First, it will look at the data. Carrie Jones Mar 20, 2026 BAR HARBOR— For Ella Boxwell, a graduate student at the University of Maine, the data made it obvious that it’s happening: the sea level in Bar Harbor has increased 16 centimeters since 1947. From today until 2055, she projects it to raise another 16-20 centimeters. “We are in a bit of an accelerated … Continue reading How Will Bar Harbor Deal with Increasing Sea Levels?
Carrie Jones Mar 18, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. BAR HARBOR—Three Bar Harbor residents stood before their Town Council, February 17, and explained that they want the town to adopt a local ordinance about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, the federal law enforcement agency under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security. The ordinance would prohibit local … Continue reading Some Residents Continue to Push Bar Harbor to Codify Restrictions on ICE Cooperation
Island Explorer adds some early service as Sustainability Task Force explores tourism’s impact and invites public to open house. Carrie Jones Mar 18, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana. BAR HARBOR—The Town Council took a first step toward residents having discounts or coupons for parking in Bar Harbor via an app when it unanimously approved purchasing new kiosks that would allow for … Continue reading Bar Harbor Eyes Potential Parking Breaks for Residents.
Carrie Jones Mar 13, 2026 BAR HARBOR—The public hearing for the Bar Harbor budget on March 12 led to zero comments and there was no discussion of any of the Warrant Committee’s suggestions, nor were any of those suggestions taken. However, the Town Council did tweak and reduce the budget by taking money out of some of the Conners Emerson capital improvement plan (CIP) budget … Continue reading Split Bar Harbor Vote Proposes Redirecting Some School Capital Improvement Funds to Tax Relief
Voters can learn more at two events tomorrow and will have the ultimate decision about this and other proposed changes. Carrie Jones Mar 11, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Restaurant Barn. BAR HARBOR—This Thursday, locals can head to either the the Town Council chambers at the Bar Harbor Municipal Building or the College of the Atlantic to talk to planning staff about … Continue reading Bar Harbor May Scrap “Area-Per-Family” Housing Rule in Growth Areas.
Carrie Jones Mar 10, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. BAR HARBOR—A July 2022 waste audit in Bar Harbor showed that approximately 12% of the town’s solid waste came from single-use containers. The town also spends more than $2.5 million to dispose of municipal solid waste (MSW) each year, according to volunteer Elizabeth Chen. “By reducing MSW, that money … Continue reading Bar Harbor Local Cafés Launch Reusable Takeout Container Pilot to Cut Waste
Federal Repair Will Disrupt Fishing Area Carrie Jones Mar 10, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund. BAR HARBOR—Construction on the town’s 100-year-old breakwater will likely begin in May, Army Corps of Engineer representatives, said Monday, if the contractor can get all the stone it needs on time. The breakwater is an underwater structure meant to protect the … Continue reading The Breakwater That Protects Bar Harbor’s Harbor Is About to Be Fixed
Wedding Expo Highlights Bar Harbor as Destination Wedding Location. Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar Mar 09, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry. BAR HARBOR—The ballroom at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center is often filled with the sounds of clinking glasses, laughter, and wedding jitters, but on Saturday, the sounds were a bit different and a bit more preparatory as the Bar … Continue reading Bar Harbor Hosts First Wedding Expo to Boost Businesses Off Season.
Approves Special Amusement (Music) Permits at Jack Russell’s and Siren & Sailor. Carrie Jones Mar 06, 2026 BAR HARBOR—During a workshop earlier this week, the Bar Harbor town councilors who attended agreed to start a review of all the towns, boards, committees, and task forces. Town Manager James Smith along with most likely Chair Val Peacock and Vice Chair Maya Caines (both women’s terms expire … Continue reading Bar Harbor Council Launches Review of Town Boards and Committees.
More Than 100 Years Ago, A Harvard Experiment Helped Spread the Browntail Moth Across New England. Carrie Jones Mar 05, 2026 MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—The invasion began with a Harvard professor, a man who was once deemed impractical by the New York Times. The professor had brought a creature to the United States for study. It was on roses from Holland. The creature had eggs: a … Continue reading Browntail Moths Likely to Return to MDI This Spring. Here’s What Residents Should Know.
