by several local artists to make time to have fun while creating, learning and sharing art.

DeSantis is a retired high school art teacher. Her focus is observational drawing and also using imagination to create original compositions. She explores different techniques with watercolors, acrylics and paper. Having time to interact with others who love the visual arts has made her retirement especially rewarding.

Hierstein is also a retired art teacher as well as an illustrator, and graphic designer, and is enjoying free time in retirement to explore a variety of art media: watercolor pencil, collage, and more.

Kelley is a graphic designer, having worked at various nonprofits in the Boston area. As an artist, her art media is mostly watercolor and colored pencils plus stained glass. The series of assemblages exhibited was created with her now-deceased husband, Jeff.

Poulin had been a long-time member of the board of the Woman’s Hospital Association and states: “Artsy kid, art school, graphic design career, wife, mother, widow, grandmother, and now back to art”.

The works on display may be purchased through the WHA Gift Shop located adjacent to the main lobby at Central Maine Medical Center. A percentage of sale proceeds benefits patients of CMMC.

 ‘Anasazi Dawn’ by Joan Kelley