BRIEFS: Jesup Memorial Library's Exterior Changes Okayed

YMCA SHED APPROVED, SIAM ORCHID BAR IS CONSIDERED FURNITURE, MDI GRADUATION, REAL ESTATE, AND COURT NEWS

May 30, 2024

BAR HARBOR—Thanks to a preliminary meeting earlier this month, changes to the Jesup Memorial Library’s expansion project were quickly considered appropriate on May 23. Only one question was asked and that was about the sidewalk.

The set of changes before the board members was the removal of roof cowling, changes in brick color, changes in exterior lighting, and the removal of a chiller and utility enclosure. Project representative Millard Dority said he expects more changes to come before the board in the future.

“We’ve made some pretty drastic cuts to the lighting and landscape outside,” Dority said, and as those plans get finalized, he’ll come back for approval.

“In the best case, we’ll find savings enough to do the original plans,” Dority said.

The building’s size will be the same. The programs should not be impacted, but some of the features of the project are being tweaked or changed in order to drive down costs.

Dority, who is also the Bar Harbor Planning Board Chair, told the Design Review Board, May 9, that the library needs to make changes to the 11,737-square foot project because of high construction costs.

In a May 1 letter to the Staff Planner Hailey Bondy, Dority wrote, “The reason for the changes is simple: money.”

He went on to write, and reiterated for the the Design Review Board members, Thursday, that “the cost of construction far exceeded the amount of money budgeted for the project; over the past several months the library project team worked hard to find cost savings in materials and equipment that would allow this project to go forward.”

“Our budget was $8.5 million. The thing that can’t happen is we can’t saddle the library with debt because it’ll be over for them,” Dority said. “We have to make that. We need to hit that goal.”

Dority told the Bar Harbor Story that the costs he was sharing at Board are construction costs only.

“The budget for construction was $8.5 million, project costs including all soft costs, design, consultants, FFE etc, are about $12 million,” he said.

The expansion is funded by community donations and has required that School Street occasionally be shut down for construction work. If voters approve the budget as is at the town meeting in June, the library’s allocation in the town’s budget is expected to increase this year. That money, which is raised by property tax, is entirely separate than the donated funds for the expansion.

During the discussion, Design Review Board member Mike Rogers had stepped down and out of the room because he had worked on the library plans previously.

The Design Review Board’s entire meeting lasted less than 20 minutes. There was no public comment.

YMCA SHED

The Design Review Board quickly approved a shed on the YMCA property. The shed has already been on the town-owned parcel next to an outside awning that the board approved last year.

The soil on site that was found to have toxic chemicals and has since been covered by wood chips.

During the meeting, there was no mention that the shed is already at the location. The shed is for the summer camp crew to keep gear.

Chair Barbara Sassaman asked if the color of the building matched the YMCA. CEO Ann Tikkanen said it was a stained brown that matches the building and wood chips. Tikkanen said they’d be coming next to ask for platforms beneath tents. She also passed out summer camp information to those attending.

Tikkanen said she has been meeting with Town Manager James Smith and Public Works Director Bethany Leavitt “looking for support from the town for the Y campus as it relates to the Versant Building.”

“We’re really delighted to continue to improve the community Y,” Tikkanen said.

“I’m glad you guys are our friends,” YMCA Facilities Director Brad Stager said as they left.

SIAM ORCHID FURNITURE

Cin (no last name given) represented Hatsana Phanthavong’s Siam Orchid with his request to use a removable bar for the customers to sit and eat at on the restaurant’s outside patio. The bar would be moved back inside after they eat.

Board member Pancho Cole quickly asked, “I think this is furniture, isn’t it?”

Cin said she’d been told by town staff that the bar needed to come to the board for approval. The restaurant wanted to do the right thing, she implied, and brought it in for the board’s review.

Board members found that the bar was furniture and did not need approval by the Design Review Board.

Acadia National Park Advisory Commission meets on June 3

BAR HARBOR, MAINE – The Acadia National Park Advisory Commission will meet in the training trailer at Park Headquarters (20 McFarland Hill Drive, Bar Harbor) on Monday, June 3, at 1 pm. There will be a virtual meeting option for those unable to attend in person. The meeting is open to the public and will include an opportunity for public comment.

The agenda will include a superintendent’s report with updates on seasonal recruitment; the Acadia Gateway Center; Island Explorer operations; storm restoration; and construction and maintenance projects. Additional topics may be discussed based on the interest of the Advisory Commission members. Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute will also provide reports.

Congress created the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission in 1986 to consult with the National Park Service on matters relating to the management and development of the park, including, but not limited to, the acquisition of lands and interests in lands. The Advisory Commission is comprised of 16 members with three members appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, three members appointed by the Governor of Maine, and one member appointed by each of the following towns: Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, Gouldsboro, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Swans Island, Tremont, Trenton and Winter Harbor.

THE JOY OF SMALL THINGS

BAR HARBOR—The Joy of Small Things featuring watercolors and ink and the beauty of naturalism from Karen Olga Zimmermann is at Choco-Latte through June.

MDI GRADUATION SUNDAY!

BAR HARBOR—On Sunday, June 2, 116 students will graduate from Mount Desert Island High School.

The ceremony at the school gymnasium begins at 2. Graduating seniors should arrive at 1. Emma Simard will welcome attendees. Feleke Lynch and Sig Reinholt will both speak.

The ceremony is also livestreamed on YouTube.

MDI HIGH SCHOOL SHOW CHOIR

Did you miss the MDI High School Show Choir’s state competition? You can view it here.

SUMMER BAND BOOT CAMP

INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCING!

BAR HARBOR—Years ago Bar Harbor had monthly international folk dances with live music in the Municipal Building "ballroom". The live band that played was The Bar Harbor Folk Orchestra with Tom Crikelair, Jon Archer, Carl Karush and Joe Niemczura. But in the 1990s, the dances were discontinued. International folk dances in Ellsworth were suspended in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. But now an enthusiastic group of dancers and musicians from both on and off the Island, have assembled to relaunch this community activity. "We want to share our love for other cultures and the joy of dancing to live ethnic music" noted one of the group members of the newly formed Downeast Folk Dancers. "We hope everyone will come to join in the fun!"

International Folk Dancing with the Kotwica Band, featuring dances from the Baltic, to the Black Sea, and beyond, will be held on the first Saturday of the month this summer: June 1, July 6, August 3, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at the MDI YWCA, 36 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor. Dances will be taught by Carolyn Rapkievian. No experience and no partner is needed. This new series is sponsored by the Downeast Folk Dancers. Admission is $10 at the door. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559917761571

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS

BAR HARBOR

Diana L. Pelletier, Bar Harbor to Melissa D. Walls, Bar Harbor 1 percent undivided interest, land together with improvements.

Trustee of Daniel Gold and Wei Meng Revocation Trust, San Francisco, Calif., to Diane Gold 2015 Trust, Chestnut Hill, Mass., 25 percent undivided interest and Dominic Hodgkin 2015 family trust, Chestnut Hill, Mass., 25 percent undivided interest, parcel of land together with buildings.

Stanley M. Dumond and Tina M. Dumond, Edgewater Fla., to Jacob T. Pollien and Jessica M. Pollien, Hancock, land together with any improvements.

Edward J. Kinsey and Kristi L. Kinsey, Bar Harbor to Rafiou Agoro, Bar Harbor, land.

MOUNT DESERT

Estate of Judith S. Norwood of Ellsworth, to Teresa N. Gray of Northeast Harbor, land together with improvements.

Trustee of the James Frank Marcogliese Revocable Trust, Houston, Texas, to Marcogliese Maine East Lot, LLC, Houston, Texas, land.

SOUTHWEST HARBOR

The Mount Height Cemetery Association, Southwest Harbor to Victor W. Mercer, Southwest Harbor, land

TREMONT

Rosamond Blake, Brattleboro, Vt., to Genevra Blake MacPhail, Burlington, Vt,. and Phoebe MacPhail Townsend, Keene, N.Y., lot of land together with buildings or any improvements.

TRENTON

Richard S. Post and Janet H. Post, Lexington, Mass., to Sherryl Fields, Trenton, land together with improvements.

Ocean F. Dunton and AnnMarie C. Dunton, Greene to Jam Rock Properties LLC, Ellsworth, land together with any improvements.

HANCOCK COUNTY COURT ADJUDICATIONS, CONTINUANCES AND REVIEWS

Kylie Ramsey, 37, Bangor. Aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs at Bar Harbor, Oct. 15, 2022. Dismissed. Aggravated furnishing of scheduled drugs at Bar Harbor, Oct. 15, 2022. Dismissed. Unlawful possession of fentanyl powder at Bar Harbor, Oct. 15, 2022. Dismissed. Criminal conspiracy at Bar Harbor, Oct. 15, 2022. Dismissed. Unlawful furnishing scheduled drug at Bar Harbor, Oct. 15, 2022. $400, suspended. Jail 70 days.

Kirste Osier, 39, Mount Desert. Negotiating a worthless instrument at Trenton, Nov. 9, 2022. Dismissed.

Andrew W. Kuti-Hellmer, 36, Tremont. Aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs at Ellsworth, June 1, 2023. Dismissed. Unlawful possession of methamphetamine at Ellsworth, June 1, 2023. $400. Department of Corrections five years, all but two years suspended. Probation two years. Unlawful possession of scheduled drug at Ellsworth, June 1, 2023. Dismissed.

Delwin Faulkingham, 54, Trenton. Driving to endanger at Trenton, May 24, 2023. Dismissed. Failure to make oral or written accident report at Trenton, May 24, 2023. Dismissed. Failure to notify of motor vehicle accident at Trenton, May 24, 2023. Dismissed.

Thomas Vanderbusch, 36, Calais. Theft by unauthorized use of property at Trenton, May 8, 2023. $500. Restitution $250.

Anders Kristian Palmateer, 35, Mount Desert. Assault at Mount Desert, July 18, 2023. $300, suspended. Jail seven days. Criminal mischief at Mount Desert, July 18, 2023. $300, suspended. Jail seven days. Restitution $650. Assault at Mount Desert, July 18, 2023. $300, suspended. Jail seven days. Criminal mischief at Mount Desert, July 18, 2023. Dismissed.

Tara Lee Russell, 53, Southwest Harbor. Operating vehicle without license at Tremont, May 15, 2023. Dismissed.

Meredith M. Musson, 18, Southwest Harbor. Passing stopped school bus at Mount Desert, May 15, 2023. Dismissed.

Cannon P. Desautels, 19, Castine. Theft by unauthorized taking or transfer at Bar Harbor, Aug. 30, 2023. Dismissed.

Parlee Melia Antiqua, 38, Mount Desert. Domestic violence assault at Mount Desert, Nov. 14, 2023. Dismissed. Disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures at Mount Desert, Nov. 14, 2023. Dismissed.

Disclosure: Our home is across from the YMCA’s back lot.