Jackson Laboratory temporarily discontinues daycare plans
BAR HARBOR After teaming up late last year with Mount Desert Island YMCA on plans to construct a new childcare facility, The Jackson Laboratory has announced that it will temporarily halt the project.
“The impact of the project costs has brought us to the decision to take a step back from this arrangement at this time,” said Catherine Longley, the lab’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.
The Jackson Laboratory had planned to fund the construction of a facility on the town-owned YMCA property that would accommodate 55 children, with 40 slots reserved for the children of lab employees. Initial plans were approved at a Town Council meeting last December. Financed by Jackson Laboratory, the space would have been leased to the MDI YMCA and subleased to the Downeast Family YMCA, which would have run the day-to-day operations.
DHHS investigating alleged violations at Moore Center
ELLSWORTH The Department of Health and Human Services is investigating alleged violations at the Down East Family YMCA’s Moore Early Learning Center. The complaint was filed last month by a former teacher and her husband.
Allissia West of Dedham worked as a child-care teacher in the infant room while her 2½-year-old son Ezra attended the toddler program from June 1, 2020, to Jan. 29, 2021. On Jan. 29, she resigned and pulled Ezra out of the program. In mid-February, West reported alleged COVID-19 protocol violations through the state’s online reporting portal. Her husband, Shane West, filed a DHHS complaint, alleging 16 additional violations unrelated to COVID-19 protocol on Feb. 23.
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Y annual fishing derby raises money for camp February 10, 2021 on News
ELLSWORTH The Down East Family YMCA’s 4th Annual Ice Fishing Derby was contested on ponds and lakes throughout Hancock County this past weekend. Proceeds help fund scholarships to the Y’s Camp Discovery on Webb Pond in Eastbrook so that all children can have a summer camp experience.
This year, four of the derby categories were won by youth entrants. Bentley Burns won first place in his category, scoring him a $300 cash prize. Four-year-old Elliana Hamor won the Beech Hill Pond Management Category for the third year in a row. Her dad, William, says she looks forward to this event each year. When asked if she would win, she excitedly replied, “I’m going to catch a whole lot of fish!” She did that and also landed a $250 cash prize.
After 29 years of smiles, Debra Hangge retires from DEFYÂ
ELLSWORTH â Several months after the Down East Family YMCA opened in Ellsworth, Debra Hangge was on site, first to use the fitness equipment and then as a fitness staff member, after the Y asked her to join as an employee.
That was 29 years ago, and Hangge moved on to other departments before settling in at the front desk for the next 25 years or so. Her last day was Friday, Jan. 29, when Hangge retired from the organization that had become so much a part of her.
âThat was my identity,â she said. âI knew who I kind of was. Now I have to sort that out.â