By Jayna Smith

For many, the date of August 23, 1984, is a haunting one.  At that time, what is now the parking lot of Johnson’s True Value was the hang out for many teenagers and young adults.  Summer was coming to an end, and most of those kids would soon be headed back to high school or off to college. But it was the last time 18-year-old Linda Maxwell was seen alive.

By: Natalie Boomer

This past month the Calais Free Library welcomed a new children’s librarian, Virginia Brewster. 

“My very first volunteer job at age 11 was in a library. I had a very sweet relationship with the lady who taught me how to repair books and I had a blast. My family is full of librarians,” Brewster said.

Although she enjoyed the library when she was young, Brewster took a different path and pursued a degree in a different field.

By Jayna Smith

Regardless of where one travels from Calais, the starting point of the route nearly always leads “through the woods.”  Traveling 65 miles northwest from Calais will lead you to Lee, population 884 (according to the US Census Bureau), which many may say is a nice drive “through the woods.”  What many do not know, however, is that there is something big tucked away in that little town—House in the Woods Military & Family Retreat. 

By Kaileigh Deacon

There are many different ways to tell that spring is coming to Maine but certainly, one of the sweetest is the flowing of sap through the trees in Maine. All over the state trees are tapped as the sap starts running up the trees to prepare the tree’s buds for spring.  Sunday, March 24 is Maine Maple Sunday where sugaries and other groups around the state celebrate with plenty of maple syrup. 

By Jayna Smith

Being part of a basketball team that has played and practiced together for years, or even many months, often makes for a much stronger, better skilled team than one that has not.  This year's Calais Rec. 5th/6th grade girls' team, made up of only seven players from three different schools, all with varying levels of basketball experience, proved that working extra hard in only a short time--coupled with friendship among the teammates--can indeed make a championship team.

By: Natalie Boomer

The annual Post-Secondary Fair at Calais Middle High School was held on Thursday, the 24th. Grades 7-12 were required to attend in half-hour increments. Although the event was held at the Calais Middle High School, Shead High School, Woodland High School and the Calais Alternative School joined in as well. The students met in the gymnasium from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

By Kaileigh Deacon

Literacy is such an important part of a child’s education, but for so many, reading is not a priority or too challenging for them so they choose not to do it. Every spring the Calais PTO helps to encourage literacy at Calais Elementary School by hosting a two-week Read-a-Thon. 

Publisher Pierre Little of The Calais Advertiser delivers last week's newspapers for subscribers to the post office. He thanked the U.S. Postal Service for the years of dedication mailing the Advertiser every week. “We want to acknowledge the support of the USPS for their work and service to the public. Without their professionalism, we would not be the most-read newspaper way down east.” Little said.

By Jayna Smith

New businesses in the area are always a positive thing, and what is just as pleasing is when “hometown folks” move back to start them.  Such is the case with 1999 Woodland High School graduate Chip Smith, owner of Smith’s Towing and Recovery.

 Smith studied business at the University of Maine at Machias and spent close to the last twelve years in the Bangor area as a manager with Pepsi.  There, he dealt mostly with independently-owned convenience stores, appreciating the direct interaction with the small business owners and staff. 

By Jayna Smith

Eighth grade boys from fourteen different Washington County schools visited Washington County Community College last Friday to take part in a career fair.  The event lasted most of the day and provided the boys with information and hands-on experience with technical career opportunities.