Tomorrow, we pause to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and honor the courage and sacrifice of so many.



We will never forget. 🇺🇸

SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 | ISSUE 34

PLEASE NOTE, OUR NEXT BUSINESS AFTER HOURS IS NEXT WEEK

September 3 - 13

FMI or to purchase tickets, visit the Belfast Masker's

page HERE

Do si do and swing your partner at the gorgeous Rockport Opera House during

the Flying Shoes community contra dance, now scheduled every second Sunday of the month. A unique cultural tradition, this intergenerational and chem-free program welcomes new dancers and experienced folks alike.

The featured musicians this month are the Newell Family Band, three generations of leading lights in Maine’s contra dance music scene. This summer, the group was a featured band at the 50th anniversary of the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, bringing Maine's driving Down East dance music to the

renowned trad gathering in Port Townsend, WA. The band is Maisie Newell on fiddle; her father, Carter Newell on fiddle, clogs, and accordions; her partner, Eric Dayan on guitar; and their children, Elijah, Bubba, Dixie, and Solomon Dayan on fiddles.

Two callers will take the mic for the evening’s dancing. Flying Shoes co-founder, Chrissy Fowler, will lead the Community Dance – simple repertoire for all ages and experience levels and especially great for families with young children. Alice Slater, a major force in Maine’s contra dance culture, will call the Contra Dance. As a dancer, organizer, and caller, Slater relishes learning new material and recently returned from a summer intensive in square dance calling. Get ready for a dance party not to be missed! The dance is presented by the Rockport Opera House, the Town of Rockport, and Belfast Flying Shoes. During the 6:00 pm Community Dance, you can listen, dance, or bring an instrument to play along with

The Newells as a “Back Row Bandit”.

The Contra Dance kicks off at 7:00 pm, with a brief introductory

session followed by a full program of trad music and dancing.

The Rockport Opera House is at 6 Central St in Rockport. Sliding scale admission is $15 – 25. (For just the first hour’s community dance, admission is $1 kids $2 adults.) Bring your friends and family. All are welcome!

Belfast Flying Shoes builds community and cultivates well-being through the joys of traditional music and dance. Its nonprofit programs include participatory dance residencies for students and staff at local schools. Info at www.belfastflyingshoes.org

Built in 1891, the Rockport Opera House is one of the architectural gems of Maine. Owned by the Town of Rockport, the venue hosts concerts, weddings, special events, and community programming throughout the year. Info at rockportoperahouse.org/

Eli Lev

(Folk Pop / Singer-Songwriter)

Friday, September 11th, 2026 at 6:00 PM

at Marshall Wharf Brewing Company

FMI  https://eli-lev.com/tour

Nonprofit Fundraising Training in Belfast

Belfast Flying Shoes invites local nonprofits and other public benefit community organizations to “Fundraising in Challenging Times”, a training facilitated by Andy Robinson on Wednesday, September 16 in Belfast.

Nonprofit leaders across the region are worried about surviving and thriving in the current environment. The good news is that those same nonprofits are staffed by creative and proactive people. Let’s all be part of the rising tide that lifts all boats!

During this training, participants will learn specific steps to prioritize core programs, raise money differently, and partner more effectively with peers. We’ll cover topics like redefining fundraising, diversifying income, program planning, and protecting core programs; collaborating with peers and

partners; and engaging board members and volunteers more effectively. This is an interactive program with discounted pricing for teams.

Preregistration is required. Registration is on a sliding scale of $60 - $120 per participant, with discounts for additional people from the same organization. Details and registration at belfastflyingshoes.org/events/ or email belfastflyingshoes@gmail.com

Our instructor, Andy Robinson (andyrobinsononline.com) provides training and consulting for nonprofits,

businesses, and government agencies. Over the past 30 years, Andy has worked with clients in 47 US states and across Canada. He’s designed and facilitated thousands of workshops, webinars, retreats, and programs covering a variety of topics, including fundraising, board development, marketing, leadership

development, facilitation, planning, change management, alternatives to the 501(c)(3), and train-the-trainer programs. Andy is the author of six books, including Train Your Board (and Everyone Else) to Raise Money, trainyourboard.com. His latest is What Every Board Member Needs to Know, Do,

and Avoid. A frequent visitor to Maine, he lives in Plainfield, Vermont.

Founded in 2005, Belfast Flying Shoes builds community and cultivates well-being through the joy of traditional music and dance for people of all backgrounds and identities in Midcoast Maine. Among the nonprofit’s diverse programs are monthly dances in Belfast and Rockport, a radio show and podcast, and

programs for older adults, incarcerated men, and students and staff at local PreK-12 schools.

Measuring Change in the Ducktrap Forest with Coastal Mountains Land Trust

Lincolnville – On September 17 at 5:30 pm, at the Ducktrap preserve, join Coastal Mountains Land Trust and student researcher, JP Raite, for a guided walk on how our local forests are changing. JP recently led a team of UMaine forestry students to establish permanent monitoring plots within the preserve. These plots track changes in the forest's health and structure, as the region faces increasing pressure from climate change, invasive species, tree pests and pathogens.

Participants will visit three plots in hemlock, ash, and beech tree stands, where JP will share findings from her first year of data collection. Identification guides will be available for anyone interested in learning more about native species. On the return walk, there will be an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the tranquility of the preserve and with any luck, a hermit thrush serenade.

JP is an Ecology student at the University of Maine researching environmental change. She also works as a practice manager at OPAL Architecture in Belfast. A Lincolnville resident and neighbor to the preserve, JP spends much of her free time walking its trails and sitting by the river.

This walk is approximately 2.5 miles round trip with a moderate grade. All ages are welcome. Please bring water, tick, and insect protection. Wear comfortable, yet sturdy hiking shoes.

The trailhead parking lot is off Route 52/Belfast. Meet at the trailhead parking lot (2749 Belfast Rd, Lincolnville, ME 04849). We'll cross Belfast Rd/route 52 and hike a portion of the west trail to visit three forest inventory plots. 

Please register for this nature program by visiting Coastal Mountains Land Trust’s events page on their website at: https://www.coastalmountains.org/event

####

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land and connect people with nature in the western Penobscot Bay. The Land Trust has protected over 13,500 acres, offering 55+ miles of trails for public recreation. 

Grove Cemetery Tour with An American Revolution Theme

Saturday, September 19, tour starts at 1:00

Join Megan Pinette, Historical Society President and Belfast Cemetery Trustee on a “Revolutionary Belfast” themed walk through Grove Cemetery.  Grove Cemetery is located at 262 Belmont Avenue. The tour will take place on Saturday, September 19 and the tour starts at 1:00. Meet at the Grove Cemetery Chapel. Parking is available in the cemetery. Featured will be John Cochran, Boston Tea Party participant, Mrs. Jane Durham, her extensive memory recalls the Penobscot Expedition, and William Crosby, with his childhood memory of the night before the Battle of Lexington. A suggested donation of $10.00 to benefit the Chapel Restoration Fund. The tour lasts about an hour +.

Join us for a free talk on Red Flag Implementation: Next Steps

Tuesday, September 29, 4:00–5:30 p.m.

Mid-Coast School of Technology, Rockland

Wednesday, September 30, 3:00–4:30 p.m.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay

Free (pre-registration appreciated)

Last November, Maine voters passed a referendum to enact an Extreme Risk Protection Order law - commonly known as the Red Flag Law - by more than 60%. The harder work now begins: ensuring this new civil court process is accessible to those who need it, through education, training, and proactive community engagement.

This presentation on Red Flag and Yellow Flag processes, will identify points of overlap and key differences, explore court forms developed for Red Flag petitions, and open the floor for feedback.

Retired federal prosecutor, National Domestic Violence Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Justice, and current teacher at the University of Maine School of Law, Margaret Groban, returns to New Hope Midcoast to follow up on the passage of Red Flag Laws in Maine. 

For more information visit: https://newhopemidcoast.org/speaker-series-main/

Dorothy Havey, Executive Director

Director@belfastmaine.org

Kim Grindle, Member Relations Coordinator

ChamberOffice@belfastmaine.org

Board of Directors

President: Michelle Curtis, First National Bank

Vice President: Ryan Harnden, Mathews Brothers

Treasurer: Terri Tower, Camden National Bank

Secretary: Megan McAvoy, MaineHealth Waldo Hospital

Haley B. Hall, Esq., Camden Law

John McKeith, The Belfast Center

Mary Tripp, Bank of America

Tracy Cini, Spouter Inn

Staff Photography by Dave Waddell, Down East Magazine