Three new Marine Patrol Officers have recently been sworn in and will be serving in Kittery, Tenants Harbor and Lubec.

Matthew Carter of Marshfield, Maine will serve in the Lubec patrol. A former Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy, Carter is also a native of Washington County, having grown up in the Machias area and graduated from Washington Academy. Carter is also currently a Military Police Officer in the Maine Army National Guard.

More than 800 children made their way through Machias last Friday as part of Trick or Treat on Main Street. One young trick-or-treater was very pleased to be near the fire trucks. Photo by Bill Kitchen

by Ruth Leubecker

Emera Maine, seeking to build a substation to service island communities, has requested a rate hike likely to add $3.60 to the average electric bill.

The Bangor-based company has asked the Maine Public Utilities Commission to grant a 12 percent increase on its customers’ distribution rates. This could amount to an overall increase of 5 percent on all residential bills, which would mean a revenue increase of 12 percent to Emera Maine.

by Nancy Beal

The process of taking private land to enable emergency vehicles to respond and turn around in a congested private lane off of Jonesport’s Main Street began Oct. 25, when selectmen voted to hire an engineer to look at and design a solution for the tight quarters at the end of Ice Hill South on the banks of Moosabec Reach.

Fishing boats from Machiasport’s Bucks Harbor were moved to calmer waters on Bucks Creek in advance of Monday’s storm. The National Weather Service warned of winds predicted to gust as high as 75 miles per hour. Photo by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Machias Fire Department responded to a call for a possible structure fire at 1:55 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28. “When we arrived, the back part of the trailer was fully involved,” said Machias Fire Chief Joey Dennison. The fire took place at 54 Middle Street in Whitneyville.

Built between 1880 and 1890, the Larrabee Baptist Church in Machiasport was in need of some tender loving care. As part of an ongoing restoration, one wall of the church has had its corner, sill, insulation, siding and windows replaced. The restoration was performed by Tim Ketchen of Cooper. Pastor Bill Holmes said that the church plans to complete the same work on the other three sides of the building as they are able to raise funds. To donate, or for more information, call 207-255-6363. Photo by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

On Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m., the Psychology and Community Studies Department at the University of Maine at Machias will host a screening of the documentary film SEED: The Untold Story. The film will be followed by a discussion with two renowned Maine food sovereignty activists, Jim Gerritson and Will Bonsell. Supported by funds from the Libra Foundation, the event is free and open to the public and will take place in the performing arts center.

Porter Memorial Library and the Machias Valley Film Society will screen the POV Documentary “Almost Sunrise” on Friday, Nov. 10 starting at 7 p.m. This is a special preview screening, several days before the film is broadcast nation-wide on PBS.

“Almost Sunrise” is a verite film--candid and realistic--with a message of hope for those who suffer a mortall injury. The film follows two Iraq veterans who are haunted by combat experience, as they walk 2,700 miles from Wisconsin to California.

University of Maine at Machias’ student activities organization, SAIL, will host two showings of the movie Despicable Me 3 on campus. SAIL stands for Student Activities Involvement and Leadership, and the organization hosts events throughout the academic year for students and community members. Despicable Me 3 will show in the Performing Arts Center on Friday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are just $2 for community members and free for UMM students, staff, faculty and their immediate family members.