by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Thomas Bonfanti of Northfield was charged with murder on Monday, Feb. 3, after a 30-minute shooting rampage that left two men and one woman dead, and another woman critically injured. The shootings took place at three different locations in Machias and Jonesboro, and Bonfanti was arrested at the American Legion on Court Street in Machias. 

Bonfanti will make his first appearance in court on Wednesday, Feb. 5 in Calais. He is represented by attorney Jeffrey Silverstein.

by Tanya Rucosky

Maine’s rural veterans are in the midst of a suicide crisis with counties like Washington and Aroostook at the epicenter. The Veterans Administration’s 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report notes economic disparity, lack of health care access and community services all contribute to increased suicide rates in veterans. Sadly, economically challenged, rural areas concentrate on these difficulties in places like Downeast Maine.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A movie filmed off the coast of Washington County is now available for streaming on all major online websites such as Amazon, iTunes, Vimeo and YouTube. “Lobster War: The Fight Over the World’s Richest Fishing Grounds,” tells the story of increasing tensions in the waters between Washington County and Canada, locally referred to as “the grey zone.”

“There's a longstanding, ongoing dispute out there,” said Cutler fisherman Brian Cates, who is featured in the film. “That’s why it’s called the grey zone.”

Take advantage of the free fishing weekend on Saturday, Feb. 15.  Discover the basics of ice fishing on Chalk Pond in Bedlington with the Downeast Salmon Federation(DSF). (Snow Date Sunday, Feb. 16). Join us from 12 to 4 p.m. and enjoy an afternoon out on the ice!  DSF Fish Biologist Brett Ciccotelli will provide equipment and advice to kids of all ages. Meanwhile, snowshoe enthusiasts can join Land Trust Director Tanya Rucosky exploring the nearby Little Narraguagus Preserve.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A web-based threat sent Friday, Jan. 31 listed Machias and Jonesport-Beals schools as potential targets for violence along with eight other Maine schools. Both Machias and Jonesport-Beals responded by notifying parents that the threat occurred, that authorities deemed it not credible, and by going into “soft lockdown.” Local law enforcement was dispatched to protect them, and all after-school and weekend activities were canceled at both schools.

by Joseph Horn

Click here to view the press conference https://www.facebook.com/machiasnews/videos/194917595237717/

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

It started with a third-grade classroom assignment: write a persuasive letter to your teacher about something you want.

“We want more playground equipment because it’s not much fun on our side of the playground,” said Aynslee Emery, one of the Jonesboro Elementary students who have organized themselves into a fundraising team called “Four Girls with a Goal.”

Principal and teacher Marjorie Hicks said the assignment wasn’t only about making a wish.

by Nancy Beal

Jonesport’s budget committee met with their selectmen and treasurer January 22 and reviewed and approved a slate of expenses for 2020-21 to be sent to the voters for action at the upcoming town meeting, scheduled for March 9 at 3:30 p.m. The grand total is $688,598 but that figure includes $40,000 in the off chance that voters break with recent tradition and approve a discount for taxes paid early. If the $40,000 is rejected, the 2020-21 budget will be under last year’s amount by $2,005.

by Wayne Peters

by Wayne Smith

EAC’s Second Saturday Open Mic series continues on February 8, from 6-8 p.m. Spectators and performers of all ages are invited to the family-friendly event, which is held downstairs at EAC. The opening act for February’s event will be Lauren Koss, singing and accompanying herself on her baritone ukulele. The series began January 10 with diverse performances and an enthusiastic audience. “Our talented January musicians were Brandy and Ross Argir, Dan Cashore, Audrey Bradbury, Beth Goodliff and Rachel Bailey,” noted organizer, Alison Brennan.

by Nancy Beal

Kingfish Zeeland, the Dutch company that aspires to build a $100 million land-based fish farm in Jonesport on 95 acres of waterfront on Chandler Bay and employ up to 70 local laborers, wants to be a good neighbor. Aware of the difficulties that similar ventures have encountered elsewhere on the Maine coast (read Belfast and Bucksport), Kingfish Zeeland’s managers have gone out of their way to extend an olive branch to the folks whose community their project would dramatically alter.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A case originally filed in Maine is on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

University of Maine at Machias Professor Jonathan Reisman is the plaintiff in Reisman v. Associated Faculties of the University of Maine (AFUM), et al, the union which represents all faculty members in the state university system. The University of Maine at Machias, Board of Trustees of the University of Maine, and the state of Maine are also parties to the suit.  

Nonprofit and public organizations seeking funding for projects that strengthen communities are encouraged to apply to the Maine Community Foundation’s Community Building Grant Program.

A volunteer committee of Washington County residents and community leaders reviews grants and makes recommendations for funding. The deadline for applying is February 15, 2020. Application, guidelines, and a list of 2019 grants are available at www.mainecf.org.

Winter has finally settled in as the Friends of the Library are getting ready for their Valentine's candy sale.  It will be chocolate and baked goods on Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8 at the library. If you are looking for something special to get your sweetie or loved one, how about some homemade candies.  Our regular chocolates as well as caramels, needhams, peppermint patties and peanut butter balls will also be for sale along with some baked goods.

Washington Academy has received a $10,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation to develop a mobile app development training program for local small businesses in Washington County. The funds are through the combination of the Downeast Innovation Fund ($6,605) and the Belvedere Natural Resource Preservation Fund Downeast ($3,395).

by Joseph Horn

by Tanya Rucosky

Mano en Mano and Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC) are partnering to grow the year-round workforce in Washington County by building affordable housing for seasonal workers through their new Welcome Initiative. “When you look at the big picture demographics,” said Charles Rudelitch, SCEC’s Executive Director, “we see the population of Washington County, and particularly the workforce going down.”

by Ruth Leubecker

Dominating the legislative agenda even as nonpolitical leaders strive to make a bigger difference, healthcare in Maine still remains an out-of-reach necessity for many.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Washington County Commissioner Chris Gardner opened a public hearing last week explaining what the hearing was — and was not — for.

“I understand the large number of people in this room tonight is because there are some strong feelings on this subject. I want to make it clear that the commissioners are not the committee of jurisdiction for approving or disapproving this project,” said Gardner. “It’s approved or disapproved by the DEP and the LUPC.”

by Jayna Smith

Avian Haven (avianhaven.org), located in Freedom, is a rehabilitation center dedicated to the return of injured and orphaned wild birds to their natural roles in the wild.  Last week, the center admitted two bald eagles from two separate areas, each experiencing symptoms due to lead poisoning.  Unfortunately, one of the birds did not survive.