by Ruth Leubecker

“As far as I’m concerned the most critical challenge during this time is to try and strengthen and support connections,” said Dr. Lenard Kaye, in assessing the needs of the elderly during the pandemic.

The director of the University of Maine’s Center on Aging was primarily considering the elderly demographic of Washington County, adding, “We know already that there’s a lot of isolation and depression.”

by Natalie Boomer

Porter Memorial Library has kicked off the first of two bicentennial reading programs this month.

The first program encourages bicentennial reading across all age groups. Children can meet their summer reading goals by reading Maine themed books, books about Maine, and books written by Maine authors.

There have been questions about whether or not Campmeeting Week will happen this year at the Jacksonville Campground in East Machias.  After prayer, discernment, and research, the group has decided that yes, Campmeeting Week will be held every night from Sunday, July 19 – through Friday, July 24. Preachers will include Lori Lynch, Aaron Dudley, Jesse Davis,  Susie Maxwell,  and  Adam Wolfgang.

In the early 1980s the Whitneyville Public Library, under the direction of John Bodger, received a grant to have UMM art teacher Frank Hambe depict the history of the Whitneyville to Machiasport Railroad through his talented artwork.

These 11 panels of artwork have been in storage at the University of Maine at Machias and when the new library building opened in October of 2018 the artwork was brought home to the Whitneyville Public Library and has been on display ever since.

by Ruth Leubecker

Kathryn Land, new chair of the Down East Community Hospital Board, called the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Corporators to order via a conference call.

Citing this new way to meet due to the coronavirus, she mentioned that she missed all the faces and the delicious hors d’oeuvres, but this was the best option during these times.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Pilot Timothy Hernandez, Machias Valley Municipal Airport Committee Chairman Michael Radeka, and other local pilots are gauging the region’s interest in forming a Machias Flying Club.

Flying clubs have been around as long as aviation itself, says Hernandez, and are designed to provide members with affordable access to aircraft.

by Nancy Beal

Seventeen residents from 14 Washington County towns were recognized by Volunteer Maine recently for performing between 500 and 3,500 hours of volunteer service in 2019. Four of the 17 had logged more than 1,000 hours of service. A Volunteer Roll of Honor with their names and hours of service was published in the June 23 edition of the Bangor Daily News. Each received a Governor’s Award for Service and Volunteerism.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Bruce W. Benson thinks fondly of his childhood spent with younger brother, Daniel and older brother, Edward, Jr. Bruce looked up to Edward and describes him as a “leader, great baseball player and a fantastic guy.” Edward was a paratrooper in the Army during World War II and was killed during combat in France.

Maureen D. Smith "Moe", 67, of Bowker Street, Machias, Maine, passed on to her Lord, Saturday, June 27, 2020.

Maureen was at home with her family and friends, as she wanted. The courage and strength to beat an incurable disease proved true. The battles were accepted as a challenge for life.

Moe always strived for the best endings of success for everybody in her life. She was very talented and mysteriously clever.

by Hazel Stark

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Free, pick-your-own summer veggies will soon be available in spring and autumn, too, thanks to a five-figure donation to Incredible Edible Milbridge.

A 16-by-24 foot greenhouse will be constructed behind Women for Healthy Rural Living’s (WHRL) new Main Street location, thanks to a donation from Wyman’s, the nationally-known berry company headquartered in Milbridge. An anonymous donor working with the Maine Community Foundation has given money to pay for site preparation, too.

by Ruth Leubecker

Last week’s phone-calling campaign from area teachers pleaded to Mainers for help in passing the Heroes Act, a $3 trillion relief bill now before the Maine Senate.

Maine’s teachers not only face the uncertainty of schools reopening, but are burdened with funding shortages due to the pandemic and sharing relief dollars with other departments facing deficits.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A series of Independence Day cancellations led Rep. Will Tuell to wonder if, despite coronavirus restrictions, there might a creative way for Washington County to celebrate the Fourth of July together. The result will be an unprecedented parade that will begin in Steuben and follow Route 1 all the way to Indian Township.

by Nancy Beal

A COVID-19-postponed town meeting took place in the Beals Elementary School gymnasium on June 23 with 20 attendees seated six feet apart throughout the room. While there were no significant changes in money matters from last year, three new faces emerged from the election of officers.

by Ronie Strout

I have been busy trying out new recipes this week. So far I have made rose petal jelly, pink and red peony jelly, and on top of that, I made a raspberry shrub this week to try. I am enjoying finding what is around me that I can actually use from my yard.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Area students are getting their summer meal delivery with a little side of excitement, courtesy of the Machias Police Department. Two days a week, Machias police officers collect meals from the kitchen of Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School (RMG) and deliver them to local families, much to the delight of the young people who will be eating them.

The blue delivery service started when Machias officer Wayde Carter learned the school could not offer delivery to people who cannot pick up meals during the summer months.

by Nancy Beal

The Pleasant River Solid Waste Disposal District board of directors met in person at the Jonesboro town hall on June 15. Present were station manager Fran Havey, supervisor Tom Batson, and board members Mike Schoppee of Jonesboro, Mariner Bunker of Beals and Keith Newman of Addison. Joan McMurray of Columbia was unable to attend because of an out-of-town medical appointment. It was the first meeting since the June 8 vote by Columbia to withdraw from the original six-town transfer station,

Down East Community Hospital welcomes Sharla Moretti, RN, MSM. Sharla is the Vice President of Patient Care Services as well as our Chief Nursing Officer.  She is a nursing administrator with 18 years of diverse experience.  Her background includes experience with perioperative services, specialty and provider clinics, and infusion/oncology centers in multi-organizational systems as well as leadership and clinical expertise in the inpatient and outpatient settings.

by Ronie Strout

Where have the days gone? It seems that they fly by quickly as I get older. I even have to check my calendar to see what the day is, and then I am not sure I am right.

The first day of summer has arrived as well as Father’s Day with the temperature in the high 90’s. I try to get my outside work done before noon now and rest the rest of the day.

This past week I had two appointments in Ellsworth, so I made the most of it by getting a few other errands done while I was in the area.

Each year, during the graduation ceremonies at area high schools, EAC honors seniors who have excelled in music, theater or the visual arts.  Nominated by their dedicated teachers, the students have been chosen based on their commitment and contribution to the fine arts at their school and community.  

by Joseph Horn