While it certainly remains a significant destination, the Mount Desert Island of today is viewed very differently than the MDI of days gone by. Yes, there are still plenty of wealthy people who summer on the island, their vast estates surrounded by nature’s beauty. But a peek into the island’s history reveals that not long ago, MDI served as a summer playground for the elite of the elite.

And where the elite of the elite gather, scandals are never far behind.

Those scandals are the subject of “Bar Harbor Babylon: Murder, Misfortune, and Scandal on Mount Desert Island” (Down East, $26.95) by Dan and Leslie Landrigan. It’s a collection of some of the more salacious stories from MDI’s decades-long stint as the go-to getaway for the rich and unprincipled. This was a time when what happened on MDI definitely stayed on MDI. These are tales of deception and theft, of sex and murder – stories that once served as the kind of cocktail party gossip that only the truly privileged might encounter.

There’s a lot going on in the summertime here in Maine.

There’s all of the outdoors stuff, of course. There are mountains to be climbed and trails to be hiked. There are oceans and lakes and rivers begging to be swum in or kayaked or sailed upon. There’s even the nigh-ubiquitous ritual of heading “upta camp,” where you can do some, most or even all of these things depending on where you go.

Or if you’re leaning towards the arts, there are a multitude of options for you to take in, whether you’re looking for concerts or live theatre or film festivals. There’s a whole lot on that side of things as well.

But you might not be as familiar with just how many food-based festivals are happening all around the state of Maine over the course of the summer. These events – some taking place in just a single day, others clocking in at a week or longer – are devoted to celebrating various foodstuffs that are inherent and integral parts of life here in Vacationland.

We’re not in time for all of this summer’s festivals – for instance, the always-exceptional Maine Whoopie Pie Festival took place back on June 23 – but there are still all manner of tasty trips there for the taking, with a variety of festivals playing out over the next few weeks.

Here’s a look at just some of what’s to come.

AUGUSTA The Burt's Bees founder pushing for a new national park in Maine has given 87,500 acres of land to the U.S. government.

SBA Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year Award for Maine and New England: Masahiko Miyakeof Miyake, LLC of Portland

'I am delighted to congratulate Mr. Miyake on his success in owning and operating two restaurants and a farm,' said Marilyn Geroux, SBA district director for Maine. 'Mr. Miyake's hard work and dedication have been instrumental in his success, and the U.S. Small Business Administration is pleased to have been an early supporter of his efforts through our Microloan Program,' she added.

Police make arrest in cold case murder of Joyce McLain

EAST MILLINOCKET Maine State Police have arrested a 55-year-old East Millinocket man and charged him in connection with the beating death of 16-year-old Joyce McLain of East Millinocket in the summer of 1980. Charged with murder is Philip Scott Fournier, who was 19 at the time of Joyce's death. He was taken into custody in East Millinocket, driven to the State Police barracks in Bangor, and has been taken to the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor.

Meth lab found in Ludlow cabin

LUDLOW For the second time in less than eight months, an Aroostook County couple have been arrested on methamphetamine charges. The arrests came after MDEA agents found the makings of a meth lab inside a remote cabin in Ludlow, just outside Houlton, while conducting a bail check as a result of last year's charges. The young man and woman, along with the woman's mother, now face a new set of meth-related charges.

AUGUSTA AARP members and staff were present at a work session of the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) to continue efforts to protect basic landline telephone service for all Mainers.

Two bills, LD 466 and LD 1302, both titled An Act to Increase Competition and Ensure a Robust Information and Telecommunications Market, were carried over by the EUT Committee last session. The bills have been combined by a stakeholder committee, along with LD 879, and will continue as LD 466. The new bill, brought to the Committee today for preliminary discussion, identifies 25 municipalities in which basic landline telephone service would be immediately deregulated and establishes a process to further deregulate basic landline telephone service in additional Maine towns in the years to come.

New counselor joins Health Affiliates Maine

AUBURN - Health Affiliates Maine, a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency, announces the recent hiring of Kim Morrison, LMSW-CC. Morrison joins Health Affiliates Maine's growing team of affiliate counselors as a Licensed Master Social Worker. She will be providing therapy for young adults, adults, couples and the immigrant-refugee population in both the Lewiston-Auburn and Augusta areas.

Standoff ends peacefully

LAMOINE Maine State Police say a Lamoine man faces charges of domestic violence criminal threatening and violating his bail conditions after a standoff at his home on Feb. 18.

James Day Sr., 47, is being held at the Hancock County Jail after he surrendered to police. More than 20 police officers responded to the double-wide mobile home at 72 Needles Eye Road, after Day fired four shots inside the home from a rifle.

AUGUSTA - People who falsely pass off their pets as service animals think of the woman in Wisconsin last year who claimed the right bring her kangaroo into McDonald's have frustrated people with legitimate needs to such an extent that legislators in several states are considering laws to restore the animals' credibility.

Legislatures in Maine, Virginia, Arizona, Hawaii, New York, and Puerto Rico are considering bills that would either establish such a program or penalize people who fraudulently claim to have service dogs.

In Maine, a task force this month issued a report that says well-meaning federal laws designed to protect people with disabilities have instead opened the door to fraud.