With just over one week left until the return of the Bash at the Boatyard and tickets nearly sold out, we’d like to highlight one of the unique additions to the event which has quickly become a hit— the Wine Pull. “What exactly is a Wine Pull?” you might ask. Luckily it’s easy to explain and a whole lot of fun to take part in.

After two years away thanks to the pandemic, there were many folks— both year ‘round and seasonal— looking forward to the return of traditional Memorial Day festivities for 2022. Not only did the festivities return, but they went off without a hitch and were enjoyed by a sizeable crowd.

As most of you know, the CDC currently classifies Hancock County as having a “High” level of Covid-19 (up from “Low” the prior week). When the CDC implemented their new metrics and rating system in early March, The Neighborhood House adopted the policy of masking being optional except during times of a High classification.

Come join us this summer - Divine Play Yoga will light up your life, will transform you into a beacon of joy. So get ready - I look forward to meeting you again in the Great Hall this summer.

Come celebrate the unofficial kickoff to the summer season at The Neighborhood House Community Cookout on Memorial Day, May 30! The grills will get going just after the parade down Main Street and ceremonies at the NEH Marina. Our volunteer “grill-masters” will be serving up classic hot dogs and burgers (vegetarian option available too) along with chips, a drink and dessert. Veterans are invited to enjoy lunch on the house and all others are just a $5 suggested donation

We are ecstatic that our traditional five day per week (9am-4pm) day camp programs will be returning for the summer of 2022! The last couple of summers have allowed us to try some new things and offer popular programs and workshops for children, but we’ve really been looking forward to returning to some sort of “normal” (and a whole lot of fun).

n person Yoga with Richard Parker will resume on Sunday, March 13 from 8-9 now that the CDC has lifted the indoor recommendation for masking. His Thursday morning class will continue on Zoom, as it has since December. This class will return to in person status later in the spring. Please sign up on line for the Sunday class here. All proceeds from Richard’s classes go directly to support The Neighborhood House!

If you prefer to continue participating via Zoom, please email Richard for the link.

Last week the federal CDC changed their approach to determining county-by-county risk levels of Covid-19. The new formula considers not just rate of transmission, but also new hospitalizations and available staffed beds over a seven-day period. As of today, the federal CDC has labeled Hancock County (and the 15 other Maine counties) as having a “Moderate” risk level.

Therefore, effective Monday, March 7 masks will no longer be required for adults while indoors at The Neighborhood House. However, our After School program will continue to mirror the policy of the school system which for the time being still requires indoor masking. When and if the schools amend their policies, we will follow suit for programs focused on that age group.

While we are all keeping our fingers crossed that the pandemic is heading towards a more manageable state, we also realize that many of us might not be comfortable attending in person classes (even with a masks) just yet. Luckily, The Neighborhood House has a few options for those of you looking to participate in a class from home.

While MDI Community Campfire Coalition may be a long name, the mission of the program is very simple and straight forward. Since its founding in 2008 the Coalition has worked to provide heating assistance to families in need on Mount Desert Island, Swan’s Island and the Cranberry Isles. This is accomplished by providing qualified households with a once-per-season delivery of 100 gallons of heating fuel or the equivalent in propane, wood, or electric. Unlike state and federal programs, the Campfire Coalition has a simple one page application and those who meet income qualifications (ranging from $36,420 for an individual to $75,300 for a household of four) usually receive a fuel delivery within a few days.

The past year has been an eventful one to say the least. Although gatherings and activities have continued to look a little different than in the past, the pandemic certainly hasn’t dampened the sense of enthusiasm and community spirit that fills The Neighborhood House. We are truly excited to see what 2022 has in store and look forward to new programs and lots of reasons to celebrate.

The Neighborhood House, in collaboration with Acadia Youth Sports, Harbor House, the MDI YMCA, and the Lamoine Recreation Dept. will be offering a Youth Basketball program for players in grades 1-5 beginning in December. For players in Mt. Desert, things will kick off on Thursday, December 9 with an organizational practice right after school (3:15-4pm).