On The Agenda – Bar Harbor Town Meetings and Events
MAR 25, 2024
ON THE AGENDA
Every week we document Bar Harbor town government, school, and other similar meetings that we know of. Please let us know if we’ve missed something. Also, sometimes things are on the town calendars and are cancelled or rescheduled, so make sure to double check before you head over!
All the meetings take place at the Bar Harbor Municipal Building at 93 Cottage Street unless otherwise noted. And they usually have a time for public comments. This is not true about executive sessions, which are closed to the public.
So, go! Be informed! Be part of the process. You deserve to be.
To see the town meeting calendar by month, click here.
To see the school board calendar by month, click here
BAR HARBOR GOVERNMENT MEETINGS!
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
MONDAY, MARCH 25
Task Force on the Climate Emergency
March 25, 2024, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
@Council Chambers, Bar Harbor Municipal Building, Cottage Street
Local Option Lodging Tax Community Forum
March 25, 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
@ Jesup Memorial Library In-person event. Will not be recorded. Register at jesuplibrary.org/events/loltforum
Warrant Committee General Government Sub-Committee
March 25, 2024, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
@ 3rd Floor Meeting Room – Suite 301, Bar Harbor Municipal Building, Cottage Street
Warrant Committee
March 25, 2024, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
@ Council Chambers, Bar Harbor Municipal Building, Cottage Street
TUESDAY, MARCH 26
Pizza and Planning
Virtual – 6 p.m. on Zoom (see above image for details)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Land Use Amendment Listening Session
March 27, 2024, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
@ Council Chambers, Bar Harbor Municipal Building, Cottage Street
THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Pizza and Planning
11:30 Town Council Chambers (see above image on Tuesday) for details
and . . .
6 PM at Atlantic Brewing Company Midtown, 52 Cottage Street
Design Review Board Meeting
March 28, 2024, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Council Chambers, Bar Harbor Municipal Building, Cottage Street
FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Warrant Committee General Government Sub-Committee
March 29, 2024, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
@ 3rd Floor Meeting Room – Suite 301, Bar Harbor Municipal Building, Cottage Street
Things to Do In Bar Harbor
It’s our weekly round-up, and I may have missed some things so apologies!
To check out our news stories from the past week. Click on the archive section and you’ll see them in chronological order.
GET YOUR EASTER EGG ON!
Bar Harbor Inn
March 30, 10 a.m.
Hop into the spirit of Easter with our Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt at the Bar Harbor Inn! This beloved event is open to the entire community, for a morning filled with joy, laughter, and plenty of Easter eggs to discover!
Special Appearances and Surprises:
Meet the Easter Bunny! The Easter Bunny himself will be hopping by to greet everyone and pose for adorable pictures at the Gazebo.
Golden Egg Bonanza: Keep your eyes peeled for the coveted golden eggs hidden among the hundreds of colorful treasures.
Additional Information:
Please arrive early. The hunt will start promptly at 10:00 AM to ensure everyone gets the most out of this egg-citing adventure.
This event is free and open to the community.
Mount Desert Island YMCA
March 28, 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Eggstra Fun scavenger hunt and obstacle course in the Y gym. Go through the obstacle course to find clues and claim your prize at the end!
Open 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Eggcellent Easter Egg Swim with 2000 Easter Eggs in the Y pool. Children will be swim tested and leveled bracelets worn. The pool will be zoned with multiple lifeguards on duty during the swim.
YWCA Spring Fling
Join us for the annual Spring Fling and Egg Hunt. Kids will hunt based on age.
Kids 3 and under hunt at 10:00
Kids age 4 hunt at 10:30
Kids in Kindergarten hunt at 11:00
Kids in 1st and 2nd grade hunt at 11:30
All families are welcome. There will be crafts and games in the lobby while you are waiting to hunt for eggs.
Contact Abby at 288-5008 or abby@ywcamdi.org with any questions.
GET YOUR FROCK SWAP ON!
GET YOUR TUESDAY TALK ON!
Tuesday Talks at Birch Bay Village
Birch Bay Village welcomes Johannah Blackman and Beth Woolfolk of A Climate to Thrive. ACTT works towards energy independence for Mount Desert Island by 2030 through decentralized, local, renewable energy solutions including efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy generation. They seek solutions that build community ownership and equity and bring the community together around shared goals and priorities. They prioritize collaboration within and beyond the MDI community and actively work to build a network of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action throughout the state of Maine.
Johannah and Beth will present on community-driven energy solutions, current work on MDI, current challenges, and future priorities as well as discussion of possibilities for Birch Bay.
The talk will be April 2, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.
Johannah Blackman, Executive Director
A founding member of A Climate to Thrive, Johannah is honored to serve as ACTT’s Executive Director. Johannah brings together over a decade of experience in nonprofit management, over twelve years of experience in climate action, and a background in education, youth mentorship, and counseling psychology. Johannah’s particular passion is helping anyone and everyone discover their unique contribution to climate solutions and building community-driven climate action throughout Maine and beyond. She is an avid writer, explorer, and a mother.
Beth Woolfolk, Manager of Renewable Energy Planning and Policy
Beth grew up on Mount Desert Island and has her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Maine Orono. Over the past several years, Beth has taken a deep dive into the field of solar in Maine. Particular focus areas include: grid flexibility in the renewable energy transition, interconnection of solar, financial modeling for solar ownership, community-driven and responsible solar siting, and increasing access to solar ownership benefits. Beth is an avid gardener and dog lover.
A Climate to Thrive is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization and can be found at: aclimatetothrive.org
The talk is free and all are welcome!
GET YOUR CHOWDAH ON!
Get ready…Get set…It’s the Mount Desert Nursing Association’s Chowah Fest and Silent Auction coming Monday, April 1 to the Neighborhood House!
GET YOUR HERO ON!
BAR HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
To check if Bar Harbor Fire Department is currently hiring, please go to the town’s jobs page.
But even if it isn’t, you can become a call member
Becoming a call force firefighter requires extensive training, hard work, and dedication to the community. We rely on call force firefighters to respond quickly to emergencies, to perform firefighting duties, and to provide assistance and support to career firefighters. To be a fall force firefighter is to have a chance to aid and serve the community, which is an extremely rewarding experience.
READ TO FEED
Read to Feed Your Community
The Hancock County Food Drive invites you to sign up for the 2024 Read-a-Thon, a month-long reading challenge that raises funds for 17 local food pantries, soup kitchens, and school food assistance programs. Register online and recruit donations for every minute you spend reading in April!
The Hancock County Food Drive is an annual month-long food collection and fundraising event that directly supports food pantries, free meal programs, and school backpack programs across Hancock County. With the help of volunteers, these organizations work together every spring to provide critical assistance to Mainers during a time of year when food insecurity rates are at their highest. Learn more at www.hcfooddrive.org
Get Your Book Group On!
LWV Downeast Book Group
The League of Women Voters of Maine is hosting a book discussion on Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World. Meeting on Wednesday, March 27th from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm, all are welcome to participate, even if you haven’t read the book. More information and registration can be found at the link below.
The League of Women Voters of Maine is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
GET YOUR LOCAL NEWS AND DEMOCRACY ON! (And come say hi)
The League of Women Voters-Downeast is hosting a panel discussion on the importance of local news outlets to a functioning democracy. The event will be held Saturday, April 6, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Moore Community Center in Ellsworth. Panelists will include Kate Cough of The Maine Monitor, Carrie Jones of The Bar Harbor Story, Faith DeAmbrose of the Mount Desert Islander and Dan MacLeod of the Bangor Daily News.
With three state and federal elections coming up in Maine this year, an informed electorate is more important than ever.
“As local newspapers across the country close up shop, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to feel a sense of community and to get vital, accurate information,” says Ann Luther of League of Women Voters –Downeast.
Please join us to learn more about this important issue. This hybrid event is free to the public and lunch will be offered to in-person attendees. There will be an opportunity for questions from the live audience, and there will be an opportunity for the Zoom audience to submit their own questions to be presented by the moderator.
To participate on Zoom, register at www.lwvme.org/Events. Questions may be submitted in advance by email to downeast@lwvme.org.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.
GET YOUR ROADSIDE CLEANUP ON!
Earth Day Roadside Cleanup Registration Opens Soon!
Please join us on Saturday, April 27, for the 23rd annual island-wide Earth Day Roadside Cleanup. Local community members and visitors from around the state will gather to pick up a “winter’s worth of trash” from the roadsides of Mount Desert Island and Trenton.
Registration for the 2024 Friends of Acadia Earth Day Roadside Cleanup opens on April 1 on our website.
Please click here for more information or contact Stewardship Coordinator Nikki Burtis at nikki@friendsofacadia.org or 207-288-3934.
GET YOUR PRAYER SHAWL ON!
Welcoming all knitters and would be knitters…and crocheters! The Welcome and Care Team at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC is hosting a weekly Prayer Shawl Mission Group every Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC. The intention of the group is to create a sense of community and a flow of Prayer Shawls for distribution to those in need of comfort due to illness, loneliness, or loss. Supplies and instruction will be provided to those with skills for knitting and/or crocheting and for those with a desire to learn.
There are no costs to the participants.
For more information contact Pat by calling (203) 770-0063 or email: pgdizazzo@yahoo.com.
GET YOUR OPEN MIC AND KARAOKE ON!
Open mic night is back at the Finback!! We are still working on kitchen projects until March, but we are going to open the door on Friday nights for music! We’ll make a batch of chili or soup every Friday just in case you need something to warm up! Doors open at 7!
Karaoke is on Saturday nights!
GET YOUR NOR’EASTER ON!
GET YOUR VOLTA ON!
Volta, in Trenton, has a ton of things always going on. You can check that out here.
GET YOUR TRAIL RUNNING FILM FESTIVAL ON!
The Trail Running Film Festival will once again include Bar Harbor as a stop on its Global Tour, coming to town on Saturday, March 30 at 7 p.m.
The Mount Desert Island YMCA and The 1932 Criterion Theatre, which is where the films will be shown, are co-sponsoring the event with proceeds from ticket sales supporting a number of important programs at the Y.
Curated by Outdoor Arts and Recreation, the festival features a collection of films that celebrate running as a universal practice to explore our collective and individual potential and pursue our wildest dreams. The organization hopes to accomplish this by documenting the culture of trail running, supporting filmmakers and creatives, and hosting events such as this one that bring our community together.
There will also be refreshments and door prizes raffled off at the showing on March 30.
More information on the films that will be shown, as well as prices for tickets, will be available soon on the Trail Running Film Festival’s website: trailfilmfest.com
GET YOUR ICE QUILTING DERBY ON!
FREE MUSIC LESSONS AT THE CRITERION!
GET YOUR GREEN DRINKS ON!
GET YOUR BIO LAB EVENTS ON!
Upcoming Events
Please register for MDI Bio Lab events by clicking on the title to access the event page.
April 3, 2024 at 5 PM: MDIBL Moments: Reconnecting Alumni & Mentors
Calling all MDI Bio Lab alumni to join us for a special virtual get together.
April 8, 2024 at 5 PM: MDI Science Café Online – Climate Change & Pollution: A Double Threat to Kids’ Health
From Maine to Sri Lanka, MDI Bio Lab Visiting Scientist Nishad Jayasundara, Ph.D., is connecting the dots between human-driven environmental change and emerging vectors of disease.
April 26-27, 2024: Maine Biological and Medical Sciences Symposium (MBMSS)
A statewide gathering of scientists and students eager to share research results, exchange ideas, collaborate and network with Maine scientists in various disciplines. Now in its 51st year!
Get Your Book (And Author) On!
VIRTUAL WRITE ON! WRITING GROUP
Want support for your craft? The Write On! writer’s group has been meeting at the Jesup since 2014, and remotely during the pandemic. Each meeting, members may bring in up to 1200 words to read for feedback, and in turn offer feedback to others. Although each member doesn’t get to read work every time, the group shares the time fairly. The group meets on Zoom, and hold in confidence what is shared. This group welcomes adults 18 and up writing in many genres. There’s no homework–the only commitment is two hours on Saturday mornings.
Date and Time
SATURDAYS
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Location
Zoom
How to Attend
Call the library, 207-288-4245, for more about us and how to join, or email info@jesuplibrary.org.
STORY TIMES AT THE JESUP!
Baby and Toddler Time
Join Abby for fingerplays, songs, and stories on Mondays! Older siblings are welcome to join in.
- 10:30 AM 11:15 AM
- JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY34 MT. DESERT STREET
JESUP EVENTS
For a full list of Jesup Memorial Library events, click through to its calendar here.
ONGOING:
GET YOUR ART ON!
OPEN STUDIO – MEMBER MONDAYS
Members can reserve a table in our studio for an hour or the whole session and have access to our non-consumable tools or use some materials from our stock!$10 for reserved space – participant brings supplies. OR $25 for reserved space plus access to consumable materials; felting, glass, paint, printmaking.Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Masking, vaccinated, and social distancing for staff and participant safety.
Date and Time
Mondays
2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. EDT
Location
ArtWaves, 1345A State Highway 102, Bar Harbor
Fees/Admission
$42.00
Website
https://www.artwavesmdi.org/event
Contact Information
207-266-0010
Send Email
MONDAY & THURSDAY NIGHT FIGURE DRAWING
Please register, space is limited.
Artists will have a few quick warm-up poses then be able to spend time refining a long pose. Registration necessary- ArtWaves maintains distances for safety.The model is the star, no instruction, but plenty of easels, boards, horses, paper, charcoal and fellow friendly artists. Feel free to bring your paints and brushes as well!18 and over, under 18 allowed with parental attendance or prior signature.
Date and Time
Mondays and Thursdays
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Mondays 6-9 single pose and Thursdays multi poses
Location
ArtWaves Fine Arts Studio
Fees/Admission
$15 for 3-hour session
Members: $25 month fee
Contact Information
office @artwavesmdi.otrg
Send Email
KIDS CRAFTERNOONS
ArtWaves is devoting afternoons of studio (under the big tent) sessions for children to create. Most workshops use unique materials like fiber, ink, stained glass and wax. Weekly themes. Open to kids between 7-11. No skills required.Masks, vax’d (over 5), and distancing for staff and participant safety.
To Register:
Date and Time
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Location
ArtWaves, 1345A State Highway 102, Bar Harbor
Fees/Admission
$30 materials included or bring some of your own! ($20 for members)
Student membership is $36 a year!
Contact Information office@artwavesmdi.org
Send Email
ARTWAVES CLASSES AND EVENTS
ArtWaves often has classes, a variety every week. For the updated selection, check out its website here
GET YOUR MOVIE ON!
REEL PIZZA
Reel Pizza is open! To check out what’s playing go here.
Tickets are on sale via its website.
Please note that for a while this winter, it will be closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
CRITERION THEATRE
The theater’s website is here, and click for the latest updates.
GET YOUR FITNESS, DANCE and WELLNESS ON!
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE!
The Neighborhood House has a slew of classes to help you get your fitness on. Descriptions are at its website.
MDI YMCA!
The MDI YMCA’s program guide is here.
DOWNEAST COMMUNITY DANCE
Downeast Community Dance meets every Sunday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Moore Community Center in Ellsworth (first and third) and ArtWaves in Town Hill (second, fourth and fifth).
These free form dance gatherings are not facilitated, with music provided by volunteer DJs. Move to rhythms in your own way and have fun.
Admission is by donation.
For more information, contact Susan at 288-8103 or cloudnine@gwi.net.
Location
Dance Studio at ArtWaves, 1345A State Highway 102, Bar Harbor
MDI YMCA CLASSSES
For a full listing, check out here.
GET YOUR MUSIC ON!
THE FINBACK ALEHOUSE
The Finback has entertainment most nights. The schedule is posted every Tuesday.
THE NOR’EASTER
The Nor’Easter has music every Saturday night from 8-10 in the summer and 7-9 in the winter.
ONE OFF PUB
The One Off Pub often has music and is often open until midnight. The location? 119 Main Street.
HAVANA
Every Saturday night its open, at 6:30 p.m, you can come hear the maestro Bob Lombardi. Maestro isn’t something we put out there for everyone. Havana is on lower Main Street.
GET YOUR FOOD ON!
The Somesville Union Meeting House will have second Sunday community suppers through April. The free event runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
OPEN TABLE MDI!
For more information, click here.
COOL THINGS IN OTHER TOWNS
Book Sale at Northeast Harbor Library
Proceeds benefit the library.
Come discover the Northeast Harbor Library’s Book Sale Down Under, which is open year ’round. Well organized, there is something for everyone, including books, DVDs, audios, a children’s section and a collector’s shelf with all sorts of interesting offerings. The cost is by donation. The hours for the sale are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5 p.m. For more information, call the library at 276-3333.
Mar 26 at 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Northeast Harbor Library, 1 Joy Road, Mount Desert
PEOPLE-NATURE-ART WITH KAREN ZIMMERMANN
Maine Master Naturalist Karen O. Zimmermann is the People-Nature-Art presenter at the Gilley for March. In-Person or online & free; registration is required. Artist reception prior to presentation.
Maine Master Naturalist Karen O. Zimmermann is the People-Nature-Art presenter at the Gilley for March. As a naturalist and artist, Karen creates not just for her own pleasure, but to share stories. By presenting small details in watercolor she invites viewers to look at all nature has to offer more deeply, taking home new insights that they may not otherwise have noticed, and to perhaps look differently at what is right under their feet and in their own backyard. Inspired by naturalists including Maine botanist and illustrator Kate Furbush, Karen spends most days hiking, observing, learning about plants, and painting. She combines natural history notes with sketches from field observations, capturing the spirit of a living entity and its sense of place. For her, merging visual and verbal is a way to gain an understanding of the plant or animal in front of her, and its place in the world around us.
On March 26 at the Gilley, she will share how drawing is a way to deepen one’s understanding of nature, and to see details often overlooked. In addition to being a Maine Master Naturalist, Karen is a Registered Maine Guide, watercolorist, and nature journal Instructor. This will be an in-person event, but can also be attended online. We will send a Zoom link to those who choose the online option when reserving space. There will be an artist reception at 6pm. People-Nature-Art is a monthly series that brings artists, writers, carvers, and creative types of all kinds to the Gilley to explore how nature and art interact in their work, and how their art impacts their own approach to nature. This is a free event. Registration is required.
Mar 26 at 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Wendell Gilley Museum, 4 Herrick Road, Southwest Harbor
GET YOUR CHAMBER CALENDAR ON!
The Bar Harbor Chamber has an event page and a calendar here. It doesn’t reflect all the things in our piece, but it’s a great start and has a bunch of events throughout the region.
TOWN GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
SOUTHWEST HARBOR
Regular meeting schedule (meetings held at the Town Office unless otherwise noted). Calendar is here.
Select Board: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of every month @6pm
Board of Appeals: 2nd Wednesday of every month (as needed) @6pm
Planning Board: 1st & 3rd Thursdays of every month @6pm at the Town Office & via Zoom
Conservation Commission: 1st Wednesday of every month @4:30pm via Zoom
Shellfish Committee: 2nd Monday of every month @5pm
Harbor Committee: 1st Monday of every month @6pm
Historic Cemetery Committee: 3rd Wednesday of every month @2pm
Warrant Committee: as needed
MOUNT DESERT
March 27, 2024 – 6:00pm
April 1, 2024 – 6:30pm
Sustainability Committee Meeting
April 3, 2024 – 3:30pm
April 3, 2024 – 6:00pm
April 9, 2024 – 4:30pm
The regular meeting schedule is here.
TREMONT:
March 25
5:00 pm Select Board Meeting
March 26
6:00 pm Planning Board Meeting
March 28
5:00 pm Harbor Committee Meeting
BAR HARBOR:
According to the town’s website, “Meetings that are broadcast live can be viewed at home by watching Cable Access Channel 7 or 1303 (Spectrum Cable only) and online at Town Hall Streams.”
“Things We Do in Bar Harbor” and “On the Agenda” is mostly curated by me looking for things happening in the upcoming week, which takes a lot of time and I truly do not know all that is going on.
If there’s something in Bar Harbor (or MDI) that you’d like me to mention, please let me know, because I’m definitely always missing some events every week.
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