ROCKLAND

Historic boat making way for Breakwater Lighthouse

A restored late-1800s wooden peapod boat will be launched today and rowed to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, where the artifact will be placed on permanent exhibit in the light station’s boathouse.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, which has worked closely with the Apprenticeshop in Rockland over the last eight months to restore the boat, which traces its roots back to the Mount Desert Rock Lighthouse.

Following a brief ceremony at 10 a.m. at the public landing at Rockland’s Harbor Park, the peapod will be launched at 10:15 a.m. and rowed out to Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, where it will be greeted by volunteers and visitors.

For more information, go online to www.rocklandlighthouse.com or www.lighthousefoundation.org or call the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse at 542-7574.

CUSHING

Georges River Land Trust holding celebration Aug. 22

Members and friends of the Georges River Land Trust will gather starting at 3 p.m. Aug. 22 for the annual celebration and business meeting in Cushing at the Antolini property, which is conserved under easement with the trust.

This lovely property is on Hyler Cove of the St. George River and protects a heron rookery as well as forest and wetland habitats.

After a short business meeting, Danielle D’Auria and Brad Allen from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will speak about shorebirds and herons.

A picnic potluck will follow the talk, and attendees are asked to bring food to share according to the first letter of their last name, as follows: from A-I a main dish, J-S a salad and T-Z a dessert. Drinks will be provided.

Bring your kids, chairs or blankets and walking shoes. Trails along the river will be open especially for this event. Please leave your pets at home.

For more information, call 594-5166.

PORTLAND

Island trail group launching interactive online guide

After 22 years of producing an annual paper guide to Maine islands, the Maine Island Trail Association has launched an accompanying interactive online version.

The new website, guide.MITA.org, describes access to the 185-plus sites on the Maine Island Trail, nautical charts, put-in and pump-out information, plus local weather and tide information.

America’s first recreational water trail, the Maine Island Trail extends along the entire coast of Maine. For over two decades, the Maine Island Trail Association has entered into agreements with island owners to allow recreational access to their islands in exchange for a variety of volunteer-driven stewardship services.

Development of the online guide was made possible with the financial support of the Maine Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Parks, the Horizon Foundation, three anonymous donors and MITA’s 3,600 members.

Maine Island Trail Association membership starts at $45, and provides password-protected access to all trail sites in addition to a variety of other member benefits. For more information, contact MITA at 761-8225 or visit www.mita.org.

CORNISH

Woodland owners sponsor talk on marketing products

The Small Woodland Owners of Maine will sponsor a forest products marketing panel discussion from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Cornish Inn.

The cost for the noon luncheon is $15 and the panel discussion starting at 12:45 p.m. is free.

The panel will include major Maine forest product buyers, including paper companies and lumber yards. The purpose of this event is to build a bridge between landowners and the forest products industry, creating a greater understanding of the needs of both.

Attendees will be able to ask questions of the panel. The event is open to the public. To make luncheon reservations, call Dotti Mozden at 637-3273.

BOWDOINHAM

Merrymeeting Bay group seeks volunteers for event

Friends of Merrymeeting Bay is looking for volunteers willing to assist in the removal of a discrete and isolated stand of phragmites on the Abagadasset River. The project will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 28 in Bowdoinham.

Volunteers will be using the “clip and drip” approach, which involves cutting and bagging the seed heads and then squirting a dose of herbicide down each hollow stem.

This method is labor intensive but is effective and selective — the herbicide is only applied directly to individual plants. An experienced, licensed applicator will be present to assist with this effort.

If you would like to take part in this opportunity to kill invasive plants, learn more about the bay and help protect the natural communities within Merrymeeting Bay, please sign up with Misty Gorski at 737-8508 or at fomb@suscom-maine.net.

GRAY

Freeport Wild Bird Supply owners to discuss birding

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 28, Jeannette and Derek Lovitch, owners and operators of Freeport Wild Bird Supply, will be at the Maine Wildlife Park for a presentation on bird watching.

The park is open daily through Nov. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; visitors must leave the premises by 6 p.m.

Admission to the park is free for ages 3 and under; $5 ages 5-12; $7 for adults, and $5 for seniors. Groups of 15 or more are $3.50 per person.

For more information, call 657-4977 or go online to www.mainewildlife park.com.

FREEPORT

L.L. Bean holding annual Hunting Expo Aug. 27-29

Whether you’re a veteran hunter or are just getting started, the L.L. Bean Hunting Expo Aug. 27, 28 and 29 is a great way to learn strategies, see the latest gear, take advantage of deals and much more.

The Hunting Expo will offer free indoor archery, as well as demonstrations and clinics.

L.L. Bean’s fly-casting, archery and clay shooting Walk-On Adventures will also be offered free all weekend, in addition to many other hands-on and interactive activities for the whole family.

Biologists from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will conduct a special panel discussion on all things related to hunting in Maine.

For more information, go online to www.llbean.com/stores or call 877-755-2326.

SOUTH PORTLAND

Lighthouse cycling event starting at SMCC on Sept. 11

Hundreds of cyclists from across the United States will take part in the Maine Lighthouse Ride 2010 on Sept. 11 starting at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland.

Ride options in the event hosted by the Eastern Trail Alliance include a 25-mile ride, a 40-mile loop, a 62-mile metric century, and a 100-mile trip. Along the way, riders will see as many as nine historic lighthouses. Maps, cue sheets, multiple rest stops, food, refreshments and hot showers are provided by ride organizers.

Participants can get more information and register by visiting www.EasternTrail.org, or by calling 284-9260. Registration is $50 before Aug. 26, and $60 after that. Riders who register by Aug. 26 will receive a free Maine Lighthouse Ride T-shirt.

All proceeds will benefit the Eastern Trail Alliance, an organization dedicated to building a 60-mile greenway from Kittery to South Portland.

LISBON FALLS

Habitat steward training courses to be held in fall

University of Maine Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation, will offer a Habitat Stewards training class for new volunteers this fall. Habitat Stewards is a program for people who would like to contribute to the improvement of habitat for wildlife.

The class will be held at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension office, 24 Main St., Lisbon Falls, from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 16; 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 18; 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 2; 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 14; and 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 16.

Habitat Stewards receive 24 hours of training focusing on what wildlife need to live and how to improve their habitats; how to design backyard and community-based landscapes as habitat; and use of native plant species in the home landscape. After the initial training, each Habitat Steward agrees to “give back” 30 hours of volunteer time over a 12-month period in a community-based habitat related project.

If you are interested, contact Amy Witt at 1-800-287-1471 or e-mail amy.witt@maine.edu. The deadline for submitting applications is Sept. 1.