Paul Sylvain

Yes, Virginia, there really are blueberries at the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival.

The sad truth is, that hasn’t always been the case. Just ask the folks at the Welch Farm in Roque Bluffs, who explained in an interview earlier this month that it was the lack of fresh blueberries at the annual festival that prompted them to offer farm tours and arrange for some of their berries to be available for sale there. 

Jon Reisman

Marianne Moore joined in on the fun during the Robbinston Days parade on August 12. There was also a free meal, music, bake sale, historical display, cornhole, nature walk, bounce house and more all organized by the Robbinston Historical Society. (Photo by John Bouchard)

Jayna Smith

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Eastern Area Agency of Aging is hosting a fundraiser this month to benefit its Furry Friends program.

Calais Community Hospital is pleased to welcome Family Medicine Physician Dr. Jacqueline Russell to Calais Community Provider Practices.  Dr. Russell earned her medical degree from the University of New England Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, ME. She completed a transitional intern year at St Barnabus NMM Residency in Bronx, NY and a Family Medicine Residency at Eastern Connecticut Health Network in Manchester, CT.  Most recently, Dr. Russell has been practicing primary care in Belfast, ME.

Paul Sylvain

Referring to an incident involving obscene T-shirts sold by a vendor at last year’s Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, Washington County Commissioner Chris Gardner cautioned festival organizers against censorship at this year’s festival.

The discussion arose at the Aug. 10 Washington County Commissioners meeting in Machias and was initiated as an agenda item by Gardner.

Jayna Smith

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The 50th anniversary of International Homecoming Festival was hailed a success by its organizers, a small group of volunteers who join forces with a group from St. Stephen each year to execute events for all ages.

The celebration kicked off on Wednesday, August 2, with the Opening Ceremony on Ferry Point Bridge.

During the International Homecoming Festival, on Friday, August 4, 2023, Calais Memorial High School Class of 1958 gathered at Louis Bernardini’s cottage on the St. Croix River to celebrate 65 years they have experienced since graduation.

The celebration included a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, corn, salads, cole slaw, pies and ice cream, all provided by Louis’s family and the classmates who attended.

The Chair Affair auction, an event hosted by Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition, took place last Thursday evening with 14 locally-crafted Adirondack chairs up for bid.  Calais Community Hospital’s “tiki time” chair, created by CCH staff members Tabitha Stanley and Crystal Donovan, raked in the most money for the CDRC fundraiser.  Shown with the chair is auctioneer-extraordinaire Jeff Demmons.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Leading up to the fireworks Saturday night of International Homecoming Festival was a concert at Flat Iron Park by The Tyler Healy Band.  The concert was made possible thanks to the generous donations from Jo’s Diner & Pizzeria and Riverside Electric.  One can learn more about The Tyler Healy Band on its Facebook page or by visiting tylerhealyband.com.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Instructor Barbara Lara dances with some of her youngest students.  Lara always has a great performance by her students following the parade.  

Jayna Smith

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For the third consecutive year, the Town of Robbinston is hosting its hometown celebration, Robbinston Days, this year slated for Saturday, August 12.

Six-year-old Addison Brown, of Calais, is this year’s Junior Miss International.  The pageant, sponsored by Riverview Restaurant & Lounge, was held at Flat Iron Park on Sunday, just in time for the royal courts to reign over the 50th anniversary celebration being held this week. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Jayna Smith

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Flocks of pink flamingos–plastic yard decor pink flamingos–have been appearing on the lawns of many unsuspecting residents these last few weeks. 

Members of Friends of Sarah’s House Flamingo Fundraiser, a group which can be found on Facebook, have been busy “flocking” residents, all to raise money for Sarah’s House of Maine.  

This summer’s children’s reading program at the Lincoln Library in Dennysville is a gift of love in memory of Rachel S. Liell from her family in New York.  

They recall, “She was such a voracious reader and so loved the library in Dennysville. She was so glad when she was able to get her own library card from the Dennysville Library. She would also be very proud that you mentioned her name in your publicity. We miss her dearly.”

Anne Black’s “Celebration of Time and Place”, on Friday, August 11, 7 p.m. at Eastport Arts Center, will feature the first time she and her brother Alan and nephew Phillip, from Charlotte, N.C., share the concert stage together. EAC is thrilled for Anne’s return to The Concert Series. Her “Timely Adventure” program was a favorite last summer.

Alan and Phillip will perform short pieces for cello and soprano/alto saxophones, written especially for the father-son duo by Charlotte composer Leonard Mark Lewis.

Will Tuell

Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry received a special visit last week.  Organized by Calais Free Library Librarian Skye Green-Hall, participants toured the pantry with Vice-President Bernadette Farrar to learn how it operates, ask questions, and most importantly, share care packages they had made to donate. ICEFP thanks them for the donation.  Pictured are (back) Lynn Muise with Kelci Muise, Jeff, Deb and Bob Stewart, Bernadette Farrar, Aurora Muise, and Skye Green-Hall, (front) Zoe Ingham, Nora Demmons, and Halle Demmons.  (Photo courtesy of Jessie Tompkins-Howard)

By Will Tuell

Maine Game Warden Joe McBrine got quite the shock recently when he was named Officer of the Year at the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association (NAWEOA) annual conference in Provo, Utah. McBrine, who has served as a game warden for nearly thirty years – most of it here in Washington County -- said that he “choked up” when the 9,000-member organization of fish and game officers from the United States and Canada called his name July 10.

The tents will soon be up and the ballfield will be bustling with activity in the Washington County village of Grand Lake Stream.  On Saturday and Sunday, July 29th and 30th, more than 50 of the finest folk artists and craftspeople in the northeast and an outstanding line-up of talented musicians will gather for the 27th Annual Grand Lake Stream Folk Art Festival.  

Local organizers have once again put together a full weekend of activities for young and old, with wonderful music, folk art, food, and fun.  The festival runs each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.