Applications are currently being accepted for four Maine Community Foundation scholarships that support Washington County students.

by Celia Cummiskey

Machias Memorial High School graduate Martin Holmes was recently awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civil Service. Holmes, who works as a Space Policy Analyst within the Department of Defense, says he was completely surprised by the announcement that he was to receive the highest honorary award for career civilian employees given by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

by Ruth Leubecker

Eight positive cases of Covid at the Maine State Prison recently nudged the Department of Corrections back to the forefront of questioning coronavirus preparedness.

“Everyone’s wearing masks. We continue to have excessive hygiene. We’ve stayed the course,” says Department of Corrections Comm. Randy Liberty. “When employees come in we do a temperature check, and everyone’s wearing masks 24/7.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

For the second time in 124 years, a camphor wood chest has been delivered to Porter Memorial Library in Machias. The crate arrived first in 1897, delivered with great pomp and circumstance by U.S.S. Machias Commander Charles Train, who was entertained by local officials and the governor of Maine, Llewellyn Powers.

Last month the chest was delivered again, this time more quietly, by Kathleen Garcelon of Machiasport, who lovingly restored the piece over the course of a year.

by Jonathan Reisman

I get quite a bit of information and political agitprop across my desk.

Pictures speak a 1000 words

by Hazel Stark

by Ruth Leubecker

More opportunities for Maine farmers are on the horizon, with agricultural grants also creating greater availability of single business development.

by Nancy Beal

Replacing aging floats at the Beals town landing in the Alleys Bay District of town will be a major topic at the annual town meeting this year. The Beals select board—Paula McCormack, Agnes Smith, and Sandra Woodward — has scheduled the session for 6 p.m., Monday, March 29 in the elementary school gymnasium. The meeting will be in-person only with seating in socially distanced chairs six feet apart.

Down East Community Hospital (DECH) has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Emergency Care by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare.  The award signifies that DECH is in the top 5% of 4,542 U.S. hospitals offering emergency care services.

by Jonathan Reisman

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Machias Town Manager Christina Therrien will resign her position effective June 30, according to a letter she submitted to the board of selectmen Wednesday, March 10.

Therrien emailed the letter to board chairman Joshua Rolfe during the “other business” portion of the board’s bi-monthly meeting, which fell earlier than usual in the evening due to a planned adult-use marijuana workshop session.

With Therrien’s permission, Rolfe read the resignation aloud.

by Nancy Beal

In two separate informational meetings last week, citizens of Beals and Jonesport heard from the engineers who surveyed the insides of their schools and determined which systems needed to be replaced and the price tags that went with the upgrades. Their recommendations involved replacement of ventilation, lighting, insulation, boilers, and system controls.

by Ruth Leubecker

While nationwide, international lobster markets severely declined in 2020, Maine rose to the occasion by shifting focus and zeroing in on new challenges.
“We never did focus too much on the China market,” says Kristan Porter, longtime Cutler lobsterman, and first fisherman to be president of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum board of directors. “Restaurant sales were nonexistent through the summer, so we focused on home sales, which pulled us through.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Gusts of 45-50 miles per hour reduced visibility for crews battling a blaze in Machiasport’s Larrabee village on Tuesday, March 2. Machiasport Fire Chief Dave Nielsen said the burning home was reported around 3:15 p.m., and he immediately called for mutual aid. East Machias, Jonesboro/Roque Bluffs, Machias, and Marshfield fire departments responded to the call.

Eastport Arts Center’s KinderArts program, which launched a video series in October, continues with ‘Craft-along: Collage a Scene,’ set for a March 19 release. KinderArts video instructor Nia Aretakis will demonstrate a technique for creating a landscape collage scene using basic materials: fabric scraps, patterned paper, tissue paper and craft glue. Free materials kits available from EAC include sufficient supplies for the participant to both follow along with Nia’s instruction and to create

AIR EMISSIONS, NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION and SITE LOCATION

 PERMIT APPLICATIONS

Please take note that:

Gartley & Dorsky Engineering & Surveying

59 Union St. Unit #1

Camden, ME 04843

(207) 236-4365

by Natalie Boomer

Last time you picked up a pizza from Pat’s Pizza in Machias did you notice a new sticker on the box?

Pat’s has teamed up with Healthy Acadia to prevent underage drinking and reduce the use of tobacco products.

“Parents who host, lose the most” is the saying on the stickers going out to customers at the local restaurant.   

 
According to the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey of 2019, 1 in 4 high school students in Washington County reported that they had consumed alcohol within the preceding 30 days.

by Ruth Leubecker

After a year like no other and a bottom line marked with unknowns, Gov. Janet Mills last week delivered her State of the Budget with optimism and promise.

“We, like the rest of the nation, were dealt a bad hand last year,” said Mills, referring to the year of COVID, a crippled economy, evictions, severe isolation and ensuing fear. “But we are pushing through. We will get to that other side. We will not only survive, but rise a better, greater state for all that we have endured, all that we have learned, all whom we have saved.”

The 1960’s Hanna-Barbara cartoon character Snagglepuss had several trademark lines. “Heavens to Murgatroyd”, which traces to medieval England, Gilbert and Sullivan, and MGM actor Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz), was used to express the proto Pink Panther’s disbelief or utter bewilderment.

by Joan Miller

This spring semester course will begin on March 8 and will continue for seven more weeks, on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

by Joseph Horn

Winter is a lot of things for a lot of different people. For some, it is an opportunity for outdoor recreation, from skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and ice fishing to snowmobiling. For others, it is an opportunity to hunker down with a pile of good books next to a roaring woodstove and take a respite from the hustle and bustle of the short northern summer months. And for still others, winter and its constant battle of ice, snow, and keeping warm cannot end soon enough.