Business News Briefs – Masiello Group and Acadia Realty Combine and Bar Harbor Bank and Trust Makes a $25,000 Pledge to RSU 24

Effective July 1st Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group and Acadia Realty have combined forces

The Masiello Group has 33 offices in Northern New England, including Ellsworth.  With offices in Ellsworth and Bar Harbor, the Acadia Realty Group brings its roughly 30 experienced agents to The Masiello Group team. In addition, The Masiello Group Ellsworth office will move to the Acadia Ellsworth office, more than doubling the number of agents The Masiello Group has in the Acadia area

"With the Maine market at a 40 year high and interest in Mount Desert Island stronger than ever, the timing of this move could not be better," said Steve Shelton, principal of Acadia Realty Group. "Our agency and agents have earned an excellent reputation over the years. Joining The Masiello Group, strengthens our ability to serve our communities."

"I am excited to be able to join forces with such a talented team of agents," said Chris Masiello, CEO and President of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group. "Acadia is one of the most exciting and popular corners of Maine. Our two agencies have a lot of synergies and aligned core values. Combining our two teams of professionals who know the communities and the local market so well strengthens our commitment to servicing our customers."

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has pledged a $25,000 gift to support the Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus, the new RSU 24 public school that is currently under construction in Sullivan, Maine. The new school will serve students in grades 6-12 who reside in nine towns in Hancock and Washington counties. The Bank’s donation will be directed to fund new learning technology and industrial arts equipment for the campus.

“At Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, we believe that investments in education and workforce development deliver a significant impact on the vitality of our communities,” said Joseph Schmitt, Chief Marketing Officer at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “We are honored to support the Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus and to help give its future students the technology and programming they need to be successful in school and beyond.”

Construction on the new campus, which will house Sumner Middle School and Sumner High School, is being funded in large part by the State of Maine. To ensure the school would provide students with a state-of-the-art learning environment, the RSU 24 Board of Directors formed the community group, Friends of Sumner’s Future, to support the construction of the new school and raise additional money to support projects expenses and items not funded by the State. Some of those items include new learning technology, a gym concession kitchen, field sprinkler system, outdoor sound system, and other amenities.

“Regional School Unit #24 is greatly appreciative of the generosity shown by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust through the generous donation to support the Friends of Sumner's Future fundraising campaign,” said Michael Eastman, Superintendent for Regional School Unit #24. “Their pledge represents their commitment to the students of our school district and demonstrates the value that the institution places on education. As we work to fulfill the commitment of outfitting the building with the necessary equipment, furniture, fixtures, and technology, this donation will prove instrumental.”

Megan Moshier, Friends of Sumner’s Future Campaign Chair, added, “We are tremendously appreciative to Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for their generous donation. People in our communities are thrilled to see progress on this new high school, which many of us agree is far overdue. Our students will benefit from this new, modern school for many years to come and contributions such as this help to make the vision a reality.”