by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Editor’s note: In this seasonal feature leading up to Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11, we’re proud to bring you the unique service stories of some of our local veterans.

Tommy Johnson started thinking about the draft when he was just 14 years old. He was in eighth grade that year, and the Vietnam War was nightly news. But Johnson was never drafted himself, because four years later he enlisted with the U.S. Air Force, and at the ripe old age of 19, he was off to basic training in Texas.

by Ruth Leubecker

From the outbreak crisis in York County Jail to a hunger strike protesting safety conditions in the Androscoggin County Jail, Washington County’s facility has emerged as a model for Maine.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Work on the area’s most dreaded stretch of frost heaves should begin next spring, according to Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) Senior Project Manager Randall Barrows.

A call for bids to widen and rebuild an East Machias length of Route 1 running from Pope Memorial Bridge and north 1.8 miles will be advertised on Dec. 23. Barrows says DOT anticipates clearing and utility work could begin in Feb. 2021, and road construction could begin in April, weather permitting.

by Nancy Beal

The Nature Conservancy’s 1,500-acre preserve on Beals’ Great Wass Island was established decades ago and is well known to hikers and nature lovers throughout the country. Recently, a second preserve was carved out of the other island that makes up the town of Beals — named, appropriately, Beals Island — and donated to the Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT).

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Many Downeast families say they will be trick-or-treating on Halloween this year, though some have changed their plans due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Results from an online survey conducted by this newspaper show that roughly 30 percent of respondents have changed their Halloween plans, and 70 percent plan to trick-or-treat as usual. Fifty-seven percent of respondents say they will be handing out candy, too.

by Jonathan Reisman

“I know nothing”- Sgt. Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes and the Biden Crime Family

by Wayne Smith

It was 62 years ago that Cherryfield native Carlton Willey pitched for the Milwaukee Braves against the New York Yankees in the World Series. The faces and places were different in this year’s series in which the Braves again played the Yankees. But for Willey, the ‘58 season will play on and on. I was able to interview Willey in the 1990s, and again in 2007. He died in 2009. Baseball was his life and this is his story.

It was another week of doing up some more jelly; I made currant, mint and peony jelly and strawberry rhubarb jam last Sunday. I also made some green tomato pickles to use up the last of the tomatoes that had not ripened.

Eastport Arts Center’s KinderArts program is thrilled to announce our latest project—free video workshops for kids! All may view the tutorial videos, which will be shared via our website and YouTube channel; materials kits will be provided free of charge by EAC, but supplies from home may easily be used as well if preferred. The sessions are geared towards children ages 3-8, but participants of any age are sure to have fun watching the colorful videos and following along at home.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Water testing on and around the Cutler Naval Station found unsafe levels of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 13 wells so far, including one on base.

Base well #503 tested negative for PFAS in 2016 but this year 121.6 ppt were detected, well above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies health advisory level of 70 ppt. Three other wells on base tested negative, or well below unsafe levels.