April marks Youth Month for Credit Unions across the nation, and Downeast Credit Union is proudly celebrating at all eight of its locations throughout Maine. This annual event highlights the importance of saving and financial education, encouraging young individuals to build strong financial habits early in life.

Jayna Smith

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In honor of what would have been Sarah Robinson’s 40th birthday, Sarah’s House has launched an ambitious campaign: to raise $40,000 in just 40 days to coincide with the special milestone.

Located in Holden, Sarah’s House serves as a “home away from home” for rural Maine cancer patients. Over the past decade, it has supported more than 700 guests, saving patients and their families more than 1.3 million miles of travel during treatment.

For 51 years, the City of Calais, Maine, and Town of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, have celebrated the International Festival, a testament to the strong friendship between the two communities. Despite challenges like COVID, border restrictions, and declining participation, the festival remains a beloved tradition. The International Festival Committee has committed to continuing this tradition, focusing on its core values of cross-cultural cooperation and respect.

The Saint Croix Island International Historic Site, Downeast Maine Amateur Astronomers, and Calais Free Library will jointly host a daytime astronomy program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 17. This is a drop-in program, and participants can come whenever they would like between those times at the Calais Free Library, 9 Union Street, Calais.

Jon Reisman

Federalism is the balance and sharing of powers between the national government and the states. Federalism is a means of protecting against the tyranny of majorities and of allowing for a diverse electorate and political cultures. Maine can be Maine rather than California, Massachusetts, or New Hampshire. The Electoral College, the U.S. Senate, and the 10th Amendment are all elements of Federalism designed to protect freedom.

Jayna Smith

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The Calais Lioness Club recently celebrated its 41st Charter Night, marking more than four decades of dedicated community service.

Founded in 1985 by 43 pioneering women, the club honors its legacy each year during this special event by welcoming new members and recognizing the original founders.

Jayna Smith

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The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) has launched an on-demand preliminary public meeting to gather feedback on planned improvements to the International Bridge connecting Calais and St. Stephen.

Bishop Johnny Chambers was awarded the 2025 We Believe Change Marker Award at the annual gala on Friday, April 4. Selected from over 800 nominees across the Maritime Provinces, Chambers received the highest number of nominations, a testament to the widespread recognition of his compassionate leadership and far-reaching impact.

During the week of March 24, 2025, 32 middle school students and 12 staff from Maine Indian Education’s three schools – Indian Island School, Indian Township School, and Sipayik Elementary School – journeyed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for a transformative STEM experience hosted by the Beaver Works Summer Institute @ MIT. 

In 2022, Dead River Company donated a truck it could no longer use to Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology in Columbia.

Over the past two years, many students at the career and technical education (CTE) Center have had a hand in refurbishing the vehicle for use as a Class B training truck. Most of the heavy lifting was done by Jason Tyler and his diesel class. The welding technology students also played a big part in the truck body’s reconstruction.

Jayna Smith

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Until recently, cross-border travel was a routine part of life for many in the area. Now, for both travelers and businesses, understanding what to expect at the U.S.-Canada border regarding tariffs and import regulations is crucial to avoid unexpected costs. To help clear up common concerns, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided insights on how tariffs and duties apply to goods entering Maine from Canada.

Last Saturday, March 29, 2025, the Calais Beckett Center basketball team showcased their talent and determination at the Basketball Special Olympics in Orono, bringing home an impressive second-place finish. Congratulations to the team on their outstanding achievement! (Submitted photo)

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Sipayik Elementary School has been nationally recognized for pioneering the implementation of electric school buses in rural Tribal communities. The initiative, which has successfully electrified the school bus fleet at Sipayik Elementary School on the Pleasant Point (Sipayik) Reservation, was featured in a prominent national publication as part of their Electric School Bus Series.

Join Maine Master Naturalists as a rite of spring is observed, while watching for the evening dance of the American woodcock and new sounds of spring at the Woodcock Walks on April 4, 11, and 25 at the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. 

The walks begin at 7 p.m., or 30 minutes before sunset. Participants will meet in the upper parking lot by bathrooms. Bring a flashlight with red covers, and binoculars will be provided. Dress warmly. 

The walk, sponsored by Fundy Audubon and Friends of Moosehorn, will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain. 

Jon Reisman

I am more than ready for Spring, so the fresh, wet, white blanket that I observed at sunrise several days after spring had allegedly sprung was worth at least a question mark, but the preceding days of melting, initial raking, and garden prep, and baseball dreams were sufficient to somewhat salve the political and policy pounding Governor Mills and her Democratic legislative majorities have been so kindly administering to me, rural Maine, and the 2nd Congressional District.

Jayna Smith

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Patagonia, a well-known outdoor clothing company, has filed a lawsuit against Maine-based retailer Marden's Surplus and Salvage, accusing the company of knowingly selling counterfeit products.

Jayna Smith

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Spring officially arrived on Thursday, March 20, with only remnants of snow in sight — a few small piles left over from previous plowing, offering a glimpse of warmer days ahead. However, by Sunday morning, residents of the St. Croix Valley awoke to a fresh blanket of snow, marking an abrupt return to winter conditions.

Downeast Credit Union and Insurance has wrapped up the first year of its Downeast Dunker program, raising funds for five Maine schools throughout the basketball season.

The new Washington County Public Safety Building, which will house the Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement entities, is nearing completion. County Manager Renee Gray  briefed County Commissioners John Crowley, Billy Howard, and Chairman David Burns at their March 20 meeting, saying that the project should be completed by mid-April, just a week behind the original schedule and still under budget. An official ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for sometime in May, (Photos courtesy Paul Sylvain)

Jon Reisman

At the heart of green liturgy is the holy concept of sustainability. Everyone wants to be sustainable, but actually defining it in practice has proven wholly unlikely. Sustainability is often explained with the saying, “Don’t eat the seed corn,” or managing our resources in a manner that doesn’t reduce the opportunities of future generations. As a practical policy matter, what is or is not sustainable depends on baseline and future assumptions about technology, human behavior, and the planet/nature.

Jayna Smith

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After serving the community for many decades, the Waite General Store will officially close its doors for good on March 31, marking the end of an era for the small town of Waite. The store has long been a staple of the community, offering everything from milk and eggs to moose tags and friendly conversation.