The Washington Academy Raider Student Council is on a mission! Every Tuesday afternoon, a large group of community-minded students gather in Mrs. Carol Anthony’s classroom to discuss how to create change. The discussions are lively and creative, but they aim to influence a positive culture inside and outside of Washington Academy. 

By Paul Sylvain

Town officials in Machiasport are poised to assume management and grounds maintenance of six cemeteries currently overseen by separate cemetery associations.

But as the selectboard made clear at its Feb. 24 meeting, the town is not taking over the cemeteries’ care because of mismanagement or financial issues. In fact, the cemeteries are financially sound, the board said. According to town officials, the reason is simple: The people overseeing the associations are getting older and no one is willing to step in to take their place.

By Paul Sylvain

The brown 1954 Bangor and Aroostook Railroad boxcar parked at the Machias Station 1898 site has a new owner, following its purchase last week by the Machias Ridge Riders ATV trail club.

By Paul Sylvain

Newly hired Machias Town Manager Sarah Craighead Dedmon is living proof that someone “from away” can move downeast and find acceptance among its people. Not convinced? Not only is Dedmon now the town manager in Machias, but she defeated long-time Selectman Jeff Davis last June to win his seat on the selectboard in neighboring Machiasport, where she lives.

Analysis by Wendell “Doss” Dennison                                         

As the old saying goes, “Opinions are like noses, everybody has one.” 

There’s no denying that the subject of transgender females, who were born biologically as males and are now competing in female athletics, is a hot topic that everyone has an opinion on.

Everyone, including myself, brings to this discussion certain ideologies and biases. However, I have endeavored to write this from a position of neutrality. If I’ve failed in that, it was unintentional.

By Will Tuell

As Maine’s commercial fishing industry gathered at the Samoset Resort in Rockland last weekend for the industry’s annual Fishermen’s Forum, the state’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) released new data showing growth across the industry in 2024. Fishermen, DMR said, earned $74 million more in 2024 than in 2023, with landings valued at $709,509,984. 

By Paul Sylvain

Featuring art work and creations in a variety of mediums, from pencil sketches and colorful acrylic painting to models, masks and collages, the annual Porter Memorial Library Youth Art Show is something you won’t want to miss.

On March 9 at 3 p.m., Anna Maria Baeza on clarinet, Joachim Woitun on cello, and Gregory Biss on piano will present a concert for the Sunday Afternoons at the Arts Center series. The program will include Beethoven’s affecting Clarinet Trio, opus 11, written in 1798 when the composer was 28; Bach’s Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, #2 in D minor, played on an instrument fitted out in the 18th century manner; shorter works by Joseph Rheinberger and Giovanni Grazioli; plus two miniatures by Telemann written and played on an ancient clarinet called a chalumeau.

This month’s StoryWalk® at Porter Memorial Library features “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” by Judi Barrett. In this clever and engaging tale, hard times hit the fictional town of Swallow Falls, and a failed inventor thinks he has the answer to the town's crisis. He builds a machine that converts water into food. As might be expected, chaos and hilarity ensue. 

By Paul Sylvain

A seemingly improbable sequence of unforeseen events no one could ever have envisioned a year ago has resulted in former Machias Valley News Observer editor Sarah Craighead Dedmon becoming the torchbearer to “Make Here Better.”