By Paul Sylvain

The fourth time — or in this case meeting — was a charm for the Washington County Budget Advisory Committee, as its members voted 5-4 on Nov. 21 to approve the heftiest county budget in memory, for 2025. 

With that, Budget Committee Chairman and Milbridge Town Manager Lewis Pinkham announced, “I assume we are done,” ending what had been an especially difficult deliberation over the course of four committee meetings in the past two months.

Town’s Attorney Accuses Newspaper of Printing ‘Inaccurate, Misleading’ Statements

By Paul Sylvain

The latest volley in a years-long legal battle between the owners of two beach-front properties in Machiasport’s Starboard district and town officials was fired last week at County Wide newspaper and its publisher and editor, Bob Berta, from the pen of the town’s attorney, Stephen Wagner.

By Will Tuell

Hundreds packed into the Elm Street School gymnasium on the evening of Nov. 16 for a potluck supper, ticket drawing, and dessert auction to benefit Arise Addiction Recovery, a Christian drug and alcohol rehab that has been serving the area for almost a decade. When all of Melanie Fergerson’s pumpkin spice donuts, Sue Grant’s masterfully designed cakes, and a delectable whoopie pie cake had been carted off, bidders had helped raise an estimated $15,000 for the rehab, Director Paul Trovarello said. 

By Paul Sylvain

The Machias Public Works Department welcomed a new “baby” to its family this week with the arrival of a shiny, rose-red 2016 Western Star snow plow truck.

The town’s selectboard, at its Nov. 13 meeting, authorized Public Works Director Mike Schoppee to purchase the truck from the Town of Berwick for $77,500. Schoppee had asked the board to forgo the normal bid process since this was a used vehicle being offered to Machias at a price the board agreed was a “rare find.”

By Meagan Tinker

The Downeast Food System Partnership (DFSP) is a new 2-year program created by GrowSmart Maine, Healthy Acadia, and Sunrise County Economic Council in collaboration with the Hancock County Planning Commission. The goal of the DFSP is to improve food production and distribution across Washington and Hancock Counties.

On Nov. 13, Governor Janet Mills announced $7 million in grant awards from her Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to help Maine technology companies create jobs and strengthen Maine's innovation economy. Locally, Nautical Farms of Machias received $250,000; Carver Shellfish, Inc. of Beals was awarded $97,500; and Pen and Cob Farm in Pembroke received $20,200. 

The Lubec Community Outreach Center is pleased to offer two holiday ornament workshops at their Common Threads Studio. Both workshops will feature local arts educator and workshop facilitator Sara Myrick, Eastport artist, who will lead participants through the fun and creative process. 

By Paul Sylvain

The next phase of a sewer reconstruction project that began before the Covid pandemic, and then was stalled by the increased cost of materials, moved forward again two weeks ago with the arrival of heavy equipment and several large barge-like containers. 

The flurry of activity along the river’s edge at Norman Nelson Park, near the Lee Pellon Center, and at the public boat ramp behind Helen’s Restaurant has left many residents asking, “What’s going on?”

By Paul Sylvain

Chris Gardner and Vinton Cassidy’s days as Washington County Commissioners are numbered, with newly elected commissioners David Burns and William “Billy” Howard set to step into their shoes when their terms expire on Dec. 31. 

Still, Gardner — the commissioners’ often pointedly outspoken chairman — had plenty to say about the ongoing 2025 budget process and the effect lack of state police coverage in Washington and other rural counties is having on the proposed budget’s bottom line at the board’s Nov. 12 meeting.