Hancock County Court Cases, Real Estate, Road Closures, Bill Weir on Maine Public and Tons of News and Events!
Press releases and briefs
A Quick Note From Us: Each week, we compile briefs and press releases and event images and share them all in one (sometimes very long) story.
Our briefs article is mostly just press releases that we don’t write, or claim to write, but just share from the agencies, businesses, people, and organizations that send them in.
If things are not a press release, they are labelled “BRIEF” in their headlines. The press releases will not have that label. We’ve also started to put singular local briefs up on our website in their own tab as well. This will happen ahead of this weekly collection article. You can find those and past briefs/press releases here if you want those briefs a bit more timely. It’s just that there are so many that we’d be bombarding your email constantly if we sent them out individually.
Mount Desert 2025 Annual Town Meeting
May 5th Candidate Election; May 6 Open Floor Meeting
MOUNT DESERT—The Annual Town Meeting for the Town of Mount Desert will commence at 7:45 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2025, at the Town Office Meeting Room; 21 Sea Street, Northeast Harbor. Following the election of Moderator, the polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. for voting on the election of officers. See below for sample ballot.
The Mount Desert Town Office will be closed Monday, May 5, 2025 for the local candidate election and the afternoon of Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in preparation of the open floor part of the Town Meeting. Much of the administrative business can be done online (registrations, vital records requests, tax payments, tax bills, real estate property cards, etc.). The Registrar will be available 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., at the polls. The Assessor, Code Enforcement Officer, or Town Manager will be available by appointment only. Call 276-5531 to request an appointment.
The open floor Town Meeting is scheduled to resume at the Neighborhood House, 1 Kimball Rd, Northeast Harbor at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Prior to the Meeting, come socialize with a “Special Edition” supper from the Neighborhood House Community Café. Food will be served beginning at 5:00 p.m. and is free to the public.
Copies of the Town Report and Warrant will be available at the Town Office and on the Town’s website at www.mtdesert.org 10 days prior to Town Meeting.
If you have any questions about absentee voting or the schedule for Annual Town Meeting, please call the Town Office at 276-5531.
MOUNT DESERT 2024 Town Report & 2024-2026 Warrant Now Available
The 2024 Annual Town Report and 2025/2026 Warrant is now available!
You can pick up a copy at the Town Office, the Post Offices, Northeast Harbor Library, Main Street Variety, and McGrath's.
Cromwell Harbor Road Detour: Mon.-Fri., 4/28-5/2/2025
BAR HARBOR—Cromwell Harbor Road, from the intersection of Main Street to Ledgelawn Avenue, will be LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY – NO THRU TRAFFIC, from Monday to Friday, April 28 to May 2. Detour signage will be in place. Main Street traffic will NOT be affected.
The purpose of the closure is for contractor construction of underground utilities as part of the Main Street project.
Maine's Oldest Bioscience Symposium Will Be Packed
Students and accomplished science leaders share research at MDI Bio Lab
BAR HARBOR—The Maine Biological and Medical Sciences Symposium was founded in 1973 to bring together a wide array of science and scientists from every corner of the state to share knowledge, network, and show off their research discoveries.
The two-day event kicks off at MDI Biological Laboratory's coastal campus Friday at 1 p.m., with the first poster session where students present their latest research findings at 2:30 p.m.
The symposium features talks, mentoring sessions and poster presentations on a wide array of biological research, as well as career development. Participating students and scientists come from an equally wide array of institutions, including MDI Bio Lab, the University of Maine, the Jackson Laboratory, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin colleges, the University of New England, College of the Atlantic, MaineHealth Institute for Research, and more.
The keynote speaker is Harmit Malik, Ph.D., a genetic and evolutionary scientist at the highly regarded Fred Hutchison Cancer Center.
Media are invited to attend and interact with participants. Visuals include MDI Bio Lab's scenic research campus and student presentations with posters on easels in a large, glass-walled room above Frenchman Bay (see attached image).
MDI Biological Laboratory is a 126-year-old, non-profit biomedical research and training center focused on the science of aging and regeneration.
Yard Sale to Benefit the SPCA of Hancock County
BAR HARBOR – The SPCA of Hancock County is holding a yard sale this weekend with all of the proceeds benefitting the non-profit organization.
The sale will take place at 18 Wayman Lane and be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 25, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27.
Items being sold include bedding, lamps, televisions, artwork, air conditioning units, and miscellaneous furniture such as dressers and side tables. All of the items being sold were donated.
Purchases can be made with cash, check, or credit card.
Brief: SHOOTING THE FALLS
Mount Desert Island High School graduates and Maine Maritime Academy midshipmen Jameson Weir (stern) and Roger Strauss successfully shoot Six Mile Falls during Saturday’s Kenduskeag River race.
Brief: BILL WEIR FEATURED ON MAINE PUBLIC
BASS HARBOR—Bill Weir was featured on Maine Public’s Borealis yesterday. The intrepid kayaker retired from his career in banking and paddled every single day last year.
COMMUNITY POP-UP
BAR HARBOR—Do you have goods or services to sell or barter?
On Wednesday, April 30, there will be a test community pop-up market open to the public. Bring yourselves and your goods/services to sell or barter.
The pop-up will be from 3:30-6 p.m. at COA Red Bricks, 105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, Maine.
If you have any questions, please contact Madi at mperson24@coa.edu.
JOHN DELMASTRO SHOWING AT SOUTHWEST HARBOR PUBLIC LIBRARY
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Visit the Southwest Harbor Public Library between May 2nd and May 30th to explore the stunning photo-realistic drawings and book illustrations of John DelMastro. Working with Prismacolor pencils, John brings his subjects to life—in the shimmer of a hummingbird’s feather, or framing a unique view of Acadia National Park in A Quarter Mile from Junction 14.
Play-doh Playtime Tuesdays with Ms. Mae, our New Children’s Librarian
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Join us Tuesdays for our new weekly event, Play-doh Playtime! Starting May 6th from 10:00-10:30 a.m., children ages 2+ are invited to squish, sculpt, and squeeze, all while developing hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and creativity. Play-doh and tools will be provided, all you need is your imagination! No registration necessary.
Stop by for Storytimes from 10:00-10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays for Babies and Fridays for Families.
Please welcome Ms. Mae, our new Children’s Librarian. Mae is a Maine native with a background in both early childhood education and library services. Before her move to the Mount Desert Island region in 2019, she had spent four years as a children's librarian in Cumberland County. Driven by her passion and enthusiasm for early literacy, Mae has spent many years teaching in both preschool and elementary classrooms, where she fostered a love of reading in children of all ages. Now, she's excited to become a part of the Southwest Harbor Public Library community and looks forward to meeting everyone. Be sure to stop by one of the upcoming children's events—she hopes to see you there!
For info visit https://tinyurl.com/47rh2r9z, email childrens@swhplibrary.org, call 207-244-7065.
Human rights advocate is COA Commencement speaker
BAR HARBOR—Syrian human rights advocate and former political prisoner Omar Alshogre will give the keynote address at College of the Atlantic’s 52nd Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, June 7. Alshogre will be awarded an honorary Master of Philosophy degree at the ceremony.
Arrested at age 15 for participating in pro-democracy demonstrations, Alshogre survived three years of unjust detention in Syria, enduring torture and starvation before being smuggled to safety. From exile, he dedicated himself to exposing the regime’s crimes and advocating for justice—efforts that contributed to the fall of the Assad dictatorship and the liberation of all political prisoners in Syria.
Alshogre is a Georgetown University graduate and has testified before the U.S. Congress, sharing firsthand accounts of the Syrian regime’s atrocities. As the former director of detainees affairs at the Syrian Emergency Task Force, he played a pivotal role in rallying international support for Syrian detainees. His testimony helped drive legal actions against war criminals and kept the voices of the imprisoned alive on the global stage. With the regime now overthrown, he is focused on rebuilding Syria, ensuring justice for victims, and shaping a democratic future for his homeland.
A captivating speaker, Alshogre has delivered multiple TEDx talks and has spoken, among other places, at the United Nations Security Council, using his powerful storytelling to move policymakers to action. His lectures on leadership in crisis, effective storytelling, and trauma as a driving force have inspired audiences at Harvard, Princeton, Boston Consulting Group, Spotify, and beyond.
Alshogre’s resilience and commitment to justice have earned him global recognition. He was awarded the Compass Rose Scholarship in 2020 by the King of Sweden for his compassion, courage, and strong values. He also received the Excellence in Human Rights Award from the Atlantic Human Rights Centre. Most recently, Alshogre was selected as an Obama Leader for Europe (2024-2025) as part of the Obama Foundation’s leadership program. Now, as Syria enters a new era of freedom, Omar continues to advocate for truth, reconciliation, and a future built on justice and dignity.
SWEET FERN MEETING ON SATURDAY
BAR HARBOR—Sweet Fern - MDI will next meet on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Gates Auditorium at College of the Atlantic. We hope to see you there! Free childcare will be available.
Our mission: Sweet Fern MDI grows its roots in ground left impoverished by anti-democratic forces. Sweet Fern MDI supports those who want to respond to interlocking injustices such as rampant corruption, racism, sexism, poverty, worker exploitation, environmental and civic destruction, and the failed health care system. We are a community group not affiliated with any one political ideology, open to all who are willing to work with us.
Our disclaimer: Sweet Fern MDI is a non-hierarchical organization that believes anyone can lead. As such, individual actions or statements of the group or people in the group do not necessarily represent others in the group.
Our community agreements:
Hold confidentiality
Be civil and respectful of others’ opinions
Use “I” Statements
Strive for honest, nonviolent communication
Maintain curiosity rather than judgement
Welcome discomfort
All action is voluntary
Anyone can lead
MDI Bio Lab Publishes and Patents a Novel Method to Reduce Skin Pigmentation
Peer-reviewed research shows the compound ML233 inhibits production of melanin, holding promise for new therapies to treat skin disorders and a type of melanoma
BAR HARBOR—A novel application for a compound called ML233 has shown promising results for inhibiting melanin production, offering potential new strategies for the treatment of pigment-related skin conditions and at least one type of melanoma.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Biology, the research marks a crucial step toward addressing an unmet need in dermatology. It was conducted under the auspices of MDI Bioscience, a drug-discovery initiative of the MDI Biological Laboratory.
In many species, melanin is responsible for coloring skin, hair and the iris. Melanin is synthesized in specialized cells called melanocytes, in a process called melanogenesis. Defects in melanogenesis are associated with skin disorders such as albinism, hypo- and hyperpigmentation disorders such as vitiligo and melasma, and melanoma.
Hyperpigmentation disorders can impact patients' quality of life due to altered appearance, and their treatment represents a global market projected to reach approximately $11.84 billion by 2033. Despite decades of research, no effective treatments currently exist that affect melanogenesis without adverse side effects.
Led by MDI Biological Laboratory investigator Romain Madelaine, Ph.D., the new study characterized ML233 as a potent and direct inhibitor of tyrosinase, an enzyme that regulates the pace of melanogenesis. Tested in a live zebrafish model and in lab-grown cells from mice and humans, the compound effectively reduced melanin production with no significant toxic side effects observed.
"Our findings suggest that ML233 directly interacts with the active site of tyrosinase, inhibiting its function and ultimately reducing melanin synthesis," Madelaine said. "This mechanism highlights ML233 as a potentially effective and well-tolerated approach for treating melanocyte-associated skin conditions."
The results open new avenues for the development of ML233-based therapies that could significantly improve outcomes for individuals affected by pigmentation disorders. Further studies will be needed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of ML233 in clinical settings.
“The novelty of our findings isn't necessarily in the biology itself, but in the quality, efficiency, and low side effects seen with this chemical compound,” Madelaine said. “We observed strong effects on melanogenesis at very low dosages. The research is particularly compelling because it offers a potential alternative to existing skin pigmentation treatments, such as hydroquinone, which have significant regulatory and health concerns.”
The research also demonstrated that in lab-grown cultures, ML233 reduced the proliferation of mouse melanoma cells and of one type of human metastatic melanoma.
“The data suggest an early, promising avenue for potential treatment of at least one subtype of metastasizing melanoma, but not all types,” Madelaine said. “The compound might be most effective in combination with other treatments, but much more work needs to be done to establish this potential.”
Patented by Madelaine and MDI Bio Lab last year, ML233’s potential applications, including for cosmetic uses, will continue to be explored by MDI Bioscience.
Acadia Council Realtors Holding 5K to Benefit Affordable Housing Charities
BLUE HILL—Lace up your running shoes to help local realtors raise funds for area housing charities.
The Acadia Council’s 5K for Affordable Housing will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. The race begins at the Blue Hill Fire Station at 42 Water St.
Pre-registration is $20 and day-of registrations are $25 on the day of the event, which is open to runners of all levels.
“It will be a scenic out-and-back race on Parker Point Road with stunning coastal views and a welcoming environment for participants of all abilities,” said race organizer Stefan Blanchard, who is the owner and designated broker of First Light Realty in Blue Hill. “Whether you’re running, walking, or jogging, this event is for everyone.”
All funds raised from the 5K will be matched by the Maine Association of Realtors Foundation and donated to local non-profit housing organizations. Proceeds from past Acadia Council fundraising efforts have benefited organizations such as Families First, Habitat for Humanity, Next Step Domestic Violence Project, Friends in Action, Beth C. Wright Cancer Center, Acadia Home for Students, and Emmaus Homeless Shelter.
“As realtors we’re connected to our fellow citizens who are searching for housing, but that is becoming increasingly more challenging for some. We are glad we’re able to support these organizations that work to expand, create or encourage the development of crisis shelter, affordable housing, and homeownership opportunities for our community members and invite everyone to join us in our fundraising efforts,” said Kim Rush, President of the Acadia Council and Broker/Owner at the Christopher Group.
Blanchard expressed enthusiasm about the growing momentum behind this year’s race.
“I’m really excited to be organizing the event this year,” he said. “We’ve received fantastic support from our sponsors and strong interest from the local running community.”
A key enhancement to this year’s race is a new partnership with the Blue Hill YMCA, which will be handling race timing. “They bring both the equipment and the expertise to ensure a successful event,” Blanchard added.
The 5K will include music and medals for the top runners.
To register, visit https://www.runreg.com/acadia-councils-affordable-housing-5k-blue-hill.
This year’s event was sponsored by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Blue Hill Peninsula Realty & Rentals, Erica Brooks of Swan Agency Real Estate, Camden National Bank, The Christopher Group LLC, Compass Point Real Estate, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation/Jo Gaddis Team, First Light Realty, The Island Agency, The Knowles Company, LandVest/Christie’s International Real Estate, Legacy Properties/Sotheby’s International Realty, Gina Lindsay Realtor, Machias Savings Bank, L.S. Robinson Real Estate & Vacation Rentals, Lynam Real Estate, Parker Ridge Retirement Community, Quietside Realty, Deb Terreault of Lynam Real Estate, Variable Movement, and the Winter Harbor Agency.
Start Your Beach Reading early with May's History Book Club
MOUNT DESERT—In May, the MDI Historical Society's Book Club will read and discuss Love on the Rocks : Stories of Rusticators and Romance on Mount Desert Island edited by John and Kathryn Muether. The discussion will take place via Zoom on May 12, 2025 from 6-7 p.m. Please go to https://mdihistory.org/events to register and receive the discussion link.
Love on the Rocks celebrates Mount Desert Island in the late 19th century, when it was a summer playground for wealthy out-of-staters and a place where the rich often met their future spouses. This era in Maine history spawned a new genre of fiction that was known as “The Bar Harbor Novel,” romance stories about the rich falling in and out of love during their summer sojourns. Dramatic and romantic, these short novels helped intensify the area’s popularity. The trysts featured in the collection are portrayed against the natural and cultural backdrop of Mount Desert Island in the mid to late 1800’s, often directly involving natural features and historic places. Included are pieces by Constance Harrison, Marion Crawford, Edward Church, and Ervin Wardman.
The book is available locally at all island libraries, at Sherman's, Carroll Drugstore, or directly from Islandport Press.
Virtual Auction to Help Maine's Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
MAINE—A virtual auction is occurring until next Sunday to benefit Maine's Deaf and hard-of-hearing children and families (PPBFME.COM).
The mission of the Percival P. Baxter Foundation for Maine's Deaf and Hard of Hearing children is to benefit, support, and enhance programs and services for children with hearing loss in Maine, their families, and provide professional development training for the professionals with whom they work.
The online auction features items from the Maine Narrow Gauge, a 2018 Rick Porcello autographed ball, $100 to Thurston’s Lobster Pound, Lisa Hall necklaces, jewelry gift cards from Pyramid studios and much more. The auction is hosted by the platform Give Butter. You can also donate directly here.
HAVANA OPENS & LOCAL RESTAURANT HOURS AND OPENINGS
BAR HARBOR—Havana on Main Street in Bar Harbor has announced that it is now open for dinner service six days a week, from 4-9 p.m., and closed on Mondays.
The Parrilla will be opening April 25 with the same hours!
WHAT IS OPEN FOR RESTAURANTS?
This list is constantly updated by Jennifer Cough at First Express and she lets us share her latest version. This often changes and tweaks throughout the week, so for the absolute latest version, head to that First Express page or Jennifer’s page, which are on Facebook.
“Eccentric Films” celebrates Nancy Andrews’ imaginative, unconventional legacy
BAR HARBOR—An extraordinary, four-night film series showcasing the unique artistic vision and experimental storytelling techniques of College of the Atlantic T.A. Cox Chair in Studio Arts Nancy Andrews is set for Reel Pizza Cinerama May 11-14, nightly at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for students, $8 for adults, on sale at reelpizza.com May 8.
Eccentric Films of Nancy Andrews spans a diverse selection of works dating from 1995-2025, including early works and genre-defying films that have earned Andrews recognition at film festivals and film series worldwide. Each night features a live Q&A session with Andrews, where she will discuss her creative process and the themes explored in her films.
The screenings are a celebration of Andrews’ retirement from COA. This is the first time a number of these films that originated on 16mm will be shown in new digital 4k transfers. Tickets go on sale May 8.
Andrews is a visionary filmmaker whose works have garnered critical acclaim for their experimental narratives, imaginative visual storytelling, and fearless exploration of unconventional themes. Andrews' work explores the boundaries between reality and imagination, the personal and the universal, and the inner psychological landscapes and external forces that shape human experience. Through her unique blend of film, animation, puppetry, music, and visual art, she crafts hybrid worlds that are both whimsical and profound.
Andrews’ films have been featured at prestigious festivals around the world and have won numerous awards including a John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, Gotham Award, and Ellis-Beauregard Foundation Fellowship in Visual Arts. The Museum of Modern Art has collected six of her experimental films and her work is in the collections of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Films to be Screened:
Sunday May 11, 7 p.m.
I Like Tomorrow (2021, 11 min.)
Written, directed and produced by Nancy Andrews and Jennifer Reeder
Captain Regina Lamb (Michole Briana White) confronts an awkward love triangle between her past, present, and future selves in an isolated space station where she might be orbiting for years.
The Strange Eyes of Dr. Myes (2015, 76 min.)
Directed by Nancy Andrews, written by Nancy Andrews and Jennifer Reeder
After a near-death experience, Dr. Myes (Michole Briana White), researcher in the science of perception, attempts to graft animal senses to the brain to revolutionize human consciousness. She must face the consequences when she uses her own body and mind as a research tool and transforms herself into a creature with super senses.
Monday, May 12, 7 p.m.
Woods Marm (1996, 30 min.)
The Woods Marm is Hermione Pine, a hobby entomologist and botanist, "It would take a lively grasshopper to escape Miss Pine." The story unfolds in the Great Northern Forest under giant pines as the diminutive Woods Marm leaves the city, makes her home in the trunk of a tree, and discovers some things about life.
Hedwig Page, Seaside Librarian (1998, 35 min.)
Hedwig Page was born with an uncanny knowledge of cataloguing. She could recite Dewey Decimal categories before she could read and she could read before all else. She obviously pities, but does not excuse, your ignorance of the holdings of the library. Hedwig is the personification of applied skill, a Delphi of learning. And, Hedwig Page has some problems. This is the story of renowned librarian, collector and inventor, Hedwig Page. The piece chronicles the life of a retired librarian, past and present.
Tuesday May 13, 7 p.n.
The Ima Plume Trilogy (98 minutes total)
Including Monkeys and Lumps, The Dreamless Sleep, and The Haunted Camera
Monkeys and Lumps (2003, 38 min.)
This film is a hybrid of drawn animation, live action, and puppetry. The central theme is the unknown, or “other,” and our efforts as individual humans to understand our place and relationship with the unknowable. There are several subjects woven into the film. These are: facial expressions of human and non-human primates; space training and missions of chimpanzees; human study of monkeys (symbolized by the image of Jane Goodall); interactions between humans and animals (taken from news reports); lumps—organisms that wash up on beaches that fit no known life forms (also called globsters)—and extraterrestrials.
The Dreamless Sleep (2004, 30 min.)
A hybrid of drawn animation, live-action, and puppetry, The Dreamless Sleep includes brief biographies of historical figures like Else Bosselman, who drew underwater creatures as described by William Beebe from the windows of the bathysphere, and Christine the Astonishing, a medieval woman mystic. The film is based on a series of interviews with Ima Plume.
The Haunted Camera (2006, 30 min.)
Ima Plume is a chalk-talk specialist or public illustrator who draws before small audiences. Her chalk talks are represented in the hand-drawn animation segments. An homage to film noir, it explores Ima Plume’s investigation of her own death. Ima, public illustrator, grapples with trying to express things that might not be seen or drawn, including spirits, electronic voice phenomena, and studies of animal locomotion. The film combines chalk and drawn animation, puppetry, and live action. It is both fiction and documentary. Inspiration for the content and style is taken from pioneers of film, vaudeville, photography, and spiritualism.
Wednesday, May 14, 7 p.m.
Live sound night. Aaron Jonah Lewis ’05, COA music professor Jonathan Henderson, Danielle Byrd ’05 , and Nancy Andrews perform live music and sound effects for the following films:
Flower (2025, 4 min.)
Accompaniment with four radios
She Had Some Work Done (2025, 3 min.)
Accompaniment with drums, electric guitar, and electric bass
An Epic Falling Between the Cracks (1996, 20 min.)
Black and white puppet animation with electric guitar, electric bass, keyboard, and sound effects. An Epic Falling Between the Cracks presents the voyages of Frances Coco and her dog sidekick, Lemuel, as related by a documentary filmmaker through film, animation, monologue, and song. Frances, an 18-inch puppet, leaves the comfort of her shoe box bed and sets off on a series of adventures, including to remote locations in outer space and underwater. It’s a space age, existential, Nanook of the North.
The Reach of An Arm (2000, 30 min.)
Music, song, and sound effects featuring virtuoso banjo and fiddle player Aaron Jonah Lewis ’05 and bass by Jonathan Henderson.. Peculiarity and Frank Goodin (portrayed by puppets) seek their fortune during the westward movement of the 1800s. Peculiarity has seen the promise of a better life: "The trouble with you, Frank, is that you shot half your brain off. This is your chance to get rich." So they set out in their homemade wagon.
Event listing:
May 11, 2025
7 p.m.
Film series: Eccentric Films of Nancy Andrews
Featuring I Like Tomorrow (2021, 11 min.) and The Strange Eyes of Dr. Myes (2015, 76 min.).
Reel Pizza Cinerama 33 Kennebec Place
Bar Harbor
$6 students; $8 adults (no big tickets or one shots), on sale May 8
reelpizza.com
…
May 12, 2025
7 p.m.
Film series: Eccentric Films of Nancy Andrews
Featuring Woods Marm (1996, 30 min.) and Hedwig Page, Seaside Librarian (1998, 35 min.).
Reel Pizza Cinerama
33 Kennebec Place
Bar Harbor
$6 students; $8 adults (no big tickets or one shots), on sale May 8
reelpizza.com
…
May 13, 2025
7 p.m.
Film series: Eccentric Films of Nancy Andrews
Featuring The Ima Plume Trilogy (98 minutes total), including Monkeys and Lumps (2003), The Dreamless Sleep (2004), and The Haunted Camera (2006).
Reel Pizza Cinerama
33 Kennebec Place
Bar Harbor
$6 students; $8 adults (no big tickets or one shots), on sale May 8
reelpizza.com
…
May 14, 2025
7 p.m.
Film series: Eccentric Films of Nancy Andrews
Featuring live music and sound accompanying Flower (2025, 4 min.), She Had Some Work Done (2025, 3 min.), An Epic Falling Between the Cracks (1996, 20 min.), and The Reach of An Arm (2000, 30 min.).
Reel Pizza Cinerama
33 Kennebec Place
Bar Harbor
$6 students; $8 adults (no big tickets or one shots), on sale May 8
reelpizza.com
How Did That Happen? Maine State Government with Carolyn Ball and Jill Goldthwait
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Maine State government is remarkably open to the public. Join us on Tuesday, May 6th at 5:30 p.m. for “How Did That Happen? Maine State Government” at the Southwest Harbor Public Library. Carolyn Ball and Jill Goldthwait will join together to discuss how you can get involved in state government or just learn how the latest controversy is handled. They’ll take you through a closer look at the legislature and the bureaucracy; from how to follow bills to testifying from the convenience of your home. Discover how agencies that do the day to day work are structured and what responsibilities they have and may have in the future.
Carolyn Ball, Ph.D. is a professor emeritus at University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service where she has recently taught Managing Cities, Towns and Counties and Performance Measurement. She is the current chair of the SWH Select Board. Jill Goldthwait is long-time writer for the Mount Desert Islander. She served as an independent state senator and town councilor in Bar Harbor.
The event will be in-person or with online viewing available.
To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/273v4tz7, call 244-7065, or email programs@swhplibrary.org.
Artist Peggy Clark Lumpkins at Gilley as People-Nature-Art presenter
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Join us at the Wendell Gilley Museum on Tuesday, April 29 to enjoy the art of Maine artist Peggy Clark Lumpkins, who is the Museum’s People-Nature-Art speaker for April.
Peggy has been a painter for more than 50 years, and in that time has developed a distinctive style for portraying nature on canvas. She calls painting a love letter to being alive. “The clearest way for me to say how I feel about what I see is to paint it,” she says. “There are no words to say everything as clearly as I can with my brush and colors.”
She starts with joie de vivre, loving the world. “… when you fall in love with a flower, a cloud, or a shape, or a line in the sand … then you begin to paint. Even before you have a canvas the paint has begun to flow. It flows first as a sort of dance inside my being, it swirls around in there and becomes a part of me, at home with all the other paintings that make up myself. The whole world is a painting to me.”
A native of New York City, she began making art in childhood and attended the High School of Art and Design. She began college at The San Francisco Academy of Art, then returned east for her second year at Pratt Institute. But she wanted to paint what she loved, not what her teachers desired, so she took a leave of absence and never looked back. She’s been painting ever since. She moved to Brownville, Maine, in 1987, where she built a house and gardens, and raised two sons.
“Even though I have been painting for 50 years,” she says, “I still feel like I am just getting started, rubbing my hands together in excitement for the next piece.”
Come share that excitement at the Gilley. This program is free but registration is required. There will be an artist's reception at the Museum beginning at 6 p.m., the presentation begins at 7 p.m. and will be simultaneously livecast. When you sign up, please indicate whether you will attend in person or online. A Zoom link will be sent to online attendees the day before the program. People-Nature-Art is sponsored, in part, by our friends at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. It is a free monthly series that brings artists, writers, carvers, and creative types of all kinds to the Gilley to explore how nature and art interact in their work, and how their art impacts their own approach to nature.
Paint Somes Sound in Paint ‘n’ Sip at the Gilley May 2
SOUTHWEST HARBOR— Paint a forest inspired by the work of iconic Austrian artist Gustav Klimt at a Paint ‘n’ Sip at the Gilley on Friday, May 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Klimt is best known for paintings such as “The Kiss” featuring people from the time when he was using a lot of gold leaf in his paintings, but he also painted landscapes in a signature style and those paintings are the inspiration for the May Paint ‘n’ Sip at the Gilley with instructor Erika Elizabeth. She will guide students step by step through the process, explaining each step along the way.
Sip on wine, tea or seltzer as part of this adults-only class, which is suitable for artists of all levels who are at least 21 years old. All materials and beverages provided. The cost is $29 for museum members and $36 for non-members. Spaces are limited. Sign up at www.wendellgilleymuseum.com/calendar.
Flock together for Bird Chatter at the Gilley Museum
SOUTHWEST HARBOR – Catch up with the latest news from the birding world with Seth Benz, on Saturday, May 3, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Wendell Gilley Museum. Seth will delve into research and current insights. Bring your own questions and curiosity, a favorite bird-related reading, and your latest observations. Birds are just beginning to sing their spring songs, so this should be a lively event.
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. Depending on weather, the group might go for an optional bird walk outside.
Registration is required at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org/events.
There is no fee for this program, but a museum entrance fee is required. The fee is $21 for museum members and $28 for non-members. Registration is required at www.wendellgilleymuseum.org/calendar
From Maine DHHS: Older Americans Act State Plan on Aging Amendment Public Hearings and Public Comment Period
AUGUSTA—Maine DHHS will hold virtual public hearings on the proposed amendment to the State Plan on Aging for Older Americans Act (OAA) funded programs and services that help older Mainers, and their care partners, remain healthy and safe in their communities.
Public comments will be accepted verbally during the upcoming public hearings and in writing until May 27, 2025. Written comments can be sent to James Moorhead, Healthy Aging Services Manager, at: james.moorhead@maine.gov.
In February 2024, the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) issued the Older Americans Act (OAA) Final Rule (https://acl.gov/OAArule) and updated guidance that all state plans on aging must comply with by October 1, 2025. This includes state plans like the Maine State Plan on Aging 2025-2028 that were approved previously and are not due for renewal for several years.
In addition to the required content of state plans on aging outlined in 45 CFR 1321.27, ACL issued sub-regulatory guidance on the requirements for amendments to state plans on aging in October 2024. OADS reviewed the Maine State Plan on Aging 2025-2028 and sought input from the Steering Committee and Advisory Committee on the development of the required amendments starting in January 2025.
Agenda items include:
Brief Background on State Plan on Aging Amendment Requirements
Summary of Amendments to Maine’s State Plan on Aging 2025-2028
Public comments
A draft of the proposed amendment to the 2025-2028 Maine State Plan on Aging can be found on the Office of Aging and Disability Services website.
If you need an interpreter or additional accommodation to participate in this public hearing, call or email James Moorhead no later than one week before the meeting you plan to attend at james.moorhead@maine.gov or 207-441-7619.
Maine State Plan on Aging Amendment Public Hearing #1 – May 9, 2025 – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Registration link: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/0fa6c20c-147a-4188-999f-df7215dc2ba8@413fa8ab-207d-4b62-9bcd-ea1a8f2f864e
Maine State Plan on Aging Amendment Public Hearing #2 – May 9, 2025 – 2:00 to 3:00 pm
Registration link: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/a3933fb2-99e1-42b9-9319-221d29e84e90@413fa8ab-207d-4b62-9bcd-ea1a8f2f864
JESUP CONVERSATION ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ADVOCACY
From Maine Inland Fish and Wildlife:
Get ready for turkey hunting season!
AUGUSTA—Turkey hunting season is right around the corner, and it's a great time to get outside! Soon you will be sitting in your blind watching the sunrise, waiting to call in that bearded tom turkey. Youth day is this Saturday, April 26, and the season opens to all hunters from Monday, April 28 - Saturday, May 31.
Hunting licenses and turkey hunting permits can be purchased online or at local agents. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the Hunting Lawbook and review the season dates and bag limits.
If you haven't completed a hunter safety course yet, but would like to give turkey hunting a try, take a moment to learn more about the apprentice hunting license! Consider talking with a friend, family member or coworker who might serve as a mentor to help you get started on your Maine turkey hunting adventure.
Looking for a great place to hunt? Maine's Wildlife Management Areas offer wonderful opportunity to hunt on public land that is managed by MDIFW. Find one in your neck of the woods!
Maine is also fortunate to have landowners who offer access to their private property to hunt. Read more about exploring private land in Maine.
We hope you have a safe and memorable hunting season!
Hunting Safety Tips
Hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities in Maine! Let's keep it that way by following these safety tips when heading into the woods:
Treat every firearm as if it is loaded
Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
Use safe carrying methods
Always be certain of your target and beyond
Flag your hunting area with orange tape or fabric to indicate your location to other hunters - a simple wrap of orange tape around a nearby tree does the trick
Be aware of your surroundings and others around you - Remember that you will be sharing the woods with hikers, utility workers, woods operators, and fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Be courteous, there are millions of acres to share!
Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return
Always bring a survival kit
Protect yourself from ticks
Remember to take precautions while enjoying the outdoors. Consider treating your clothes with permethrin or other tick repellent according to the instructions on the container, tuck the loose ends of your clothing in, and check yourself routinely.
RECENT LOCAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
BAR HARBOR
Melissa E. Woodruff, a/k/a Melissa W. Ehrlich, Hilton Head Island, S.C., to Michael J. Seavey, Ellsworth, land with improvements.
George C. Mitchell and Billie Jean Mitchell, a/k/a Billie Mitchell, Bar Harbor to George C. Mitchell and Billie Jean Mitchell, Bar Harbor, as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
CRANBERRY ISLES
J. Clayton Bright and Starr Cummin Bright, Coatesville, Pa., to Elizabeth Phoebe Bright, Whitefish, Mont., Henrietta Reeve Bright, Short Hills, N.J., and Graham Truxtun Bright, Boston, Mass., 54% undivided interest and 18% interest each, land with improvements.
MOUNT DESERT
Jeffrey Shugars and Bradley W. Wells, McAllen, Texas, to Delores Moore, Mount Desert, land.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR
Robert E. McGrath Revocable Inter Vivos Trust Jan. 21, 1999, Haworth, N.J., to Ann S. McGrath Revocable Inter Vivos Trust Jan. 21, 1999, Haworth, N.J., land with buildings and improvements.
Merilyn Farley, Surry to William Blair Malcolm III, State College, Pa., land with buildings and improvements.
Susan Beallor-Snyder, Southwest Harbor to Susan Beallor-Snyder Trust 2021, Southwest Harbor, land with buildings and improvements.
TREMONT
Rose-Marie Dennis Trust, Trenton to Joshua Benjamin Resnick and Elizabeth Lee Oliver, Cambridge, Mass., as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements
Everett N. White Family Bypass Trust, Hulls Cove to Patrick M. White, Ellsworth, one-half interest, land with buildings and improvements.
H. Ann White Trust Feb. 27, 2001, Hulls Cove to Patrick M. White, Ellsworth, one-half interest, land with buildings and improvements.
Estate of Sherri H. Butler, Seal Cove to Christopher D. Harper, Seal Cove, land with buildings and improvements.
TRENTON
Mark R. Hilton, NE Minneapolis, Minn. to Tami E. Hilton, Little Canada, Minn., land with improvements.
HANCOCK COUNTY COURT
Official records show the following recent cases:
Kevin A. Ross, 27, Greenbush. OUI (alcohol) at Bar Harbor, June 4, 2024. $850. License suspended 150 days.
Kevin A. Ross, 27, Greenbush. OUI (alcohol) at Bar Harbor, Aug. 25, 2024. Dismissed.
Irene Maggie Menzietti, 53, Tremont. Fishing without valid license at Mount Desert, Aug. 10, 2024. $100.
Brandon Tash, 27, Southwest Harbor. Domestic violence assault at Southwest Harbor, Sept. 27, 2024. Jail 74 days.
Scott MacDonald, 66, Somesville. Domestic violence assault at Trenton, Oct. 1, 2024. Dismissed.
Gail Elizabeth O’Brien, 66, Lamoine. Domestic violence assault at Trenton, Oct. 11, 2024. Dismissed.
Matthew St. Germain, 39, Ellsworth. OUI (alcohol) at Bar Harbor, Oct. 13, 2024. $500. License suspended 150 days.
Andrew Anthony Palmer, 38, Bar Harbor. OUI (alcohol) at Bar Harbor, Oct. 1, 2024. $500.
Jason T. Allen, 61, Ellsworth. Criminal trespass at Trenton, Oct. 12, 2024. $200. Disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures at Trenton, Oct. 12, 2024. $200, suspended.
Erica E. Brooks, 42, Bar Harbor. Failing to stop, provide information at Bar Harbor, Oct. 16, 2024. $150.
Theodore A. Provost Jr., 48, Southwest Harbor. Operating after habitual offender revocation, one prior at Mount Desert, Nov. 20, 2024. $1,000. Department of Corrections nine months one day. Violating condition of release at Mount Desert, Nov. 20, 2024. Jail 30 days. Violating condition of release at Mount Desert, Nov. 20, 2024. Jail 30 days.
Benjamin E. Hamor, 51, Northeast Harbor. Failure to timely register bear, deer, moose, turkey at Bar Harbor, Sept. 12, 2020. Dismissed. Exceeding 18 hours to register deer at Bar Harbor, Sept. 12, 2020. $200, suspended. Hunting or possessing deer during closed season at Bar Harbor, Sept. 29, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting or possessing deer during closed season at Bar Harbor, Sept. 30, 2020. $2,000. Jail 30 days. Failure to timely register bear, deer, moose, turkey at Bar Harbor, Sept. 30, 2020. Dismissed. Possessing unregistered deer at Bar Harbor, Sept. 30, 2020. $300, suspended. Unsworn falsification at Bar Harbor, Sept. 30, 2020. $500, suspended. Hunting or possessing deer during closed season at Surry, Oct. 1, 2020. $2,000. Jail 30 days. Unsworn falsification at Surry, Oct. 1, 2020. Dismissed. False registration of deer at Surry, Oct. 1, 2020. $200, suspended. Exceeding 18 hours to register deer at Surry, Oct. 1, 2020. Dismissed. Failure to timely register bear, deer, moose, turkey at Surry, Oct. 1, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting deer after having killed one at Lamoine, Oct. 3, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting deer after having killed one at Lamoine, Oct. 7, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting deer after having killed one at Lamoine, Oct. 13, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting deer after having killed one at Lamoine, Oct. 16, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting deer after having killed one at Lamoine, Oct. 30, 2020. $2,000. Jail 30 days. Exceeding bag limit on deer at Lamoine, Oct. 30, 2020. $2,000. Jail 30 days. Hunting antlerless deer without permit at Lamoine, Oct. 30, 2020. $300, suspended. Hunting deer after having killed one at Hancock, Oct. 31, 2020. Dismissed. Unsworn falsification at Lamoine, Oct. 31, 2020. Dismissed. False registration of deer at Lamoine, Oct. 31, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting deer after having killed one at Ellsworth, Nov. 2, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Failure to timely register bear, deer, moose, turkey at Ellsworth, Nov. 2, 2020. Dismissed. Exceeding 18 hours to register deer at Ellsworth, Nov. 2, 2020. Dismissed. Exceeding bag limit on deer at Ellsworth, Nov. 2, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Hunting deer after having killed one at Lamoine, Nov. 3, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting deer after having killed one at Bar Harbor, Nov. 6, 2020. Dismissed. Failure to timely register bear, deer, moose, turkey at Bar Harbor, Nov. 6, 2020. Dismissed. Exceeding 18 hours to register deer at Bar Harbor, Nov. 6, 2020. Dismissed. Exceeding bag limit on deer at Bar Harbor, Nov. 6, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Hunting deer after having killed one at Bar Harbor, Nov. 14, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Exceeding bag limit on deer at Bar Harbor, Nov. 14, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Unsworn falsification at Lamoine, Nov. 14, 2020. Dismissed. False registration of deer at Lamoine, Nov. 14, 2020. $200, suspended. Hunting deer after having killed one at Bar Harbor, Nov. 19, 2020. Dismissed. Exceeding bag limit on deer at Bar Harbor, Nov. 19, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Failure to timely register bear, deer, moose, turkey at Bar Harbor, Nov. 19, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting deer after having killed one at Bar Harbor, Nov. 21, 2020. Dismissed. Exceeding bag limit on deer at Bar Harbor, Nov. 21, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Hunting deer after having killed one at Northeast Harbor, Nov. 24, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting or possessing deer during closed season at Northeast Harbor, Nov. 24, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Failure to timely register bear, deer, moose, turkey at Northeast Harbor, Nov. 24, 2020. Dismissed. Exceeding 18 hours to register deer at Northeast Harbor, Nov. 24, 2020. $200, suspended. Exceeding bag limit on deer at Northeast Harbor, Nov. 24, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Hunting or possessing deer during closed season at Bar Harbor, Nov. 25, 2020. $2,000, suspended. Jail 30 days. Exceeding bag limit on deer at Bar Harbor, Nov. 25, 2020. Dismissed. Falsifying physical evidence at Northeast Harbor, Feb 3, 2021. Dismissed. Hunting or possessing deer during closed season at Northeast Harbor, Nov. 24, 2020. Dismissed. Exceeding bag limit on deer at Northeast Harbor, Nov. 24, 2020. Dismissed. Hunting deer after having killed one at Northeast Harbor, Nov. 24, 2020. Dismissed. Failure to timely register bear, deer, moose, turkey at Northeast Harbor, Nov. 24, 2020. Dismissed.
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