Thursday, April 15, 2021

Welcome to new Chamber member Hearth and Harbor


Please join us in welcoming our new Chamber member, Hearth and Harbor!

Owner Kat Dougan and her team have opened an exciting wood-fire restaurant in downtown Southwest Harbor, and this is one you won't want to miss. Check out their menu at https://www.hearthandharbor.net/ and be sure to stop in and give them a try! They'll soon be opening an outdoor seating area and are they are looking forward to a good season.

Locals who have dined at Hearth and Harbor say, "Great food and great staff!" 

Welcome to new Chamber member, The Davis Agency


 Please join us in welcoming The Davis Agency as our newest Chamber member!

Danielle Davis says, "We have a fine selection of residential and commercial properties available for purchase and over 400 choice Vacation Rental  properties, from country or village settings to exquisite oceanfront and lake front to remote pristine islands. Browse through some of our select listings, either to purchase or rent, by just clicking on the choices offered. If what you are looking for is not there, just fill out the Buyer or Vacation Rental Inquiry Form, e-mail, call ( 207  244  3891) or FAX (207  244  9454) us with your specific requirements. We'll do our best to find it for you!  You can be absolutely confident, no matter what your requirements are, our friendly and professional staff will make your visit or move an enjoyable one."

Next time you are downtown, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Monday, April 5, 2021

Welcome to new Chamber Member, Acadia Vendors Market!


 Please join us in welcoming our newest Chamber Member, Acadia Vendors Market!


Holly says, "Acadia Vendors Market, Mount Desert Island's only collective goods market, is located at 55 Main Street in Southwest Harbor, Maine. The Acadia Vendors Market team strives to provide an authentic local goods market offering everything from live lobster and fresh seafood of all kinds, to take-out, kayak rentals, antiques, collectibles, artist goods & so much more!

"Acadia Vendors Market opens in mid-May, 2021 - mid-October, 2021. This is our Grand Opening season and we're proud to offer Mount Desert Island a collection of a wide variety of local vendors! The only way to know what we're about is to come on over and check us out!"

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Welcome to new Chamber Member, Acadia Mindfulness Adventures!

Please join us in welcoming new Chamber Member, Acadia Mindfulness Adventures!

Jen Harry says, "I am passionate about providing busy people with tools & practices to transform stress, enhance well-being, and promote flourishing in mind, body, & spirit. This has led me on a continuous quest over the past 20 years to collect what I like to call "Tools for Well-Being"."

Along with earning her B.A. in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University and working in the mental health field for over 15 years, she has also received certification in the Methods of Japanese Psychology in 2009 and trained at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington D.C. to facilitate Mind-Body Skills Groups in 2011. Jen received certification in both Applied Positive Psychology & as a Resiliency Trainer in 2017.

Jen offers individual sessions, groups, and workshops to the local community, businesses, & non-profits that bring together relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, and the latest research from the field of wellness to help people slow down & de-stress so they can live more fully, consciously, & intentionally in today's busy world.

Jen's most recent offering, Acadia Mindfulness Adventures, weaves together her love of nature and her passion for practicing mindfulness in real life. These outdoor adventures are a great opportunity to cultivate mindfulness whether you are just learning or want to deepen your practice through guided excursions on beautiful Mount Desert Island.



Acadia National Park Announces Openings for 2021

 

Vehicle Reservations Required for Cadillac Summit Road May 26-Oct 19 


 

The National Park Service (NPS) will be opening roads and other visitor facilities at Acadia National Park for the 2021 season beginning with the Park Loop Road. The 27-mile scenic drive, including the Cadillac Summit Road, is expected to open to motor vehicles on April 15, depending on weather conditions. To provide a safer and more enjoyable experience, vehicle reservations will be required for the Cadillac Summit Road between sunrise and sunset from May 26 to October 19.  Vehicle reservations will be available for purchase online at Recreation.gov starting April 1 at 10:00 am ET.   

 

In addition to needing a vehicle reservation for the Cadillac Summit Road, visitors must have a weekly, annual, or lifetime park entrance pass for all locations in Acadia National Park from May 1 to October 31All vehicles must clearly display a park entrance pass through the windshield. Park entrance passes are available for purchase in person at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, park campgrounds, and other outlets, but visitors are encouraged to purchase weekly and annual park entrance passes online at Recreation.gov. 

 

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, visitors are required to wear face masks in all federal buildings, including visitor centers, restrooms, gift shops, and concession facilities. Visitors over two years old are required to wear face masks outdoors when physical distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot be maintained, including sidewalkshiking trails, carriage roads, overlooks, campground amphitheaters, and Island Explorer bus stops. 

 

“The most important thing for us is to make sure that our employees and our visitors are safe.” said Superintendent Kevin Schneider. “Acadia and other outdoor recreation experiences are an important way for people to get outside and re-connect with nature throughout this pandemic.”  

 

The Hulls Cove Visitor Center opens May 7, offering park entrance pass sales and information. The adjoining Park Store will offer park-related sales items, including books and maps. The Thompson Island Information Center opens May 15. The Sieur de Monts Nature Center opens for weekends May 15-28, and daily hours starting May 29. The Islesford Museum on Little Cranberry Island, accessible by passenger ferry, opens June 27. 

 

Park campgrounds will open, but the number of campsites available will be reduced due to COVID-19. Blackwoods Campground opens May 7, and Seawall and Schoodic Woods campgrounds open May 26. All campsites must be reserved online at Recreation.gov. Campsites will be not be available for reservation in person. 

 

Park concessioners will be operating under COVID-19 prevention guidelines. The Jordan Pond House Restaurant opens May 19, Jordan Pond House Gift Shop opens April 26, and Cadillac Mountain Eco-Store and Thunder Hole Gift Shop open May 3. Wildwood Stables will open May 21 for equestrian camping and boarding and will open the next day for group carriage rides. 

 

The Island Explorer bus system will begin service on the Schoodic Peninsula on May 26 and will provide limited service with fewer routes on Mount Desert Island on June 23. To operate under COVID-19 prevention guidelines, bus rider capacity will be reduced to allow social distancing, and face masks will be required at bus stops and on board buses at all times. 

 

For more information and important updates on current conditions, please visit the Acadia National Park website at https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm 

 

To view this news release online, visit AcadiaNews. 

YWCA MDI Launches Small-Dollar Donor Campaign for April

 


Have you ever decided not to give because you think your small gift wouldn’t make a difference? Think again. Donations of every size count and you don’t have to give a lot to make a difference in your community. The size of the donation does not matter, the heart of the donor is what counts. 

In April, the YWCA Mount Desert Island will be launching a Small-Dollar Donor campaign. During the month of April, donations given to the General Fund will be matched up to $1,500 by the Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund. The YWCA MDI has set a goal of $1,500 so that our campaign with matching gifts could raise $3,000 for the organization. 

The campaign will kick-off on April 1st asking for gifts of $5 in support of the YWCA MDI. Gifts can be made through the YWCA MDI’s website at donate.ywcamdi.org and selecting “SmallDollar Donor Campaign” or mailed to 36 Mount Desert St., Bar Harbor ME 04609. Gifts can also be made as recurring donations through the YWCA’s website. When giving your gift online, select “Make My Donation Monthly.” 

About YWCA Mount Desert Island: The YWCA Mount Desert Island was founded in 1904 and is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. The YWCA of Mount Desert Island, in honoring our history, welcomes women of all ages to participate in programs that provide affordable accommodations, provide safe places for all girls and women in crisis, encourage growth and development, promote self-confidence and pride, provide educational opportunities for and about women, and assist women to attain economic and political influence and leadership in our community. In addition, the YWCA of Mount Desert Island is deeply involved in social justice, partnering with several other organizations to provide training opportunities and programming designed to raise awareness and educate community members about the need for racial equity. To learn more, visit ywcamdi.org 

About the Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund: The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund mission is to support the community in ways that are consistent with our goals, and in ways that also ensure our employees and the broader community of Hancock County is cared for. The Witham Family Hotels believe that we’ll have the greatest impact with our support by focusing our funding in five areas that are close to our hearts as hospitality professionals: Housing and Shelter, Food and Nourishment, Community-Based Health Education, and Culture Grass Roots Fundraising. To learn more about the fund, visit www.WFHcharitablefund.com