Community Profile

Town of Trenton

Trenton, ME

Fred Ehrlenbach

Chairman, Board of Selectmen

Pledge Summary

The Town of Trenton is located on the last point of mainland before entering Mount Desert Island. As such, it is truly the “Gateway to Acadia National Park”. The Trenton Bridge looks out on a view that has thrilled hundreds of thousands of travelers.The Town was incorporated in 1789 and was named in honor of George Washington’s battle in Trenton, New Jersey. In 1776 a settlement was organized by Ebenezer Thorndike. Trenton has a long tradition of the sea that continued through the 1800’s as shipbuilding and shipping prevailed in addition to lumbering, farming, and, of course, lobstering. Since 2022, the Town of Trenton has supported efforts to conserve the monarch butterfly and other pollinators by encouraging residents to plant native wildflowers on private and public land.

Community Spotlight

Milkweed Propagation Workshop Fall 2022

Maine Master Naturalist Cyrene Slegona explains how to propagate milkweed

Trenton Butterfly Festival 2025

Each year, the Town of Trenton celebrates the Trenton Butterfly Festival, featuring a pollinator parade, games, kids' activities and prizes.

Native Seed Swap

Community members gather to learn how to harvest native seeds, with opportunities to swap or pick up free seeds

Action Items Committed for 2026

Communications and Convening ▸

Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)
Engage with gardening leaders and partners (e.g., Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Nature Centers, Native Plant Society Chapters , other long-standing and influential community leaders) to support monarch butterfly conservation.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.
Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Host or support a monarch butterfly festival that is accessible to all residents in the community and promotes monarch and pollinator conservation, as well as cultural awareness and recognition.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Chairman, Board of Selectmen Fred Ehrlenbach	2026	3/17/2026		View Pledge
Chairman, Board of Selectmen Fred Ehrlenbach	2025	3/19/2025	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Chair, Board of Selectmen R. Frederick Ehrlenbach	2024	3/8/2024	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Chairman, Board of Selectmen R. Frederick Ehrlenbach	2023	2/3/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Chairman, Board of Selectmen R. Frederick Ehrlenbach	2022	3/31/2022	Signatories	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report