Bar Harbor, Maine; Augusta, Maine; Rockland, Maine; Belfast, Maine
Owner: Village NetMedia
Effective: March 9, 2012

Village NetMedia has closed the weekly papers; 56 employees were laid off. “The profound changes in the newspaper publishing business, a weak economy and our investment in new products created severe financial challenges,” owner Richard Anderson said in a statement. “Over the recent months, I have worked with outside professionals to achieve financial restructuring that would allow us to continue. These efforts failed as of 3 p.m. today, March 9, 2012. We can no longer sustain our operations.” Employees were notified by email on March 9.
Sources: Bangor Daily News and Paper Cuts tip