by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Dozens of people in Addison, Columbia, Jonesboro and Harrington took to social media Sunday, Jan. 17 to ask, “What was THAT?!” A wide range of seismic activity websites turned up no answers that afternoon, but Monday morning the United States Geological Survey finished triangulating the event, which registered a magnitude of 2.8 on the Richter scale.

by Nancy Beal

Maine’s Wild Blueberry Commission met over Zoom January 14 to formulate a budget for 2021 and identify aspects of the industry that require attention. All 10 members were present, as were the executive director, Eric Venturini, the director of research programs Patricia Kontur, longtime researcher and spokesman David Yarborough, Carol Woodcock from Senator Susan Collins’ office, and other interested parties.

Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) is offering three concurrent virtual courses of its Child Care Business Lab, helping entrepreneurs start new, quality child care businesses in underserved areas of Maine. Applications are due on Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. EST. The applications and more information can be accessed by visiting: https://www.ceimaine.org/advising/childcare/. The program begins in March.

by Wayne Smith

This week I want to share some memories of Norma Korenek. She will be turning a big 100 years old on February 4th.I just wanted to see what all the excitement was all about. She was gracious with a great big smile on her face. The memories seemed to flood her mind. Norma was kind of shy at first. When she got going, She wouldn't stop talking. This was what I came up with.

by  Joseph Horn

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Richard Skinner doesn’t know exactly when he lost his class ring, but guesses it was not long after he graduated from Baileyville’s Woodland High School in 1989.  
“I had lost it so long ago, I figured it was long gone,” said Skinner. “I wasn’t even looking for it.”

It turns out he did not have to. Now, thanks to an enthusiastic community effort on Facebook, Skinner will soon be reunited with his ring, and it all began when Mary White received a text from a total stranger.

by Hailey Wood

After a year of debate and discussion, the Machias Board of Selectmen has lost their battle against the Machias Water Company to prevent their proposed rate hike.

The topic of a rate hike was first introduced to Machias residents by letter in late February of 2020.

The new approved annual revenue for the Machias Water Co. comes out to a 30 percent rate hike, 5 percent higher than the original ask of 25 percent in the letter sent to Machias residents.

by Jonathan Reisman

Donald Trump incited a riot on January 6th.  In  doing so,  he destroyed much of what he accomplished, validated the complaints about his narcissism, divisiveness and character flaws, and invalidated the legitimate grievances of his 75 million supporters about stolen elections, Black Lives Matter and Antifa “mostly peaceful” violence, arson and riots, media bias and leftist hypocrisy. He managed to legitimize the Biden crime family and provide aid and comfort to the very socialists and leftist tyranny he opposed.

Have you ever been touched by nature? Are you craving that connection again? Nature heals all: body, mind, and spirit. Join Susan Fortin on Zoom, for a reflection of Nature’s way of nurturing which will be hosted by the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center on Thursday, Jan. 28 from 1 – 2:30 pm.

This virtual introduction to Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing or nature therapy), you can escape and share experiences beyond your backyard as the group will Experience Virtually: Outdoor Living in and near Acadia National Park.

by Hazel Stark

by Ruth Leubecker

Norman Nelson, a lively lover of life with extraordinary talents and life experiences, passed away a decade ago this season.

He was always a man about town with many irons in the fire, but his variegated career resume and his ever-ready willingness to jump in and try something new made him a standout right up until his death at 92.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Washington County added two more deaths and two new hospitalizations to its tally in late December, bringing the county’s total hospitalizations to 19 and the total number of residents who have died with COVID-19 to four.

In line with a statewide trend, the county’s case count nearly doubled last month, climbing from 193 on Dec. 1, 2020, to 377 on Dec. 31, 2020. Statewide, Maine’s cumulative case totals climbed from 11,976 on Dec. 1 to 24,201 on New Year’s Eve.

Robert Morris is a true son of New England. Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, he’s a descendent of Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, and Lucius Garvin, the governor of Rhode Island.

Bob’s parents, Garvin and Helen Buffinton Morris moved Bob and his siblings, Garvin Jr., John, and Judith to Lonsdale, Rhode Island, when they were young, and then to Cumberland, Rhode Island, in the village of Arnold Mills.

The Morris family were avid worshippers and found a home at Arnold Mills Methodist Church.

Bob follows the education path

The Pembroke Historical Society invites you to participate in a sharing of traditional and contemporary songs and poems of seafaring and coastal life.  You may sing a chantey, a ditty, a ballad, or a hymn with a maritime theme, or recite a poem, or just enjoy listening to others. "SEA RHYMES" will be presented via Zoom, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  We expect to have presenters not only from the State of Maine, but from many parts of the United States and Canada.

by Nancy Beal

by Natalie Boomer

A small, home-based firearms business located in Machias is hosting a benefit raffle for Maine State Trooper, Andy Foss.

Down East Firearms has donated a Palmetto State Armory AR 15 rifle to raffle off to members of the community.

The plan, donate the money raised to Foss and his family while he battles Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

by Natalie Boomer

A local man from Machias has started building custom miniature lighthouses for people near and far.

“My husband Ken makes them. He’s been doing it for 15 years now,” said Donna Pothier. “We moved up here 16 years ago from Boston. He lost one leg. He needed something to do so he came up with this idea. Started with small ones but then people started asking for one that fits over a well pipe and he designed one that does.”

by Wayne Smith

Please enjoy this map to most of the area's wonderful Christmas decorations, with the compliments of the season from the Machias Valley News Observer.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Its snow-covered fields and forests make Hadley Lake Road especially picturesque this time of year, but that’s not the reason so many cars are there, slowly crawling along. During the month of December, Hadley Lake Road becomes the Christmas light epicenter of Washington County, thanks to the winter wonderland installed on Troy and Lynn Huffman’s front lawn.  

“If we were on Route 1 we’d probably have a traffic jam,” laughs Troy.

by Ruth Leubecker

Traditionally, pridefully recognized as the home of wild blueberries and potatoes, as agricultural crops go, cannabis is now a contender vying for economic first place.

Adverse weather conditions and the pandemic managed to plague both blueberries and potatoes this season. Less demand from China and an uneven playing field with Canada, crippled wild blueberries even further.