By Kaileigh Deacon

What better way to celebrate the spookiest holiday than with a ghost story? This is certainly what the Calais High School Calais Callbacks thought when arranging for their fall show. The Callbacks performed their two fall shows just days after Halloween, “Honeymoon at Graveside Manor,” a play by Pat Cook.

By Jayna Smith

With the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife estimating the deer population to be around 260,000 to 290,000, many in Maine get excited for November.   To them, it means hunting season.  According to the Maine Department of Transportation, however, November is also Deer Collision Month.  

For over 30 years,  Woodland Recreation Director Mike Boies has headed up a Halloween party for area children.  The popular event saw over 200 kids who all enjoyed treats and games before they hit the streets for trick or treating. (Facebook photos)

Submitted by Sherry Sivret

By Jayna Smith

Looming cold temperatures always bring an increase in demand for the local food pantries.  With the added increase of the home heating bill, many are left with little discretionary money to spend on food.   

Recognizing how great the need is for the food pantries in Washington County and in an effort to decrease food insecurity locally, businessman Ian Pratt is once again matching donations of up to $5,000 to local food pantries.  He has done a matching donation campaign for several years.  

By Kaileigh Deacon

Congratulations to the Calais Lady Blue Devil soccer team for earning the 2019 DAC soccer championship with a victory over the Shead Tigerettes. Members pictured are front l-r: Abby Downing, Libby Biter, Lauren Cook, Ivy McLellan, Kelly Carter, and Marleen Ruesche. Back l-r: Alexis Donahue, Mercedes Owen, Madyson Parks, Annalisa Driskel, Serina Fredette, Nadra Bassett, Katie Bitar, Skylar Smith, Sage Phillips, Sophia McVicar, and Coach Courtney James. (Photo by John Rogers)

By Jayna Smith

Economy Motors in Hermon is giving away a fire truck to one lucky Maine town.

The truck was acquired by Economy Motors, and the family-owned business wanted to give back to one Maine town.  Those interested in having a chance of winning the truck for their town had to email a letter on department letterhead to be considered. 

On Saturday, November 3rd, a group of Woodland High School alumni came together for a volleyball game to raise awareness to emotional and mental health, while also raising funds for The Yellow Tulip Project.  The mission of The Yellow Tulip Project is to smash the stigma of mental illness.  

The Calais Lioness Club provides an annual donation to the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry.  This year, however, the club decided to take advantage of Pratt’s matching donation campaign and took their donation directly to the dealership.  Throughout the month of November, Pratt will match all donations to any Washington County food pantry, up to $5,000.  Pictured are Lioness Lisa Smith, Lioness Lorraine Mitchell, Lioness Laurel Perkins, Ian Pratt, Fr. David Sivret of the food pantry, and Lioness Stacy Crosby.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

The 2nd Annual Addison Coty Memorial 5K Turkey Trot was held last Saturday in Robbinston.  Addison, a 2018 graduate of Calais High School, lost his life in an automobile accident in July of 2018.  He was a great friend to many, and Addison was well-known for his athleticism, especially his ability as a cross country runner, having finished fifth in the state in Class C during his senior year.  The race, organized by Addison's mother Angela, raises funds to present as scholarships at Calais High School.

By Kaileigh Deacon

Students get excited around the holidays for the upcoming vacation, as well as the thought of gifts waiting for them on Christmas morning. For a group of students at Calais High School, the holidays are also some of the busiest for them.

Members of the Calais High School Student Council and National Honor Society gear up for this time of year with fundraising and projects. The group starts fundraising in November, not for a trip or a party, but in order to give a Christmas to kids who wouldn’t otherwise have one.

By Jayna Smith

This past Sunday, the Friends of Scouts 132 celebrated its open house at the newly constructed scout hall--and there was much to be celebrated.  Sponsors and community members were all invited to view the work and progress made. 

Submitted by Colin Windhorst 

Over thirty local historians from across Washington and Charlotte Counties  participated in Down East Heritage Day on Saturday, November 2, hosted at Washington County Community College.

Participants showcased their collections, celebrated their accomplishments, and shared recent projects, research, and publications.  As one commented, “It was very interesting to see a bigger range of organizations that I was aware of . . .  It is great to see people’s work and artifacts.”

By Jayna Smith 

The Calais Lioness Club is always busy working on some type of great event, all to raise funds to help those in need in the greater Calais area.  For the past month, the club's major project has been preparing for the 22nd Annual Lioness Christmas Parade.  This one event draws hundreds to downtown Calais on the first Friday of each December, and this year promises to be no different.

David Sivret from the Irene Ecumenical Food Pantry along with Rhianna Treadwell, Teen Crown of New England, braved the cold temperatures on Saturday to stand outside Calais Walmart and collect food and coats during their Annual Food and Coat Drive. The day was a success with plenty of food and coats, as well as cash donations, being collected. As winter starts to get into gear, the need for families grows. While food is most thought of, the need for coats is very important as well.

By Jayna Smith

The longest running Christmas assistance program in the county is the Calais Lions Club’s Santa’s Helper Program, and every year for the past 47, the program has helped provide a happier Christmas for struggling area families.

“We raise and distribute $12,000 to $14,000 every year,” said Lion John Mitchell.  This money comes from area businesses, organizations, and individuals who donate to the worthy program.