Rebecca Alley

Ellsworth

Reporter at The Ellsworth American

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Articles

Town manager search begins in Mount Desert

3 weeks ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

MOUNT DESERT — The search is officially on for a new town manager after the Selectboard voted at its June 2 meeting to enter into a contract with Maine Municipal Association to assist with the search. The town will need a new manager to replace Durlin Lunt, who has held the position in a full-time capacity for 15 years. Lunt announced his retirement in February and will step down from his post in August.
Selectboard discusses cuts to fishermen's association

1 month ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

MOUNT DESERT — The Selectboard finalized a $5,000 cut to the town’s public/social service agencies funding, and specified that all of the $5,000 will come from the funding request made by the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA), at the board’s Monday meeting.
IFW Committee kills proposed MDI deer hunting bill

1 month ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

AUGUSTA — A proposed bill that would allow deer hunting on Mount Desert Island will not make its way to voters, as the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) unanimously voted on May 7 that the bill ought not to pass, meaning the bill will not work its way out of committee hearings and through the legislative process.
MDES roof work to begin this summer

1 month ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

MOUNT DESERT — Work is slated to begin on the Mount Desert Elementary School’s roof this summer, following the passage by voters of a $6 million bond at the town’s annual meeting on May 6 for building repairs and upgrades to the school. Repairs include addressing the roof, where several areas are allowing leaks into the building, Principal Heather Dorr said. The MDES School Committee selected a bid for the roof work from Triumph Roofing Repair for $489,750 at its May 7 meeting.
MDI school system to address post-COVID behaviors

1 month ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

BAR HARBOR — After seeing an uptick, and shift, in behavioral challenges since the COVID pandemic, the Mount Desert Regional School System has decided to partner with School Psychologist Amanda Wilson to try to better support students. That is what MDIRSS Director of Teaching and Learning Julie Keblinksy told the district’s school board at its May meeting. “This really comes from a lot of our post-COVID noticings that behaviors were just a little more difficult to work with," she said.
Students work to restore local salt marshes

1 month ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

TREMONT — Just steps outside of the Tremont Consolidated School lies a salt marsh — a coastal ecosystem that naturally helps protect against flooding, provides water filtration and sequesters carbon. It’s at risk, however, like many salt marshes, due to rising sea levels that threaten and degrade the ecosystems.
MDIRSS Superintendent discusses legislative impacts

1 month ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

BAR HARBOR — Mount Desert Island Regional School System Superintendent Mike Zboray discussed the impacts from potential statewide legislation at the district’s May 12 meeting, including what could happen if the people’s veto currently circulating for the state’s recently passed budget is approved. The people’s veto is a Republican-led effort to overturn the $11.3 billion state budget that was passed with a simple Democratic majority in the legislature on March 20.
Voters debate ice rink, social services funding at town meeting

1 month ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

MOUNT DESERT — Voters approved all 75 warrant articles at The Neighborhood House during the open portion of the town’s annual meeting on May 6, which was moderated by Jerry Miller. A handful of warrant articles garnered some in-depth conversation by voters, including a warrant article to approve a $600,000 bond to renovate two town-owned tennis and pickleball courts.
Heel Way subdivision appeal goes before state Supreme Court

1 month ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

NORTHEAST HARBOR — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments in the appeal of the Heel Way subdivision, a six-unit workforce housing subdivision application submitted by Mount Desert 365 to be located in Northeast Harbor. The project was approved by the Mount Desert Planning Board in 2023 and has been met with legal action from several residents. Grady Burns, Esq.
Students rid school of plastic in Mount Desert

1 month ago | mdislander.com | Rebecca Alley

MOUNT DESERT — After setting out to reduce the use of single-use plastic at the end of last year at Mount Desert Elementary School, fourth and fifth graders have accomplished that goal. Led by teachers Shannon Westphal and Heather Graves, students worked with Principal Heather Dorr and Head Cook Tasha Higgins to implement changes throughout the entire school.