Holiday Craft Fair at Bartlett Woods

 Save-the-Date!  Vendors Apply Now!

The Activities Department at Bartlett Woods is pleased to present a free Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, December 6^th, 9am – 2pm at Bartlett Woods Retirement Community, 20 Bartlett Drive (off Talbot Avenue) in Rockland.

The first-time event will feature locally made handwork, plus sweet treats, door prizes, music, a canned food drive for AIO, and lots of good cheer. Parking is limited to unmarked spaces, the driveway and along Talbot Avenue.

Art and craft vendors may still participate; there is no fee. Reach out to Amy Sabins, Activities Director at 207 593-1428 or asabins@bartlettwoods.com.

“Our new Craft Fair is a wonderful way to ring in the holiday spirit at Bartlett Woods,” confirmed Kelly Osborn, Executive Director at Bartlett Woods. “Our Art at Bartlett Program includes and supports the performing and visual arts. Through hosting public events like this fair, we look to encourage the creative spirit within our community and beyond. Come join us!”                                                                                                                                                  

Admission is free; please call 207 593-1608 for more information.

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FAMILY MATTERS: Sculpture, watercolor and drawing by Lydia, Erik, and Richard Kaeyer

Fall Art Exhibit Opens at Bartlett Woods

FAMILY MATTERS: Sculpture, Watercolor and Drawing by Lydia, Erik and Richard Kaeyer

Friday, September 26^th, 4-6pm with refreshments and music; open to the public

(Rockland, ME) – The Art at Bartlett program announces the opening of the Fall Art Exhibit at Bartlett Woods Retirement Community, located at 20 Bartlett Drive (just off Talbot Avenue) in Rockland, ME. “FAMILY MATTERS: Sculpture, Watercolor and Drawing by Lydia, Erik and Richard Kaeyer” will launch with a public artist’s reception on Friday, September 26^th, from 4-6pm. Refreshments and live music will be provided.

“This exhibit ushers in our fall Art at Bartlett season,” confirmed Kelly Osborn, Executive Director. “Bartlett resident Lydia Kaeyer and her family will share their creative passions with us, which are diverse and so very impressive. We are grateful to Lydia’s family for lending the work to share with our wider community.”

Lydia Smith Kaeyer studied art and art history at Wheaton College, (MA,) SUNY Purchase, Round Top Center for the Arts, and the Manatee Art Center, FL. She has studied watercolor under noted artists David Dewey and Nancy Glassman and became a professional watercolor painter shortly after moving to Maine in 2000.  Erik Alexander Kaeyer AIA LEED AP, is President / Principal, KG+D Architects, PC. He is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey spans decades and mediums, rooted in a deep appreciation for material, form, and the meditative power of making. Richard “Dick” Kaeyer (deceased) practiced architecture for over 40 years, and his extensive portfolio of work includes the Hudson River Museum. In his retirement years, Dick remained busy as a master craftsman, building beautifully functional wood sea kayaks and paddleboards and framing pictures for his wife Lydia’s impressive watercolor paintings.

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In last week’s paper, the Midcoast Villager singled out our current summer art show, HOME, as one of several “must see” art venues in the area. Thank you so much Willy Blackmore and your team for shining light on our artists. Read the piece here.

. . . Which reminds us to remind you, our Closing Reception for the show is slated for Thursday, September 4th, 4-7pm.

BartlettWoods_ArtShow_Aug2025_PRESS closing flyer   

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Earlier this year, residents and staff began discussions about creating a Garden Club at Bartlett Woods. The first project would be to realize a raised bed vegetable garden for the entire community to enjoy. Our front lawn, off the sun porch, was chosen as a prime spot. It faces south, has good access to our outdoor water faucets, and may be visited either through our dining room doors or from the walking path along the parking lot.

As the spring season arrived, garden supply vendors were approached by our Business Manager Gail Kenney for potential donations to the project. GOOD NEWS! They said, “Yes!”

We want to thank each and every one for the generosity. From construction of raised beds, to delivery and installation and coaching, to the mountain of soil and mulch, kindness was on display at every turn.

Thanks to our important donors:

Ergonomic Gardens, LLC. (Chris & Kerry Stetson) https://ergonomicgardens.com

The Stetsons donated 2 Evolution Garden Beds with Trellis.  We are the first recipients of their kindness!  They would like to kick-start partnering with non-profits in a way to help make gardening accessible to everyone.

Viking Lumber Donated the Materials for the Maine State Prison Show Room to build 2 raised beds

JBI Inc. donated garden soil to fill the beds.

Ferraiolo also donated garden soil to fill the beds and Skip Starr donated the mulch for the gardens.

Duvall Designs (Charles Duvall) https://www.duvalldesign.com donated an Osprey awning for residents to enjoy the back patio.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL! Thank you.

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Silent Auction bidding begins Monday, June 23rd! Bid on over 100 exciting auction items donated by our community friends, including gift certificates, works of art, yummy edibles and drinkables, clothing, antiques, and so much more . . . Save-The-Date and get your tickets for the BBQ — suggested donation is $20/per person — slated for Friday, July 18th, from 11am to 5pm. Visit our EVENTS  web page and find instructions about securing your admission to the BBQ. Chef Aaron and team will have an extensive menu of summery BBQ fare, such as chicken, beef and veggie burgers, seasonal salads made with fresh, locally-grown produce, homemade desserts by The Bartlett Bakers, and thirst-quenching non-alcoholic beverages. And, there will be DOOR PRIZES!

Visit us now and take a look at over 100 (!) auction items displayed in our Dining Room. All thanks to Gail Kenney, our Business Manager, who has secured them for the event. Questions? Call  207-593-1608. Great items perfect for gift-giving or keeping for yourself, keep rolling in (!) such as . . . antique furniture and collectibles, Maine-made fine art and craft, big game hunts and photo safaris, special vacation and entertainment passes, local restaurant gift certificates, autographed hockey and basketball sports memorabilia, unique Hollywood collectibles, fresh seafood and other Maine specialties, and much more.

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Art at Bartlett 2025 presents . . .HOME: Place – Feeling – Memory

A new art show opens at Bartlett Woods Retirement Community, located at 20 Bartlett Drive (just off Talbot Avenue) in Rockland, ME on Thursday, June 5th, from 4-6pm. HOME: Place – Feeling – Memory will present contemporary works by Cynthia Hyde, James Kinnealey, Rob Merrill, Tara Morin, and Kitty Winslow. The opening reception is free to the public; live music by Terry & Eric.

“Art at Bartlett is ready to present our summer show,” confirmed Kelly Osborn, Executive Director. “The title HOME: Place – Feeling – Memory is relevant to us all. The artists in this show investigate their concept of home through very diverse approaches. Our walls, our residents, our wider community will be fortunate to view and reflect upon this inspired collection of contemporary art.”

The five artists in this group show work in oil, watercolor, photography, and mixed media. Viewers should expect a wide range of styles, experiences, materials, and scale by these working Maine artists, all from the Knox County area, bringing an impressive depth of talent and achievement. The exhibition dates are June 5th through September 7th, 2025. Public hours are Monday through Friday, from 8am to 4pm.

Cynthia Hyde Statement

James Kinnealey Statement

Kitty Winslow Statement

Rob Merrill Statement

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New Board Members for NonProfit Bartlett Woods

Two local women join governing team of 26+ year-old apartment community.

Board President J. Michael Lane is pleased to announced the selection of new members to the Board of Directors for Bartlett Woods Retirement Community, located at 20 Bartlett Drive in Rockland, ME. At the recent May 15th meeting, Rev. Dr. Susan Stonestreet and Elizabeth Vonfelten, MD were confirmed by a unanimous vote.

(Photo Caption Info: L-R Executive Director Kelly Osborn; Treasurer Josee Shelley; Elizabeth Vonfelten, MD; President J. Michael Lane; Rev. Dr. Susan Stonestreet; W. Kevin Olehnik, MD; missing is Secretary Marion Grant, and William Chase.)

“We are pleased to welcome the new directors, each having former family connections with Bartlett Woods,” confirmed J. Michael Lane, President. “Our Board members serve on a volunteer basis, assisting the Executive Director with the business of operating our nonprofit organization. With all the exciting recent developments – new Executive Director, new solar panels and Efficiency Maine-granted heat/cool systems — we are especially grateful to have new colleagues join us in ensuring the solid future of Bartlett Woods.”

Rev. Dr. Stonestreet, recently retired, is a resident of Rockport. She earned her Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry Degrees from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1999 and 2007, respectively. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Studies and a Master of Science Degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She was a CFP with American Express for fifteen years in Bradenton, Florida. Earlier, she was the Executive Director of Together, Inc., a 24-hour crisis intervention center in Oxford, Ohio. Susan has taught at Bangor Theological Seminary and Maine School of Ministry of the Maine Conference, UCC. She was ordained into the ministry with the United Church of Christ in 1999. She served eighteen and a half years as the Pastor of United Christian Church in Lincolnville, ME; upon retiring from that post, she began serving as the pastor of the Federated Church in Thomaston, and just retired from that position in April, 2025. Susan enjoys volunteering, writing, birding and her two dogs, Tripp and Roo, shared with her wife, Nance.

Elizabeth C. Vonfelten, MD, recently retired from MaineHealth PenBay Hospital. There she served as both outpatient General Practitioner and with inpatient Hospital Medicine; ultimately, she was elected as President of the Medical Staff from 2022-2024.  She received her medical degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, and completed her residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital, also in Syracuse. Prior to studying medicine, Liz obtained a Bachelor of Science from SUNY Buffalo, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Before entering the medical field, she worked in the Banking and Mortgage Industry. Liz has a special interest in promoting community awareness regarding planning and opportunities for quality living during the later years. She has maintained ties with Emergency Room and Hospital physicians, Social Workers and Case Management locally. Both her mother and mother-in-law lived at Bartlett Wood. She lives with husband, Ken, and dog, Winston. She has a 37 year-old daughter, Vanessa, and 2 grandsons, Manny and Wes. Liz grew up in the Casco Bay area and is a passionate sailor. A lifelong learner, she is currently teaching herself gardening and sewing.

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ART MEETS SCIENCE:

ROCKLAND “CORAL” REEF AT BARTLETT WOODS

Bartlett Woods Retirement Community is honored to host a unique, fiber art installation that brings important attention to a grave topic. The Coral Reef Project, an effort led by Bartlett resident Jill Schoof, is currently on view on the second floor of the apartment house, located at 20 Bartlett Drive (off Talbot Avenue) in Rockland. Regular business hours are Monday – Friday, 8am to 4pm. There is no admission fee.

Coral reefs are beautiful but fragile — and ocean pollution, climate change, and reckless fishing is killing them worldwide. A major effort is underway to restore these reef gardens, and to make the public aware of the damage. Over one-half of the Australian reefs are now dead, and the Maine cold-water reef is also endangered.

Local fiber artist Jill Schoof re-creates the creatures of the coral reefs using a crochet technique invented by mathematician Daina Taimiņa — these models celebrate the remarkable beauty of the reefs and explore the science and mathematics of corals. Crocheted coral reefs have been exhibited at major museums throughout the world, and a new exhibit has been launched here in Rockland by residents of the Bartlett Woods Retirement Community.

Jill, a retired engineering professor from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, has turned to fiber arts and to the fascinating intersection of mathematics, science, and art. The beautiful exhibit at Bartlett Woods in Rockland is the result of a winter fiber arts workshop with a group of eight joining Jill to crochet and knit these colorful re-created coral reefs.

For more information about this project, contact Jill at downeastfiberarts@gmail.com.

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Mary Alice Bird, longtime resident of Rockland, ME and current exhibitor in the group show HANDS AT WORK: Fiber Art by the Bartlett Woods Community, is conducting a fundraising effort for Pope Memorial Humane Society.

Called Recovery Hot Pads, Mrs. Bird turned to this weaving option after a major stroke left her somewhat visually impaired. The activity, which she first learned as a girl scout, has been, in her own words,  “. . . a satisfying creative challenge and reminder that dealing with the mistakes and flaws woven into our lives can teach us patience, humility and compassion.” In this spirit, she chose to donate 100% of the sales of the Hot Pads to the Thomaston, ME Pope Memorial Humane Society (https://www.popehumane.org/), in honor of TumTum, the feline family member the Birds adopted not long ago. Mrs. Bird is selling the Hot Pads at two for $15.00, and they can be purchased directly from the artist by visiting the exhibition during regular business hours at Bartlett Woods. Mrs. Bird hopes to give a talk about the process of weaving later in March as part of a program of talks and demonstrations designed to complement the current Art at Bartlett exhibition, HANDS AT WORK, which remains on view until May 5, 2025. Admission is free and accessible during regular business hours, which are 8am to 4pm; please call 207 593-1608 for more information.

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THANK YOU FIRST NATIONAL BANK

FOR BELIEVING IN BARTLETT

AND THE GREEN BARTLETT FUND.

L-R: BW Board President Mike Lane and FNP VP Jake Miller.

L-R: FNB Cathy Jackson, BW Admissions/Mktg Director Lori Schafer, BW Board President Mike Lane,

FNB Niki Janczura, FNB Nathan Wyman, FNB Kelsey Briggs, and FNB Jake Miller.

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