MDI Search and Rescue Help Injured Hiker Off Gorham Mountain NYE, Cottage Street Water and Traffic Disruptions Today
Briefs: Bar Harbor resident sentenced for attempted murder, holiday trees can head to Kisma Preserve, Cruise Ship Arguments Set for January 8
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund.
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, 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.
BRIEF: MDI SEARCH AND RESCUE HELP INJURED HIKER
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK— MDI Search and Rescue was called out on New Year’s Eve to help Acadia National Park carry out an injured hiker off Gorham Mountain.
“We were fortunate to have mild temperatures and only a few small patches of ice on the trail,” the group posted on Facebook.
We’ve reached out to Acadia National Park for more details and the other agencies that were involved and to try to make sure the hiker is doing okay.
BRIEF: OPEN TABLE AWARDS JIM GRAVES FOR HIS SERVICE
BAR HARBOR—On Tuesday, Open Table MDI awarded its annual “Volunteer of the Year” to Jim Graves. Each year the organizations chooses a recipient to honor their “incredible dedication, kindness, and impact of someone who has gone above and beyond to support our mission of feeding people and fostering connection—someone who brings the spirit of compassion and generosity to their volunteer work with us,” according to Puranjot Kaur.
“Jim has been a cornerstone of Open Table MDI since 2020, showing up with unwavering consistency and commitment. During the challenges of COVID, Jim stepped up and joined our volunteer team, bringing generosity and hard work when it was needed most. He played a vital role in packing meals with care and efficiency, ensuring that members of our community continued to receive nourishment and support during a difficult time,” she said. “Those of you who never joined us at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church or never had the opportunity to volunteer for us there probably don’t realize what an enormous undertaking it was each week to pack up meals. The kitchen is in the basement, but we were packing and handing out meals upstairs. Jim would, sometimes quite literally, be running boxes of meals up and down the stairs, loading a shopping cart filled with boxes into the elevator, making sure I always had what I needed to fill all of the bags by 4:00 p.m. At that time, we were sending out nearly 180 meals all over the island and Jim was there every step of the way.”
Graves’ service continued after the organization moved to Cottage Street and he packs meals for those who can’t come in person as well as performs tasks in the kitchen.
“But it’s not just Jim’s dependability that makes him stand out. It’s his incredible friendliness and warm spirit that brighten the day for everyone he interacts with. Whether he’s greeting dinner guests or new volunteers, chatting about what art opening he went to see during the past week, or talking about music and movies that have inspired him, Jim has a way of making everyone feel welcome, valued, and cared for. He loves a good pun and his laughter is infectious,” Kaur said.
When Kaur and Singh began Open Table, they did so with a vision that combines community, service, welcoming, and food.
On its website, it reads, “the mission of Open Table MDI is to inspire strong, loving, and inclusive communities by bringing people together to share in nourishing food. Our organization helps to alleviate hunger by feeding individuals and families on Mount Desert Island and beyond.”
Open Table MDI has offered weekly community suppers and an opportunity for that magical space in Bar Harbor for free since February 2018. The nonprofit was incubated by Healthy Acadia and first hosted in the basement of the Bar Harbor Congregational Church. In just 18 months, it had served more than 10,000 meals to seasonal workers, community members, and visitors. Within three years, they’d served more than 35,000 meals and fed around 400 people every single week.
That’s not counting the 150 served by the MDI Food Access Project, which is a collaboration between Open Table, COA, Beech Hill Farm, Health Acadia’s Gleaning Initiative, Island Connections, and the Bar Harbor Food Pantry. A food service delivering meals began during the pandemic.
They grew as the need grew. The kindness blossomed. The crew of volunteers grew and became more closely connected with each meal served and in 2022, the nonprofit moved to 116 Cottage Street in Bar Harbor.
“It’s universal that people want to be together. And there’s something magical that happens when you’re sharing a meal, where differences that you might have with that person…seem to melt away when you’re having some food and listening to music,” Singh said to the Mount Desert Islander’s Victoria DeCoster in January 2023. “The things that might conspire to separate us, all of that seems to dissipate. There’s just community and you realize that you’re welcome and that you fit in no matter what.”
Cottage Street Traffic Disruption Planned for Thursday, January
BAR HARBOR—An emergency water repair is scheduled for Thursday, January 2. No water service disruptions to customers on Cottage Street is expected; however, traffic may be impacted. Parking will be impacted between Main Street and Rodick Street. The work is planned for 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you have questions, contact the Bar Harbor Water Division at 1-207-288-3555 or email water@barharbormaine.gov.
BRIEF: DIMITRY DUBROVSKY SENTENCE TO 25 YEARS, 15 SUSPENDED FOR AGGRAVATED ATTEMPTED MURDER
ELLSWORTH—A man who was living in Bar Harbor at the time of his arrest was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Ten years of that was suspended. He also has four years of probation, according to a report by the Ellsworth American’s Jennifer Osborn. The plea had been negotiated.
The charges stem from when Dubrovsky attacked Spencer Trott of Lamoine. The men had been coworkers.
“The attack on Spencer Trott was particularly brutal,” Osborn quotes District Attorney Bob Granger as saying. “He was shot in the head at close range execution style, and then the defendant pistol-whipped the victim in the head approximately 25 to 30 times as he lay bleeding on the ground. Co-defendant [Duncan] Haass indicated that it appeared the defendant was attempting to kill Mr. Trott with the blows.
“The victim was rendered unconscious by the attack, his arms were tied behind his back with rope, he was dragged into the back of a pickup truck and driven to a remote location at which the victim thought he would be executed.”
According to the investigation, Dubrovsky threw away the gun and his blood-stained clothes out his truck’s window as the duo fled that spot.
“Trott survived by diving into a body of water where his body was being dumped. After Dubrovsky and Haass left, Trott hid in an old shed for three hours until wandering out near the road for help,” Osborn wrote.
It had been Haass’ mother, returning from dropping her son off at the sheriff’s office, who saw Trott on the road, searching for assistance.
Dubrovsky was arrested in Bar Harbor while washing “Trott’s blood out of the back of his truck,” Osborn wrote.
APPLL vs. Town of Bar Harbor Arguments at US Court of Appeals set for Jan. 8
BAR HARBOR—The appeal of the Association to Preserve and Protect Local Livelihoods, et al, v. Town of Bar Harbor will be heard by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, in Boston. The panel will be Justices Barron, Breyer, and Kayatta. Attorney Jonathan Hunter will be arguing on behalf of the town.
The arguments are available for streaming on the court's website and audio only on YouTube.
Docket number 24-1317 Association to Preserve and Protect Local Livelihooods, et al. v. Town of Bar Harbor, et al.
Docket number 24-1318 Penobscot Bay and River Pilot Association, et al. v. Town of Bar Harbor, et al.
Docket number 24-1385 Association to Preserve and Protect Local Livelihooods, et al. v. Charles Sidman, et al.
See the town’s Cruise Ship Information page for filings in the appeal and the original federal case.
Discarded holiday trees are accepted at Recycling Center & Kisma Preserve-NOT Public Works Facility
TRENTON—Kisma Preserve is accepting discarded trees (with NO decorations attached) at 446 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Deposits may be made to the right of the gate. Please DO NOT BLOCK GATE. These trees are used as habitat for the wildlife at Kisma.
Trees will NOT be accepted at the Public Works Facility in Hulls Cove. They will be accepted at the Recycling Center on White Spruce Road.
Public Hearings 1/21 on Water, Sewer Budgets
BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council will hold public hearings Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building Council Chambers to hear comment on proposed amendments to the Water and Sewer Ordinances to adopt the Fiscal Year 2025 water and sewer budgets.
Ordinance Amendment 2024-11: An amendment to adopt the FY2025 Water Budget
Ordinance Amendment 2024-12: An amendment to adopt the FY2025 Sewer Budget
Note: FY25 began July 1, 2024. On June 18, 2024, the Town Council authorized spending Water Department and Wastewater Funds at current levels until FY25 budgets are approved (Town Council Order 2024-06-03).
Call the Town Clerk at 207-288-4098 for more information.
Unlocking the Secrets of Vision Restoration
January 13, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Online event via Zoom
ONLINE—Zebrafish have a superpower: the ability to regenerate damaged tissues—eyes included! New groundbreaking research explores how we can apply these remarkable healing mechanisms to humans. Could this lead to real treatments for vision loss?
Join Dr. Romain Madelaine and his team at MDI Biological Laboratory for an exciting look into how zebrafish are revolutionizing our understanding of eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Don’t miss out on this online-only journey into the future of vision science. Together, we might just unlock the secrets to better sight for all.
Kick Off the New Year with Healthy Acadia’s Tai Chi Classes – A Fun and Engaging Way to Start a New Healthy Habit
ONLINE AND ELLSWORTH—As we usher in the new year, there's no better time to embrace a healthy habit that’s fun, engaging, and great for your well-being—Healthy Acadia’s Tai Chi for Health classes are the perfect way to get started. Healthy Acadia is excited to kick off 2025 with a lineup of Tai Chi for Health classes designed to help community members embrace a fun and engaging way to stay active. With the many health benefits of tai chi practice, including reduced stress, improved balance, and increased flexibility, these classes offer an excellent opportunity for people of all ages and fitness levels to experience a fresh start in the new year.
A low-impact exercise that combines slow, fluid movements, mindful breathing, and mental focus, tai chi is often referred to as a moving meditation because it emphasizes the integration of mind and body, improves overall physical and mental well-being, and promotes a sense of calm and relaxation for people of all ages and fitness levels. Regular tai chi practice has been associated with numerous health benefits, including improved balance and flexibility, reduced stress and anxiety, lowered blood pressure, improved immune function, relief of chronic pain and inflammatory conditions, and improved cognitive function.
Healthy Acadia’s tai chi instructors are certified through the Tai Chi for Health Institute, founded in 2010 by Dr. Paul Lam and colleagues with the purpose of empowering people to improve their health and wellness with Tai Chi for Health classes. Tai Chi for Health classes introduce gentle low-impact exercise routines that promote improved health through the integration of both mind and body. The program is recommended by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Council on Aging and endorsed by governmental health departments around the world.
Healthy Acadia’s Tai Chi for Health classes meet for one hour per week for eight weeks and are offered free of charge, though donations are suggested and appreciated. Pre-registration is required. Their Winter 2025 lineup of classes is as follows:
In-person courses:
Yang 24 Forms, Mondays, January 27 to March 17, 2025, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Healthy Acadia’s 77 Beechland Road Office, Ellsworth. Comprised of qigong and Yang-style mind-body exercises, this course will introduce movements from the Yang 24 form, currently the most practiced tai chi set in the world. Course instructor: Nina Zeldin.
Beginners Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention, Tuesdays, February 11 to April 1, 2025, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Healthy Acadia’s 77 Beechland Road Office, Ellsworth. This program is recognized by the USA CDC as being a highest-tiered evidence-based program for improving balance, strength, flexibility, and confidence. While especially effective for arthritis, this program is appropriate for anyone who wants to improve their health and wellness. Course instructor: Nina Zeldin.
Beginners Tai Chi for Life, Tuesdays, February 11 to April 1, 2025, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Healthy Acadia’s 77 Beechland Road Office, Ellsworth. Tai Chi for Life is a great introduction to tai chi exercise, with an emphasis on improving emotional and physical balance and relaxation. Experienced tai chi practitioners will enjoy the flow of this short set. Course instructor: Nina Zeldin.
Tai Chi for Beginners, Wednesdays, December 4, 2024, to February 5, 2025, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Ellsworth Public Library River View Room, Ellsworth. No class on December 25, 2024 & January 1, 2025. This program is recognized by the USA CDC as being a highest-tiered evidence-based program for improving balance, strength, flexibility, and confidence. While especially effective for arthritis, this program is appropriate for anyone who wants to improve their health and wellness. Course instructor: Nina Zeldin.
Online courses:
Intermediate Yang 24 & 40 forms, Mondays, January 27 to March 17, 2025, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This course is most appropriate for people familiar with Yang Style tai chi. Course instructor: Nina Zeldin.
Intermediate Sun 73, Mondays, January 27 to March 17, 2025, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Most appropriate for people familiar with Sun-style tai chi. Course instructor: Nina Zeldin.
Beginners Tai Chi for Arthritis & Tai Chi for Arthritis 2, Tuesdays, January 28 to March 18, 2025, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. This course is most appropriate for those familiar with the Tai Chi for Arthritis program and who are looking for a new challenge. Course instructor: Nina Zeldin.
Beginners Yang 24, Wednesdays, January 29 to March 19, 2025, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This course will introduce movements from the Yang 24 form, currently the most practiced tai chi form in the world. Course instructor: Nina Zeldin.
Beginners Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention, Wednesdays, January 22 to March 12, 2025, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This program is recognized by the USA CDC as being a highest-tiered evidence-based program for improving balance, strength, flexibility, and confidence. While especially effective for arthritis, this program is appropriate for anyone who wants to improve their health and wellness. Course instructor: Annette Plank.
Visit bit.ly/ha-tai-chi to register for any of Healthy Acadia’s Tai Chi for Health classes. Once your registration is complete, you will receive the login information (for online classes) via the email address you provided. For more information, please contact Nina Zeldin at (207) 479-1206 or nina@healthyacadia.org.
Healthy Acadia is a 501c3 nonprofit community health organization working to build vibrant communities and make it easier for all people to lead healthy lives throughout Washington and Hancock counties, Maine. For more information about Healthy Acadia’s health initiatives, visit www.healthyacadia.org.
Unemployment Insurance Assistance Available In-Person at Maine CareerCenters Starting January 2, 2025
MAINE—Starting January 2, 2025, in-person Unemployment Insurance (UI) assistance will be available at CareerCenters across the state every Thursday. This service is designed to provide direct support to individuals navigating unemployment claims and related concerns.
Details of In-Person Help:
Dates: Thursdays, starting January 2, 2025
Hours: Clinics will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except at the Wilton and Brunswick CareerCenters. Wilton and Brunswick will close at 12 p.m. due to limited operating hours.
Locations: All Maine CareerCenters except Machias
Find the CareerCenter closest to you by visiting https://www.mainecareercenter.gov/locations/
File online at any time: https://assist.reemployme.maine.gov/cp/landing
File by phone: 1-800-593-7660 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Report your rabbit sightings to help protect the state Endangered New England cottontail
New England cottontail photo by Logan Parker
The New England cottontail (NEC) is Maine’s only native true rabbit, and was once common in southern Maine. However, NEC populations have declined dramatically in Maine and across their entire range due to habitat loss. Today, NEC are known to occur in just 7 towns: Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Wells, York, Kittery, Eliot, and Kennebunk; with a statewide population of less than 400 individuals. MDIFW is working with partners to restore Maine’s NEC, but we need more eyes in southern and coastal Maine!
Share Your Sightings!
If you see a rabbit that might be a New England cottontail or an Eastern cottontail (a non-native species that resembles NEC), we want to hear about it! Please take a photo to submit when possible, take note of the following, and report your sighting online:
Date
Time
Location/Town
Habitat Description
Identifying Characteristics- Please do not report known snowshoe hares. Did you observe any features that support identification as an NEC? Find identification tips below.
MDIFW will conduct surveys in the vicinity of credible NEC sightings to search for currently unknown populations. Any new confirmations of the species will greatly enhance our restoration effort by allowing us to protect the population and provide additional opportunities for us to conduct habitat management that will ultimately increase Maine’s NEC population.
Identifying New England Cottontails
New England cottontails at a glance
New England cottontails are medium-sized rabbits (14-17 inches long) and weigh in at just 1-2.5 pounds. They have dark brown fur with a wash of black-tipped fur, a black edge to their ears. They also have a black spot between their ears though this characteristic is typically not visible from a distance.
Hares are white in winter, but rabbits are brown year-round!
It can be surprisingly tricky to distinguish NEC and snowshoe hares during most of the year but identification becomes much simpler in winter! The snowshoe hare goes through a costume change for the snowy months, turning white while NEC retain a brown coat all year. We only need reports of potential NEC so this winter remember to write it down if it's brown and just enjoy the sight if its white!
Non-native look-alikes
Until recently, Maine was the only state in the northeast that did not have eastern cottontails, a non-native rabbit which is nearly indistinguishable from the NEC. Reporting all brown rabbits in winter not only helps locate new undocumented populations of NEC, it also may help identify areas of eastern cottontail expansion which pose a threat to the recovery of Maine's only native rabbit.
Virtual Statewide Workshop: Creating A Winning Resume presented by the Maine CareerCenters
Offered monthly on 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 1:30–3 p.m.
AUGUSTA—Is it time for you to create a new resume and you're not sure on how to get started? Join us for this 90-minute virtual session as we discuss how to create a winning resume. Following the workshop you'll also learn how you can schedule a virtual meeting with a CareerCenter consultant who can review your new resume and provide additional support.
During the workshop we will teach you how to write a dynamic winning resume and provide you with the tools you need to promote and target your qualifications to directly match the employer's needs. You will also learn how to ensure that your resume and cover letter make the best first impression to employers.
Prerequisite for this workshop: A current Maine JobLink account. If you need assistance with creating a Maine JobLink account, please contact MaineDOL.CareerCenter@maine.gov.
Pre-Registration is required. To register, click on the Eventbrite link. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creating-a-winning-resume-tickets-139151561065
Registrants will be sent a confirmation email from Eventbrite within minutes of submitting a registration. Within 24 hours of the session, your workshop link will be directly emailed to you from the presenter using a Maine.gov email address.
Please note there is a 45-person limit per session. Due to a high number of job seekers wanting to take this workshop, preference will be given to first time registrants. If after attending a session, you need more assistance with your resume, contact us at MaineDOL.CareerCenter@Maine.Gov or call to make a scheduled appointment at 207-623-7981. Thank you!
Virtual Workshop: Job Readiness - Preparing to Apply for a New Job
Offered Every Thursday, 1–2 p.m.
AUGUSTA—In this workshop we help active job seekers find a job as soon as possible with support from guest speakers that include HR professionals at local employers.
Topics include:
Interview preparation
Resume building
Tips for the application process
Question & answer sessions
Individualized and peer-to-peer support
Led by EMDC's Senior Workforce Development Specialist, Kim Donovan.
To register please visit https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYocO-srzgrG9SHV6Mn2ZIoYbBC0TbhheX5
For more information on EMDC, click Here
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