By Paul Sylvain 

The Legislature’s six Democratic and four Republican leaders heard appeals on a litany of issues Nov. 20, including three submitted by Washington County’s only state senator, Marianne Moore, a Republican from Calais, asking lawmakers to approve $8 million in one-time funding to address the county’s ongoing fiscal crisis. 

Appeals were also heard on a pair of bills by Rep. Will Tuell (R-East Machias), seeking to designate July 21 as Lost Fisherman’s Memorial Day and requiring that annual county budgets be approved by a referendum vote. 

By Nancy Beal

Jonesport’s share of the county debt, which has commanded so much ink and attention lately, is $375,088. Last week, the town’s selectboard convened an informational meeting to explain to townspeople how they could save money by paying the town's full share now and, at the same time, help the county by contributing to an $8 million short-term loan known as a tax anticipation note (TAN) due by the end of the year.

By Will Tuell

If Machias Christian Fellowship Pastor Aaron Dudley and Arise Addiction Recovery Executive Director Paul Trovarello had met for coffee and a meal in the Elm Street School gymnasium on a cold November Saturday night ten years ago, the police might well have hauled them off for trespassing. Yet on Saturday, Nov. 15, the two — joined by upwards of 300 of their closest friends — packed into that gym to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Arise, the faith-based recovery program born from a simple conversation all those years ago.

By Paul Sylvain

With less than six weeks remaining before the start of the county’s new fiscal year, and frustrated by the lack of forward movement on a 2026 spending package by the budget advisory committee (BAC), Washington County Commissioner Chairman David Burns on Nov. 13 proposed staffing cuts, totaling some $900,000. 

That would buy the county about two months of salaries and operational expenses. At current  staffing levels, the county’s payroll is about $200,000 every two weeks.

By Paul Sylvain

The Machias Police Department joined with the Maine State Police last week in remembering fallen MSP Trooper Jeffrey Parola, who was tragically killed on Nov. 13, 1994, when his cruiser crashed in Sidney while responding as a member of the MSP’s Tactical Team to a domestic violence call. He was 27 and had been with MSP since 1989.

By Paul Sylvain

County Commissioners Courtney Hammond, Billy Howard, and Chairman David Burns rebuffed a proposal by Whiting resident Colleen Brown asking for the board to initiate a forensic audit of the county’s finances going back to 2020. 

By Nancy Beal

Jonesport selectmen met in a hastily-called special session Nov. 12 to decide what to recommend to townspeople about paying its share of the outstanding county loan from Machias Savings Bank due at the end of the year. The county debt is in the form of a tax anticipation note (TAN) — money the county, whose fiscal year corresponds with the calendar year, borrows every year to pay its bills before tax money from towns starts being received in the fall. Jonesport’s share is estimated to be $375,088.

By Seth Duston

On Nov. 8, the Narraguagus American Legion Post #8 in Cherryfield hosted a potluck dinner and Veterans Day event to honor all veterans. The event was highlighted by several guest speakers, including the Maine American Legion 1st Vice Commander Joe Michaud, accompanied by Lou Marin, department historian. In addition, a special guest speaker in attendance was Jeongyeol (Jeremy) Kwak, deputy consul general of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in Boston, who was there to honor the memory of Corporal Oscar Sprague.

By Nancy Beal

At its Nov. 11 meeting, the Beals Selectboard opened two bids for work on the town’s Backfield Park, where the January 2024 storms had caused severe erosion around the shore. Repairing a set of steps leading down to the “little beach,” where many baptisms have been held, is also a requirement in the restoration plan.

By Nancy Beal

Graham Platner, the 41-year-old Sullivan oyster farmer and upstart Democrat who seeks to unseat U.S. Senator Susan Collins a year from now, spoke with members of the Washington County Democratic Committee Nov. 2 by video from Southern Maine. He briefly described his schooling and four tours in the military and, while answering questions, revealed how his life to date informed his political thinking.