November 4, 2023, 2-6 p.m.
University of Southern Maine’s Abramson Auditorium, Portland
We hope to see you at our Film Fest for Casco Bay, an afternoon of movies curated by Maine Outdoor Film Festival. The event will feature a variety of environmental and adventure films curated just for us. You won’t want to miss it!
Tickets are available below.
If you’d like to volunteer at the event, email sfreshley [at] cascobay [dot] org.
Want to know how heavy rainfalls, like those we have experienced this summer, impact Casco Bay?
Join Friends of Casco Bay staff in South Portland on September 8 at 10 a.m. to learn about the impacts of stormwater on our local waters using both observational and scientific data.
What: Stormwater Impacts and Water Sampling
When: Friday, September 8, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Yerxa Park, 725 Broadway, South Portland.
Meet in the parking lot to the left of the old Sea Dog Brewing.
RSVP: by emailing Sara Freshley at sfreshley [at] cascobay [dot] org
At this event, Friends of Casco Bay staff will guide you through what to look for when posting to Water Reporter.
Did you know that stormwater is the largest source of pollution into Casco Bay by volume? Stormwater that flows from these outfalls can be a source of excess nitrogen. Too much nitrogen can lead to nuisance algal blooms and eelgrass decline. You can help us track pollution from stormwater pipes that empty into our coastal waters.
At this event, we will also take water samples to demonstrate the link between observational data and water quality data. Our science staff, Mike and Heather, will bring the samples back to the lab for an analysis of total nitrogen. Once we have the nitrogen data, we will follow up with attendees, comparing what we observed in the field.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Thank you to L.L.Bean, Ferris Olson Family Foundation for Ocean Stewardship, Allagash Brewing Company, and our members for their support of our Water Reporter program.
As more than 115 Friends of the Bay heard at We Are Water — Friends of Casco Bay’s Members Annual Meeting, “olotahkewakon” is the Passamaquoddy word for “ceremony.” Passamaquoddy Language Keeper Dwayne Tomah shared this word in his tribe’s native tongue noting that all of us coming together was a ceremony for our mother earth.
The tribes in Maine were the original stewards of this land and of Casco Bay, beginning more than 12,000 years ago, and today, although there are no official tribal lands on the shores of Casco Bay, Wabanaki people still live within the watershed. Passamaquoddy means “the people who spear pollock.” An important part of Passamaquoddy culture is protecting our air, land, and waters. It is in partnership to those values that we remain honored to have hosted Dwayne, who lives Downeast on Passamaquoddy Bay, as our featured speaker at the event.
Dwayne’s refrain throughout the evening was “We are all in this together.” The Annual Meeting was attended by local residents, dozens of our volunteers, current and former State Representatives from towns around Casco Bay, federal officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, staff from Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and colleagues from partner organizations, all of whom are working together to improve and protect the health of Casco Bay. As Dwayne said, “We are all in the same canoe, we just didn’t know it.”
You can listen to Dwayne talk by clicking play on the video below. As caveat, due to the tent we were under and the setting sun, the video quality is low, but we hope you find Dwayne’s talk as inspiring as we did.
Passamaquoddy Language Keeper Dwayne Tomah
Until recently, Dwayne was the youngest fluent speaker of the Passamaquoddy language. He has dedicated his life to teaching Passamaquoddy language and culture to tribal members. As the Passamaquoddy Language Keeper, Dwayne has been an ambassador, using native words to teach others about his people’s culture while helping us all connect, heal, and learn together.
His efforts have been vital to keeping the Passamaquoddy language alive. Beginning in the 1600s, European colonizers began taking tribal lands and attempted to extinguish tribal cultures. In the 1800s, Federal policies forced tribes to assimilate into white, christian culture by requiring children be taken from their community and put into boarding schools, among many other egregious acts. Through this process, much of the Passamaquoddy language was lost.
However, in 1890, the heart of this forced assimilation era, many Passamaquoddy tribal members recorded stories, songs, facts, and conversations on wax cylinders borrowed from Thomas Edison. This was the first field recording of people telling stories and singing ever!
Although these wax cylinders were owned by the Harvard Peabody museum, they were returned to the tribes in 1980. Dwayne Tomah and others have spent hours meticulously listening to and learning from these recordings, which has resulted in revived energy and pride in Passamaquoddy culture and sovereignty. As one tribal member stated about this project, “it isn’t just language preservation or cultural preservation, it’s people preservation.” Dwayne has been at the heart of this preservation effort.
At the Annual Meeting, we announced the winners of “Frame the Bay,” our inaugural photo contest. More than 60 photos were submitted to the contest, which asked Friends to share their favorite photos taken of, near, or on Casco Bay. Participants could submit up to five photos. The judges included internationally recognized sports photographer Kevin Morris, Lindsay Heald, a visual artist, photographer, and producer from Maine, and Board President Sandy Marsters, who has a background in photojournalism.
Our winners in the recreation category were:
First Place: Heidi Holloway
Second Place: Glenn Michaels
Third Place: Bill Brokaw
Our winners in the wildlife category were:
First place: Stephen Hobson
Second Place: Stacey Keefer
Third Place: Stacey Keefer
Our winners in the Working Waterfront category were:
First Place: Glenn Michaels
Second Place: Glenn Michaels
Third place: Adam Mistler
Our winners in the scenic category were:
First place: Ava McKinley
Second Place: Timothy R. Brokaw
Third Place: John Bald
Ava was also our first place student photographer winner and her scenic photo won Best in Show.
Congratulations to all of our winners!
As the State Representative for Harpswell for eight years, Joyce “Jay” McCreight has gone above and beyond for Casco Bay. Executive Director Will Everitt presented her with our Casco Bay Award. As he shared, “Over the course of her legislative career, Jay has been a true Clean Water Hero.” Her achievements include:
After eight dauntless years and four rounds of being elected to the statehouse, she was term limited but Jay’s clean water work continues. Jay now serves on Harpswell’s Resiliency and Sustainability Committee and she remains tireless in continuing to help get the flares disposal bill implemented.
Down to Business
Our We Are Water event began with the official business of our Members Annual Meeting. As they looked out at Casco Bay from Spring Point in South Portland, Friends of Casco Bay members unanimously voted Mark Green and Steve Bushey to their second terms on the Board of Directors. We are proud to have their wisdom, experience, and dedication, all in service to our mission to improve and protect the health of the waters we all love.
Join us for three hours of music, drinks, oysters, snacks, & a silent auction all to benefit Casco Bay!
You are invited to join us on Saturday, September 9th, at 10 a.m for a Coastal Clean up in Harpswell.
Friends of Casco Bay has joined up with Harpswell Heritage Land Trust for this special cleanup. By taking part you’ll join hundreds of volunteers around the state as part of the 35th Maine Coastal Cleanup, hosted by Maine Coastal Program in the month of September.
What: Harpswell Coastal Cleanup
Where: Meet at Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, 153 Harpswell Neck Rd, Harpswell
When: Saturday, September 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
RSVP: Sign up by filling out the form below
What to expect:
We will meet at Harpswell Heritage Land Trust where Friends of Casco Bay and Harpswell Heritage Land Trust staff will give an introduction and an orientation. Then you will be assigned a location in Harpswell to clean up! Most sites will be Harpswell Heritage Land Trust land. You will be provided with all of the supplies you need as well as a map. After a couple of hours, we will meet back at Harpswell Heritage Trust where you can leave your trash.
This is an excellent way to meet other community members and explore the beautiful peninsulas of Harpswell.
Bring a friend! All are welcome.
Have questions? Email Sara at sfreshley [at] cascobay [dot] org.
Water Reporters are invited to the shores of Casco Bay to learn from an invasive species expert, Jeremy Miller. Jeremy is a marine scientist at the Wells Research Reserve where he helps monitor invasive species in Maine.
Jeremy will give us a brief lesson about the types of invasive species he studies and how to identify them. Then we will head down to the beach and get our hands dirty as we look for examples – bryozoans, tunicates, and more! – in the intertidal zone and under the docks. This is a fun opportunity to learn about often overlooked marine animals.
RSVP by emailing keeper@cascobay.org.
If you’re not already a Water Reporter, please sign up and join us! We would love to see you at this event.
What: Invasive Marine Species Water Reporter Event
When: Friday, July 14 from 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Where: Friends of Casco Bay Office
Southern Maine Community College
43 Slocum Drive, South Portland, Maine.
Thank you to L.L.Bean, Ferris Olson Family Foundation for Ocean Stewardship, Allagash Brewing Company, and our members for their support of our Water Reporter program.
You’re invited to celebrate the healthy future of the Lower Presumpscot with Friends of Casco Bay and Friends of the Presumpscot River!
Where: Riverton Trolley Park and Allagash Brewing Company in Portland
When: Thursday, July 13, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Join us at Riverton Trolley Park on the banks of the Presumpscot to hear about how the new moratorium on industrial and wastewater discharges into the river supports the health of the Casco Bay watershed. After some brief remarks at the park, we will head to nearby Allagash Brewing to raise a toast and celebrate.
Please RSVP by emailing keeper@cascobay.org.
We hope to see you there!
Do you have expired marine flares on your boat or in your home? Do you know someone who does?
You can safely dispose of expired flares at the Expired Marine Flare Collection event in Harpswell, this Saturday!
What: Expired Marine Flare Collection
Where: Harpswell Town Offices, 263 Mountain Road, Harpswell, Maine
When: Saturday, June 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Who: Free and open to everyone
Marine flares are pyrotechnic devices that boaters can use as a distress signal in emergencies. They burn at high temperatures, posing a serious fire hazard for long-term storage. Flares also contain toxic chemicals that can contaminate water and soil. Due to these hazardous qualities, it is illegal to throw flares in the trash. For the same reasons it is not recommended to store expired flares at home.
If you have expired marine flares, you can bring them to Harpswell’s collection event. The collection service is free and open to everyone, not just Harpswell residents.
At the event, the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office will collect expired flares for safe disposal. If you are unable to attend the collection event, you can call the Maine State Fire Marshal’s office to arrange for your expired flares to be picked-up. The Fire Marshall can be reached at (207) 626-3870.
Friends of Casco Bay is a proud sponsor of this event. We are grateful to the Harpswell Harbormaster, Harpswell Department of Safety and Emergency Services, and the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office for helping to protect Casco Bay!
On June 29, Water Reporters are invited to Wharton Point in Brunswick to learn about salt marshes from an expert scientist. Salt marshes are under threat from erosion, rising sea levels, and green crabs. Come and learn about these important coastal ecosystems in Casco Bay and what to look for as Water Reporters when observing changes in salt marshes.
If you’re not already a Water Reporter, please sign up and join us! We would love to see you at this event.
At the event, coastal geologist Peter Slovinsky will lead a lesson about all things salt marsh. Peter works on salt marsh restoration projects among his many duties as a sea level rise and coastal erosion scientist with the Maine Geological Survey.
RSVP by emailing sfreshley@cascobay.org. We hope to see you there!
What: Salt Marsh Restoration Water Reporter Event
When: Thursday, June 29 from 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: Wharton Point, Brunswick (Wharton Point is at the southern end of Maquoit Road)
As always, please reach out to Community Organizer and Volunteer Coordinator Sara Freshley if you have questions or want to meet face-to-face to talk about Water Reporter and Casco Bay. Sara can be reached at sfreshley@cascobay.org
or at (207) 807-0785.
Wednesday, August 2, 2023, 5:00-7:30 p.m. Program begins at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Spring Point Field, Southern Maine Community College
50 Lighthouse Circle, South Portland, Maine
Friends of Casco Bay invites you to celebrate the Bay we all love! Join us for delicious hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and the company of Friends who, like you, care about clean water. At the event we will:
Bring a friend! Let’s connect!
$25 suggested donation is appreciated, not required. Event includes hors d’oeuvres, cash bar.
Directions: From I-295, Take the Forest Avenue South exit (6A). Follow Route 77 (State Street) across the Casco Bay Bridge into South Portland. As you come over the bridge, continue straight. You are on Broadway. Stay on Broadway for approximately 1 mile, until it ends. At the stop sign, turn right onto Pickett Street. At the stop sign, turn left onto Fort Road and take it to the end. Look for Friends of Casco Bay signs.
Thank you to Southern Maine Community College for hosting us.
The Casco Bay photo contest Submissions have closed for Frame the Bay.
Winners in five photo categories – scenic, recreation, wildlife, working waterfront, and student photographer – will be announced at We Are Water! Click here to learn more.
2022 Annual Meeting Minutes, Friends of Casco Bay
Friends of Casco Bay 2022 Annual Report to the Community
Board of Directors Elections
New directors are elected by the Board during the year and ratified by the membership at each Members Annual Meeting. Directors serve three-year terms, and they are limited to three consecutive terms. The following board members will be voted on as a slate at the meeting:
For their third three-year term: Board President Sandy Marsters, Sebastian Milardo
