Seawall Road Month-Long Closure in Southwest Harbor
A major thoroughfare in Southwest Harbor will be shut down for nearly a month starting next Monday.
The Maine Department of Transportation announced that Seawall Road will close for 28 days as construction crews install a reinforced concrete culvert.
WABI news reports this will complete infrastructure upgrades to protect against future coastal storm surges.
Detour signs will be posted throughout the area to guide local traffic around the work zone.
Bucksport Data Center Moratorium Advances
The Bucksport Town Council voted to advance a proposed 180-day moratorium on commercial data centers following a public discussion at its September 24th meeting.
Backers argue the temporary freeze is essential to study energy, water, and environmental impacts before any formal proposal is filed, especially after an interested developer recently toured the former paper mill site.
The Ellsworth American reports Councilor Ed Rankin cast the sole opposing vote, contending that the town should encourage smaller data centers to rebuild the industrial tax base.
The proposed ordinance moves to a second reading and formal public hearing on October 8th.
The Ellsworth American
Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act Signed Into Law
Bipartisan federal legislation aimed at curbing tick-borne illnesses has officially been signed into law.
Co-authored by Maine Senator Susan Collins and Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act extends federal research center funding through 2030.
WABI news reports the law will also provide CDC grants to help states improve Lyme disease tracking, testing, and treatment.
The measure comes as Maine continues to battle record infection rates, with more than 4,200 cases reported across the state last year.
WABI-TV
Annual Maine Firefighter Memorial Service
Firefighters and community members from across the state will gather in Augusta this Saturday, October 3, for the Annual Firefighter Memorial Service.
The ceremony begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Maine State Firefighters Memorial to honor all active and retired personnel lost over the past year.
Special tributes will be paid to two fallen firefighters who died in the line of duty: 27-year-old Andrew Cross of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department and 76-year-old Assistant Chief Wayne Woodbury of the Searsmont Fire Department.
The Maine State Federation of Firefighters encourages departments statewide to attend in uniform to honor their colleagues’ service and sacrifice.
New Hilton Hotel Opening in Ellsworth
Ellsworth’s lodging market is expanding this fall with the opening of a brand-new, four-story Hilton hotel along Downeast Highway.
Home2Suites by Hilton, developed by Bar Harbor-based Witham Family Hotels, features 83 guest rooms and is currently accepting reservations beginning October 21st.
The Bangor Daily News reports the project adds needed visitor capacity as neighboring Bar Harbor maintains a freeze on new hotel developments.
This amid ongoing housing pressures and record Acadia National Park crowds.
Bangor Daily News
“Big Jim” Fisherman Cutout Preparing for Return
Prospect Harbor’s iconic 40-foot metal fisherman cutout, “Big Jim,” is nearing the end of his restoration journey and getting ready to head home.
Supporters are throwing a send-off party this Saturday, October 3rd, during “Sardinefest” at the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport before he travels back to the former Stinson Cannery site.
The Ellsworth American reports volunteer welders from Bold Coast Seafood will assist with reassembly and on-site painting.
Plus there will be a major community welcome-back parade and celebration slated for the upcoming holiday season.
The Ellsworth American
Final Downtown Ellsworth Summer Concert: Barn Dance
The City of Ellsworth is closing out its Downtown Summer Concert Series with one final outdoor performance this Thursday, October 1st.
Community members are invited to put on their flannel and dancing shoes for a traditional community barn dance featuring Alice Slater & Friends.
The free, family-friendly event begins at 6 p.m. at the Franklin Street Parklet in the heart of downtown.
City of Ellsworth
