A Whale-Sized Welcome Back to Augusta

On Saturday, the Cultural Building in Augusta gets a one-day preview of what the Maine State Museum has been building toward for years — and one of the guests is big enough to walk inside.

The museum is still several weeks away from its October 24 reopening, but on September 12 it is inviting the public into the Cultural Building for “SEA You Soon for a WHALE of a Welcome!” It’s a free community celebration from 10 AM to 4 PM, and it may be one of the more unusual ways we’ve had to spend a Saturday in Augusta in a while.

The centerpiece is Chunk, a walk-inside inflatable whale where visitors can get an up-close look at whale ecology. The museum will also introduce people to the story of Vector, a humpback whale calf whose life in the Gulf of Maine is part of one of the museum’s new exhibits.

UMaine will bring a touch tank for an even closer look at Maine’s coastal ecosystem. There will also be previews of the museum’s new exhibits, a museum pop-up store, live music from KindKids, and complimentary drinks and donuts from Morning Moose.

What makes this worth leading the Voice with isn’t only the whale.

The Maine State Museum has been closed while the Cultural Building underwent major work, so Saturday gives people a chance to step back inside before the official reopening and get a first taste of what’s coming.

Museums keep the pieces of Maine we might otherwise lose — our natural history, our working history, and the ordinary things people used, made, saved and left behind.

And Saturday, for a few hours, we get to see that work coming back to life.

Saturday, September 12 | 10 AM–4 PM
Cultural Building, 230 State Street, Augusta
Free | All ages | No registration required

The Maine State Museum and Maine State Library moved into Augusta’s Cultural Building in what year?

A. 1965
B. 1971
C. 1978
D. 1984

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

I grew up in the Kennebec Valley, and the Maine State Museum has always felt like one of those places that my wife & I have to visit  Why? Well Colleen was a State House Guide and that is where I met my wife. So I’m glad to see the doors getting closer to reopening.

Saturday’s whale event is a good preview, but we’ve got a lot more happening around the Valley this week too — the Clinton Lions Agricultural Fair, the Maine Cheese Festival in Pittsfield, the Maine Children’s Home grand opening in Waterville, and plenty more as you work your way through this edition.

A special thank-you to Marshall Communications, this week’s Newsletter Sponsor. Nancy Marshall and her team have spent decades helping businesses build brands through relationships, strategic public relations, and strong storytelling. Their tagline says it well: “Maine Based. Globally Connected.”

Grab your coffee and settle in. We did the digging. Here’s what’s happening around the Kennebec Valley this week.

— Sandy

Kennebec Valley Weather — Sept. 9–15

A damp start Wednesday gives way to a much better stretch heading into the weekend, with sunshine and comfortable temperatures for most of Friday through Monday.

Wednesday, Sept. 9 — Cloudy with afternoon showers and a possible thunderstorm. High 66° | Low 62°

Thursday, Sept. 10 — Warmer with clouds and sunshine. High 82° | Low 56°

Friday, Sept. 11 — Sunny, pleasant and less humid. High 74° | Low 49°

Saturday, Sept. 12 — Plenty of sunshine. High 73° | Low 55°

Sunday, Sept. 13 — Mostly sunny with some clouds. High 75° | Low 60°

Monday, Sept. 14 — Some sunshine. High 74° | Low 54°

Tuesday, Sept. 15 — Sun and high clouds, with more clouds

 developing later. High 72° | Low 57°

Best outdoor stretch: Friday through Monday.

Source: National Weather Service — Gray/Portland, Maine

Hidden Gem of the Week — L.C. Bates Museum at Good Will-Hinckley

Some museums are built around one big attraction. The L.C. Bates Museum is the opposite — it rewards curiosity room by room.

Tucked onto the Good Will-Hinckley campus between Fairfield and Skowhegan, the museum is an early-20th-century collection of natural history and Maine culture. Inside, you’ll find Maine wildlife dioramas, Wabanaki baskets, minerals and fossils, local-history artifacts, a platypus, and even Ernest Hemingway’s marlin. Outside, the grounds include nature trails, an arboretum, and places to slow down and explore.

It’s the kind of place many people drive past without realizing what’s there — which is exactly why it belongs in Hidden Gem of the Week. You can spend an hour wandering the exhibits, bring the kids for a closer look at Maine wildlife, or make a longer visit out of the museum and trails.

L.C. Bates Museum at Good Will-Hinckley
14 Easler Road, Hinckley
Open Wednesday–Saturday, 10 AM–4:30 PM
Last entry at 4 PM

This is one of those weeks when you could head in three different directions and come home with three completely different Maine experiences.

Clinton Lions Agricultural Fair — Clinton
Thursday, Sept. 10–Sunday, Sept. 13 | Clinton Fairgrounds, 1450 Bangor Road
The fair opens at 3 PM Thursday and runs through 5 PM Sunday, with four days of agricultural exhibits, animals, midway rides, food, entertainment, demolition derby, truck and tractor pulling and more. It’s an all-ages Central Maine fair with plenty for both kids and adults. The current 2026 event listing does not publish gate-admission pricing.

10th Annual Maine Cheese Festival — Pittsfield
Sunday, Sept. 13 | Manson Park, 51 Peltoma Avenue
VIP Entry 11 AM | General Admission Noon–5 PM
More than 65 Maine-made vendors come together with cheesemakers, tastings, live music, demonstrations, the Maine Cheese Competition and family activities. General admission is $25 for adults, $10 for ages 12 and older, and free for children under 12. VIP admission is $35 for adults and $10 for ages 12 and older; children under 12 are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and electronic tickets are required for entry.

Maine Children’s Home Center for Families Grand Opening — Waterville
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 93 Silver Street
Doors open 9:30 AM | Ceremony 10 AM | Celebration through Noon
Maine Children’s Home is opening its newly renovated Center for Families, bringing counseling, adoption services, targeted case management and young-parent support together under one roof. Visitors can tour the new space, meet the team and learn how the center will serve families across Maine. Organizers are asking attendees to RSVP. If severe weather forces a postponement, the celebration will be held Sept. 19.

Four opportunities this week for local business owners and professionals to make connections around the Kennebec Valley:

Kennebec Networkers BNI — Hallowell
Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 8 AM | Thomas College Ice Vault, 203 Whitten Road
A weekly referral-networking meeting bringing together local professionals from a range of industries. The chapter and Hallowell location remain current.

Kennebec Valley Chamber Women’s Network Luncheon
Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 11:30 AM–1 PM
This month’s program is “Public Speaking Lab: Finding Power in Your Voice,” offering a practical professional-development opportunity along with time to connect with other women in the region’s business community.

Mid-Maine Chamber Business Breakfast — Waterville
Thursday, Sept. 10 | 7:15–9 AM | Best Western Plus, 375 Main Street
Central Maine Power Community Relations Manager Greg Thompson will discuss how businesses can encourage employee involvement with nonprofit organizations — and how that involvement can strengthen employee satisfaction, engagement and community connections.

Elm City Referral Source BNI — Waterville
Thursday, Sept. 10 | 8:30–10 AM | Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, 50 Elm Street
The Waterville BNI chapter meets weekly to build referral relationships among local business owners and professionals. Visitors are welcome to learn how the group works and meet members from across the region.

A few business stories are moving across the Kennebec Valley this week — from a major retail opening in Augusta to new investment in Waterville youth programs.

Burlington Sets Sept. 25 Opening in Augusta
Burlington has confirmed that its new Augusta store will open Friday, Sept. 25 at 42 Whitten Road, Suite 1, in the Turnpike Mall. It will be Burlington’s third Maine location, joining Bangor and South Portland, and will fill the former Bed Bath & Beyond space. The addition brings the Turnpike Mall close to full occupancy — another sign of how much the Western Avenue retail corridor has rebounded in recent years.

Hallowell’s Dummer House Gets a New Chapter
Hallowell’s oldest standing house, the 1792 Dummer House, has been sold to local restoration company Hitchcock & Co. The company plans to preserve the historic character of the building while converting it into a duplex — putting a long-vacant property back into productive use without losing an important piece of Hallowell history.

Vassalboro Wedding Venue Decision Moves to October
The Vassalboro Planning Board has delayed its decision on the proposed Rosewood Hills wedding and event venue at 546 Webber Pond Road. The applicants still have several issues to address, and the board will continue its review in October. For the couple behind the project — and neighbors watching its potential impact — the proposal remains very much alive, but unresolved.

$150,000 Investment Creates Burger-Roy Learning Center
The Alfond Youth & Community Center in Waterville has dedicated its newly named Burger-Roy Learning Center following a $150,000 gift from Brent Burger and Michael Roy. The investment is supporting expanded STEM, literacy, art and teen programming, including access to a digital library with more than 140,000 books

.

Hannaford Reaches $9 Million Manager-Pay Settlement
Hannaford has agreed to a nearly $9 million settlement involving more than 1,400 current and former employees in Maine, Massachusetts and New York over unpaid overtime claims involving midlevel managers. Hannaford is one of Central Maine’s largest and most visible employers, making the outcome relevant well beyond the individual stores involved.

Early September is one of the best times to shop local — summer produce is still coming in strong, while apples, squash and other early fall favorites are beginning to show up.

Fairfield Farmers’ Market — Fairfield
Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 2–6 PM
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 9:30 AM–1:30 PM
81 Main Street. The market runs through Oct. 31 with produce, baked goods, honey, flowers and other locally produced items.

Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market — Waterville
Thursday, Sept. 10 | 2–6 PM
Head of Falls Park, 60 Front Street. The outdoor market continues Thursdays through November, rain or shine.

Winthrop Farmers Market — Winthrop
Thursday, Sept. 10 | 2–6 PM
Downtown Municipal Parking Lot on Main Street. This is the final scheduled market of Winthrop’s 2026 season, so it’s the last Thursday to support the vendors who helped launch this new downtown market.

Hallowell Farmers’ Market — Hallowell
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 9 AM–Noon
2 Beech Street. The market continues Saturdays through October.

Skowhegan Farmers’ Market — Skowhegan
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 9 AM–1 PM
At Maine Grains near the corner of Court and High streets. Vendors offer seasonal produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, baked goods, maple syrup, honey, flowers and more.

Augusta Farmers Market at Mill Park — Augusta
Tuesday, Sept. 15 | 2–6 PM
Mill Park, 1 Water Street. The Tuesday market continues through October with food and products from neighborhood farms.

Early September Is Prime Time to Repair a Maine Lawn

If your lawn has thin spots, bare patches or areas that took a beating over the summer, this is one of the best times of year to fix them.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension recommends August 15 through September 15 as the best window for seeding a lawn in Maine. The soil is still warm enough for quick germination, nights are cooler, and there’s less weed competition than in spring.

For an existing lawn, mow high — about 3 inches or more — leave the clippings, and overseed bare or thin areas. If you plan to fertilize, UMaine says the best once-a-year timing is around Labor Day and advises not applying lawn fertilizer after September 15.

The takeaway: don’t wait until October to repair summer damage. For Maine lawns, the next week is a particularly useful window to seed, overseed and strengthen the grass before cold weather arrives.

Don’t Put Away the Sunglasses Yet

September may feel less intense than midsummer, but UV exposure is still worth protecting against.

The CDC recommends choosing sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation. Wraparound styles can add protection by reducing light coming in from the sides.

The simple habit: keep the sunglasses handy for driving, walking, yard work and weekend events — even on cooler fall days. UV protection is a year-round habit, not just a beach-season one.

A Community Rallies to Protect Camp Bomazeen

A major conservation effort in Belgrade has reached an important milestone. This one is personal to me and the Scouts in Kennebec Valley. I am a proud Eagle Scout from 1968 and I attended Camp Bomazeen several times in my youth.

7 Lakes Alliance has raised the $3 million needed to move forward with conserving Camp Bomazeen, a 280-acre property on Great Pond. The campaign reached its goal in just over a month, with support from local residents, the Belgrade Lakes Association, the Alfond families and other donors.

The property includes 200 acres of wetlands, 80 acres of forested uplands and 900 feet of shoreline. The Alliance says its goal is to protect the land, water quality and wildlife habitat while allowing carefully managed public access and continued use by Scouts.

The fundraising goal has been met, but the work is not finished. The organization is now completing due diligence and says it is on track to close on the property by the end of September. Its Bomazeen Conservation Fund will continue supporting environmental needs, deferred maintenance and long-term stewardship.

Why it matters: this is a strong example of what can happen when a community moves quickly around a place it believes is worth keeping.

About Our Local Adoption Partners

The Kennebec Valley is fortunate to have two longtime organizations working every day to give homeless and surrendered animals another chance.

Kennebec Valley Humane Society — Augusta
Located at 168 Leighton Road in Augusta, KVHS helps animals find loving homes while also providing foster care, medical and behavioral support, humane education, volunteer opportunities and other services that strengthen the bond between people and pets. Its mission centers on giving every animal healing, hope and a second chance.

Humane Society Waterville Area — Waterville
At 100 Webb Road in Waterville, HSWA serves animals and families throughout the Waterville area through adoption, fostering, volunteer programs and community support. Its work has also included programs such as temporary foster care for pets whose owners are facing difficult circumstances and opportunities for shelter dogs to spend time outside the shelter with community volunteers.

Both shelters depend on adopters, fosters, volunteers and community support to keep doing this work — and every adoption opens space for another animal that needs help.

Meet Patience

Patience is a 2-year-old female Pit Bull Terrier mix waiting at the Humane Society Waterville Area.

She’s a medium-sized, brown-and-black dog who arrived at the shelter on September 1 and is now on the adoption floor. HSWA hasn’t posted a longer personality description for Patience yet, so this may be one of those introductions that needs to happen face-to-face.

If her photo catches your eye, contact the Humane Society Waterville Area or stop in during adoption hours and ask to meet Patience.

Introducing Luna,

If your ideal dog is smart, older, and enjoys being the only animal; Luna is for you! She's house trained, knows a TON of things from sit to roll over (And featuring her sit pretty!), and is always wanting to learn more! She's treat motivated which makes teaching her things easy. Although she doesn't like her ears touched (She had a prior ear infection), she LIVES for butt scratches! She can be strong on leash, but loves to run and play around! She'd thrive in a home with children over the age of 16!

Interested in meeting Luna? Swing on down to KVHS during available adoption hours to meet her!

Fresh Homemade Salsa

September gardens and farm stands are still loaded with tomatoes and corn, making this a good week for a simple fresh salsa from University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Makes 6 servings, about ½ cup each

Ingredients

• 4 medium fresh tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1 cup corn, fresh, frozen or canned
• ½ cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon jalapeño pepper, finely chopped — optional
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

1. Wash the tomatoes and other fresh produce under cool running water.
2. If using fresh or frozen corn, cook it first and allow it to cool. Drain canned corn well.
3. Mince the garlic.
4. Combine the tomatoes, corn, onion, jalapeño, lime juice and garlic in a bowl.
5. Mix well and serve with tortilla chips or fresh vegetables.

Refrigerate leftovers promptly and use within four days.

Important: This is a fresh salsa recipe and is not intended for canning or preserving.

Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.

A few familiar weekly and monthly gatherings around the Kennebec Valley are on the calendar this week.

Waterville Elks BINGO — Waterville
Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 6 PM

Homeschool Hub — Waterville Public Library
Thursday, Sept. 10 | 1–2 PM

Rhymetime — Waterville Public Library
Friday, Sept. 11 | 10:30 AM

Career Help at the Library — Waterville Public Library
Monday, Sept. 14 | 1–4 PM

Crafternoons — Waterville Public Library
Tuesday, Sept. 15 | 2:30–4 PM

Maine Book Discussion — Gardiner Public Library
Tuesday, Sept. 15 | 6–7 PM

Dr. Meaghan Staples — The Sign She Asked For

Dr. Meaghan Staples didn’t arrive in Maine with a long-term plan to build a business here. Travel physical therapy brought her to Lincoln almost by chance. Then she met a Mainer — and stayed.

In Episode 12 of Maine Thrive Voices, Meaghan shares how she opened Refine Physical Therapy with exactly one client on grand-opening day, then gradually discovered an unexpected specialty that would reshape the practice: women’s pelvic-floor physical therapy.

It’s a conversation about taking a chance, building something from the ground up, and recognizing the moment when a new direction starts to feel like the right one.

Read the Maine Thrive Insights feature:
https://mainethriveinsights.com/dr-meaghan-staples

Listen on Spotify:

Emery’s Meat & Produce — Gardiner

Some businesses earn their place in a community simply by doing the work well for a very long time. Emery’s Meat & Produce has been a Central Maine family business since 1975, cutting meat on site and offering locally raised meats and Maine produce when available. Today, Emery’s serves customers from locations in both Gardiner and Waterville.

For this week’s Best of the Kennebec Valley, we’re recognizing a business that has spent more than 50 years keeping the butcher-shop tradition alive in Central Maine.

Newsletter Sponsor

Marshall Communications
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207-623-4177

Section Sponsors

The Costello Agency — John Costello
Life insurance and mortgage protection for Maine individuals and families.
207-570-0899

North Star Property Solutions — Tony LaPrino
Property preparation, painting, drywall repair and cosmetic improvements for homeowners, sellers and real estate professionals.
207-745-5304

MESA-Maine — Maine Endurance Sports Alliance - Laura McIntyre
Supporting endurance sports and community-centered races throughout Maine.
207-694-9184

Woof, LLC — Glenburn - Peter Richmond
Dog daycare, boarding and grooming in a clean, comfortable facility.
207-331-9663

A sincere thank-you to Marshall Communications, The Costello Agency, North Star Property Solutions, MESA-Maine, and Woof, LLC for supporting the Kennebec Valley Voice.

Their support helps us keep the Voice free and continue sharing the local news, events, businesses and community stories that matter across the Kennebec Valley.

Send Us What’s Happening

Know about an upcoming event, community fundraiser, business opening, local project or story we should know about? Send it our way.

Please include the date, time, location, cost if there is one, and a direct source where we can verify the details.

The easiest way is simply to hit reply to this email. I read the replies. You can also email me directly at [email protected].

The Kennebec Valley Voice works best when people around the Valley help us find the things worth sharing.

B. 1971

The Maine State Museum and Maine State Library moved into Augusta’s Cultural Building in 1971.