J.W. Oliver

Harpswell voters supported the school district's 2026-27 budget and backed Democrat Nirav Shah and Republican Bobby Charles in Maine's gubernatorial primaries on Tuesday, June 9.

The next principal of Harpswell Community School brings experience as an administrator in the district and a background as an intelligence analyst in the Navy. The Maine School Administrative District 75 Board of Directors appointed Bridgette Ortiz to the position in a unanimous vote on Thursday, March 26.

The town will improve public access to state land on Clark Cove after a 732-405 vote in favor of the proposal on Saturday, March 14. Also at the polls on Saturday, Kevin Johnson fended off a challenge from Ellen Glew to win a fifth term on the Harpswell Select Board, 789-303.

A house at 7 Hugh Ave. on Bailey Island burned down early Friday, Jan. 23. The four occupants of the house escaped largely unhurt, although one man was taken to a Portland hospital with "a burn injury to his wrist," according to the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office. Officials didn't name the occupants.