BELFAST — Waterfall Arts in Belfast is the recent recipient of a $5,000 donation from the Ethel and W. George Kennedy Family Foundation, Inc., for the ongoing development of the Waterfall Arts Printmaking Studio.

In 2013 The Ethel and W. George Kennedy Family Foundation, Inc. made an initial grant of $10,000 to help establish a fully functional print studio at Waterfall Arts, accessible to printmakers of all skill levels. In the last year Waterfall Arts has successfully launched free demonstrations and affordable workshops and classes lead by some the area's top printmakers like Richard Mann, Tara Law, Dina Petrillo, Abbie Read, Willy Reddick, Jeff Jelenfy and Russell Kahn.

They have also hosted several printmakers from Portland giving workshops, recent graduate of Maine College of Art (MECA) Shawn Brewer of Fast Food Prints, and MECA faculty Colleen Kinsella and Elizabeth Jabar. Kinsella and Jabar have a large installation in Waterfall Art's current exhibition in their Clifford Gallery, Living in These Bodies, Part II.

The Print Studio hosts weekly open studio hours and working artists can subscribe for 24/7 access. Waterfall Arts will hold demo sessions for anyone interested in trying out the space. Look for open studio hours and demo dates on their website www.waterfallarts.org/.

The Ethel and W. George Kennedy Family Foundation, Inc. is a private family foundation established in 1968 by the now late W. George Kennedy in memory of his wife Ethel, who had died the year before. During the course of their lifetimes, Ethel and George Kennedy were committed to improving the quality of life for those in Miami-Dade County through the work of such organizations as the American Cancer Society and the Easter Seals. Kennedy hoped that the creation of a foundation for charitable purposes would ensure the continuity of their vision and maximize the effectiveness of his ongoing philanthropic support. Today, the Foundation is directed by four of their children and occasionally makes grants outside of Florida.

Since 2000, Waterfall Arts has served as the Midcoast area's non-profit community art center, offering innovative classes, exhibitions, artist residencies, and many other cultural events. Their mission is to create community in harmony with nature through the transformative power of the arts, carried out in two locations: the rustic woods setting in Montville in the original home of Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and at 256 High St. in Belfast, in the former Anderson School.

For further questions and comments visit the website, email info@waterfallarts.org or call 207-338-2222.

Camden National promotes David Ackley

Camden National Bank promotes David Ackley to senior vice president, senior information and corporate security officer. Ackley, who is based in Rockport, will continue to report to Joanne Campbell, executive vice president, risk management for Camden National Bank.

"In today's high-tech banking environment the need for a dynamic and robust information security program is imperative. Technologies such as online banking, remote deposit capture, and mobile banking are wonderfully convenient tools for our customers and we must ensure that they are safe and secure every time they use them," said Gregory A. Dufour, president and chief executive officer of Camden National Bank.

Ackley will lead the physical and information security department and will be responsible for the overall network security and monitoring of the bank, ensure compliance with government regulations, and investigating and reporting fraudulent activity.

"The security team is constantly educating themselves to stay in front of the changing security landscape. There are always new challenges, technologies, and threats that criminals use in an attempt to steal information," said Joanne Campbell, executive vice president, risk management. 

Ackley graduated High school at Washington Academy in East Machias, and then went on to the Air Force where he was awarded a Purple Heart.

Rockland Main Street seeks members

ROCKLAND — The advocacy group for downtown Rockland is seeking candidates to serve on its board of directors. Rockland Main Street, Inc., is a focused partnership of residents, businesses and local government that enhances and protects the unique sense of place and economic vitality of downtown Rockland.

Executive Director Gordon Page said the organization has been working to build up its volunteer board during the first half of the year, noting that it went from nine to eleven in the month of June. The group's bylaws require at least seven board members and not more than thirteen.

The board consists of residents, municipal representatives, downtown property owners, downtown business owners or managers, and representative stakeholders in Rockland Main Street's mission.

The board recently elected Megan Williams as secretary, to replace Kathryn Alex of Rockland. Alex is stepping down from the board at the end of August to devote more time to her family. Alex's departure brings the board count to ten. Williams, also of Rockland, is in the second year of her first three-year term.

Rockland Main Street, Inc., board president Paul Benjamin, expressed the sentiment of the full board to Alex with a certificate of appreciation for her many years of service during the August board meeting.

According to Benjamin, the board has expressed a desire to fill at least one of the vacancies with a Rockland resident who has no business-financial link to the downtown district. "We want another thoughtful and smart individual who has a commitment to Rockland for no other reason than his or her passion for the city, and interest in advancing the work of Rockland Main Street, Inc., on behalf of all residents and other stakeholders," said Benjamin.

Page said that there is no deadline for applicants, and that the board will appoint one or more board members based on a candidate's understanding of the overall mission, willingness to devote the appropriate amount of time and energy, and ability to work within a board structure.

In addition to economic development and historic preservation efforts, Rockland Main Street, Inc., also produces a variety of promotional events, including the Summer Solstice Celebration & Street Party; the "So You Think You Know Rockland" quiz show; the "Rockland Has Style" fashion show and silent auction; the Festival of Lights celebration, including the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree and parade; and the "Midcoast Has Talent – Or Not!" variety show.

Rockland residents wishing to be considered for a seat on the board, or anyone wishing to become involved as a volunteer, may contact the executive director by email at rocklanddowntown@gmail.com.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine appoints new board member

BANGOR — Heather Mott of Bangor is the newest board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine. She is the branch manager of Bonney Staffing Center of Bangor, an organization that recruits, screens and places applicants in general office as well as light industrial positions at hundreds of companies throughout Maine and Southern New Hampshire.

Prior to that, she worked at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital in the human resources department. She began in the staffing industry in 2006 when she worked for Kelly Services. In May of 2012 she graduated from the Bangor Region Leadership Institute (BRLI), and serves on the Board of Junior Achievement of Maine.

She lives in Orrington with her husband, Shawn, and son, Brayden.

Camden Garden Club has four new members

CAMDEN — Four new members of the Camden Garden Club attended a Welcome coffee in June to meet the club officers and committee chairs at the home of membership chair Kris Mikkelsen in Camden. These members are Stephanie Mathews, Barb Grossbaum, Linda Sink, and Christie Richards. Three other newcomers have joined since the coffee and photo. They are Hope Angier, Donna Barbieri, and Pat Skaling.

With about 140 members, the Camden Garden Club is in its 99th year of cultivating the art of gardening, developing and preserving beauty in and around Camden – like the trademark hanging baskets on lamp posts in summer and lighted wreaths in winter — and promoting civic improvements and conservation of natural resources.

These works are funded with the proceeds from the Annual House and Garden Tour, now in its 67th year. Next year the Garden Club's Centennial Year tour will be Thursday, July 16 -- and will feature wonderful houses often seen during the club's first years. New this December, an historic Camden house will be open for a Candlelight Christmas on Christmas by the Sea weekend, December 5 -7.

For more information, check the website: www.camdengardenclub.com. Camden is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Maine and National Garden Clubs, Inc. New members are always welcome.