Maine Heating Oil Hits Record
$6.04 Maine’s average heating oil price hit a new record of $6.04 per gallon last Monday, up 7 cents on the week and 83% from last year.
That puts a standard 275-gallon fill-up about $750 higher than a year ago.
The federal DOE said Wednesday it will release 315,000 barrels from the Northeast reserve to try to ease prices according to WABI news.
Ellsworth Council Sends Charter Amendment to Voters
Ellsworth councilors voted 6-1 Oct. 19 to put a charter amendment on recall and referendum petition rules before voters at the next municipal election after Nov. 3.
The change would clarify when supplementary petitions are allowed after this year’s recall effort exposed a gray area.
The Ellsworth American reports the council also voted 6-1 to replace the 9-page ethics code with an 18-page version adding employee protections and 12 sanction options.
UMaine Outlines Non-Academic Cuts for $19M Shortfall
UMaine and UMaine Machias detailed non-academic cuts to help close a projected $19 million FY28 shortfall, after $10 million in academic cuts were previously announced.
Leaders say the new steps should cover about $6 million of the $9 million non-academic gap through contract changes, overtime cuts, vacancy eliminations, consolidations, fees, sponsorships and asset sales.
WABI news reports closing the final $3 million gap will be the focus in coming weeks amid enrollment and funding uncertainty.
Historic Ellsworth Jail Gets New Roof
The Ellsworth Historical Society is replacing the leaking slate roof on the 1886 former county jail as part of a yearslong, grant-funded rehab.
The $500,000 in congressionally directed spending will fund historically matched slate and gutters, with Hahnel Brothers Co. expected to finish within two months.
Next phases include porch, window and interior lead-paint work toward opening the intact jail as a regular-hours museum according to the Bangor Daily News.
Ellsworth Adds Police Lot, Roads to Paving Contract
The Ellsworth council voted 5-2 Oct. 19 to add $523,650 in paving, including $119,373 for the leased police station lot, using unspent FY27 bond funds after original bids came in low.
The add-on also covers four roads and two sidewalk segments, while Beechland and Christian Ridge shift to a 2027 state cost-share bid.
Councilors also voted 6-1 to reallocate $1.15 million in 2023 bond funds to Grant and Chapel Street water main work according to the Ellsworth American.
Down East YMCA Trunk or Treat Oct. 31
The Down East Family YMCA with Star 97.7 will host Trunk or Treat in Ellsworth Oct. 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Ellsworth YMCA Wiggins Center at 238 State Street.
Businesses can join by contacting Jean Wood at 207-667-3086.
Costumes and decorated trunks are encouraged for the family event.
Harvest at the Homestead in Rockport Oct. 24
The Camden-Rockport Historical Society will host Harvest at the Homestead Saturday, Oct. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. at 7 Commercial St. in Rockport.
The free gathering features a fire pit, soup, cider, live music and tours of the homestead, barn, sugar house, blacksmith shop and archives.
The Pen Bay Pilot reports a brief annual membership meeting precedes it from 1:30 to 2 p.m.
