This week’s cover photo comes to you from the Cardboard Boat Races at Belfast Harborfest, courtesy of John Blodgett/Midcoast Villager. This is news from the Bay & Beyond. Your Chamber Working For You!
Belfast Senior College is committed to providing intellectual stimulation, practical knowledge, community and fun for people of 50 years of age or older. We are a volunteer-powered nonprofit organization dedicated to lifelong learning.
A Little Background
For 25 years, Belfast Senior College has drawn upon the wide range of talents and life experiences within our midcoast community to offer new and established residents the opportunity to meet, interact and explore a variety of interests and topics.
What Sets You Apart
Throughout the full year, Senior College offers something for everyone, from hands-on learning, to discussions, lectures, and classes offered live and via Zoom. Our courses fall within several broad categories:
● Art, Music, & Drama
● Literature & Languages
● Personal Growth & Health
● Nature & the Environment
● Current Events & Technology
● History & Culture
Summer classes, special events, brown bag lunches and field trips are also open to non-members.
Belfast Senior College classes are held at many venues throughout the area, including churches, Waterfall Arts, Penobscot Marine Museum, Social Capital and the Belfast Free Library.
A Future Goal or something you would love people to know
In our classes, you’ll enjoy new conversations, friends and perspectives along with no tests, no homework, no pressure. Annual membership is only $30 and course fees range from $15 – $45 per course. We offer one-session courses and events that are low-cost or free. This upcoming Fall semester, we’re offering a rich selection of topics with 18 classes beginning on September 22 and ranging in length from 1 to 6 sessions/weeks. Registration opens on Tuesday, September 2.
With our former home of the Hutchinson Center closed, we’ve become a school without walls, anchored in downtown Belfast, enjoying the generosity of many community facilities providing classroom space.
As a volunteer-powered organization, our instructors and their assistants provide their services for the pure pleasure of being part of a learning community. We are always delighted to hear from those who might like to teach a course and to offer assistance to new instructors in developing their course proposal. We welcome community members who can volunteer as class assistants or audio/visual assistants to provide instructor support while receiving the benefit of taking the class for free.
We are one of 17 senior colleges in Maine, and membership in one provides access to courses at any other in the state.
Our ongoing goal is to cultivate community, curiosity and creativity as a vibrant resource for those who want to keep on learning throughout their lives. Another equally vital goal is to contribute to the well-being of the local community by offering programs open to all.
For more information see the Belfast Senior College website, belfastseniorcollege.org or call 207-707-6010.
This week’s cover photo comes to you from Belfast Summer Nights, taken by Laurie Amero. This is news from the Bay & Beyond. Your Chamber Working For You!
Belfast, ME — The Rotary Club of Belfast is thrilled to announce that artist Marsha Donahue, owner of North Light Gallery in downtown Belfast, has created a one-of-a-kind original oil painting to be auctioned at Evening by the Bay, the opening celebration of Belfast Harbor Fest 2025.
The painting, titled “Tugs from the Bridge”, is a stunning 30”x30” oil on board, capturing a vivid maritime scene from the iconic Belfast footbridge. Valued at $5,000, this work reflects Donahue’s signature style and deep connection to Maine’s working waterfront.
“It’s a great honor to contribute to such a meaningful community cause,” said Donahue. “The vision of an inclusive playground in Belfast—where children of all abilities can play together—is something we can all get behind. ” City Park holds special memories for Marsha, who played in the park while visiting her grandparents during her childhood.
The Evening by the Bay event will take place on Friday, August 15th beginning at 5:30 pm, at the United Farmers’ Market, 18 Spring St, kicking off a weekend of waterfront fun. All proceeds from the auction will support the Rotary Club of Belfast’s Inclusive Playground Project at City Park.
The event features food, drinks, live music, and both live and silent auctions—with this year’s highlight undoubtedly being Donahue’s generous and heartfelt donation.
Don’t miss this opportunity to own a piece of original Maine art and support a transformative community project. Tickets for Evening by the Bay are available now at https://belfastharborfest.com.
About Us: We’re The Back & Forth, a small boat tour business based right here in Belfast. Now in our 8th season, we offer a variety of unique and personal cruises aboard our classic wooden lobster boats — from peaceful harbor tours and scenic sunset cruises (with lobster rolls, of course!) to hands-on treasure hunts with real-life pirates. Whether you’re a visitor or a lifelong local, our goal is to offer unforgettable experiences on the beautiful waters of Belfast Bay.
Our Story: The business was started by myself, Alex, and my wife Lisa — a couple of creatives originally from England who fell in love with Midcoast Maine after watching too many ’80s New England movies (think Baby Boom and The Money Pit). With a background in hospitality and storytelling, we set out to create something joyful, personal, and a little magical. What started as one small boat is now two: The Back & Forth and The Out & About — each offering something a little different for our guests.
What Makes Us Different: We keep things simple, special, and small. With a max of six guests per trip, every outing is personal — no crowds, no microphones, just genuine hospitality, salty air, and a deep love of the bay. Our Treasure Hunt Cruise has become a beloved favorite for families, and our Sunset Lobster Cruise is often the highlight of someone’s summer. We also partner closely with local businesses like Young’s Lobster Pound to showcase the best of Belfast from dock to deck.
This year, we’ve launched something truly exciting aboard our second boat: The Out & About now offers authentic lobster fishing demonstration trips! Guests get a chance to step into the boots of a real Maine lobster fisher — hauling traps, sorting the catch, learning about lobster habits, sustainability, and how this iconic industry really works. It’s a hands-on, family-friendly adventure that’s as fun as it is fascinating — and it’s the perfect experience even on foggy or rainy days.
Looking Ahead: As we continue to grow, we’re excited to introduce new seasonal offerings, fun onboard wine experiences, and more collaborative events with local makers and guides. Above all, we’re focused on keeping our trips joyful, authentic, and rooted in the local community.
The Back & Forth Belfast City Harbor Dock, Lower Main St. | 207-323-2566 | www.thebackandforth.com
Our Mission: The Belfast Soup Kitchen provides a safe community where our guests can find food, comfort, and hope for the future in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.
Vision Statement: The Vision of the Belfast Soup Kitchen is to reduce hunger in Waldo County by providing nutritious food and connecting guests to resources and education opportunities that can help address the challenges and associated circumstances of food insecurity.
What sets us apart: The Belfast Soup Kitchen is currently the only soup kitchen/food pantry in Waldo County open 5 days a week.
We do much more than just providing a hot lunch every day, we also provide a comprehensive range of services for our community including, takeout meals, evening meals, emergency food box delivery, biweekly grocery delivery, and the HUSH weekend backpack meal program for children. Our Kindness Community Market visits further empower individuals with access to nutritious, healthy food which is often locally sourced. This multi-faceted approach ensures we are meeting the diverse needs within our community.
Rural Barriers: Waldo County and rural Maine provides its own unique challenges. So often lack of transportation means that people cannot access the food and nutrition that they deserve. We combat this by delivering meals to those who lack transportation, or are disabled/unable to leave their home. In 2024, we delivered 38816 meals across Waldo County. We also offer extended hours in our Marketplace to allow a wider range of folks to visit, further ensuring that consistent, nutritious food reaches our neighbors who need it most.
In addition to all of the above, we also have a wide reach in Waldo County. In 2024, we served 8,154 individuals, which accounts for 20% of Waldo County’s population. We can only accomplish this through the dedication of our volunteers who contributed over 14,000 hours of work in 2024, and our community who contribute not only financially, but also in in-kind donations. This strong community backing and investment is a testament to the trust and value the community places in our mission.
A future goal or something you’d love people to know: We would love the community to know that our (the Belfast Soup Kitchen) ability to serve over 36,000 takeout meals, 14,000 dining room meals, and distribute over 200,000lbs of food is possible because of the incredible support from our community – volunteers, donors, and partners. Every hour volunteered, ever dollar given, and every pound of food donated helps us to accomplish our mission and make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors in Waldo County.
