Sandy Smith
| tues, Sept 8|Issue #1|Casco Bay |
Maine Open Lighthouse Day Opens Three Casco Bay Lights Saturday
For the first edition of the Casco Bay Voice, it seems appropriate to start with the landmarks that have helped define this coastline for generations. Maine Open Lighthouse Day is Saturday, September 12, when historic lighthouses around the state open doors and towers that visitors normally do not get a chance to enter. Most participating lights are open 9 AM–3 PM. Here in Casco Bay, three especially familiar lights are taking part.
Portland Head Light — Cape Elizabeth
Portland Breakwater Light — Bug Light, South Portland
Spring Point Ledge Light — South Portland |
Portland Head Light is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the Maine coast. What year was the lighthouse first lit? A. 1776 Keep your answer handy. We’ll give you the answer at the very end of today’s Casco Bay Voice. |
Launching the Casco Bay Voice feels a little different from starting a publication built around one central city.
Casco Bay is a collection of communities that share the same water but each have their own identity. Portland is part of the story, of course, but so are South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Falmouth, Cumberland, Westbrook, Gorham and the islands and neighboring towns that help define the region.
That is what I want this Voice to reflect. Some weeks the biggest story may be on the waterfront. Other weeks it may be happening on a town trail, inside a local business, at a farmers’ market or in a community meeting miles from downtown Portland. The goal is to gather those pieces in one place and make it easier to know what is happening around the region.
This first edition of the Casco Bay Voice is sponsored by Marshall Communications. I appreciate Nancy Marshall and her team for supporting a new local publication built around stronger visibility for the people, businesses and communities that make Maine distinctive.
And I can’t think of a better way to begin than with Open Lighthouse Day — three familiar Casco Bay lights opening their doors on the same Saturday.
Welcome to Edition #1 from Scout & me.
— Sandy |
A fairly comfortable September week around Casco Bay, with the best stretch currently shaping up from Friday through Sunday.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 — 72° / 56°
Wednesday, Sept. 9 — 67° / 64°
Thursday, Sept. 10 — 77° / 58°
Friday, Sept. 11 — 72° / 54°
Saturday, Sept. 12 — 70° / 58°
Sunday, Sept. 13 — 74° / 61°
Monday, Sept. 14 — 78° / 58°
Forecast source: National Weather Service Gray/Portland, with the extended Monday outlook from the current Portland forecast. |
Knight’s Pond Preserve — Cumberland
A few miles inland from the Casco Bay shoreline, Knight’s Pond Preserve gives you a very different side of the region. The preserve covers 163 acres in Cumberland, centered around a 46-acre pond and an extensive trail network through forest, wetlands and higher ground. One of the best surprises is the ridgeline, which rises to roughly 500 feet and offers views toward Casco Bay and, on a clear day, Mount Washington.
It’s open during daylight hours for low-impact recreation including hiking, biking, paddling, fishing and horseback riding, with other seasonal uses as conditions allow.
Trailhead: Greely Road Extension, Cumberland
It’s exactly the kind of place Hidden Gem is meant for — close enough to be easy, but just far enough off the usual Casco Bay route that plenty of people have never explored it. |
Portland Runs to Remember
Hundreds of runners and walkers gathered at Payson Park in Portland for the third annual Tunnel to Towers 5K, a community event honoring first responders and the memory of those lost on September 11.
The course circles Portland’s Back Cove, and many participating first responders completed it in uniform. The event honors New York firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel toward the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Money raised supports the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and its work with families of fallen and injured first responders and military members.
Watch the WGME 13 story: |
Bug Light Car Show — South Portland
Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 4–7 PM More than 250 antique and unique vehicles are expected at Bug Light Park, along with food trucks and lighthouse tours. It’s one of the strongest midweek community events in the region and gives South Portland a real waterfront anchor in the launch edition. Rain date is Sept. 16.
Maine Outdoor Film Festival — Scarborough
Thursday, Sept. 10 | 7:30 PM This special outdoor film program focuses on the saltmarsh sparrow, endangered species and local conservation, with proceeds benefiting Scarborough Land Trust. It gives the issue a strong Scarborough presence and a distinctly Casco Bay environmental angle.
Free Flowing Waters — Westbrook
Friday, Sept. 11 | Panel 6 PM | Films 7 PM An evening built around rivers, migratory fish and river health, beginning with a panel discussion and followed by outdoor films. It’s a strong Westbrook event and another example of how the Casco Bay region extends beyond the immediate shoreline. Rain date is Sept. 13. |
Wednesday Bird Walks — Scarborough
Wednesday Morning Nature Walk — Falmouth Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 8–9:30 AM
Owls, Hawks & Falcons Family Drop-In — Falmouth
Brass Roots Fest — South Portland
Portland Hearts of Pine vs. AV ALTA FC — Portland
Fitzpatrick Stadium |
South Portland City Council Workshop — South Portland
Coastal Waters & Harbor Committee — Scarborough
Shellfish Conservation Commission — Scarborough
Westbrook City Council — Westbrook
Special Town Council Meeting — Falmouth |
Whether you are looking to build referral relationships, meet other business owners or keep up with the issues affecting Greater Portland businesses, there are plenty of opportunities around the region this week.
BNI CHAPTER MEETINGSBNI Referral Masters — Portland
BNI Energy — Windham
Harraseeket Business Builders BNI — Freeport
BNI Rising Tide — Saco
BNI Business Leaders — Yarmouth
Lakes Region BNI — Windham
Casco Bay Money Movers BNI — Portland
BNI Business Partners — Westbrook
Dirigo BNI — Portland / Statewide
CHAMBER & BUSINESS EVENTS2026 Mainebiz Outstanding Women in Business Reception — Portland
Eggs & Issues: State of the City — Public Safety in Focus — Portland |
Wigon Office Supplies Prepares to Close After 94 Years — Portland
Spurling Fitness Expanding Into Portland
Market Basket Hiring Now in Scarborough
Westbrook Seeks Developer for Downtown Property
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September is still one of the best times of year to shop local. Produce is abundant, fall crops are arriving, and several Casco Bay-area markets remain in full swing.
Cherry Hill Farmers’ Market — Gorham
Falmouth Farmers’ Market — Falmouth
Portland Farmers’ Market — Portland
Greater Gorham Farmers’ Market — Gorham
Cumberland Farmers’ Market — Cumberland
Scarborough Farmers’ Market — Scarborough
South Portland Farmers’ Market — South Portland |
Protect Your Email First If you only have time to tighten up one online account this week, make it your email. Your email account is often the key to resetting passwords for banking, social media, business software and other services. Turn on multi-factor authentication, and when your provider offers it, choose a passkey or another phishing-resistant option rather than relying only on text-message codes. CISA recommends phishing-resistant MFA as the strongest protection against account takeovers. Quick check: Open your email security settings today and make sure MFA is actually turned on—not just available. |
Don’t Put Away the Sunglasses Yet Summer may be winding down, but UV exposure does not end with Labor Day. Keep sunglasses handy for bright September days—especially around the water, where glare can make the sun feel even stronger. Look for lenses that provide strong UV protection, and pair them with a brimmed hat when you’ll be outside for extended periods. The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that prolonged sun exposure without UV-protective eyewear can contribute to eye damage over time. |
Maine Needs — Portland
If you have useful household goods or clothing you no longer need, Maine Needs is one of the easiest places in Greater Portland to turn them into something immediately useful for another family.
Current donation hours: Drop-off:
Bring donations to the doors around the back of the building. Volunteers will help sort items when you arrive.
Items currently especially useful include: A good rule from Maine Needs: donate items in the condition you would be comfortable giving to a friend — clean, useful and ready to use. |
Each week, Casco Bay Voice will introduce you to adoptable animals from two local organizations serving the region.
Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland — Westbrook
HART of Maine — Cumberland
Every week, we’ll feature one current adoptable animal from each organization, using the shelters’ real photos and current descriptions so you can meet two Casco Bay-area pets looking for homes. |
Meet Cooper Weight: 70 lbs |
 Meet Cooper at the Animal refuge League of Greater Portland |
Meet Annabelle Annabelle is a gorgeous long-haired beauty with a soft, flowing coat and a calm presence that makes her perfectly suited for lounging in sunny spots. She loves to stretch out in warm patches of light, watching the world go by and enjoying the simple comforts of a peaceful day. |
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Seasonal Roasted Vegetables
September farmers’ markets are full of vegetables that are perfect for roasting. This University of Maine Cooperative Extension recipe is flexible enough to use whatever looks best that week. Serves 8 Ingredients
Choose a seasoning combination:
Directions
Leftovers: Refrigerate promptly and use within four days. Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension — Seasonal Roasted Vegetables |
Next Chapter Book Club — Falmouth
Summer Sunsets Live — Portland
Casco Bay Lines Fall Ferry Service — Portland & the Islands |
The Sign Meaghan Staples Asked For |
This week on Maine Thrive Voices, Sandy talks with Dr. Meaghan Staples of Refine Physical Therapy.
Meaghan grew up as a gymnast and college pole vaulter in small-town Minnesota. After tearing her ACL and going through rehabilitation, she knew physical therapy was the direction she wanted to pursue.
Years of schooling and travel physical therapy eventually brought her to Maine — almost by chance. She later opened Refine Physical Therapy with exactly one client on opening day. In the conversation, Meaghan shares the moment she asked for a sign that she was on the right path — and how her practice evolved into a Greater Bangor resource for women’s pelvic floor physical therapy.
Read the Maine Thrive Insight:
Listen on Spotify: Episode 12 — Maine Thrive Voices |
Have Something Casco Bay Should Know About?
The Casco Bay Voice is built around the people, businesses, organizations and communities that make this region worth knowing. If you have a local event, community announcement, business opening, nonprofit need, interesting local story or something happening in your town, send it our way.
We regularly cover Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Falmouth, Cumberland, Westbrook and Gorham, with additional Casco Bay communities included when the story fits the region.
Send your news, events and story ideas to:
Please include the what, where, date, time, contact information and a link to an official source whenever possible. We can’t promise every submission will run, but we appreciate knowing what is happening around Casco Bay. |
Marshall Communications — Portland
This first edition of the Casco Bay Voice is sponsored by Marshall Communications, a Maine-based boutique marketing and public relations agency founded by Nancy Marshall, The PR Maven®. Since 1991, Marshall Communications has helped businesses and organizations strengthen their brands through strategic communications, public relations, media relationships, content and storytelling. The agency is based in Portland and works with clients in Maine and beyond.
Marshall Communications Maine Based. Globally Connected.
Thank you to Nancy Marshall and the Marshall Communications team for supporting the launch of the Casco Bay Voice. |
The Casco Bay Voice is brand new, and the best way to help it grow is simple: share it with someone who cares about what is happening around Casco Bay.
If you know a friend, neighbor, family member or local business owner who would enjoy a quick weekly look at local events, community stories, business news, Furry Friends, food and more, please forward them this edition.
The more local readers we reach, the stronger this publication becomes — and the better job we can do covering the communities that make up Casco Bay.
Know someone who should be reading the Voice? Forward this edition today.
Together, we keep Casco Bay connected. |
The Water Between Us
One of the things I like about Casco Bay is that every community around it has its own personality.
Portland feels different from South Portland. Falmouth is different from Cape Elizabeth. Scarborough, Cumberland, Westbrook and Gorham each bring something different to the region. Yet drive toward the coast almost anywhere around here and eventually the same water comes back into view.
That feels like a pretty good description of what I hope the Casco Bay Voice becomes.
Not a Portland newsletter with a few surrounding towns added around the edges, but a place where the communities around Casco Bay can see a little more of what their neighbors are doing — the events, businesses, organizations and people that make this part of Maine such an interesting place to live.
This is only Edition #1. We’ll learn, adjust and get better as we go. Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today, and thank you to Marshall Communications for helping us launch the Casco Bay Voice.
If you enjoyed it, please share it with somebody else around the Bay.
— Sandy
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The answer is C — 1791.
Portland Head Light was first lit in 1791, after construction was authorized by George Washington’s administration. More than two centuries later, it remains one of the defining landmarks of Casco Bay. |