Dancing, Music, and Cars & COA Boat Fire Rescue Update

MDI Hospital Receives $1 million, Southwest Harbor and Trenton Select Board Updates and all the other news that wouldn’t fit

Jul 25, 2025

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden.

A QUICK NOTE FROM US:

We’ve updated our story about the rescue of some fishermen by College of the Atlantic students. That updated story from yesterday afternoon is here.

ANOTHER QUICK NOTE FROM US:

Each week, we compile briefs and press releases and event images and share them all in one (sometimes very long) story.

Our briefs article is mostly just press releases that we don’t write, or claim to write, but just share from the agencies, businesses, people, and organizations that send them in.

If things are not a press release, they are labelled “BRIEF” in their headlines. The press releases will not have that label.

Acadia Dance Festival Returns to Mount Desert Island
July 28 – August 2, 2025 celebrating the newly reopened 1932 Criterion Theatre

PLUS: Summer Intensive for Dancers Aged 14–22

BAR HARBOR—The Acadia Dance Festival returns to Mount Desert Island for its sixth season, presenting acclaimed contemporary dance company Nimbus Dance in collaboration with musicians from the Bar Harbor Music Festival. This annual celebration of movement and music brings world-class performance and dance education to Downeast Maine.

Nimbus Dance takes the stage at the historic 1932 Criterion Theatre for two performances: a full evening show on Friday, August 1, and a Family Matinee on Saturday, August 2.

The Friday evening program features Artistic Director Samuel Pott’s newest work, Dark Water—a striking collaboration with composer Qasim Naqvi and visual artist Nicola López. Commissioned by the New Jersey Symphony with support from the O’Donnell Green Music & Dance Foundation, Dark Water explores the mystery and power of water as both natural force and human metaphor. López’s responsive set of fabric and projected video enhances the choreography’s fluidity and sense of immersion, while Naqvi’s ambient score deepens the emotional terrain. Also on the program is the return of Dawn Marie Bazemore’s powerful The After Party, set to music by Nina Simone and Nancy Wilson, and Nimbus’s signature 2006 work Memo, choreographed by Pott.

On Saturday at 11 a.m., Nimbus presents a Family Matinee, a relaxed and engaging program suited for children ages 3 and up. This colorful performance features narrative dances and includes appearances by local youth from Camp Beech Cliff and the Acadia Dance Festival Intensive.

Local students ages 14–22 can take part in the Acadia Dance Festival Intensive, held at ArtWaves MDI from July 28 to August 2. Participants train with Nimbus faculty in ballet and contemporary dance and engage in workshops covering improvisation, injury prevention, and more. Younger dancers can join the Nimbus Dance Specialty Camp at Camp Beech Cliff. Students from both programs will perform at the Criterion Theatre alongside Nimbus’s professional company.

Nimbus arrives in Bar Harbor following spring appearances at Walton Arts Center (AR) and the Montclair Dance Festival (NJ) as part of its 20th Anniversary Season.

Performance:

Friday, August 1, 7 p.m.

Saturday, August 2, 11 a.m. (Family Matinee)

Criterion Theatre, 35 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

Tickets Available at www.criteriontheatre.org

Performance Ticket: $35 Adult, $15 Student, $15 Matinee

Intensive:
Monday, July 28 – Saturday, August 2, 2025

$450 – Merit and need-based scholarships available

Location:
ArtWaves MDI, 1345-A State Highway 102, Bar Harbor, Maine

Registration and more information available at:
www.acadiadancefestival.org

About Acadia Dance Festival

Now in its sixth season, the Acadia Dance Festival was launched in 2018 by Nimbus Dance and the 1932 Criterion Theatre. In recent years, the Festival has expanded to include community classes, artist talks, and school-year performance events, in collaboration with Camp Beech Cliff, ArtWaves, and other local partners. The Festival brings professional dance artists to Mount Desert Island each year and creates opportunities for local residents and young dancers to engage meaningfully with the world of contemporary dance.

About Nimbus Dance
Nimbus Dance bridges the gap between world-class performances and community engagement by presenting work that challenges, speaks to, and elevates the core beliefs of its diverse audience. Founded in 2005 by Artistic Director Samuel Pott and based in Jersey City, Nimbus presents nationally and regionally, reaching over 16,000 people annually through performance, touring, and education programs.

About the 1932 Criterion Theatre
The 1932 Criterion Theatre is a historic performing arts venue located in downtown Bar Harbor, Maine. The Theatre presents film, live performance, and community events year-round, fostering cultural vitality across Mount Desert Island and beyond.

Bar Harbor Music Festival Announces Upcoming Concerts, Some With Popovers!

Popover Concerts underway as the Festival Orchestra comes to town!

Allison Kiger picking up popovers from the Stadium – photo courtesy of BHMF

HANCOCK COUNTY—As part of the Bar Harbor Music Festival’s theme of “Growing our Roots,” audience members were surveyed as to how the Festival could serve them better with the benefits of classical music. One of the most heard responses was the reluctance to drive or come into Bar Harbor at night, citing the darkness as well as parking challenges. Thus morning concerts were added to calendar, at 10:30am, similar to the timing of morning classes at other organizations like Acadia Senior College.

The BHMF is committed to being a thriving third space for people to connect through their curiosity and appreciate of classical music and added a social hour with the artists and fresh popovers from the Stadium in Bar Harbor. Tickets are $25 for the 45-minute concerts and include a popover with sides of maple butter and blueberry jam. Popover concert dates are July 23, 30, August 10, 13, 16, and 30. The atmosphere is family friendly and tickets are FREE to everyone 21 and under thanks to the Thirsty Whale, with a $5 charge for the popover.

Starting July 28, the BHMF will be hosting 27 exceptional classical musicians from as far away as Seattle to combine and perform as the Festival Orchestra in a program of Sibelius, Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter,” and the only piano concerto by Richard Strauss, titled “Burleske” with international competition winner Pyotr Akulov. Orchestra members come mostly from the New York area including outstanding players from Broadway shows who regularly appear with the New York Philharmonic, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

The Festival Concert master is Eric Wyrick, former member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and current Concertmaster of the New Jersey Symphony. The chair of Principal Second Violin will be filled by Nicholas Pappone, concertmaster of the BHMF Opera, playing the Gofriller violin of the late BHMF director Francis Fortier. This is the most ambitious orchestral production yet from the Bar Harbor Music Festival. Housing for all these outstanding artists comes from donors opening their homes in the community.

On July 30, the Wyrick and friends performs a string trio program “Echoes of Eternity,” with music by Schubert, Beethoven, and the haunting Trio by Gideon Klein. Gideon Klein, often recognized by survivors as “our own Leonard Bernstein,” composed this work just ten days before his transport from Terezín to Auschwitz. It feels accessible and light-hearted, but it also includes references to works by other composers and folk music of his native Moravia, perhaps a message about the loss of European and Jewish culture.

The second movement, haunting and soulful, takes up a melodic theme from a folk song Klein’s nanny sang to him in his native Moravia, about a goose grieving the fate of her babies as she falls to her death from a hunter’s bullet. It’s a personal and sorrowful goodbye.

The trio was first performed in 1946 in Prague’s Rudolfinum, in a concert organized by Klein’s sister, Eliska, and conducted by Karel Ancerl, who was also interned in Terezín. Ancerl wrote, “Where there was a valuable cultural performance, there for sure Gideon Klein was the initiator.”

Concerts at 10:30am with popovers and 7:30pm at St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church 41 Mount Desert St. Tickets at the door or barharbormusicfestival.org.

Concert goers enjoying popovers after the show – photo courtesy of BHMF

Friday, August 1, Festival artists Kirsten Jermé, cello and Pyotr Akulov, piano join the Acadia Dance Festival to perform live music for “Memo” choreography by Samuel Pott and music by Rochberg, Prokofiev and Dvorak. 7pm at the Criterion Theater. acadiadancefestival.org for tickets

Sunday August 3 at 5 p.m. at the Monteux Forest Studio 42 Melody Lane in Hancock and Monday, August 4 at 5 p.m. at St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church in Bar Harbor (with a BH Chamber of Commerce Afternoon After Hours 3:30-5 at the Jesup Memorial Library). Festival Orchestra in Concert. Sibelius Andante festivo, Strauss Burleske in D Minor, TrV 145 with pianist Pyotr Akulov and Mozart Symphony No. 41, KV 551, “Jupiter” David Alexander Rahbee, conductor barharbormusicfestival.org

The Bar Harbor Music Festival Orchestra is led by Maestro David Alexander Rahbee. Rahbee spent 10 years in Vienna and mentored closely with the late Nicholas Harnoncourt, but has a more local connection. He studied several summers early in his education at the Monteux School in Hancock.

BHMF Director and flutist Allison Kiger was also studying there with Claude Monteux and the two became lifelong friends, based on their love of orchestral music. Kiger says “David Rahbee brings an exciting level of detail, scholarship, and energy to our performances and the musicians really enjoy making music with him.”

Piano soloist Pyotr Akulov is performing with the orchestra as part of a collaboration between the Bar Harbor Music Festival and the Cooper International Music Competition and their shared mission of supporting up and coming talent.

Pyotr Akulov is a native Muscovite.

He started his piano lessons at the age of four. Initially Pyotr entered the Moscow Central Music School then continued his musical education at the Gnessin Moscow Special School of Music with his Professor Maxim Zheleznov.

The 2023 Thomas and Evon Cooper Competition brought a new vibe to Pyotr’s musical growth, giving him the opportunity to study at Oberlin Conservatory.

He has been a scholar of the Mstislav Rostropovich Foundation and the NEW NAMES Foundation.

Pyotr has been involved in a variety of solo and orchestral performances in Russia and worldwide, including the Mstislav Rostropovich Festival, White Nights in St. Petersburg, The Crescendo, The Stars on the Baikal, The Rachmaninoff White Lilac (Kazan), Mikkeli Music Festival, St. Petersburg Arts Square Festival, PIANISSIMO, ViveArte Festival etc.

As a soloist Pyotr collaborated with different orchestras including The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, The SVETLANOV Symphony Orchestra, The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, The Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, The Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra, The Volgograd Symphony Orchestra, The Salzburg Chamber Soloists, The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Macao Orchestra. He is an eager chamber music performer.

In 2021/2022 Pyotr debuted with his recital programs at the venues of the Moscow and St. Petersburg Philharmonic Societies. Since 2023 he has been engaged in a music subscription by the Moscow Philharmonic Society to perform a series of piano concerti with orchestra.

Pyotr is a prize winner of a number of international musical competitions inter alia: 2017 Zhuhai Mozart Competition for Young Musicians (I Prize); 2019 Astana Piano Passion (Grand Prix); 2020 Hilton Head International Piano Competition (II Prize); 2021 Grand Piano Competition (Grand Prix); 2021 Bachauer International Junior & Young Artists Competition (Silver Medal); 2023 The Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition (I Prize and Audience Prize).

Pyotr will perform for thr Acadia Dance Festival Friday August 1, and the Strauss “Burleske in D Minor” TrV 145 with the Festival Orchestra August 3 and 4, and perform a solo piano recital on Saturday, August 9 at 10:30am and 7:30pm “Passion and Elegy – music of Chopin, Rachmaninov, and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet” and a Young Audience Concert on Monday August 11th featuring Franz Liszt’s Dance of the Gnomes at St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church 41 Mount Desert St.

For more Bar Harbor Music Festival information

Seal Cove Auto Museum Brings Home Award

TREMONT—On Sunday, July 20, 2025, the Seal Cove Auto Museum showed a 1910 Pierce-Arrow, Model 36-UU Runabout at the 15^thAnnual Misselwood Concours d’Elegance at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. And they took home the best in class award for Class I – Brass & Nickel.

About the automobile:

1910 Pierce-Arrow Model 36-UU.
Price New: $3,850.
Body Style: Runabout.
Total Produced in 1910: 1,918 (total production of all Pierce-Arrow models in that year).
Engine: Cast-iron T-Head, inline six-cylinder, cast in pairs, 358 CID.
Transmission: Shaft drive, four-speed sliding gear.
Brakes: Mechanical on rear wheels.

The automobile’s provenance:

James Melton: A popular singer, Met lyric tenor, recording artist for Victor & Columbia records, producer, and actor, James Melton was also an esteemed automobile collector. According to Melton’s book, Bright Wheels Rolling, he purchased this model 36-UU “for a song.” Melton wrote that the purchasing deal was satisfied after he sang “The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise.”

Dr. Samuel Scher: A pioneering collector, Dr. Scher built his collection in the late 40’s and 50’s during a time when collecting was still in its infancy. As one of the founders of the practice of cosmetic surgery, Dr. Scher ensured that his automobile restorations were of the highest caliber, akin to the cosmetic surgeries he performed on his patients. Reuter’s Coach Works was the predominant restoration outfit trusted by Dr. Scher for his restoration ventures.

Richard C. Paine, Jr.: In 1965, 41 automobiles from Dr. Scher’s landmark collection were purchased by Richard C. Paine, Jr. and moved to a new home on Mount Desert Island, Maine, adjacent to Acadia National Park. Richard amassed one of the most significant automobile collections in the world.

Today: This 1910 Pierce-Arrow is still owned by a descendant of Richard C. Paine, Jr., and is currently on gracious loan to the Seal Cove Auto Museum.

About Misselwood Concours d’Elegance:

A term of French origin meaning a “competition of elegance.” Dating back to the 17^th century in France, this was an occasion where aristocrats would parade horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during summer weekends and holidays. Now horses have been replaced by automobiles and are judged on their appearance. In the United States, these events are often used as charitable fundraising events.

Proceeds raised by the Misselwood Concours d’Elegance go directly to Endicott College’s Inspire Scholarship. This scholarship enables students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education, offering them the opportunity to do so within Endicott’s experimental, professional, and liberal arts curricula.

The Seal Cove Auto Museum Misselwood Team:

Michael Staggs, Executive Director
David Nichols, Associate Curator
Peter Brown, Senior Mechanic
Alyson Melselman, Garage Volunteer – instrumental in getting the automobile running by manufacturing specialized pencil filters for the oil system.
Joan Melselman – spouse to Alyson
John Urbanek – Board Member and Garage Volunteer
Peggy Fitzpatrick
Lynne Staggs
Grayson Staggs

BRIEF: TRENTON SELECT BOARD MEETING JULY 22

TRENTON—In a quick meeting, which might have been quicker except for some technical difficulties, the Trenton Select Board signed a quitclaim deed and approved a liquor license renewal at its meeting on July 22.

Fire Chief Steve Heckman was not in attendance so there was no fire department update.

The signing of the quitclaim deed was unanimously approved by the select board and was for Scott Snowman at 14 Derby Lane.

Acadia Lobster & BBQ Co. located, at 324 Bar Harbor Road, had applied for a renewal of its liquor license and the request was unanimously approved.

The next Trenton Select Board meeting is scheduled for August 5, 2025 at 7 p.m., at the town office.

BRIEF: SOUTHWEST HARBOR APPROVES SPECIAL AMUSEMENT PERMITS

SOUTHWEST HARBOR—After an executive session that was scheduled for a half hour and continued for 75 minutes, July 22, the Southwest Harbor Select Board got down to business quickly approving special amusement permits for from The Lindquist Group, LLC on behalf of Red Sky, 14 Clark Point Rd., SWH, for an On-Premises Beer, Wine, and Spirits liquor license and James King on behalf of Lindenwood Inn, 118 Clark Point Road.

Vice Chair Chapin McFarland had an excused absence.

The board also looked toward a standardization of its town ordinances, focusing on all the Southwest Harbor ordinances.

Local Restaurants Rally for Island Connections on DINE-AROUND DAY, Saturday August 2

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—On Saturday, August 2, treating yourself means treating your neighbors to independence, dignity, and a ride when they need it most. Island Connections invites residents and visitors to take part in Dine-Around Day, a delicious way to support a vital cause while enjoying some of the best food MDI has to offer.

More than a dozen restaurants are giving back by donating a portion of their day’s proceeds to Island Connections, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free transportation for seniors and people with disabilities across MDI and the surrounding islands. These rides make it possible for many residents to live independently at home, providing a crucial lifeline to vulnerable members of the community.

Whether you’re craving breakfast, lunch, dinner or a sweet treat, there’s a participating restaurant to match your taste. For a full list of participating restaurants or to explore an interactive map, visit islconnections.org/dine-around-day/.

Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $20.5 Million for Economic Development Projects Across Maine—One Million for Mount Desert Island Hospital Included

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King announced that 29 Maine organizations will receive a total of $20,588,173 to support important development projects. The funding comes from the Northern Border Regional Commission’s (NBRC) Fiscal Year 2025 Catalyst Program and Timber for Transit Program and will support projects aimed at strengthening economic opportunity in communities across 13 Maine counties.

“The NBRC has long helped provide rural regions with the economic tools they need to prosper,” said Senators Collins and King. “This funding will help improve water infrastructure and roadways in communities across our state while strengthening our workforce and creating economic opportunities for Mainers.”

The recipients of the Catalyst Program funding are as follows:

Boothbay Region Water District – $1,000,000
City of Gardiner – $1,000,000
Mount Desert Island Hospital – $1,000,000
Presque Isle Utilities District – $1,000,000
Town of Waldoboro – $1,000,000
Regional Medical Center at Lubec – $800,000
Cherryfield Town Square – $500,000
Eastern Maine Development Corporation – $500,000
Friends of the Mountain – $500,000
Main Street Skowhegan – $500,000
Maine Department of Labor – $500,000
Maine Outdoor Brands – $500,000
Paris Utility District – $500,000
The Harry E. Davis Partnership for Children’s Oral Health – $499,613
Associated General Contractors of Maine – $497,961
Town of Thomaston – $497,640
Maine Community College System – $497,537
Town of Beals – $482,236
Arnold Trail Snowmobile Network – $403,409
GrowSmart Maine – $388,700
Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce – $303,150
Midcoast Council of Governments – $300,000
Bangor Children’s Home d.b.a. Hilltop School – $227,735
Island Institute – $181,712
Town of North Haven – $100,000

The recipients of the Timber for Transit Program funding are as follows:

Town of Island Falls – $2,808,000
City of Presque Isle – $2,500,000
University of Maine, Orono Campus – $1,000,000
Inland Woods and Trails – $600,480

A detailed description of all funded projects can be read here.

The NBRC was established by Congress in 2008, with Senator Collins’ and King’s support, to fund a broad range of development projects in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York aimed at alleviating economic distress and encouraging private sector job creation. In 2023, Senator Collins introduced and Senator King co-sponsored a bill to reauthorize and strengthen the NBRC.

COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC SUMMER INSTITUTE

THE CROW FAMILY BAND!

The Historical Society’s Summer Potluck needs you!

We are excited to invite the MDI community and visitors to join us for our free potluck and concert at the MDI Historical Society’s 95th Annual Meeting, taking place from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on August 21 at the Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor. We have received much enthusiastic feedback asking us to hold more public suppers beyond our January Bean Supper, so we booked a band and are putting out the call for cooks to contribute.

After a brief meeting, we welcome you all to enjoy a potluck, a concert, and a talk with the ensemble Lyracle and their program, “Musick’s Recreation,” which explores the history of at-home music-making in 17th- and 18th-century New England.

We hope you will attend and bring a dish to share! You are not restricted to beans or baked goods. Please register at: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSfL4O2…/viewform…

For more information about the event or the musical program, go to: https://mdihistory.org/…/public-community-potluck…

Thank you for everything you do for the community and the MDI Historical Society. We look forward to seeing you on August 21!

World-class chamber music performances on stage for 62^nd season at Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor

Miami String Quartet: (l to r) Benny Kim, violin; Cathy Meng Robinson, violin; Keith Robinson, cello; Scott Lee, viola.

NORTHEAST HARBOR—The Mt. Desert Festival of Chamber Music opens its 62^nd season at the Neighborhood House, Northeast Harbor, Maine, on July 22 with the Miami String Quartet. Compositions by Haydn, Schulhoff, and Elgar promise to engage the audience with images of the 19^th and early 20^th century Romantic Period. Members include Benny Kim and Cathy Meng Robinson on violin, Keith Robinson on cello, and Scott Lee on viola.

The Festival dedicates its 2025 program schedule to Matthew Raimondi, founder and music director from 1963 to 1996, who passed away on his beloved Mount Desert Island last October at the age of 96. He and his wife, Natalie, created a tradition that attracts both serious and casual classical music enthusiasts year after year. Todd Crow, who succeeded Matthew as the Festival’s music director, described Matthew as “… a gifted violinist and serious musician, but generous and kind to a fault. He was very funny, a great storyteller, and the quickest wit that I ever knew.” Todd notes that the “…best tribute to his (Matthew’s) memory will be to continue providing great music and great artistry to the Mt. Desert community.”

The five-concert series continues on Tuesdays through August 19 (July 29, August 5, 12, and 19) at 7:30 p.m. The second week’s event features an annual tradition of guest artists joining musical director-pianist Todd Crow, now in his 52^nd season as a Festival performer. Stephanie Chase (violin); Dov Scheindlin (viola); and Mark Shuman (cello) have selected pieces by Haydn, Beethoven, and Brahms for the evening’s program.

August begins with the Dover Quartet on August 5. Violinists Joel Link and Bryan Lee and cellist Camden Shaw are alumni of the Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia, Penn.). Jeremy Berry on viola joins the quartet for this season’s performance in place of Julianne Lee. The program will include music by contemporary American composer Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981); Czech composers Leoš Janáček and Antonín Dvořák; and British conductor/composer/violist Frank Bridge.

The Brentano Quartet returns to the Neighborhood House stage on August 12. Formed in 1992 at the Juilliard School, the quartet takes its name from Antonie Brentano, an Austrian philanthropist and close friend of Beethoven. Violinists Mark Steinberg and Serena Canin, Misha Amory on viola, and cellist Nina Lee will perform works by Haydn, Bach, and Beethoven.

The final performance of the season takes place on August 19 with the Viano Quartet Violinists Lucy Wang and Hao Zhou, with Aiden Kane on viola and cellist Tate Zawadiuk are alumni of the Colburn Conservatory (Los Angeles, Calif.). They will perform three pieces by composers Haydn, Dvořák, and Mendelssohn that span the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The evening’s finale, Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in D major, Op. 44, No. 1, closes out the season with a feeling of jubilation to entice patrons to return for the Festival’s 63^rd season in 2026.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at mtdesertfestival.org or at the Neighborhood House box office during the concert season, Mondays 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. and Tuesdays, 12:00 p.m. until concert time at 7:30 p.m.

ABBE MUSEUM OPEN THE LAST SATURDAY OF JULY, AUGUST, AND SEPTEMBER

BAR HARBOR—The Abbe Museum on Mt. Desert Street in downtown Bar Harbor will be open on Saturday July 26, Saturday August 30, and Saturday September 27, 2025 from 10am to 5pm.

The Abbe – a museum of Wabanaki art, history, and culture – has been open Monday through Friday since the pandemic. “These select Saturdays during our 2025 season represent the Museum’s commitment to transitioning towards what will likely be a six-day week next season” says Abbe Advancement Director Sharon Catus. “It’s important to us that those who work a typical Monday to Friday schedule can still enjoy the museum” Catus emphasized.

The Museum welcomes visitors to view not only its refreshed permanent exhibits, but also for two new contemporary art exhibits. Timed to coincide with the country’s 250th anniversary, In the Shadow of the Eagle invites audiences to examine the foundational stories of the United States in light of Indigenous experience and reveals the strength, service, and diplomacy of Wabanaki peoples (May 2025-October 2026). Mi’kmaw Tepgunsejig: 13 Moons Full Suite (May 2025-October 2025) features the dynamic print series by Jordan Bennett (Mi’kmaq), showcasing Bennett’s visual examination of the Mi’kmaq lunar calenda

For more information, or to plan your visit, go to abbemuseum.org, email the Abbe staff at info@abbemuseum.org, or call 207-288-3519.

About the Abbe – The Abbe’s mission is to illuminate and advance greater understanding of and support for Wabanaki Nations’ heritage, living cultures, and homelands. The Museum works directly with Wabanaki Tribal Nations to share authority for the interpretation of their living cultures and history, and to privilege Native perspective/voice. These practices can be seen throughout our exhibits, public programs, educational workshops, tours, research, collections management, and museum shop.

BOY SCOUT AT BEECH HILL FARM

NYC–ME Jazz Alliance: The Ryan Blotnick / Mike McGinnis Quintet Live in Concert

BAR HARBOR—Jazz aficionados and curious listeners alike are in for a rare and thrilling musical experience as guitarist Ryan Blotnick and saxophonist/clarinetist Mike McGinnis co-lead an all-star quintet for an intimate night of boundary-pushing jazz at Sassafrass Café in Town Hill, and a family-friendly outdoor show at Fogtown Brewery in Ellsworth.

Joining them on stage will be Ellsworth native and Berlin-based saxophonist Jeremy Viner, French-Brazilian bassist Gui Duvignau, and genre-blending percussionist Hamir Atwal. This ensemble brings together some of the most adventurous voices in modern jazz, fusing influences from Maine to Berlin to New York City and beyond.

Blotnick and McGinnis’s musical connection began through Maine’s close-knit creative scene and deepened through shared mentorship under harmony guru Paul Caputo in NYC. Their individual paths have crisscrossed through Europe and the U.S., culminating in this highly anticipated collaboration.

Fresh off a stint performing together in Berlin, Blotnick and Viner reunite on stage with a deep musical rapport built on years of exploration and mutual respect. Their set will feature a mix of bold originals and fresh takes on jazz standards—showcasing dynamic improvisation, conversational interplay, and a reverence for jazz tradition paired with a push into the future.

Ryan Blotnick / Mike McGinnis Quintet

August 1st, 6pm and 7:30pm sets, doors at 5:30pm, $20 tix @ sassafrass.me
Sassafrass Café
1317 ME-102, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

August 2nd, 6-8pm, Donations Accepted
Fogtown Brewery
25 Pine St, Ellsworth, ME 04605

About the Artists

Mike McGinnis has spent nearly three decades as a creative force in the New York jazz world. With seven acclaimed albums as a leader and collaborations with everyone from Ravi Coltrane to Yo La Tengo, McGinnis is renowned for his genre-defying projects and inventive arrangements—including recent transcriptions of Alice Coltrane’s orchestral works for Carnegie Hall. His reputation as a clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, and arranger places him at the cutting edge of modern jazz. He was recently chosen as a Rising Star in Downbeat Magazine’s 2025 Critics Poll.

Jeremy Viner, a Vandoren Artist and native of Ellsworth, ME, has become a staple of the experimental scenes in New York and Berlin. Known for his work with Battle Trance, Bing & Ruth, and countless ensembles led by contemporary jazz heavyweights like Tyshawn Sorey and Anna Webber, Viner blends technical precision with emotive depth.

Ryan Blotnick, described as “a vital contemporary voice” by Time Out New York, now calls Mount Desert Island home. His lyrical and soulful playing is deeply rooted in tradition while ever evolving. A graduate of the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, Blotnick’s global experience infuses his work with both nuance and edge.

Gui Duvignau brings a worldly flair to the group, shaped by his French-Brazilian heritage and years of performing jazz and Brazilian music. His discography includes collaborations with icons like Ron Carter and Bill Frisell, and his 2024 release Live in Red Hook continues to earn critical acclaim.

Hamir Atwal, a graduate of Berklee College of Music, is known for his genre-blending style and improvisational boldness. From the Bay Area to major international stages, his rhythmic language speaks with clarity, curiosity, and power.

A Celebration of Art Silent Auction Library Fundraiser In-person & Online August 1-27

SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Each year, the Southwest Harbor Public Library looks forward to the Celebration of Art Silent Auction on our fundraising calendar—and 2025 is no exception. This year is extra special as we celebrate 130 years of service to our community! Our annual silent auction, held both in-person and online, features the work of more than 50 talented local artists, along with artwork donated by supporters with a connection to our region. Artists and donors generously contribute between 50% and 100% of the sale price of their pieces to the library. Proceeds directly support the library’s programs, collections, and services. Sign up to bid today! https://auctria.events/swhplibraryartauction.

Maine Community Foundation Grants Available

ELLSWORTH & PORTLAND—The Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) is accepting applications for several grant programs that support organizations and projects serving animals, youth, the LGBTQ+ community, the arts and underserved communities.

The application deadline for the following grant programs is Sept. 15. Visit mainecf.org/apply to submit an application.

The Animal Welfare grant program provides three-year general support grants to organizations dedicated to advancing animal welfare for small companion animals in Maine, primarily cats and dogs. For more information, visit mainecf.org/animals.

Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund supports early childhood and youth engagement programs in Greater Portland. For more information, visit mainecf.org/daveis.

The Equity Fund supports projects and organizations that serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community of Maine. For more information, visit mainecf.org/equity.

The Land for Communities grant program supports community land projects that increase relationships to land for underserved geographies and populations in Maine. For more information, visit mainecf.org/l4c.

The Maine Expansion Arts grant program provides general support grants to arts organizations in Maine focused on an underserved geography or population with limited access to arts programming including dance, music, theater, visual and/or traditional arts. For more information, visit mainecf.org/mea.

The Maine Theater grant program supports nonprofit professional and community theaters in the production and presentation of live theater. For more information, visit mainecf.org/theater.

The Maine Women’s Fund provides two-year general support grants to make bold investments that transform the lives of women and girls. For more information, visit mainecf.org/mwf.

The Rines Thompson Fund supports organizations and projects in Greater Portland working in the areas of environment/conservation, early childhood programming, youth programming and arts/culture. For more information, visit mainecf.org/rinesthompson.

The Maine Community Foundation brings people and resources together to build a better Maine through strategic giving, community leadership, personalized service, local expertise and strong investments. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.mainecf.org.

HANCOCK COUNTY DEMOCRATS EVENTS

Community Outreach Training

Wednesday, July 23 5:30–7:00 pm
Wednesday, July 30 5:30–7:00 pm
HCDC Office, 53 Church Street, Ellsworth

Learn how to communicate effectively and have a chance to try it out. Local leaders will demonstrate. Learning how to actively listen can be a powerful way to make a difference with disengaged voters or people of differing views. Recently, a trained HCDC member pulled this off with a strong Trump supporter. At the end, they hugged each other.

ICE and Local Law Enforcement: What Works Best?

A Conversation with Reps. Russell White and Tavis Hasenfus

Monday, July 28, 5:30–6:30PM
Register Online

Two Maine House Reps will discuss LD 1971 from opposing viewpoints using a nonconfrontational Better Angels debate model. They are Rep. Russell White (R-Ellsworth) and Rep Tavis Hasenfus (D-Readfield).

Talk To Your Sheriff Training

Wednesday. July 30, 9:00AM and ongoing
Register Online

The best way to encourage your sheriffs to not cooperate with ICE is to talk to your sheriff, in person or online, in your community. Disappeared In America is a campaign led by a growing coalition of immigrant rights, faith, rule of law, and pro-democracy organizations. It is providing resources to help people learn more about resisting deportations.

One Million Rising: Building Resistance

Wednesdays, 8:00–9:30PM, ongoing
Register Online

One Million Rising is a national effort to train one million people to resist authoritarianism – together. Through a series of trainings and local gatherings, communities will gain the skills and people power to stop this Administration from gaining more power. Here’s a link to how it works, with full schedule of upcoming sessions.

How the Big Bad Bill Impacts Hancock County—And What to Do About It

Thursday, August 14, 7:00–8:30PM
UU Church, Ellsworth, and via Zoom (registration required for Zoom)

Representatives Gary Friedmann (Bar Harbor), Holly Eaton (Deer Isle) Nina Milliken (Blue Hill) and Sen. Nicole Grohoski will discuss the Big Bad Bill and its impacts on Hancock County. This is one of the many collaborative efforts within Hancock County.

REAL ESTATE

BAR HARBOR

Maine Wide Properties LLC to Breakwater Property Rentals LLC, Bar Harbor, land with buildings and improvements.
Tarek and Elizabeth Selim Trust, Bar Harbor to Deborah Chilletti and John J. Killiany, Binghamton, N.Y., as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.

MOUNT DESERT

Estate of Barbara J. Hanson, Sarasota, Fla., to Judith A. Larrabee, Sarasota, Fla., James D. Hanson, Seal Harbor and Dana M. Hanson, Lakewood Ranch, Fla., land.
Kate Rahe and Christian Rahe, Cincinnati, Ohio, to 26 Summit LLC, Cincinnati, Ohio, land with buildings and improvements.
Estate of Norris M. Reddish to Meg Donahue Hackett and Oscar Samuel Hackett, Waite Hill, Ohio, land with buildings and improvements.
Disclaimer Trust, Item 2, U/W of Elaine H. Reddish to Meg Donahue Hackett and Oscar Samuel Hackett, Waite Hill, Ohio, as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
Jeffrey McDaniel and Meghan Clark McDaniel, a/k/a Megan Clark McDaniel, Northeast Harbor to Kendall K. Griffin and Conor L. Griffin, New York, N.Y., as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
Estate of Peter P. Blanchard III, New York, N.Y. to Sofia A. Blanchard, New York, N.Y., land with buildings.

SOUTHWEST HARBOR

Kenneth I. Fisher and Eurim Chun, Marblehead, Mass., to Chun Fisher Revocable Trust, Marblehead, Mass., land with improvements.

HANCOCK COUNTY COURTS

Jonathan Mlonyeni, 41, Bar Harbor. Operating while license suspended or revoked at Bar Harbor, Feb. 1, 2025. Dismissed. Operating after registration suspended at Bar Harbor, Feb. 1, 2025. Dismissed.
Shekena Renee Aaron, 42, Memphis, Tenn. OUI (alcohol) at Bar Harbor, Jan. 25, 2025.$500. License suspended 150 days.
Haleigh K. Hammar, 29, Tremont. Operating while license suspended or revoked-OUI at Bar Harbor, Jan. 28, 2025. Dismissed.
Aaron M. Kimball, 20, Islesford. Motor vehicle speeding: 30+ mph over speed limit at Mount Desert, Jan. 14, 2025. $450.
Kenneth L. Stilwell, 43, Trenton. Domestic violence assault at Trenton, March 6, 2025. Dismissed.
Michael Lee Muldrow Jr., 27, Bar Harbor. Violating condition of release at Bar Harbor, March 26, 2025. Jail 24 hours.
Colby N. Oiler, 19, Hermon. Minor consuming liquor at Bar Harbor, Aug. 22, 2024. Dismissed.
Cole W. Peterson, 18, Levant. Minor consuming liquor at Bar Harbor, Aug. 22, 2024. Dismissed.
Greer Reynolds Norris, 20, Bishop, Ga. Minor transporting liquor at Bar Harbor, Aug. 29, 2024. Dismissed.
Callie Eallen Green, 18, Hancock. Marijuana: under 21 years of age at Bar Harbor, Jan. 27, 2025. $350.
Brett A. Carr, 18, Mount Desert. Minor transporting liquor at Bar Harbor, Jan. 27, 2025. $250.
Willi Austin, 21, San Diego, Calif. Minor transporting liquor at Bar Harbor, Jan. 20, 2025. $250.
Steven R. Pambianco, 20, Penobscot. Minor consuming liquor at Bar Harbor, Jan. 20, 2025. $200.
Taylor L. Hutto, 19, Ellsworth. Minor transporting liquor at Bar Harbor, Feb. 5, 2025. $250.
Dakota A. Colbeth, 20, Machias. Minor consuming liquor at Bar Harbor, Feb. 5, 2025. $200.
Jordan A. Campbell, 20, Machiasport. Minor consuming liquor at Bar Harbor, Feb. 5, 2025. $250.
Brandy Shenk, 37, Asheville, N.C. Domestic violence assault at Bar Harbor, Sept. 25, 2022. Dismissed. Domestic violence reckless conduct at Bar Harbor, Sept. 25, 2022. Dismissed. Criminal mischief at Bar Harbor, Sept. 25, 2022. Dismissed.
Blaine Denise Langworthy, 42, Trenton. Theft by unauthorized taking or transfer at Ellsworth, Dec. 10, 2022. $500.
Daren R. Cross, 46, Bar Harbor. Molesting or disturbing lobster gear at Southwest Harbor, Sept. 2, 2023. $1,000. Using another’s lobster gear without permission at Southwest Harbor, Sept. 2, 2023. Dismissed.
Rebecca E. Carroll, 60, Bar Harbor. OUI (alcohol) at Bar Harbor, Dec. 15, 2023. Dismissed. Driving to endanger at Bar Harbor, Dec. 15, 2023. $1,000. License suspended 30 days.
Julian Baker Olin, 23, Charlotte, N.C. OUI (alcohol) at Bar Harbor, May 20, 2024. Dismissed. Driving to endanger at Bar Harbor, May 20, 2024. $575. License suspended 30 days.

STATE PRESS RELEASES

Governor Mills Announces Maine to Welcome Canadian Premier League Soccer Team from Nova Scotia for International Match

July 22, 2025

“Friendly” match between the Halifax Wanderers and the Portland Hearts of Pine is a direct result of Governor Mills’ recent goodwill mission to Atlantic Canada

PORTLAND—Governor Janet Mills today announced that Maine will welcome the Halifax Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League for an international “friendly” match with Maine’s new professional soccer team, the Portland Hearts of Pine, next month at Portland’s Fitzpatrick Stadium.

The historic match is a direct result of Governor Mills mission to Atlantic Canada in June, during which she discussed hosting the international “friendly” match with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston during their bilateral meeting in Halifax.

This is the first international match for the Portland Hearts of Pine, which is celebrating its inaugural season in the United Soccer League. Details about the August 6 friendly match with the Wanderers will be available on the Hearts of Pine website.

“I am thrilled to welcome the Halifax Wanderers to Maine for this historic match with the Hearts of Pine, which shows the strength of the historic friendship between the people of Maine and Atlantic Canada,” said Governor Mills. “I wish to thank Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston for his gracious hospitality during my visit last month, which we look forward to extending to the Wanderers in August. I also thank the leadership of the Hearts of Pine for their extraordinary efforts to bring this match to Maine in support of stronger international ties.”

“Soccer has this incredible ability to unite communities, which is at the heart of everything our club does,” said Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, Founder and Chief Community Officer of Portland Hearts of Pine. “Maine and Nova Scotia are neighbors with generations of shared history, which is why we felt they were a perfect fit for our first-ever international friendly. We can’t wait to welcome the Halifax Wanderers and their supporters, create an electric atmosphere at Fitzpatrick Stadium, and hopefully start a tradition that brings our clubs together for years to come.”

Governor Mills has consistently committed to ensuring strong economic and cultural relations with Canada. Maine’s economy is deeply intertwined with Canada’s, and last year, the state traded more than $6 billion in goods with its northern neighbor.

Last month, Governor Mills visited New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to reaffirm Maine’s historic ties with Atlantic Canada, and to promote Maine as a great place to visit and do business. Over three days, the Governor met with businesses with Maine ties, chambers of commerce, and provincial and municipal officials, and spoke directly to the Canadian people through major television interviews.

During her trip, the Governor spoke with U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra about the status of the U.S.-Canadian relationship. Ambassador Hoekstra committed to reaching out directly to Canadian Premiers to ensure that Canadians feel safe crossing the border into the United States.

Governor Mills has been a frequent attendee of Hearts of Pine matches throughout the team’s inaugural season. Last year, she declared_Maine’s first-ever Day of Soccer_ in celebration of the team and the sport’s rapid growth across Maine and the nation.

Jocelyn Runnebaum, Ph.D. to Lead Department of Marine Resources Maine Coastal Program

AUGUSTA—Jocelyn Runnebaum, Ph.D., who has worked with The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Oceans and Coast program since 2019 and most recently as TNC’s Marine Program Manager, has joined the Maine Department of Marine Resources as Director of the Maine Coastal Program (MCP).

Dr. Runnebaum replaces Kathleen Leyden, who retired from state service in March, and will begin in her new role on August 4th.

As Director of the Maine Coastal Program, Dr. Runnebaum will coordinate federal/state/local partnerships to develop, manage, and implement initiatives that target coastal natural resource conservation and development.

MCP priorities include the implementation of Maine Won’t Wait, Maine’s award-winning climate plan, and the state’s new Resilient Maine program, focusing on working waterfront conservation, habitat restoration, climate resilience and coastal literacy.

“I’m excited to lead this program that works so closely with engaged partners to address the complex and evolving challenges that face Maine’s coastal communities, economies, and environment,” said Dr. Runnebaum.

During her time at TNC, Dr. Runnebaum helped to advance the organization’s marine and coastal conservation initiatives in the Gulf of Maine and nationally, working collaboratively with resource managers, industry partners, and scientists to advance evidence-based policies and programs that improve the ecological health of the Gulf of Maine. Her work at TNC focused on the intersection of science, policy, and management for climate resilient fisheries and sustainable aquaculture.

Dr. Runnebaum chaired NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Resource Advisory Committee and is currently serving on the New England Fisheries Management Council’s Climate and Ecosystem Steering Committee, advising both committees on how to incorporate ecosystem information and fishermen’s knowledge into management processes.

She participated in and authored numerous studies, including one designed to understand the environmental benefits of kelp aquaculture, and three journal articles that examined fishermen’s perceptions of the impacts of climate change on their businesses and fishing communities.

Dr. Runnebaum also worked to support low-impact offshore wind development, representing TNC on the Maine Offshore Wind Research Consortium.

Dr. Runnebaum has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Maine in Orono.

Before joining TNC, Dr. Runnebaum worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a Fisheries Biologist, fished commercially for salmon in Alaska, trained sled dogs for an Iditarod musher, and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia working with fish farmers.

The Maine Coastal Program is scheduled to move from DMR to the Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) in the fall, however DMR will administer the program until then and will continue to partner with the program after the move. MOCA was established by the legislature in 2024 to engage with municipalities, tribal governments and regional councils to provide coordinated and efficient planning, technical assistance and financial support to better plan for challenges, pursue solutions and create stronger, more resilient communities.

WEBINAR ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLECTIVE IMPACT

AUGUSTA—The Office of Child and Family Services and the Maine Children’s Trust are pleased to announce the next webinar in our 2025 Prevention Webinar Series to continue the conversation about how we can all build supportive communities and keep children safe by keeping families strong. This webinar follows a series of recorded webinars held over the past several years where strategies have been shared for what everyone can do to strengthen and support families as a means to prevent child abuse and neglect and other adverse conditions.

When: Monday, August 4, 2025: from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. via Zoom Topic: The Fundamentals of Collective Impact

Overview: As indicated in Maine’s Child Safety and Family Well-Being Plan, a coordinated child safety and family well-being system is essential to families getting the support they need, when they need it. This requires state and community partners to understand and act on the unique and complementary roles they play in this system.

In this webinar, Jennifer Juster, Executive Director of the Collective Impact Forum, will talk about how improving outcomes for children and families requires more than just collaboration, it requires a structured, long-term approach that brings community, nonprofits, government, and business together around a shared vision and implementation. Collective impact has been widely recognized as a transformative model for cross-sector collaboration and is a proven strategy for driving meaningful, systems-level change, but it requires the right conditions, mindset shifts, and commitment from all partners involved.

Participants will:

Learn the five conditions of collective impact and why they are critical to success.
Understand how collective impact differs from traditional collaborations and partnerships.
Learn how everyone can engage in collective impact work and gain practical strategies to strengthen collaboration.

In order to participate or receive the webinar recording and resources, please register here by August 1, 2025 at 5 p.m. Please mark your calendars as a meeting invitation and link to the webinar will be sent to you the day prior to the scheduled webinar.

SOIL HEALTH SERIES

Experience Maine’s Agricultural Heritage at 2025 Open Farm Day, July 26 & 27

AUGUSTA—Real Maine and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry invite the public to experience the diversity of Maine agriculture during the annual Open Farm Day, taking place Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27, 2025.

Nearly 90 farms and agricultural businesses across the state will open their doors to visitors, offering a unique opportunity to connect with farmers and explore Maine’s farm culture. Most sites will welcome guests on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with approximately 20 farms also open on Saturday.

Attendees can meet farmers, tour fields and barns, enjoy family-friendly activities, and discover how Maine-grown food and farm products are produced. From dairy and livestock to fruits, vegetables, and fiber.

Visitor Tips:

Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes for walking around farms and fields.
Bring a cooler bag to store any fresh farm products you may want to purchase and take home.
Don’t forget your camera because there’s plenty of truly picturesque farmland and memorable moments to capture.

Plan Your Visit:

Interactive Map & Itinerary Builder: realmaine.com/events/2025-maine-open-farm-day
All-in-One Planning Guide: realmaine.com/openfarmday
Event Calendar: realmaine.com/events
(Tip: Use the “Open Farm Day” filter on the left hand side of the calendar and “list month” view for easier browsing.)

Maine DEP Seeks Your Input: Participate in the Battery Management Plan Review Process.

AUGUSTA—The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Department) will be seeking public input to review the feasibility and viability of establishing an extended producer responsibility approach for all batteries not currently covered by the existing battery stewardship law.

In addition to seeking written input, the Department will be hosting two stakeholder meetings to provide an opportunity to share comments and allow for discussion of those comments. These meetings will be accessible either in person or remotely, ensuring all interested parties are able to participate.

The Department views this stakeholder process as an opportunity for open discussion and to solicit comments from residents, businesses, municipalities, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to update and support improvements to Maine’s battery management program. Discussions will focus on strategies and actions for the Department to take to increase statewide battery recycling opportunities, reduce fires and other dangerous conditions stemming from improper battery end-of-life management, move towards achieving waste reduction goals, and harmonize with other states’ efforts in battery management.

Links to the program’s law can be found on the Department’s current battery stewardship program webpage.

These stakeholder meetings will take place on August 12, 2025, 1 pm – 4 pm, and on September 4, 2025, 1 pm – 4 pm at the Department’s Ray Building at 28 Tyson Drive, Augusta, and virtually. The Department is preparing a background document to assist with the discussion, which will be posted on the Department’s webpage approximately two weeks prior to the meetings.

If you plan to attend in person, please RSVP by emailing Battery.DEP@maine.gov. A second notification with a registration link for the September 4^th meeting will be sent separately.

To receive notifications about the September 4^th meeting, including a registration link, to receive notifications regarding future updates to the Department’s battery management programs, or if you have other questions or comments, please email Battery.DEP@maine.gov.

FEDERAL PRESS RELEASES

Senate Intelligence Authorization Bill Advances with Key Provisions Authored by Senator Collins

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, announced that the Committee advanced the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 by a 15-2 vote. The bill authorizes funding, provides legal authorities, and enhances congressional oversight for the U.S. Intelligence Community, and includes multiple provisions authored by Senator Collins. The bill now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

“The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 is critical for the Intelligence Community to defend U.S. interests and to arm policy and decision makers with critical information,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would also build upon the effectiveness of the security clearance process, strengthen cybersecurity, and increase congressional oversight of the Intelligence Community.”

The provisions co-authored by Senator Collins address the following issues:

Requiring improvement to the security of our voting and election systems through cybersecurity penetration testing and accreditation, by amending the Help America Vote Act of 2002. This provision was co-authored with Chairman Warner, and was originally introduced as the SECURE IT Act (“Strengthening and Enhancing Cybersecurity by Using Research, Education, Information, and Technology” Act) in the FY24 and FY25 IAA.
Ensuring continued support for victims of Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs) by mandating that the Intelligence Community support Department of Defense AHI medical research, along with a requirement for the ODNI to issue standard AHI reporting guidelines. This provision was co-sponsored with Senators Cotton, Warner and Gillibrand.
Extension of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, to 2035. This provision was co-sponsored with Senators Warner, King, and Rounds.

Additional subjects of critical importance to Senator Collins which were included in this IAA were: AHI budget increase to military intelligence centers and health agencies for medical and mechanical research; new policy requirements to support biomedical and biotechnological research to defend against various threats; and multiple security clearance reform initiatives.

More Than $52 Million for UMaine System Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $52,350,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the University of Maine (UMaine) System in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) and Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bills.  The legislation, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this month, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills—an important step that now allows the bills to be considered by the full Senate.

“The brilliant faculty and students at Maine’s public universities and at the flagship university are conducting cutting-edge research and making promising discoveries in a wide variety of fields,” said Senator Collins. “This funding to support these exciting projects across the UMaine System would promote workforce development, support marine research, and help to prepare the next generation of leaders. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.” 

“These investments—made possible through Senator Collins’ advocacy—would expand research opportunities, improve infrastructure, and support collaborative solutions that strengthen Maine’s economy and communities,” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for the UMaine System.

“Located at the heart of our campus, the Reynolds Center is a hub of learning and connection. This investment would expand its role as a space for students to grow academically and socially — strengthening our commitment to the Downeast community,” said Megan Walsh, Dean and Campus Director, UMaine Machias.

“The spruce budworm is one of the most significant threats to Maine’s forest economy, and proactive research is essential to protecting this vital resource,” said Dr. Adam Daigneault, Associate Professor of Forest Policy and Economics at the University of Maine. “With this support, UMaine can expand its leadership in forest health research, helping landowners, communities, and the forest products industry prepare for and respond to future outbreaks. We are incredibly thankful for Senator Collins’ investment in the resilience of Maine’s forests.”  

Funding advanced by Senator Collins for the UMaine System in the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills is as follows:

Gulf of Maine Ocean Observation System  