The historic Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor closed in Jan. 2025 due to the mounting repair costs. But this spring, Stephen and Allison Sullens of the Harper House Music Foundation stepped into save the 1932 Art Deco space. The Maine Community Foundation is pleased to house the Harper House Music Foundation fund to sustain this piece of history and community entertainment venue. (fb)

Maine Community Foundation is proud to support LD 1 - Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Community Preparedness and Resiliency for Future Storms, which was passed by the legislature and signed into law this week! This kind of broad, cross-sector cooperation and partnership will help communities across Maine rebuild and prepare for frequent severe storms. This new law was built on recommendations made by the state’s Rebuilding and Resilience Commission, on which MaineCF President & CEO Deborah Ellwood serves. The initial recommendations reflect direct input from municipal leaders, county emergency-management directors, engineers and the public from seven listening sessions in Machias, Old Orchard Beach, Rumford, Mexico, Jay, Caribou and Rockland about the challenges of responding to and preparing for extreme weather events. #mainecommunityfoundation #mainelegislature #CommunityResilience #StormPreparedness (fb)