Folks from all over Waldo County and beyond congregated at the Belfast Boathouse on Saturday night for what Maine AllCare’s co-founder Phil Caper, MD deemed, “... a spectacularly successful event - well planned, innovative, well attended and most of all - a lot of fun!”

As the Belfast Fiddlers played toe-tapping music and the evening sun shone through the doors, David Carlson of Three Tides and Dann Waldron of Whitecap Builders poured two kinds of local beer from Marshall Wharf Brewing, as well as wine from Younity Winery. The food table was laden with dishes from local businesses: Eat More Cheese, Downeast Curry Company, CupKates of Maine, Belfast Co-op, Marsh River Co-op, and Hannaford’s. Cooks from the UUC Church in Brooks and from the Maine AllCare group filled out the table with homemade offerings.

Music, speeches, and conversation were followed by several rounds of “Health Care Jeopardy,” a game show resulting in surprising information on the state of health care in America. Three contestants at a time were given distinct noisemakers to identify themselves with their shot at answering the questions correctly and the opportunity to win prizes donated by area businesses, including Aubuchon Hardware, Bahner Farm, Coastal Tide Dyes, Dan Bennett Jewelry, Gardiner’s Honey, Mac’s True Value, Meanwhile in Belfast, Nautilus Restaurant, Ralph’s Café, Snow Hill Studios and The Green Store.

Henk Goorhuis, MD, Board Chairman of Maine AllCare, introduced the short film, Health Care: We Can Fix It, and led a lively discussion afterward.

Maine AllCare volunteers Art Shea of Brooks, Jan Dodge of Belfast, Diane Martin of Belmont, Jeanne Shea of Brooks, Jennifer Hill of Waldo, Karen Young of Northport, Marshall Rolerson of Waldo, Paul Robie of Northport, and Steve Ryan of Belfast were energetic volunteers behind the scenes.

The newly formed Waldo County chapter of Maine AllCare wishes to thank its major event sponsor Whitecap Builders, the Belfast City Council for use of the Boathouse, Lindsay Farmer’s graphic design class at the Waldo Technical Center for the original graphic design, Kathleen Dunckel, Old Professor’s Bookshop, Caitlin Hills, Nate Ledwith of Verizon-Belfast, Ned Lightner of Insight Productions, Holmes Greenhouse, Reny’and Easterly Wines.

For more information about upcoming events, to volunteer, or to donate to the cause of universal healthcare for all, go to https://maineallcare.org/category/chapter-minutes/waldo-county-chapter/ or contact Art Shea at 508-450-8093 or Mike Ray at 207-763-4494.