Big week here. Episode 3 of Maine Thrive Voices went live yesterday — Amber Willey of 207 Wellness in Veazie, and her story is worth your earbuds this weekend. More on that below. The ponies run at Bass Park Friday afternoon, there's a guided paddle on Pushaw Stream Saturday morning, and the weather looks like it finally got the memo about June. Get out there and enjoy it. (Bring insect repellant).

Friday starts with some scattered morning showers, then clears out to mostly sunny and warm — high near 84.

Saturday is the pick of the weekend: partly sunny, high near 81, with only a slight chance of an afternoon shower.

Sunday runs a little cooler near 78 with a better chance of showers, so plan the outdoor stuff for Friday afternoon and Saturday. That said, you know the drill — if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes.

Forecast from the National Weather Service, Caribou

The weekend starts at the rail and ends on the water — here's where to be.

HARNESS RACING AT BASS PARK

WHAT: Live harness racing — the fifteenth race day of the 2026 Bangor season at Hollywood Casino Raceway.

WHERE: Bass Park, 100 Dutton Street, Bangor.

WHEN: Friday, June 12. Post time is 12:10 PM sharp — arrive early to pick your favorites.

WHY: An afternoon at the rail is one of the oldest summer traditions in Bangor, and Friday's card kicks off the weekend before most folks are out of work. Take a long lunch.

MINI GOLF FOR THE MAINE DISCOVERY MUSEUM

WHAT: The Maine Discovery Museum's mini golf tournament, with sessions for business teams and families.

WHERE: Traditions Golf Club, Holden.

WHEN: Friday, June 12.

WHY: Every putt supports the largest children's museum in Maine. Round up your coworkers or your kids and play a round for a good cause.

GUIDED PADDLE ON PUSHAW STREAM

WHAT: A casual two-hour guided paddle exploring the natural world of Pushaw Stream, co-led by Registered Maine Guide Clark Tate and naturalist Brianna Guy. Part of this month's Bangor Pride programming, and open to everyone.

WHERE: Hirundo Wildlife Refuge, Gate 3, 35 Hudson Road, Alton.

WHEN: Saturday, June 13, 10 AM to noon.

COST: Free if you bring your own kayak or canoe; $10 per hour to rent a boat and safety gear. Ages 8 and up to borrow equipment.

WHY: Hirundo is one of the quietest, prettiest paddles in the Valley, and Saturday's forecast is made for it.

Saturday morning, do what I do: hit a farmers market early. Orono's runs Saturday mornings at the Steam Plant lot on College Avenue, and Bangor's year-round market is at 117 Buck Street. June is when the tables start filling up for real.

Steven Spielberg's brand-new film Disclosure Day opens in theaters this Friday. Catch it at Bangor Mall Cinemas on Stillwater Avenue, or make the drive worth it at the Center Theatre, 20 East Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft.

Sunday's the soft day of the weekend — if the showers show up, that's your movie day or your big-breakfast-and-nowhere-to-be day. No shame in either.

Amber Willey lost 150 pounds, and what she learned changed more than her health — it became 207 Wellness in Veazie, a practice that has now helped hundreds of Mainers do the hard work of getting healthy. She started at her kitchen table. These days she's running IV hydration for the UMaine football team. Her conversation on Maine Thrive Voices is honest, funny, and worth every minute. Listen at podcast.mainethrivevoices.com.

Coming next week: the Hermon runner who held the Bangor Marathon women's course record — and felt relieved when it fell.

Before you head out this weekend, take two minutes and update your phone. Those updates you keep swiping away patch the security holes scammers use — and summer is high season for them.

First sunny stretch of the summer is exactly when your sunglasses matter most. Look for 100 percent UV protection on the label — the cheap ones without it can do more harm than wearing none at all.

That's the weekend. If you make it out to the rail or onto the stream, I'd love to hear about it — and Tuesday's main edition has a full week of Valley news waiting. See you then.

This Weekend Edition is brought to you by North Star Property Solutions in Bangor — Tony LaPrino keeps Valley homes ready for whatever the season throws at them. Thanks for supporting local, Tony.