Officials plead with relic collectors: stop taking chunks of Route 1

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Route 1 has fallen into disrepair as collectors and dealers are chipping away pieces for themselves and to sell as “true relics” of Maine's historic coastal highway. Now, local officials are speaking out to stop the damage.

“We know Route 1 has a special place in the hearts of Mainers and visitors, but they have got to stop taking chunks of it home with them,” said Machias Town Manager Bill Kitchen, who last week had to replace a wheel on his car. “It’s ripping apart Main Street.”

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Machias and Caribou veterans homes to remain open

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Maine Veterans Homes in Machias and Caribou will stay open, not closing operations as in February announced, according to a letter from MVH CEO Kelly J. Kash.

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MVH Board votes to keep Machias, Caribou veterans homes open

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Maine Veterans Homes in Machias and Caribou will remain open, instead of closing on April 15 and May 1 as announced in February. 

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School urgently seeks donations to repair Machias softball field

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Soon the weather will be warm enough — and the ground will be dry enough —  to practice softball outside. But for the Machias middle and high school softball teams, the conditions at Southside Field have rarely been optimal, no matter the weather.

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$225,730 raised in Beals town meeting; town takes over post office lease

by Nancy Beal

Two dozen Beals citizens turned out for the annual town meeting March 28 and took two hours electing officers and raising $225,730. As usual, salaries and snow and solid waste removal commanded the highest figures, but two new issues surfaced. The now-defunct town office — an old 20-by-20-foot shed at the corner of Cemetery Road and Bridgeview Street that was replaced in the 1990s by a doublewide on the old school property — will be torn down. Also, the town will become the channel through which island postal service will continue to run.

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‘Destination Academy’ asks locals to envision sustainable tourism Downeast

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Forty community leaders and business owners converged on the Cobscook Institute in Trescott March 15 for the first of three workshops in the “Way Downeast” Community Destination Academy, sponsored by the Maine Office of Tourism (MOT) and Maine Woods Consortium. Representatives from four communities — Machias, Lubec, Eastport, and Calais — were led through a series of presentations and exercises on the theme of tourism.

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Jonesport marina grant effort needs support letters; inhouse squabble over appointment procedure settled

by Nancy Beal

The full Jonesport select board met last week for the first time since the March 14 town meeting, at which Logan Alley outpolled select chair Dwight Alley and ended his 12-year term on the three-person board. Logan had been out of town March 16 and 23 (selectmen meet each Wednesday), but the unexpired selectmen, Harry Fish and Billy Milliken met March 16. There was no meeting on March 23.

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Eastport Coast Guard saves life on St. Croix River

On the morning of Saturday, April 2, the U.S. Coast Guard Station Eastport received a call from Washington County Regional Communications Center reporting a person out of their boat with no lifejacket near St. Croix Island, in the tidal St. Croix River, which runs between Calais and Canada.

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Spring

by Jonathan Reisman

 

When I was growing up in Philadelphia, March and April meant spring. In my high school years in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, warmer temperatures and longer days corresponded to tennis practice and matches. By mid to late April, temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s were not uncommon. The City of Brotherly Love was fully greened and often sweltering by May Day.

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Submissions wanted for blueberry festival t-shirt design

The 45th Annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival seeks designs for this year’s t-shirt. The winning design will be used for the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival 2022 T-shirts. These shirts have become collector's items for many.

The design will also be used for a United States Postal Cancellation stamp that is available during the festival, and for one month after the festival at the Machias, ME post office.

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Downeast historic film series continues in Machias

The Machias Bay Chamber is hosting a 2022 Historic Film and Discussion Series. We will be showing a film at 6:30 p.m. each Friday in April at the train station, borrowed from the collection at Northeast Historic Film in Bucksport. Each movie will be followed by a discussion and refreshments with an expert on each topic. These events are partially funded through a Downeast Wind community grant. Space is limited to 45 people; the event is free but donations will happily be accepted. Upcoming showings and speakers include:

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Many local running races return for 2022

by Phil Stuart

The state of Maine road race schedule is much leaner than it was prior to the pandemic. Many races are coming back, but a lot are not as of late.

A number of area runners mainly from the Bold Coast Running Club participated in the Annual Lamoine Half Marathon on March 5.

Isaac Vaccaro of Bangor took first place honors in a time of 118.45, while Katie Norwood of Bar Harbor was the female champ in a time of 137.0.

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bluShift Aerospace to seek bids from Downeast towns; launch from “lift boat” replaces land-based pad

by Nancy Beal

By email from the company’s spokesperson, bluShift Aerospace announced last week that it is developing a request for proposal application that towns can use to signal interest in bringing the Brunswick company to their borders. bluShift, a Maine start-up that plans to put small satellites (cubesats) into orbit for commercial and scientific purposes, had been looking seriously into a launch site in Jonesport, but strong opposition to the plan caused CEO Sascha Deri to withdraw it early last month.

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East Machias girl breaks state cookie sales record

Serenity Morse, a 10-year-old Juliette from East Machias, sold 2,083 boxes of cookies this year, setting a new record for the state of Maine and breaking Morse’s previous record of 2,023, and the state’s previous record of 2,033.

Serenity was disappointed when her troop didn’t continue this year but loves being a Girl Scout, so she became a Juliette, a girl who participates in Girl Scouts as an individual member. She wanted to make sure that everyone in her community got a chance to support the movement by buying cookies. 

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After four days lost Downeast, missing pup pair found

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Miley Foss, age 8, and Waylon Foss age 3, two black labs from Brewer were visiting family Downeast when they were reported missing on Wednesday, April 6. Social media posts about the dogs were shared hundreds of times, in hopes of finding the pups who were lost in unfamiliar territory. 

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Veteran stories: Marine vet Harlan Gardner, 100, lives to be kind

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Harlan Gardner turns 100 this week, and though he’s worn many hats in all those years — Marine tail gunner, hearse driver, and mail carrier among them — it’s clear he’s also spent years honing his Downeast wit. He has a perpetual twinkle in his eye.

“It’s a sad place to be, the last one of the line,” Harlan says, pausing. “I’m glad they picked a smart one to be on the end.”

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Roque Bluffs Art Gallery announces 2022 programs

The Roque Bluffs Art Gallery and Learning Center, (RBAG&LC), has a very ambitious schedule for this coming arts and crafts season. It starts off with a Youth Arts and Crafts Show Saturday, April 23. 

“We want to support all the young artists and crafters by giving them a public platform to spotlight their talent”, says Bob McCollum, the Director of the RBAG&LC.

“We’d like any young person under the age of 18 years old to participate by contacting me as soon as possible”, said McCollum.

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Sen. Collins’ earmarks deliver nearly $5M Downeast

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The quest for a crosswind runway in Machias soared one step closer to reality last month when Senator Susan Collins' office announced her first earmarks in a decade, including $1.25 million for the Machias Valley Municipal Airport, $1.125 million for a new Machiasport public works facility, and $2.5 million toward planning and design of a replacement fire station at the Cutler naval station.

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The alternative to Not Brandon

by Jonathan Reisman

 

In 1994, Newt Gingrich led House Republicans out of 40 years of minority status with the Contract for America. Those mid-term elections pushed President Clinton back to the middle (like Brandon, he had run as a moderate but governed as a leftist) and set the stage for welfare reform, an actual budget surplus, bi-partisan policymaking, and political pluralism, where no one party was assumed to have a permanent monopoly grip on power.

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2022 DAR Good Citizens honored at Whiting reception

The Hannah Weston Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution honored the Washington County high school seniors selected by their respective schools during the annual DAR Good Citizen reception held Tuesday, April 12, at the Whiting Community Center. The students had been named by the faculty and students as the school DAR Good Citizen for 2022 and were sponsored by the chapter in the state-wide selection of the 2022 Maine DAR Good Citizen.

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Machias drafts municipal budget; town property sales considered

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Machias Budget Committee and selectboard last week finished working through the municipal portion of the town’s 2022-23 budget, which anticipates a net increase of less than five percent, or $68,880, above last year.  

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J-BHS considers transgender policy

by Nancy Beal

The Moosabec CSD board that governs Jonesport-Beals High School was introduced to a model transgender policy last week which, after a month of study that will include a 90-minute training session, it will discuss and may act on at its May meeting. The policy is crafted in accordance with the Maine Human Rights Act, 20-A MRSA Section 4601. The reason for its consideration at this time remained confidential.

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Machias board talks airport, playground, 4th of July fireworks

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The town’s only public playground is getting ready to grow again with the upcoming addition of a children’s merry-go-round, paid for using a $3,600 donation from Machias Savings Bank. 

Machias Town Manager Bill Kitchen, who has championed recreation area improvements for years, shared the news with the Machias Board of Selectmen April 13 at their regular bi-monthly meeting.

“Eventually we’ll put up a plaque to recognize all the [playground] donors,” said Kitchen.

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Local young woman fights back against sexual assault

by Kaileigh Deacon 

During the month of April, a light is shown on a topic that can often make people uncomfortable. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which gives a voice to survivors to share their stories, highlight means of support, and give strength to efforts for change. There is still a stigma around sexual assault despite progress having been made in the last several years, but thanks to survivors and their supporters, they are working to change that. 

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BES board okays $998K budget, public to vote on May 17

by Nancy Beal

Last week, the Beals Elementary School board met and approved a proposed budget of $997,983 for the 2022-23 school year. This amount is an increase of $88,934 (9.78 percent) over last year’s bottom line of $909,049 and will cause taxpayers to foot a larger share of the total local appropriation.

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Justin Day, RIP

by Jonathan Reisman

 

Justin Day, who served Down East Maine with honor and dignity for more than 50 years, passed away last week. He was 86 years old.

Justin served as the First Selectman of Cooper for many years. He was also the primary assessor, land surveyor, a major landowner and blueberry grower, and the link between the Town County, and State government.

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Palaver Strings’ statewide tour to include Eastport show

Portland-based chamber orchestra Palaver Strings will present Welcome Here, a touring production celebrating Maine’s cultural diversity, resilience, and stewardship at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 1, at Eastport Arts Center.

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Maine CDC confirms fatal case of tickborne Powassan virus in Waldo County 

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has confirmed a fatal case of Powassan virus infection in a Waldo County resident. The adult developed neurologic symptoms and died while in the hospital. This person likely became infected in Maine.

Cases of Powassan virus are rare in the United States, with about 25 cases reported each year since 2015. Maine has identified 14 cases since 2010. Humans become infected with Powassan through the bite of an infected deer or woodchuck tick.

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State police investigating death of a Pleasant Point woman; public's help requested

The following was released today, April 22, by Maine State Police.

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$10k reward offered for information surrounding murder of Kimberly Neptune

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A reward of $10,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the death of Kimberly Neptune, 43, of Perry, who was found dead in her home Thursday, April 21. 

Police today named Neptune’s death a homicide. Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North is investigating Neptune’s death with the assistance of the Pleasant Point Police Department, which has offered the reward. 

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19 Main Street prepares for its next act

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

For the town of Machias, 19 Main Street has filled many roles over the years — as a fruit and confectionery business, a music store, a bar, a stationery and gift shop, and until recently, as a shuttered symbol of Main Street decline. 

This month, the old Nash building was removed, and soon 19 Main Street will be home to something altogether new —  the MaineStreet Business Building, a business incubator that could aid in creating economic growth downtown and across the county. 

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Beals to vote on aquaculture moratorium for Eastern Bay

by Nancy Beal

The Moosabec area’s Eastern Bay is a marine gold mine from which fishermen from Beals and Jonesport extract lobsters, clams, scallops, periwinkles, worms, and more. Its pristine waters also make it attractive for aquaculturists, especially salmon growers. Over the past three decades, increasingly larger areas of its waters have been removed from access by traditional fishermen and given over to exclusive use by large, often foreign, corporations who commandeer acres of ocean for salmon net pens.

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J-BHS budget of $1.776M to go before Moosabec voters next month

by Nancy Beal

At their April meeting, the nine-member board that governs Jonesport-Beals High School approved a budget of $1,776,070 for the 2022-23 school year. That amount is $66,196, or 3.87 percent, above what voters approved last year. When reduced by miscellaneous revenues ($551,153) and state subsidy ($342,546—$46,008 less than last year), the taxpayers’ share of the bottom line is calculated at $822,443, which is just under $60,000 more than last year—a hike of 7.29 percent.

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New Downeast recovery program offers helpful hand

by Jayna Smith

Washington County has been noted as a “hot spot” for both opioid and all overdoses in the State of Maine.  Even more, the state is the leader per capita in opioid and all overdoses in the entire New England region.  Now, to help curb the drug epidemic, a new program is available in Washington County.  

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Vote to help Machias art students!

Art students at Machias Memorial High School have advanced to the final 50 in an art contest sponsored by Vans shoes, and they need your help to go further. Art teacher Becky Lee says MMHS is the only Maine school to make it into the contest’s top 50 in a contest that began with 250 schools and if Machias wins, the grand prize will be $50,000 toward the school’s art program. Four other schools will receive $15,000. 

To participate, students designed shoes based on one of this year’s themes of “Hometown Pride,” and the legacy of Vans’ founder Paul Van Doren. 

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The left hates free speech

by Jonathan Reisman

 

..the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth; if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth produced by its collision with error. - John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

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Porter Memorial Library Art Show Fiesta will honor Stephen Copel May 7

Porter Memorial Library invites the public to attend its Art Show Fiesta on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Fiesta will celebrate the opening of two art exhibits at the library: Youth Art Exhibit, on display downstairs in the children’s room, and Photos of Mexico by Stephen Copel, on display upstairs on the main floor. Festivities on May 7 will include music by Duane Ingalls, and a pinata and Mexican food provided by Miguel Guijarro.

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Dinner and auction to support Sarah’s House of Maine

by Jayna Smith

Sarah’s House of Maine is a cancer hospitality house located in Holden. It serves many from all over the state who are receiving treatment, with Washington County residents making up the majority – 42 percent.

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Two Perry residents arrested for the murder of Kimberly Neptune

The following was released by the Maine State Police today at 5 p.m.

On Friday, April 29, at approximately 4:45 p.m. the Pleasant Point Police Department and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North arrested 38-year-old Donnell J. Dana of Perry and 38-year-old Kailie A. Brackett of Perry for the murder of 43-year-old Kimberly Neptune also of Perry. Neptune was found dead in her home on Thursday, April 21.

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