Developer Drafting Plans for New 8-Unit Apartment Building in Machias

By Paul Sylvain

Come April, new construction, now going up just inside Machias town limits on Outer Dublin Street/Route 1, will be the new home office for IMK Properties and King Construction, both owned by Northfield developer Justin King.

By Nancy Beal 

By Will Tuell

A new law requiring most Maine boaters under the age of 25 to complete a boater safety and education course kicked in on Jan. 1. While there are exceptions for those engaged in commercial fishing activities, Maine guides, and day boat renters, the law targets anyone born after Jan. 1, 1999, according to the state’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW). 

By Daisy Ratzlaff -- UMaine Cooperative Extension                 

The Cobscook Current 4-H Club and community members spread joy and seasonal cheer as they helped assemble dozens of gift bags and hand-delivered them to brighten the holidays for several elderly residents in the Edmunds area. 

The heartwarming community service project, organized by Debbie Leighton for the past 33 years, has become an annual tradition anticipated by the volunteers and the seniors.

By Paul Sylvain

It’s one-and-done, for first-term District 10 Rep. Kenneth “Bucket” Davis (R-East Machias), as he announced last week that he is not seeking re-election in 2024. Instead, Davis is endorsing former state Rep. Will Tuell (R-East Machias), whom Davis replaced two years ago. 

Davis, who was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2022, replaced Tuell, who termed out after serving from 2014 to 2022.

By Paul Sylvain  

The Machias selectboard and Town Manager Bill Kitchen have spent the better part of 2023 first considering, then committing to drafting an all-encompassing medical and adult-use, recreational marijuana ordinance they hope to present to Machias voters sometime next spring. However, given the apparent lack of interest and limited participation, even from the owners and operators of the town’s existing medical marijuana storefronts, the effort begs the question, “Why?”

By Jayna Smith

In a great display of community spirit, the Pratt dealership in Calais recently concluded its annual donation-match campaign to support food pantries in Washington County.  Owner Ian Pratt, recognizing the increasing challenges faced by local food pantries, generously raised the stakes by offering to match all donations up to $10,000, a significant increase from last year's cap of $7,500.

By Jayna Smith

In light of last month’s storm, with more than 2,000 people -including 1,400 line and tree crews- on the job working to restore power, Maine State Police issued a reminder of Maine’s “Move Over” Law, urging motorists to exercise caution when encountering emergency vehicles or public service vehicles displaying flashing lights.  

Eastport Arts Center’s “Sunday Afternoons at the Arts Center” series begins on Jan. 7 at 3 p.m. with pianist Danny Holt. Holt’s program traces the history of the sonatina from the 18th through the 21st centuries, highlighting an eclectic array of composers, many of whom are unknown to even the most ardent classical music fans. 

By Paul Sylvain

The trial of two people accused of murder in the brutal slaying of a 43-year-old Pleasant Point, Perry, woman on April 21, 2022, came to an abrupt and unexpected end Wednesday afternoon in a split verdict, leaving one person found guilty and the case against a co-defendant declared a mistrial.

By Paul Sylvain

The Machias selectboard’s almost weekly workshop as the marijuana subcommittee opened on Dec. 20 with Town Manager Bill Kitchen addressing allegations of conflict of interest in the group’s membership.

By Will Tuell

Down East Community Hospital in Machias recently paid tribute to its most valuable asset -- the men and women who provide care to tens of thousands of Downeasters and their families -- during an employee recognition ceremony on Dec. 14. 

Paige Sinford and Lyman Beecher were chosen as DECH 2023 Employees of the Year, while nearly two dozen employees received recognition for having served the hospital for at least five years. 

The January 2024 StoryWalk at Porter Memorial Library will feature the beloved children’s book The Cool Bean by Jory Johns and Pete Oswald. This heartwarming children's book explores themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and the importance of kindness as it follows the journey of a once-cool bean who learns valuable lessons about true friendship and the beauty of being oneself.

By Ronie Strout and T.J. DiBiasse  

Soccer is on the rise at Narraguagus High School, thanks to head coach Tyler Tenney. Coach Tenney took over the program in 2019 and quickly turned a 2018 team that went 3-9 into an 8-4 team that finished 9th in North C and earned a prelim game. 

By Paul Sylvain

“Dike is OPEN”!

Who could have ever imagined that those three little words, composed of just ten letters in all, would be the buzz of the town? But, a buzz, they did stir, shortly before noon on Dec. 15, when Machias Town Manager Bill Kitchen blasted them out in an email to local media.

By Nancy Beal

The joint board that determines what happens in the three schools in Union 103--Beals and Jonesport Elementary Schools and Jonesport-Beals High School—held its annual meeting last week at which members elect officers for the board and a superintendent to oversee the schools. In 45 minutes, there was a new board chair and superintendent.

by Jonathan Reisman

The explosion of campus antisemitism and support for Jewish genocide (from the river to the sea) has shocked many Americans, but for this retired professor who spent 40 years on New England college campuses, it is no surprise at all. The sources of that antisemitism are relatively easy to identify.

By Will Tuell

There wasn’t a seat to be found at the Machias Valley Baptist Church amphitheater last Thursday evening as parents, teachers, and community members gathered to watch the 42 Machias Valley Christian School students from preK-6 re-enact the birth of Christ as only children can. 

Board Uses New Checklist, Approves Two Other Permits in 45-Minute Meeting

By Paul Sylvain

The Machias Planning Board has cleared the way for a new county public safety building to be built on the site of the former District Attorney’s office building at 85 Court St.

By Paul Sylvain

After three grueling days of jury selection and pre-trial discussions between attorneys and Judge Robert E. Murray Jr., the trial of accused murderers Kailie Brackett and Donnell Dana Jr. finally got underway Friday morning in Washington County Superior Court in Machias.

Brackett, 39, and Dana, 40, both of Pleasant Point, Perry, are charged with “intentional or knowing or depraved indifference murder” in the stabbing death of 43-year-old Kimberly Neptune on April 21, 2022. 

by Jonathan Reisman

By Will Tuell

Wayne Smith’s recent piece about Christmas wreath-making, known simply as “wreathing” to most longtime Downeasters, got me to thinking about my own family’s forays into the woods in search of fir boughs -- “tips” -- during the months of November and December and our own family wreathing operation out of my grandfather’s garage. 

“Oh, I ought to write that up,” I said to myself, not really expecting to have the time to do so amidst several other articles I had in the works at the time.