A meeting of the Washington Co. Historical & Genealogical Society will be held at 1 p.m. Sat., May 19th\ in the Emergency Management Room, 28 Center Street in Machias. Speaker for the afternoon will be Mrs. Annie White, age 97, who will discuss “Teaching School in Washington County, 1944 to 1977.”

The pressures of the campaign on my family and myself have been substantial, and I am therefore withdrawing from the campaign [for Congress].  I want to express my deep appreciation to everyone who has supported the campaign, in so many ways. I will always be grateful to you. Running for office has never been about personal ambition, but rather a belief I still hold, that we can build a better future, together.  

Thank you very much, 

Jonathan Fulford

The University of Maine at Machias will hold its 107th Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13, in the Reynolds Center gymnasium. One hundred and three students will graduate with degrees or program certificates.

On May 1, more than 80 Emera Maine customers voiced their opposition to the utility giant’s latest request for a rake hike at public hearings held simultaneously at the University of Maine in Machias, Orono and Presque Isle.  The hearings were teleconferenced, and all attendees watched and heard each testimony at each hearing.  Each hearing was staffed by a stenographer, Maine Public Utilities Commissioners and staff attorneys, the Office of the Public Advocate, Emera Maine, and staff and volunteers from AARP Maine.

Last year, the federal government entered into a settlement with Western Union to help recover losses by victims of scams who used Western Union wire transfers. Now scammers are jumping on the refund program to scam more people. Reports to the Federal Trade Commission indicate that consumers are receiving official-looking emails about the program, asking for transaction information and your name and address. These emails are scams – you cannot submit a claim by email. For information about the refund process, visit www.ftc.gov/wu.

My mother would sit watching soap operas while I played with trucks or hollered at my brothers and sisters, while I was still in diapers, bouncing off the walls of the house. She often fed me ravioli for lunch, heating it up on the stove and putting it in a dish. I played with it more than I ate it, like a typical youngster. 

Chelsie Hawkins had a great bridal shower on Saturday the 28th at the Wesley Church. Her mother Lyn, Aunt Barb, and mother-in-law- to-be, Mrs. Wallace, did a great job decorating. There were around 45 ladies there to celebrate the happy occasion. The theme was “let them eat pie” instead of the “let them eat cake”. There were so many different kinds of pies it was hard to choose. The wedding will be in Calais, June 2nd, to Chris Wallace. Congratulations to Chris and Chelsie. 

Lobster fishermen and lady fishermen are starting out the new lobster season. It seems last year’s season just ended and now it is starting up again. They like it on the water. Hopefully it will be a good year.

Janie Caler spent the weekend in Bangor attending the graduation ceremony of Rosemarie Downing at the Cross Center. She graduated with a Masters Degree in psychology. Congratulations to you, Rosemarie!! We are all very proud of you and your accomplishments! 

The 2018 Margaretta Days Festival & Craft Fair will be held on Saturday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the campus of the University of Maine at Machias. Activities during the day will include colonial reenactors, live music, storytelling, games, period food, a children’s play area, plus live demonstrations of colonial occupations. Adding to the festivities of the day will be a variety of crafters who will be on hand displaying a selling their wares. Last year there were over 25 crafter and artists ranging from original watercolors and jewelry to rugs and doll clothes.

As part of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s Meet the Music Maker program, the Acadia Brass

Ensemble of the BSO will perform a free concert of American music at the Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School on Friday, May 11, at 4 p.m. They will also be visiting the school during the day to perform for the students and run some brass workshops.

Quoddy Voices will present its spring concerts on Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 20 at 3 p.m., at the Eastport Arts Center. Our program, “Something About Love,” will explore the many different aspects of love and romance. It begins with three classic English madrigals filled with heartfelt adoration and humor, as well as the sorrow of rejection.  

In Gustav Holst’s setting of the Cornish folk tune, “I Love My Love,” we learn of the return of the lover from the sea to rescue his maiden; and spring is certainly in the air with John Clements’ “Flower of Beauty.” 

Kenny Thompson, 96, had his prayers answered as he passed away “to be with my wife, Gen, in heaven” on April 12, 2018.

Ken was born on Cape Split, Addison, Maine on November 7, 1921 to William and Susie (Wass) Thompson.  He was one of six children.

Lewis Wood, Sr., 80, died on April 27, 2018 at Down East Community Hospital surrounded by family and friends. He was born to Arthur and Vaughn Wood in Machias on November 19, 1937.

He worked as an ironworker most of his life. He also worked on the water; lobstering, scalloping, cohoging and clamming. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with family.

Lewis was predeceased by his wife Nancy (Reeves) Wood; parents, Arthur and Vaughn Wood; brother, Arthur (Punk) Wood, Jr.; and son-in-law, Joseph Berry.

The 2018 class of Maine Policy Scholars (MPS) was recently honored during a special graduation ceremony in the Bangor Room in the Memorial Union on the University of Maine campus in Orono.

One student from six of the seven campuses of the University of Maine system pursued a year-long program of applied research in the area of Maine public policy. Issues addressed included care of mentally ill inmates in Maine prisons; how public policy can support literacy promotion for school-aged youth; and increasing recycling in rural Maine.

by Phil Stuart

Gladys Ganiel of Harrington and a 1995 graduate of Narraguagus High School, without a doubt, is Washington County’s most accomplished athlete. Ganiel excelled not just in athletics but also in the classroom.

In 1995 she was the valedictorian of her class and received the Maine Principal’s Award for Academic Excellence and Citizenship.

The list of athletic accomplishments both as an individual and team member for her four years as a member of the cross country, girls’ basketball team and track teams are nothing short of mind boggling.

by Phil Stuart

All winning streaks eventually come to an end, but after four years, one in eastern Washington County is still alive.

For the past four years the Lubec Elementary School Pee Wee team for grades six and under have been undefeated. They have won four consecutive Downeast Basketball Association championships plus several invitational tournaments. During this incredible run the young Hornets have been coached by Shawn Tinker of Crowsneck and Jordi Tinker of East Trescott.

When her classmates put on their caps and gowns to march in commencement on Sunday, May 13, KwiNam Park will not be with them. Instead, she will lace up her shoes and run her twentieth marathon. Her goal is to raise money for food security in Downeast Maine. 

Dear Savvy Senior,

My husband and I are approaching retirement and are interested in learning more about volunteer vacations. Can you give us some information on this travel option, and refer us to some good organizations that offer these types of trips.

Love to Travel

Dear Love,

by V. Paul Reynolds

If you have followed national issues at all, you may have learned somewhere along the way that even the hallowed U.S. Supreme Court Justices are not immune to all of the foibles, personal biases and character flaws that are the hallmark of the human condition.