All First National Bank branches are collecting items for local food pantries throughout the month of November.

If you would like to help, First National Bank welcomes donations to your local branches. Most-needed items include: canned meats/fish, chili, soup, skillet meals, cereal, canned vegetables, and fruit.

Submitted by Chief David Randall

Oct. 2: Male, 42, Magmatcook, NS – summonsed for furnishing scheduled drugs

Oct. 9: Male, 81, Perry – summonsed for failure to stop for a school bus.

Oct. 21: Male, 18, Princeton – summonsed for theft.

Oct. 27: Male, 34, East Machias – arrested on a warrant.

Oct. 31: Male, 38, Roque Bluffs – arrested on a warrant.

Jayna Smith

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It’s once again the season of giving, and at Pratt auto dealership, generosity goes twice as far. The dealership has launched its annual food pantry matching campaign to support Washington County’s pantries, doubling community contributions throughout November and December.

Jayna Smith

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The spirited students of Mrs. Lori Ellis’ Advanced Placement English class at Calais High School are once again preparing an event that both celebrates the heroism of local veterans and provides a meaningful learning experience for those organizing it. The annual Veterans Day Assembly, set for Monday, November 10, promises to be a heartfelt tribute to those who have served our country.

Jon Reisman

Forty-one falls ago, my late wife Ern and I moved to Washington County when the University of Maine at Machias offered me a job. The move to Maine was a dream come true for both of us. We bought an unfinished house on Cathance Lake, raised two boys, and pursued our careers and dreams. Ern held a number of social service jobs, culminating in being the human resources VP for Down East Community Hospital. I never expected to leave. The election results shattered that conviction. 

Indian Township School has announced exceptional academic achievements, with students demonstrating significant progress in reading and science assessments. The results have garnered recognition from Maine Commissioner of Education Pender Makin, who praised the school's vision and leadership in creating conditions for student success.

Paul Sylvain

When it came to last week’s county bond referendum, Machias town officials were clearly prepared for the worst. 

Meeting just hours following the bond’s defeat at the polls, the Shiretown’s selectboard quickly put into motion a plan to deal with a massive jump in the county's 2026 budget, needed to fully repay a 2025 tax anticipation note (TAN) by Dec. 31.

Jayna Smith

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Residents across the East Coast looked skyward in amazement Tuesday night, November 4, as a glowing, spiral-shaped swirl appeared high above the horizon. The unusual sight, visible from Maine to Maryland, sparked a flurry of social media posts and speculation ranging from UFOs to northern lights.

Jayna Smith

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With cold weather arriving and household budgets already stretched thin, the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry is seeing more families in need — and expecting even more as winter settles in.

“People don’t have the money to get what they need,” said pantry president Dawn Noonan. “Kids going hungry just doesn’t work.”

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

Jon Reisman

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

On Thursday, November 6, 2025, the Calais City Council held its organizational meeting. Mayor-elect Marcia Rogers presided, joined by councilors James Macdonald, Billy Quinn, and Pete Foster, as well as newly-elected councilors Mike Sherrard, Elery Beale, and Eddie Moreside.

The first order of business was the swearing-in of Mayor Rogers and the newly elected councilors. 

Contributing to a collection of nearly 50 shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts for children are members of the Perry Congregational Church, including Jane Eaton, Louise Newcomb, Sandra Pottle, Ann Carter, with Doug and Anita Pottle.  This distribution is organized by Samaritan’s Purse of the Billy Graham Ministries to children the world over, which this year included additional contributions from the Dennysville and Sewall Congregational Churches, to name but a few in Washington County.

Jayna Smith

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Maine Indian Education/Wabanaki Culture Center, in partnership with the Maine Tourism Association, is proud to present the Wicukems Shelf at the culture center.

The shelf – named “Wicukems,” meaning “help yourself” in Passamaquoddy – provides a welcoming space for anyone facing food insecurity to take non-perishable items, no questions asked.

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

The Robbinston Historical Society invites the community to its Christmas Yard Sale, returning this Saturday, November 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Shoppers will find a festive selection of holiday décor, gifts, and more, perfect for getting into the seasonal spirit. To keep warm while browsing, the sale will also feature hearty chili and chowder, available for $5 a bowl, for dine-in or take-out.

Jayna Smith

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The St. Croix Valley will shine bright with holiday cheer as two Christmas parades step off during the first weekend of December. Both events are free to enter, offering local businesses and organizations an excellent opportunity to advertise  before hundreds of spectators.

Calais Lioness Christmas Parade, Friday, Dec. 5

Will Tuell

If Machias Christian Fellowship Pastor Aaron Dudley and Arise Addiction Recovery Executive Director Paul Trovarello had met for coffee and a meal in the Elm Street School gymnasium on a cold November Saturday night ten years ago, the police might well have hauled them off for trespassing. Yet on Saturday, Nov. 15, the two — joined by upwards of 300 of their closest friends — packed into that gym to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Arise, the faith-based recovery program born from a simple conversation all those years ago.

Anneleise Rollins, daughter of Elizabeth Sivret, is a dedicated Cast Member at Walt Disney World. She was recently honored with a prestigious quarterly award at Disney’s Water Parks and Mini Golf, a recognition that celebrates her exceptional contributions to the team and guests.

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

Not quite 21 years old yet, Hunter Sousa is already making a big impression on Calais. The city employee recently gave one of Calais’ plow trucks a bold new makeover: the wing plow painted pink with the words “Find a Cure” and a breast cancer awareness ribbon, turning a winter workhorse into a moving symbol of hope.