by Nancy Beal

Four weeks from the day (Aug. 17) that the Union 103 school board, by an 8-0 vote, relaxed the mask-wearing mandate that had governed its three schools last year, the group was back at Jonesport-Beals High School addressing a mask requirement again. The September 14 meeting did not produce a change in the masking policy, but the vote was much closer: five in favor of voluntary masking, four for mandatory face coverings.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Washington County reported its highest-ever weekly COVID-19 case count on Monday when 108 new cases were reported for the week ending Sept. 18, bringing the county’s cumulative cases to 1,229 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Immediately following an end-of-summer squall, 'Shead Ahead', a quartet comprised of two father/son pairs, kicked off Eastport Pirate Festival celebrations with a high energy set of jazz, funk, and rock tunes. The fathers are Robert Sánchez, guitar, and Heron Weston, bass. Sons are Kieran Weston, drums, age 15, and Ellis Zipperer-Sánchez, age 12.

After a rapid setup, with pop-up shelter at the ready in case the rain continued, the four opened with Sánchez's own Bossa arrangement of Gershwin's "Summertime," and continued for an hour of tunes in many flavors.

by Joseph Horn

by Celia Cummiskey

One of the first lessons Alan Kryszak teaches his filmmaking students is, “You can’t screw up, I’ve screwed up more than you ever will, I’ve lost hours of footage, so don’t worry about it!” Kryszak is an award-winning composer and filmmaker who teaches the University of Machias Maine’s Downeast Documentary filmmaking course, as well as Music in Film, Piano, and Digital Audio Production.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Local lobster fishermen and other shellfish harvesters are asked to respond to a 20-minute survey that will help researchers better understand work-related health problems and possible barriers to accessing healthcare.

Project coordinator Dr. Tora Johnson of the University of Maine at Machias says her team is using the survey to understand harvester health risks and their experiences of on-the-job injuries.

by Nancy Beal

The Eastport Arts Center proudly announces the Joyce Weber Memorial Auction. The hybrid event, which has both online and in-person components, will also serve as a space to memorialize Weber, one of Eastport’s most influential and treasured artists. Over two dozen works bequeathed to the Center will be on the auction block. Bidding will begin online on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 9 a.m., to be followed later that day by an in-person event from 5-7 p.m. at Eastport Arts Center with live music, tributes to Joyce, and light refreshments. Bidding will close both online and in-person at 6:30 p.m.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A $40,000 grant will help the Ark Animal Shelter increase its shelter capacity, while reducing the number of unwanted cats through a trap-neuter-release program. The grant comes through from the Elmina B. Sewall’s animal welfare fund.

“We are so grateful to have the funding,” said Ark Director Shaina Mugford.

Half of the grant will go toward the construction of a new dog shelter, something the Cherryfield-based nonprofit has been working toward for six years.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The 3rd Annual Machias Fiber Festival will draw gift shoppers, knitters, crocheters, spinners, and weavers to Machias on Saturday, Sept. 11. Rhonda Craven says she and her fellow organizers decided to keep this year’s event more “low key” by hosting it for only one day, but that day will be packed with fun, including a historical textile display, raffles, food, and, of course, shopping. 

“Next year we’ll probably go back to two days, Saturday and Sunday,” says Craven. “We’ll see how it goes.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Bike Maine Weekend Tour will return to Washington County this weekend, pedaling into the Machias area from Sept. 10 to 12 and giving 250 cyclists the opportunity to enjoy some of Maine’s most scenic bike routes, including the popular Bold Coast Scenic Bikeway.

The annual event is sponsored by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, a nonprofit that seeks to expand biking in Maine, improve bike and pedestrian safety, pass bike and pedestrian-friendly legislation, and spread a love of cycling. 

EAC’s inaugural summer session of Children’s Theater Workshop provided participants from near and far with introductory theater training and plenty of fun. The program, which ran in July and August, was led by new EAC hire Mark Macey, who recently concluded service with the center through the Island Institute, and who’ll now serve both as Artistic Director of Stage East, and as EAC’s Creative Development Director. Macey was joined in the weekly sessions by co-leader Lauren “L.” Elwood, the Center’s intern.

by Hazel Stark

by Nancy Beal

A special town meeting was held in Jonesport last week (August 25) to consider an ordinance regulating marijuana for recreational use (or “adult use” in legal parlance). The proposed ordinance was approved by a vote of 8-0 — the eight being the town’s three selectmen, two of its office employees, and two members of the public.

by Natalie Boomer

A young boy from Machias is on a mission to help those in need during the upcoming holiday season. 

Six-year-old Jase Stevens has a goal to collect 100 items to donate to local Christmas charities, like the  Community Christmas Giving Tree, by Oct. 15.

Charities such as this one ensure that children, teens, and even adults receive a gift on Christmas.

First National Bank recently announced a $15,000 contribution to the Sunrise County Economic Council towards the future Machias Valley Center for Entrepreneurship. 

Located at 19 Main St. in Machias, the Machias Valley Center for Entrepreneurship will be a hub of vibrant networking, training, events and partnerships for entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout Washington County. 

The Roque Bluffs Art Gallery and Learning Center so far is having a banner year. With two successful art show under their belt, they are going for a third Saturday, Sept. 4.  Each show has a theme with the next showing being ‘Flowers and Scenery’ to take advantage of the beautiful landscape of the local area.  

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

How to repair the Machias dike has been under discussion for more than 10 years, but the need to repair it is becoming more urgent. The dike apparatus — four box culverts built with wooden cribbing — is rapidly decaying, made worse by recent storm surge and heavy rainfall events. The Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) ranks the dike culverts’ condition 4 on a scale of 0 to 9, citing large cracks, and loss of mortar.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A demonstration in support of Washington County health care workers affected by the state COVID-19 vaccine mandate drew more than 125 people to the Machias boat landing on Saturday, Aug. 21. 

by Jonathan Reisman

by Nancy Beal

Seven artists who make their summer and year-round homes in the Moosabec area are featured in a show at Jonesport’s Peabody Memorial Library through September 9. 

Valerie Aponik came to Maine in her twenties as a back-to-the-lander, and has lived on Beals’ Great Wass Island for many of the remaining 45 years. She calls herself “passionate about painting outdoors” where the scene she is putting on canvas changes quickly. “Whether it is a grand landscape or a celebration of the everyday, my work is a response to being present.”

by Joseph Horn