By Ryan Michaels
Founder, Maine Mirror Network
Listen to this article on the Jim & Vera Podcast below.
There are moments in every project when you stop looking at how far you still have to go and take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve already come.
For the Maine Mirror Network, this is one of those moments.
With the addition of Camden, the Maine Mirror Network now includes nine active community hubs:
Augusta. Belgrade. Berwick. Camden. Eastport. Lebanon. North Berwick. Presque Isle. Wilton.
Nine communities may not sound like much when you consider that Maine is home to hundreds of cities, towns, and plantations.
But every one of these hubs represents something more than a page on a website.
Each represents a community.
A history.
A culture.
A collection of people who care deeply about the place they call home.
As I’ve worked to build these hubs one at a time, I’ve noticed something interesting.
I haven’t just been learning about towns.
I’ve been learning about Maine.
And every community has something unique to teach us about who we are as a state.
Augusta: The Reminder That Government Is Local
Most Mainers know Augusta as the state capital.
It’s where laws are debated, budgets are passed, and decisions are made that impact communities across the state.
But Augusta is also a city of neighborhoods, schools, local businesses, and families.
It’s easy to think of government as something distant.
Augusta reminds us that government starts with people.
Fun fact: Augusta was selected as Maine’s capital in the late 1820s, and the Legislature first met in the new State House in 1832 after Portland served as the state’s original capital.
Building Augusta’s hub reminded me that local government isn’t something separate from our communities.
It is our communities.
Belgrade: The Maine People Dream About
Mention Belgrade to almost any Mainer and chances are they’ll immediately think of the lakes.
The Belgrade Lakes region is one of Maine’s most iconic destinations, drawing visitors from across the country for generations.
But what makes Belgrade special isn’t just the water.
It’s the way the community has maintained its character despite its popularity.
Fun fact: The Belgrade Lakes region is made up of seven interconnected lakes and ponds, creating one of the most recognizable freshwater systems in Maine.
Belgrade reminds us that preserving what makes a place special can be just as important as growing it.
Berwick: One of Maine’s Oldest Stories
Berwick’s story stretches back to the earliest days of European settlement in Maine.
Long before Maine became a state in 1820, Berwick was already taking shape as part of one of the region’s earliest communities. Its history is intertwined with the Salmon Falls River, which helped shape the economy, culture, and development of the area for generations.
Fun fact: Berwick traces its roots to the original Kittery settlement and is recognized as one of Maine’s oldest communities, with a history dating back to the 1600s.
As I built Berwick’s hub, what stood out wasn’t simply its age. It was the balance between honoring a deep history while continuing to grow into the future. Some communities feel trapped by their past. Berwick feels informed by it.
Camden: A Town That Shows Up
Camden is one of those places that seems almost impossible to describe without sounding like a travel brochure.
A harbor filled with schooners.
A vibrant downtown.
Mountains overlooking the ocean.
Yet what impressed me most wasn’t the scenery.
It was the people.
Camden is a community that participates.
Whether discussing development, environmental issues, historic preservation, or the future of the Montgomery Dam, residents consistently engage in the conversations shaping their town.
Fun fact: From the summit of Mount Battie, visitors can look out over Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay—one of the most iconic views in Maine.
Camden reminded me that strong communities are built by people who care enough to show up.
Eastport: The First Sunrise
Eastport occupies a unique place on the map.
As the easternmost city in the continental United States, it is among the first places in the country to greet the morning sun.
But Eastport is far more than a geographical landmark.
It’s a resilient coastal community shaped by generations of maritime history.
Fun fact: Eastport experiences dramatic tidal changes that have helped shape its working waterfront and maritime culture for centuries.
Eastport taught me that a community’s importance is never determined by its distance from population centers.
Lebanon: The Power of Neighbors
Lebanon doesn’t often make statewide headlines.
And maybe that’s part of its charm.
Like many rural Maine communities, Lebanon is built on relationships, hard work, and a deep connection to place.
The town is made up of several distinct village areas, including Center Lebanon, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, East Lebanon, and West Lebanon, each contributing to the community’s unique character.
Fun fact: Lebanon’s history is closely tied to the Salmon Falls River, historically known as the Newichawannock River, a name rooted in the region’s Indigenous heritage.
The lesson Lebanon reinforces is simple:
Strong communities aren’t built by institutions alone.
They’re built by neighbors who know one another and show up when it matters.
North Berwick: Industry, Innovation, and Community
North Berwick has long been shaped by innovation and industry.
From its manufacturing heritage to the major employers that continue to support the local economy today, it plays an important role in southern Maine.
Fun fact: North Berwick is home to Hussey Seating Company, a Maine manufacturer whose seating products can be found in schools, stadiums, arenas, and venues across the country.
Yet despite its industrial footprint, North Berwick never loses sight of what makes it a community.
People remain at the center of the story.
Presque Isle: The Star City of Northern Maine
Few places better represent northern Maine than Presque Isle.
Serving as a regional center for education, healthcare, business, and agriculture, Presque Isle plays an important role in the daily lives of people throughout Aroostook County.
Yet despite its size and significance, it still carries the character and warmth of a close-knit community.
Fun fact: Presque Isle is often known as “The Star City,” a nickname that has been associated with the community for generations. The name “Presque Isle” comes from French and translates to “almost island,” a reference to the area’s geography.
As I worked on Presque Isle’s hub, I was reminded that Maine’s story extends far beyond the population centers of southern Maine. Some of the state’s strongest communities are found hundreds of miles from the State House, built by people who understand resilience, self-reliance, and the importance of supporting one another.
Wilton: Knowing Exactly Who You Are
Some communities spend years trying to define themselves.
Wilton doesn’t seem to have that problem.
Nestled in western Maine’s lakes and mountains region, Wilton has a strong sense of identity rooted in both history and natural beauty.
Fun fact: Wilson Lake remains a central recreational feature of the community and an important part of life in Wilton.
Wilton reminded me that there is something powerful about a community that knows who it is.
What These Nine Communities Have in Common
On the surface, these towns and cities look very different.
A capital city.
A coastal harbor.
A lakeside community.
A northern hub.
A rural town.
An eastern city.
Yet the more time I spend building these hubs, the more I notice the similarities.
People care about their schools.
They care about their local government.
They care about preserving what makes their community unique.
They care about their neighbors.
And they care about having access to reliable information.
That’s ultimately why the Maine Mirror Network exists.
Not to replace town websites.
Not to replace local organizations.
Not to replace local journalism.
But to help connect people with the information, resources, events, and conversations already shaping their communities.
The Road Ahead
Today there are nine active Maine Mirror Hubs.
Tomorrow there will be ten.
Then twenty.
Then fifty.
And eventually, if this vision succeeds, every city, town, and plantation in Maine will have a place within the network.
That’s an ambitious goal.
But every journey begins somewhere.
This one began with a simple belief:
Local information should be easier to find.
Local government should be easier to follow.
Community resources should be easier to access.
And every Maine community deserves to be seen.
Nine communities are now online.
Hundreds remain ahead.
But every new hub reminds me why this work matters.
Because when we strengthen connections within our communities, we strengthen Maine itself.
Help Shape What Comes Next
Today, nine communities are online.
Hundreds remain ahead.
The long-term vision is ambitious: to create a hub for every city, town, and plantation in Maine, ensuring that local information, community resources, and civic engagement opportunities are easier to access no matter where you live.
That’s going to take time.
But it’s a journey we’re committed to seeing through.
In the meantime, we’re prioritizing new community hubs based on the interest and requests we receive from Mainers across the state.
So if you’re reading this and would like to see your town added to the Maine Mirror Network, let us know.
Leave a comment.
Send us a message.
Share your community with us.
While our goal remains full statewide coverage, community requests help us determine where to focus our efforts next.
Because at its heart, the Maine Mirror Network was never built for towns.
It was built for the people who call those towns home.
Every request helps guide the next step.
Every new hub helps strengthen the network.
And every community deserves the opportunity to be seen, heard, and connected.
Today there are nine.
Tomorrow there will be more.
And together, we’ll continue working toward a Maine Mirror Network that reflects every corner of our state.