Maine Heating Oil Hits Record<\/b><\/p>\n
$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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That puts a standard 275-gallon fill-up about $750 higher than a year ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The federal DOE said Wednesday it will release 315,000 barrels from the Northeast reserve to try to ease prices according to WABI news.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0WABI-TV<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Ellsworth Council Sends Charter Amendment to Voters<\/b><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The change would clarify when supplementary petitions are allowed after this year’s recall effort exposed a gray area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0The Ellsworth American<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n UMaine Outlines Non-Academic Cuts for $19M Shortfall\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WABI news reports closing the final $3 million gap will be the focus in coming weeks amid enrollment and funding uncertainty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WABI-TV<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Historic Ellsworth Jail Gets New Roof\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n The Ellsworth Historical Society is replacing the leaking slate roof on the 1886 former county jail as part of a yearslong, grant-funded rehab.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The $500,000 in congressionally directed spending will fund historically matched slate and gutters, with Hahnel Brothers Co. expected to finish within two months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n Bangor Daily News<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Ellsworth Adds Police Lot, Roads to Paving Contract\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The add-on also covers four roads and two sidewalk segments, while Beechland and Christian Ridge shift to a 2027 state cost-share bid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n The Ellsworth American<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Down East YMCA Trunk or Treat Oct. 31\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Businesses can join by contacting Jean Wood at 207-667-3086.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Costumes and decorated trunks are encouraged for the family event.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n