Bar Harbor’s Cruise Limits Spark New Round in Federal Court Battle Groups Say Bar Harbor’s Cruise Cap Doesn’t Ease Crowds, Just Hurts Commerce

Updated: Legal Battle Over Bar Harbor Cruise Limits Continues With New Court Filings

Opponents Say Bar Harbor Cruise Cap Hurts Bar Harbor Businesses, Other Towns, and Commerce Carrie Jones Dec 18, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Choco-Latté Café. BAR HARBOR—Both the Association to Preserve and Protect Local Livelihoods (APPLL), and the Penobscot Bay and River Pilots Association have filed briefs this week in a long-lasting court case against the town’s rules that limit cruise ship … Continue reading Updated: Legal Battle Over Bar Harbor Cruise Limits Continues With New Court Filings

Follow us (Bar Harbor Story) on Facebook or BlueSky or Instagram. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here. 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! 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. To support The Story If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.

Maine Supreme Court Upholds MDI Workforce Housing Project Opposed By Summer Residents

Aug 29, 2025 Share by Bill Trotter/Bangor Daily News MOUNT DESERT—The state’s top court has upheld a decision by the town of Mount Desert to approve a workforce housing project that was opposed by neighboring seasonal residents — a decision that will help the development to move forward. However, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld one minor point of the neighbors’ appeal of the project, which would be … Continue reading Maine Supreme Court Upholds MDI Workforce Housing Project Opposed By Summer Residents

Golden Anchor Amends Complaint Against Town Over Cruise Ship Disembarkation

Golden Anchor Amends Complaint Against Town Over Cruise Ship Disembarkation

Carrie Jones Apr 07, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—The Golden Anchor filed an amended complaint against the Town of Bar Harbor, April 3. The complaint involves the company’s ability to disembark cruise ships at its location on West Street, the Harborside Pier, which is also known as the Golden Anchor Pier. It was filed by Timothy C. Woodcock, Esq. of the firm Eaton Peabody. Woodcock specifically … Continue reading Golden Anchor Amends Complaint Against Town Over Cruise Ship Disembarkation

Sidman Claims Pilots Filing is Brazen and a Digression

Cruise Ship Lawsuit Floats Along CARRIE JONES NOV 14, 2023 Share BAR HARBOR AND BANGOR—Charles Sidman has replied to a motion to support the Town of Bar Harbor’s and Sidman’s objection to strike arguments from the Penobscot Bay and River Pilots Association’s latest rebuttal and three exhibits. Sidman is the defendant intervenor in the case, which objects to cruise ship daily disembarkation limits of 1,000. … Continue reading Sidman Claims Pilots Filing is Brazen and a Digression

Federal Lawsuit Against Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Officers Potentially Set For April

Case Involves Bar Harbor Man’s First Amendment Rights CARRIE JONES SEP 6, 2023 Share BAR HARBOR AND MOUNT DESERT—A magistrate judge has set a tentative trial date for the lawsuit by a Bar Harbor man who claims that island police officers violated his First Amendment rights. The suit also states that officers broke the man’s Maine Civil Rights Act as well as the First and … Continue reading Federal Lawsuit Against Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Officers Potentially Set For April

Police Officers Sued By Bar Harbor Man

Bar Harbor Food Pantry Hits Goal, Coffee and Conversation at COA CARRIE JONES JUL 20, 2023 Share BAR HARBOR—A Bar Harbor Police officer is being sued by a Bar Harbor man because of his arrest last year. The suit is federal and was filed by Eli Durand-McDonnell in the U.S. District Court. The suit is against Lt. Kevin Edgecomb of the Mount Desert Police Department … Continue reading Police Officers Sued By Bar Harbor Man

Waiting On a Decision

Town’s requested reconsideration of lawsuit still pending Carrie Jones BAR HARBOR—According to Town Council Chair Valerie Peacock and interim Town Manager and Finance Director, Sarah Gilbert, the town is still waiting to hear about their requested reconsideration of the Hancock County Superior Court Justice William Anderson’s Summary Judgement against the town in the case Good v. Town of Bar Harbor. The town attorney has confirmed that … Continue reading Waiting On a Decision

Businesses Take The New Cruise Ship Disembarkation Plan to Court

Bar Harbor Businesses Band Together To Oppose Ordinance Restricting Visitors to MDI BAR HARBOR—The first lawsuit contesting the town’s new cruise ship disembarkation plan has been filed and it wasn’t by the Maine Pilot’s Association, but by a group of local businesses that have collectively brought legal action against the citizens’ initiative that passed in November. According to a press release, the group, “The Association … Continue reading Businesses Take The New Cruise Ship Disembarkation Plan to Court