Sproule Elected After Recount in Trenton Select Board Race
Firefighters graduate, Willowind celebration, Memorial Day events, town, state, and so many other press releases
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. 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 all out individually.
Brief: Trenton Recount Give Sproule a Win
TRENTON—After a tie vote of 93-93 in the select board race on Monday, Judith Sproule won the recount Thursday morning. The tally was Sproule with 97 and Carol Perreault with 93. Perrault congratulated Sproule in a Facebook post and also thanked voters.
Charles Farley had resigned because he was moving out of state. Farley’s seat is for two years. Sproule and Perreault were both on the ballot for his seat.
Brief: FIREFIGHTERS GRADUATE!
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND AND ELLSWORTH—Mount Desert Island Region just got a little bit safer as multiple residents graduated the 2025 Hancock County Fire Academy. The total class size was 17.
“In a time when the need for firefighters has never been greater, it’s people like Stephen—dedicated, selfless, and community-minded—who are helping to carry our mission forward. Graduating from the Hancock County Fire Academy is no small feat,” said the Southwest Harbor Fire Department of its graduate, Stephen Pierce. “It takes hundreds of hours of classroom work, hands-on drills, and studying to reach this point. Stephen now joins dozens of proud SWHFD members who have completed this rigorous training before him, and we are thrilled to welcome him to that legacy.”
Julia Malcom of Trenton graduated as did Cal Travers, Teghan Oswald, and David Oullette for Bar Harbor; Stephen Pierce graduated for Southwest Harbor; Mitchell Burr and Theodore Cake, for Mount Desert and Josh Reed for Tremont. The Grand Theater in Ellsworth hosted the ceremony.
As the Bar Harbor Fire Department said in a Facebook post, “These dedicated individuals spent every other weekend on the training grounds, plus countless hours of book work and studying for the past five months to earn their firefighter 1&2 certifications. We appreciate all your efforts and commitment to becoming interior firefighters to help serve and protect the residents and visitors of Bar Harbor!”
Malcolm, of Trenton, received the Bobby Dorr "Spirit of the Academy" award, recognizing her outstanding spirit and dedication, exemplifying the values demonstrated by Deputy Chief Bobby Dorr of Ellsworth Fire Department.
Dorr began his firefighting career in Ellsworth as a paid on-call firefighter in 2009. He was hired full-time in 2010. He ascended the ranks quickly, serving as lieutenant, captain, and deputy chief. He had been a lead instructor for the fire academy. He died in 2021. His image was projected on the screen behind the firefighters during the ceremony.
Tremont gave a social media shout-out to Reed, writing, “Josh is the second grandson of retired Chief Bradley Reed to graduate from the HCFA and representing the fourth generation of their family’s tradition. Josh’s department roster number is TFD#13, the number formerly used by his father.”
Fire Department Members Honored with Maine EMS Excellence Award
BAR HARBOR—Deputy Fire Chief John Lennon and Firefighter/Paramedic Sean Hall were both honored with EMS Excellence Awards for contributions to the regional and state EMS system at a ceremony hosted by Maine EMS at the State House Wednesday.
“Maine EMS is proud to recognize the following individuals and entities throughout the State of Maine that go above and beyond what is expected to meet the needs of the state's residents and visitors,” Wil O’Neal of Maine EMS said in a statement. The annual awards “recognize the accomplishments and dedication of EMS clinicians and partners throughout the state.”
John Lennon is a member of the statewide Education Committee for Maine EMS and coordinated with Eastern Maine Community College to support their Advanced EMT class offered in Ellsworth. He is a leader of local public outreach programs in CPR, Stop the Bleed, and Narcan administration for the Bar Harbor Fire Department. He also plays a central role in crucial local public health initiatives including the MDI Opiate Task Force, monthly meetings between MDI Hospital staff and staff of all the island EMS agencies, and annual flu shot clinics for all the island schools.
Sean Hall is a longtime EMS educator throughout the region with more than 40 years’ experience providing EMS care. He recently co-taught the Advanced EMT class through EMCC. He is a passionate advocate for the EMS system and for the patients he serves.
Brief: WILLOWIND OPEN BARN DAY DRAWS HUNDRED
BAR HARBOR—Willowind's Annual Open Barn Day which happened Sunday, May 18, drew well over 100 visitors.
Once a year, Willowind opens the barn doors to celebrate community and showcase the programs and services it provides.
The horseback riding center provides individual lessons and therapeutic riding in an indoor or outdoor riding ring, supervised by a certified instructor.
Ledgelawn Avenue / Park Street Intersection CLOSED on 5/28/2025
BAR HARBOR—The intersection of Ledgelawn Avenue and Park Street will be CLOSED on Wednesday, 5/28, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a manhole replacement project. Detours will be in place, and alternate routes should be used.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PFAS STUDY IN TREMONT
TREMONT—As you may know, in January 2024, Tremont Consolidated School (TCS) discovered PFAS (also known as “forever chemicals”) in its drinking water, slightly above the state limit of 20 ng/L, and switched to bottled water as it explored water filtration options. MDI High School had discovered PFAS in drinking water two years earlier and now filters all drinking water at the school.
Dr. Jane Disney from MDI Biological Laboratory and Dr. Megan Romano at Dartmouth Medical School have received pilot funding for a project to help twenty families understand PFAS exposure and its impacts on child health. The project is “PFAS Understanding in Local Schools and Environments” or “PULSE.” They will work with families to identify potential PFAS sources and identify resources to limit exposure.
Eligibility: The first 20 Tremont families with a child at MDI High School who attended Tremont Consolidated School for some, or all of their elementary and middle school education can register by emailing us by June 15, 2025. Extensions will be considered.
Project Steps: Drinking water will be tested for PFAS, and a follow-up drinking water and dietary survey will be sent to participating families this summer. In early fall, one or more children from the family will have a finger-prick blood test to measure PFAS, and height, weight, blood pressure, and percent body fat measurements will be taken in the school nurse’s office or another location preferred by students and/or parents. Taken together, these provide a measure of cardiovascular health. Later in the fall, families can administer a questionnaire to their child called the Behavioral Assessment for Children (BASC-3); if this test has already been administered, we can potentially use pre-existing information. The outcomes provide a measure of neurobehavioral health.
Results: If you choose to receive the results, they will be reported back to you. There will be an online dashboard for parents that will help them interpret results or results can be delivered in person.
Community Outreach: Overall pilot project outcomes will be shared with the community, as we plan for a larger study involving up to 200 families if additional funding is obtained.
Need to know more or ready to sign up? Please contact Dr. Jane Disney at jdisney@mdibl.org.
The Public Safety Panel Redo is Now Available
BAR HARBOR—This meeting was a re-recording of the public safety panel from the April 24 Planning Board Moratorium Workshop. As this is a rerecording, the content and length vary from the original discussion. However, the planning staff felt the information provided was valuable and should be shared in the same format as the previous workshops. The general content of the new recording is very similar, in addition to the main takeaways.
You can access the re-recording of the panel on Town Hall Streams for May 21, 2025.
Link: https://townhallstreams.com/stream.php?location_id=37&id=67333
Presence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on Mount Desert Island (MDI) a Reminder of MDI Quarantine for Wood
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Maine Forest Service (MFS) Forest Health and Monitoring Division confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in April.
It is not EAB awareness week.
MFS stated that “EAB continues to spread throughout Maine, and we appreciate the vigilance of local arborists and community members. Public awareness is important to detecting and responding to this destructive forest pest.”
As a result of this detection, the Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry the current EAB quarantine includes all towns on MDI.
This non-contiguous quarantine may help slow the spread.
Key guidance for landowners, municipalities, and the public includes:
Ash tree material should remain on MDI. Logs, branches, or wood waste from removed trees should be disposed of on-site or at an island-based disposal facility.
Ash chips are not regulated and may be legally transported off the island.
High-value ash trees that are not heavily infested can be evaluated and may be preserved through systemic insecticide treatment by licensed pesticide applicators. These treatments require periodic reapplication.
Infested ash trees will decline quickly and become structurally unstable. Property owners and managers are urged to evaluate ash trees near infrastructure for potential treatment or removal.
Please let MFS know— If you suspect you have found damage from EAB in Maine, refer to www.maine.gov/eab. This website features an interactive map with EAB detections, quarantine boundaries, and tools for identification and reporting.
For more information and updated quarantine maps, visit www.maine.gov/eab and these resources:
APCAW: https://umaine.edu/apcaw/
SAP-Ne: https://foreststewardsguild.org/sustaining-ash-partners-network-sapne/
USDA APHIS PPQ: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/eab
USDA Forest Service State, Private and Tribal Forestry: https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/state-private-tribal-forestry
Bar Harbor Historical Society to Present Carolyn Gage’s Reef Point on Opening Day, May 27
BAR HARBOR—On its opening day, May 27, 2025, the Bar Harbor Historical Society will present a special performance of Reef Point, a poignant one-hour play by award-winning playwright Carolyn Gage. The event will take place at the society’s home at LaRochelle at 127 West Street, Bar Harbor, Maine. The show starts at 4:30 p.m. Please visit our website to register.
“With Reef Point, Carolyn Gage captures a turning point in Bar Harbor’s history through deeply human characters and beautifully layered storytelling,” said Bar Harbor Historical Society Executive Director Erin Cough. “This play speaks to the heart of our mission—preserving the past while engaging with the present—and we are honored to host it on our opening day.”
Set on Mount Desert Island in 1955, Reef Point offers an intimate, moving look at two women navigating profound personal and societal change in the aftermath of World War II and the devastating fire of 1947. As the island shifts from a Gilded Age playground for the elite to a middle-class tourist destination, two aging lady’s maids—Maisie and Clem—confront the realities of a world insists it no longer needs them.
One of the women, Clem, works for the famed landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, who has just made the startling decision to dismantle her beloved summer estate, Reef Point, and sell off its celebrated gardens. The other woman, formerly employed by heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean, finds herself adrift in a changing household and a changing world. When the famously private Mrs. Farrand makes a rare appearance, a quiet but powerful confrontation ensues, reshaping the lives of all involved.
Described by readers as “one of [Gage’s] most brilliant and wisest works,” Reef Point is a meditation on legacy, loss, and adaptation. It is a play about surrendering long-held dreams, recalibrating priorities, and ultimately, finding grace in transformation.
Carolyn Gage is known for her evocative, women-centered plays that bring underrepresented voices to the stage. With a bare stage and a cast of four women and one man (Phoebe Barnes, Mary Heffernon, Chris Josephs, Cherie Magnello, Katie Migdal, Cindy Robbins), Reef Point offers a rich theatrical experience with minimal staging—an ideal pairing with the historical setting of the Society’s museum. Carolyn Gage is an autistic playwright, performer, director, and activist. The author of nine collections of lesbian- and feminist-themed plays and eighty-eight plays, musicals, and one-woman shows, she specializes in non-traditional roles for women, especially those reclaiming famous lesbians whose stories have been distorted or erased from history.
This performance marks a unique opportunity to reflect on Mount Desert Island’s past through the lens of powerful storytelling. Admission is by donation, with pre-registration recommended, and all are welcome for its 4:30 pm showing.
The Bar Harbor Historical Society is a community and institutional leader that welcomes residents and visitors alike to discover the past in order to understand the present, and to take pride in community connections. It is a dynamic, bustling regional center for research, dialogue, and learning where stories are told through multiple media daily. Its mission is to effectively display, preserve, and interpret Bar Harbor’s rich past through our unique collections, ensuring access, enjoyment, and educational opportunities for all.
For more information, please visit https://barharborhistorical.org or follow the Bar Harbor Historical Society on Facebook or Instagram. The Society is located at LaRochelle at 127 West Street, Bar Harbor, Maine. For more information on Carolyn Gage, you can visit Gage’s website at carolyngage.weebly.com.
COA Summer Institute celebrates visionaries who redefine possibility
BAR HARBOR — The 2025 College of the Atlantic Summer Institute: Path Breaking celebrates exceptional individuals whose work and beliefs have changed how we see the world. Brilliant, brave, and defiant, institute speakers exemplify the power of commitment and the need to seek new solutions. The institute includes 11 sessions over five days, July 28–August 1. The sessions are free, but registration is required at coa.edu/si. Registration opens June 1.
Speakers include The Honorable George Mitchell, elephant conservationist Dr. Winnie Kiiru, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Doris Kearns Goodwin, and former director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Francis Collins. Former Literary Director of the Library of Congress Marie Arana, Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem Thelma Golden, co-founder of the Carlyle Group David Rubenstein, and others join the 20+ pathbreakers taking the stage at the institute.
Sessions will explore scientific leadership in times of crisis, principles of equality in a democracy, the promises and threats of artificial intelligence, and much more.
“This year’s Summer Institute is designed to help us understand how good ideas and good works break through. We will look to historical examples, grapple with current issues, and look forward to challenges we see on the horizon” says COA Dean of Institutional Advancement Shawn Keeley. “We believe that bringing folks together in conversation is so important today, and keeping the event free and open to the public is a way we can invite everyone in and give back to the MDI community.”
The institute begins on Monday evening, July 28, with "Changing Culture through Art," featuring Golden and Director of the Museum of Modern Art Glenn Lowry. Morning and evening sessions continue through Friday, August 1. The schedule includes morning talks at 9:30 a.m. and evening sessions at 5 p.m., followed by nightly cocktail receptions in the Geier Oval. Several days feature bonus daytime panels.
The Summer Institute is College of the Atlantic’s week-long ideas festival that welcomes experts from around the world to share their perspectives on the most pressing issues of our time. The Summer Institute is supported by the generosity of COA Champlain Society members. The event is held under a tent on the North Lawn.
FIBER AND FELINES
Pemetic Student Art Exhibit June 2025: Fiber and Felines
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—From June 3 to 27, don’t miss “Fiber & Felines: Art of Pemetic Elementary School 4th Graders & Kindergarteners” at the Southwest Harbor Public Library.
Join us at the Meet the Artists Reception on Friday, June 6, from 4-5:30 p.m. This year’s art show is a collection of 4th grade weavings and kindergarten cat portraits. In this whimsical display of artwork, small swatches of fabric created using a variety of yarn fibers frolic with feline portraits painted in mixed media layers.
From Miss M. the PreK-8 art teacher, “Students spent hours following a simple weaving pattern and later tying knots to secure each warp end. The colorful threads each have a creative title chosen by each fourth-grade artist. The cats were created by some of our youngest artists here at Pemetic Elementary School—the kindergarteners. Painted with acrylics, students explored what it means to paint in layers, first mixing a pastel background, then letting it dry.”
The students then explored wallpaper together, creating patterns using posca paint markers followed by cat shapes and textures - the fluffy, spiky, smooth fur. Ending with the facial details, the final result are dynamic portraits with great expression. We hope you enjoy this year's art show as much as the students enjoyed making it!
For details, visit https://tinyurl.com/mpstsxfy, call 244-7065, or email exhibits@swhplibrary.org. Library hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9-5; Wed 9-8; Sat 9-1.
Farmstand Opening Day!
Tuesday, May 27
Summer Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The Beech Hill Farmstand is opening for the season on Tuesday. The crops in the field are looking gorgeous and we are stocked with a wide array of local products. We also have a large selection of vegetable, herb and flower starts for you garden.
ABBE OPENING DAY!
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS
Garden Club’s Memorial Day Ceremony Set
BAR HARBOR—On Monday, May 26, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. the Bar Harbor Garden Club will commemorate the men and women who served in the military and died while in service. The Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at the Blue Star Marker on Route 3 in Bar Harbor.
The Blue Star Program honors all the men and women that serve in the United States Armed Services. This program began with the planting of 8,000 dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted this program and began a Blue Star Highway system. BHGC stewards the Blue Star Marker in Bar Harbor and holds a ceremony every year on Memorial Day.
Please join the Bar Harbor Garden Club to share together and take a moment to honor and recognize the many sacrifices made for freedom. We have invited MDI's veterans to participate in the ceremony. We welcome our fellow Bar Harbor Garden Club members and friends to participate in this long-standing tradition at the Blue Star Marker to reflect on the sacrifices of our veterans and their powerful stories.
BIKE PARADE AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL
ArtWaves Welcomes June Guest Artist, Ryan Kelley for Sculpted Wire Tree Workshop
BAR HARBOR, ME—Artwaves is excited to announce that Ryan Kelley will be their guest artist for the month of June. Ryan is a Massachusetts-based artist and sculptor, and will be offering two wire tree sculpture workshops during his stay. The workshops, suitable for adults and children, will be held on June 7th, with both a morning and an afternoon session available. Participants will learn directly from Ryan as he guides them through the process of transforming wire into a distinctive tree sculpture, mounted on a rock.
Kelley is a self-taught artist with over a decade of experience in transforming wire, wood, metal, and stone into captivating artworks. His intricate signature wire trees have garnered national and international recognition. Beyond his studio work and commissioned projects, Kelley is deeply committed to artistic education, sharing his expertise through workshops and classes for all ages. He is actively involved with prominent art organizations including the Newburyport Art Association and the New England Sculptors Association.
ArtWaves’ Guest Art program provides artists from across the country the opportunity to stay on MDI for a week, primarily during the summer months. While here, artists get to experience the natural beauty of MDI and spend time devoted to their practice, while simultaneously offering the community diverse and exciting workshops and events. ArtWaves is delighted to host an artist of Ryan Kelley's caliber. You can register for the workshop at artwavesmdi.org and check out more of Ryan’s work at wirebyryan.com
Workshop Details
What: Wire Tree Sculpture Workshop with Ryan Kelley
When: June 7, 2025 – Morning (10 a.m. - 12 p.m.) and Afternoon (2 p.m. - 4 p.m.) Sessions
Where: Artwaves, Bar Harbor, ME
About Artwaves: Artwaves is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community arts center on Mount Desert Island. We make creativity accessible to all by offering workshops, classes, and exhibitions in various mediums. Our goal is to inspire self-expression, foster collaboration, and encourage lifelong engagement in the arts for all ages and skill levels.
GROWING UP IN BAR HARBOR MEET AND GREET
Training Offered for Safe Alcohol Sales and Service
ELLSWORTH—Healthy Acadia is offering A Responsible Beverage Server and Seller training for employees of stores, restaurants, and taverns to help them safely sell or serve alcohol.
This state-certified course focuses on enhancing employees’ knowledge of liquor laws, emphasizing the importance of preventing underage sales and sales to visibly intoxicated individuals, and developing skills to refuse service when necessary. Participants will learn how to assess identification and age, improve sales policies, detect impairment, and practice effective refusal techniques. This 3- to 4-hour training may help businesses lower insurance costs and reduce the risk of unlawful or tragic alcohol-related incidents.
The course will be held at Healthy Acadia’s 77 Beechland Road, Ellsworth location. The first session is scheduled for Monday, June 2, beginning at 11 a.m. A second session will be offered on Wednesday, June 4, starting at 10 a.m.
To register, visit https://forms.gle/q9nnnTU18Bbaijkf9 and select the session you would like to attend. Provide the information needed for your certificate, and take the pre-test.
For more information or to schedule a dedicated training for six or more employees, please contact Tara Young at 207-667-7171 or tara@healthyacadia.org.
Healthy Acadia is a 501(c)(3) community health organization dedicated to building vibrant communities and making it easier for everyone to lead healthy lives. Serving Washington and Hancock counties, the organization provides community health support and leadership across Maine. For more information, visit healthyacadia.org.
ART EVENTS AT BAR HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BLOOM AFTER HOURS!
NEW CRITERION EVENTS
REAL ESTATE NEWS
BAR HARBOR
Deborah L. Rechholtz and Robert R. Rechholtz, Bar Harbor to Barrain LLC, Portsmouth, N.H., land with improvements.
Lori E. Corbani, a/k/a Lori Corbani, Bar Harbor to Michael J. Good, Graham Michael Corbani Good, Bar Harbor and Madeleine Lee Corbani Good, Portland, Ore., as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
RDR Realty B.H. LLC, Bar Harbor to Deborah L. Rechholtz and Robert R. Rechholtz, Bar Harbor, as joint tenants, land with improvements.
MOUNT DESERT
Stephen Marble Bartlett, a/k/a Stephen M. Bartlett, Wallingford, Pa., to Stephen Marble Bartlett and Katherine Elizabeth Wohlsen, Wallingford, Pa., as joint tenants, land with improvements.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR
Estate of Frances M. Tatakis, Auburn to Virginia Lynn Tatakis, Auburn and Tracy L. Calder, Chebeague Island, as joint tenants, interest in time-share estate, Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, unit 47, week 18.
Nicole Lovely, Bucksport to Harbor Ridge Condominium Association, Southwest Harbor, 50% interest in time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, unit 53, week 46.
Nancy L. Averill, f/k/a Nancy L. Willis, Bangor to Ralph Esposito and Roseanne Esposito, Colchester, Vt., as joint tenants, 50% interest in time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, unit 23, week 27.
Debra J. Sleight, Bradenton, Fla. to Donald J. Krautle and Jeryl Krautle, Toms River, N.J., and Stephen J. Krautle, CinRiver, N.J., and Stephen J. Krautle, Cincinnati, Ohio, as joint tenants, interest in time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, unit 41, week 17.
David A. Bourgault and Shirley H. Bourgault, Farmington to Gary L. Currier, Minot, interest in time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, unit 31, week 22.
Diane M. Willey-Ward and Allen B. Willey, Southwest Harbor to Shana Willey, Southwest Harbor, land with improvements.
Janice & Gordon Roberts Real Estate Trust, Southwest Harbor to Barbara Billings McCormack, Virginia Beach, Va., land with buildings and improvements.
Janice & Gordon Roberts Real Estate Trust, Southwest Harbor to Brian Raymond Billings, Westminster, Mass., land with buildings and improvements.
Robert A. Davis and Danielle L. Davis, Southwest Harbor to Danielle Davis Revocable Trust, dated November 2, 2023, Southwest Harbor, land with buildings and improvements.
Robert A. Davis, Southwest Harbor to Danielle Davis Revocable Trust, dated November 2, 2023, Southwest Harbor, land with buildings and improvements.
Robert A. Davis and Danielle L. Davis, Southwest Harbor to Danielle Davis Revocable Trust, dated November 2, 2023, Southwest Harbor, land with buildings and improvements.
Robert A. Davis and Danielle L. Davis, Southwest Harbor to Danielle Davis Revocable Trust, dated November 2, 2023, Southwest Harbor, land with buildings and improvements.
TREMONT
Daniel Herget and Alexandra Simis, Portland, Ore., to Echo Woods Rentals LLC, Mount Desert, land with buildings and improvements.
Lisa Marie Guilianelli, Palmyra to Maurice W.Temple, Palmyra and Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Mount Desert, land.
STATE BRIEFS
Small Ruminant Veterinary Skills Workshop
This class meets the online class requirement for the biosecurity planning assistance program.
Saturday, June 14, 2025
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
UMaine Extension Somerset County Office
7 County Drive, Skowhegan, ME 04976
Cost: $35-$50 (sliding scale)
Join us for a workshop focused on practical veterinary skills for small ruminants, including sheep and goats. This training is designed for farmers who want to improve the health and productivity of their herds through better preventative care and early intervention.
"Don't Let a Tick Make You Sick"
The Maine CDC marks Lyme Disease Awareness Month with Prevention Tips
AUGUSTA—The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) urges Maine residents and visitors to take precautions to prevent tick bites. Governor Janet Mills proclaimed May Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This year's theme is "Don't Let a Tick Make You Sick."
Preventing tick bites is the best way to keep from getting a tickborne disease. Deer ticks in Maine can carry the germs that cause diseases in people and animals. The most common tickborne diseases in Maine include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Other tickborne diseases found in Maine are Hard Tick Relapsing Fever and Powassan virus disease.
Deer ticks live in wooded, leafy, and shrubby areas and are found in all 16 counties in Maine. They are currently active, so anyone spending time outdoors should take steps to limit their exposure to ticks.
Preliminary data from the Maine Tracking Network shows that health care providers reported a record 3,218 cases of Lyme disease, 1,284 cases of anaplasmosis, and 309 cases of babesiosis in 2024,
While enjoying the outdoors, the Maine CDC recommends these tips to prevent tick bites:
T: Take and use an EPA-approved repellent. Use DEET, picaridin, IR3535 (Ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate), or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin. Use permethrin on clothing only.
I: Inspect your whole body for ticks daily and after outdoor activities. Check family members and pets too.
C: Cover your skin by wearing a light-colored long sleeve shirt and pants. Tuck your pants into socks.
K: Know when you are in tick habitat and take precautions in areas where ticks may live.
S: Shower when you get home to remove crawling ticks. Put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 15 minutes before washing to kill ticks on clothes.
The most common symptom of Lyme disease is a "bull's-eye" rash anywhere on the body. Other symptoms of tickborne disease include flu-like symptoms, including joint and muscle pain, fatigue, chills, fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes. Some of these symptoms may look like COVID-19 or the flu. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to a health care provider. Make sure to mention a recent tick bite or time spent in tick habitat.
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab offers tick identification at no charge for Maine residents. The Tick Lab also offers testing of ticks for infection to Maine residents for a fee of $20. Testing typically takes three days and should be used for surveillance purposes only and not for self-diagnosis, as finding a tick on you, even if it bit you, does not necessarily mean that any germs were transmitted. Contact a health care provider if you have concerns about tickborne illnesses. Find more information at ticks.umaine.edu. To learn more about how to be tick free, visit www.maine.gov/lyme.
Maine Marine Patrol Encourages Boating Safety Ahead of Memorial Day
AUGUSTA—As Memorial Day and the unofficial start of the summer recreational boating season draws near, the Maine Marine Patrol wants to remind recreational boaters of a law that took effect last year which is designed to encourage safety on our state’s coastal and inland waters.
The law requires that anyone born on or after January 1, 1999 must be at least 12-years old and must take a boater safety course to operate a recreational boat with a motor that is 25 horse-power or greater on coastal or inland waters. This year, the requirement applies to people who are between 12 and 26 years of age.
These boaters must possess and present a boating education certificate to a Marine Patrol Officer or Maine Game Warden for inspection upon request.
There are exemptions, such as for registered Maine guides (hunting, fishing, and recreational guides only), daily boat renters who complete a temporary boater safety course provided by the rental agent, and boaters who possess a merchant marine document issued by the US Coast Guard for operation of Uninspected Passenger Vessels, or who hold a Master or Mate License. Commercial fishermen are not required to take a course unless they are operating a motorboat for recreational purposes.
Boaters under the age of 12 may operate a motorboat on Maine waters as long as the engine is less than 10 horsepower. Anyone under the age of 12 must have supervision to operate a motorboat if the motor is between 10 horsepower and 25 horsepower.
Anyone born after January 1, 1999 is required to complete a boater safety and education course and be at least 16 years of age to operate a personal watercraft (such as a jet ski), or to supervise a person under 12 years of age who is operating a motorboat.
Visit the Boating Safety and Education Course page on the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website for more information on the law, education courses, and frequently asked questions.
The Maine Marine Patrol also offers the following reminders for a safe, enjoyable experience on Maine's coastal waters:
Wear a Life Jacket
In Maine, all children 10 and under must wear a life jacket. Adults don't have to wear them, but they must be available on board for every occupant.
The latest U.S. Coast Guard statistics show 75 percent of boating fatalities were due to drowning, and that 87 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
New life jackets are much more comfortable, lightweight, and stylish than the bulky orange style most boaters know. There are innovative options, such as inflatable life jackets, allowing mobility and flexibility for activities like boating, fishing, paddling, or hunting, and are much cooler in the warmer weather.
Check Your Boat and Gear
Safe boaters should also have working navigation lights, visual distress signals, sound signaling devices, VHF radio, cell phone, proper ventilation, and properly displayed registration numbers.
A thorough check of fire extinguishers and flares should be completed to ensure they are not expired and will function properly.
Plan Before You Go
Always check the local marine forecast before heading out on Maine's coastal waters.
Boaters should file a float plan with a friend or relative, letting them know where you are going and when you plan to return.
Paddle Safe
Kayakers, canoeists, and paddle boarders should always wear a life jacket.
Bring a hand-held VHF radio and a cell phone in a waterproof case.
Carry signaling devices (whistle, mirror, flares) in a pocket of your life jacket.
A personal locator beacon will relay your precise location to rescue agencies if you're in distress.
Kayakers should always carry a paddle float and bilge pump.
With ocean temperatures in many places less than 50 degrees, paddlers should dress for the water temperature and consider wearing a dry suit or a wet suit. Warm temperatures can be misleading; the ocean is often 30-40 degrees colder than the air temperature.
Place a sticker on smaller craft like kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards, with contact information including a name and phone number.
“IF-FOUND” stickers are available at both Marine Patrol and Warden Service offices and headquarters.
If Marine Patrol, Warden Service, or the Coast Guard locates a vessel with nobody onboard, they can call the number on the sticker and confirm whether the owner is missing, potentially avoiding a costly and unnecessary search and rescue operation.
Don't Boat Under the Influence
Another important safety issue is drinking and boating.
According to Coast Guard statistics, alcohol is a leading contributor in deadly boating accidents.
Environmental stressors such as sun, wind, noise, and the movement of the boat while on the water intensify the effects of alcohol or drug use.
Boaters can become impaired more quickly on the water than on land.
Operating a boat with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher is against the law in Maine. BUI laws pertain to all vessels, from rowboats and kayaks to the largest ships.
Marine Patrol will prosecute people who are under the influence while operating a boat.
Follow us on Facebook. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.