by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A.O.S. 96 Superintendent Scott Porter led a presentation to the Machias Budget Committee last Wednesday, taking them through the Machias school’s 10-page budget, which projects an overall increase to taxation of $79,804.31 for the 2023-24 academic year, a 5 percent budget increase over last year.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

It’s an exciting season for Brecken and Ryle Mortland, owners of two Machias lodging businesses, the Schoppee Inn and Margaretta Inn. Spring is here, and tourists are beginning to return, just in time for the launch of their new venture — Downeast Adventures, an ATV rental business. 

Also, they’re newlyweds.

by Michael Hinerman

The Washington Academy Alumni Association strives to bring alumni together on Saturday, Aug. 5, to celebrate 231 years of WA’s educational history and the 200th anniversary of the construction of the “Old Academy” building, still in use today. A small group of alumni is working to revive our Association, create networking opportunities with other alumni, enhance our sense of community worldwide, and help graduates with scholarship opportunities. 

by Will Tuell

For the second time in three weeks, Maine Forest Rangers, Wesley firefighters, and those from neighboring communities responded to a wildfire that charred part of the Route 9 community’s remote landscape last Friday afternoon (April 28). The blaze, contained at 27 acres, scorched blueberry land and some adjoining woodland, but was contained before it spread much further according to the Wesley Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page. 

by Will Tuell

A sun-splashed day, the first in a week of desultory weather, served as the perfect backdrop for the 112th Commencement Ceremony at the University of Maine Machias on Friday, May 5. The 73 graduates of the Class of 2023, characterized by University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy as “the Pandemic Class” for completing much of their college education during the COVID-19 pandemic, welcomed family, friends, and community members to the UMM campus one final time as they capped off what, for many, was a lifetime of going to school. 

by Nancy Beal

Next year’s budget, teacher hires, and policy review highlighted the agenda of the May 3 meeting of the Jonesport Elementary School board, but an unannounced and unlisted changing of the guard was first inserted into the nearly two-hour session. Immediately after approval of the minutes and a brief public comment period, Morgan Monroe asked to take the item labeled “Other” out of order, She wanted to know if the board should hold an election of officers.

by Will Tuell

Majority Democrats in the Maine House turned aside four bills that would have rolled back school vaccination requirements May 4. The bills, some in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, others an effort to repeal 2019 legislation that would have closed religious and philosophical exemptions to the state’s child vaccination law, were rebuffed mostly on party lines. 

Eastport Arts Center’s next Open Mic will be held Friday, May 26, from 6-8 p.m. The event, which has run monthly since January, has grown steadily, and each evening is a lively mix of 10-minute music and spoken word acts, with always some surprises. An array of snacks and hot beverages are provided in a casual coffeehouse-style atmosphere. Those interested in performing may sign up at the event for a 10-minute slot. A limited number of slots will be available for those who’d prefer to sign up in advance.

by Hazel Stark

If you know of other area Memorial Day observations, please send them by email to Sarah Craighead Dedmon, [email protected], and we will update this article accordingly. SCD/Editor

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Machias town officials, police officers, and more than a dozen of Taylor LeBlanc’s family members looked on as he signed his name and began a career in law enforcement on Wednesday, May 10.

Machias Police Chief Keith Mercier planned LeBlanc’s swearing-in ceremony and, after administering his oath, presented LeBlanc with some gifts to commemorate the event, including a blue bracelet.

by Will Tuell

The Legislature’s Energy, Utilities, and Technology committee will be holding a public hearing May 18 at 1 p.m. concerning a new bill authored by Rep. Tiffany Strout (R-Harrington) to stop the development of offshore wind along the coast of Maine. Strout, whose son is a student lobsterman, submitted the LD 1884 on behalf of area fishermen who are concerned that the development and installation of offshore wind turbines will further imperil their livelihood. 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Blackfly hatchery managers in Whiting and Jonesboro this week announced the 2023 blackfly season is off to a promising start.

“They are out in great numbers in East Machias. I have had many reports,” said Jonesboro hatchery manager and Maine Blackfly Breeders Association President Marilyn Dowling.

by Jonathan Reisman

“Bush Lied, People Died”- the left after no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq

“Elections have Consequences”- Barack Obama, 2009

“I plan no changes to Maine’s abortion laws”- Governor Janet Mills repeated re-election campaign statement, 2022

“Abortion on demand, up to the moment of birth”- The Pro-choice Democratic position as laid out in LD 1619, the Governor’s abortion policy bill

“Mills lied, Babies died”- The pro-life Republican mantra after LD 1619 passes

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon 

Wearing yellow hardhats, workers at Maine Wild Blueberry filed calmly out of their building as a siren wailed above it, kicking off an emergency response exercise that drew 30 state and local agencies to Machias on Monday, May 8.

“This exercise was a continuation of our preparedness for not just [an ammonia leak] but any kind of emergency that could happen at the plant or within our community,” said Maine Wild Blueberry Environmental Coordinator Daniel Bowker, who also serves as the Marshfield Fire Chief.

by Nancy Beal

“We’d still be there!” That was the answer given by Jonesport Fire Chief Boyde Crowley three days later when asked what would have happened if his crew had needed 15 more minutes to respond to a brush fire in the Black Duck Cove area of Great Wass Island May 13.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

It was standing room only when family and friends gathered to celebrate Evelyn Watts Davis just days after she turned 100 on Wednesday, May 10, and just a few miles from where she was born in Roque Bluffs. 

Davis has lived in the Kennebec district of Machias for 75 years, in the same house she and her husband Millard refurbished not long after they were married at the Roque Bluffs Baptist Church.

The Children’s Library at Porter Memorial Library hosted Tona Mareglia and Rebekah Guiltner, the author and illustrator of Manny and Lizzy, a children’s book about the friendship between a moose and a blue lobster. They presented to two classes from Rose M Gaffney Elementary School.  Ms. Whitney’s and Ms. Reed’s classes visit the library on a regular basis and were treated to the story and discussion about Manny and Lizzy. After the story and a discussion about the story and how it came into being, Ms. Mareglia and Miss Guiltner were interviewed by a volunteer at the library. 

by Joseph Horn

Several years back, some dear friends of mine moved to a house on the edge of a quiet saltwater bay. The house was erected the same year that Maine became a state, and, as was typical in those days, it was built right on the edge of the road. But behind the house is a rolling field that cascades over a few acres, where it eventually turns into an oak border that demarcates the boundary between the fields and the silty cliffs that meet the water. The spot is like a bucolic oil painting of old. It is also a lot of lawn to mow.