News

A report by the investigator of an October 2025 house fire on Harpswell Neck confirms that a 78-year-old man found dead by firefighters had died of natural causes before the fire started, and that the fire started because another occupant failed to properly dispose of a lit cigarette.

A voter-approved project to build a central station for Harpswell's municipal fire and rescue workers is facing setbacks on multiple fronts, including construction cost increases and possible delays to address environmental concerns.

The Orr's Island Cemetery discovered dozens of bronze flag holders missing from veterans' graves just weeks before Memorial Day, an apparent theft that has cemetery associations and the town considering affordable alternatives to the expensive fixtures.

A group of roughly 120 residents has given initial approval to Maine School Administrative District 75's proposed $61.2 million budget for the upcoming academic year.

The town of Harpswell hopes to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 29, to open the new public boat launch at George J. Mitchell Field, but there were still a few issues to be worked out in the preceding week.

The Harpswell Select Board has notified the community of a "cybersecurity fraud incident" in which town staff issued a large payment to a scammer posing as a legitimate vendor.

Elected officials and school district staff outnumbered community members at a forum on Wednesday, May 13, meant for the district to share plans for its aging schools and hear public feedback. The two people who spoke up questioned whether officials had the right information to make decisions about the future of elementary schools in Harpswell and other towns.

Harpswell Fire Administrator Mike Drake, a lifelong firefighter and leader at multiple departments on the Midcoast, died unexpectedly last weekend at the age of 52.