Ellsworth officials are weighing a $100,000 initiative to curb the spread of the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect confirmed on Mount Desert Island last year. It underscores the growing local response to one of Maine’s most significant environmental threats.

St. Peter has secured $300,000 in state funding to remove ash trees ravaged by the emerald ash borer and invest in replacements on public property. As the invasive pest steadily damages trees across the region, officials are determined to keep the city’s green spaces thriving for future generations.