by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A permit request for a storage shed spurred a lively conversation about town planning at a special meeting of the Machias Planning Board meeting held Thursday, Oct. 11.

Nancy Manchester, owner of Smoke Solutions LLC, requested the addition of a storage shed to her property, which contains a retail medical marijuana business as well as a greenhouse. 

Wyatt Fritz works on his lace-up apple craft.

Students and teachers visited Antill’s Orchard in Wesley for an apple-picking field trip. Submitted photos

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Washington County Commissioners have scheduled another public discussion to gather feedback on the proposed addition of three new deputies to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Early this year the commissioners held a series of public conversations about the possibility of adding three new deputies to the county law enforcement branch. The addition would increase the countywide tax by approximately $400,000 in 2019 when all of the necessary equipment must also be purchased, then go down in 2020 and 2021.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A months-long debate weighing the rise in crime against a proposed increase in county taxes continued at last week’s budget meeting. The nine-member committee met in Machias on Thursday, Oct. 11 and breezed through the office of deeds budget, then devoted two hours to discussing three proposed deputy positions for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (SO). 

by Nancy Beal

On and on for months, Jonesport selectmen have talked about providing access to the shore and clam flats off the Jewett Road in Masons Bay on behalf of the town’s clam harvesters. They have reached out to a landowner in the area, exploring the acquisition of land for a road that would allow them to drive to the shore. Early last month, after sensing confusion about what the diggers wanted, they penned a letter to the town shellfish committee, asking what was actually sought.

Editor’s note: This concise history of the Epping Baseline is excerpted from an article written by Burni Andres for the 150th anniversary of the baseline in 2007. It is reprinted here with permission of the Cherryfield Narraguagus Historical Society. The full text can be found on their website, www.cherryfieldhistorical.com.

In the early 1800s the accuracy of existing nautical charts was poor.

Eastport Arts Center will host Octobris Natus, a live rap show, on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. The organizers are planning a Halloween-themed event with costumes encouraged; the concert is dedicated to raising awareness of suicide in memory of Cedric Altvater, cousin of Ashton Altvater (AKA Undeniable) and good friend to Sebastian Francis of Savage Music.

by Wayne Smith

You think that friends will live forever but sometimes they can go in a blink of an eye, just like a light switch. Alvah Fickett was a friend who grew up about two miles from the farm where I lived who recently passed away unexpectedly. He was 52 years old.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

It’s no accident that the 70th wedding anniversary is marked with one of the most precious metals on earth — platinum — because couples who reach their 70th anniversary are part of a small, exclusive club. So small, in fact, that the U.S. Census Bureau doesn’t have statistics on marriages that last so long.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Emma Rogers was in high school when the University of Maine started looking at ways to attract students into the field of engineering. By the time she was ready to apply to college, the new Engineering Pathways program looked like a perfect fit. 

by Ruth Leubecker

Up against two favored major party candidates, Will Hoar is relying on a strong double-pronged message in his candidacy for Maine’s congressional District 2 seat.

Rep. Bruce Poliquin, the GOP incumbent running for a third term, faces Jared Golden, a young Democrat, politically backgrounded, aiming to make government more responsive. They both have healthy financial coffers and prime-time advertising running nearly non-stop as November 6 approaches.

A very interesting story of how and when electric lights first came to Machias appeared in a January 31, 1903 issue of the Machias Republican. The following is a condensed version of that article.   

MACHIAS ELECTRIC COMPANY

In the 1890’s interest in electric power grew very strong in Washington County and it was in that decade that electric companies began operating in a number of towns throughout the county.

The Eastport Arts Center’s KinderArts program’s popular Tiny Yogis sessions have been extended and will run weekly on Thursdays from 9:30-10:15 a.m. through November 15. Instructor Caroline DiLio will teach yoga through music, dance and storybooks, and young participants will even learn meditation.

Owner of Maine Moon Kids Yoga, DiLio is a certified children’s yoga teacher and a mother of three. She takes a creative approach to teaching children, including games, crafts and sometimes even Minecraft poses. Learn more about her at mainemoonkidsyoga.weebly.com.

by Nancy Beal

The Canadian aquaculture giant Cooke Aquaculture, currently the holder of three licenses for salmon pens in Eastern Bay between Beals Island and Jonesport’s Head Harbor Island, is poised to ask for a fourth site: 44.4 acres in the middle of Mud Hole Channel between Mink Island and Beals’ Mud Hole Point, the southern bound of a long inlet known as the Mud Hole.

by Ruth Leubecker

In a significant step forward, Slow Money Maine will come to Machias on October 10  to confer with stakeholders about connecting to funding sources and building technical food systems and flourishing communities.

Over the past nine years, SMM, a statewide network of more than 1,700 people, has focused on food deficiencies and communities that need a boost. Since 2010 the group has connected more than 366 farmers, fishermen and related food businesses to funding sources. 

On Friday, Oct. 19 hometown pride teams up with the local funny bone when Porter Memorial Library presents The Downeast Fashion Show Gala to kick off its capital fundraising campaign. The library is raising money for major construction at its 92 Court Street location. The expansion will create access for everyone by means of a new addition and elevator.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A.O.S. 96 Superintendent Scott Porter spoke with the Machias Selectboard during their normal bi-weekly meeting held Wednesday, Sept. 12. Porter updated the board on the Machias schools’ effort to hire a resource officer, a position the district advertised to no avail. A school resource officer provides a law enforcement presence on school campuses.

Porter said Machias Town Manager Christina Therrien suggested a candidate for the part-time officer role, Bill Sternberg, who then interviewed successfully with the school. 

by John Rogers

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

When America thinks of redcoats and patriots our minds go to scenes set in present-day Massachusetts and iconic battles we learned about in school, such as Concord and Lexington.

by Ruth Leubecker

Power splits in the upcoming election have focused on the effects of term limits and key seats, but little attention given to incumbent Joyce Maker’s decision not to run.

The popular legislator from Calais, in deciding to step down, has Christina Therrien, Machias town manager, and Marianne Moore, former Calais mayor, vying for the spot. Therrien, a Democrat, and Moore, a Republican, are both strong and accomplished civic leaders. 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A public auction set for Sept. 28-29 in Machias will close a 20-year period when Main Street Discount occupied a central position in downtown Machias. The public may enter the building to inspect the auction items beginning at 8 a.m. each day, with the actual auction starting at 9:30. The auctioneer is Melissa Wells. Machias Savings Bank has purchased the property.