Sandy Smith
| Weds, August 26|Issue #18|Kennebec Valley Voice |
Windsor Fair Opens SaturdayThe Windsor Fair opens Saturday, August 29, beginning ten days of one of Central Maine’s longtime agricultural traditions. At 82 Ridge Road in Windsor, the fairgrounds will fill again with livestock, agricultural exhibits, harness racing, pulling competitions, midway rides, food, entertainment and the mix of activities that makes a Maine fair a full-day outing rather than a quick stop. Each of the first four days has its own theme. Saturday is Get Acquainted Day, giving opening-day visitors the first look at this year’s fair. Sunday is Museum Day, highlighting the fair’s connection to Maine’s agricultural past. Monday is Woodsman’s Day, with competitions built around the skills that have long been part of Maine’s forestry heritage. Tuesday is Horsemen’s Day, putting the focus on another important part of the state’s agricultural tradition. Those four days all fall within this week’s Kennebec Valley Voice. The fair opens at 9 a.m. daily. General admission is $15 for ages 12 and older, while children 11 and younger are admitted free. On Monday, August 31, visitors age 60 and older receive a reduced $5 admission. Windsor Fair also arrives at a familiar turning point on the Maine calendar. School is getting underway, Labor Day is approaching, farm stands are full, and the first signs of fall are beginning to show up even though summer isn’t finished yet. That makes this weekend a good one for a trip to Windsor — whether the draw is the animals, the competitions, the exhibits, the midway, the food or simply spending a few hours at a Maine fair. And Windsor is only the beginning. There is plenty happening across the Kennebec Valley from August 26 through September 1. |
Here we are at the end of August, and the Kennebec Valley calendar is starting to look a little different. And the cool nights make it clear what's ahead.
Schools are getting underway, Labor Day is right around the corner, and the Windsor Fair opens this weekend. At the same time, farmers’ markets are still loaded with late-summer produce, there are concerts and community events happening across the Valley, and there are still plenty of reasons to get outside.
That mix is one of the things I enjoy about this time of year in Maine. Summer hasn’t packed up and left, but you can clearly see what’s coming next.
This week’s edition takes us from Windsor and Waterville to Augusta, Hallowell, Fairfield, Skowhegan and several stops in between. We have the fair, local business news, municipal meetings, farmers’ markets, community needs and a few things I think you’ll want to know about before the long Labor Day weekend arrives.
A special thank you to this week’s Newsletter Sponsor, Marshall Communications.
Nancy Marshall and her team help leaders and organizations strengthen their visibility through public relations, media relations, personal branding and strategic relationships. Their tag line says it well: Maine Based. Globally Connected.
I hope you find something in this week’s Kennebec Valley Voice that gives you a reason to get out, support something local or simply learn a little more about what’s happening around the Valley.
— Sandy |
Wednesday, Aug. 26 — Partly sunny. High around 82°, low near 61°.
Thursday, Aug. 27 — Partly sunny and warm. High around 82°, low near 64°.
Friday, Aug. 28 — Mostly cloudy with showers and a possible thunderstorm. High near 77°, low around 57°.
Saturday, Aug. 29 — Partly sunny and less humid. High around 78°, low near 55°.
Sunday, Aug. 30 — Sunny and pleasant. High near 80°, low around 61°.
Monday, Aug. 31 — Mostly cloudy with a chance of a shower. High around 80°, low near 61°.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 — Cloudy with rain and possible thunderstorms, especially during the morning. High near 75°, low around 60°.
The weekend currently looks like the best stretch, with Saturday and Sunday turning drier after Friday’s showers. Forecast centered on Augusta and the central Kennebec Valley. The National Weather Service also shows the Friday shower period followed by a mostly sunny Saturday and sunny Sunday. |
Windsor Fair — Preserving Maine’s Agricultural History
With the Windsor Fair opening Saturday, this week’s Local Video Spotlight takes us behind the gates for a look at why the fair has remained such an important part of Central Maine’s agricultural tradition.
In this NEWS CENTER Maine feature, the focus is on more than rides and fair food. It looks at the fair’s role in preserving Maine’s agricultural history and the traditions that continue to bring exhibitors, farmers and families back to Windsor year after year. The Windsor Fair itself features this video in its official video gallery, making it a good companion to this week’s Hero story. Watch: “Preserving Maine’s Agricultural History” — NEWS CENTER Maine |
A world premiere, the opening weekend of Windsor Fair and a Saturday celebration of Maine film history give us three very different reasons to get out this week.
Unabashedly — World Premiere | Waterville
Waterville Opera House opens the world premiere of Unabashedly, a new play by Mike Teverbaugh selected as part of the American Association of Community Theatre’s NewPlayFest 2026. Opening-night ticket holders are also invited to a reception from 6:30–7:30 p.m. before Friday’s performance. Sunday’s 2 p.m. matinee offers ASL interpretation. Tickets start at $25.
Windsor Fair Opening Weekend | Windsor The Windsor Fair opens Saturday for ten days of agricultural exhibits, livestock, competitions, midway rides, food and entertainment. This week includes Get Acquainted Day on Saturday, Museum Day on Sunday, Woodsman’s Day on Monday and Horsemen’s Day on Tuesday. General admission is $15 for ages 12 and older, with children 11 and under admitted free.
“Up in Maine” Silent Movie Festival | Augusta This special program looks back at Maine’s connection to the silent-film era, with historic films and live accompaniment bringing an earlier chapter of movie history back to the screen. It gives this week’s event lineup something completely different from the fairs, concerts and theater performances happening elsewhere in the Valley. |
Kennebec Networkers BNI | Hallowell Kennebec Networkers meets every Wednesday morning for structured referral networking. Visitors are welcome to attend and learn how the chapter works before deciding whether BNI is a fit.
Kennebec Valley Chamber Business After Hours | Hallowell The Kennebec Valley Chamber’s August Business After Hours brings members together for an evening of informal networking at Interstate Bowling Center and Town Line Sports Grille. The Chamber lists the event as free for members; prospective members may attend once before joining.
Elm City Referral Source BNI | Waterville Elm City Referral Source meets every Thursday morning at the Mid-Maine Chamber office. The chapter focuses on building trusted referral relationships among local business owners and professionals, and visitors are welcome.
Mid-Maine Chamber / KV Connect Leadership Luncheon | Waterville
This quarter’s Leadership Luncheon features Randy Liberty, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Corrections. The Mid-Maine Chamber and KV Connect series brings regional business and government leaders together for a focused discussion over lunch. |
A mix of milestones, construction, downtown change and small-business investment is shaping the business news around the Valley this week.
Golden Pond Wealth Management Marks 30 Years | Waterville Golden Pond Wealth Management is celebrating 30 years in business this year. Founded by Brian Bernatchez in Belgrade Lakes in 1996, the firm later moved to Waterville and has grown to an 11-person team. The Mid-Maine Chamber calendar lists a 30th-anniversary celebration for Thursday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m.
Why it matters: Thirty years is a meaningful milestone for a locally founded professional-services firm that has grown along with the Waterville business community.
ConvenientMD Construction Continues | Waterville Construction is underway on ConvenientMD’s new 17,000-square-foot combined urgent-care and primary-care facility in the former Staples building at Waterville Commons. ConvenientMD says both practices will operate separately under one roof, with the urgent-care location currently targeting a December 2026 opening.
Why it matters: The project puts a large vacant retail space back into use while bringing additional health-care services and jobs to the Waterville area.
Goode Works Maine Restoring Waterville Homes | Waterville Laurie Leahy and her daughter Lauren have formed Goode Works Maine, a renovation company focused on restoring older Waterville homes. Their current project at 1 Nudd Street, a house dating to around 1900, is expected to be completed by December. Leahy says the company plans to take on one or two renovations each year while using Maine materials and labor where possible. Why it matters: Small-scale private investment like this preserves older housing while putting local contractors and suppliers to work. Skowhegan ATV Access Continues to Grow | Skowhegan The Skowhegan Stump Jumpers ATV Club continues expanding local trail connections, including work designed to make it easier for riders to reach downtown and Madison Avenue businesses. Main Street Skowhegan says it sees an opportunity to bring more recreational visitors into town and connect them with local businesses. Why it matters: Better recreational access can turn trail traffic into customers for restaurants, shops and other businesses. Augusta Downtown Alliance Reviewing Its Future | Augusta The Augusta Downtown Alliance is again without an executive director after Danielle Lane left the position after just over two months. The nonprofit’s board says it will spend the next several months reviewing the organization’s structure and talking with downtown businesses and community partners about what comes next. Why it matters: The Alliance plays a direct role in supporting and promoting downtown Augusta, so its next leadership decision will matter to businesses throughout the district. |
Late August is one of the best weeks of the season for Maine farmers’ markets. Corn, tomatoes, peppers, squash, potatoes, berries, flowers, meats, cheeses, baked goods and plenty more are coming in from farms around the Valley.
Fairfield Farmers’ Market | Fairfield
Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market | Waterville
Fairfield Farmers’ Market | Fairfield
Hallowell Farmers’ Market | Hallowell
Skowhegan Farmers’ Market | Skowhegan
Wayne Farmers’ Market | Wayne
Belgrade Lakes Market | Belgrade Lakes
Augusta Farmers’ Market at Mill Park | Augusta |
Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication Before You Need It A strong password is important, but it shouldn’t be the only thing standing between your accounts and someone trying to get into them. Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, adds another step when you sign in — usually something you have, such as your phone or a security key, in addition to something you know, such as your password. That extra layer can stop someone from getting into an account even if your password has been compromised. For local businesses, start with the accounts that would hurt the most if they were taken over: email, banking, accounting, cloud storage, social media and your website. If a service offers a phishing-resistant option such as a passkey or security key, CISA considers that the strongest choice. It only takes a few minutes to check which accounts have MFA turned on. That is a much better use of those few minutes than trying to recover an account after something goes wrong. Source: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) |
Give Yourself a Little Room in the Day When the calendar starts filling back up with school, work and fall commitments, it helps to protect a little time that isn’t already spoken for. Even something simple — a walk, a quiet half-hour, calling a friend or turning in a little earlier — can help manage stress and support your mental well-being. Source: National Institute of Mental Health |
HANDS ACROSS THE VALLEYA few hours of your time can make a real difference. This week, there are several active volunteer needs around Augusta and Waterville where an extra set of hands would be welcome.
Augusta Food Bank Needs Volunteers | Augusta The Augusta Food Bank is looking for volunteers for several ongoing roles, including produce sorting, marketplace greeters and substitute volunteers. Substitute help is especially useful Monday through Wednesday when regular volunteers are unavailable. How to help: Visit the Augusta Food Bank website and complete the volunteer form under “Get Involved.”
Meals on Wheels Packers Needed | Waterville Spectrum Generations’ Muskie Community Center is looking for volunteers to help prepare and pack Meals on Wheels deliveries. Current needs include weekday mornings from approximately 8:30–10:30 a.m., along with Monday and Wednesday afternoon shifts. Volunteers help with the packing line, food preparation and sanitizing delivery bags and work areas. Why it matters: Those packed meals help older adults throughout the region remain independent while receiving regular nutritious meals.
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter Needs Kitchen Help | Waterville The Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter continues to seek volunteers to help with its kitchen operation, which serves three meals a day to as many as 60 guests. Volunteers may help receive and organize food donations, prepare meals, serve guests and keep the kitchen clean and organized.
These are all current opportunities listed through VolunteerME Kennebec Valley, operated by United Way of Kennebec Valley. |
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Waterville-Augusta families seeking pit bull adoption or lab retriever adoption have a standout opportunity with Aries, a spirited eight-month-old pup bursting with personality.
This black and white male brightens the Humane Society Waterville Area adoption floor, drawing visitors with his playful nature.
Aries brings a mix of terrier, pit bull, and Labrador retriever qualities, making him both energetic and affectionate—a perfect fit for an active home.
You may love his friendly approach with children and his ability to get along with certain dogs.
He’s also shown curiosity toward cats, tending to play rather than chase—ideal for owners willing to offer patient guidance.
If you’re considering pet adoption, Aries’s hopeful spirit might be what your family needs. Read More... |
Loki, a handsome young German Shepherd with a striking sable coat, is eagerly awaiting his forever home at the Kennebec Valley Humane Society in the Waterville-Augusta area.
Known for his affectionate and devoted nature, Loki has quickly become a favorite among staff and many visitors.
Still under two years old, he’s searching for an experienced adopter—ideally someone who is home often, such as a retiree, remote worker, or someone able to bring their dog to work.
Loki thrives as the only pet and is best suited for homes without other dogs, cats, or very young children, though kids aged five and up will find a loyal, playful friend in him.
Adoption counselors stress the importance of patience and a stable routine as Loki builds confidence in new situations, with the adoption fee set at $250.
With local interest in pet adoption on the rise, now may be the perfect moment to give Loki a loving second chance. Read More... |
Baked Apple Crisp
This week’s recipe comes from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. It serves 12 and uses apples, oats, applesauce and a simple cinnamon topping.
Servings: 12 Estimated Prep Time: 15 minutes Ingredients Apple Mixture
Oat Mixture
Optional Topping
Directions Preheat the oven to 350°F. Rinse the apples under cold running water. Cut them into about ½-inch slices, leaving the skins on. Toss the apples with the white sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and lemon juice. Coat a 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and place the apples in the dish. Spread the applesauce over the apples. In a separate bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, evaporated skim milk and remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Spread the oat mixture over the apples. Bake for 35–40 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbly. Allow it to cool slightly and serve warm. Top with vanilla yogurt if desired.
Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension — Baked Apple Crisp |
A few dependable weekly programs are still going strong as August turns into September. Story & Craft Time | Hallowell Storytime with Ms. Jenn | Winthrop Pokémon Club | Winthrop Bailey Ukulele | Winthrop Book Bites! | Waterville Rhymetime | Waterville Career Help at the Library | Waterville Bailey Yarn Club | Winthrop Keep Moving! Exercise for Seniors | Winthrop Tech Help | Winthrop |
If you know about an upcoming event, fundraiser, community project, business announcement or local story we should know about, reply to this newsletter and tell me about it. Send along the what, where, when and who to contact, and I’ll take a look for an upcoming edition. If it matters to your community, I want to hear about it. |
Newsletter Sponsor — Marshall Communications
Marshall Communications helps leaders and organizations become more visible, credible and memorable through public relations, media relations, personal brand strategy and strategic networking. Led by Nancy Marshall, The PR Maven®, the firm has built its work around a simple tag line:
Maine Based. Globally Connected.
North Star Property Solutions
North Star Property Solutions helps homeowners, real estate professionals and property owners get properties ready for what’s next through professional painting, drywall repair and cosmetic improvements. Their focus is straightforward: show up, communicate clearly and finish the job right.
MESA-Maine
MESA-Maine supports Maine’s running and endurance community through races and events that bring runners, families and communities together across the state.
Smith Digital Solutions
Smith Digital Solutions helps Maine businesses strengthen their visibility so they are easier to find, understand and choose online. From Google Business Profile optimization and entity consistency to websites, local visibility and AI search readiness, the goal is simple: Get Found. Get Calls. Get Paid. |
If you enjoy the Kennebec Valley Voice, one of the best ways you can help us grow is simply to share it.
Forward this week’s edition to a friend, neighbor, coworker or family member who would enjoy knowing what’s happening around the Kennebec Valley.
Every new reader helps us reach a little farther and gives us another opportunity to shine a light on our communities, local businesses, events and organizations.
And if you know about something we should be covering, reply to this newsletter and let me know.
Thank you for reading — and for helping us spread the Voice around the Valley. |
Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream | Skowhegan
Some Maine businesses grow far beyond the town where they started without ever losing that connection to home. Gifford’s is one of them.
The Gifford family came to Maine in the 1970s and eventually established its ice cream operation in Skowhegan. The first Gifford’s ice cream stand opened in 1980, and the company still makes its ice cream at its Skowhegan plant today.
Over the years, Gifford’s has grown from a local family business into a brand recognized well beyond Maine, while keeping its production roots here in the Kennebec Valley.
For generations of Maine families, a stop for a cone at Gifford’s has simply been part of summer. And for Skowhegan, the company has become one of those businesses closely tied to the identity of the community.
For building a Maine brand while keeping Skowhegan at the center of its story, Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream is this week’s Best of the Kennebec Valley. |
By the time we get together again next Wednesday, August will be behind us and Labor Day will be just about here.
That doesn’t mean summer is finished. The Windsor Fair is just getting started. Farmers’ markets are still full. There are concerts, library programs, local businesses to visit and plenty of places around the Valley where you can spend a couple of hours without traveling very far.
That’s one of the reasons I enjoy putting the Kennebec Valley Voice together each week. Most of what makes a community interesting isn’t one giant event. It’s dozens of smaller things happening all around us — a business celebrating a milestone, somebody volunteering a few hours, a family heading to the fair or neighbors running into each other at the farmers’ market.
You don’t have to do everything we put in this newsletter. Pick one thing that looks interesting and go enjoy it.
Thank you for reading this week, and thank you to Marshall Communications, our Newsletter Sponsor, for helping make the Kennebec Valley Voice possible.
Scout and I will see you next Wednesday.
— Sandy |
C) More than 800 babies
Martha Ballard was a midwife and healer who delivered more than 800 babies in the Augusta-Hallowell area during the late 1700s and early 1800s.
She also kept a diary for 27 years, recording births, illnesses, weather, travel, family life and everyday events along the Kennebec River. That diary later became one of the most detailed surviving records of daily life in early Maine.
Her story has an especially timely connection to this week’s edition: a new memorial honoring Martha Ballard was unveiled this month at Mill Park in Augusta, not far from the Kennebec River where much of her remarkable life and work took place. |