Sarah Craighead Dedmon
 
It all began with a question.

“I was wondering if it might be possible to decorate the bridge for Christmas?” asked Joel Ross of Lubec, posting Nov. 29 on Facebook. Readers enthusiastically applauded his idea, and this week for the first time ever, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Bridge —  and the saltwater beneath it —  shine with Christmas lights.

The bridge connects Lubec, the easternmost town in the nation, with Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada.

Residents of Eastport Nursing Home and Washington Place in Calais were treated to a musical visit by three Passamaquoddy Bay Symphony Orchestra members on Tuesday, December 14. The program of holiday tunes was performed by the talented trio of Ann Simmons, violin, June Gregory, flute and Ellen Krajewski, cello.

Jayna Smith
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For about ten years, Ian Pratt of the Pratt dealership has held a donation-match campaign throughout the month of November, all to benefit local food pantries.  Through this program, Pratt has always committed to matching up to $5,000 of donations received.

Jayna Smith
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Boys’ basketball is back and closer to normal this year, with fans permitted in most schools, full schedules lined up, and plans underway for a state tournament.  Area coaches recently shared what their respective teams will bring to the court this season.  
 

Jayna Smith
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Since 2016, with the exception of last year due to COVID-19, the International Feztival of Trees has brought hundreds out to view spectacular Christmas trees, all well decorated and complete with gifts underneath.  The event is a fundraiser for the two sponsoring clubs, Schoodic Shrine Club, which covers northern Washington County, and Washington County Shrine Club, which covers the southern part of the county.

Homes all over town are well lit and well decorated for the holiday season.  These photos show just a couple of the many you can view on an evening trip around Calais. These homes are on Calais Avenue and Swan Street.

Jayna Smith
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After The Calais Advertiser shared last week the news of the Calais Walmart discontinuing the sale of this publication, without any information provided from the local store manager, the retail giant’s media relations contacted the newspaper.

Jon Reisman

I began 2021 channeling “1921” from the Who. I had no reason to be overly prophetic, but it turns out Roger Daltrey accurately foreshadowed the Delta variant, Afghanistan, the open Southern border, January 6, cackling Kamala, the Durham probe, the Rittenhouse and Smollett trials and the media lies and malpractice surrounding all of it:

Got a feeling '21
Is going to be a good year,
Especially if you and me
See it in together.

Jayna Smith
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The holidays bring out the giving spirit in most people, and such was the case for 12-year-old Bradley Walton and his 9-year old brother Parker.

Bradley has been a paperboy at The Calais Advertiser for nearly three years.  He has been known to do very nice gestures for his customers, as an example, providing each with a rose last Valentine’s Day.  

Full video www.tinyurl.com/calaischristmasparade

Jayna Smith
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On what some say was the coldest night for a parade in the history of the Lioness parade, the Calais Lioness Club executed a great community Christmas parade last Friday night.

Kobe Saunders, a senior at Calais High School, has been named an overall state winner of the Heisman High School Scholarship by Acceptance Insurance.

The opportunity to apply was open to all seniors who have a GPA of 3.0 or better, are proven leaders and role models in their school and community, and have participated in at least one recognized sport while in high school.

Alexis Donahue and Saunders were named the female and male winners at the school level for Calais High School.  

Jayna Smith
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The 7th annual Stuff the Bus event was held on Saturday, and as expected, the generosity from local people was as great as ever.
Stuff the Bus, a Christmas gift collection program spearheaded by Baileyville Police Chief Bob Fitzsimmons, collects items for children of all ages throughout the county at a day-long campaign at Calais Walmart.  

Natalie Boomer
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Girl Scout Troop 2259 will be hosting their 3rd annual Christmas Fair and Bake Sale on Saturday, December 18th.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., local vendors, along with the Girl Scouts themselves, will be at The Lobster Crate Event Center in Perry selling holiday goods.

Natalie Boomer
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The annual Baileyville Christmas Parade is set to take place on Friday, December 10. Santa and his gang will begin their journey around the town Baileyville at 6 p.m.

Starting on Broadway Street, they will make their way down Palm Street, and finally up Main Street, where they will all end up at the park for a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Jayna Smith
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Last week, Avian Haven shared on social media that a snowy owl had been captured in Baileyville by local Game Warden Brad Richard after he noted it “could fly only short distances with minimal altitude.”  

Avian Haven is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization located in Freedom, near Waterville.  There, wild birds that are orphaned, sick, and/or injured are cared for, with a goal of releasing them back to their natural roles in the wild.

Arthur Carter accepts on behalf of Calais Veterans Center a $250 donation from the Calais Skatepark’s Brendan Leddy Memorial Fund.  The donation will be used for the center’s  Homeless Veterans Project.  Those involved with the center and with the Brendan Leddy Memorial Fund are also exploring options that will allow the center to establish services from a local mental health counselor.  (Calais Skatepark Photo) See two more photos on page 15 of this week's The Calais Advertiser.

Bonnie Lyons
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Church services are Sundays at 3 p.m. There will be no services on December 19.

Happy Birthday to Pastor Ron and he is sick. Praying for a speedy recovery and back to church next week.

Jesse Gower helped Pastor Collin light the advent wreath at Sewall Memorial Congregational Church.

Kaileigh Deacon

Christmastime is the time for giving, and for a local Girl Scout troop, the gift of giving is a year-round cause. This Christmas, for the second year in a row, Girl Scout Troop 2253 will be getting into the Christmas spirit by giving back to those who need it.

Jon Reisman

At its annual meeting and awards presentation last Friday evening, St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce presented The Calais Advertiser with its distinguished Roscoe “Rocky” Johnson Business of the Year Award.

The award is named in honor of Rocky Johnson, who was a well-known, successful businessman in Calais, opening his first hardware store more than 60 years ago.  The award recognizes a business that has displayed solid leadership, integrity, professionalism, and vision.  

Jayna Smith
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Last week, Downeast Broadband Utility (DBU) president Dan Sullivan was a guest speaker at the St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and awards presentation.  He provided those in attendance an overview of how the fiber network works and why joining the DBU is beneficial.

Jayna Smith
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The Calais Lions Club’s Santa’s Helpers Program was recently gifted with a $250 donation from Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition (CDRC).  

The Santa’s Helpers program is the longest running Christmas assistance program in the county, and this year marks its 50th year of helping local families in need have a happier Christmas.