The team of Peter Berry, Gary Derickson, Lynn Bjornson, and Paul Rudd were winners this past week at the Barren View Golf Course weekly senior scramble held on Wednesday mornings. Congratulations winners!

The Eastport Arts Center’s Summer Workshop Series, which runs through August 22, will feature a double-header of offerings on Tuesday, Aug. 8. Patricia and Noel Brennan, professional musicians from Brooklyn, NY, will take turns leading musical workshops, with Music from Mexico for Children first from 1-2 p.m.

On Tuesday, August 8 at 7 p.m. the Machias Bay Chamber Concerts (MBCC) will present a concert featuring classical bass trombonist Dan Barrett and pianist Laura Artesani, both members of the Music Faculty at the University of Maine in Orono (UMO). Their program will include compositions by Egberto Gismonti, Daniel Schnyder, and additional works by contemporary composers.

Upcoming events

Public Pot Luck Supper 5 p.m. Aug. 5,  Elm Street School, East Machias. 50/50 raffle to benefit the Jacksonville Cemetery Association New Fence Project. If you would like to make a donation or cook a dish please contact Nate Pennell 254-8230 or Anne Pennell at 255-8496.

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by Phil Stuart

The Quoddy Baseball League in Washington County is just a memory. now but years ago it was a major part of many Downeasters’ lives. Men’s baseball hasn’t been very active Downeast for over three decades, and it is doubtful that it will ever return due to the lack of interest at the high school level.

In the 1950s, the Quoddy League might have been at it’s best. For most of that decade the three most dominant teams were the Jonesport Jets, the Eastport Lobsters and the Dixie Eagles.

by  V. Paul Reynolds

As former Maine deer biologist Gerry Lavigne reported recently in the SAM News, there has been a flurry of media coverage purporting that Maine’s Eastern coyote is getting larger and taking on more wolf-like characteristics. On TV, Bill Green’s Outdoors featured a segment and the Portland Press Herald carried a story by Diedre Fleming.

Is it true? Is our coyote, which started showing up in the 1940s, evolving into a new canid, one that is worthy of the new, catchy name, Coywolf?

John D. Curtis, Trustee under the John D. Curtis Revocable Trust of Maitland, Florida to Christopher Curtis of Boulder, Colorado certain real property together with any improvements thereon located at Roque Bluffs described in a deed from Trustees of Edith Willy Family Trust

Wyles, Frances Agnes, age 90 of Digby, Nova Scotia passed away July 6, 2017 in Digby General Hospital. She was born in Lubec Maine, the youngest daughter of the late Howard and Theresa (Sullivan) Gardner. Frances attended the Halls Mills School and Washington Academy. She graduated from a High School in Connecticut as her parents went there to work for the war effort. She also graduated from Beauty school in Bangor.

Linda Yaroch will be the August featured artist at the Henry D. Moore Library in Steuben.  

Yaroch was born in Chicago and started oil painting at the age of 12 in a small town in Southern New Jersey. She graduated from Hussian School of Art in Philadelphia. 

In 1976, she illustrated a book for the National Bicentennial Celebration in the city of Philadelphia. She also designed and constructed holiday interiors for the Rouse Corp. malls in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, illustrated children’s school textbooks, and worked with seniors in an art program.

by Phil Stuart

The 4th Annual Dale C. Lincoln Kids One-Mile Fun Run held on July 3 in Eastport drew a record number of participants this year.

Sixty-two young runners finished the Lincoln One-Miler named in honor of Dale C. Lincoln of Perry, an early pioneer in Washington county running who also is in the Maine Running Hall of Fame.

Andrew Burke of Pembroke covered the course in 6:08 with Tabor Helton and Lulu Calame finishing second and 3rd in 6:19 and 6:58.

by Phil Stuart

The 2017 Northern Maine Class D Boys Most Valuable Player, James Mersereau of Machias, is slated to take his talents 200 miles north to the St. John Valley this fall and play for Tom Bid’s University of Maine at Fort Kent Bengals.

Mersereau, a talented and versatile athlete, is very athletic and very creative around the basket. He has tremendous jumping ability and his slam dunks brought the crowd to their feet on more than one occasion.

by Sen. Joyce Maker

The smoke is finally starting to clear following the chaos in Augusta that led to a brief government shutdown, and for many of us, summer is finally underway.

Simply put, disagreements over spending priorities for the state’s two-year budget, which needed to be signed by July 1, 2017—the beginning of the state’s fiscal year—is what led to the shutdown.

Expressions Gallery & Studio, located at 11 Main Street in Machias will host a reception at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 11. The reception will honor three local artists: Kathleen Hart, Erik Ostensjo and Joanne Halpin. Food and drink will be provided and the reception will have live music by Duane Ingalls. This will be an opportunity to meet the artists, learn what has inspired their art, and what techniques they are using.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Last Saturday morning the town of Machiasport celebrated the return of a Civil War cannon with speeches, song, and cake. The cannon was returned to the Fort O’Brien historic site earlier in 2017. 

The 1862 bronze “Napoleon” cannon, so named for its widespread use during the Napoleonic wars, may or may not be original to the civil war-era Fort Machias, but according to the Machiasport Historical Society, was on site by the time of World War II.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

 State Police have confirmed that a man and woman from New York City were arrested in New York and charged in connection with the homicide discovered in Cherryfield last month.

 Being held on fugitive-from-justice charges are 37-year-old Carine Reeves and 19-year-old Quaneysha Greeley.  The two were arrested by New York City Police on 141st Street in the Laurelton section of Queens. They are being held without bail. 

by Ruth Leubecker

Collaboration, long seen as a successful undertaking Downeast, will soon enter a new arena with Project HOPE, a law enforcement initiative aimed at tackling drug abuse.

“We copycatted the program from Scarborough, and we partner with Healthy Acadia,” explained Glenn Moshier, Ellsworth police chief. “Dottie Small, a detective with us, is currently working with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. Hopefully, in the next two months there will be two starting up in Washington County.”

by Ruth Leubecker

New England, that uniquely independent region of the USA, albeit frosty and rocky, can claim many firsts in the scheme of memorable events.

Possible protests set for Machias, Eastport

As the nation speculates whether or not Special Counsel Robert Mueller will be fired, activists across the country are gearing up for a nationwide response.  Maine is no different. Local organizers are already making contingency plans for protests in Machias and Eastport.  Everyone participating in these events will be required to abide by all applicable laws and lawful orders of authorities. This event will be nonviolent and will not involve any civil disobedience or other violation of law.  

by Nancy Beal

Phil Alley died at the age of 88 nearly 15 years ago, but those who knew him still speak of what a “good guy” he was. At the end of his life, he was known for the model boats that came out of his Jonesport workshop, but today a full-size vessel will be preserved, thanks to the generosity of two summer residents and the facilities at the Jonesport Historical Society.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay My, oh, my, what a wonderful day...Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way...Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay! Summer winds have brought beautiful days once again. The Friends of the Whitneyville Public

Linda and Ron’s garden is producing nicely. The cabbages are huge. Karen and Ruthie and family have been enjoying the greens and Linda has been enjoying green beans and potatoes. Linda has also been making all kinds of her goat milk lotions and soaps this week getting ready for Grand Lake Stream Festival this past weekend in July. I hope to spend at least Saturday with her there selling. Linda is a people person and a great friend.

Jennifer Robish of Machias has received her Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary

Education (K-8) from Western Governors University (WGU). 

The university held its 33rd semi-annual commencement ceremony at the Salt Palace

Convention Center in Salt Lake City on July 15 and celebrated the graduation of more than 10,000 graduates.

Robish said that she student taught at the Rose M. Gaffney School in Machias, and plans to teach 4th grade at the Beatrice Rafferty School in Perry thi s year.

Using public Wi-Fi puts you at risk of sharing personal information with criminals.  If you’re on free public Wi-Fi at the gym, a hotel or a coffee shop, anyone else on that same network can tap into the information you’re transferring over the network. This means any bad guy can see what you’re doing, leaving passwords, usernames, and account numbers vulnerable. Stick to browsing the web and checking news when on public Wi-Fi. Avoid online banking, checking email, making credit card purchases or even posting on Facebook while on public Wi-Fi.

Upcoming events

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Savory beef  church supper  - Cherryfield Congregational Church Fellowship Hall (River Road, Cherryfield), August 9,. Dinner served at 5:30 - Doors open at 5:p.m..

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Vacation Bible School, August 7, 8, 9, 10 West Lubec Methodist Church, 9 a.m. – 11:15AM  Ages 4 – grade 8. Bible stories, snacks, crafts, rockin’ music, and Samaritan’s Purse mission. All welcome. FMI 733-2210

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Mozart at North Church is a full concert of music by Mozart performed by a quintet of experienced professional musicians and sponsored by the Tides Institute & Museum of Art (TIMA). The quintet will rehearse at TIMA’s 1819 North Church Project Space, 82 High Street, Eastport, throughout the week prior to the concert.

Robin Rier, plein air artist of Jonesport will be exhibiting her paintings at the Mulholland Market Gallery in Lubec,  Aug. 16 - 29. Opening reception Saturday, Aug. 19, 5-7 p.m. All are invited to see beautiful paintings and enjoy beautiful downtown Lubec. Photo courtesy Robin Rier.

by Phil Stuart

Two of Washington County’s oldest road races will be held in the month of August.

Johnson’s True Value International Road Race, a 5-miler, will be held on August 12.

by Nancy Beal

The 2017 Port and Starboard Yacht Club sailing race in Jonesport’s Chandler Bay took place July 29. There were four entries this year. Perennial winner Harry Fish in his 20-foot Atlantic Class Pisces was challenged by three Cape Dory 25s: the Irene piloted by Bernie Sund, the Mimi with Dana DeVos at the helm, and the Harmony commanded by newcomers Joe and Nancy Bell of Beals.

An exciting, new trail run is coming to the area this fall. Hosted by Downeast Coastal Conservancy (DCC), the Bad Little Trail Run will be held on October 1 and the course will weave through the Machias River Preserve. This inaugural event celebrates the organization’s 30 years of conservation in Washington county and will introduce participants from across the region to the scenic beauty of the Machias River.

by Mary Thompson

The Addison Planning Board met on Wednesday, August  2 and issued the following permits:

#11-2017 to Betram Merchant at Map 4, Lot 24-1 at 378 Ridge Road to erect a 10’x24’ deck and bring in a 10’x55’ storage unit (trailer), both items already in place. No concrete pour on either. CEO has inspected and approved locations. All fees ($120 plus the after-the-fact fee) have been paid. Permit issued subject to no conditions. Vote 4/0.

This week I have been busy painting my deck, I have worked on it for three days straight. I still have a lot more to do before I can say it is completely done.

Friday evening, Aug. 4,  about thirty folks gathered to attend the performance The Wild Goose Chase dance -Measuring Time – a work evolving… at the Union Hall in Columbia Falls.

by Phil Stuart

After a decade of baseball in the fifties featuring premier teams like the Dixie Eagles, Jonesboro Jets and Eastport Lobsters, it was time for other teams to share the spotlight.

Dixie, Jonesboro and Eastport either disbanded or were unable to keep a roster full of quality players.

After Dixie’s Eagles won for the last time in 1959, a Dennysville squad coached by Alton Bell had a two-year run.

by Phil Stuart

The Machias husband and wife combination of Gary and Sue Derickson have maintained their first place grip on the earnings leader board at Barren View Golf Course Wednesday morning senior scrambles.

Last year the couple took a cross country trip with their Barren View earnings and this year they should be able to reach Alaska.

by  V. Paul Reynolds

Make no mistake about it. When it comes to Maine’s most important wildlife game species, our whitetail deer are at the very top of the list. There are a number of reasons, not the least of which is the enormous impact that deer have on Maine’s overall economy, as well as the budget and income at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Richard G. Axelrod of Brooklyn, New York as Trustee of the Simon and Jean H. Locke Charitable Remainder UniTrust To Worcester Holdings, Inc. of Columbia Falls land and buildings in Addison (Parcel one a certain lot or parcel of land situated in Addison beginning at the high water mark of Cape Split Harbor so-called; Parcel Two as appurtenant to the premises in Addison described in the deed from the Harbor Land Company; Parcel Three a certain lot or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Pleasant River Bay an island known as Norton’s Island)

There will be a Green Space meeting held at noon on Aug. 10 at the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Station 1898, 2 Kilton Lane, Machias. The purpose of the meeting is to determine what types of trees will be planted where next. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. 

Reel Pizza Cinerama, located at 33 Kennebec Place in Bar Harbor will present a screening of Sacred Cod on Sunday, August 13 at 2 p.m.

by Phil Stuart

Washington County has seven road races that have been going continuously for 25 years or more and runners can count on them being the same weekend each year.

Running has changed over the years. The times are not as fast and there is not a deep field of runners. There might be a fast runner or two at the head of the pack, but it usually drops off fast after that.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the elite runners were all running 100-mile weeks. today very few runners hit the 50 mile limit.

Julian Merrill Ross passed away in Machias on July 24, 2017 with his children by his side. He was 72.

Julian was born on June 15, 1945 in Lubec, Maine to Bernard Merrill Ross and Marion Elaine Newman. He graduated from Lubec High School in 1963. After high school, Julian joined the United States Army. Julian then owned and operated his own satellite business, Colby Co. Satellite. Later in life he did computer repair on the side. 

Larry Worcester Beal, 78, of Milbridge Maine passed away peacefully and quietly at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital on July 28, 2017.

Larry was educated in the Milbridge school system and graduated from Milbridge High School.

He worked his entire life at a variety of jobs. Two of his favorite jobs were being a lobster fisherman with his dad, and the manager of the International Paper Company wood yard in Cherryfield. Larry was a hard worker, who loved his family, a good story, and a good laugh. He was also a lifelong member of the Harrington Advent Christian Church.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Last year, volunteers at the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival information booth noticed that there were a lot of visitors walking around town on the Friday of festival weekend, a day traditionally thin on activities. So this year, they’ve expanded Friday’s schedule to include a full day of live music and more than 50 vendors who will set up on the green space by Centre Street Congregational Church.

by Ruth Leubecker

Amid a storm of overriding controversy, the 128th session of the Maine Legislature ended last week with the certainty of reconvening to address many of the same issues.

“It was a difficult session,” said Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville). “We had so many different issues, and so many vetoes. That takes a lot of time, and it’s frustrating. Some wanted to change their vote, and that’s more time and more discussion.”

by Bill Kitchen

Machias native and San Francisco firefighter and EMT, Rob Collinson, returned home for a few weeks this summer and revived the now mythic ROBSTOCK skate fest in Whitneyville last weekend. Collinson is also the founder and publisher of LOWCARD Magazine, a noted skater publication launched in 2003, which was one of the event’s sponsors.

 Last Wednesday, the Maine Senate and House of Representatives dealt with over two dozen vetoes from Governor Paul LePage, sent two bond issues and a constitutional amendment back to their policy committees, and set the stage for a return in the fall when another committee charged with implementing the state’s marijuana legalization act completes its work on a bill to implement the new law.

On August 7 at approximately 2:13 p.m. the Washington County Regional Communications Center (RCC)  received a 911 call from an off-duty Deputy that had come upon a serious two-vehicle crash on Rt 192 in Northfield in the vicinity of mailbox 1580. The RCC dispatched the Machias ambulance, Machias Fire Department as well as additional Deputies to the scene.

Twenty-seven gubernatorial turndowns have slammed into rural Maine, once again causing Mainers to speculate about the rationale that drives this state’s leader.

Twenty-seven vetoes saying no to everything from phoning while driving to selling flame-retardant furniture gummed up the wheels of decision-making in Augusta.

While Gov. Paul LePage spews forth a hefty stream of bombastic dialogue on a daily basis he seems to have added a new twist lately with his concern over “social engineering.”

Many year round residents have a standing rule that they do not leave the state of Maine in August. One look around our area this month, and no one could question their wisdom. Where else could anyone wish to be? Lobster, blueberries, beaches, sunshine (finally), music, great food, author readings, history, hiking... the list goes on. There are dozens of reasons our roads, hotels and pullout couches are brimming with out-of-state visitors right now.