As the year draws to a close, we at Heart of Ellsworth are thrilled to reflect on an eventful journey that has shaped Downtown Ellsworth into a vibrant, thriving hub of community engagement and cultural richness. In 2023, we embarked on numerous initiatives, from groundbreaking projects to lively events, each leaving an indelible mark on the heart of our town.

Just in time and with lead sponsorship support from First National Wealth Management for the holiday season, volunteers with the Heart of Ellsworth Design Committee descended on Downtown Ellsworth to bring festive cheer and sparkling lights to Main Street, Merrill Park, and, for the first time ever, the Union River Bridge.

The Manifesting Main - Asset Mapping Downtown Ellsworth project has been recognized by Maine Downtown Center and GrowSmart Maine.

Phyllis Young, Heart of Ellsworth founding board member and second board president, was awarded the William F. King, Jr., Downtown Champion Award from Maine Development Foundation (MDF)

A group of entrepreneurs gathered on Tuesday, February 7th, in the office of Heart of Ellsworth to discuss…

"First National Bank is proud to sponsor Main Street Lights. Supporting our Main Street merchants and restaurants during the holiday season through lighting up the downtown helps to stimulate the local economy, visually inviting folks to shop local and keep revenue circulating in our community all year long."

“Both Lucille and Tracy bring valuable talent, passion, and energy to our board and I’m excited to have them as part of our team”, commented Jon Stein, current Vice president and 2023 President-elect of the Heart of Ellsworth Board of Directors.

Student voices are vital for the future of Ellsworth and the development of the Heart of Ellsworth Board. When notified about the board appointment, Pierson's response was…

In 2017 Amy and Michael Reisman moved to Franklin Street. As Amy, a master gardener and now Heart of Ellsworth Board member began to settle into her new neighborhood she discovered this sweet little park less than a block from her house.

We recently nominated two new members to join the Heart of Ellsworth board of directors. Maggie Iannuzzi and Timothy Tunney will be joining as members at large later this month bringing the total number of board members to thirteen.

“Good morning,

I'm an Employee at Eyes PA across the street. We had an amazing employee Daisy that had worked for us for 26+ years she was 84 years old and still worked 5 1/2 days per week, she worked in the lab making eyeglasses. From the lab window, you can see the Wall where the Mural will be painted. Daisy and her partner Caroline passed away in December of 2020 from Covid-19.

If you are reading this you probably already know how the Heart of Ellsworth feels about our great city. You know that we aim to foster a community that is supported and enriched while planning for a sustainable future. You know that we value your opinions and now is the time to share those opinions with us! On Wednesday April 13th from 6-730pm we are hosting a community workshop where your participation is necessary! We will be gathering on the stage at The Grand to hear from YOU! We want to learn why you love Ellsworth and what you perceive as assets of the city. How do you want to see the city grow and what role do you want to play in that growth?

Come help us 'Manifest Main' in order to build a future that serves us all!

Grab your favorite beverage and tune in to meet Heart of Ellsworth’s Board of Directors and staff. Learn about 2021 accomplishments plus what’s in store for 2022. There will be time for participants to share ideas and needs for our downtown community. RSVP is required, to register, follow the link to the short google form so the meeting link can be sent to you via email.

We are so excited to share that we’ve selected an artist to paint the Downtown Ellsworth Outdoor Public Art Mural. Maine artist…

Ellsworth High School Senior Darren Easler has been appointed by the Heart of Ellsworth board of directors to serve as the board’s first student member. “I am ecstatic to be selected for this position. I am thrilled to…

We recently launched an Explore Ellsworth video series showcasing the seven hikes from our Heart of Ellsworth HIKE page. New residents and local vloggers, Wayne and Jemily Ayers-Creech (also of our 2021 Taste of Ellsworth video series), laced up their boots and set out to explore the trails to give you a look at the outdoor adventures available in our backyard.

Special thank you to our video series sponsor Desert Harvest.

We’ve been adopted by a chicken. We first spied it in Harbor Park and Marina hanging with a bunch of ducks. Nancy said, “Poor chicken, it thinks it’s a duck.”

It started popping into the yard not long thereafter.

On a quiet, sunny Saturday morning, I brought my 3-year-old daughter, Dylan, to Union River Book & Toy Co. She had been asking for a “blue kitty” all week. Not only had she been on her best behavior, but we had recently traveled to Maine and her toy stash was a bit sparse, so when she asked nicely with a please, I decided a trip to the local toy store was in order.

We are just a few weeks away from wrapping up phase one of our downtown Ellsworth outdoor public art mural. We are inviting Maine or artists with a connection to Maine to submit through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. The RFQ has been posted at heartofellsworth.org/downtown-mural and will remain open until October 4th when the application process closes.

Our family recently returned to the Ellsworth area, and we’ve been happily discovering a few of the quiet corners of the city this summer. Over the last few months, we’ve found a Saturday morning routine surface — a quick stop for a takeout breakfast before enjoying the sights and sounds of the Union River at Ellsworth Harbor Park & Marina. This has quickly become one of my 3-year-old daughter’s favorite ways to spend a weekend morning.