By Paul Sylvain

A newly created position of Machias operations manager, which was vaguely funded without being specifically named in last year’s annual town meeting warrant, has been reposted with a new name — operations coordinator — and a revised set of qualifications and responsibilities. 

In the span of about a year, Sarah Craighead Dedmon went from serving as recording secretary for the Machias Selectboard and Planning Board to the town’s first operations manager, on an interim basis, and for the past two months, permanent town manager.

By Paul Sylvain

The Machias School Board last week submitted its proposed 2025-26 budget to town officials, representing an overall increase of around 3.15%, which is up $265,157 to $8,674,699, from $8,409,542 last year. However, the proverbial elephant in the room is what the education cost will actually be if President Trump makes good on his threat to withhold federal money from Maine over Gov. Janet Mills’ hard-line stand allowing transgenders born as males to play in girls’ sports in Maine’s schools.

By Nancy Beal

Some 30 Beals residents gathered in the elementary school gym April 7 to act on a 58-article warrant at their annual town meeting.

Moderator Terry Beal guided voters in a meeting lasting a little over two hours. In the end, voters agreed to raise a total of $348,251, as well as reelecting all incumbent town officers to their posts. 

One departmental position — road commissioner — was absorbed into the selectmen’s duties, and the $3,000 salary, raised for that role last year, was moved into the surplus account. 

By Nancy Beal

Jonesport Fire Chief Boyde Crowley brought good news to his town’s selectmen April 9; the department’s pumper truck that was destroyed while battling a fire on Beals on March 28 is covered by insurance. 

And he had even more good news to share with the board. The town of Cutler has loaned the Jonesport Fire Department a 40-year-old pumper until a permanent replacement for the destroyed vehicle can be found.

Jonesport’s truck was pumping water on a massive, fully involved house fire on Beals Island last

By Paul Sylvain

Whitneyville Selectboard Chairman Nate Pennell is disputing claims at a public meeting that his town was invited but failed to attend a March 21 meeting in Machias to discuss a regional policing plan being floated by Machias Police Chief Keith Mercier.

By Will Tuell

It is a cornerstone of life Downeast that, when a beloved community member is in distress, his or her family members, friends, and the broader community respond to the crisis in a big way. 

By Paul Sylvain

Looking for something fun to do with your children or grandchildren this coming weekend? We have it on good authority from Jonesboro Grange 357 that the Easter Bunny will be making an appearance via Jonesboro Volunteer Fire Department truck at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, outside Jonesboro Elementary School for a free Easter egg hunt. Rain date is April 13 at 1 p.m.

by Jonathan Reisman

This Maine political season of partisan budgets and censures, gubernatorial and presidential petulance, DEI deflection, and narrative nonsense from Maine’s Soros bought-and-sold legacy media have brought Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass into clear metaphorical focus.

My first white rabbit sighting came with apologies to Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane:

White Rabbit in Augusta

Budgets can make you larger,

The University of Maine at Machias celebrated the completion of the long-awaited Reynolds Gymnasium renovation, as students, regional and state leaders, and guests took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility rededication on April 4.

Extensive renovations to the gym include a brand new, NCAA-compliant hardwood floor, modernized bleachers with computerized mechanisms, upgraded scoreboards, a new sound system, and various other enhancements to support both student and community events.

By Paul Sylvain

A plan being floated by Machias Police Chief Keith Mercier, offering neighboring towns regional law enforcement services by the Machias Police Department, received a lukewarm reception from Machiasport officials at their March 24 meeting.

By Jayna Smith 

Until recently, cross-border travel was a routine part of life for many in the area. Now, for both travelers and businesses, understanding what to expect at the U.S.-Canada border regarding tariffs and import regulations is crucial to avoid unexpected costs. To help clear up common concerns, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided insights on how tariffs and duties apply to goods entering Maine from Canada.

Healthy Acadia is hosting a series of community gatherings in Hancock and Washington counties during National Public Health Week, April 7-13. These events provide an opportunity to learn more about Healthy Acadia’s role as a nonprofit public health organization serving Maine’s Hancock and Washington counties, as well as the various health and wellness resources available.

The event will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the following locations and dates:

• April 9 in Calais at the Wabanaki Culture Center, 39 Union Street

By Paul Sylvain

A group of local musicians, of which many have appeared in some or all of the first four series of summer concerts at Bad Little Falls Park, met with Machias Town Manager Sarah Craighead Dedmon on March 28 to begin mapping out plans for the 2025 Kitchen Summer Concert Series and beyond.

By Paul Sylvain

In a life full of choices, Michelle Murphy of East Machias readily admits that she’s made her share of poor ones, as she told County Commissioners John Crowley, Billy Howard, and Chairman David Burns at their March 20 meeting.

By Doss Dennison

Dating back to 1953, eight players born in Maine have made it to the NHL. UMaine has sent 70 players to the NHL, 11 of them were goalies. That being said, hockey doesn’t seem to be a favorite sport of Downeasters. I am going to attribute the lack of enthusiasm to limited access. 

By Nancy Beal

Members of the committee that put on Jonesport’s July 4 Moosabec Summerfest celebration came to the March 12 selectmen’s meeting to pitch a plan to bring electricity to the town’s ballfield. 

By Jayna Smith 

After serving northern Washington County for many decades, the Waite General Store will officially close its doors for good on March 31, marking the end of an era for the small town of Waite. The store has long been a staple of the community, offering everything from milk and eggs to moose tags and friendly conversation.

This week, the Raider Report is excited to share the news of Rowen Luuring's return to campus! 

Luuring is a Class of 2022 graduate and has served since September as one of the Sustainable Gardening & Agriculture AmeriCorps service members. During her years as a WA student, she was an active member of the Sustainability Club and highly engaged in her science classrooms. As a result, she created and maintained strong relationships with her science teachers, who recommended her for the open WA AmeriCorps service position last summer! 

by Nancy Beal

It took approximately 50 Jonesporters just over an hour, on March 10, to raise three-quarters of a million dollars to run their town for another year, in what many old-timers claimed was the shortest town meeting they could remember. 

As in previous years, the most expensive categories were public works — $173,900 alone for snow and ice removal — and public safety, at a cost of $100,845 for just the ambulance. 

General government/

By Paul Sylvain

Look out Dunkin’, there’s a new coffee shop in town.

Leave it to West Branch Farms in Machias to take a shed that served as the former home of Sugar and Crumbs Bakery in Milbridge, move it to Machias, enlarge it, and open it for business on March 8 as the West Branch Bakery + Café.

Other than purchasing its building, West Branch Bakery + Café is not affiliated with Sugar and Crumbs, which has since reopened in a new, larger building in Milbridge.

By Nancy Beal

Beals selectmen have been busy recently preparing the warrant for the upcoming annual town meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Beals Elementary School gymnasium.

The annual report book was at the printer’s last week, and Daniel Davis, who has taken charge of the project, said on March 11 that he expected to be finished putting it together this week. 

University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a webinar for home gardeners titled “Becoming a Resilient Vegetable Gardener” from 6-7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26.