Trenton Select Board Member Hopes to Get Young People Interested in Government. John Bennett will be giving a Trek bicycle to one lucky student at Trenton's Annual Town Meeting,

Trenton Select Board Member Hopes to Get Young People Interested in Government.

John Bennett will be giving a Trek bicycle to one lucky student at Trenton’s Annual Town Meeting, Shaun Farrar Apr 16, 2026 TRENTON—Summer is coming and that means school summer break, warmer weather and the perfect time for riding bikes. At the April 14 Trenton Select Board meeting, member John Bennett announced that he would be giving away a “like new” Trek Roscoe bike to … Continue reading Trenton Select Board Member Hopes to Get Young People Interested in Government.

Maine Law Will Require Hospitals to Give 120-Day Notice Before Shutting Birth Centers

Maine Law Will Require Hospitals to Give 120-Day Notice Before Shutting Birth Centers

Carrie Jones Apr 13, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. AUGUSTA—A bill meant to protect patients and the public when birthing centers are going to close passed both Maine legislative bodies in March. Governor Janet Mills signed the bill, April 3. The bill will begin immediately due to an emergency clause added to the bill via the legislature, which made … Continue reading Maine Law Will Require Hospitals to Give 120-Day Notice Before Shutting Birth Centers

PEOPLE WE'VE LOST

People We’ve Lost

Kyle William Spruce. Donald Milton Stover. Jeanette Lounder. Elaine B. Dunbar. Alice J Brown. Benjamin E. Grant. David George. Note: “People We’ve Lost” is a feature of the Bar Harbor Story where we share obituaries of people that the island lost in the previous 1-2 weeks. We’re doing this because we think everyone deserves to be remembered as widely as possible and not behind paywalls or … Continue reading People We’ve Lost

Why You Might See Giant Snap Peas at Grocery Stores This Weekend. Giant Fruits, Big Goal: The 15th Annual Hancock County Food Drive Aims for 120,000 Meals.

Why You Might See Giant Snap Peas at Grocery Stores This Weekend.

Giant Fruits, Big Goal: The 15th Annual Hancock County Food Drive Aims for 120,000 Meals. Carrie Jones Apr 03, 2026 HANCOCK COUNTY—If you see some human-sized grapes or snap peas while out shopping Saturday, April 4, do not worry that you’re hallucinating. Hoping to help continue providing food for those who need it, the 15th Annual Hancock County Food Drive kicks off Saturday, April 4. … Continue reading Why You Might See Giant Snap Peas at Grocery Stores This Weekend.

Maine’s Pool of Money from Taxes on Home Sales Is Growing. How Is It Being Used?

Maine’s Pool of Money from Taxes on Home Sales Is Growing.

How Is It Being Used? Apr 01, 2026 By Caitlin Andrews of the Maine Monitor MAINE—A tax generated by property sales helps power Maine’s various affordable housing initiatives, including a program that assists first-time home buyers and another to prevent foreclosures. Lawmakers are considering adding a new initiative to the list: funding homeless shelters. But deciding how to allocate the money is complicated. The real estate transfer … Continue reading Maine’s Pool of Money from Taxes on Home Sales Is Growing.

Tremont May Soon Become First Town on MDI to Have a Deer Hunting Season in Almost 100 Years Voters get final say

Tremont May Soon Become First Town on MDI to Have a Deer Hunting Season in Almost 100 Years

Voters get final say Shaun Farrar Mar 17, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Restaurant Barn. TREMONT—It takes time to reverse a 100-year-old rule, but after almost a year of planning, public hearings and input, and consultation with officials from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW), Tremont is close to doing just that. At its meeting on March 16, Town … Continue reading Tremont May Soon Become First Town on MDI to Have a Deer Hunting Season in Almost 100 Years

Maine’s Outgoing Hospital Lobbyist Says it is Impossible to Solve Problem of Rising Health Care Costs. As Steven Michaud leaves his long-time role with the Maine Hospital Association, he reflected on pivotal events during his tenure.

Maine’s Outgoing Hospital Lobbyist Says it is Impossible to Solve Problem of Rising Health Care Costs.

As Steven Michaud leaves his long-time role with the Maine Hospital Association, he reflected on pivotal events during his tenure. Mar 16, 2026 By Rose Lundy/Maine Monitor MAINE—Steven Michaud stepped down on March 1 as president of the Maine Hospital Association after serving 26 years as the state’s top lobbyist for hospitals and after being with the organization for a total of nearly 40 years. Two … Continue reading Maine’s Outgoing Hospital Lobbyist Says it is Impossible to Solve Problem of Rising Health Care Costs.

Should Maine Allow Associate Dentists Without Doctoral Degrees? Dentists don’t think so.

Should Maine Allow Associate Dentists Without Doctoral Degrees?

Dentists don’t think so. Mar 02, 2026 By Rose Lundy/Maine Monitor AUGUSTA—Lawmakers are considering two bills that attempt to increase access to dental care in Maine by studying ways to establish specialist residency programs in the state and creating a new license tier with lower educational requirements, a measure that multiple dentists opposed. L.D. 2206 would establish an associate dentist license, which would allow a dentist without … Continue reading Should Maine Allow Associate Dentists Without Doctoral Degrees?

Fourth of July Happenings on MDI July 3 and July 5 events, too!

Bar Harbor Officials Divided Over Fourth of July and Other Community Events Funding

Island Explorer, YMCA Funding Survive Budget Recommendations Carrie Jones Feb 26, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana. BAR HARBOR—Round One of the Bar Harbor budget process is pretty much complete and it saw the town’s warrant committee split on recommending to not fund the Fourth of July, two other Chamber-run events, and propose not funding three new town positions. On February 24, … Continue reading Bar Harbor Officials Divided Over Fourth of July and Other Community Events Funding

Nearly Two Decades in the Making, Southwest Harbor's Garage Project May Be Coming Soon Planning Board finds application complete. Special election is March 24.

Nearly Two Decades in the Making, Southwest Harbor’s Garage Project May Be Coming Soon

Planning Board finds application complete. Special election is March 24. Carrie Jones Feb 19, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry. SOUTHWEST HARBOR—The Southwest Harbor Planning Board gave a preliminary review of the town’s new public works garage on February 17 and found the project’s application complete. The garage is expected to cost approximately $2,455,890. Voters have already approved the garage. “The … Continue reading Nearly Two Decades in the Making, Southwest Harbor’s Garage Project May Be Coming Soon