Police Chief Has Been Chosen
HALLOWEEN CANCELLATIONS AND RESCHEDULINGS AND UPDATES
BAR HARBOR—The search for a police chief for Bar Harbor and Mount Desert police departments should hopefully be wrapped up and official in November according to Mount Desert Town Manager Durlin Lunt Friday.
Lunt said that he could not formally announce the hire, but that the job postings are closed and an offer has been tendered.
“There is still some behind the scenes work that needs to be completed before a formal announcement,” Lunt said.
Since James Willis’ retirement August 4, Bar Harbor’s David Kerns has been the two town’s acting chief.
“The process was conducted under the leadership of our human resource compliance officer who is shared with Bar Harbor,” Lunt said.
Willis began in November 2013 as a temporary Bar Harbor Police chief while Nathan Young was on administrative leave. At the time, Willis was chief in the neighboring town of Mount Desert and told the Bangor Daily News that “his main interest in serving as acting chief in Bar Harbor is to ‘help out a neighbor.’”
Eventually, the two towns shared him as chief, an agreement that Finance Director Sarah Gilbert said continues to exist despite Willis’ retirement. Under the agreement, Willis was an employee of Mount Desert, which then invoiced Bar Harbor each month for 60 percent of the costs. Costs include salary, cruiser, and cell expenses as well as professional association dues.
Willis now works at Dirigo Safety, LLC, which is based in Auburn and provides consultation and law enforcement training. There is currently a one-year contract between Dirigo and Mount Desert and Bar Harbor for Willis to advise the departments as needed at a rate of $100 an hour, with an expectation of eight hours a week. The contract renews automatically after a year. Parties can change or end it as well.
HALLOWEEN CANCELLATIONS AND RESCHEDULINGS AND UPDATES
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HIGH SCHOOL GEAR SALE
The MDI High School Gear Sale is no longer on Sunday October 29. It is now Sunday November 5.
It will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
BHPD AND BHFD BBQ
Saturday’s Emergency Services Barbecue was cancelled. According to the Bar Harbor Police Department’s Facebook page,
“Out of an abundance of caution, tomorrow's planned community BBQ will be canceled this year due to the ongoing investigation in Southern Maine.
“While we are disappointed to share this news, we hope that everyone understands that community safety is our top priority and that this does not feel like an appropriate time for us to host an event.
“Thank you for your understanding. We hope to see you at this event next year!”
TRAIL OF TREATS AND HAUNTED HUSTLE
Similarly, The MDI Hospital has announced that two Halloween-themed events are being rescheduled.
“It is out of an abundance of caution that we have made the difficult decision to postpone our Halloween community events that were scheduled for this weekend.
“The Trail of Treats at Birch Bay Retirement Village originally scheduled for this evening, will be moved to Monday Oct. 30th from 4:30 – 6PM, now a partnered event with the MDI YMCA and Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce.
“The event will be held inside the MDI YMCA Gym as there is a very high chance of rain that day. Following the Trick-or-Treat, the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce will be showing the movie Hotel Transylvania from 6 – 7:30PM providing popcorn to those in attendance.
“The Haunted Hustle, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 28th, will now take place next Saturday, Nov. 4th. The times and locations remain unchanged.
“We thank you for your patience during this time and for your cooperation as we do everything we can to assure the safety and security of our communities.”
CRITERION AND FINBACK EVENTS ARE STILL OCCURRING
Our Halloweekend Movie Marathon kicks off tonight with Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice!
This Academy Award Winning horror film will make you laugh, feed your interior design desires, and have you walking away singing Harry Belafonte
Wear a costume for a free small popcorn
Movie starts at 6PM
Give yourself over to absolute pleasure and join us for a double screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Tuesday, October 31st
Our 7:00 o’clock screening will be a classic movie screening
Our 10:00 o’clock screening (18+) will feature a shadow cast and goodie bags
Wear a costume, bring your friends, don’t dream it, be it!
AT THE FINBACK
“Back for our annual Halloween Party at Finback Alehouse THIS SATURDAY October 28th! It’s our favorite way to celebrate our season finale at our favorite venue. Bring a costume and come shake it with us Spooky-style one more time! 21+, bring yo’ IDs!”
HALLOWEEN KARAOKE AT FINBACK
At 9 p.m. head over to the Finback Alehouse after trick or treating for some Halloween karaoke.
There seems lately to be an abundance of an "abundance of caution." I increasingly worry that the Covid Panicdemic has created a scenario whereby every new development throws the masses into panic mode. As FDR once pointed out "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." Let us hope that sanity returns before it's too late!