Central Lincoln County YMCA announces the launch of its 2017 annual fund drive with the theme “Our Y is more than a gym. It’s a cause.” Funds raised through the annual drive will provide an extraordinary opportunity to ensure a brighter future for the children, families and seniors in our region.

The American Red Cross of Maine and the Waldoboro Fire Department are teaming up to install free smoke alarms in residents’ homes and help people prepare for home fires. The Red Cross, the fire department, and community volunteers will perform the installations on Saturday, July 22.

LincolnHealth medical professionals are offering new classes and programs to teach and encourage community members to eat more nutritious, balanced meals to help improve their overall health and well-being.

The mission of Oxbow Brewing Company is to utilize the creation of unique, complex, and refreshing beer as an opportunity to build culture and community — and what better way to achieve it than by providing fresh draft beer, live music, locally sourced food in support of local conservation efforts! Oxbow Brewing Company will host live music events this summer at its tasting room in Newcastle as well as at the Damariscotta River Association’s Darrows Barn at Round Top Farm.

The Newcastle Historical Society Museum will open for its 16th year on Saturday, July 1. As in the past, hours will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday in July and August. There is no admission charge.

Several local organizations are coming together to provide youth with free, healthy meals throughout the summer through the USDA funded Summer Meals program. The program is open to all children ages 18 and under, no questions asked and no registration required. While many sites offer programming, kids do not need to be enrolled in programs in order to receive meals. Healthy Lincoln County sponsors the participating organizations, and all together they served more than 12,000 meals last summer.

The Ecumenical Council on Homeless Prevention was honored by Tedford Housing on Thursday evening, June 14, with the Tedford Home Award for the council’s work in homeless prevention.

The Community Housing Improvement Project Inc. Community Cares Day will take place Saturday, Sept. 9. While CHIP Inc. is busy throughout the year addressing people’s housing and emergency heating needs, this is the special day when 100 or more volunteer workers spend the day working on about 10 projects around Lincoln County helping make the homes of neighbors in need safer, warmer, and drier.

On Friday, June 16, the Round Pond Schoolhouse Association will host Bristol Consolidated School’s fifth-graders as they tour local historic sites. The students will visit the restored Washington Schoolhouse and its museum. Built in 1885, the two-story building was one of Bristol’s largest schools.