Accuses Appeals Board Chairman of Conflict of Interest

By Paul Sylvain

It took two meetings in as many weeks and several fiery exchanges, but Northfield developer Justin King finally won conditional planning board approval on Sept. 20 for a multi-unit townhouse-style apartment complex at 53 Fremont St. in Machias.

Deny They’re ‘Pulling Out’ of Washington County

By Will Tuell

In a September 21 interview with this publication, Maine State Police Lieutenant Michael Johnston soundly rejected the idea that Maine State Police (MSP) is “pulling out’”of Washington County

By Paul Sylvain

The Machias Food Pantry opened its doors Sept. 23 for a grand opening celebration from its new home on 43 Kennebec Rd. The new building, which began construction last year, was the realization of a three-year dream for the pantry’s own stand-alone building

Originally begun 37 years ago in 1986 by three women from the Centre Street Congregational Church’s mission committee, the Machias Food Pantry has grown from helping “a few needy families” in Machias to serving around 150 families weekly in Machias and 11 surrounding towns.

By Will Tuell

Country singer Alan Jackson’s ‘90s hit “Dallas” where the singer pines for his lost love (Dallas)  to rejoin him in Tennessee -- to the point where he even wants to “move Texas east”, may not be the most direct comparison, but for one week -- Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 -- Augusta -- the USS Augusta that is -- will be in Washington County, and thousands of curious Downeasters will converge on the county’s easternmost city for a historic commissioning, slated for 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30

By Joe McBrine

Connor Haskins dreams of becoming a game warden one day, and his mother, Ashley Handzlik, wants to see her child’s dreams to come true. 

That’s why Handzlik recently contacted Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Game Warden Matthew Tenan to see if Connor could spend some time with him to see what being a game warden is all about.

By Paul Sylvain

Undeterred by a tropical storm that showed up like an uninvited guest downeast a week before, more than 40 four-wheeling, all-terrain vehicle drivers and their passengers took to the trail from Machias to Harrington Sunday for their fourth “Ride for Garret.” 

The ride was originally scheduled for Sept. 17, but was postponed a week to Sept. 24 because of tropical storm Lee.

Appeal Hearing Postponed on Sandwich Shop, Used Furniture Store

By Paul Sylvain

Michael Acebal thought he was good to go with his plans for a small take-out sandwich shop and used furniture store at 97 Court St. when the Machias Planning Board approved his application for a permit on July 12.

More than two months later, Acebal is still waiting to begin the project after Mary Angarola, who resides across the street from where the sandwich shop and furniture store would be located, appealed the decision.

By Paul Sylvain

Project SHARE (Salmon Habitat and River Enhancement) and Downeast Salmon Federation will be receiving a combined $541,000 of the nearly $1.2 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Maritime Fisheries Service for restoring and preserving wild Atlantic salmon  habitat in Maine.

On Sept. 20, Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King announced that in all, $1.196,000 would be going to four Maine organizations to aid habitat restoration efforts in the state. 

By Hazel Stark

By Will Tuell

Proprietress Beth (Prout) Foss sent shockwaves through the Machias Valley this past week as she announced that she is selling the Bluebird Ranch Family Restaurant to Mason’s Brewing of Brewer. 

Even with the restaurant’s pending closure, Foss and her crew showed their continuing commitment to the community late Saturday afternoon by preparing lunches-to-go for crews busy restoring power to homes and businesses that lost power because of Hurricane Lee.