We had two days that had a two-hour delay due to the weather this past week. The weather has warmed up somewhat over the weekend and hopefully we will have good weather throughout the week. And hopefully the stormy weather that is predicted will bypass us.

I have been out and about delivering some history of Cape Split. I did not get the chance to stop and visit with this person as he was gone and I had a bit of time before I would be back on the bus.

Youth librarian Stephen Copel-Parsons concluded a six-week course in Scratch coding held for children at Porter Memorial Library in Machias. The class was run in conjunction with the local 4H as part of their “SPIN” or Special Interest programming. Submitted photo

Friends of Baxter State Park invites current Maine high school sophomores and juniors to submit an application to participate in the 10th annual Maine Youth Wilderness Leadership Program. The program includes a nine-day wilderness experience in Baxter State Park, scheduled for early August. The application deadline for the program is Feb. 8. 

Washington County is divided into three districts, each electing one commissioner and three budget committee representatives. The budget committee has full responsibility for creating and approving the county budget. Residents wishing to weigh in on the proposed tax increase should reach out to their local selectboards and/or their district budget committee members shown below. More information can be found by visiting www.washingtoncountymaine.com.

District One: All towns from Robbinston north.

by Alan Caron

Congratulations to the people of Jackman and their board of selectmen for doing the right thing and firing their racist town manager. He has embarrassed your town and the state as a whole. His language and prejudices are exactly the wrong things for Maine and America. 

Students from Machias Memorial High School’s JMG program shared their new Bulldog Strong bracelets with employees of Machias Savings Bank on Friday, Jan. 26. The students of the Jobs for Maine Graduates program arrived at the bank to pick up a check MSB donated to cover the costs of purchasing the orange bracelets for the entire Machias campus. The Bulldog Strong program was started by the students to give their campus a positive focal point during a period of turbulence and loss, comprised of multiple school threats and the deaths of two school community members.

One of those weeks when things go wrong. Truck won’t start, think it needs a starter will have to wait R.Z. Tried twice to boost truck, no fire at all, and that was after he fixed a flat on the truck. Now the oven quit on gas stove, have to wait for an electric part for it. 

by V. Paul Reynolds

When it comes to Maine’s fabled outdoor heritage, you don’t have to be a social scientist or a statistician to sense what is going on. Changing times are leaving a mark on our culture in countless ways. If you visit a few rod and gun clubs around the state, a common theme shows itself: a predominance of wrinkled gray-haired members and a glaring absence of bright-eyed, fresh-scrubbed youth among the club rolls.

A new grant program from the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) will allow five communities across the state an opportunity to ensure their youngest children receive a healthy start and arrive at kindergarten developmentally prepared to succeed in school and life. 

by Phil Stuart

The Jonesport-Beals Royalettes and Royals hosted the Sumner Tiger’s squads from East Sullivan January 21st in a doubleheader with both of the hosts squads picking up victories. After a couple of lopsided losses to defending Class D Champion, Vinal Haven and Roger Beals Royalettes picked up a much needed victory over the visiting Tigers. 

Sumner came out of the first quarter holding a 13-12 lead before Roger Beals’ Royalettes  gradually established a lead and took control of the game.

by Phil Stuart

The cheerleaders prepare to perform a flip to an extended stunt.

McKenna Harriman holds McCartney Blake in a shoulder sit.

The squad hits a perfect hitch.

Goldie and Buttercup, registered American Milking Devons of Cape Split Farm in Addison are headed this weekend to their new home at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Expectant mothers, they will be part of the living 1830s farm at the village and an integral part of the farm’s heritage breeding program. Both Goldie and Buttercup’s genetics date back to 1623 when this breed arrived on the 2nd ship in Massachusetts. Goldie has lived at Cape Split Farm for 5 years and Buttercup was born here to Lily two years ago.

The Down East Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) met recently at their office on Main Street in Milbridge.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) responded to a distress call issued by the captain of the F/V Alexis Shay on Tuesday, Jan. 23, but the distress call wasn’t for him. It was for the F/V Born Again, which was sinking in front of him as he attempted to render aid.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

At a special meeting of the Washington County Commissioners, Chief Deputy Michael Crabtree said the sheriff’s office recommends adding additional headcount to fight the recent rise in crime.  “We’ve done a very good job over the years convincing the public and the bad guys that there are more of us than there actually are,” said Crabtree. “[The bad guys] have figured out that there are not.”

This piece was originally published in the 1938 Portsmouth Herald. It is republished with permission. 

The Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee will hold an unprecedented Fridaysession to hear from those interested in a new rule that would establish a lottery system for scallop divers and draggers.

 “We really want to hear from people in the industry, and those who want to get in,” said Rep. Will Tuell (R-East Machias), “and so we asked for permission to meet on a Friday so that folks in the industry would not have to give up a day in order to come and participate.”

What needs to be done to break this downward spiral our government is in? We now have a president and his administration saying he did not make a certain statement, and a Senator saying he did. I thought I left this kind of behavior behind when I left grade school. These are the men we elected to represent us. We are not getting what we bargained for. Could someone please tell me why we tolerate this type of behavior? We don’t allow our children to act in this manner. We certainly don’t tolerate it in our workforce. Just when I think it cannot get any worse, it does.

Michael Wight of the Maine Department of Transportation has confirmed that he is scheduling another public hearing concerning the Machias dike. The hearing will be held in late February or early March, and will likely be held at UMM to accomodate a large audience. The hearing will address possibilities for replacing the dike with a structure that could prevent or limit flooding in part of Machias’ 100-year floodplain. You’ll find the details in this paper when they’re available.

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) says five people were arrested in Cherryfield early on the morning of Friday, Jan. 26 for selling crack cocaine and creating a police standoff. Three of those arrested are from the Bronx, New York.

The arrests came after drug agents obtained a search warrant for the home at 177 Tenan Lane. At the request of MDEA, the State Police Tactical Team also responded to the home and assisted with the arrests.

On Saturday, Feb. 10, the University of Maine at Machias will hold a campus-wide winter carnival for people of all ages. Events include: a snowball fight, snowshoe and cross-country skiing lessons, carriage rides, snow painting, igloo building, a paint ‘n sip, and indoor mini golf. The day will also include a free showing of Thor Rangarok at 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Activities will take place at various locations on campus, and a schedule and map will be provided to attendees. All events are free of charge. For more information, visit: machias.edu/news. 

In September 2017, H.D. Moore Library and Community Center patrons and supporters Edward Atkinson and Brenda Koskinen offered a $10,000 challenge match to benefit the Moore for the Future Endowment Fund. 

Library officials are pleased to report the required $10,000 in donations have been received and matched, adding $20,000 to the endowment fund goal of $250,000. 

Now, at $235,000, the endowment fund goal is within reach. The library hopes to meet it by this summer and honor the many donors with a celebration.

Local crafters will be on display at the Cabin Fever Craft Fair on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hillgrove Community Building in Whitneyville.  Snow date for the event is Saturday, Feb. 17.  Homemade chocolates by the friends of the Whitneyville Public Library will be for sale along with handmade soaps and lotions, sewn and knitted items and jewelry are some the crafts that will be for sale by many local crafters.  Feeling a little cabin fever and would like to get out and enjoy the day? Then come to our Cabin Fever Craft Fair.

by  Lura Jackson

Local mystery fans will be glad to know that they can continue to get their fix of Eastport-based crime solving featuring the characters of Sarah Graves’s “Home Repair is Homicide” series – albeit with a few new twists – in “Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake”, the first book in a bakery-centered series. The book, released on Jan. 30, is available for purchase at S.L. Wadsworth and Son in Eastport and at the Calais Bookshop, as well as online.  

 January flew right by, where does the time go? It seems like I did not get a thing done that I wanted to do. I guess with the cold temperatures outside I did not feel like doing anything major. I did get some genealogy done and then I caught the crud and was down for the count for four days. I missed two days of work because of it. Hopefully I won’t get this again this year.

Kenneth J. Leighton, age 76, of Maynard, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully Sunday, January 28, 2018 surrounded by his loving family.  He was the husband of fifty-four years to Carol M. (Nelson) Leighton.  

 Born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 23, 1941, he was the son of the late John W. Jr. and Gunvor (Borgeson) Leighton.  Ken graduated from Newton High School, class of 1959.  He proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1959-1963.  

by Gov. Paul LePage

There’s a horrific type of child abuse happening right here in Maine, and we must stop it. It is graphic and disturbing.

No child should ever be subjected to violence, especially when it leaves them permanently disfigured and interferes with normal bodily functions.

But young girls in Maine are being forced to undergo a procedure called “female genital mutilation,” and hundreds more are at risk.

by  Rep. Will Tuell

I am happy to report that the Criminal Justice committee overwhelmingly passed our bill to keep Downeast Correctional Facility open. I believe the vote was 11-1-1, but the two 1’s were for slightly different versions of the bill. All three versions make it clear that the legislature wants to keep DCF open, sees a value in the facility, and doesn’t have any other option but to keep it open for at least one more year.

Dear Cat Lady, 

I just moved in with my daughter. Her cat is eight years old and my cat is five. Having a problem with them getting along. Can you give any advice?

I appreciate your help,

Lorraine

Dear Lorraine,

Hopefully this will be an easy transition for all. Most importantly, don’t expect instant friends. Keep the cats separate and start making introductions by scent. You can switch sleeping blankets, beds or toys that smell like the other for a few weeks so that they become accustomed to the other’s scent. 

Ten University of Maine at Machias (UMM) students have taken their studies outside the classroom in a project exploring what it means to be an American. The result of their work is a documentary film, “Who Made You in America,” premiering Feb. 18 on campus.

The free public screening at 2 p.m. at the UMM Performing Arts Center will be followed by a panel discussion led by professor Alan Kryszak and featuring several students involved in the making of the film. 

by Lura Jackson

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, the high winds and precipitation were not enough to deter a group of five scallop fishermen from heading out to attempt to meet their quota. After spending the morning plying the rough waters of Cobscook Bay, the dragger returned back with its catch. The five fishermen – four men and one woman – moored their vessel in Deep Cove and proceeded to row inland in a 14-foot skiff. The small skiff wasn’t able to withstand the waves and it overturned, sending all five people into the 39-degree water. 

Having fun and helping others by cross-country skiing through woodland trails, sledding, ice skating, snow shoeing, a ski race, ice fishing, a scavenger hunt, ski lessons and a potluck by the bonfire are all part of the sixteenth annual Winter Sports and Fun Day held Saturday, Feb. 10 in Perry. 

In addition to fun, the event provides funds for Stronghearts, a Perry-based foundation.  Stronghearts was established in 2002 by Brian and Sue Duffy in memory of their son Seamus who died of a congenital heart defect, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.  

Grade 3 honors: Hunter Roberts. High honors: Darion Wescott. 

Grade 4 honors, Daniel Gardner, Lily Hennessey, Jayden Gardner, Gertrude Gregory, Cameron Matthews, Pierce Thatcher. High honors: Samuel Davidson, Jayden Mahar. 

Grade 5 honors: Cloe Gibson, Finlay Ramsdell, Rachel Keeton, Alaina Berry, Autumn Balyint, Brayden Barker, Grace Dennison. High honors: Iris Johnson, Myla Bartko, Jonah Dean Abigail Maker, Lola Smith. 

Grade 4, high honors: Kiley Bauman, Cassidy Conlin,  Annabel Lentz, Arden Luuring, Irish Manning, Hanna Megno and Kellan Schwinn. Honors: William Bishko, Webster Case, Cali Cole, Alizay Cox, Lauren Davis, Presley Day,  Dominick Farley,  Nicholas Hennessey, Emerson Johnson, Avery Libby, Jolan Look, and Lucy Lord, Skyla Moody and Victor Mubang Jr.

Let the good times roll at the annual Mardi Gras Pancake Supper, on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the Kay Parker Building, 26 Hadley Lake Road in Machias, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children. This event is held every year to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, the day before the beginning of Lent and is hosted by St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church and Sunrise Opportunities, with all proceeds going to the Special Olympics program. 

Lady Raider Madelyn Willey takes the ball down the sideline.

Strong baseline drive by Lady Raider Sydney Verge.

Katie Leighton Brings the ball down over midcourt against Woodland.

by Phil Stuart

The Washington Academy (WA) Raiders boys completed their 2017-18 regular season on Feb. 1 with a 69-53 victory over the John Bapst Crusaders of Bangor. The win gave Barry Terrell’s club a season’s sweep over the Crusaders, and a 13-5 regular season mark which currently has them seeded seventh in the standings.  

The art program has been very busy creating exciting and colorful artwork!  Miss Lee supports students in imaginative and unique opportunities to express themselves through art.

Waiting out winter in Alleys Bay, Beals Island. Photo by Nancy Beal

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

When the town’s contract with the Penobscot Energy Recovery Company (PERC) expires at the end of March, Machias plans to switch transfer station services to a company based in New Brunswick. 

Machias town manager Christina Therrien said that she visited the company’s facility last month. “It is cheaper and it is closer,” said Therrien. “I believe we’re going to save in transportation, and we’re going to save in disposal costs.”

The Machias Memorial High School varsity boys basketball team hopes to advance to the preliminary playoffs after their final home game in Machias on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Pick up our next issue dated Feb. 14 for our annual local basketball insert for all the local pre-playoffs basketball news. Front row from left to right: Jordan Grant, Noah Albert, Alex Wentzell, Dallas Moody, Reece Alley, Alex Marotta, Mark Merserean. Back row from left to right: Coach Jimmy Getchell, Jacob Holland, Evan Dray, Russell Hanscom, Alex Look, Tyler Wentzell, Josh Archer, Carl Bragg, Dustin Getchell.

If you’re a gardener, then chances are you’re already dreaming your way through seed catalogs. You’ll be happy to know that Gordie the Groundhog is back at Porter Memorial Library to pull you closer to spring with our annual Fedco seed sale fundraiser. Stop in anytime before March 1 to collect your order forms. Help a Maine seed seller, your local library and your garden all in one fell swoop!

In one of the more amusing commercials aired during last Sunday’s Super Bowl a priest, a rabbi, an imam and a buddhist monk get into a truck to go to a football game. The spot is part of a series of commercials based on the old jokes, and takes aim at religious intolerance through humor. Toyota calls the series “One Team.”

Despite gnome’s enthusiastic display of team spirit at Helen’s Restaurant in Machias, the New England Patriots could not defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl held Sunday, Feb. 4.  Photo by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

by Nancy Beal

Totals from the six towns that make up the Pleasant River Solid Waste Disposal District indicating how much trash their townsmen deposited on scales at the Columbia Falls Route 1 facility were shared by Jonesport Selectman Harry Fish with his colleagues at their weekly meeting last week. Scales at PRSWDD include a large truck scale and a small scale in the office for trash brought in that is not in the designated bags sold at PRWSDD and from town offices.

The country is in for a rough ride over the actions of senior Obama administration officials and leadership in the Department of Justice and the FBI. The resultant damage to the deep state would be well deserved, but President Trump can take one step to limit the damage and protect American institutions which might be needed to Make America Great Again: Pardon President Obama, Attorney General Lynch, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, Susan Rice, Samantha Powers, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Bruce Ohr, Sally Yates and Rod Rosenstein.  We need to Move on. Amnesty for all!

The Downeast Christian Homeschool Co-Op meets weekly on Fridays in Machiasport. Students age eight and up put together candy bar bouquets at last week’s gathering. “We plan to drop them off at doctor’s offices, the emergency room and the like to thank people who give to our community,” said Dawn Wright, one of the co-op’s teachers. “We’d like to show them love back on this Valentine’s Day as a thank you for all they do!” Photo courtesy Dawn Wright

To the Machias Board of Selectmen and the Downeast Coastal Conservancy,

Where habitats intersect within our town boundary, should we begin a dialogue of designating these areas between town and the Middle River park and its trails as non-hunting areas?  Even at 15 feet, the width of the main trail is too close to hunting when considering safety. Our area houses children, people with animals walking the trail, motorized vehicles, propane tanks and the list goes on. Safety is the word.