Amazon says it had nothing to do with hundreds of Maine ballots allegedly showing up in an Amazon box at a Newburgh home according to the Bangor Daily News.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said a Newburgh woman claims she received 250 blank Maine absentee ballots in an Amazon box on Sept. 30. The package appeared to have been opened and resealed.
The state says the ballots were found the same day the city of Ellsworth reported it was missing a shipment of 250 absentee ballots. Amazon said that based on its findings, it appears the package was tampered with outside its fulfillment and delivery network, not by an amazon employee or partner.
Fire destroys boat in Stonington
Fire destroyed a fishing boat in Stonington earlier this week.
According to ABC7, members of the Stonington Fire Department were called to Fifield Point Road on Wednesday afternoon for a boat that was fully engulfed in flames and not accessible by land. The Department says crews acted quickly to attack the fire from the water and despite the wind, the current and dropping tide, firefighters were able to get their lines in place and knock down the flames which prevented the vessel from breaking loose and floating away.
MDI’s Finance Director Resigns
MDI is in need of a new town treasurer and finance director.
According to the MDI Islander, Mae Wyler submitted her resignation to the selectboard at its meeting this week.
Many of the Selectboard members shared that they are sad to see her go.
Selectboard Chair John Macauley told the Islander that quote, “My understanding is that she is changing careers entirely, and is thrilled to be moving on to something different.”
Ellsworth Farmer’s Market Has a New Home
The Ellsworth Farmers Market has a new home at the Union River Center for Innovation.
The Farmers Market lost its location on Main Street for the 2025 season and moved to Pine Street, then with the Chamber of Commerce’s Autumn Gold Celebration re-located to the Union River Center for Innovation in late September.
The Market will finish out its 2025 season operating through the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Regular hours are from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
The Union River Center for Innovation is located at 415 Water Street in Ellsworth adjacent to the city’s Harbor Park and Marina,
Howl-o-Run planned for end of October
The seventh annual Jim Nobil Howl-O-Run 5K to benefit the SPCA of Hancock County will take place at Marlboro Beach on the last Sunday in October. The race is named after the former SPCA Board President Jim Nobil.
Participants will run or walk a route decorated with jack-o-lanterns and with views of Frenchman Bay and Acadia National Park. Well-behaved, leashed and fully vaccinated dogs are welcome.
Costumes for people, kids and canines are encouraged. There will be prizes for top adult, child and canine runners as well as for best costumes for both humans and dogs.
All proceeds will support the animals in the SPCA’s care.
For more information, visit spcahancockcounty.org/howl-o-run-2025.
Jonathan Bush enters Maine gubernatorial race:
Businessman and Maine job creator Jonathan Bush is entering the Maine Gubernatorial race. Bush kicked off his campaign at Athenahealth in Belfast, announcing he will seek the republican party nomination for Governor of Maine.
Bush started Athenahealth in his basement in 1997 and grew the company to be a multi-billion dollar venture. In 2007 Bush relocated Athenahealth’s operations to the center to Belfast, starting with six employees and growing it to over 1,000 jobs.
New Hancock Judicial Center planned
A new Hancock Judicial Center is closer to becoming a reality.
Preliminary plans were presented to the planning board Wednesday night. According to the Ellsworth American, the new three story judicial center building will include associated access drives, sidewalks, parking areas, pedestrian walkways and landscaped areas that, according to the site plan application, is expected to cost $47 million dollars.
The project will be paid for with state bond funds, which were approved in August.
After a discussion with a Representative of the Maine Judicial Branch Project, the board was in favor of approving the plan review.
The city is also planning on constructing a 66-foot-wide road from Merrill Lane as an access point, with water, sewer and electricity infrastructure.
Election for Bar Harbor’s chamber of commerce
Elections are currently underway for the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.
The board is looking to fill four positions. The four candidates who receive the most votes will serve a three-year term on the board starting on October 24, 2025. There are six candidates vying for four open positions. Each Bar Harbor member business in good standing is entitled to one vote.
The last day to cast a ballot is Monday, October 13 at noon.
Community Light Installation planned for downtown Ellsworth
Merrill park in Ellsworth will be all aglow this holiday season.
The Heart of Ellsworth is excited to announce that Versant Power will sponsor a decorative community lighting installation in Merrill Park.
The project invites community members to a free workshop where they will design and build lighted spheres.
These illuminated sculptures will brighten Merrill Park throughout the winter months, and this year the installation expands onto main street, bringing festive lights to the downtown corridor for the holiday season and new year.
Spots are limited, so those who are interested are encouraged to visit heartofellsworth.org
https://www.heartofellsworth.org/events/2025/10/18/holiday-sphere-workshop. Spots are limited to 21 participants.
