MDI Hospital Remodels Interfaith Chapel,
The Employment Situation in Maine for September 2024 and other releases and briefs
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by YES ON 4 For a Balanced Solution.
Each week, we compile press releases and briefs that have been sent in to us and send it to you as one story. This is this week’s compilation!
MDI Hospital Presents Remodel of Interfaith Chapel
BAR HARBOR—Mount Desert Island (MDI) Hospital announces the completion of its updates to their Interfaith Chapel. The Interfaith Chapel, located on the 2nd floor of the hospital, is open to patients, family members, friends, employees, and all other visitors who need a place of peace. A ribbon cutting was held on October 10th, 2024 and included hospital staff, community members, and volunteers. This project serves as a tribute to MDI Hospital’s commitment to serve the needs of patients, employees, and visitors of all faiths.
Liz Cutler of MDI ArtWaves created and donated customized art pieces for the chapel to compliment the nature-focused aesthetic. “It’s been a lot of fun to do it. Working with MDIH was a breeze, everyone was very patient, and the process was exciting. I love collaborating, so this has been a great collaboration,” says Cutler.
President/CEO of MDI Hospital, Chrissi Maguire says of the remodel, "This project was made possible through the efforts of employees looking to improve patient experience and community members who wanted to offer their time and resources. The result of these efforts is a new and improved space where patients and their families can go for quiet reflection and peace."
The hospital would like to thank ArtWaves, Hospital Admin and Advancement staff, hospital engineering staff, and the faith leaders of all denominations in our region who offered input and resources.
To learn more about MDI Hospital’s Interfaith Chapel, please visit our website: https://www.mdihospital.org/news/mdi-hospital-presents-remodel-of-interfaith-chapel/
If you represent a local faith organization and would like to be included in our patient resources, please contact Molly Moon, Public Affairs Coordinator, at molly.moon@mdihospital.org.
Bead-embroidered Antique Jewelry with a Contemporary Twist
Leslie Jones Jewelry November & December
SOUTHWEST HARBOR – If you appreciate antique jewelry with a contemporary twist, be sure to check out Leslie Jones’ bead-embroidered designs at the Southwest Harbor Public Library from October 31, 2024 to January 4, 2025. Ellsworth resident and long-time Mount Desert Islander Leslie will have her one-of-a-kind jewelry on display and for sale. Her pieces showcase large stones, sea glass, and recycled antique elements, blending past and present in unique ways that evoke an elegant vintage charm. Leslie’s museum quality creations make unique hand-made gifts for the upcoming holidays. A portion of the proceeds from sales benefits the library.
For bead embroidery artist Leslie, the journey begins with a needle, thread, and seed beads. From this foundation, she incorporates a variety of materials such as stones, vintage glass, metals, and vibrant colors. A self-taught designer, she started her creative journey with simple stringing as a child and has since evolved to intricate designs, often utilizing hundreds of individual beads in pieces that can take up to a month to finish.
Leslie’s work has been featured in Maine The Magazine, and Art Jewelry magazine. In the rare moments she is not obsessively beading Jones can be found spending time with her dogs.
To view more of Leslie’s work, visit https://www.facebook.com/LeslieJonesJewelry.
For details about Leslie’s display, visit https://tinyurl.com/4bhvetsu.
Visit the library to view Jones’ work from October 31st through January 4th, during library hours. Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9-5; Wed 9-8; Sat 9-1. For questions or for more information call the Library at 207-244-7065, visit www.swhplibrary.org, or email exhibits@swhplibrary.org.
RE-BIRTHDAY PARTY
Photography Exhibit & Talk
SOUTHWEST HARBOR – Visit the Southwest Harbor Public Library starting Thursday, October 31 through Saturday, November 30th experience the “Oh, Wow!” Photography of Eric Uberseder.
On Tuesday, November 19 at 5:30 p.m., hear about how Eric captures these unique moments in “Oh, Wow!: A How-to for the Photos in the Exhibit”, an informative and humorous visual presentation of exactly how he creates these macro/close-up photographs. The program will take place at the library with online viewing available.
Eric J. Uberseder has been a photographer since 1973, and has photographed in nearly every genre available, as well as working as a professional Wedding and Portrait Photographer in the 1980’s, outside of Philadelphia. Retired in 2011 to Bar Harbor, from Professional Counseling Psychology, Uberseder began to focus more on photography. "When I found that people would say “Oh, Wow!” to a 13 x 19 inch macro photo I showed them, I was hooked." His specialty is called Macro/CloseUp photography. He takes everyday objects from the size of a grain of sand up to about 2 inches, modifies them, and then blows them up to 13 x 19 inches big. Uberseder finds these everyday “Oh, Wow!” photographs “in the rough” and uses proprietary editing techniques that take them from interesting/beautiful to just plain SURPRISE!
When he’s not trying to surprise viewers with unusual photographs, Eric’s learning to play the Classical Bari-tenor Ukulele. Along with his spouse Linda, with many years on the Mountain Dulcimer, and a quirky chocolate labrador retriever, RijL, on the piano forte, they offer an interesting, though not ready for prime time, ensemble.
To view some of Eric’s Photography, go on-line to https://www.flickr.com/people/199990573@N05/. He can be reached at firstzarathu@icloud.com.
Registration and details are at https://tinyurl.com/mrxjzj9f, or call the Library at 207-244-7065, visit www.swhplibrary.org, or email exhibits@swhplibrary.org. Exhibit on view October 31-November 30 during library hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9-5; Wed 9-8; Sat 9-1.
TRICK OR TREAT AT THE SANDERSON SISTERS’ COTTAGE
BAR HARBOR—Trick or treat at the Sanderson Sisters’ Cottage (located behind Massage Bar Harbor). The Sanderson Sisters will be passing out candy in their scary cottage from 4-7 PM on Halloween.
TAKE THE SURVEY ABOUT MAINE’S COASTLINE
Maine’s coastline stretches for thousands of miles. Within that expanse are many intersecting and often competing activities and values. Mainers are deeply connected to the coast through livelihoods, cultural identities, family legacies, and deep appreciation for nature, wildlife, and wild spaces. But sometimes those connections to the coast can clash.
How does Maine adapt its coastal infrastructure to hazards while maintaining access, identity, and heritage? How does Maine develop its coast in a way that also protects the integrity of our coastal habitats? How does Maine preserve working waterfront while also preparing for sea level rise?
Maine Coastal Program works to answer these questions and is inviting Mainers to help.
Maine Coastal Program (MCP) was established in 1978 to help balance the demands of conservation and development in Maine’s coastal zone, and is currently writing its next five-year strategy, the “2026-2030 Strategic Outlook.” Updating the Strategic Outlook on this cycle helps keep pace with and adapt to emerging challenges on Maine’s coast and gives regular opportunity for public input.
From October 22, 2024 until Friday, January 3, 2025 MCP will keep open a public opinion survey as one way of incorporating public input into the 2026-2030 Strategic Outlook. Insights from a statewide community engagement effort that took place in Spring 2024 as part of the update to Maine's climate plan, Maine Won’t Wait, will also be included. That effort was spearheaded by the University of Maine’s Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and a summary of findings can be found here.
Any plan that hopes to balance sustainable development and conservation in Maine needs to be rooted in what’s good for Mainers. Only with the support of communities can projects be truly successful. Take the time to think about what coastal management issues are most important right now and help Maine Coastal Program balance priorities by taking this public opinion survey. To learn more about the Maine Coastal Program, visit www.maine.gov/dmr/programs/maine-coastal-program
The Employment Situation in Maine – September 2024
AUGUSTA—There has been little change in labor market conditions recently. Nonfarm jobs have been close to the year-to-date average throughout 2024; unemployment has been 2.8 percent for four months.
These estimates are derived from two monthly surveys. The Current Population Survey collects information from households on labor force status, including labor force participation, employment, and unemployment. The Current Employment Statistics survey collects information from nonfarm employers by industry on the number of wage and salary jobs, hours worked, and wages paid to individuals on their payrolls. Both surveys are administered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Preliminary estimates from the two surveys sometimes diverge in direction or magnitude of change. Over extended periods they tend to be more aligned.
Seasonally Adjusted Statewide Labor Force Estimates
The preliminary unemployment rate of 2.8 percent is unchanged from the previous three months. The three-month average for the period through September was 0.2 points lower than for the previous three months through June.
Unemployment has been below four percent for 34 months – the second longest such period – and below the U.S. average for all but two months for more than 16 years. The rate continued to be below the long-term average of 5.4 percent for the state since January 1976, when the current methodology was adopted.
Unemployment averaged 3.5 percent for New England and 4.1 percent for the U.S. in September.
Note on preliminary unemployment estimates: They should be considered in the context of whether they are below, near, or above historical or U.S. averages, rather than if they are up or down a few tenths of a point from some other month. The household survey sample they are derived from is large enough for direct estimates for the nation. For states it is much smaller and statistical modeling is used to prevent large single-month changes that may overstate the magnitude or the direction of changes in labor market conditions.
One result of this is that preliminary unemployment rates for Maine tend to follow an undulating pattern, moving in one direction for several months and then the other through the course of a year. Revisions, published annually in March, have consistently smoothed these patterns. Upward or downward changes in preliminary unemployment or labor force participation rates often are not as indicative of improvement or deterioration in conditions as may appear. Though rates for many months will change when revised, unemployment rates for the early part of 2024 certainly will remain well below the long-term average.
Seasonally Adjusted Statewide Nonfarm Jobs Estimates
The number of nonfarm wage and salary jobs has been quite stable through the first nine months of 2024. The preliminary estimate of 656,900 jobs is within 0.1 percent of the year-to-date average, as are revised estimates for every other month. There were 5,600 more jobs in September than a year ago, an average monthly increase of 500. Healthcare and social assistance accounted for 70 percent of the net job gain over the year.
Note on preliminary nonfarm jobs estimates: Preliminary estimates of nonfarm jobs from the payroll survey of employers tend to provide a better indication of the magnitude and direction of change than labor force and unemployment estimates from the household survey. The payroll survey is much larger and revisions to jobs estimates tend to be smaller.
Not Seasonally Adjusted County and Metro Area Labor Force Estimates
On a not seasonally adjusted basis the statewide unemployment rate was 2.6 percent. Rates were at least 0.3 percentage points higher than that in seven counties, at least 0.3 points lower than that in four and close to the average in five. The lowest rates were in southern and central areas and the highest were in the north.
Among the three metro areas of the state, unemployment was below the statewide average in Portland-S. Portland and close to the average in Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn.
(Labor force estimates for substate areas, including unemployment rates, are not seasonally adjusted. Because of this, estimates for a certain month should be compared to the same month in other years and should not be compared to other months in the same or other years.)
The private sector workweek averaged 33.7 hours and earnings averaged $31.97 per hour in September. Average hours decreased 0.2 and hourly earnings increased 5.5 percent from a year ago. The workweek was longest in construction and shortest in leisure and hospitality. Earnings were highest in professional and business services and lowest in leisure and hospitality.
Hourly earnings were higher than the statewide average in the Portland-S. Portland metro and slightly lower in the Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn metros.
This news release is available in a more accessible format here
October workforce estimates will be published Tuesday, November 19 at 10 a.m. The data release schedule is here
Non-farm jobs data is available here
Unemployment and labor force data is available here
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