CANCELED   The Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor has canceled the upcoming Abbe Museum Indian Market (AMIM), scheduled for May 15-17, 2020. This annual event will return the weekend of May 14 – 16, 2021.

The Abbe Museum is formulating ways to support Native artists during this time and will have further announcements forthcoming on their website and social media pages. You can also find resources to help artists through the National Endowment for the Arts and state/regional arts organizations. FMI: abbemuseum.org.

Bangor Issues Emergency Regulation with Prohibitions on Businesses

March 22, 2020   In response to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, the City of Bangor has issued updated emergency regulation with prohibitions on businesses.

The regulation states that no auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater, gymnasium, fitness center, private club, movie theater, museum, dance club, music venue, adult entertainment facility, casino, gymnasium, fitness center, yoga studio, or indoor cycling studio is allowed to be open while the city’s state of emergency remains in effect.

Bars, restaurants, and dine-in facilities must also remain closed to dine-in traffic, but can continue to operate in delivery or “take-out” fashion as long as customers do not enter the business, and transfers of food or other product takes place outside the business.

In addition, no other establishment of any kind that sells or provides goods or services are allowed to remain open during the state of emergency, except for establishments that provide necessary goods and services. A complete list of these businesses is available in the emergency regulation.

For more information, read the official emergency regulation at bangormaine.gov.

TEMPORARILY CLOSED  The Bangor Public Library is closed to the public at least through Friday, May 15, 2020. All due dates will be extended til then, no overdue charges. Any change to those plans will be posted on the website,  social media, and on the atrium entrance to the Library. FMI: bangorpubliclibrary.org.

Blue Hill Peninsula Chamber Member Updates (as of 3/30/20)

Blue Hill Co-op- Store hours have been reduced effective Wednesday, March 18th. The new hours are Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm. The coop provides gloves in their entrance for shoppers who would like them. In addition to our Café Curbside Pickup we are also offering a new Remote Basket program. Fill out a quick form on our website, give us your shopping list, and we’ll shop for you. Pay over the phone and pick up at the curb. Find out more at www.bluehill.coop/remote-basket. The Coop is also regularly updating their customers via their Facebook and Website pages or by calling 374-2165.

Lambert Coffin, Attorneys- While their office is closed to public traffic due to COVID-19, they are available by phone and e-mail, with all employees working remotely. Email Amy at avisentin@lambertcoffin.com or call direct to 374-4460. Documents may be left in the dropbox next to their office door inside the building. For updates please visit the Lambert Coffin website: https://www.lambertcoffin.com/

Mainescape- Mainescape is open wed – Sat for phone orders and outside  pickup only. Pet food, Bird seed, seeds, soils and supplies, houseplants, etc. Pansies and primroses and spring flowering bulbs are coming next week to help lift peoples’ spirits!

Blue Hill Heritage Trust- Free Trail Guides are still available outside of our office in a tote, as well as outside the Compass Rose Bookstore in the Book Boat, and Island Heritage Trust’s Office. We would like to share Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s recomendations for how to practice safe Social Distancing while enjoying the outdoors in public spaces.

Tradewinds – New store hours starting April 5^th: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm, with 7:00 – 8:00 am for 55+ only.

Sandy’s Blue Hill Café – Thursday – Monday, 8:00 – 2:00. Curbside take-out for breakfast & lunch, frozen prepared meals and coffee/expresso drinks. Infection-control protocols are in effect.

Castine Historical Society: Castine House and Garden Tour rescheduled to July 2021.

Broadband Survey- Mission Broadband has offered a quick survey to collect data on some of the impacts of this current COVID-19 is having on all aspects of our broadband network.  They put together a survey to try to capture the end users perspective that might help guide efforts to improve broadband across the state.   The survey focuses on a few key items during this crisis, the influx of at home usages from families staying at home.  Its designed to highlight the gaps in coverage, inadequate coverage and social-economic factors.

Please take a moment to fill out the survey, and then please share it widely in your virtual networks.   https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ME_SD_BB_Impact

Blue Hill Public Library will be closed until further notice. The decision to reopen will be reassessed as new information and recommendations become available.

• The bookdrop will remain open for the duration—returns will always be accepted. If you have an oversized item not suitable for the bookdrop, call ahead and staff will meet you at the door.
• All current due dates for library materials will be extended and no overdue fines will be assessed during this time period.
• Has your library card lapsed or have you not yet gotten one? Normally you need to sign up in person, but for the duration of this closure, to provide access to digital materials, local year-round and part-time residents can sign up by phone.
• Our staff will still be working and will be here to help in any ways we can. Please keep in mind that you can still call or e-mail us with your reference questions. Also, digital services (e-books, e-audiobooks, etc.) remain available from our website. The library’s WiFi will also remain available on the exterior 24/7. To contact the Blue Hill Public Library: 374-5515 or bhpl.net.

 TEMPOARILY CLOSED   The Camden Public Library will be closed temporarily. At this time, the intention is to resume normal operations on Wednesday, April 8th. Due dates have been extended to April 15, please DO NOT RETURN materials to the Drop Box.

Many regular Library programs are being offered on-line or on Facebook.

The Cloud Library: Explore thousands of e-books and audiobook titles that can be accessed on iPhone/iPad, Android device, PC, or Mac. The collection has been added to in recognition of the very high demand. 

Stream Films: Over 30,000 independent, international, classic, or documentary films including The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, and PBS are available via on-demand steaming.

For updates, info, and on-line services: 236-3440 or librarycamden.org.

TEMPOARILY CLOSED  Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) will be closed to the public through April 30, 2020. During the closure period, you can explore the many online resources, exhibitions and videos available 24/7, and get up to date info on what’s happening: cmcanow.org.

TEMPOARILY CLOSED  The Challenger Learning Center of Maine in Bangor is currently closed to visitors. All public programs and k-12 field trips have been cancelled through April 24, 2020. Check the website regularly for updates on our normal operations status. FMI, questions or concerns: contact@astronaut.org, 990-2900, or astronaut.org.

Chewonki: Nature-Based Education Resources for Families at Home. Continue (or start!) your child’s nature-based education at home with our new Chewonki at Home resource page. Find lessons, activities, and links to daily living streaming events with our wildlife educators, outdoor educators, and farm team… Get all the info at chewonki.org.

Community Law Foundation offices are closed and staff is working remotely. All in-person events are cancelled through the end of April. Stay tuned for more information on program updates, virtual gatherings, and events. For the latest info: clf.org.