Photo Credits: J Grenier
Monson Collaborative
OUR MISSION: To bring together and promote Monson businesses and organizations in support of outdoor recreation, the arts and food tourism.
OUR VISION: Monson is at the frontier of the North Woods, known for its natural beauty, outdoor recreation, food and arts. It is fueled by a collaborative, welcoming community that nurtures its cultural heritage, ingenuity, and resilience while preserving its family friendly small town charm.
ANNUAL EVENTS
January 1st
New Year’s Day Celebration
Snow Roller Day
Saturday, February 21st
Monson Collaborative Entrepreneur Expo
Nosin’ Round Monson
UPCOMING EVENTS!!
THE RESULTS ARE IN! The “Mayor of Monson” contest ended on February 20th. Just under $6000 was raised for the Gym Roof Fund. The position of Mayor was awarded to Jimmy Erickson! Way to go, Jimmy!! He can be seen
here celebrating after the announcement was made at
Snow Roller Day on February 21st!
The Deputy Mayor position was awarded to Miley Hardy!
She will has received honorable mention and will step up if
needed. Thank you, Miley!
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BIG CHEERS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT!!!! Thank you to the members of our Monson Fire Department for their hard work and another delicious boiled dinner! The 2nd annual dinner had over 100 neighbors who showed up!!
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Friday, May 1 - Rest Day Sauna - Full Moon Women+’s Sauna - 8-10pm - $25 per person - Open to women and nonbinary people 18+ years old. RSVP by text at (207) 343 -1811 or email restdaysauna@gmail.com
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Saturday, May 2 - Jane’s Walk - Sculpture Walk - 1pm - Meeting at Gallery - Come join Chantal as she takes us on a walk to see the Monson Sculpture Project and experience Monson from a fresh perspective.
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Tuesday, May 5th - Deadline for submission for Monson Business Map Update - reach out to cefharris@gmail.com.
Advertising options include:
All Monson & Blanchard businesses listed for free.
2” x 2” ad (Monson/Blanchard) $50
Outside of Monson/Blanchard business ad $100
In conjunction with the Business Map, we’re refreshing the bulletin board. Submit a 4” x 6” ad to be posted in the outdoor case by the Post Office - prime Summer reading real estate! Refresh happening for Memorial Day weekend. Deadline is Friday, May 15th.
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Friday, May 8 - Monson Arts High School Exhibition Reception - 5-7pm - Monson Arts Gallery - Celebrate the creativity of local high school artists and writers. Their work will be on display at the Monson Arts Gallery from May 1 - June 1. Stop by the reception to support these young creatives alongside friends and family.
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Mother’s Day Specials - Sunday, May 10 - The Lakeshore House will be offering specials around Mother’s Day. A perfect excuse to treat someone special (or yourself!)
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Select Board Meetings in May - May 7th 6pm will be a Work Session for the Select Board. Held in the regular meeting space. Regular Select Board Meeting will be held Thursday, May 14th at 6pm in the meeting room (CoWorking Space behind Town Office).
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Turning Page Farm Cribbage Tournament - Mark your calendar for four consecutive Sundays of competitive play — May 3, 10, and 17 — plus the Championship Final on May 31, all from 2:00–4:00 PM in the TPF Tasting Room.
We'll host fun, friendly matches with weekly prizes and bragging rights. The players who accumulate the most points over the first four weeks will advance to the Final Round on May 31 — where the winner walks away with prizes, several well-deserved pats on the back, and the coveted TPF Skunk Trophy to display for a full year as Champion of the Crib.
Not a cribbage player? Come anyway! Cheer on your favorite competitor, thrill to the pegs careening around the boards, and commiserate with the victim of a thorough skunking (...and you thought cribbage was a sedate game!). The TPF Brewery will be in full operation, ready to pour fresh pints and serve our hearty fare throughout!
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Trivia at Turning Page Farm - 2-4pm - Bring your brainpower (or just your sense of humor). Come solo or with a team - either way, its guaranteed fun.
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Book Club - 4pm at the Monson Public Library - My Friends by Hisham Matar - Come join us for a thoughtful, relaxed discussion - all readers welcome, even if you didn’t quite finish the book!
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6th Annual Beautification Committee Plant Sale - May 31st - In the lot next to Lakeshore House - Find your favorite plant and support the Beautification Committee. Have plants to share? Drop off donations between 9-10am.
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Summer Concert Series - Lakeshore House - Sundays beginning May 31st, 3-6pm. Starting with Kevin Hamel during the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend through October 11th, there will be some great acts performing right here for your enjoyment. During Summerfest there will be two acts performing - Whisky Dan 1-4pm and Peter Boyer 5-8pm. To see the full list of dates and performers see the Summer Concert Series poster HERE
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Nosin’ Around Monson - June 6th - Explore local businesses, connect with the community, and discover what makes Monson special!
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Saturday, June 13 - 4th Annual Collaboration Business Expo - 4-6pm Monson Gym - We’re so excited to offer this for the 4th year in a row! Have a business idea, a new venture, or a plan to grow something you’ve already started? This is for you! Two businesses will be selected to receive $3,000 each in investment funding. Create a tabletop presentation to pitch your business and share:
What your business is all about
How much funding your requesting
What you’d use it for
Make the presentation your own! Present however you feel most comfortable:
Oral Presentation
Written display
Video
Song
Dance
(Yes, really! We LOVE creativity!)
Community voting is from 4pm - 5:45pm. Applicants will be set up in the Monson Gym so the community can meet entrepreneurs, hear pitches, ask questions, and cast their votes. Winners are announced shortly after! Questions?
Email monsoncollaborative@gmail.com Deadline is May 30th!
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Gallery Reception - June 20th - 2-4pm - 8 Greenville Road - Join us for a reception celebrating author and artist Michael Rothschild’s exhibition Graven Images, on display June 13th - October 12th.
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Comedy Night - July 3rd - Turning Page Farm - Kicking off a brand new comedy series right here in Monson - yes, really! Tickets required! Book early - this one will fill up fast!
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Local Summer Camps
Center Theater Drama Camp - July 6-17th - Monson Arts - Register with Center Theater
AMC Art Week - August 3-7 - Monson Arts - Register with Appalachian Mountain Club (details coming)
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Small Business Opportunity - $100,000 grant available for development in town-owned buildings (Potential projects: Blue Goose, gym kitchen). Contact the Monson Collaborative for more information atmonsoncollaborative@gmail.com
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Graduates - A grant opportunity from the Maine Resource Recovery Association could help fund your next adventure - definitely worth a look! More information at https://www.mrcmaine.org
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Get Involved!
Interested in getting more involved in the town? Join one of our local volunteer committees:
Beautification Committee - connect with Sandra Hardy at sandrahardy@gmail.com
Recreation Committee - connect with Daina or Emily at daina.markella@gmail.com or emilyeer@gmail.com
Library Board - Contact Monson Public Library at monsonmelibrary@gmail.com
Monson Collaborative - Contact Rae at monsoncollaborative@gmail.com
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COMING SOON!
We’re starting a Monson Wood Bank and could use a few extra hands. Fully volunteer run - cutting and splitting wood for those in need. Serving Monson, Blanchard, and surrounding communities. Volunteers needed!! Reach out to get involved and help keep neighbors warm. Contact John Wentworth at johnewentworth@gmail.com
Miley can be seen here, at left, with her Deputy Mayor bandana!
ONGOING EVENTS
Monday and Tuesday - Monson Health Center Saving Smiles is moving to Monson! Dental Hygiene Services Monday and Tuesday. Call 814-8109 to schedule your appointment.
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, during Library hours - Check out winter gear such as snowshoes, cross-country ski equipment, and poles. See flyer on our website www.monsonmelibrary.org. For further information, call 997-3476 or email monsonmelibrary@gmail.com
Tuesday - 5pm-8pm - Friendly cribbage at the Lakeshore House
Thursday 5:00pm - 8:00pm - Open Mic night at the Lakeshore House
Third Thursday of each month - 4:30pm Monson Public Library Book Club - Join us for a thoughtful, relaxed discussion - all readers welcome, even if you didn’t quite finish the book.
Second Thursday of each month - 6pm - Selectboard Meeting at the Town Office.
Fridays- 5:30pm - 9:00pm - Moore Building - Monson Jammers. Join to listen or to play!
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11am - 1pm -Cheese tastings of featured cheese of the month, Monson Gallery Store.
First Friday of each month, 4-6pm - Meet the Artist and Wine Tasting Event, Monson Gallery Store.
Last Saturday of each month, 2pm - Trivia at Turning Page Farm.
Sunday- 3pm - 6pm - Turning Page Farm- Unplug & Connect - Unplug from your phones and screens and join your friends, family, and community in board games, card games, and conversation. Reconnecting has been proven to improve happiness, mental health, and strengthen communities; plus, its loads of fun!!
MONSON COLLABORATIVE NEWSLETTERS
To sign up to automatically receive the monthly newsletter, we will be providing a link SOON!
2026
December 2026
November 2026
October 2026
September 2026
August 2026
July 2026
June 2026
Who Are We?
An umbrella organization including representatives from town government, the Beautification Committee, Library, Business Association, Historical Society and local businesses. Our goal is to bring vitality to the downtown by supporting the needs of our community with the guiding principles of Main Street America, using the four-point approach.
Photo: J Grenier
This monthly newsletter is to share upcoming events and ask for community input. Have an event or happening you want to share? Send us an email and we’ll include it in our next Monson Collaborative Newsletter! monsoncollaborative@gmail.com
2024 Entrepeneur Expo Grant Winners
Friends of a Fierce Chase Officially a non-profit, the Fierce Chase trails offer 24-hour access to miles of maintained trails year-round, great for cross-country skiing, hiking, ATVing, and much more. By winning the expo grant, they have raised $3000 of the $10,000 they need to secure a $50,000 grant they will use to maintain trails year-round. To donate time or money, contact John Chase at friendsofafiercechase@gmail.com
JayBird Design Woodworking business on Pleasant Street that makes handmade guitars, cutting boards, bowls, and custom furniture. Check out their instagram and contact Jason here.
Kelly Forge Local blacksmith business with over ten years of experience in blacksmithing. Contact Zach at lorindamartin27@gmail.com for custom orders like home decor, knives and hooks, key chains, coat racks, and much more.
Leapin Lena's New business on Pleasant Street that will soon offer food and lodging for hikers and the public. Expecting to open in mid-June. Contact Adalena for more information.
Rest Day Sauna Group and private saunas are now available to the public in a hand-built 12-person sauna. Contact Jeneve and book your sauna here.
Please join us in congratulating these local entrepreneurs!
The Superior Service Heating & Cooling van arrived at The Lily Cat the morning of June 19 to install a heat pump funded in part by a Monson Collaborative grant. (2023)
Entrepreneur Grant Success Stories
Martin Landry prepares the wall inside The Lily Cat, where the interior portion of the heat pump will go. (2023)
Kelly and Martin Landry work outside to install the heat pump at The Lily Cat June 19. (2023)
The combination of a leaky roof and no heat left an ice slick on the stairs inside The Lily Cat Antiques building during the winter of 2021. (2023)
Photo credit: J. Billings
Lily Cat Antiques - 2023 Recipient
Lily Cat Antiques is first to complete grant project.
The heat is on!
That phrase isn’t just a line from a well-known and catchy tune by Glenn Frey. It also represents the completion of a project funded in part by a $3,000 grant from the Monson Collaborative. The Lily Cat: North Woods Antiques & Buttons was one of five organizations to be awarded a grant by popular vote at an Entrepreneur Expo May 6, 2023.
On June 19 of the same year, contractors Martin and Kelly Landry of Superior Service Heating & Cooling in Hudson installed a heat pump at The Lily Cat, making this the first completed grant project. They were assisted by electricians Antony Lancisi and Josh Blanchard of Levesque Energy in Guilford.
The total cost of the heat pump, which provides both heating and cooling, was $6,000, said Johanna S. Billings, who co-owns the antique shop with her husband, Sean. A $1,500 rebate from Efficiency Maine also helped. The couple covered the remainder of the cost themselves. The new heating system is just big enough to cover the first floor. The second floor, however, needs to be insulated and, eventually, will need its own unit. Still, a heat source for the first floor is a boost to The Lily Cat. The building previously had no heating system whatsoever, Johanna said.
“There’s an old furnace in the crawl space,” she said, “but a sticker says it was last inspected in 1989. We saw that and said, ‘Nope. We’re not going to try turning that thing on.’” Besides, Sean said, all the ductwork had been ripped out.
This is The Lily Cat’s third season. The Billingses, who are lifelong collectors and dealers, bought the shuttered Moosehead Trail Antiques in December 2020 after they saw a “for sale” sign in front of it. “Sean turned to me and said, ‘So, do you want to run an antique shop?’" Johanna said. "I thought he was kidding.” After the purchase, Johanna spent the winter cleaning out and wholesaling off the contents, most of which was furniture and hardware. Sean, who works full time as an engineer, found time to replace all the interior lighting and added more. He also installed railings on both sides of the stairs, repaired the front window and painted trim, among other things. The new owners also had the leaking roof replaced.
“At one point, we had water running down the stairs and freezing,” Johanna said.
Because there was no heat, the couple dressed in layers and relied on space heaters to warm their hands every so often.
“I bought boots in a size too big so that I could wear them with three pairs of socks,” Johanna said.
Having no heat forced The Lily Cat to operate on a seasonal basis. Because of the grant, it may be possible for them to open earlier in the year and stay open later. If nothing else, now the owners can stay warm when bringing in new merchandise and setting up displays off season.
Both Sean and Johanna thanked the Monson Collaborative and the people who voted for their project.
“We couldn’t have done it without that money,” Sean said.