Value of Billionaire’s MDI Estate Grows as Construction Continues on Former Rockefeller Property
Apr 04, 2026 by Kathleen O’Brien/BDN MOUNT DESERT—The value of a billionaire’s compound in an exclusive Mount Desert neighborhood has jumped significantly as renovations on the site continue, hinting at what’s underway at the multimillion-dollar property. Mitchell Rales, a minority owner of the Washington Commanders, bought a nearly 15-acre oceanfront property on Mount Desert’s Cooksey Drive in January 2018 for $19 million. The site, called Ringing … Continue reading Value of Billionaire’s MDI Estate Grows as Construction Continues on Former Rockefeller Property
Why You Might See Giant Snap Peas at Grocery Stores This Weekend.
Giant Fruits, Big Goal: The 15th Annual Hancock County Food Drive Aims for 120,000 Meals. Carrie Jones Apr 03, 2026 HANCOCK COUNTY—If you see some human-sized grapes or snap peas while out shopping Saturday, April 4, do not worry that you’re hallucinating. Hoping to help continue providing food for those who need it, the 15th Annual Hancock County Food Drive kicks off Saturday, April 4. … Continue reading Why You Might See Giant Snap Peas at Grocery Stores This Weekend.
“All Students Safe.”
Hoax Threat Prompts Heavy Police Presence at MDI High School Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar Apr 03, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana. BAR HARBOR—Mount Desert Island High School spent the morning in lockdown, the result of an apparent hoax that was called in via phone where the caller said that there was a man with an assault rifle outside the school. “MDIHS was … Continue reading “All Students Safe.”
New Housing Complex for Acadia’s Seasonal Employees Won’t Open This Summer
Apr 03, 2026 by Sabrina Martin/BDN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—A new housing complex for Acadia National Park employees that has been under construction since 2024 will not be open this summer for seasonal staff. Harden Farm, an apartment complex in Bar Harbor that currently holds eight one-bedroom units, is being renovated to add 56 beds for seasonal employees. The eight existing apartments that have been at the … Continue reading New Housing Complex for Acadia’s Seasonal Employees Won’t Open This Summer
Tremont to Hold Two Public Hearings on April 6.
Proposed public safety building and potential deer hunt will both be on the May 11 ballot. Shaun Farrar Apr 02, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. TREMONT—On Monday, April 6, the Tremont Select Board will hold two public hearings on issues that voters will have to decide to support, or not, on May 11. That day is the town’s … Continue reading Tremont to Hold Two Public Hearings on April 6.
How MDI’s Show Choirs Turn Storytelling Into State Championships.
Give them the chance and they rise to it. Carrie Jones Apr 02, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Elise N. Frank. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—This past weekend, some top performers brought some big prizes back to their schools. The Mount Desert Island High School Show Choir brought back state-championship gold from the Maine State Music Festival finals held … Continue reading How MDI’s Show Choirs Turn Storytelling Into State Championships.
Owner of Seal Harbor Mansion Slashes Price by $10M and Still Has Not Found a Buyer
Apr 02, 2026 by Kathleen O’Brien of the Bangor Daily News MOUNT DESERT—A multimillion-dollar Mount Desert mansion hasn’t sold in four years despite staggering price cuts that have slashed the cost by nearly half. Built in 1988, the 10-bedroom, 11-bathroom estate is perched on a cliff near the southern tip of Mount Desert Island’s Seal Harbor neighborhood. The sprawling home offers nearly 10,200 square feet of living space and … Continue reading Owner of Seal Harbor Mansion Slashes Price by $10M and Still Has Not Found a Buyer
The Password Was Worth It.
The Password Was Worth It. The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden. SEAL COVE—At first, it’s the cars that catch your eye: antique, polished, and impossibly elegant. But at Seal Cove Auto Museum, the story never stops at the chrome. It expands into celebration, learning, and the kind of community gathering that feels as timeless as the vehicles themselves. … Continue reading The Password Was Worth It.
Soil Ordinance Rework Continues as Tensions Surface at Southwest Harbor Meeting.
Changes Will Not Likely Go Before the Voters Until November. Carrie Jones Apr 01, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Choco-Latté Café. SOUTHWEST HARBOR — Discussion over how to revise the town’s new soil testing ordinance continued this week, as officials acknowledged they will likely miss the deadline to put changes on the June ballot. The town needs to finalize the language and … Continue reading Soil Ordinance Rework Continues as Tensions Surface at Southwest Harbor Meeting.
Maine’s Pool of Money from Taxes on Home Sales Is Growing.
How Is It Being Used? Apr 01, 2026 By Caitlin Andrews of the Maine Monitor MAINE—A tax generated by property sales helps power Maine’s various affordable housing initiatives, including a program that assists first-time home buyers and another to prevent foreclosures. Lawmakers are considering adding a new initiative to the list: funding homeless shelters. But deciding how to allocate the money is complicated. The real estate transfer … Continue reading Maine’s Pool of Money from Taxes on Home Sales Is Growing.