By Doss Dennison

Haleigh Bryant — 

Haleigh is an 11-year-old sixth grader who attends Whiting Village School. She has only participated in one team sport so far — basketball — and she loves it. 

Haleigh wears jersey #12 and scored 14 points once as a peewee player. She enjoys roller skating, especially at the skate park in Lubec. Haleigh has one younger sister, her favorite food is baked potato soup, and her favorite subject in school is spelling. 

By Phil Stuart

Three Downeast Board basketball officials with over 120 years combined experience worked their last game together on Dec. 19 at Gardner Gymnasium in East Machias when the host Lady Raiders of Washington Academy played the Old Town Coyotes. 

Wallace “Alvin” Hall of Gardner's Lake, Walt “Candy” Cummings of Deep Cover, and “The Doctor” Kevin Barbee of Milbridge, each have had over 40 years on the basketball court, and all three are tournament veterans as well. 

By Paul Sylvain

The Washington County commissioners have a new look for the first time in a dozen years, following the swearing-in of District 1 Commissioner Billy Howard and District 2 Commissioner David C Burns at a brief ceremony at the commissioners’ meeting room on Jan. 2. 

Looking on was District 3 Commissioner John B. Crowley, whose seat was not up for reelection in 2024. 

By Paul Sylvain

Maine winters aren’t what they used to be, considering the string of relatively mild winters we’ve enjoyed Downeast the past several years. Of course, with the snowiest and coldest winter months yet to come, it remains to be seen how Washington County will fare in this winter of 2024-25.

Still, the lingering memory of that last truly harsh, “old-fashioned” Maine winter a decade ago is one that anyone who experienced it won’t ever forget. 

By Paul Sylvain 

(This is the first in a series of articles spotlighting legislative bills being submitted by the Washington County Legislative Delegation.)

In the days leading up to the Jan. 8 start of the 132nd Legislature, District 10 Rep. Will Tuell, R-East Machias, has provided a preview of bills he’s already submitted or plans to enter by the Jan. 10 filing deadline for proposed legislation.

Selectmen Make Offer on Dow Building, State Rejects 2nd Liquor Licensee in Town

By Nancy Beal

Jonesport selectmen Harry Fish and Denise Cilley met Jan. 2 and, although it was not on the agenda, difficulty accessing disaster aid took up much of the public part of the meeting. 

 Down East Community Hospital in Machias delivered its first baby of the new year — Davis Joseph Green — at 6:36 p.m. on Jan. 5.

Green is also the first child born to Brenna Davis and Austin Green of Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada. He arrived weighing in at nine pounds, seven ounces. and measured 21 ¾ inches in length. Both parents said Dr. Christian Inegbenijie and all the nurses involved were “phenomenal,” and were impressed by and happy to be at DECH.  As to what they had to say about baby Davis, the parents stressed, “We are in love; he is just perfect”!

Zachery Allen was sworn in as a Marine Patrol Officer (MPO) by Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher Dec. 9 in Augusta. MPO Allen has been assigned to the Milbridge patrol in Washington County and previously served as a Hancock County deputy sheriff, a position he held since 2017. 

Zach holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Husson University and is currently working on his master’s degree. Zach is also a 2018 graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Program. 

Water, Wi-Fi Issues Force Motel to Cancel Bookings Until February

By Paul Sylvain

The cause of a Christmas Eve fire that destroyed two-thirds of the Bluebird Motel’s main lodging building, fronting Route 1/Dublin Street in Machias, has been classified as “undetermined” by investigators with the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

The Down East Community Hospital Auxiliary hosted the 51st Annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. The Rose Gaffney Elementary School generously allowed the Auxiliary to use their gym and hallways in the school.