Bar Harbor’s Cruise Limits Spark New Round in Federal Court Battle Groups Say Bar Harbor’s Cruise Cap Doesn’t Ease Crowds, Just Hurts Commerce

The Legal Battle Over Bar Harbor’s Cruise Ship Limits Returns to Court

Federal Judge Lance Walker Hears Oral Arguments After Partial Remand Carrie Jones Feb 13, 2026 BANGOR — U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker heard oral arguments on Wednesday in a partially remanded federal case challenging Bar Harbor’s cruise ship passenger cap, following a nuanced ruling from the First Circuit Court of Appeals. There were 30 attendees via Zoom, February 11, as four attorneys and Justice … Continue reading The Legal Battle Over Bar Harbor’s Cruise Ship Limits Returns to Court

Tremont Select Board Approves Proposed School Budget but Moves Some Money Into Reserve Account Returned check policy and annual report memoriam also approved

Tremont Select Board Approves Proposed School Budget but Moves Some Money Into Reserve Account

Returned check policy and annual report memoriam also approved Shaun Farrar Feb 12, 2026 TREMONT—At its February 2 meeting, the Tremont Select Board approved the proposed Tremont Consolidated School budget which has come down by more than 3% in the town appropriation line. The town appropriation has gone from 12.55% in the first proposed budget to 9.30% in the newest iteration of the proposed budget. … Continue reading Tremont Select Board Approves Proposed School Budget but Moves Some Money Into Reserve Account

More Than $39 Million for Hancock County Secured by Senator Collins in FY26 Funding Bills Bar Harbor Fire Department Likely to Receive Funds for New Ambulance, Southwest Harbor, YMCA, the Labs, and others

More Than $39 Million for Hancock County Secured by Senator Collins in FY26 Funding Bills

Bar Harbor Fire Department Likely to Receive Funds for New Ambulance, Southwest Harbor, YMCA, the Labs, and others Carrie Jones Feb 12, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC—Multiple organizations in Bar Harbor and throughout Hancock County will likely receive Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for projects in the upcoming fiscal year. Those projects include the expansion of the MDI YMCA, local laboratories, and funds to help pay for a … Continue reading More Than $39 Million for Hancock County Secured by Senator Collins in FY26 Funding Bills

After Bar Island Death, Bar Harbor Changes Skiff Access for Winter Months Park is still reviewing the incident

After Bar Island Death, Bar Harbor Changes Skiff Access for Winter Months

Park is still reviewing the incident Carrie Jones Feb 12, 2026 BAR HARBOR—After two incidents in Frenchman Bay in the last month, the town has changed one aspect of where it keeps a boat during the winter months. One event involved a boat capsizing and sinking on its mooring. The other was when a young Maryland man died off Bar Island, which is part of … Continue reading After Bar Island Death, Bar Harbor Changes Skiff Access for Winter Months

Judge Orders $47K in Fines Over Unregistered Bar Harbor Short-Term Rental Former Council Candidate Loses Short-Term Rental Case in Bar Harbor

Judge Orders $47K in Fines Over Unregistered Bar Harbor Short-Term Rental

Former Council Candidate Loses Short-Term Rental Case in Bar Harbor Carrie Jones Feb 11, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. BAR HARBOR—An Ellsworth District Court judge supported the Town of Bar Harbor’s case against a short-term rental owner at 37 Eden Street in Bar Harbor. The February 2 ruling found that Keith Goodrich has “taken no proceedings since such … Continue reading Judge Orders $47K in Fines Over Unregistered Bar Harbor Short-Term Rental

Secretary of Interior Visited Acadia National Park Last Week

Secretary of Interior Visited Acadia National Park Last Week

Carrie Jones Feb 11, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Choco-Latté Café. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—The Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum visited Acadia National Park last week in an excursion that involved visiting at least two major park projects and also a meeting with some local officials. “Acadia National Park had the honor of hosting Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum for a visit on … Continue reading Secretary of Interior Visited Acadia National Park Last Week

Former State Senate Candidate Charged with Alleged Vandalism at MDI Preserve

Former State Senate Candidate Charged with Alleged Vandalism at MDI Preserve

Feb 11, 2026 by Sabrina Martin/BDN MOUNT DESERT—A Mount Desert man who has run several times for elected office is facing a felony charge for allegedly vandalizing signs at a Mount Desert Island land preserve. Ian J. Schwartz is accused of damaging multiple signs and trail markers at a Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve on March 28, 2025. The damage amounted to $1,000, according … Continue reading Former State Senate Candidate Charged with Alleged Vandalism at MDI Preserve

More License Plate Reader Cameras Are Coming to Maine’s Coast Bar Harbor Police Chief Speaks to Bar Harbor’s Experience With the Cameras

More License Plate Reader Cameras Are Coming to Maine’s Coast

Bar Harbor Police Chief Speaks to Bar Harbor’s Experience With the Cameras Feb 10, 2026 by Elizabeth Walztoni/BDN HANCOCK COUNTY—Police are installing license plate reader cameras that record plate numbers of passing vehicles at six locations in Hancock County. Bucksport is set to be one of the latest areas in the county joining a local network of police agencies that use such cameras, which are already … Continue reading More License Plate Reader Cameras Are Coming to Maine’s Coast

Bar Harbor Harbor Committee Wants Fewer Members — Here’s Why

Bar Harbor Harbor Committee Wants Fewer Members — Here’s Why

Carrie Jones Feb 10, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry. BAR HARBOR—Appearing in cars, in offices, and in the town office, six members of the 11-member Bar Harbor Harbor Committee gathered Monday afternoon, February 9, and unanimously agreed on a couple things. The first is that the group would suggest to the town council that their membership decrease from 11 to … Continue reading Bar Harbor Harbor Committee Wants Fewer Members — Here’s Why

THINGS TO DO IN THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION THIS WEEK And in the near future.

THINGS TO DO IN THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION THIS WEEK

And in the near future. Feb 09, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden. 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. Also, you may have to click through to see everything. There are so many things that this … Continue reading THINGS TO DO IN THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION THIS WEEK