Downeast youth demonstrate tech and business innovations at Fishermen’s Forum

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

An app that connects seafood shoppers to local boats, an ultra-lightweight flotation device for fishermen and a more fuel-efficient design for a fishing vessel were some of the answers local students gave when asked how technology could support safe, sustainable fisheries and fishing economies.

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Machias proposal receives funding, green light to rebuild recreation area

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A two-year joint effort to find funding to rehabilitate the Machias Recreation Area has proven successful.

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Tuell testifies in support of veterans’ home funding bill

by Ruth Leubecker

Rep. Will Tuell, well-known for his tenacity in striving to reopen the Downeast Correctional Facility, is now making a plea with equal fervor for Maine Veterans Home - Machias.

LD 606 seeks full compensation for all Maine veterans’ homes, but will be of critical financial importance to the Machias veterans’ home. The bill, “Resolve, To Require the Department of Health and Human Services To Provide Cost-based Reimbursement to Maine Veterans' Homes,” is sponsored by Senator Louis Luchini (D-Hancock).

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Jonesporters lower medical marijuana license fees

 

by Nancy Beal

A dozen Jonesporters braved the cold last week (February 27) to attend a public hearing on a proposed medical marijuana ordinance that will be formally voted upon at next week’s town meeting (March 11). (A description of the ordinance appeared in the MVNO of Feb. 20, 2019.) After an hour of discussion, the only changes proposed and accepted in hand votes were lowering of certain fees and clarification of terms.

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DYSA honors Whitney for service to community and youth sports

 

by Jamie Corbett

The Downeast Youth Soccer Association would like to honor David Whitney for seven years of dedication to DYSA and his continued support through his role as coach of the RMG Junior High Bulldogs.

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Beals Historical Society invites public to youth lighthouse presentation

Beals Elementary School students in fifth through eighth grades are currently preparing for a visit in April from author Sophie Blackall. Blackall's book, "Hello Lighthouse,” recently won the Caldecott Medal.

On Monday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. the Beals Historical Society will proudly host BES students as they present their Lighthouse projects at the Beals gym.  

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Life on the run

 

by Wayne Smith

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Beware “The Bull”: Remembering Bull Powers

 

by the St. Croix Historical Society

Among the most iconic law enforcement figures in the living memory of the Calais and greater Maine community is State Trooper Francis “Bull” Powers. Known for his size as much as his demeanor, Powers served the area well with his particular approach to justice until 1964.

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MVCS celebrates reading with Dr. Seuss

It was an exciting week at Machias Valley Christian School leading up to the celebration of National Read Across America Day on March 2. The week focused on a different Dr. Seuss book each day with coordinating outfits and hands-on activities. “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”, “The Lorax”, “Wacky Wednesday”, “Green Eggs and Ham”, and “The Cat in the Hat” were the chosen books. The teachers decorated their rooms and the entrance with a “Seussville” atmosphere. Guest readers were invited into the classrooms to read a book aloud to the students.

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Bags O Rags ‘Not-a-Fire Sale' to benefit area firefighters

The Machias and Marshfield Fire Departments will be the beneficiaries of a special Pop-Up sale, to be held at Bags O Rags on 15 Main Street. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be used towards the purchase of a special washer and dryer for first responder's turnout gear, designed to significantly reduce cancer-causing contaminants that cling to their clothing after a fire.

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The greatest constitutional crisis since the Civil War

by Conrad Black

The most immense and dangerous public scandal in American history is finally cracking open like a ripe pomegranate. The broad swath of the Trump-hating media that has participated in what has amounted to an unconstitutional attempt to overthrow the government are reduced to reporting the events and revelations of the scandal in which they have been complicit, in a po-faced ho-hum manner to impart to the misinformed public that this is as routine as stock market fluctuations or the burning of an American flag in Tehran.

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East Machias selectboard votes to demolish Stone Soup building destroyed by fire

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The East Machias Board of Selectmen voted Friday, March 8 to authorize the demolition and removal of debris from a fire that destroyed Stone Soup Cafe and Market on Sept. 11, 2018.  Selectmen Bucket Davis, Will Tuell and Dale Richardson were all in attendance at the Friday morning meeting.

The demolition is expected to take place on Monday, March 11. The Stone Soup property is located along Route 1 in East Machias.

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Publisher delivers this week's newspapers for subscribers - papers on the way!

Publisher Pierre Little of the Machias Valley News Observer delivering this week's newspapers for subscribers.  He thanked the USPS for the years of dedication mailing the MVNO every week.  "We want to acknowledge the support of the USPS for their work and service to the public.  Without their professionalism we would not be the most read newspaper in the Washington County Seat." Little said.

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Revolutionary War Reenactors meeting set for March 25

 

The Revolutionary War Reenactors of Downeast Maine will be holding their next meeting on Monday, March 25, at 5:30 p.m., at the Machias Valley Baptist Church.  The meeting will be open to anyone interested in learning about reenacting for Margaretta Days, the Battle of the Rim, or any other event.

Come by and question our reenactors, learn how to create a persona, or just learn a bit of the history of the Machias Patriots and their Native Allies, during the American Revolution.

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Changing of the Boy Scouts’ guard

 

The Machias Rotary Club is the charter organization for the local BSA Scout Troop 125. The troop has been serving the needs of young scouts for over 20 years.

Clifford Norton, Jr. of Bucks Harbor has been working with Troop 125 for the past eight years serving as the Scoutmaster for the last two years. Of note, his son Caleb completed his Eagle Scout rank in February of 2018. However, because of his work schedule, Clifford has decided to step aside from the active role of Scoutmaster.

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Library brings locally-filmed ‘Lobster War’ movie to Machias on March 30

 

Machias’ Porter Memorial Library will offer a screening of “Lobster War: The Fight Over the World’s Richest Fishing Grounds” on Saturday, March 30. The showing will take place in the University of Maine at Machias Performing Arts Center at 2 p.m.

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WA senior holds two championship titles, reflects on years of wrestling

 

Ten years ago Josiah Brown began his passion for wrestling with Washington Academy Youth Wrestling. Today, Josiah holds two 2019 championship titles. Early February, Josiah earned the Penobscot Valley Conference (PVC) Championship title in the 182-pound weight class and was voted Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet by conference coaches. A week later he went on to become the Northern Maine Regional Champion at the Northern Maine Regional Wrestling Championship held at Ellsworth High School. Josiah has been preparing for these titles since he was in third grade.

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Stone Soup demolition handled by town

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The East Machias Board of Selectmen voted Friday, March 8 to authorize the demolition and removal of debris from a fire that destroyed Stone Soup Cafe and Market on Sept. 11, 2018.  Selectmen Bucket Davis, Will Tuell and Dale Richardson were all in attendance at the Friday morning meeting.

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At Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Senator King lauds fishing industry’s contribution to Maine communities, economy

 

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) commended the work of the men and women in Maine’s fishing industry at the Maine Fishermen's Forum in Rockport last week, listening first-hand to the priorities and concerns of Maine fishermen from around the state.

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Saint Patrick's Day love story

 

by Wayne Smith

To the most beautiful person in the world. We made 15 years together without killing each other. There’s been ups and downs, twists and turns. Memories built up enough to build a castle that we have dreams about living in one day if we win the lottery. We don’t have much, yet we have each other. And that’s all that matters. Robin, you always have put a smile on my face with your dry humor. You have guided me through the best and worst of times, the times when on a trip and times we never wanted to come home to face the housework.

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Red Squirrels

 

by Joseph Horn

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WA National Honor Society students photograph shelter cats for ‘St. Catty’s Day’

 

Washington Academy National Honor Society students Ryan Conley and Mikaila Loughlin recently visited The Ark Animal Shelter in Cherryfield to photograph shelter cats in the hopes of raising the chances to find their “forever home.” The resulting photos and campaign comprise their National Honor Society service project.

They call their campaign, “Happy St. Catty’s Day, Help Us Get Lucky!” Conley said some of these cats have been in the shelter for more than a year. To find out how you can adopt one, call The Ark at 207-546-3484.

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Wild Blueberry Commission expansion bill introduced, small growers not happy

by Nancy Beal

Last month, a bill to expand Maine’s Wild Blueberry Commission (WBC), crafted by small wild blueberry growers, was brought forth in Maine’s legislature and heard at a hearing on February 5 (MVNO February 13, 2019). It would add two grower seats on the present eight-member WBC, bringing grower seats into parity with those of processors: five of each. The grower seats would be designated for organic growers, those who add value before selling and those who sell fresh pack, those involved in co-operatives and Native American growers.

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Downeast families ready to testify in favor of vaccine choice, ‘informed consent’

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A state bill to ban philosophical and religious exemptions from childhood vaccinations will have a public hearing before the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs on Wednesday, March 13. Numerous Washington County residents plan to attend the hearing to testify against the bill and in favor of vaccine choice and “informed consent,” as one father puts it.

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Collins champions elderly causes, sweeping reform

by Ruth Leubecker

Leading the charge, whether banking reform or prescription cost transparency, Sen. Susan Collins is an increasing presence for change that can be measurable.

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Local teacher ready to race in NYC Half Marathon

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

When she celebrates her birthday on St. Patrick’s Day, Mathy Terrill plans to be racing through famous landmarks like Central Park and Times Square, on her way to completing the New York City Half Marathon. This will be the second 13.1-mile race for Terrill, who went from a non-runner to a half-marathoner in only two years.

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Local videographer takes to skies for a ‘Drone’s Eye View’

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Ryan Malagara has always enjoyed taking photographs and making movies, but it was a surprise Christmas gift from his wife Sandi that made him into a professional videographer. In 2015 Malagara opened a Phantom 3 Professional Drone, and that was that — he was hooked.

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Seagull Motel donation and CTE school controversy top Machias board agenda

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) Project Manager Jacob Van de Sande addressed the Machias Board of Selectmen at their bi-weekly meeting held Wednesday, March 13.

Van de Sande was following up on an earlier conversation about the old Seagull Motel, most recently used as the Machias River Redemption center. Van de Sande told the board MCHT has secured an option to purchase it and is prepared to facilitate the town’s purchase and demolition of the building to create a public green space.

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East Machias takes delivery of new state-of-the art 4x4 tanker truck

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The town of East Machias waited for a bright, dry day to take receipt of its brand new, off-road tanker truck designed to fight wildfires in forests and from hard-to-reach backroads. The 2019 Bulldog Extreme 4x4 is the first of its kind to be delivered in Maine.

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Machias hearing draws support for pursuit of CDBG Downtown Revitalization Grant to address lighting, sidewalks

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Attendees at a public hearing held Wednesday, March 13 learned about the town’s proposed application for a Community Block Development Grant to help pay for improvements to Machias’ lighting and sidewalks.

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Missing the point makes life tougher

by Ruth Leubecker

States should always take a hard look at what works in other states and seriously evaluate making changes accordingly. Maine does not do well when it comes to these potential actions.

For years our neighbors — specifically Massachusetts and New Hampshire — have funded their governments either without residents paying any income tax at all, or paying significantly lower than Maine residents do.

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The spring equinox

 

by Joseph Horn

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Local photographer returns from mission service in the Philippines

Hannah Sprague recently returned from three weeks spent in the Philippines serving with Medical Missions International and Inspire Hope Ministries. While there, Sprague assisted medical teams serving in the region and brought her camera with her to use in her spare time. Sprague is the owner of Mainely Moments Photography & Videography, based in Machias. Here she shares a little bit about her experiences, in her own words.

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CACC Annual Quilt Show and Artisan Fair

Cherryfield Academy Community Center will be having its Annual Quilt Show and Artisan Fair on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center is located at 53 Main Street in Cherryfield.

Artisans will have some wonderful items for you to purchase and some will do some demos throughout the day. Each artisan will contribute one of their items to the Grand Prize Basket, which you can enter to win at $1/ticket.

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Out and about in Columbia

 

by Ronie Strout

 

The Phys Ed class went sliding on Tuesday during the day. This was the only time so far this year that they could go. It was a good day for it.

The Addison Town Meeting was held on Tuesday evening March 12 at the D.W. Merritt Elementary School. Over 170 folks turned out for the meeting with 169 voters registered to vote.

The moderator for the evening was Chris Chartrand and the ballot clerks were John Rittenhouse, Sheila Mitchell and Donna Kausan.

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‘Die Walküre’ in HD at The Grand March 30

On Saturday, March 30 at noon The Grand's season of high-definition simulcasts from The New York Metropolitan Opera continues with one of the most challenging pieces in the repertoire, Richard Wagner’s Die Walküre.  

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‘Lobster War’ film to be shown in Machias March 30

Machias’ Porter Memorial Library will offer a screening of “Lobster War: The Fight Over the World’s Richest Fishing Grounds” on Saturday, March 30. The showing will take place at the University of Maine at Machias Performing Arts Center at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 per adult, kids 12 and under $3, and all UMM faculty and students have free admission …of course, any donations are gladly accepted!

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Block printers explored African art form over two weekends at Eastport Arts Center

A group of 13 gathered at Eastport Arts Center for two four-hour Saturday sessions, March 2 and 9, to explore block printing on fabric with Susan Lehnen, an artist and educator who lives in Perry. The first meeting included a lesson in the traditional techniques and symbolism of adinkra cloth, a hand-printed fabric developed by the Ashanti people in Ghana. Workshop participants then began developing their own symbolic stamps, cutting designs into linoleum mounted on PVC plastic plates and making their first efforts at printing the stamps.

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Public invited to installation ceremony, reception for President Joan Ferrini-Mundy at UMM March 25

The Installation of President Joan Ferrini-Mundy at the University of Maine at Machias on March 25 begins Inauguration Week events in Machias and Orono.
The Installation ceremony, which is free and open to the public, begins at 4 p.m. in Reynolds Gymnasium.

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Democrats to Legal Voters: Drop Dead

 

by Brian Lonergan

 

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CTE stalemate continues for Downeast schools

 

 

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

 

Tempers flared during a three-hour meeting Thursday night which concluded with no consensus on where to purchase and renovate a building for use as a regional Career and Technical Education satellite site.

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ENMAX to Purchase Emera’s Operations in Maine for $1.3 Billion USD

 

  • Purchase price of $959 million USD ($1,286 million CAD) for shares plus acquired debt, for total enterprise value of $1.3 billion USD ($1.8 billion CAD)
  • Fully achieves the targeted asset sale component of Emera’s three-year funding plan and proceeds will be used to support Emera’s capital investment opportunities within its regulated utility businesses and reduce corporate level debt
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Machias votes for Columbia

 

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

 

At a Machias School Board meeting held Monday, March 25 the board members present voted unanimously in support of locating a new Career and Technical Education facility at the former 4 Corners Shop & Save location in Columbia.

CTE is a term for what has historically been called vocational training or “trades school,” and offers coursework that makes students more employable upon graduation from high school.  

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Out and about in Columbia

 

by Ronie Strout

What a week this has been for meetings….Monday the 18th my husband and I had an appointment in Ellsworth in the afternoon. After we returned home we attended the supper that the Columbia Cemetery Society sponsored. I later returned for their town meeting.

Columbia Town Meeting

They voted on forty five articles with Sonny Beal as moderator and Sharon Tibbetts, Pat Favolize and Sonja Grant as ballot clerks.

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Porter Memorial Library author talk will tell story of Machias son, lost in largest kamikaze attack of WWII

Author Martin Irons will speak at Porter Memorial Library in Machias on Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m.

Irons' book, "Phalanx Against The Divine Wind: Protecting the Fast Carrier Task Force During World War II" recounts the fate of the USS Haynsworth and the rest of the Fifth Fleet on April 6, 1945 during the largest kamikaze attack of WWII. Among those lost that day was Hobart MacLaughlan of Machias.

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The Grand’s ‘Awards Season’ film series continues with ‘Mary Queen of Scots’ in Ellsworth March 28

 

On Thursday, March 28  at 6 p.m. and, in a special closed-captioned, matinee screening on Friday March 29 at 1 p.m., H&R Block of Ellsworth and Bucksport continue their “Awards Season” series for 2019 with a British historical epic which was twice nominated for the 2019 Oscars- “Mary, Queen of Scots.” See it the way it was made it to be seen- through a state-of-the-art digital projection system- on the Coastal Eye Care giant screen.

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Maine sailor first to celebrate state’s 199th birthday

 

by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mark R. Alvarez

The morning was auspicious, but the weather wasn’t, with a stormy sky, intermittent rain and heavy winds, but for one Mainer, the tradition of planting a flag to commemorate the state’s birthday was going to happen no matter what.

Navy Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate Ed Bennett climbed to the top of Guam’s tallest peak, Mount Lam Lam, to plant the Maine state flag and celebrate Maine’s 199th birthday, March 15.

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Honoring Vietnam War Remembrance Day on March 30

 

by Nona Barrett

Vietnam Veterans Day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families and is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more than 50 than years ago.

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Colorado mourns two soldiers lost in Afghanistan

 

According to CNN, the Petagon has identified two soldiers killed Friday in Afghanistan.  The two were Spc. Joseph Collette, age 29, of Ohio, and Sgt. 1st Class Will Lindsay, age 33, of Colorado.  

Collette was assigned to the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Group in Fort Carson, Colorado, and Lindsay was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Force Group (Airborne) out of Fort Carson.  

These two deaths are the third and fourth of American troops killed in Afghanistan this year during the U.S.'s longest war, now in its 18th year.

 

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Machiasport neighbors say ‘no’ to town’s harborside land purchase

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon
Two years ago the residents of Machiasport voted to purchase land to expand the town’s access to Bucks Harbor, but a recent turn of events has put that plan in jeopardy.

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‘Lobster War’ movie tells story of rising international tensions in the contested waters of the ‘grey zone’

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon
A movie filmed off the coast of Washington County will be shown at the University of Maine at Machias next weekend. “Lobster War: The Fight Over the World’s Richest Fishing Grounds” will be screened at the UMM Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m.

The film tells the story of increasing tensions in the waters between Washington County and Canada, locally referred to as “the grey zone.”

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PRSWDD towns split on staying, unsettled on policies

by Nancy Beal
Four of the six towns that make up the Pleasant River Solid Waste Disposal District (PRSWDD) have held town meetings at which the issue of staying with the group or leaving was raised and voted upon. The votes were necessary because the old intra-town agreement, which governed the operation of the Route 1 transfer station in Columbia Falls and how it should be paid for, expired December 31, 2018. That lapse forced all the towns in the group to vote on whether to sign a new contract. A “no” vote was equivalent to bowing out.

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Partnering boosts food pantry mission

by Ruth Leubecker
Serving more people who are food insecure and covering more territory in the process is the aim of Washington County’s 10 food pantries in 2019.

“Good Shepherd’s Food Bank is represented at every meeting, and they are very transparent and supportive of the pantries’ efforts,” says Regina Grabrovac, Healthy Acadia’s food program manager. “Our next meeting is June 6 and we welcome any community member who would like to attend.”

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Lighthouses in our school

 

by Nancy Beal
Beals Elementary School is lit up with lighthouses this spring in anticipation of a visit next month from children’s author/illustrator Sophie Blackall, whose Hello Lighthouse recently won a Caldecott Medal for the best-illustrated children’s book in 2019. Blackall’s visit will be sponsored by Island Readers and Writers, a group on Mt. Desert whose mission is to bring artists and authors into island and coastal schools.

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UMM mapping tech could help clammers know when to dig

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon
When the state closes a clam flat because of a biotoxin like Red Tide, communicating that closure is critical for the public’s health, and when a clam flat is ready to be harvested again, communicating that opening is equally critical for a shellfish harvester’s pocketbook.

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Scouts honored with Arrow of Light awards

On Saturday, March 16, Cub Scouts Pack 125 held an Arrow of Light ceremony and a Crossing Over ceremony. The Arrow of Light award is the highest award a Cub Scout can earn.  Arrow of Light is the equivalent of an Eagle Scout award for a BSA Scout or Boy Scout.

Pack 125 Cub master Darrell Daniels had the honor of presenting the Arrow of Light awards to Nicholas Hennessey, Linus Patterson, and Blaze Moody. Following the Arrow of Light ceremony, the crossing over ceremony was held. The Cub Scouts crossed over to become BSA Scouts of Troop 125.

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DOC opposes reopening of Machiasport prison, suggests Route 1 sites in East Machias, Machias

 

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

At a public hearing which ran more than three hours on Wednesday, March 27, legislators, former employees and concerned Downeast residents spoke in favor of reopening the Downeast Correctional Facility in Machiasport and Maine Department of Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty spoke in opposition to reopening the site.

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Supreme Court rules rockweed is private property in Ross v. Acadian Seaplants

 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

 

A long-awaited verdict has just come down for a case heard by the Maine Supreme Court in October 2017. All seven justices found in favor of a group of landowners in what is known here as “the rockweed case.” The finding means that rockweed, a plant which only grows in the intertidal zone, is the private property of the landowners adjoining the coastline, or the “riparian” landowners.

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