AGP Executive Report

School Sports: Houlton/GHCA’s boys repeated as Class C North cross-country champions, while MDI won the Class B Northern Maine girls title; both teams head to the state championships Oct. 31. Museums & Memory: Maine State Museum reopened Saturday after a six-year closure, and the Farnsworth Art Museum has received four N.C. Wyeth murals. At Acadia, a missing Wabanaki marker has renewed discussion about whose history national parks tell. Education: Maine is marking 150 years of Deaf education. Outdoors: A free Happy Wanderers hike at Camden’s Hodson Preserve is set for Nov. 5, with a 2.4-mile trail through woods and blueberry barrens.

Outdoor Life: Coastal Mountains Land Trust and MaineHealth are hosting a free 2.4-mile Happy Wanderers hike at Camden’s Hodson Preserve on Nov. 5, with brookside trails, hemlock woods and blueberry-barren views. Museum News: The Maine State Museum reopened Saturday after a six-year closure, beginning its Phase I return. Maine Art: The Farnsworth Art Museum has received four N.C. Wyeth murals from Bank of America’s art collection. Wabanaki Heritage: A missing Wabanaki marker at Acadia has renewed debate over whose histories national parks tell. Education: Edgecomb’s Center for Teaching and Learning welcomed visiting teachers from Georgia and California for classroom observations and professional development.

Maine Heritage: The Maine State Museum reopened Saturday after a six-year closure, unveiling exhibits on Maine life, quilts and Gulf of Maine whales, with free admission. Arts: The Farnsworth Art Museum is receiving four N.C. Wyeth murals from Bank of America’s collection. Outdoor Heritage: Belgrade’s 280-acre Camp Bomazeen has been sold to a conservation group, which plans to protect its forests, wetlands and shoreline while preserving Scout access. Wabanaki History: Tribal and conservation groups continue their legal fight over a missing Wabanaki marker at Acadia and how national parks tell the region’s history.

Museum Reopens: Maine State Museum welcomed visitors back Saturday after a six-year closure, with new exhibits on Maine life, Gulf of Maine whales and quilts, plus the return of “At Home in Maine.” Arts and Heritage: The Farnsworth Art Museum is adding four N.C. Wyeth murals to its collection, while a missing Wabanaki marker at Acadia has renewed debate over whose stories national parks tell. Youth Support: LGBTQ+ young people can once again reach specially trained counselors through the 988 Lifeline’s “Press 3” option, restored after a 14-month absence. Schools: Medway Middle School earned a statewide award for fostering a joyful, supportive learning environment.

Museums & History: Maine State Museum reopens Saturday after six years, with free admission, new exhibits on Maine history and the skeletons of a humpback whale and her calf. Wabanaki Heritage: Acadia’s removal of a Cadillac Mountain sign describing the summit’s sacred significance to the Wabanaki has renewed a legal fight over whose stories national parks tell. Arts: The Farnsworth Art Museum is set to receive N.C. Wyeth murals from Bank of America. Winter Outdoors: Portland’s inaugural First Tracks snow show, Nov. 7–8, will bring outdoor brands, ski areas, gear demos and films to Thompson’s Point.

Maine Culture: The renovated Maine State Museum in Augusta opens Saturday, bringing a fresh look to a major state cultural institution. Wabanaki History: A missing marker at Cadillac Mountain has renewed debate over how national parks tell the region’s history. Maine Voices: Solange Omon, a Maine resident who won Victoria’s Secret’s “Angels Among Us” modeling contest, has spoken out against racist abuse following her runway debut. Arts & Events: Bay Chamber’s Portland Trio performs in Camden Nov. 6; today is also the final day to see a rare Declaration of Independence broadside at the Maine State Archives in Augusta. Election Watch: Susan Collins and Troy Jackson are tied at 49% in a new Fox News poll, keeping Maine’s Senate race among the country’s closest.

Deaf Education: Maine marks 150 years since the Portland School for the Deaf opened in 1876. Today, the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing works with families, schools and communities statewide. Wabanaki Heritage: Acadia National Park’s removal of a summit marker about Wabanaki history has strained a decades-long partnership with the Wabanaki people. Separately, a judge let stand the state’s initial approval of the Juniper Ridge landfill expansion, despite Penobscot Nation concerns about harm to the Penobscot River and tribal cultural survival. Ocean Economy: Maine’s first Blue Economy Week brought more than 300 people to Portland to discuss workforce, investment and growth in industries tied to the ocean. A state report estimated those sectors supported 88,726 jobs in 2025.

Women’s Voices: The Maine Women’s Lobby made its first-ever U.S. Senate endorsement, backing Troy Jackson and pointing to his record on paid family leave, child care and reproductive rights. Onstage in Belfast: Wits’ End Productions presents Aunt Dan and Lemon on Oct. 23 and 24 at Basil Burwell Community Theater; ticket proceeds benefit two Waldo County nonprofits. Museum Careers: UMaine’s Zillman Art Museum internship has helped launch graduates into museum work, including a Bowdoin museum administrator who credits the experience as formative. Coastal Heritage: Columbia students visited Curtis Island Light Station to explore how historic lighthouses can support Maine’s coastal resilience and preservation. Classroom Innovation: Madison teacher Julie Wallace won $7,000 in national awards for her aquaponics program, which teaches food production and supplies lettuce to three communities. Maine Shucking Champ: Wiscasset’s Andy Rogers won the national oyster-shucking title in Maryland and will represent the U.S. at the 2027 world championship in Ireland.

Maine Food: Deer Isle chef Devin Finigan’s new cookbook shares a home-style favorite: crispy chicken thighs, slow-rendered until the skin is golden and crisp. Education: Augusta Spanish teacher Gretchen Livingston is Maine’s 2027 Teacher of the Year, recognized for her ability to connect with students. Arts & Heritage: The Maine State Museum is set to reopen Oct. 24, offering visitors a fresh chance to explore the state’s history. Wabanaki Land: The Mi’kmaq Nation has added 83 acres to its ancestral holdings in Maine. Community Care: After 35 years supporting hospice and end-of-life care, the Maine Hospice Council has closed, though its former director says she’ll continue helping people find resources. Environment: A judge upheld initial state approval for Juniper Ridge Landfill’s expansion, drawing renewed concern from the Penobscot Nation and local residents over pollution and PFAS-contaminated wastewater.

End-of-Life Care: The Maine Hospice Council has closed after 35 years, citing limited resources. The Augusta organization helped expand hospice access, train providers and build programs for underserved communities; its executive director says she’ll continue offering care referrals. Education: Cony High School Spanish teacher Gretchen Livingston was named Maine’s 2027 Teacher of the Year. Maine Heritage: The Mi’kmaq Nation added 83 acres to its ancestral land holdings, while the Maine State Museum is preparing to reopen Oct. 24. Food & Living: For Crocktober, a Penobscot Bay YMCA nutrition educator shares slow-cooker ideas for cozy, budget-friendly meals as grocery costs remain well above 2020 levels. Maine Talent: Lewiston resident Solange Omon, a 21-year-old Cameroonian-born model and youth nonprofit worker, made her Victoria’s Secret runway debut after winning the brand’s open casting search.

Arts & Heritage: The Maine State Museum is preparing to reopen Oct. 24, and a revered Virgin Mary medallion has found a new home in Lewiston. Portland Ovations has also added three concerts to its season. Outdoor Maine: The Mount Desert Island Marathon drew runners from across the country, while fall festivals celebrating shadows and fungi are on the calendar. Nature & Learning: Hog Island’s Audubon Camp marks 90 years of environmental education and conservation.

Museum Reopening: After six years closed, the Maine State Museum reopens Oct. 24 with new interactive exhibits, a whale skeleton display and a tribute to outdoor pioneer Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby. School Culture: Portland school officials are weighing whether classroom dogs belong in district policy, as families raise cultural, religious and personal concerns about animals. Fall Fun: Orrington’s Oct. 24 Halloween gathering adds a trunk-or-treat, food trucks, a night maze and adoptable pets. Conservation Legacy: Hog Island Audubon Camp marked 90 years of environmental education, carrying on a Maine tradition that has trained generations of conservation advocates. Wabanaki Voices: The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians endorsed Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate, citing his work on tribal sovereignty and Wabanaki priorities.

Community Traditions: Columbia Falls-based Wreaths Across America renewed a $420,000 partnership to support its veterans’ remembrance mission, including wreath-laying events on Dec. 19. Fall on the Island: The 23rd Mount Desert Island Marathon drew runners from across the country for a scenic route through Acadia, bringing visitors and business to the island. Food & Schools: Lewiston-area schools are putting local ingredients on the menu, with taste tests and scratch cooking part of the effort. Faith & Heritage: A revered Virgin Mary medallion in Lewiston has found what its community considers a proper home. Arts & Education: Portland schools have launched Maine’s first local K–12 Black history curriculum.

Public Spaces: Old Orchard Beach volunteers are removing more than 500 hemlocks at Guild Park after an invasive insect infestation. The work aims to help the forest recover and keep the park healthy for future generations. Community Care: Bangor volunteers have teamed up for weekly park cleanups, collecting litter and safely disposing of sharps while supporting compassionate outreach to unhoused residents. Coastal Economy: A Rockland study estimates cruise visitors and cruise lines brought $1.7 million in local spending in 2025, supporting about 20 full-time-equivalent jobs and generating $115,000 in state tax revenue. Cultural Heritage: A beloved Virgin Mary medallion from Lewiston’s former St. Mary’s Church has found a proper home after years away from the church.

Local Journalism: Maine newsrooms took home major honors at Saturday’s Maine Press Association contest: the Maine Trust for Local News won more than 100 awards, the Maine Monitor earned 15, and BDN investigative editor Callie Ferguson was named Journalist of the Year. Food and Schools: Auburn and Lewiston-area schools are adding locally sourced meals, including fish tacos and “mac and trees,” through a four-year, $623,970 grant supporting scratch cooking and student taste tests. Workplace Rights: A former housekeeper has sued Bar Harbor glamping resort Terramor’s parent company, alleging race and gender discrimination and retaliation after she raised concerns; the company’s response was not included in the report. Student Health: Medomak Valley High School students were told not to drink the school’s water after tests found elevated lead.

Maine Journalism: Bangor Daily News investigative reporter Callie Ferguson was named Maine Press Association Journalist of the Year for her reporting on immigration enforcement and federal policy in the state. Civic Life: Hundreds gathered at Portland’s Deering Oaks Park for a No Kings rally, where Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined Senate candidate Troy Jackson and gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree to urge Mainers to vote. School Sports: Maranacook’s Reagan Mattson and Dirigo’s William Morris won individual titles at the Mountain Valley Conference cross-country championships; Winthrop took the boys’ team crown, and Maranacook won the girls’ title.