1. Glide Into Winter Fun at the Milltown Skating Rink

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Located in Milltown at the basketball courts, the outdoor skating rink is a seasonal recreational facility maintained by the Calais Recreation Department. The rink provides a space for all ages to engage in fun ice skating and hockey.

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  2. Illegal Vehicle Traffic Continues to Harm Snowmobile Trails

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Maine law prohibits motor vehicles from using snowmobile trails unless authorized by landowners, or in cases of emergency, but illegal use continues to be a recurring issue. Brad Richard, a game warden with the Maine Warden Service, explained that this situation not only poses significant safety concerns for snowmobilers but can also cause extensive damage to the trails.

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  3. Robins in Winter

    American robins, like this one spotted in Princeton, are among the most recognizable winter birds in Maine. These nomadic flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands, often stay in the region throughout the year. According to Maine Audubon, contrary to popular belief, they aren’t a sign of spring in Maine and are perfectly adapted to winter in the state. (Photo by Donna Melanson)

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  4. Calais Stores Offer Stability Amid Egg Price Hikes

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    The bird flu crisis is forcing farmers to cull millions of chickens every month, driving U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost from the summer of 2023. With Easter approaching and demand surging, relief seems unlikely.

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  5. Blue Devils Host Dragons for Annual Pink Zone Game

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    The annual Pink Zone Game brought the Calais Lady Blue Devils and Woodland Lady Dragons together on Friday, Feb. 7, for their final regular-season matchup — this time, in the spirit of more than just competition. Hosted by the Blue Devils, the game served as a powerful reminder of the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection.

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  6. Lady Blue Devils Secure Victory Over Woodland in Regular Season Finale

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    TThe Calais Lady Blue Devils hosted the Woodland Dragons on Friday, Feb. 7, in the final game of the regular season for both teams. Calais, with a strong 14-4 record, won the game, 46-33, and finished in fifth place, securing a home playoff game, where they faced George Stevens Academy on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Meanwhile, the Dragons wrapped up their season with a 1-17 record. 

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  7. Lincoln Memorial Public Library Storytime

    During Storytime last week at the Lincoln Memorial Public Library, it was the Pembroke students’ turn to be dropped off by their school bus. The book that was read, How Leo Learned to Be King by Marcus Pfister, gave much food for thought, culminating in the project of the day, making to-go cups for gifts to others, which were prepared with some cocoa powder in each one. The outdoor activity, with lots of snow piles around, involved a ball being hidden in different places for the children to find.

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  8. CHS Wrestlers Chase Scott, Jack Lanier Head to States

    The Cross Insurance Center in Bangor hoThe Cross Insurance Center in Bangor hosted Class A and B North Wrestling Regionals this past Saturday, Feb. 9. Calais High School brought eight wrestlers to this tournament in hopes of placing in the top four, which would punch their ticket to the MPA Wrestling State Tournament. 

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  9. Blue Devils Victorious Over Dragons, Finish Regular Season at 12-6

    Calais’s Noah White goes up for a shot while Woodland’s Jace Roussell leaps to defend during the Blue Devils’ 69-51 win on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Calais finished the regular season with a 12-6 record, securing seventh place and a home preliminary game that took place on Wednesday, Feb. 12. They faced tenth-seeded George Stevens Academy, which also finished the regular season at 12-6. The Dragons ended their season, falling to a record of 4-14. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

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  10. Shipwreck Brings Community, Fishermen Together to Support Grieving Family

    David Cale

    I didn’t know Chet and Aaron Barrett, but yet, we are related as fellow fishermen. I set off to Jonesport on Feb. 5 for the Bennett family’s benefit supper, not knowing them but wanting to pay my respects and give my condolences to the family of these two men. Many thoughts went through my mind on the 40-minute drive from Machiasport to the Community of Christ Church in Jonesport.

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  11. Watershed Moments

    Jon Reisman

    I traveled to Augusta in early February to testify on several climate, energy, and environmental policy bills. The geography of the three-hour drive triggered memories of similar journeys over the past forty years.

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  12. Cribbage Tourney Benefits CES Playground Fund

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Following the success of the PTO’s Adult Prom fundraiser at St. Croix Tap & Table, another community event was held to support the Calais Elementary School playground fund. A cribbage tournament took place the following week at the same location, drawing teams of two to compete in a double-elimination format.

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  13. Woodland’s Karleigh Smith Reaches 1,000-Point Milestone

    Woodland’s Karleigh Smith is congratulated by teammates Maddison Coleman and Ava Croman after scoring her 1,000th career point in the team’s final home game of the season, a matchup against Washington Academy, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Smith becomes the eighth female player in school history to reach the milestone and only the second to do so as a junior. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

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  14. Calais JV Girls Capture Second Consecutive DAC Championship

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    For the second straight year, the Calais Lady Blue Devils junior varsity basketball team has claimed the Downeast Athletic Conference (DAC) Championship.

    Competing in the DAC tournament at Sumner High School, Coach Allie Hill’s squad secured back-to-back victories — despite having just five players — to earn the title once again.

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  15. Carter and Tango, Newest K9 Team at Sheriff’s Office

    Paul Sylvain

    The Washington County Sheriff's Office has a new “Deputy Dog” with the arrival of K9 Tango and his handler, Cpl. Matt Carter.

    Tango is an 18-month-old German Shepherd who began his training on drug and evidence detection, in addition to tracking, on Jan. 28 with Cpl Carter. 

    “We are expecting big things from this team and they are a great addition to the agency,” the Sheriff’s office said in a post on its Facebook page. “We consider ourselves pretty fortunate, as we have several MCJA trainers.”

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  16. Dive Team Recovers One of Two Scallopers Who Perished in F/V Sudden Impact Sinking

    Paul Sylvain

    The body of one of two South Addison scallop fishermen lost when their boat, F/V Sudden Impact, sank on Jan. 18, in high winds and rough seas near Moose Cove, was recovered by a dive team on Feb. 2.

    The Maine Department of Marine Resources reported on Feb. 2, that a team of “highly-skilled volunteer divers” located and recovered the body from inside Sudden Impact’s cabin. The body of the second crew member was not found on or near the wreckage. 

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  17. Washington Academy Outscores Woodland in Last Home Matchup of Season

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    The Woodland Lady Dragons fell to the Washington Academy Raiders at home on Tuesday, January 28, with a final score of 62-36.

    Woodland held a slim lead after the first quarter, up 9-8, but the Raiders gained momentum in the second, outscoring the Dragons and taking a 29-19 advantage into halftime.

    Karleigh Smith led the Dragons’ offense with 22 points, while Mishun Cornelius added 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

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  18. Hear Ye, Hear Ye

     

    Jon Reisman

    I’m headed to Augusta for a Feb. 6 public hearing of some consequence to Washington County, rural Maine, the 2nd Congressional District, and Maine as a whole.

    LD 183, An Act to Cap Publicly Owned Land Area at No More than 50 Percent of Any County, is sponsored by House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, and the entire Washington County delegation. Here’s the summary:

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  19. Iconic Lubec Smokehouse Recognized by National Park Service

    The Maine Historic Preservation Commission is pleased to announce that the McCurdy Smokehouse in Lubec has been recognized by the National Park Service as having a “National level of Significance” in the National Register of Historic Places.

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  20. Washington County Fair Queens Represent County at MAAF Annual Celebration

    The Washington County Fair Queens recently represented Washington County with distinction at the Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs (MAAF) Annual Conference and Celebration. This event brought together fair queens from across Maine, providing a unique opportunity for networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development. Miss Washington County Fair Shayna Cook and Jr. Miss Washington County Fair Maddie Gardner engaged with fair leadership and volunteers, sharing their experiences and insights gained from their time representing the county.

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  21. Punxsutawney Phil Sees Shadow, Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Punxsutawney Phil, the famed groundhog of Pennsylvania, emerged from his burrow and saw his shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter. This annual tradition, celebrated for over a century, continues to draw a large audience, despite questions about its accuracy.

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  22. Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Mad Mardigan’s to the St. Croix Valley

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Some members of the St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce board of directors recently joined Julianna Mahan and her son, Toby Sanchez-Mahan, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of their business, Mad Mardigan’s Cafe & Catering, located at 28 North Street in Calais.

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  23. Winter Wonderland Prom Raises Funds for Safer School Playground

    Playground Fundraiser Continues this Saturday with Cribbage Competition

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Last Saturday evening, January 25, the Calais Elementary School PTO transformed St. Croix Tap & Table into a magical Winter Wonderland for an adults-only prom night, all to raise funds for the school’s playground fund.

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  24. Chase Scott Reaches 100 Career Wins on the Mat

    Calais High School junior wrestler Chase Scott achieved a remarkable milestone on Saturday, January 25, 2025, securing his 100th career victory during a match in Bucksport. He is shown with his coaches Madeline Tardiff and Spencer McCormick. (CHS Boosters photo)

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  25. What's Up, Calais?

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    A cribbage tournament benefiting the elementary school’s playground fund is set for this Saturday, February 1, at St. Croix Tap & Table. This doubles tournament has a $20 entry fee per team, with the winning team taking home half the pot. To register, stop by, message, or call St. Croix Tap & Table at 207-454-4177.

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  26. Storytime at Lincoln Memorial Public Library

    During Storytime with seven children from the Pembroke School, which includes the children of Dennysville, grades first through fourth, there were plenty of things to interest all of the young folks. After some outdoor wiggling and simple indoor snacks, the story of the day, called How Big Is a Million? by Anna Milbourne and Serena Riglietti, was read and discussed. 

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  27. Blue Devils Play to the Wire in Trio of Nail-Biters

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    The Calais Blue Devils hosted the Machias Bulldogs on Tuesday, January 21, in a matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats. Despite a valiant effort, the Blue Devils came up just short, as Machias secured a narrow 43-42 victory and upped their record to 11-2.

    Leading the charge for Calais was Kaesen Dana, who delivered an impressive performance with a team-high 16 points. 

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  28. Calais Lady Devils Edge Machias in Overtime Victory

    Coach Dean Preston’s Lady Blue Devils improved their record to 9-4 with an overtime win over the Machias Lady Bulldogs on Tuesday, January 21. Calais’s Kayleigh Scott, shown here launching a three-pointer, led all scorers with 21 points.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

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  29. Calais City Council

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the Calais City Council met for its regular meeting, with Mayor Marcia Rogers presiding over Councilors Mike Sherrard, Elery Beale, Pete Foster, and Bill Quinn. Councilors Kevin Niles and James McDonald were absent from the meeting.

    What follows is a brief summary of the meeting, with the full meeting available for viewing on the City of Calais’s Facebook page.

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  30. Downeast Credit Union Lending Expert Earns First Place in Nationwide Contest

    Downeast Credit Union Lending Expert Jason Theriault was recently awarded the Top Protector in the nation by CU Certified during its annual competition, outranking 284 other lenders. Theriault has protected hundreds of credit union members, meaning that costly or unexpected auto repairs will be covered, preventing financial hardships, or loss of transportation.

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  31. Freedom Studies - Semiquincentennial

    Jon Reisman

    That mouthful refers to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, now less than 18 months away. I have a feeling that Donald Trump’s TV and showman experience is going to play a big part in what I hope is a huge, happy party. I think there is a lot of work and planning to do for that to happen.

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  32. Trump Sworn in as 47th President

    Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images, digital license - The Calais Advertiser, Inc.)

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  33. What's Up, Calais?

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    The City of Calais has announced that all items and objects must be removed from city sidewalks by Monday, January 20, 2025, to ensure safe and efficient snow removal during the winter season. Items left on sidewalks make it difficult for crews to plow effectively, impacting the safety and accessibility of the community, and crews appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

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  34. Remembering Holli Tapley, from Blue Devils Success to Fairfield University Fame

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    The Calais community mourns the loss of Holli Tapley, a standout basketball player and beloved member of the Calais Blue Devils family, who passed away on January 7, 2025. A graduate of the class of 1997, Holli left an indelible mark on the basketball court, earning numerous accolades and inspiring her teammates and fans alike.

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  35. Winter Wonderland Adult Prom this Saturday to Benefit CES Playground Fund

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    The Calais Elementary School PTO recently announced its upcoming Winter Wonderland Adult Prom, an evening set to bring the community together for a night of nostalgia and fun. Scheduled for this Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 8 to 11 p.m., the event will take place at St. Croix Tap & Table.

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  36. Lost at Sea: Coast Guard Calls Off Search for Missing Fishermen, Scallop Dragger

    Sunken Vessel Found Under 160 Feet of Water Off Long Point Believed to be F/V Sudden Impact

    Paul Sylvain

    After a more than 25-hour search involving 11 rescue vessels over two days, and encompassing 950 square miles of open sea and coastline in eastern Washington County, the U.S. Coast Guard has officially called off its search Sunday evening for a South Addison scallop dragger and its two-man crew reported missing since Jan. 18. 

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  37. Baileyville Scores Big with the Arrival of GameTime Sports Bar & Grill

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    GameTime Sports Bar & Grill celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 159 Main Street in Baileyville. This new hotspot boasts an array of amenities designed for sports enthusiasts and casual diners alike, including multiple large-screen televisions for optimal game viewing, a pool table, arcade games, and plenty of parking and seating to accommodate guests comfortably.

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  38. Princeton Welcomes New, State-of-the-Art Laundromat

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Princeton residents can now enjoy the convenience of a local laundromat after a nearly 40-year absence. Main Street Laundry, owned by Moses and Susan Cilley, has officially opened its doors at 46 Main Street, right next to The Old School Family Restaurant, which the Cilleys also own.

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  39. St. Croix Council #149 of the Knights of Columbus Donates Coats

    The St. Croix Council #149 of the Knights of Columbus donated 48 brand-new coats to the We Care Community Baby Center in Machias in January. The donations were part of the Knights’ Coats for Kids program, which has distributed more than one million coats to children in need around the world. The Knights also delivered knitted clothing, diapers, and wipes donated by parishioners of St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish, as part of the ASAP (Aid & Support After Pregnancy) program.

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  40. Community Rallies for Toddler Battling Leukemia, Raises $50,000+ in Days

    Will Tuell

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  41. Maine’s Sheriffs, Lawmakers Meet Over Breakfast to Discuss Rural Counties’ Dwindling Resources in Fight Against Crime

    Paul Sylvain

    Just because parts of Maine are considered “rural” and “sparsely populated” doesn’t mean there’s any lesser need for a strong law enforcement presence in places that fit those descriptions, like Washington County.

    The county’s legislative delegation heard that message loud and early last week at a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Maine Sheriff’s Association. Among those traveling to Augusta for the 7 a.m. gathering were Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis and Chief Deputy Mike Crabtree.

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  42. 2025 Opening Moves: Public Advocate, Equity Schadenfreude

    Jon Reisman

    The opening weeks of 2025 have brought home the consequences of mixing climate alarmism with identity/woke politics. The Energy, Utilities and Technology committee held a Public Advocate confirmation hearing where the Senate Chair ruled that any discussion of Maine’s energy and climate policies would not be allowed. 

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  43. Obituary - Holli A. Tapley Dec. 19, 1978-Jan. 7, 2025

    It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved sister, daughter, and friend, Holli A. Tapley, on January 7th, 2025. Holli was born on December 19, 1978, in Presque Isle, Maine and raised in Calais,Maine. She was a basketball icon, known not only for her incredible skills but also for the positive influence she had on the Calais and Maine basketball communities.

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  44. Craft, Pike Named IGA USA Retailers of the Year

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) has proudly announced that Bob Craft and David Pike, the owners of Calais and Orono IGAs, have been named IGA USA Retailers of the Year. This prestigious accolade is the highest honor bestowed upon IGA retailer members, recognizing grocers who exhibit exceptional leadership and service within their communities.

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  45. Calais Launches New Notification Service

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Calais citizens now have an easy way to stay updated on the latest city news, events, meetings, and emergencies through a new notification service. This service allows residents to receive updates via text or email, ensuring they are always informed about important community developments.

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