Ellsworth City Council Race Heads to Recount
Ellsworth’s City Council election is headed to a recount after just seven votes separated the second- and third-place candidates. Official results show Robert Grant Sr. with 1,808 votes and Tiffany Dilda-Gaspar with 1,801; Casey Hanson received the most votes for the two available seats. The Ellsworth American reports Dilda-Gaspar requested the public hand count, but the date has not yet been announced.
CD2 Ranked-Choice Process Moves Forward
Maine election officials will begin verifying results in the 2nd Congressional District race Monday, even though Democrat Matt Dunlap has conceded to Republican Paul LePage. If LePage remains below a majority after verification, officials will conduct a ranked-choice tabulation as required by state law. WABI reports Secretary of State Shenna Bellows expects the process to take about a week and plans to limit costs by conducting it during regular business hours.
Paddleboarder Murder Case Moves to Adult Court
A Frankfort man accused of killing paddleboarder Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart in Union last year will be tried as an adult. Deven Young, now 19, was 17 when police say he killed Stewart, whose body was found in Crawford Pond in July 2025. WABI reports Young’s attorneys waived a bindover hearing, and he will be held without bail at the Knox County Jail ahead of a January court appearance.
WABI-TV
Lobstermen Welcome New Federal Whale Analysis
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association is welcoming a federal announcement that new scientific analyses indicate U.S. fisheries may be meeting the standard for protecting endangered North Atlantic right whales. The announcement follows the association’s successful court challenge to an earlier federal assessment of the lobster fishery’s impact on whales. The Bangor Daily News reports current regulations remain in effect while federal officials develop a new rule, with further rulemaking delayed by Congress until 2028.
Maine’s First Hybrid Ferry Begins Service
Maine’s first hybrid electric-and-diesel ferry is scheduled to begin passenger service Monday, November 9, between Rockland and Vinalhaven. The vessel, named for longtime ferry captain Almer Dinsmore, can carry up to 250 passengers and 23 vehicles. The PenBay Pilot reports the $21.9 million ferry was commissioned Thursday and will operate primarily in hybrid mode.
Identity Theft Workshop at Ellsworth Library
Ellsworth Public Library will host a “Money, Key & Me” workshop on preventing identity theft Thursday, November 12. Participants will learn how thieves obtain personal information and what warning signs to watch for. An Ellsworth American event listing reports the workshop starts at 5:30 p.m. and is presented with KeyBank.
The Ellsworth American event listing; Maine Public
Downtown Cider Crawl Returns to Ellsworth
Ellsworth’s Downtown Cider Crawl runs November 9 through 14 as part of the Downeast Cider + Cheese Festival. Participating restaurants, pubs and cafes will offer apple- and cheese-inspired specials, and customers can collect stickers for a Cider Passport. The Ellsworth American reports passports with more than five stops can be returned by 2 p.m. November 14 for entry into a festival raffle.
