by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A former Machias and Calais business owner arrested after a three-day manhunt in February has been charged with two new crimes in addition to the 12 already levied against him. Robert Boggia, owner of Downeast Smoke and Vape shop in Machias, was charged on Tuesday, Oct. 30 with conspiracy to commit murder.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A former Machias and Calais business owner arrested after a three-day manhunt in February has been charged with two new crimes in addition to the 12 already levied against him. Robert Boggia, owner of Downeast Smoke and Vape shop in Machias, was charged on Tuesday, Oct. 30 with conspiracy to commit murder. 

On Saturday, Nov. 17 the holiday spirit will take over Machias with the much-anticipated 2018 Community Christmas celebration.

A full day of fun will kick off when Santa Claus comes to town. He’ll be taking wishes at the Lee Pellon Center from noon to 5 p.m. and after chatting with St. Nick children can enjoy snacks, crafts and toys!

Porter Memorial Library will host its annual Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. including hot cider, cookies, music and a chance to shop for early holiday gifts at a used and glossy book sale.

by Ruth Leubecker

After eight years of bombastic bluster and overwhelming crudeness, Gov. Paul LePage termed out and relinquishing the helm, is leaving Maine with his promises kept.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Less than two weeks before state law requires them to submit their recommendations, the county budget committee voted 9-1 to halt their work and send an unfinished budget back to the commissioners, cutting a scheduled three-hour meeting on Oct. 31 down to 32 minutes. Rep. Will Tuell (R - E. Machias) was the lone dissenting vote. 

Machias Finance Director Megan Dennison made the motion that shortened the meeting, saying the budget should go back to the commissioners for their recommendations for cuts. 

On Wednesday, Nov. 7 Machias Savings Bank presented its next wave of investment in its hometown to the Machias Planning Board.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Nearing the close of a year-long, often heated debate over hiking taxes to add deputies to the sheriff’s office, the county commissioners have sent a revised budget proposal back to the Washington County Budget Committee with a new suggested county tax increase of 3.9 percent or $243,000. Previously the cost increase for the first year was more than 6 percent, or roughly $400,000. The first year increase is the highest because it includes the cost of cars and other gear.

by Lura Jackson

Overall crime in Maine is continuing to decrease, according to a report released by the Uniform Crime Reporting division of the Maine State Police that records crimes in various categories in both the urban and rural sectors of the state. Some crimes, however, have increased, with particularly sharp rises in rural areas – defined as areas without their own police departments.

"Overall crime down by almost 50 percent in six years"

The Maine Department of Marine Resources has announced the first new entrants into the scallop fishery since 2009.

The winners of a recent department lottery to apply for a license include Matthew Alley from Beals Island who holds a lobster license, Chase Fitzsimmons from Lubec who has crewed on a scallop boat, Johnathon Oliver from Deer Isle who holds a lobster license, and Frank Gott from Bar Harbor, who also holds a lobster license.

In the early 1980's University of Maine at Machias Art Professor Frank Hamabe

taught the children at the Whitneyville Public Library the art of puppetry.  A good friend to one of the library's founders, Dorothy (Dot) Bodger, Frank shared his love of art with the many children of  Whitneyville.

It was during that time that the Whitneyville Public Library received a  grant for Frank Hamabe to do a pictorial history of the steam engines, The Lion and The Tiger, and their journey on the Whitneyville and Machiasport railroad.

by Nancy Beal

Jonesport selectmen began trying to get the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) to fix several storm drains on Main Street well before the DOT paved Route 187 last August. Having no success and concerned that since the new tar was laid the holes are more treacherous than before the paving, they recently wrote directly to the DOT commissioner. Last week, they received a reply.

Jared Golden has been named the winner of Maine's U.S. House of Representatives CD2, defeating incumbent Bruce Poliquin following the tabulation of Ranked Choice votes. 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Tyler Farrington can make a wreath in just five minutes, but he knows someone who can do it even faster. “Beth Hawkins was about the best,” he said. “If I broke brush for her, she could make one in about three minutes.”

Speedy wreathing is something Farrington appreciates as the owner of Machias Bay Wreath, a business he founded in 2013 at the age of 20. Employing about 18 people this year, Machias Bay Wreath will produce thousands of wreaths for wholesale and retail customers before the season ends mid-December.

by Sandra K. Prescott

Cora Proctor was born on Thursday, March 4, 1909, in the Larrabee District of Machiasport. According to her birth certificate, her parents had eleven girls  and Cora was child number nine. Last Saturday a celebration of her life was held at the Larrabee Baptist Church and Cora Proctor Quimby returned home to Larrabee at the age of 109.

Steve Lail officially took the helm as Down East Community Hospital CEO on November 1, 2018.  With almost two weeks underway, everything is moving smoothly ahead.

Steve is no stranger to the forward movement of Down East Community Hospital.  His notable accomplishments as Chief Operating Officer at DECH was project lead for the Emergency Department expansion, the Rehabilitation expansion, and the transition of Arnold Memorial Medical Center.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Machias Green Team worked all summer weeding, planting and watering to beautify flower beds around Machias, but what they’re really hoping will blossom is a sense of hometown pride.

“We care about creating a community spirit,” said committee co-chair Sandi Malagara. “We have so much good here in Machias. We want everybody to know what a wonderful place it is.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that the existing medical marijuana storefronts in Machias are not grandfathered to continue operation. If the town votes no on medical marijuana, the five existing medical marijuana storefronts will have to close, per Town of Machias legal counsel. 

More than 40 people turned out for a Machias public hearing on Monday, Nov. 19 to learn about the town’s proposal for governing medical marijuana. 

The following excerpts from one of this paper’s antecedents, The Machias Republican, tell the story of a devastating fire that took place at the Centre Street Congregational Church and the subsequent rebuilding. The church is still located today on the corner of Court and Centre Streets in Machias. 

MACHIAS REPUBLICAN – December 28, 1865

by Charles W, Lightner, Friend of Porter Memorial Library

As we approach once more the celebratory holiday season, I thought a word of caution might be in order. A Machias friend, Laurel Robinson, the proofreading editor, suggested I might read this excellent biographic story of a time which we all would rather forget - Vietnam. Here is a tough chunk of our country’s history we would all do well to remember!

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Both members of the Machias Memorial High School golf team ranked in the top five of all players in the Downeast Athletic Conference, making MMHS senior Evan Dray and junior Jacob Sinford DAC Golf All-Stars.

Coach Tony Roy said both students have played golf for all of their respective years in high school.