by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King announced this month that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved $3.3M in funding for 10 airports in Maine, which includes $270k earmarked for the Machias Valley Airport. “Maine’s regional airports are vital pieces of our transportation system that help bolster the tourism industry and support jobs across our state,” said the senators in a joint statement.  

by Ruth Leubecker

As legislators sidestep the issue and a leading Maine expert demands congressional attention, whether at the state or federal level, health care planning is notably absent from the table.

“It has unanimous support from the committee, but we don’t know what’s going to happen to it,” says Joe Lendvai, Maine AllCare Downeast chapter leader-advocate of LD 1274, the bill to promote universal health care.

by Nancy Beal

As that herald of summer, July 4, nears, many of the folks who come to Maine for vacation will be looking for lobster, boiled and dipped in butter, skewered and slathered for the grill, or as the chief ingredient in other dishes popular with tourists and locals. Perhaps most notable of the latter is the lobster roll, a feature of most summer take-out eateries.

by Nancy Beal

When members of the Maine State Bar Association came together for their annual meeting last week at Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley, Machias attorney Rebecca Irving was honored with the group’s award Glassman Award, given for “demonstrated excellence” in advancing the position of women in the legal profession and for acting as a role model for younger or less experienced women attorneys. Caroline Duby Glassman was a pioneer in Maine legal history who capped a stellar career as the first woman appointed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Residents living in and around the Machias, Maine can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening.  The Lee Pellon Center will host this community event on July 18, 2017.  The site is located at 90 Main St. in Machias. Screenings can check for: The level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for heart disease, stroke and overall vascular health.

Lindsay McMahon, head coach of the Machias Valley Swim Club and assistant director of the Murdock Fitness Center in Machias stands with UMM professor Tessa Mellas and Washington Academy student Zain Fitzsimmons in the not-quite-warm waters of Whiting’s Indian Lake. The Machias Valley Swim Club offers year-round swim instruction and competitive swim training at the Murdock Fitness Center during the fall and winter, and in any given Washington County lake or ocean in the summer. 

Photo courtesy Bobbi-Jo Bordeau.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Artist Shanna Wheelock said that she looks to nature for inspiration when she designs awards for the Bay of Fundy International Marathon race events. “The subjects I have chosen, so far, have all come from the inspiration that I receive from the marine environment which surrounds us in Lubec and Campobello,” she said. 

Samantha Williams, a native of Charlotte and owner of Bold Coast Yoga, will offer a series of ten yoga workshops this summer at West Quoddy Station in Lubec. The workshops, which range from three hours to a day in length, are designed for beginners as well as experienced yoga students looking to develop and expand their practice. Workshops include: “Yoga for Beginners,” “Unruffled—Yoga for Resiliency,” and “Practicing Yoga in the Office.” Pre-registration is required at www.boldcoastyoga.com or 214-6516.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Fort O’Brien State Historic Site in Machiasport takes its name from a fortification built there after the Battle of Machias in 1775.  However, that fort was burned down by the British, who occupied the area during the War of 1812. According to a history soon to be published by the Machiasport Historical Society, five British men-of-war ships and 900 British soldiers captured Fort O’Brien and burnt the barracks in 1814. Cannon that were taken then were returned to Machias in 1818. 

On Thursday, the House and Senate finalized legislation bringing back the tipped wage credit at the urging of thousands of servers, and hundreds of eateries statewide. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Roger Katz (R-Augusta) has been sent to the Governor’s desk, and will, if signed, go into effect 90 days after this year’s legislative session wraps up.