People We’ve Lost
Daniel David Lourie. William Jerome Hamilton. Linda Anzalone Woolley. Deborah Jean DeRaps. Kendall Franklin Stratton Jr. Karen Sue (Olson) Van Tine. Everett D. Haycock. Edwin W. ‘Sonny’ Colburn. Carrie Jones Mar 01, 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
The Beetle Beneath the Bark: A Quiet Invasion on Mount Desert Island
Officials Urge Residents to Watch for Infestation Signs Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar Feb 28, 2026 BAR HARBOR—Since April 2025, all of Mount Desert Island has been in a tree quarantine due to emerald ash borers found on trees in Bar Harbor. When local arborist Jamie Lambert drove down the Indian Point Road, he noticed something: the trees were blonding. Blonding is when the woodpeckers start to remove … Continue reading The Beetle Beneath the Bark: A Quiet Invasion on Mount Desert Island
Thinking About Local Elected Office? Now Is the Time
Carrie Jones Feb 28, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Restaurant Barn. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—Nomination papers for elected offices are out in most towns. Seats on school boards and select boards are ready to be filled as the Mount Desert Island region’s election cycle begins again. BAR HARBOR Nomination papers are not yet available at the town office in Bar Harbor for … Continue reading Thinking About Local Elected Office? Now Is the Time
Salt Bids and Big-Picture Goals
League of Towns May Look to Clarify Mission Across MDI Region Carrie Jones Feb 27, 2026 TRENTON—In a quick meeting, February 24, administrators from multiple Mount Desert Island region towns and Ellsworth and Acadia National Park met at the Trenton Town Office building. It’s typically a monthly meeting. The group, known as the League of Towns, has been looking to creating and maintaining regional collaborative … Continue reading Salt Bids and Big-Picture Goals
Federal Grant Will Help Transform Island Explorer Fleet in Acadia Region
Shaun Farrar Feb 26, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Wealth Management. ACADIA REGION—Thanks to a $23 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant, the Island Explorer transportation system will start replacing its older buses in the near future. The grant, administered by the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT), will also have matching funds of $5,882,250. The National … Continue reading Federal Grant Will Help Transform Island Explorer Fleet in Acadia Region
Three Homes That Sold on MDI This Month
Feb 26, 2026 by Kathleen O’Brien/Bangor Daily News MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Spring is coming to Maine and people will soon start to flock to the state’s vacation hotspots, including Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. The region is known for holding some of Maine’s priciest estates as well as modest homes and lakefront camps, though real estate prices on the island tend to be more expensive … Continue reading Three Homes That Sold on MDI This Month
Bar Harbor Officials Divided Over Fourth of July and Other Community Events Funding
Island Explorer, YMCA Funding Survive Budget Recommendations Carrie Jones Feb 26, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana. BAR HARBOR—Round One of the Bar Harbor budget process is pretty much complete and it saw the town’s warrant committee split on recommending to not fund the Fourth of July, two other Chamber-run events, and propose not funding three new town positions. On February 24, … Continue reading Bar Harbor Officials Divided Over Fourth of July and Other Community Events Funding
Mount Desert Looks to Raise Some Property Assessments as Market Values Climb
Carrie Jones Feb 25, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. MOUNT DESERT—Property owners in town will most likely have the assessed value of their homes increase this year, Mount Desert Assessor Kyle Avila told the town’s selectboard on Monday. This revaluation is interim, he said. The fuller revaluation will likely occur within the next two years. “This is pretty … Continue reading Mount Desert Looks to Raise Some Property Assessments as Market Values Climb
After Strong Voter Backing, Southwest Harbor Reconsiders Scope of Hazardous Soil Testing
Officials Currently Will Work to Refine — Not Repeal — Voter-Backed Environmental Rules Carrie Jones Feb 25, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry. SOUTHWEST HARBOR—The citizen’s petition that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in November and that created an amendment to the town’s land use ordinance that will likely be tweaked but not repealed, the Southwest Harbor Select Board indicated, February … Continue reading After Strong Voter Backing, Southwest Harbor Reconsiders Scope of Hazardous Soil Testing
From SCBAs to Septic Planning, Bar Harbor Moves Multiple Projects Forward.
Carrie Jones Feb 25, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Elise N. Frank. BAR HARBOR—Bar Harbor firefighters are about to be a little safer. While water budgets rise and some citizens’ call for an ordinance to prohibit law enforcement officers from interacting with federal ICE agents (except for some exceptions), the Bar Harbor Town Council also heard updates and … Continue reading From SCBAs to Septic Planning, Bar Harbor Moves Multiple Projects Forward.