1. Downeast Correctional Facility bouncing back after reopening

    by Will Tuell

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  2. Tangled up in Wu

    by Jonathan Reisman

    Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive”- Walter Scott

    Liar, Liar, pants on fire”- various attributions, most recently credited to anyone exposed to Joe Biden, Adam Schiff, Anthony Fauci, Andrea Mitchell, and/or White House spokesweenies.

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  3. Madison Warnock receives MPA Principal’s Award

    Madison Warnock of Jonesport, a senior at Jonesport-Beals High School, has been selected to receive the 2023 Principal's Award, teacher leader Becky Coffin announced last week.  The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals' Association, recognizes a high school senior's academic achievement and citizenship.

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  4. Harpsichord program offered polyphonic time travel

    by Jane Lanctot

    “Put on your eighteenth-century ears.”

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  5. The Nature of Phenology: Saw-whet owls

    by Hazel Stark

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  6. Bulldogs prove ‘there’s more to life than basketball’ in wild tourney run

    by Will Tuell

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  7. Local florist and gift shop Berry Vines to move locations this month

    by Hailey Wood

    After years of residing in the same space, Berry Vines will be moving to 247 Main Street in Machias. The move will happen over the first weekend of March. The store will be closed starting March 2nd to reopen on March 7th while they complete the moving of merchandise and equipment. 

    This new location will be in the same building as WIC and Family planning, next to the Reid Emery Building. 

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  8. Jonesport appeals board parses Kingfish permit challenge; vote to uphold planning board decision unanimous

    by Nancy Beal

    The bookend of a two-day board of appeals meeting, which began on Valentine’s Day, was held February 15 in the community room of Jonesport’s  Peabody Memorial Library. The five-member board had spent nearly three hours the previous evening in the town office hearing a three-part challenge to the town planning board’s permit to Kingfish Maine for a fish farm on 94 acres adjacent to Chandler Bay (see Machias Valley News Observer, Feb. 22, 2023).

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  9. K-9 Memphis to receive bulletproof vest

    by Will Tuell

    A member of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, K-9 Memphis, who has been on active duty with his handler, Deputy Toni Bridges, will be receiving some much-needed protection in the form of a bullet- and stab-proof protective vest courtesy of the nonprofit Vested Interest in K-9s later this winter. 

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  10. Machias cheer team raising funds to attend New England championships

    by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

    The Machias Memorial High School cheer team worked hard to win a place in the New England championship competition, to be held March 18 in Worcester, Massachusetts. 

    Now, they hope their community will help them attend by participating in two fundraisers planned for this month.

    This Saturday, March 4, supporters can help by bringing their bottles and cans to the school, where Cutler Village Redemption will collect them and return the proceeds to the cheer team. That event will last from 8 a.m. to roughly 2 p.m.

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  11. St. Patrick’s celebration set for Machias on March 18

    March 17 is the Feast Day of St. Patrick, one of the Church’s great evangelizing saints. It is a day that holds special significance in the Diocese of Portland because St. Patrick, along with St. Jean Baptiste, is a secondary patron of the Diocese of Portland, chosen because French missionaries and, later, French and Irish immigrants brought the Catholic faith to Maine and helped it take root and grow. St. Patrick Church in Newcastle was actually the first church in the country named for St. Patrick and has been in continual use longer than any other Catholic church in New England.

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  12. The Winds of War

    by Jonathan Reisman

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  13. Braided rug workshop at the LCOC

    Ever wonder what to do with that old but still serviceable t-shirt? Or think about what the world should do with all of the cast-off, “don’t want to wear it anymore,” pieces of clothing that clutter up our closets? The Lubec Community Outreach Center has a fun and practical idea that could be a perfect (and beautiful) solution.

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  14. The Nature of Phenology: Solar gain

    by Joseph Horn

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  15. Washington County game warden follows instincts, locates missing Topsham women

    by Sarah Craighead Dedmon 

    Kimberly Pushard and Angela Bussell had been missing since Wednesday, Feb. 22, when they were last seen in a Springfield, Maine, gas station. The Topsham police department had issued a silver alert the day prior, and Maine law enforcement agencies, including Maine Game Wardens, joined in the search.

    Warden Brad Richard of Princeton was brought onto the search on Sunday, Feb. 26, after two days of single-digit and subzero temperatures. 

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  16. This is the only way to see the Bulldogs play in the regional finals from home

    by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

    Every year at tourney time, dozens of scam websites post links on Washington County social media pages pretending to sell a way to watch local teams play. In fact, if you're seeing this post on social media, check the comments, and you'll probably see some of the scam posts stacking up..

    If you aren't going to the Cross Center and you want to watch it from home, you'll need to pay $10 for a month-long membership to www.whou.live, the only site we could find offering streaming of the regional finals.

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  17. Protect Downeast appeal of Kingfish permit rejected by Jonesport board

    by Nancy Beal

    Kingfish Maine personnel were back in Jonesport last week to take part in yet another marathon bank of meetings in connection with their application for a $100M fish farm on 94 acres facing Chandler Bay. This session would be four hours over two evenings before the town’s board of appeals, which had been summoned to handle a challenge to the planning board’s approval of the application and granting of the permit last fall [see Machias Valley News Observer, December 7, 2022.]

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  18. Machias CEO, planning board unanimously approve controversial riverside cottage biz

    by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

    For the third time in two months, the Machias Planning Board discussed the 12-cottage riverside building permit application of Graham Holdings before voting unanimously to approve it on Thursday, Feb. 16.  

    At the beginning of last week’s 36-minute meeting, scheduled one week prior to discuss Graham’s application, Machias Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Kevin Brodie informed the board that on Feb. 13, he signed the building permit. 

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  19. Jackson caps off 35 year career serving elderly veterans

    by Will Tuell

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  20. Strout proposes bill to set minimum hunting age

    by Will Tuell

    Representative Tiffany Strout (R-Harrington) presented a bill that would require youth hunters to be at least five years old during a public hearing before the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee on Feb. 13. The bill, LD 261, would reinstitute a minimum hunting age after it was repealed for all species except moose in 2015. 

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  21. Washington County law enforcement will go digital with $3M in federal funds

    by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

    Every law enforcement agency in Washington County will be upgraded from analog to digital communications this year using $3.1 million in federal funds secured by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Angus King (I-ME) as part of last year’s congressionally directed spending.

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  22. Presidents and Precedents

    by Jonathan Reisman

    2023 is just getting started, but the 2024 Presidential election is well underway. I would rather pay attention to spring training, but given the likely mediocrity (at best) of the Red Sox, my attention to Florida will be more on Tallahassee than Fort Myers.

    First, the Democrats:

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  23. Davis presents bill to help schools with heating, transportation costs

    by Will Tuell

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  24. Starting Your Garden from Seed workshop at the LCOC

    Have you always wanted to start your flowers and vegetables from seed but felt a little out of your element?  Here’s your chance to make your vision or a healthy productive garden a reality. The Lubec Community Outreach Center (LCOC) has announced an adventurous class that will cover the amazing process of growing your own food and flowers from tiny seeds!  

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  25. The Nature of Phenology: Ice acoustics

    by Joseph Horn

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  26. Longtime State Trooper Andy Foss signs off after 24 years in law enforcement

    by Will Tuell

    Longtime State Trooper Andy Foss retired after nearly 24 years in law enforcement last week. Though his official last day occurred in late January, approximately 75 friends, family, and colleagues joined him at the State Police barracks in Jonesboro for a “signing off” ceremony Feb. 9. 

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  27. Facing loss of Petit Manan, 3 towns propose regional ambulance service

    by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

    Last week, in response to the county’s EMS crisis, three Washington County towns announced a proposal to form a regional ambulance service funded partly by municipal dollars.

    Milbridge Town Manager Lewis Pinkham distributed a summary of the proposal Wednesday, Feb. 8, saying the decision followed discussions with Milbridge and Steuben’s nonprofit ambulance service Petit Manan, which earlier this year said it might close due to insufficient funding. 

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  28. Jonesport’s grade 3 still in turmoil

    by Nancy Beal

    The national shortage of teachers continued to play out locally last week, as again, approximately 20 members of the public turned out for the monthly meeting of the Jonesport Elementary School board meeting, concerned about the lack of a third-grade teacher. Despite advertising the post since last summer, the school had gotten little response. To fill the vacancy temporarily, the board brought in Joan Pulkkinen, who retired from teaching pre-K and kindergarten at Beals Elementary School and agreed to work until Christmas.

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  29. State quietly pursues sale of land next to prison

    by Will Tuell

    Governor Janet Mills has submitted legislation allowing her administration to sell a 9.5-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Downeast Correctional Facility in Bucks Harbor, raising the ire of local lawmakers and town officials who learned of the proposal hours before it appeared on the House calendar last week. 

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  30. Maine Veterans’ Homes examined for allegations of financial impropriety

    by Will Tuell

    The Legislature’s bipartisan Government Oversight Committee consisting of six Democrats and six Republicans, voted Feb. 10 to take preliminary steps towards launching an investigation into unspecified allegations of financial irregularities at Maine Veterans’ Homes, which has residential care facilities for veterans and their spouses in seven locations across the state. 

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  31. Nominations sought for Norman W. Duzen community service award

    The Washington County Extension Association seeks nominations for the 2023 Norman W. Duzen Volunteer Award, honoring a Washington County resident whose volunteerism has enhanced the lives of community members.

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  32. Welcome to the wonderful woke world of Disney

    by Jonathan Reisman

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  33. Chorus welcomes new singer for Maine-themed spring program

    In preparation for its spring concerts, Quoddy Voices will begin rehearsals on Monday, February 20, at 7 p.m., at Eastport Arts Center. This season the chorus will celebrate the many musical flavors of Maine, including a work by Supply Belcher, the 18th century ‘Handel of Maine’; arrangements of songs originating from Maine's Shaker communities, including Aaron Copland's classic setting of “Simple Gifts”; a loggers' song, a sea chantey, the catchy Maine County Song, two settings of poems by H. W. Longfellow and a medley from the musical Carousel.

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  34. The Nature of Phenology: Black guillemots

    by Hazel Stark

    There are moments in winter that feel like living in a black-and-white photo. While February often boasts those bluebird days with bright sunlight bouncing off fluffy snow and casting mini sparkling rainbows everywhere if you care to look, those are the winter days we venture out into the most. The days when the sky is entirely overcast, perhaps even releasing some mixed precipitation—those are the days we are more apt to shut ourselves indoors. 

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  35. MVNO publisher purchases second Alabama newspaper

    by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

    Pierre Little, publisher of the Machias Valley News Observer and Calais Advertiser, has purchased the Union Springs Herald, one of Alabama’s oldest newspapers, and says he’s looking forward to spending more time in Bullock County, where the newspaper was founded in 1866. Little also publishes Alabama’s Southern Star, founded in 1867.

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  36. Arctic blast opens warming shelters and freezes pipes across Washington County

    by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

    With record-breaking wind chills not seen since 1971, an arctic blast passed over Washington County last Friday and Saturday, bringing lows near -20 degrees and wind chills as low as -45, especially in the early morning hours of Feb. 4.

    In preparation, a wide array of warming shelters and some overnight shelters made plans to be available, said Lisa Hanscom, Director of the Washington County Emergency Management Agency.

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  37. Porter highlights threats to Maine lobster industry

    by Will Tuell

    Cutler native and Maine Lobsterman’s Association President Kristan Porter told members of the Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee last week that the state’s 4,000 lobstermen and their allies are fighting for the survival of the state’s small, coastal communities as regulators seek to impose stricter rules on gear designed to protect endangered right whales and site controversial off-shore wind turbines off the coast of Maine. 

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  38. Whole Life Market and Mahoney’s Gaming partner for game night events

    by Hailey Wood

    In January, Whole Life Natural Market and Cafe in Machias hosted its first game night in collaboration with nearby neighbor Mahoney’s Gaming Emporium. There they served a limited menu of their drinks, paninis, and soups with various games available for people to play. 

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  39. 2023 Jonesport budget holds the line despite increases in ambulance, JFD

    by Nancy Beal

    The Jonesport budget committee met Jan. 25 to finalize the money items for the warrant to be voted on at the annual town meeting next month (March 13). A threefold increase in money for the ambulance service (see MVNO, February 1, 2023) drove the total of $814,162, about $100,000 above the 2022 total — after $300,000 in that total raised for town roads last year was borrowed from surplus instead of added to the tax commitment.

    Because of such authorized paybacks to surplus, nearly $110,000 will be added to this year’s $814,162.

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  40. Planning board tables Machias permit approval again, pending legal review

    by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

    For the second month in a row, the Machias Planning Board did not vote to approve or deny a building permit requested by Graham Holdings, this time pending an opinion from the town’s law firm. Last week, the Machias Town Office submitted 28 pages of maps, correspondence, permit applications, and approved permits to Eaton Peabody for review. 

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  41. Bye, bye DEI?

    by Jonathan Reisman

    Editor’s note: DEI refers to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. - SCD

    The cold snap (February made me shiver) and our next President’s ongoing efforts to vaccinate Florida from the woke virus inspired me (with apologies to Don McLean).

    Long, long time ago, I can still remember

    How diversity used to make me smile

    And I knew if I had my chance

    That I could make those divas dance

    And maybe they'd be happy for a while

    But February made me shiver

    With every lecture I'd deliver

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  42. Lawmakers consider banning burn permits on dry, windy days

    by Will Tuell

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  43. The Nature of Phenology: Spruce tips falling

    by Hazel Stark

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  44. New Marine Patrol officer to join Washington County patrol

    Ben Wiant of Romulus, New York has joined the Maine Marine Patrol as its newest Officer and will serve in the Washington County communities of Harrington, Jonesport, Beals and Addison.

    Officer Wiant, who was sworn in recently by Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher, has completed the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Law Enforcement Pre-Service Training Program and is currently undergoing the Marine Patrol’s 45-day field training program.

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  45. Washington County Cold Weather Shelters for February 2-4, 2023

    The following organizations have made provisions to serve as warming shelters during the unusually cold temperatures predicted for Friday and Saturday. Some will be open day and night, some only during the daytime, and some only overnight.

     If cold weather conditions create an emergency for you or your family, call 911. 

    Daytime warming shelters

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