Jess Cummings

2 months ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Jess Cummings

SOUTHWEST HARBOR — Southwest Harbor resident Anne Trotter works in computer security by trade but has spent her weekends over the last four years meticulously planning and crafting a wall-sized stone mosaic in her kitchen. The process began approximately four years ago, said Trotter, who has been steadily gathering materials, planning and researching the best ways to affordably assemble such a large and involved art piece.

2 months ago | mdislander.com | Jess Cummings

TREMONT — At the annual town meeting on Tuesday, May 13, residents will weigh in on school and municipal budgets, including ordinances, ordinance amendments, the donation of Pacific Hall and alewife leasing. In all, 50 articles are on the town warrant, including town official elections that will be decided by secret ballot during the Monday election one day prior. The School Committee recommends a total budget of $5,359,808, an increase of approximately $555,000 from the previous year.

2 months ago | mdislander.com | Jess Cummings

SOUTHWEST HARBOR — Administrative employees at the town office are considering a four-day work week and discussed logistics at the last Select Board meeting. The proposed schedule would see the town office open from Monday through Thursday, said Town Manager Karen Reddersen. The goal is to allow the town’s administrative employees longer workdays while shortening the overall schedule. “It would increase the hours open for the public,” said Reddersen.

2 months ago | mdislander.com | Jess Cummings

BAR HARBOR — The MDI YWCA’s gym was reduced to standing room only on the drizzly afternoon of March 30, three days after an announcement by Mount Desert Island Hospital that its obstetrics department will be closing its doors on July 1. MDI Hospital announced it will close its birthing unit amid declining birth rates. The hospital said it has become increasingly difficult to maintain obstetric care with such low volumes of births, as well as declining federal and state reimbursements.

2 months ago | mdislander.com | Jess Cummings

SOUTHWEST HARBOR — Southwest Harbor is still working on a recovery from the January 2024 winter storms, Town Manager Karen Redderson said at Tuesday night’s select board meeting. The Federal Emergency Management Agency funded an emergency repair of the Manset Pier just after the storms. “We’ve met very regularly on all these processes,” said Reddersen, emphasizing that the town is now working with its third FEMA representative since the beginning of the process.