J.W. Oliver

A Brunswick entrepreneur plans to open a coffee shop in Harpswell Center, in the former home of the Harpswell Anchor.

When Harpswell's traditional in-person town meeting returns on March 11 after a three-year absence during the COVID-19 pandemic, voters will have 67 matters to decide.

An annual fundraiser at Cook's Lobster & Ale House brought in a record $20,000 for the Harpswell Heating Assistance Program.

Harpswell Selectman Kevin Johnson will attempt to secure a fourth consecutive three-year term in the town election on March 11. He appears likely to succeed, as the only candidate for Select Board on the ballot. He currently chairs the board.

The Harpswell Coastal Academy Board of Directors wants the town to pay up to $800,000 to buy back its campus, more than five times the $150,000 sale price when the academy bought the property from the town in 2015.

One of the three candidates on Harpswell's ballot for two seats on the school board has withdrawn, while a write-in candidate has entered the race.

Maine School Administrative District 75 Superintendent Steven Connolly will resign at the end of the school year. The departure of the district's top administrator sets up the sixth transition in the role in five years.

Harpswell's 2023 municipal budget totals $6,943,535, an increase of $606,196 or 9.57% over last year. The town plans to use $600,000 from its $4.08 million surplus to negate the impact on property taxes.

Verizon is "in talks" with the owner of the new tower at Mitchell Field and will likely add a site on the tower this year.