Kaileigh Deacon

As Thanksgiving ends and December begins our thoughts turn to the holidays and Christmas. Not everyone has the same opportunities at Christmas and some families don’t have the means to give their loved ones all they feel they deserve.

It’s times like these that living in a small community is a wonderful thing. Because coming together is what they do best. For three years Dunkin Donuts has been only one of the groups around our area working hard to make sure that kids get something to open on Christmas morning. 

Jayna Smith

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The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has recently partnered with some Walgreens locations across the state to offer free drive-through rapid COVID-19 antigen testing.  This includes the Calais and Machias Walgreens locations.  

Jayna Smith

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Santa’s Helpers, the longest-running Christmas assistance program in the county, is put forth annually by the Calais Lions Club.  The program depends on donations from businesses, organizations, and individuals to help local families in need have a merrier Christmas.

Tom was excited to see the decorations and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas!

Jayna Smith

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Santa’s elves are usually seen clad in green and red, but most of the “elves” who volunteered at Saturday’s Stuff the Bus event wore uniforms from various local law enforcement agencies.  That’s because the Stuff the Bus program is one created by Baileyville Police Chief Bob Fitzsimmons.

Natalie Boomer

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Every year Downeast Lakes Land Trust hosts a Christmas Bird Count. To help stop the spread of COVID-19, there will be some modifications to the event. 

On the morning of December 14th, community members are welcome to venture out into the Grand Lake Stream area to record what birds they see. 

Natalie Boomer

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Local Lana Faulkner has created a little library in a tiny building.  It sits in front of her Baring home with a purpose to share her passion of reading with community members. 

 “I started chartering mine about three years ago. It started out as a small structure that housed a good selection of books, to an actual building that you can go into and browse the fully-stocked book shelves,” said Faulkner. 

Jayna Smith

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Boy Scouting in the area has been a longstanding tradition, but this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, fundraising events have had to be cancelled and meetings and activities modified.  Still, it is not stopping kids from enjoying the scouting experience. 

Kaileigh Deacon

The question on everyone’s minds lately has been, “What will the future hold?” For students all around the state and many here in the Calais area, the question has been asked a lot. With winter sports, especially basketball, being such a big part of people’s lives, the question of whether or not athletes would be able to play has been a big one. 

Jayna Smith

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Superintendent of Schools Pat Metta informed parents, students, and staff on Sunday, Dec. 13 that Woodland Elementary and Jr./Sr. High Schools would be closed the following day and students of both would be moving back to remote learning effective Tuesday, Dec. 15.  

Senator Marianne Moore at her seat during “Swearing-In Day” for the Maine State Senate at the Augusta Civic Center on December 2. Now that the 130th Maine Senate has convened, committees will begin their legislative work in January. Senator Moore was reelected in November to represent Senate District 6 which includes the municipalities of Gouldsboro, Sullivan, Winter Harbor and part of East Hancock Unorganized Territory in Hancock County and all municipalities and unorganized territories in Washington County. (Submitted photo)

“God can move mountains with the smallest gesture of kindness!”

The words of Marc Podschlne, the director of faith formation of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, are an absolute truth embraced by the children of Immaculate Conception Church in Calais and St. James the Greater Church in Baileyville.

“Last week, they colored, drew pictures on, and personalized Christmas cards for the residents of Washington Place, an assisted living home in Calais,” said Podschlne.

Jayna Smith

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On the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 9, social media reports from many in the area noted “rattles” and “rumbles.” According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 3 earthquake occurred around 7:30 a.m.  It had a depth of roughly 4.784 miles.

The epicenter of the quake was at Trimble Mountain, and its effects were felt as far away as Baileyville.  No damage was reported.

Jayna Smith

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In an effort to spread some holiday cheer and show some appreciation for law enforcement officers, a local woman teamed up with others to purchase gift cards for each officer of Baileyville Police Department.

Senator Marianne Moore has been reappointed to serve as the lead Republican senator on the legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. This will be her second term on the committee. At a time when a global pandemic dominates the news the work of this committee will be more important than ever, and Sen. Moore will be certain that the voices of Washington County and the Hancock County towns in her district will be heard in Augusta.

The Angel Trees at St. Croix Tissue and Woodland Pulp were both colorful and overflowing with wrapped gifts last week.  752 tags were picked off the Angel Trees around the mill and filled by employees for local children.  

That number was up almost 200 tags from last year.  Mill employees responded with additional generosity this year to the many unexpected financial struggles that have come with 2020.

The gifts will be delivered to students at schools in Baileyville, Princeton, and Topsfield in hopes of  helping those children have a merrier Christmas. 

Kaileigh Deacon 

In a world of technology and instant access to information, it’s hard for some to imagine what the appeal of paper between two covers can be, but for many, it’s the pathway to the imagination as well as a life of learning and growing. For the local non-profit Blue Devil Fund, they understand the importance of reading and giving that gift to kids to build strong foundations. 

Jayna Smith

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Last month, in an effort to spread some much-needed cheer, residents were encouraged to decorate their home for the holidays, perhaps a bit earlier than usual.  Businesses and individuals were quick to offer up prizes for a contest, and well over 100 people requested to be put on the “List of Lights,” which allowed for folks to travel around town to enjoy the lights without missing any of the fantastic displays.

Jayna Smith

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When people think of Christmas gifts, sometimes the older population is not the first to be thought of.  This was not the case this year for residents at area assisted living facilities, thanks to the generosity of local woman Tomi Ellsmore, along with some help from others, who made sure every resident received a gift.

In the past year, we have been living in extremely difficult times that stressed our community and we had struggles.  However, from these difficulties, our resolve has strengthened with a solid response to the pandemic.  We are saddened for those in the community that have passed away from the virus.  Our prayers are with their loved ones and for their recovery.  We are extremely grateful to our health care workers, Calais Regional Hospital and all first responders who are keeping us safe and healthy.

Bonnie Lyons

454-3252

We will not be having church services again until Palm Sunday.

Helen Brooks is shining the front window of the church in memory of her husbands brother Charles Brooks. He was killed when his platoon landed in Italy on December 24, 1943. He was only 19 years old. See photo below.