By Kaileigh Deacon

Girl Scouts is about much more than selling cookies every winter, it is about learning about yourself and finding a way to give back to your community. Many Girl Scouts find ways to help in their community by doing service projects and volunteering with local organizations. For local Cadet Scout Bailey O’Rourke, she took on the challenge of completing the second-highest award a girl scout can earn, the Silver Award.

By Natalie Boomer

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Gena Maloney, a 4th-grade teacher at Woodland Elementary School, made it possible for every child in the school to receive a book each month during the school year last year. This year she would like to do the same. 

Scholastic Book Clubs offer a book each month for students for $1, or $9 for a book each month for the entire school year.

By Natalie Boomer

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The Great Pumpkin Run will take place on Sunday, October 6th at 1 p.m., starting at the Calais Motor Inn. Although there is a scheduled date for this event, there is a catch. You can participate in this virtual 5K anywhere at any time. 

Tina Seelye of Get Fit With Tina, will be running with her crew through downtown Calais, but others who want to participate can run the 3.1 miles anywhere they’d like. 

Applefest takes place inside and outside. The thrift shop sets up outside the church and has a little bit of something for everyone. (Photo by Pierre Little)

Calais Celtic Concerts will present the hottest group in folk music out of Wales this year, “The Trials of Cato” at a special show on Sunday, October 6 at 7 p.m. at Calais High School. The group has won the 2019 Best Emerging Artist Award at the Wales Folk Award ceremony this year and are up for two more BBC Awards this November. They are only in the states for a short, two-week stint as they continue with their world tour. We are extremely lucky to be one of their stops!

By Kaileigh Deacon

For most preteens summer is spent hanging out with friends, going on trips, and just being kids, but for three local Girl Scouts, the summer had something more:  lots of hard work. Each level of Girls Scouts is met with new experiences and new challenges for each to face as they journey. It also comes with the opportunity to complete various awards of service that benefit the community, as well as the girls.       

By Dominic Gayton

The Nook & Cranny Restaurant is undergoing renovations, adding Baileyville’s only bar to the space formerly occupied by its kitchen.

The bar has been up and running for about three weeks and features six beers on tap:  Allagash White, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois, Lone Pine Portland Pale Ale, a Samuel Adams seasonal brew, and Bud Light. The bar itself was built by Micah Diffin using wood from a lumberyard in Perry.

By Jayna Smith

An afternoon of family fun will take place this Saturday at Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews, N.B.  The theme, appropriate for the season, will be pumpkins, of course, for its fifth annual Charlotte County Pumpkin Festival.  

According to Kingsbrae Garden’s director of operations Brad Henderson, approximately 1,100 people attended last year’s event, and that number is expected again this year.  According to Henderson, the Pumpkin Festival will take place rain or shine.  

By Natalie Boomer

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On Friday, October 11th the Eastport Chowder House will be hosting a benefit for Sarah’s House. 

A Chinese auction will take place at 2 p.m. and a full Thanksgiving turkey dinner will be served at 4 p.m. 

By Jayna Smith

The local charitable group Calais Lioness Club resumed its monthly meetings last month after its summer hiatus, with newly-elected president Theresa Brown at the helm.

Serving as vice president is Theresa Porter, secretary is Jayna Smith, treasurer is Laurel Perkins, tamer is Martha Apkarian, and tail twister is Irene Moreside.

In addition to the club’s new officers, a new board of directors has also been installed.  Members include Terri Smith, Norma Van Devander, Lorraine Mitchell, Becky Lacasse, and Cindy O’Brien.

By Jayna Smith

WQDY Classic Hits 92.7 FM launched 60 years ago.  To recognize the 60 year anniversary of the station, Sen. Marianne Moore and Rep. Anne Perry recently met with WQDY, Inc. President Bill McVicar to present him with a Legislative Sentiment.  

“Anne and I wanted to present WQDY with a sentiment to congratulate WQDY on achieving that kind of a milestone,” Sen. Moore stated.  “We extend our congratulations and best wishes.”

By Natalie Boomer

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On Friday, October 11th, a 60th anniversary party was thrown for the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. 

Completely free to the public, refreshments were offered throughout the night, a raffle took place with auctioneer Tom Sawyer, and three live bands played. Dave Wilder Co., Keltic Schmeltic, and Bob Sawyer and New Start all took turns performing.

By Jayna Smith

Calais Fire-EMS has earned a great reputation for providing area children with fun and entertainment, from the association’s upcoming haunted house, 4th of July games, and Easter egg hunt fun, just to name a few.  

Now, to recognize Fire Prevention Week, members of the department, including Sparky the Fire Dog, visited Calais Elementary School to spread awareness and safety tips.  In true Calais Fire-EMS fashion, however, they did it in a very entertaining way.

By Jayna Smith

Pumpkins come in many shapes--like round, oval, tall, and squat--and all sizes, but one man’s pumpkin at last week’s Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta topped them all in size, weighing in at 1,832 pounds.

Edwin Pierpont of Jefferson was declared the winner of the biggest pumpkin, setting a new state record.  What may be surprising to some is that he actually beat his own state record, one he set in 2010 when his pumpkin weighed in at 1,471 pounds.

The teachers and staff at Calais Elementary School have been asked to catch students doing a kind gesture throughout the week and recognize those students by rewarding them with a “caught being good” certificate. Over the last two weeks these students at CES have been “caught being good.” Noah Gillespie, Mackenzie Roberts, Molleigh Cox, Ben Harvey, Lainey Ellsmore, Hayden Sabattus and Sadye Cottrell. (Submitted photo)

By Jayna Smith

Those with electric vehicles (EV) are now able to charge up in Calais, with the city’s first EV charge station.  The ClipperCreek brand, a high-power charger, is located behind the library at the waterfront, just in time for the anticipated increase of electric vehicles in the foreseeable future. 

According to City Manager Mike Ellis, the EV station, with two charging units on one pole, is ready for use, “but proper signage and parking space designation is happening in the next few days.” 

By Jayna Smith

Trunk or Treats have been gaining in popularity in recent years. They are fun events for kids to dress up in costumes and collect candy from vehicles.  Those participating vehicles park in designated areas and are typically “dressed up” with decorations.  

On Friday, October 18th, the Calais PTO executed a successful Trunk or Treat at Calais Elementary School (see photo above) in conjunction with its Halloween dance inside.  

By Kaileigh Deacon

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and for many to stuff themselves with turkey and a bunch of homemade goodies. There are some though, that because of various circumstances, don’t get the same opportunity for the big meal.

In 2003 Food and Medicine saw a need with the amount of mill worker layoffs across the state and thousands of Mainers without employment going into the holiday season. So they started the Solidarity Harvest, a way to give those in need a boost and provide them with a full Thanksgiving meal.

By Jayna Smith 

Last Thursday, October 17th, most of the state experienced the effects of a nor’easter.  The low pressure moved across the state bringing strong winds and heavy rain, leaving many coastal areas--where some saw wind speeds of up to 70 mph--without power for multiple days.  

In the Calais area, wind speed was around 45 mph, resulting in many knocked-down trees and a loss of power for some.  The public works department stayed on top of things with the removal of downed trees and limbs from roadways around the city.

Pictured is the Calais Lady Blue Devils soccer team. Members pictured include front l-r: Marlene Ruesche, Abby Downing, Kelly Carter, Lauren Cook, Libby Bitar, and Ivy McLellan. Back l-r: Coach Courtney Hill, Katie Bitar, Mercedes Owen, Alexis Donahue, Annalisa Driskel, Nardra Bassett, Serina Fredette, Madyson Parks, Sophia McVicar, Sophia McVicar, Sage Phillips, and Coach Krista Morrison. (Photo by John Rogers)

By Natalie Boomer

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A Robbinston World War II Veteran is in need of help from the community. 

92-year-old Bryce Dwelley suffered a massive stroke in June. He spent three weeks at Maine Medical Center in Portland, followed by three months at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation. 

Submitted by Sherry Sivret

Saturday was a beautiful fall day as the sun shone brightly at Triangle Park for the Scarecrow Fest and the first annual Calais Community Thrift Store Fashion Show.  

The fashion show was organized and emceed by Anne Nixon, a thrift store volunteer. Over 20 girls, teens and ladies participated in the show modeling beautiful outfits, from Halloween costumes to black dresses to jeans with scarves, sweaters, coats and footwear, all from the Calais Community Thrift Store. 

By Natalie Boomer

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On Friday, October 25th, Downeast Broadband Utility held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Baileyville Town Office and at the Calais Public Safety Building.

Downeast Broadband Utility provides dark fiber network access to homes and businesses. 

A couple weeks ago, Calais Rotarians Pam Bridges and Anne Perry rolled up their sleeves and dug in the dirt by the water fountain in downtown Calais. They were planting Rotary tulips to mark the upcoming World Polio Day on October 24th.