By Paul Sylvain

Already embroiled in a lengthy and costly legal battle over a road with two Starboard district homeowners, Machiasport officials could be facing yet another lawsuit over a road in the town’s Bucks Harbor district.

At issue are concerns of residents in the Pettegrow Point Road Home Owners Association (HOA) over a planned truck turnaround near the commercial fishermen’s parking lot on that road and the legal interpretation of covenants governing land and road use in the Pettegrow property deed.

By Paul Sylvain

Move over, Kirby Grant. There’s a new Sky King in town, and he’s busy constructing a $1.12 million airport terminal building in Eastport.

Unlike the main character in the television show that ran from 1951 to 1962, Northfield developer Justin King is not an airplane pilot, but his company — King Construction Services of Machias — continues to soar to new heights, it seems, with every new project it takes under its wing.

By Paul Sylvain

When the Machiasport Town Office reopens in the former hospice building on Dec. 9, residents will not only be able to pay their taxes, register vehicles, or pick up a copy of their birth or marriage certificates, but also pick up a little something crafted in one of the town’s home-based businesses.

Not that Town Clerk Marcia Hayward doesn’t already have enough to do, but she’ll now be able to add “sales clerk” to her growing resumé thanks to the new gift shop at the town office building.

Town Urged to Keep the State’s Responsibility for Costly Cleanup ‘On the Radar’

By Paul Sylvain

In a proactive move to avoid a repeat of last year’s back-door attempt by Gov. Janet Mills to sell the 9.5-acre former Air Force housing area in Bucks Harbor, District 10 state Rep. Will Tuell (R-East Machias) met with the Machiasport selectboard on Nov. 25 to discuss putting in a bill requiring the state to clean the site up before again offering it for sale.

Public Invited to ‘25 Budget Workshops

By Nancy Beal

Both the boards governing Jonesport and Beals Elementary Schools met last week and, before leaving, were told by Superintendent Joseph Swain that he planned to start each of their next three monthly meetings with a 30-minute workshop, hopefully finalizing each school’s budget in April and submitting them to the voters in May. He said he would encourage interested members of the public to attend the planning sessions once they are set. 

By Paul Sylvain

Machiasport Shellfish Committee Chairman Zack Wood and Town Clerk Marcia Hayward are the newest members appointed to the Upper Machias Bay Project’s Leadership Committee, following a unanimous vote by the town’s selectboard on Nov. 25. 

The appointment followed a presentation by Sunrise County Economic Council’s Sustainable Prosperity Initiative Director Tora Johnson. Selectboard member Sarah Craighead Dedmon already serves on that committee, but for Machias, in her role as the Shiretown’s interim operations manager.

by Jonathan Reisman

My Policy Ronin column on political samurai without masters elicited a number of responses. Two readers sent uniform/wardrobe suggestions. The armored chain mail option would probably protect me from lefty lances, but I am skeptical it would be allowed through the security checkpoints in Augusta. The less martial masked alternative is clearly the post-Covid cosplay of choice.

By Will Tuell

Authorities raided two residences on the East Side Road in Addison Wednesday morning, arresting six people on drug charges, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency said in a press release following the Dec. 4 busts which netted $10,000 in suspected drug proceeds, an estimated 150 grams of fentanyl, over 20 grams of cocaine base, and three handguns.

By Will Tuell

For the third year in a row, the Wesley Foundation announced that its popular Christmas tree festival designed to raise funds for area youth enrichment activities, has raised over $100,000. Foundation spokesman Dean McGuire said in a post on the group’s Facebook page Dec. 10 that Team Wes was “incredibly humbled” by the support some fifty tree donors, thousands of attendees, and the broader Machias area business community has shown since four-year-old Wesley Keeton, the son of Kate and Lee Keeton of East Machias, died in an ATV accident in 2013. 

By Paul Sylvain

The Machias selectboard this week began the next phase of the hiring process to select a new town manager, following the untimely passing of late town manager Bill Kitchen on Sept. 9. However, the board’s search for a permanent operations manager is expected to be reopened in the coming weeks.

By Paul Sylvain

The men and women chosen to represent Washington County in the Maine Legislature for the next two years will be spending the bulk of their time on a wide range of policy committees dealing with healthcare, housing, commercial fishing, economic development, and more. Senate President Mathea “Mattie” Daughtry (D-Brunswick) and Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau (D-Bideford) made the announcements Dec. 12, a week after lawmakers were sworn in. 

by Jonathan Reisman

Jeopardy Answer: Policy goal that is loudly proclaimed and pursued across nearly every sector of American society but is rarely (if ever) defined or assessed. 

Jeopardy Question: What is Equity?

By Peter Pinette 

When we contemplate that the divine Christ Child came to earth to become one of us, God tells us by this humility that He wants to share in our humanity without wanting any worldly praise. Christ was born in the most humble setting, coming to earth amongst barn animals and only having a feeding trough as His cradle. All of these godly virtues will be on display in the life of the Christ Child — kindness and compassion and total giving of Himself to offer forgiveness and mercy to all of humanity. 

By Paul Sylvain

It’s safe to say that the last thing Raymond Howard could have ever imagined as a young boy growing up in Iowa was that one day he’d find himself seeing patients in Jonesport, Maine, and tending to a handful of lobster traps in Moosabec Reach. 

But, Iowa’s loss became Downeast Maine’s gain, in 2022, when, in the midst of the pandemic, Dr. Howard moved to the tiny fishing village of Jonesport and began seeing patients at Arnold Memorial Medical Center.

By Jayna Smith

The annual Feztival of Trees once again brought festive joy to Charlotte and Washington counties over the weekend of Dec. 13-15, drawing hundreds to Washington County Community College to admire nearly 50 exquisitely decorated Christmas trees, each surrounded by an array of gifts.

By Will Tuell

Down East Community Hospital in Machias announced Julie Balzer, RN, and Linda Crowley, EVSI as its 2024 Employees of the Year and recognized several employees for their longevity during a Christmas luncheon for employees Dec. 12.

Balzer, the hospital said on its social media page, “is a role model” and “a well-rounded nurse. She is constantly thinking of others and how and where she can help [them]. She is always seen with a smile, a positive attitude, and a joke to make you laugh. She helps keep others feeling positive,” the hospital said. 

By Nancy Beal