Marshfield resident Camron Roberts, 18, passed away last week after a tragic car accident. Roberts was a 2017 graduate of Washington Academy in East Machias.

The employees of Bella Vita Salon in Machias came up with the idea of showing support for the people who loved him by flying white and yellow balloons, and the wider community quickly joined in. Shayna Ramsdell works at Bella Vita, and said that the color white signifies sympathy and condolence, and yellow signifies healing. Photos by Bill Kitchen.

by Bill Kitchen

Machias native and San Francisco firefighter and EMT, Rob Collinson, returned home for a few weeks this summer and revived the now mythic ROBSTOCK skate fest in Whitneyville last weekend. Collinson is also the founder and publisher of LOWCARD Magazine, a noted skater publication launched in 2003, which was one of the event’s sponsors.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

At a public hearing attended by three residents last week, the Machias Selectboard discussed the Machias Local Food and Community Self Governance Ordinance proposed at an earlier meeting in July. The ordinance will be put to a town vote during a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 9.

by Ruth Leubecker

Amid a storm of overriding controversy, the 128th session of the Maine Legislature ended last week with the certainty of reconvening to address many of the same issues.

“It was a difficult session,” said Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville). “We had so many different issues, and so many vetoes. That takes a lot of time, and it’s frustrating. Some wanted to change their vote, and that’s more time and more discussion.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

On Sunday, August  6, the Cutler Fire Department responded to a call from a hiker along the Bold Coast Trail in Cutler. 

Cutler Fire Chief Wayne Dennison said that the hiker was approximately three miles down the Bold Coast Trail when she was stung by bees, which she is allergic. The hiker began to go into anaphylactic shock and called for help.

“Before they got to her, she had taken some Benadryl, and didn’t need any help,” said Dennison.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Last year, volunteers at the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival information booth noticed that there were a lot of visitors walking around town on the Friday of festival weekend, a day traditionally thin on activities. So this year, they’ve expanded Friday’s schedule to include a full day of live music and more than 50 vendors who will set up on the green space by Centre Street Congregational Church.

by Nancy Beal

At their August 2 meeting, Jonesport selectmen opened bids on work needed on portions of town towards that had been identified, marked and listed by Jonesport contractor Jim Carver. Old House Point Road he called “one of the worst in town.” Others on the list included Beal and Bluenose Streets, Ice Hill North, Moosabec/View and Ledge Streets and Rockwell Lane. For each, he indicated the type of work needed: ditching, shoulder work, bush hogging and, paving.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Kristen Johnson said that a chance meeting with a stranger led her to create a charity that cares for Ugandan street children. “It’s a strange story. I actually met a person that became a very dear friend of mine on Facebook, he lives in Africa,” she said. “His name is Moses and his parents had died, and left him to care for his younger brothers and sisters when he was only 14.”

 Last Wednesday, the Maine Senate and House of Representatives dealt with over two dozen vetoes from Governor Paul LePage, sent two bond issues and a constitutional amendment back to their policy committees, and set the stage for a return in the fall when another committee charged with implementing the state’s marijuana legalization act completes its work on a bill to implement the new law.

Many year round residents have a standing rule that they do not leave the state of Maine in August. One look around our area this month, and no one could question their wisdom. Where else could anyone wish to be? Lobster, blueberries, beaches, sunshine (finally), music, great food, author readings, history, hiking... the list goes on. There are dozens of reasons our roads, hotels and pullout couches are brimming with out-of-state visitors right now.