Bar Harbor Council Votes to Limit Local Cooperation With ICE
Citizen-initiated measure passes 5-1 after supporters argue it closes gaps left by state law. Carrie Jones Jul 08, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden. BAR HARBOR—The Town Council has approved a citizens’ initiated ordinance that prohibits any potential town officials’ relationship with federal immigration enforcement, ICE. The petition, entitled “Defining the Relationship Between Town Officials and Federal Immigration … Continue reading Bar Harbor Council Votes to Limit Local Cooperation With ICE
Bar Harbor May Offer Residents Two Hours of Free Weekly Downtown Parking, Higher Rates for Everyone Else.
Proposal would give residents two hours of free downtown parking each week while increasing hourly rates, extending the paid parking season, and creating a fund for future transportation improvements. Carrie Jones Jul 08, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Geddy’s. BAR HARBOR—Bar Harbor residents might soon have two free hours of paid parking in downtown each week via a “coupon” policy run through … Continue reading Bar Harbor May Offer Residents Two Hours of Free Weekly Downtown Parking, Higher Rates for Everyone Else.
Lost Children, Loose Animals, and Multiple Arrests Helped Keep Police Busy Last Week
Police updates for Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, State Police, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. Shaun Farrar Jul 07, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Coastal Kayaking Tours and Acadia Bike. BAR HARBOR—It wasn’t just festivities keeping the police busy this past week as officers dealt with multiple reports of lost children who were quickly found, loose animals who all eventually … Continue reading Lost Children, Loose Animals, and Multiple Arrests Helped Keep Police Busy Last Week
A 255-Foot Yacht Left for Bar Harbor. Now Some in Southwest Harbor and Dysart’s Marina Want Answers.
Why Southwest Harbor Lost One of the World’s Largest Sailing Yachts. Carrie Jones Jul 07, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Viridian Law. SOUTHWEST HARBOR— Last week’s arrival—and departure—of the mega yacht M5 has led to some discord in Southwest Harbor, lost revenue for a local marina, and a full audience at the town’s Harbor Committee meeting, Monday. “I assume most people are … Continue reading A 255-Foot Yacht Left for Bar Harbor. Now Some in Southwest Harbor and Dysart’s Marina Want Answers.
MDI Towns Continue to Add Homes, but State Data Shows the Scale of Maine’s Challenge
Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and Trenton Lead MDI Building Permits in 2025 Jul 06, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Bar Harbor Music Festival. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and Trenton issued more residential building permits than any other communities in the Mount Desert Island region during 2025, according to Maine’s first statewide housing production survey. While the numbers suggest homebuilding … Continue reading MDI Towns Continue to Add Homes, but State Data Shows the Scale of Maine’s Challenge
THINGS TO DO IN THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION THIS WEEK.
And in the near future. Carrie Jones Jul 06, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware. THINGS TO DO It’s our weekly round-up, and we may have missed some things, so apologies! If you have something you’d like in here, please let us know. We hope you have some great adventures this week! To check out our news stories and briefs … Continue reading THINGS TO DO IN THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION THIS WEEK.
ON THE AGENDA: Town & School Meetings This Week. SPECIAL TOWN MEETING FOR TRENTON!
It’s our round up of upcoming government meetings. All are public. That means you can go and be involved. Carrie Jones Jul 06, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund. Every week we document the Mount Desert Island region’s government and school meetings that we know of. Please let us know if we’ve missed something. Also, sometimes things … Continue reading ON THE AGENDA: Town & School Meetings This Week. SPECIAL TOWN MEETING FOR TRENTON!
Letters From Our Readers
Bo Jennings. Jennifer Niese. Carrie Jones Jul 05, 2026 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY We always welcome letter submissions to The Bar Harbor Story. For details on our policy, please visit our about page and scroll down or just visit here. As with all newspapers, the beliefs, opinions, and viewpoints expressed by the writers of letters to the editor and included here do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, opinions, … Continue reading Letters From Our Readers
It’s a Bar Harbor Fourth of July!
Carrie Jones Jul 05, 2026 BAR HARBOR—The Fourth of July celebrations filled the streets, fields, parks, and an occasional front yard yesterday in Bar Harbor as clouds came and went and came again. Each year, Bar Harbor hosts a day-long celebration, one day where neighbors go on their lawns to talk to each, to watch parades, to participate in them, to look to the skies … Continue reading It’s a Bar Harbor Fourth of July!
People We’ve Lost
Frank Charles Anderson Jr. Judith Wasgatt Reece. Frank W. Gray Jr. Marjorie Welsh Dole. Mary M. Smith. Robert “Bob” R. Dorr Sr. Daniel Powell Poteet: Celebration of Life Carrie Jones Jul 05, 2026 Note: “People We’ve Lost” is a feature of the Bar Harbor Story where we share obituaries of people that the island lost in the previous 1-2 weeks. We’re doing this because we think … Continue reading People We’ve Lost