Should Maine Allow Associate Dentists Without Doctoral Degrees? Dentists don’t think so.

Should Maine Allow Associate Dentists Without Doctoral Degrees?

Dentists don’t think so. Mar 02, 2026 By Rose Lundy/Maine Monitor AUGUSTA—Lawmakers are considering two bills that attempt to increase access to dental care in Maine by studying ways to establish specialist residency programs in the state and creating a new license tier with lower educational requirements, a measure that multiple dentists opposed. L.D. 2206 would establish an associate dentist license, which would allow a dentist without … Continue reading Should Maine Allow Associate Dentists Without Doctoral Degrees?

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. Carrie Jones Mar 02, 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. 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

local meetings ON THE AGENDA: Town & School Meetings This Week. It's our round up of upcoming government meetings. All are public. That means you can go and be involved.

ON THE AGENDA: Town & School Meetings This Week.

It’s our round up of upcoming government meetings. All are public. That means you can go and be involved. Carrie Jones Mar 02, 2026 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 on the town and school calendars are cancelled or rescheduled, so make sure … Continue reading ON THE AGENDA: Town & School Meetings This Week.

PEOPLE WE'VE LOST

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

9 9 The Beetle Beneath the Bark: A Quiet Invasion on Mount Desert Island Officials Urge Residents to Watch for Infestation Signs

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

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

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

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

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

Fourth of July Happenings on MDI July 3 and July 5 events, too!

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