THE BRIEFS: COME MAYBE SKATE WITH THE Y AT THE TOWN HILL PLAYGROUND SUNDAY!
Albert is still missing, Acadia Park receives funds and more.
In our efforts to not overwhelm your email inbox more than necessary, we sometimes combine shorter news stories and press releases. This is one of those times. This story has been updated with revised food choices for the Town Hill playground event.
COME SKATE WITH THE Y AT THE TOWN HILL PLAYGROUND!
Town Hill Village Improvement Society hosts Sunday Skate
Ice skating, snacks, crafts, games and more at the Town Hill Playground Feb. 4
TOWN HILL—As the calendar turns to February and the dead of winter begins to set in, the Town Hill Village Improvement Society, in partnership with the MDI YMCA, invites you to celebrate the season with a Sunday Skate event on Sunday, February 4, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. as long as the ice stays good.
Even if there is no skating, the day promises to be fun for the whole family. While skating on the ice rink constructed by the VIS, with help from volunteers and the Bar Harbor Fire Department, on the ballfield is the main attraction, there will be a number of other games and activities inside and outside such as cornhole. There will also be delicious treats like hot chocolate and VIS is planning to prepare chili, fish chowder, corn chowder (vegetarian), corn bread, biscuits and brownies to help keep everyone warm.
Both the VIS and the Y would like to give a special shoutout and thanks to ArtWaves and Liz Cutler, who will be leading an activity in the Community Hall from 10am to 11am. Special thanks must also go to College of the Atlantic, who will be providing a number of adult-sized skates in case anyone needs to borrow a pair.
If a better way to spend a Sunday than this exists, science has yet to uncover it. So, make sure to come down with your friends and family and take advantage of this wonderful community event.
ALBERT IS STILL MISSING
Local dog, Albert, went missing last weekend and local volunteers have been searching for him since. Albert is a 25-pound terrier mix, last seen in the Oak Hill Road /Somesville area on Sunday, Jan 28, 2024. He’s quite friendly and energetic.
As of Feb 2 there have no sightings of Albert since Wednesday, Jan 31.
Albert was believed to be last seen off Oak Hill Rd area near Tamarack Lane. Albert’s people believe he is still in the Northwest quadrant of the island.
They ask that you please continue to walk your trails and roads and let them know if you see Albert. Please don’t chase or shout if you see him.
This weekend, Fairfield, a professional tracking dog has arrived from Brunswick with his handler, Loretta. They will be tracking Albert throughout the weekend.
Fairfield does not charge for his servicesm but he does take donations to pay for his handler’s gas and kibble. If you’re inclined to support this cause with a few dollars, please follow this link. Fairfield was recently featured in Downeast Dog News.
If you see Albert, please message 704 430 9937. Thank you!
FIRE DEPARTMENT LEASE AT THE TOWN HILL VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY
The lease between the town and the society expired in September. Moore said that the VIS needs to have additional income stream and is looking to potential convert some of the space to housing.
“The VIS Board supports the idea of turning the second floor into housing, but we need to find a way to
pay for that work,” Moore said. He alerted the Council and Warrant Committee on Tuesday to the potential that the conversation might be in the pipeline.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS DOWNEAST: MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK
BAR HARBOR WARRANT COMMITTEE POSSIBILITIES
The Warrant Committee’s Nominating Subcommittee will meet Monday and appoint a new member to take the place of Caleb Cough who recently resigned. According to Town Clerk Liz Graves, those who have expressed an interest are Erin Cough Charles Sidman Bailey Stillman Nate Young and Drew Zimmerman. All have been registered voters for over a year in Bar Harbor.
Cough’s term was scheduled to end June 2024. He served on the Governance Subcomittee. Warrant Committee members Meagan Kelly, Chair Seth Libby, Kathleen St. Germain, and Ezra Sassaman all have terms ending in 2024.
COLD-WATER DIPS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
Maine dipping groups will get cold to bring light to domestic abuse survivors in a Sunday, Feb. 11 fundraising event for Finding Our Voices. The dips will take place in waterways all across Maine and throughout the day, with participating groups choosing their own place as well as time. Details can be found on the Finding Our Voices website at https://findingourvoices.net/cold-water-dip.
Patrisha McLean, CEO and founder of the grassroots and survivor-powered nonprofit said she likes how cold-water dipping is like escaping domestic violence in that “it takes courage, is best not done alone, and feels really good to be out.”
Already signed up to wear yellow and dip for Finding Our Voices on the Sunday before Valentine’s Day are groups including Saltwater Mountain Company in York, Two Maine Mermaids and Cold Water Queers joining forces in South Portland, Wicked Nippy Dippahs in Rockport, Salty Sisters in Vinalhaven, Cold Tits Warm Hearts on Mount Desert Island, and Snow Moon Selkies in Brooklin. WanderWomen Tours is hosting a lake dip in Union for their Maine alumni that includes time in a Finnish sauna.
Dipping groups are welcome to join the event by contacting Finding Our Voices at hello@findingourvoices or through its website https://findingourvoices.net
McLean, said, “The main thing is not to do it alone because that is not safe, and also a big part of the experience, as Alison Thibault of Vinalhaven’s Salty Sisters says, is “hanging out with some amazing women.” She added, “You can stay dry and still join in by taking photos, holding open a towel, or bringing hot drinks and snacks. I love how Cold Water Queers calls these folks the ‘Land Sharks.’”
Participating dipping groups are encouraged to design their own fundraising campaigns for Finding Our Voices, with proceeds going to the Get Out Stay Out fund. According to McLean, in 2023 this fund disbursed $88,000 to 168 Maine women domestic abuse survivors for shelter, car, legal, home security, and food costs to get safe and keep their children safe as well.
Participants of the Feb. 11 event are encouraged to wear yellow at the dip and post a photo or video to social media using the hashtag #ColdWaterDipFOV. According to McLean yellow is the color of Finding Our Voices because “we are survivors who have managed to cross over to the bright side of freedom and we are shining a light for our sisters who are still trapped.”
Amy Hopkins, owner of Saltwater Mountain Co. and a self-described “ambassador for self-care, re-inventor of self, and avid chill-seeker” chose 10 a.m. at York Harbor Beach for her group’s Feb. 11 dip. “Our purpose,” she said, “is steeped in showing up, dipping down, and rising up with and for all women. We believe finding our voices both literally and figuratively is one of the cold water’s most precious and sacred gifts.”
Finn/Alana is the founder of Cold Water Queers and Sierra is the social media and communications manager. Their group is joining Two Maine Mermaids for their Finding Our Voices dip, 11 a.m. at Willard Beach in South Portland. “Our partnership with Finding Our Voices,” they said, “provides a space for us to come together to heal in nature, to amplify our mission of fostering queer joy and community, and to expand Finding Our Voices’ mission to bring awareness to abuse in any relationship regardless of orientation, identity, or relationship style.”
McLean said, “I have been bowled over by the enthusiasm of leaders of dipping groups around the state for our event, and also their creativity in how they are bringing in the yellow. Amy Hopkins just shared a yellow rose headband that members of her group are planning to wear. We are also getting supportive messages from survivors of domestic abuse. ‘February,’ one woman just wrote to me, ‘will mark the one-year anniversary of surviving domestic assault. This dip is sort of a big deal for me. Thank you for organizing it.’”
Finding Our Voices is the survivor-led nonprofit breaking the silence of domestic abuse across Maine. In addition to its groundbreaking educational campaigns of posters, bookmarks, and touring Survivor-Speaks panel discussions, they provides financial assistance, online support groups, free healing experiences, and through its Finding Our Smiles program, free, dignified, and gold-standard dental care. Gathering and amplifying survivor voices, they also build community and advocate for more rights, services, money for domestic abuse women and child victims. For more information visit https://findingourvoices.net
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK RECEIVES $1 MILLION
The U.S. Department of Energy granted Acadia National Park $1 million so it can install solar panels on top of its currently under construction maintenance building as well as install 12 electric vehicle charging stations, which will be at the park’s headquarters. Friends of Acadia (FOA) received a $500,000 National Park Foundation grant for the project. The goal is to reduce costs and carbon footprint of the new building.
Hattie A. & Fred C. Lynam Trust Awards $136,000 to Mount Desert Island Organizations
Bar Harbor Wealth Management, a subsidiary of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, has announced that, through the Hattie A. & Fred C. Lynam Trust, $136,000 has been awarded to 44 organizations serving the people of Mount Desert Island (MDI). The Lynam Trust, managed by Bar Harbor Wealth Management, was established in 1942 and awards grants annually to charitable, religious, and educational organizations located on MDI. Grant awards per organization range between $500 and $5,000.
Organizations receiving grants in 2023 included:
· A Climate to Thrive
· Acadia Family Center
· Acadia Senior College
· Acadia Wildlife Center
· Acadian Youth Sports
· Bar Harbor Congregational Church
· Bar Harbor Food Pantry
· Bar Harbor Historical Society, Inc.
· Barn Arts Collective
· Birch Bay Retirement Village
· Camp Beech Cliff
· Conners Emerson PTSA
· Help-Portrait MDI
· History Trust
· Hulls Cove Neighborhood Association
· Island Connections
· Island Housing Trust
· Jesup Memorial Library
· Kids’ Corner
· Ledgelawn Cemetery
· Local Solutions
· Maine Granite Industry Historical Society
· MDI Backpack Program
· MDI Community Campfire Coalition
· MDI Hospital
· MDI YMCA
· MDI YWCA
· Mount Desert Nursery School & Child Care Center
· Mount Desert Nursing Association
· Mount Desert Summer Chorale
· Neighborhood House
· Northeast Harbor Library
· Oceanarium and Education Center
· Open Table MDI
· Seal Cove Auto Museum
· Somesville Library Association
· Southwest Harbor Historical Society
· Southwest Harbor Public Library
· Southwest Harbor/Tremont Nursing Service, Inc.
· St. Saviours’ Parish
· Summer Festival of the Arts
· Wendell Gilley Museum
· Whistle Pig Animal Welfare Service
· Willowind Therapeutic Riding Center
The annual grant application deadline for awards will be September 15, 2024. Applications are reviewed by the Lynam Trust Grants Committee each November, and grants are awarded and distributed by December 31 of the same calendar year. Applicants must have their primary administrative office located on Mount Desert Island and serve the residents of MDI. Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply every year, whether or not a grant was awarded to them in a prior year. For additional information please visit www.lynamtrust.com.
In addition to the grant program, the Lynam Trust has awarded scholarships to graduating seniors of Mount Desert Island High School since 1942. These renewable awards are restricted to graduates of MDI High School who are residents of Mount Desert Island. Recipients must reapply each year. In 2023, $1,495 scholarships were awarded to 90 MDI High School graduates.