1. Washington County Jr. High Basketball Tournament Not for the Faint of Heart

    By Doss Dennison

    The junior high East and West basketball finals both took place last Monday evening, with the East side playing their games at the Machias Memorial High School gymnasium, while the West side played at the Narraguagus High School gym. Most of these contests were extremely close through two or three quarters, with a few of them going right down to the final buzzer.

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  2. Recollections of a Bygone Era: ‘Herring Chokers’ Recall Snipping, Packing Sardines in the Machiasport Cannery

    By Paul Sylvain

    Sardines. You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. But either way, for many people in small coastal towns like Machiasport, sardine canneries provided a much-needed source of income to families living nearby them.

    According to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, there were as many as 89 sardine canneries, employing upwards of 8,000 people in Maine in the early 1900s. NOAA Fisheries, meanwhile, reports that by the mid-1950s, that number had dwindled to around 75 Maine sardine canneries. 

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  3. Closed and Capped in 1996, Machias Landfill Possibly Leaching PFAS Into Middle River Marsh

    By Paul Sylvain

    The Machias selectboard learned at its Feb. 12 meeting that a former 2.5-acre municipal landfill from 1930 until capped in 1996, is leaching per- and polyfluoroalkyl, or PFAS, substances near and possibly into the Middle River marsh behind the site, adding yet another complication to the seesaw battle over the future of the Machias dike replacement. 

    The Machias landfill occupied an area near the Marshfield town line, behind the current transfer station off Broadway.

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  4. The Tangled Web of Climate Policy Deception

    by Jonathan Reisman

    Maine’s 2020 Climate Action Plan and 2024 Update commit Maine to:

    reducing our Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG);

    transitioning away from fossil fuels and gas-powered vehicles;

    promoting equity;

    increasing public conserved lands to 30% of the state by 2030. 

    What you will not find in the Plan/Update is:

    any estimate of how much climate change will be averted by the GHG emission reductions;

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  5. Eastport Arts Center Begins Drawing Classes Feb 22

    Eastport Arts Center is pleased to present the first of a recurring series of drawing classes on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. Ann Cannizzaro will lead sessions in “Zentangle: A Mindful Drawing Practice” in February, March, and April, at the Center. The sessions are offered for students ages 12 and up.

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  6. Sports, Outings, and More Highlight Goings on at MMHS

    By Nadine Preston 

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  7. Opportunity to Learn About Volunteering with UMaine Extension 4-H

    University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hosting online informational sessions for adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers. Participants can choose from two options: noon to 1 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 21 and 28, or 6-7 p.m. Mondays, March 3 and 10.

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  8. Shipwreck Brings Community, Fishermen Together to Support Grieving Family

    By David Cale

    Special to the MVNO                      

    I didn’t know Chet and Aaron Barrett, but yet, we are related as fellow fishermen. I set off to Jonesport on Feb. 5 for the Bennett family’s benefit supper, not knowing them but wanting to pay my respects and give my condolences to the family of these two men. Many thoughts went through my mind on the 40-minute drive from Machiasport to the Community of Christ Church in Jonesport.

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  9. Lawmakers Welcome Washington County Champs to the State House

    By Paul Sylvain 

    State Senator Marianne Moore, R-Calais, and Representative Will Tuell, R-East Machias, welcomed members of the Washington Academy volleyball team to the State House on Feb. 4 to receive a legislative sentiment congratulating them on their 2024 Class B state championship. 

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  10. Regulators to Nix Controversial Lobster Rules

    By Will Tuell

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  11. Jr. High Teams March Towards the Championships

    By Doss Dennison

    Amid some disruptive weather area schools had to deal with last week, the junior high basketball season continued to move closer to its final chapter — the chance to play for a Washington County championship. 

    On Monday and Tuesday evenings — Feb. 3 and 4 — both the East and the West were able to get in all of their prelim games. In the East, the Cutler girls lost to St. Stephen 76-13, the Rose M. Gaffney boys defeated Cutler 50-13, the Elm Street boys defeated St. Stephen 69-41, and the Lubec boys beat Woodland 47-33.

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  12. Man Charged in Connection With His Wife’s Death Ruled Unfit to Stand Trial

    By Paul Sylvain

    A 76-year-old Marshfield man charged with manslaughter in the death of his 79-year-old wife in September 2022 has been ruled incompetent to stand trial in the case. 

    Instead, a judge dismissed all charges against the man accused in the case — Charles Harmon — and ordered him placed in the custody of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Harmon had been free on $2,000 with a bail condition of no contact with a specific family member.

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  13. It’s ‘Balms’ Away for FOB Students’ Business Venture

    By Paul Sylvain

    A group of students in teacher Tom Manship’s math and science class have proven once again that Fort O’Brien is the little school that can (and does). 

    As Manship explained on Feb. 7, “My class created a product last fall called Astro Balm. They created a business plan for it, manufactured, advertised, and sold it.” 

    Astro Balm is described as an “all natural lip balm” made from bees’ wax, coconut oil, and shea butter. 

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  14. Watershed Moments

    by Jonathan Reisman

    I traveled to Augusta in early February to testify on several climate, energy, and environmental policy bills. The geography of the three-hour drive triggered memories of similar journeys over the past forty years.

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  15. Jonesport Alternative Fishing Gear Demonstration Day Moved to Feb. 18

    The demonstration and informal discussion for area fishermen and the public on the use of alternative lobster fishing gear that was scheduled for Feb. 6 has been rescheduled for 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18.

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  16. Fort O’Brien: The Small School That Can, Has a Supporter in School Board Member Rodriguez

    By Paul Sylvain

    Fort O’Brien School might be small in size and student count, but it definitely has a supporter in Machiasport School Board member Frank Rodriguez.

    Rodriguez met with the town’s selectboard on Jan. 27 to discuss the school and the accomplishments he’s witnessed since the start of the current school year after Labor Day.

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  17. Emotions Boil Over as Fishermen, Jasper Head HOA, Selectboard Spar Over Pettegrow Point Road Turnaround

    Local Businessman, Jeff Huntley, Floats Possible Solution

    By Paul Sylvain

    If words were punches, there would have been a lot of black eyes in Machiasport, following a fiery discussion on Jan. 27 between fishermen, members of the Jasper Head Homeowners Association (HOA), and the town’s selectboard about a proposed truck turnaround on Pettegrow Point Road.

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  18. Dive Team Recovers One of Two Scallopers Who Perished in F/V Sudden Impact Sinking

    By Paul Sylvain

    The body of one of two South Addison scallop fishermen lost when their boat, F/V Sudden Impact, sank on Jan. 18, in high winds and rough seas near Moose Cove, was recovered by a dive team on Feb. 2.

    The Maine Department of Marine Resources reported on Feb. 2, that a team of “highly-skilled volunteer divers” located and recovered the body from inside Sudden Impact’s cabin. The body of the second crew member was not not found on or near the wreckage. 

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  19. Alvin Hall, Legendary Local Musician, Dead at 95

    By Will Tuell

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  20. New Scoreboard, Banner Serve as Timeless Memorials to ‘Our Miss Jenny’ at FOB

    By Paul Sylvain

    Fort O’Brien School in Machiasport remembered their much-loved secretary, Jen Green Feeney, during a brief ceremony prior to the school’s final regular season basketball game on Jan. 30. The school unveiled a new electronic scoreboard and a memorial banner, which will be hung under the new scoreboard in the school’s gymnasium

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  21. Carter and Tango Newest K9 Team at Washington County Sheriff’s Office

    By Paul Sylvain

    The Washington County Sheriff's Office has a new “Deputy Dog” with the arrival of K9 Tango and his handler, Cpl. Matt Carter.

    Tango is an 18-month-old German Shepherd who began his training on drug and evidence detection, in addition to tracking, on Jan. 28 with Cpl Carter. 

    “We are expecting big things from this team and they are a great addition to the agency,” the Sheriff’s office said in a post on its Facebook page. “We consider ourselves pretty fortunate, as we have several MCJA trainers.”

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  22. Beals Board Learns Marina Ineligible for FEMA Aid

    By Nancy Beal

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  23. Hear Ye, Hear Ye

    I’m headed to Augusta for a Feb. 6 public hearing of some consequence to Washington County, rural Maine, the 2nd Congressional District, and Maine as a whole.

    LD 183, An Act to Cap Publicly Owned Land Area at No More than 50 Percent of Any County, is sponsored by House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, and the entire Washington County delegation. Here’s the summary:

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  24. Iconic Lubec Smokehouse Recognized by National Park Service

    The Maine Historic Preservation Commission is pleased to announce that the McCurdy Smokehouse in Lubec has been recognized by the National Park Service as having a “National level of Significance” in the National Register of Historic Places.

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  25. Machiasport Volunteer Fire Deptartment Chief Calls Staffing Shortage ‘a Serious Situation’

    By Paul Sylvain

    The Machiasport Fire Department, like many small-town Maine fire departments, is struggling to fill its roster of volunteer firefighters to adequately attack a blaze when one occurs in the community. As the department’s chief, David Neilsen, told the town’s selectboard on Jan. 27, “We need help really bad.”

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  26. From Dawn to Dusk, a Day in the Life of a Machiasport Scallop Fisherman Aboard F/V Greyhound

    By Paul Sylvain

    Most people enjoying a plate full of fresh Maine scallops have no clue about how they make it from the depths of the Gulf of Maine to their dinner plates at home or at a fine-dining restaurant. And if they spent just one frigid January day on the water dragging the ocean floor for their dinner, they might understand why those yummy white ocean meats can cost as much as $30 a pound.

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  27. Police Chief Predicts MPD will be ‘Unaffected’ by Curtailment of Services by the Sheriff’s Dept.

    By Paul Sylvain

    Sleep tight, Machias. Your police department has you covered.

    That’s despite a reduction in local coverage outlined in a letter sent to municipal police departments in Machias and four other towns in mid-January by Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis. 

    “Over the past decade, we … have worked very hard to help fill in gaps in your police department's schedule, as we have all faced challenges with filling rosters and budget issues over that time period,” Curtis wrote in the undated letter. 

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  28. Bad Little Falls Summer Concerts to Return as ‘The Kitchen Concert Series’, and Could be Expanded

    By Paul Sylvain

    The popular, well-attended weekly series of Thursday night concerts at Bad Little Falls Park will be returning this summer, but with a new name — The Kitchen Concert Series.

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  29. Family Seeks Closure as Recovery Efforts Resume in Moose Cove for Missing Scallopers

    Benefit Supper, Chinese Auction Planned to Aid Family

    By Paul Sylvain

    The family and friends of two commercial fishermen from South Addison who are believed to have lost their lives when their 34-foot scallop dragger, F/V Sudden Impact, sank after encountering rough seas on Jan. 18, continue to grieve and pray that divers will bring their loved ones home for closure.

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  30. Three Arrested in Baileyville Drug Trafficking Bust

    By Jayna Smith 

    On January 16, 2025, Baileyville Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Houlton Road that led to a significant drug bust. Officers developed evidence of possible narcotics in the vehicle, prompting the deployment of a drug detection canine. The canine alerted officers to the presence of narcotics, leading to a search of the vehicle.

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  31. Semiquincentennial

    by Jonathan Reisman

    That mouthful refers to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, now less than 18 months away. I have a feeling that Donald Trump’s TV and showman experience is going to play a big part in what I hope is a huge, happy party. I think there is a lot of work and planning to do for that to happen.

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  32. Bulldog Bulletin

    By Nadine Preston 

    It’s final! Literally. The students at Machias Memorial High School just wrapped up their first semester with final exams. Grades closed on Friday. It was pretty serious in the halls, as last-minute assignments and study guide index cards were a common sight in every student’s hands. Stay tuned for the official Honor Roll announcement, but until then, I’ll catch you up on other news happening around our school. 

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  33. EAC Offering 8-Week Acting Course

    Award-winning Casting Director and Producer Laura Stanczyk will offer ‘Scene Study for Beginning Actors,’ for students aged 18 and up, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 4 thru March 25, at Eastport Arts Center. The course will offer an opportunity for beginning and established actors to develop skills specifically in relation to written material, including plays, films and episodics. 

    “This is not improvisation, relaxation, or a vocal production class,” noted Stanczyk. “This is scene study.”

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  34. Jazz Presentation to Feature Father-Son Duo

    The Eastport Arts Center’s weekly Sunday concert series returns to the EAC at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, with Sánchez & Sánchez, a guitar and bass jazz instrumental duo.

    The father and son team of Robert Sánchez and Ellis Zipperer-Sánchez will present an array of tunes from the Great American Songbook, including some straight-ahead jazz, and standards ranging from ballads to uptempo tunes, plus several in the bossa style. The duo will also feature singer Lauren Koss on a few numbers. A question-and-answer session will follow the music.

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  35. Bill to Cap Publicly Owned Land Gets Feb. 6 Hearing

    Public Hearing Thursday February 6 on LD 183 9:00 AM, Cross Building, Room 214, in Augusta.

    The Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee has scheduled a public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 6 on LD 183, “An Act to Cap Publicly Owned Land Area at No More Than 50 Percent of Any County. The proposal is sponsored by House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, and the entire Washington County legislative delegation. 

    The bill summary reads as follows:

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  36. Trump sworn in as 47th President

    Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images, licensed to the Calais Advertiser, Inc.)

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  37. Lost at Sea: Coast Guard Calls Off Search for Missing Scallopers

    Vessel Found Under 160 Feet of Water Off Long Point Believed to be Sudden Impact

    By Paul Sylvain

    After a more than 25-hour search involving 11 rescue vessels over two days, and encompassing 950 square miles of open sea and coastline in eastern Washington County, the U.S. Coast Guard officially called off its search Sunday evening for a South Addison scallop dragger and its two-man crew reported missing since Jan. 18. 

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  38. Community Rallies for Toddler Battling Leukemia, Raises $50,000+ in Days

    By Will Tuell

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  39. Manaford’s — Jonesport’s Only Full-Service Grocery Store — to Close for Good Jan. 31

    By Nancy Beal

    After 17 years as the town’s only complete grocery store serving shoppers in the greater Jonesport-Beals area, Manaford’s Grocery will close its doors for good on Jan. 31.

    That news was announced in a recent post on Manaford’s Facebook page, which stated, “With a heavy heart and deep regret, we want to let you know that after 17 years, Manaford’s Grocery will be closing its doors, effective Jan 31, 2025. With great appreciation and gratitude to our customers and employees. Thank you all.” 

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  40. Washington County Sheriff Cuts Assistance to Machias, Other Rural PDs

    By Paul Sylvain

    In the latest wrinkle involving law enforcement services provided by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Barry Curtis has notified Machias Police Chief Keith Mercier and other municipal police departments around the county that the sheriff’s office “will no longer be able to provide the same level of assistance as in the past.”

    The undated letter tops new business to be discussed by the Machias Selectboard and Chief Mercier at the selectboard’s Jan. 22 meeting.

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  41. Jonesport Working Waterfront Delayed as DEP Requests ‘More Info’

    By Nancy Beal

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  42. Sheriffs, Lawmakers Meet Over Breakfast to Discuss Rural Counties’ Dwindling Resources

    By Paul Sylvain

    Just because parts of Maine are considered “rural” and “sparsely populated” doesn’t mean there’s any lesser need for a strong law enforcement presence in places that fit those descriptions, like Washington County.

    The county’s legislative delegation heard that message loud and early last week at a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Maine Sheriff’s Association. Among those traveling to Augusta for the 7 a.m. gathering were Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis and Chief Deputy Mike Crabtree.

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  43. Opening Moves: Public Advocate, Equity Schadenfreude

    by Jonathan Reisman

    The opening weeks of 2025 have brought home the consequences of mixing climate alarmism with identity/woke politics. The Energy, Utilities and Technology committee held a Public Advocate confirmation hearing where the Senate Chair ruled that any discussion of Maine’s energy and climate policies would not be allowed. 

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  44. Washington Academy Students Launch Indie Rock Band

    Washington Academy is excited to share campus news in the Raider Report. We hope you join us monthly to read and celebrate Raider students, staff, and faculty achievements. Students have set a vibrant tone for the year, and our first Raider Report features the musically talented Georgia Marsceill, ’26. Georgia shares her recent experience joining a WA indie rock band. 

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  45. Maine DMR Nixes Lobster Size Limit Increase as Pressure from Commercial Fishermen Mounts

    Drouin Calls U-Turn ‘Unprecedented’

    By Will Tuell

    The long and fraught battle over legal lobster size changes took another dramatic twist last week as Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) bowed to pressure from fishermen and withdrew a proposed 1/16th-inch gauge increase that was set to take effect July 1. The news came as fishermen and other industry stakeholders gathered for a Jan. 9 public hearing on the proposal. 

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