The Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) has been busy repaving and painting roads in and around Machias. The unusual line configurations painted onto Free Street, shown here, and on the short one-way stretch of Broadway have raised eyebrows. Machias Town Manager Christina Therrien said that the state has recently taken over responsibility for both stretches of road because they are essential connectors to Route 192 and Route 1.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

 Machias selectman Warren Gay proposed a town moratorium on recreational marijuana sales at the selectboard meeting last Wednesday evening. “Medical marijuana, I go along with one-hundred percent. But, I go along with having a moratorium on the recreational side,” he said. “I’m against [recreational marijuana] because I know what it does.”

The Bay of Fundy International Marathon took place this weekend, drawing more than 1,000 visitors to Washington County and putting 650 runners on the roads of Lubec and Campobello. This year marked the 5th year of the race, which is put on entirely by local volunteers. For me, the marathon and the community spirit evident on race weekend is one of the highlights of the summer, and I don’t even run toward chocolate.  

 On Thursday, June 8 the Washington County Commissioners held a special meeting to discuss the ongoing situation surrounding the Downeast Correctional Facility. Obviously the threatened closure of the facility has weighed heavily on the hearts and minds of the people of the county, a county that has long fought to grow and keep every employment opportunity it has. 

Jonesport

by Nancy Beal

 Jonesport selectmen discussed the cost of clam licenses at their June 21 meeting. Presently, resident diggers pay $80 for the privilege, while non-residents, who obtain licenses through a lottery system, pay twice that. Although the authority to set license fees rests with the town’s Shellfish Conservation Committee, selectmen, noting the gap between revenue and costs of running that committee, weighed in last week.