By Paul Sylvain

A handful of Machias voters at a special town meeting two weeks ago enacted 180-day moratoriums on commercial solar farm applications and development and, in a separate warrant article, on commercial wind energy facilities.

The pause will give the town time to formulate specific ordinances addressing both endeavors and could, in fact, be ready in time for the annual town meeting warrant on June 11.

By Paul Sylvain

Looking for something fun to do with your children or grandchildren this coming weekend? We have it on good authority from Jonesboro Grange 357 that the Easter Bunny will be making an appearance via Jonesboro Volunteer Fire Department truck at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, outside Jonesboro Elementary School for a free Easter egg hunt. Rain date is April 13 at 1 p.m.

By Paul Sylvain 

Maine Veterans Homes — the state-run nonprofit providing long-term care for Maine’s veterans and their spouses — is once again warning that, without roughly $13 million in state funding, two or more of its facilities in the state, which includes homes in Machias and Caribou, will have to close their doors by 2026. 

The news comes three years after MVH nearly closed its Machias facility, located on the Down East Community Hospital campus, and a facility in Caribou before lawmakers intervened with emergency funding. 

By Paul Sylvain

Musicians Alan Cook and Gary Lamb, appearing individually and as an occasional duo, are familiar to Downeast music audiences. Although the popular duo were among last year's performers at the Bad Little Falls Park Summer Concert Series, be prepared to meet and hear the remarkably talented duo of guitarist Matt Chase and drummer/percussionist Gary Lamb — appearing as Chase ‘n’ Lamb — on July 17 at this year's renamed Kitchen Summer Concert Series at Bad Little Park.

The University of Maine at Machias celebrated the completion of the long-awaited Reynolds Gymnasium renovation, as students, regional and state leaders, and guests took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility rededication on April 4.

Extensive renovations to the gym include a brand new, NCAA-compliant hardwood floor, modernized bleachers with computerized mechanisms, upgraded scoreboards, a new sound system, and various other enhancements to support both student and community events.

By Nancy Beal

Beals Island became the scene of a horrendous house fire on March 28, as two island ladies lost their home in a conflagration that required four fire departments to extinguish. 

It took about three hours for the old Danny and Susie Alley homestead, where their daughter and friend were living, to be reduced to ashes and memories. Meanwhile, neighbors, friends, and curious onlookers could only watch and hope the flames would not spread in the tightly packed neighborhood.

By Paul Sylvain

A plan being floated by Machias Police Chief Keith Mercier, offering neighboring towns regional law enforcement services by the Machias Police Department, received a lukewarm reception from Machiasport officials at their March 24 meeting.

By Paul Sylvain 

Normally, it’s the volunteer fire department that rushes to battle a blaze at the home of a neighbor. However, it was the neighbors in town who, in recent weeks, turned the tables by responding to Machiasport Fire Department Chief David Neilson’s urgent plea for help.

In nothing short of a miracle, the Machiasport Fire Department more than doubled its number of volunteer firefighters over the past two months, with more people expected to sign up. 

By Jayna Smith 

Until recently, cross-border travel was a routine part of life for many in the area. Now, for both travelers and businesses, understanding what to expect at the U.S.-Canada border regarding tariffs and import regulations is crucial to avoid unexpected costs. To help clear up common concerns, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided insights on how tariffs and duties apply to goods entering Maine from Canada.

By Nancy Beal