by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

University of Maine President Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy last week announced professor Daniel Qualls has been appointed vice president for academic affairs and head of campus at the University of Maine at Machias (UMM) for a three-year term.  

by Nancy Beal

by Ruth Leubecker

While hundreds of bills in various stages of completion remain on the table, Maine’s 129th Legislature, closing early, inches toward a tenuous reopening on June 16, 2020.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Machias Board of Selectpersons stepped into the new swing of things with their first online meeting, held April 22.

Jarod Farn-Guillette, director of Washington County Council of Governments (WCCOG), hosted the meeting which was attended by all five members of the board, Machias Town Manager Christina Therrien, Police Chief Todd Hand, Finance Director Meaghan Dennison, and Town Clerk Sandra Clifton, as well as several members of the public. The meeting was recorded for future viewing.

As reports of the first cases of COVID-19 in Maine began hitting the newsfeed, Angela Fochesato, Healthy Acadia’s Cancer Patient Navigator, became increasingly concerned for the health of her cancer patients. Patients with cancer may be immune-compromised - depending on the type of cancer they have, their age, the type of treatment they are receiving, and other co-existing health conditions - putting them at a higher risk of contracting infections, including COVID-19. The risk of being immune-compromised is typically highest during active cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy.

Principal MaryEllen Day is pleased to announce the honor parts for the class of 2020 at Narraguagus Jr/Sr High School in Harrington. Valedictorian is Kaci Alley, daughter of Troy and Bobbie Alley of Jonesport. Salutatorian is Aryanna Beal, daughter of Troy Beal of Cherryfield and Seana Annable of Glenburn.

Last May, Washington Academy (WA) seniors Ryan Conley, Jocelyn Scoville and Marilyn Mubang completed a year-long Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) course. They were pinned and became certified CNAs in a ceremony held at Washington Academy on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. At the time, Ryan, Jocelyn and Marilyn didn’t realize that less than a year later they would be working in healthcare facilities during a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. These seniors are also completing their last semester at Washington Academy through distance learning.

by V. Paul Reynolds

More and more, the government’s nationwide COVID-19 mitigation measures are resembling a fictional nightmare from the pages of “1984,” George Orwell’s dystopian novel about oppressive government run amok.

by Joseph Horn

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

If you’re a small business owner who did not receive funding in the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Machias Selectman Bill Kitchen says you should act fast to get in the queue for round two.