by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Modern technology and lots of safety precautions will make possible the Washington Academy Class of 2020 graduation ceremony, to be held on June 13 in East Machias. With more than 80 graduating seniors, the school batted around ideas for how to honor the graduating class and still abide by state coronavirus guidelines, especially the one that caps public gatherings at 50 people or less.

by Ruth Leubecker

After last year’s resounding success story, Gateway Milbridge is announcing this season’s fundraising efforts for bringing back the Milbridge Theatre.

“Last year’s lighthouse art project auction raised $9,640 for us, and the Friday Night Live Concerts raised another $6,835,” says Richard Bondurant, Gateway Milbridge chair. “The building campaign for the exterior of the building is now complete. We’re now focusing on the campaign for the interior of the building -- stage, seats, lighting, sound equipment.”

by Jayna Smith

Those familiar with the 1986 movie Big Trouble in Little China, starring Kurt Russell, are likely familiar with “Pork Chop Express,” the 1985 Freightliner FLC-120 driven by Russell in the film.  What some may not know is that that truck made Calais its home in 2006.  

PFC Ethan M. Moores

Trescott at U.S. Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, NC

PFC Ethan M. Moores, 18, died unexpectedly May 27, 2020, at U.S. Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, joining his mother Danielle D. Moores, and infant brother Waylon in Heaven. He was born June 4, 2001, in Machias, to Matthew and Danielle Moores.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Most dressed in black and many carried signs to the Black Lives Matter march held Sunday, June 7, which drew almost 100 participants to downtown Machias. Co-organizer River Fenton publicized and explained the event through social media.

by Wayne Smith

In a moment’s time, like a flashbulb going off, I watched Daroll Whitney play his ukulele in Steuben. He loved playing it soft and sweet with a lot of life. Whitney controlled the ukulele with such a rhythm and so relaxed. His voice told the whole story. He had dress pants on. He wore sneakers. Whitney was up for the challenge to entertain. He was a showman and he played three songs that afternoon. Whitney, of Winter Harbor, loves open mic events.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Narraguagus Jr./Sr. High Class of 2020 marched into their graduation ceremony on Friday, June 5 wearing matching face masks printed in their school colors, one of many concessions this class has made to the coronavirus pandemic. Crafting an in-person graduation ceremony was a challenge, but Principal MaryEllen Day said it was important to preserve as much normalcy as possible.

“They’re the 52nd group to graduate from this school, and they’re going to do it in a very similar fashion, minus the crowds,” said Day.

by Ruth Leubecker

Partnerships are alive and well in Downeast Maine — many of them now expanding to drive a route in benevolent journeys to deliver bread to food pantries.
“I started three or four weeks ago, doing a pick-up in Wells, and taking it half the way to Newport,” says Tom Foss of Foss Trucking in East Machias. “Then I might bring the other half to Wyman’s in Jonesboro, where they’d freeze it for other pantries.”

Jayna Smith

President Donald Trump paid Maine a visit last Friday to see Puritan Medical Products in Guilford.  The company is one of only two major companies that manufacture medical swabs needed for coronavirus testing. The other is in Italy.

The Trump administration is providing $75.5 million through the Defense Production Act for Puritan to double production up to 40 million swabs per month.  It currently employees fewer than 400 people, but a second production site by the company is set to open by July 1.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

An attempt to negotiate a settlement between the town of Machias and the Machias Water Company has failed. Machias officials last week expressed frustration that the water company responded to their request to reduce a 25 percent proposed rate hike with a reduction of 1.5 percent, taking the total rate decrease to 23.5 percent.

“As a 49 percent owner and the only customer they have, we have zero say,” said Machias Board of Selectpersons Vice Chairman Bill Kitchen. “Our input is irrelevant.”

by Natalie Boomer

The easternmost gift shop in the United States, West Quoddy Gifts in Lubec, is celebrating a big milestone.

“This is our 30th year! Our son was six months old when we opened in June of 1990,” said owner, Junia Lehman.

Steve and Junia Lehman met while serving in the United States Airforce. Soon after, Steve began creating wooden clocks with laser-engraved numbers and artwork of West Quoddy Head, East Quoddy Head, puffins, and whales, so they took the money they had saved up and opened West Quoddy Gifts.

by Joseph Horn

by Ruth Leubecker

Grace Dennison, East Machias student and resident, has received statewide recognition for her recently published thoughts on how citizens should contribute to community.

Sponsored by the Maine Municipal Association, the competing essays had to show an understanding of local government, clarity of thought and originality. Essays could be typed or handwritten, but had to focus on “If I led my community …”

Dennison was one of four Maine seventh-graders chosen, and the only one from Washington County to capture top honors.

by Natalie Boomer

The Den-DownEast Nutrition is open for business! The grand opening took place on Saturday, June 6 at the new Machias location.

Rosie and Danny Griffith opened their first nutrition shop, Unleashed Nutrition, in Calais in the fall of last year. Their success came quickly, and they decided to open more shops in different areas in Washington County.

by Jonathan Reisman

As the nation writhes under a leftist/media assault charging white privilege and systemic racism and advocating for defunding the police, silencing/deplatforming/canceling anyone who dares to disagree and demanding they kneel and apologize for voting for Trump and more, I’ve watched in horror as a woke leftist Jacobin mob has decided that we need to destroy the village in order to save it.

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

by Nancy Beal

The towns of Beals and Jonesport held separate, consecutive town meetings June 17 to act on budgets for their respective elementary schools. In both cases, the budgets prepared by Superintendent Lewis Collins and the school committees were accepted by the public.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Under the ruse of discussing the upcoming election, the Machias Board of Selectmen invited select board candidate Les Haynes to their meeting held June 24. Then, they presented him with a certificate to honor his decades of work in the Machias Ambulance Service, and a gift certificate to Haynes’ favorite campground.

“We really appreciate everything that you’ve done for the town,” said town manager Christina Therrien.

by Hazel Stark

by Natalie Boomer

Rebecca Robicheau of Wesley has started her very own baking business, Baking with Rebecca, creating custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pies, and more.

“I officially launched Baking with Rebecca about six months ago. I have been floored by the amount of feedback and business I have received so far. I am really grateful to my community who has shared my work,” said Robicheau.

Although she hasn’t been in the business very long, she started baking at a very young age and never stopped.

by Nancy Beal