By Nancy Beal

In a historic boat shop on Jonesport’s Moosabec Reach, where sawdust covers the floor and daylight penetrates ancient uninsulated walls, the 83-year-old great-grandson of a Beals Island boat building dynasty is extending the family tradition by restoring a lobster boat he helped to build nearly half a century ago. Isaac Beal won’t return to fishing in the Christopher, but he hopes to get one last run down the Reach next July to top off the racing success he enjoyed in her 20 years ago.

Town to Repair, Rent Space in Flood-Damaged Town Office Building on Court Street

By Paul Sylvain

For at least the next two years, anyone needing to register a vehicle, register to vote, pay their property taxes, file a building permit application, or conduct any other business with the town of Machias, will have to do so at the 17 Stackpole Drive Tele-Business Center.

By Will Tuell

Last spring Washington County’s two regional hospitals -- Calais Community and Down East Community -- brought Hawaii’s Kyle Quilausing to the area to address sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders about the dangers of drug abuse. Hospital officials and Quilausing, one of the top youth golfers in the country before a life of drugs and crime derailed his career, crisscrossed the county, visiting junior high schools in western Washington County, the Machias area, and the St. Croix region. 

The Washington County Fair held its first Washington County Fair Pageant for girls ages 10-18 with three titles being presented: junior princess, teen, and miss.

Our very first Washington County Fair Miss Queen is Shayna Cook, daughter of Amy Williams and Robert Cook. She is a senior at Calais High School where she’s involved in volleyball, cheerleading, and tennis. Shayna is a student at Barbara‘s International School of Dance, where she does hip-hop, jazz, and line dancing. She is also a volunteer firefighter for the Calais Fire/EMS.

By Will Tuell

By day, Elm Street School in East Machias educates some 200 pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students, but this weekend one of the area’s largest elementary schools will be transformed by an eager group of “fiber fanatics” into a yarn connoisseur’s paradise as the annual Machias Fiber Festival gets underway Saturday, Sept. 14. 

By Paul Sylvain

Anybody wanting a thrill ride without the expense of an amusement park ticket need look no further than Port Road — Route 92 — in Machiasport. How bad is it? To paraphrase Jerry Lee Lewis, it could definitely shake your nerves and rattle your bones.

A nine-mile section of Port Road was slated for repaving in the state Department of Transportation’s 2024 paving plan. However, with summer on life support and the peak construction season drawing to an end, the Maine DOT has ruled out a complete Port Road repave for this year.

By Paul Sylvain

As schools go, Fort O’Brien in Machiasport is small, even for Washington County. While this year’s enrollment numbers weren’t available as of press time, FOB had about 48 students this past school year and should be around the same this year. 

By Paul Sylvain

An Aug. 8 ruling by Maine Business & Consumer Credit Court Judge Michael A. Duddy in a case pitting Jeanne Tennison against the town of Machias and Graham Holdings LLC was apparently 20 months too late for embattled property owner and developer Wesley Graham.