House Fire and Firefighter Injuries Mark Busy December in Trenton. Select board delays action on land use ordinance changes while seeking additional review.

House Fire and Firefighter Injuries Mark Busy December in Trenton.

Select board delays action on land use ordinance changes while seeking additional review. Carrie Jones Jan 10, 2026 TRENTON—Fire Chief Steve Heckman stood before the Trenton Select Board members January 6 and said, with a bit of understated deadpan, “December ended up being quite a busy month.” There was a structure fire on December 22. That fire ended up destroying a Trenton resident’s house at 48 Pressey … Continue reading House Fire and Firefighter Injuries Mark Busy December in Trenton.

"That's Just What You Do" Jai Higgins, Beloved Firefighter Retires

“That’s Just What You Do”

Jai Higgins, Beloved Firefighter Retires Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar Feb 20, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—For 33 years, Captain Jai Higgins has put out fires, rescued animals, kept fellow firefighters safe, and served the Bar Harbor and island community. “I knew from my first emergency call that this is what I wanted for a career and it’s been a real pleasure to serve the residents and … Continue reading “That’s Just What You Do”

Mount Desert Selectboard Says No To Proposed Fitness Classes on Tennis Courts Selectboard member urges drivers to slow down, budget reconfigured after losing shared deputy fire chief

Mount Desert Selectboard Says No To Proposed Fitness Classes on Tennis Courts

Selectboard member urges drivers to slow down, budget reconfigured after losing shared deputy fire chief Carrie Jones Feb 06, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Shops. MOUNT DESERT—The Mount Desert Selectboard earlier this week turned down Henry Newhall’s proposal to use the marina parking lot and tennis courts in Northeast Harbor Village Green for fitness classes. “It’s something I’m really passionate … Continue reading Mount Desert Selectboard Says No To Proposed Fitness Classes on Tennis Courts

Trenton Select Board Hears Fire Department Update and Sets Budget Committee Shaun Farrar Jan 12, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Andy’s Home Improvement Inc. TRENTON—Burning through a very short agenda on January 7 with only two orders of business, the Trenton Select Board heard first from Fire Chief Steve Heckman. Heckman told the select board that in 2024 the fire department had 113 calls that they responded to. He also said that the fire department had no calls during the latest storm which is unusual but did allow him to sleep through the night. Trenton firefighters at a January 11 mandatory training In December, the fire department responded to ten calls. • Mutual Aid Assistance: 3 • Alarm Activations: 4 • Motor Vehicle Accident: 2 • Motor Vehicle Fire: 1 On January 11, a snowy Saturday, fire department members spent the day in mandatory training to comply with the latest Maine Bureau of Labor Statistics and OSHA regulations. “This training is crucial for us to stay prepared and respond effectively to any emergency calls, keeping our community safe,” the department wrote on a Facebook post. BUDGET COMMITTEE The select board confirmed who would be on the town’s budget committee this year. As in years past, the budget committee will consist of the following. Select Board Chair R. Frederick Ehrlenbach. Select board member John Bennett. Select board member Danielle Cole. Select board member Charles Farley, Jr. Select board member Daniel Monahan. Town Administrator Carol Reed Walsh. Fire Chief Steve Heckman. Planning Board Chair Mark Remick. The Solid Waste Committee Chair. Christina Heiniger is the interim chair. The road commissioner. School Board Chair Jennifer Bonilla. Parks and Recreation Committee Chair Jessica Thurston. Public member Judy Sproule. Public member Mike Hodgkins. Public member Bruce Cameron. The first meeting of the budget committee will be February 18. The next select board meeting will be January 21, 2025, at 7 p.m. FROM DAN Selectboard member Dan Monahan often sends emails to interested people about goings on in Trenton. This was his pre-January 7 select board meeting email. Dear Neighbors, a few quick items of interest to start your week: Budget season is upon us. The Select board has an item on its agenda for Tuesday to appoint members to the town budget committee. Typically, this committee has consisted of select board members, town administrator, fire chief, standing committee chairs, and a handful of members of the public. The budget committee usually meets once or twice per month after select board meetings from February through April for 15-60 minutes or so. The meetings are open to the public. If you want to volunteer to be on the committee please contact Carol Walsh at the town office asap or show up for Tuesdays select board meeting and let us know. Some folks have raised the issue of trying to ease the town's tax burden on low income seniors or residents in the past. In the most recent edition of Maine Town and City magazine there is a blurb about a project in Cape Elizabeth where the town apparently sets aside money for that purpose subject to income guidelines etc. see attached for more info. Happy to discuss further if anyone is interested. Speaking of Maine, in (sic) Town and City magazine, there is an interesting legal article describing the power of municipalities to create new taxes or fees and when a fee is considered an impermissible tax, including some examples of each. Just FYI for folks interested in some of the legal framework around this issue. See attached. Have a great week! Best, Dan Bar Harbor Story is a mostly self-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thank you for being here with us and caring about our community, too! Subscribed Thanks for reading Bar Harbor Story ! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below. Our mailing address is 98 Ledgelawn Ave., Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609

Trenton Select Board Hears Fire Department Update and Sets Budget Committee

Shaun Farrar Jan 12, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Andy’s Home Improvement Inc. TRENTON—Burning through a very short agenda on January 7 with only two orders of business, the Trenton Select Board heard first from Fire Chief Steve Heckman. Heckman told the select board that in 2024 the fire department had 113 calls that they responded to. He also said that … Continue reading Trenton Select Board Hears Fire Department Update and Sets Budget Committee

So Many Briefs

Cruise Ship Presentation, MDI news, Lab news, Library news, Island Explorer, FOA, COA and more CARRIE JONES JUN 16, 2024 Share BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce wants you to be in its Fourth of July parade. Completed forms are due back by June 28th. Link to the application: https://www.visitbarharbor.com/july-4th SOUTHWEST HARBOR SOLID WASTE CONTRACT After months of work, the Southwest Harbor Select Board approved … Continue reading So Many Briefs

Candles Lit, Loved Ones Honored at Carol Dyer Memorial

In Brief: Ferry and visitation numbers, right whales, fire equipment CARRIE JONES AUG 13, 2023 Share BAR HARBOR—On Saturday night, as the sun’s light faded and the moon rose, volunteers organized by the MDI YWCA walked through the paths on the Village Green, backs bent, lighter in hand, illuminating one white paper bag after another. On each bag was a name. Each bag represented a … Continue reading Candles Lit, Loved Ones Honored at Carol Dyer Memorial