Freedom Studies - Short Takes and Unfinished Business

Jon Reisman

Riots Versus Revivals

When career criminal and fentanyl-infused George Floyd died in police custody, the left’s response was months of violence, arson, riots, and grievances. When conservative evangelist and faith-infused Charlie Kirk was assassinated, his political brethren responded with a revival and forgiveness.

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What's Up, Calais?

Jayna Smith

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Happy October! October hosts Halloween on the 31st, Canadian Thanksgiving on the 13th, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the 13th. It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

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New Dean of Academic Affairs at WCCC

Washington County Community College (WCCC) has announced the appointment of Dr. Stephanie Brown as the new Dean of Academic Affairs, effective December 15, 2025. Dr. Brown, a seasoned higher education administrator and accomplished architect, brings extensive experience and a passion for supporting diverse student populations to this pivotal leadership role.

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St. Croix Council #149 Exemplification

St. Croix Council #149 of the Knights of Columbus held an exemplification of all three degrees for new members at the Immaculate Conception Church in Calais on Sept. 21. Pictured are (front) State Advocate Gary Boynton, new member Josh Hoyt, new member David Smith, new member Kevin Scarlett, new member Gabe Dillio, State Deputy Michael Giroux, Council #149 Grand Knight Michael Boies, (back) Past State Deputy and Ceremonial Dir.

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Machiasport’s Clammers Urged to Attend, be Heard at Nov. 3 Machias Dike-Bridge Meeting

‘Nothing but a Money Grab’ by Conservation Nonprofits, Whitney Says

Paul Sylvain

According to Machias businessman David Whitney, the efforts to replace the 150-year-old Machias dike and its flapper gates with a full-span bridge, mainly led by several nonprofit conservation groups, are simply a bridge too far.

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Helen’s Restaurant Honored for 75 Years Serving Downeast Maine

From left to right are Reps. Mathew McIntyre (R-Lowell), Will Tuell (R-East Machias), and Tiffany Strout (R-Harrington) join Senator Marianne Moore (R-Calais) in presenting David and Julie Barker, owners of Helen’s Restaurant of Machias, with a legislative sentiment recognizing the eatery’s 75th anniversary in business following a lunch meeting Sept. 23. (Courtesy photo) 

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Harvest Dinner Returns to Main Street This Saturday

Jayna Smith

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The annual Harvest Festival is back this Saturday, October 4, promising a full day of fun for the whole community.

In addition to the popular Fall Market that will be set up at Flat Iron Park, the festival will feature children’s activities, a snack and paint, whoopie pie eating contest, hay rides, and plenty of other seasonal fun. One of the major highlights this year is the return of the Community Harvest Dinner.

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Lioness Bring Soups & Stews Cookoff to Harvest Festival

Jayna Smith

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Warm up with the flavors of fall at the first-ever Soups & Stews Cook-Off, hosted by the Calais Lioness Club, this Saturday as part of CDRC’s Harvest Festival. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and promises a deliciously cozy start to the day.

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Chamber of Commerce Welcomes New Business in Baileyville

Last week, St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce Board members officiated a ribbon-cutting for Positively Beautiful Salon & More, a new business located at 1090 Houlton Road in Baileyville. The salon offers a variety of services including hair and nails, tanning, halotherapy (salt therapy), FAR infrared sauna, massage therapy, and deluxe full body zero gravity massage chairs. Owner Carrie Morrell (center) is pictured with staff members Jayden O’Neill and Angela Sabattus, along with chamber board members, family, and friends.

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Spooky Scenes Amid Fall Leaves

Autumn air, falling leaves, and the promise of spooky nights, this Downes Street home is embracing the spirit of Halloween in full flair. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

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Equity Policy Malpractice Continues

Jon Reisman

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Students Honor Indigenous Children on Wear Orange Day

Passamaquoddy language and culture teacher Lynn Mitchell led Calais High School students in the annual school-wide march for Wear Orange Day on Sept. 30, remembering Indigenous children lost to residential schools and those who returned with lasting hurts. Many students wore orange shirts, a symbol of remembrance and resilience inspired by Phyllis Webstad’s story, and marched alongside Mitchell in song and drumming. Mitchell later visited Woodland High, where five students joined her in drumming and singing, earning a standing ovation.

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Lawmakers Propose Bills to Address County Fiscal Woes

Paul Sylvain

Members of the Washington County Legislative Delegation are taking matters into their own hands to hopefully find a way out of the county government’s current fiscal quagmire.

County Commissioners Courtney Hammond, Billy Howard, and Chairman David Burns are continuing to struggle without success in their efforts to find viable alternatives to an $11 million bond referendum question aimed at setting the county’s fiscal ship back on course. 

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Princeton Parks & Rec. Costume Swap and Pumpkin Painting

The Princeton Parks & Recreation group held its second annual Halloween Costume Swap at the Princeton Public Library. This year, pumpkins were purchased in order to offer an opportunity for the kids to paint one and bring it home. The kids were really creative in their painting of their pumpkins. There was a wide variety of costumes to choose from, as well. 

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Lioness of the Year Announced

Calais Lioness President Caitlin Merrill presents Theresa Porter with the 2024-25 Lioness of the Year award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the club. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

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Hospice Volunteers Honored at Blueberry Point Luncheon

Down East Hospice Volunteers and friends were hosted by Audrey Patterson with a luncheon at her home on Blueberry Point in Perry to celebrate another year of compassionate volunteer hospice service in Washington County, our 44th year. DEHV is offering volunteer training on October 20, 23, 24, 28, and 29. For information about our free services or the upcoming volunteer training, call 207-454-7521, ext.

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What's Up, Calais?

Jayna Smith

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CDRC’s Harvest Festival was a successful day of fun for all. Thanks to all those businesses and organizations that hosted events and made it possible.

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Jo’s Diner & Pizzeria Hosts Inaugural Whoopie Pie Eating Contest at Harvest Festival

Jayna Smith

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This year’s Harvest Festival got a little sweeter thanks to Jo’s Diner & Pizzeria, which hosted its very first Whoopie Pie Eating Contest for kids ages 12 and under. And let’s just say, it was messy, chaotic, and a sugar-fueled frenzy of fun.

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Celebrating Fall at CDRC’s Harvest Festival

Mia Lursen shows her pumpkin craft from a free event hosted by St. Croix Tap & Table as part of the Harvest Festival fun.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

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Irving Keeps Quiet as Baileyville Big Stop Nears Shutdown

Jayna Smith

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The Baileyville Big Stop Restaurant, a long-standing fixture of the Irving-owned truck stop since the 1980s, is reportedly set to close this December. Yet, despite repeated inquiries over the past year, Irving Oil has remained tight-lipped about what’s next for the location.

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Freedom Studies - Platner in Calais

Jon Reisman

Sullivan oyster farmer and Democratic socialist Graham Platner is running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Senator Collins. He has money ($3.4 million in “small” donations claimed, no breakdown of in-state vs. out-of-state offered), energy, charisma, youth (born 1984), veteran status (100% disabled, three tours in Iraq as a Marine, one tour in Afghanistan in the Army), digital chops, and fire in his belly. He held a town hall in Calais on Oct. 6, and I left believing him to be the likely Democratic nominee.

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Commissioners Pledge to Cap Bond Borrowing to About $8 Million, Not the $11 Million Proposed

Paul Sylvain

How does an $11 million bond referendum question become something much less? It happens when Washington County’s Board of Commissioners pledges to cap the amount to be borrowed to only what is needed to pay for the principal and interest on the county’s 2025 Tax Anticipation Note (TAN), due payable in full on Dec. 31, 2025.

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MDOT Bridge Project to Result in Wilcox Road Detour

Paul Sylvain

Motorists who rely on Route 189 to travel between Trescott and Lubec can expect a temporary miles-long detour via Wilcox Road sometime in 2027.

That’s according to Washington County Unorganized Territories Supervisor Heron Weston, who informed county commissioners at their Oct. 9 meeting that the Maine Department of Transportation recently notified him that plans are underway to replace the current bridge that spans East Stream. The bridge is located just before Cobscook Institute on the way into Lubec.

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CDRC’s Annual Scarecrow Contest

Time to Vote! 

Find “Calais, Maine Annual Scarecrow Contest” on Facebook. Vote by clicking “like” under the picture on the original post. Help spread the fun by sharing the page and encouraging your friends to follow along and “like” their favorite! Voting ends on October 28. Shown are only some of the scarecrows; check them out online or in downtown Calais.   

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Classic Hits Turkey-a-Thon Gobbles Up Nearly $40K for Holiday Meals

Jayna Smith

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The 21st Annual Classic Hits Turkey-a-Thon, held last Friday, October 10, was a tremendous success, raising an impressive $39,022 by the end of the day — and with donations still coming in. The total equates to over 3,200 turkeys, ensuring that families across Washington County will have food on the table this holiday season.

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Calais and Orono IGAs Take Top Honors at 2025 Maine Family Business Awards

Jayna Smith

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The Maine Family Business Institute has announced the winners of the 2025 Maine Family Business Awards, with Calais and Orono IGAs earning the prestigious EOS Worldwide First General Award.

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Rev. Robert “Bobby” Oliver Honored with Quilt of Valor

Jayna Smith

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Last week, Rev. Robert S. “Bobby” Oliver Jr., of Baileyville, was presented with a Quilt of Valor in recognition of his dedicated service to both God and country. The handcrafted quilt was formally awarded by Paula Z. of the Kaleidoscope Quilters, honoring Oliver’s courage and sacrifice during his time in the United States Army.

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Crowds Gather for Baileyville Octoberfest

Miriam Libby proudly serves as Grand Marshal for the 2025 Octoberfest Parade in Baileyville held last Saturday, Oct. 11. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

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Maine’s Rurality Reality: Demographics and Disparate Impact

Jon Reisman

Maine is a largely rural state, but that rurality is not distributed evenly across the State or by Congressional District (CD). Rural demographics differences include being poorer, older, more spread out (lower population density), more agrarian, and more Republican. Maine’s Congressional districts both contain significant rural/non- metro areas, but the 2nd CD is decidedly more rural, with associated demographics. 

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DECH and CCH Bring National Youth Speaker to Washington County Students

This past week, Down East Community and Calais Community Hospitals had the pleasure of once again bringing another Top National Youth Speaker to over 1200 high school students in Washington County. This is the fourth occasion a speaker was brought to the area by the local hospitals. 

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Tribal Nations and UMaine Lead Research to Fight PFAS in Maine’s Farms and Waterways

Jayna Smith

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Millions of dollars in new federal funding will support efforts in Maine to reduce the presence of “forever chemicals” in the food supply. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month announced grant awards to ten institutions across the country, three of which will direct their research toward projects based in Maine.

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Downeast Credit Union Named One of the Best Places to Work in Maine

Downeast Credit Union (DECU) is proud to announce that it has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Maine, earning 18th place in the Mid-Sized Business Category at the 2025 awards ceremony held on October 7 at the Augusta Civic Center.

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North Street Fully Reopened Following Major Utilities Project

Jayna Smith

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After months of construction and detours, North Street has officially reopened to traffic.

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Commissioners Concede Misuse of COVID Funds Could Cost County

Sparse Turnout for Bond Hearing in Machias as Cuts Loom Either Way 

Paul Sylvain

“It’s like what you see on TV when someone hits the Megabucks and two years later, they’re broke. The county is the same way. They got that ARPA money, and a year and a half later we’re broke.”

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The Area Gets Ready for Halloween With Events All Around

Jayna Smith

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There’s no shortage of Halloween fun in the area this season. From trunk-or-treats to witches parades, here’s a roundup of frightfully fun happenings for all ages to celebrate the season.  

Thursday, October 23

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Calais Community Thrift Store Kicks Off Annual Coat Giveaway

Jayna Smith

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As the chill of winter approaches, Calais Community Thrift Store on Main Street has once again launched its annual coat giveaway–an effort dedicated to spreading warmth, comfort, and kindness throughout the community.

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Calais and Machias Newspapers Bring Home 47 Awards from Maine Press Association

The Maine Press Association’s annual state conference, held October 18 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Portland, proved to be a night of outstanding achievement for The Calais Advertiser and its sister publication, the Machias Valley News Observer. The Calais Advertiser earned an impressive 21 awards, while the Machias Valley News Observer captured 26 honors – a remarkable combined total of 47 awards for Washington County’s only two weekly newspapers.

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