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
Saturday, June 13, 2026 4-6pm at the Monson Gym
Nosin’ Round Monson
Saturday, June 6 12pm-5pm
Explore local businesses, connect with the community, and discover what makes Monson special! Look for the red noses around town!
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To sign up for the Collaborative newsletter to be emailed to you, please enter your email address. They will add you to the list and send out all the information on upcoming events in the Town of Monson!
UPCOMING EVENTS!!
Summer Concert Series- The Lakeshore House - Sundays 3-6pm- October 4th - Smoke and Mojo. October 11th - Randy Roler. The last two weekend of the Summer Concert Series Live Music!! Get out and enjoy it while you can! Snag a chair, grab a drink, and enjoy live music by the lake!
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Book Club - Monson Public Library - 4pm - October 22nd- Theo of Golden by Virginia Evans. Come join us for a thoughtful, relaxed discussion - all readers welcome, even if you didn’t quite finish the book!
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Trivia Time! at Turning Page Farm - Saturday, October 31st 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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Artist Meet & Greet at With The Grain on Thursday October 1st, 4:30-6pm at With The Grain 29 North Guilford Road. Come meet the artist in residence for the month. Hosted by Ed & Sue at With The Grain, this community gathering will include snacks, beverages, good conversation, and an opportunity to meet and connect with this month’s artists. Come say hell, meet the artists, and enjoy an evening of creativity and community.
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Oktoberfest - Turning Page Farm Brewery - Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th. Mark your calendars for a fall weekend of Oktoberfest fun at Turning Page Farm Brewery! More details to follow!
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Cider Saturday - Saturday, October 10th - 9am until the apples are gone (around 4pm) at With The Grain, 29 North Guilford Road - Bring your apples to Ed & Sue Hoovler’s house and turn them into cider! They have two large, old cider presses ready to go, and this long-running community tradition is completely free! You’re welcome whether you have apples to press or not. Don’t have apples? NO PROBLEM! Ed & Sue have gathered a pretty impressive supply from local orchards and a few “secret trees” they are happy to share. They have been making this happen for about 15 years, so come out, bring some apples, meet your neighbors, and enjoy a little fall magic!
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Save the date!!
November 3-13 Annual Monson Food Drive - Drop off non perishable food items at the Monson Town Office. All donations (cash is welcome) go to support local food banks. Donations can be brought in during regular business hours (Tuesdays 8am-4pm, Thursdays 8am-6pm, and Fridays 7:30am-3:30pm)
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Kris Kringle’s Market - Saturday, December 6th at the Monson Gym - 9am to 3pm - Crafts, music, and more! Contact Annalee Libby at libby04406@gmail.com to reserve a space or for more information.
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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 at monsoncollaborative@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
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 summer gear such as bikes and helmets. 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
Fourth 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.
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
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2026
December 2026
November 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.