Pay Hikes ‘Difficult to Ignore in the Face of Bankruptcy’ says Edwards

By Paul Sylvain

The county Budget Advisory Committee’s (BAC) daylong session on Oct. 22 got off to a rocky start when officials from two of the three unions representing all but a handful of county employees slammed the door on reopening salary discussions over three-year contracts agreed to last fall by former county commissioners Vinton Cassidy, John Crowley, and Chris Gardner.

Commissioners Hold Off Decision on Staff Cuts Until After Election Day

By Paul Sylvain 

A bone-chilling wind failed to deter media and some hearty county citizens from attending an outdoor press conference on the steps of the Washington County Courthouse on Oct. 23. 

By Will Tuell

Fifty-nine years after It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown first aired on American television, Jeff Bossie and Heidi Nelson of East Machias have brought a bit of Peanuts joy to life by growing what Charles Schulz himself might have called “The Great Pumpkin.” Though not the first to achieve such a feat, their massive melon tipped the moose scale at an impressive 422 pounds, Nelson said in an email on Oct. 16, setting off what’s sure to be a Downeast pumpkin-palooza. 

The Town of Machias and Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC) invite all community members to a public meeting on Monday, Nov. 3, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Lee Pellon Center, 90 Main Street, Machias, to learn about the Upper Machias Bay Master Plan and discuss replacement options for the aging Machias dike.  

At the Nov. 3 meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to see scale drawings of possible dike replacement options, learn about the discussions of the project committee, and share feedback, local knowledge, and priorities. 

By Will Tuell

Gorham Superintendent Heather (Gardner) Perry has been tapped by the Maine School Superintendents Association (MSSA) as their 2026 Superintendent of the Year, the organization said in a media release Oct. 22. 

Perry, the daughter of longtime Elm Street School principal John Garder, grew up and got her start in education Downeast, teaching and serving as principal at area schools before moving on to her first superintendency in Greenville and then to the Gorham School Department in 2015. 

By Nancy Beal

The Jonesport selectboard last week issued a public statement supporting the county’s $11 million bond question -- now capped by county commissioners at $8 million -- and urging the town’s residents to join the board in voting “yes” on the bond referendum on Nov. 4.

By Nancy Beal

For over a year, a group of Beals fishermen and town officials has been writing an ordinance governing aquaculture enterprises in the waters surrounding the island town. The resulting document was sent to town lawyers, who proposed some changes that were approved by the aquaculture committee. This week it goes before voters: 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30, in the town office.

By Jayna Smith

Robbinston resident Winnie Johnson has published her first children’s book, Mr. Rich’s Christmas Tree Secrets, a heartwarming story that brings the magic and hard work of a Christmas tree farm to life for young readers.

By Will Tuell

It was an historic evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Portland on Oct. 18 as The Machias Valley News Observer came away from the annual Maine Press Association awards gala with a total of 26 first, second, and third place honors in the small weekly news division. Our sister publication, The Calais Advertiser, took home 21 honors.

By Will Tuell

Machias Valley Christian School will remain open for now, but without some divine intervention,  it could still be forced to close  if school officials, parents and the community cannot plug a $75,000 budget deficit by Dec. 31.