Submitted by Dawn Noonan, President

The ICEFP has been growing since January. We were able to acquire a new truck with a generous grant from the Maine Community Foundation and other donations. Our truck drivers are now able to pick up our food donations from area grocery stores. We have been able to make more use of our space for food storage. Thank you to all who continue to support us at the pantry and the thrift store. 

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

Calais’ Halloween spirit was in full swing on Thursday, Oct. 31, as Calais Free Library hosted its beloved annual Halloween Parade. This year, the event saw over two hundred costumed children and their families filling Main Street, with everyone taking advantage of unseasonably warm weather — nearly 70 degrees — a rare treat for this time of year.

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

Sarah’s House of Maine, a cancer hospitality house in Holden, serves patients from across the state, with a notable 42 percent coming from Washington County. This comforting “home away from home” offers temporary lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers while they receive treatment.

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

A holiday buzz was quickly ignited across social media when CDRC (Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition) announced last week the upcoming Jolly Junction Market. Locals have eagerly shared and commented on the event, expressing excitement for this new addition to Calais’ holiday season. 

Down East Hospice Volunteers of Washington County graduated seven new hospice volunteers after participating in a 25-hour training. They are Ellen Carle, of Big Lake Township; Ernest Carle, of Big Lake Township; Thelma Stevens, of Calais; Mary Kate O’Neill, of Lubec; Vicki Verge, of Pembroke; Arielle Richardson, of Eastport; and Linda Evans, of Grand Lake Stream; shown with Barbara Barnett, Executive Director of DEHV.  For information about DEHV’s free services and to become a hospice volunteer, call 454-7521 ext.

Library Storytime leader Sarah Guiltner is seen helping James Schmitler from the Edmunds school create a bookmark mouse during a recent visit to the Dennysville Library. Edmunds students had the opportunity to be dropped off at this particular Storytime, while the next one, held the first Tuesday in November, was for students from the Pembroke school. (Submitted photo)

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

Students in Mrs. Lori Ellis’ Advanced Placement English class at Calais High School are gearing up for the annual Veterans Assembly, set for Thursday, November 8, at 9 a.m. This year’s event promises once again to honor the heroism of local veterans while providing a profound learning experience for the participating students.

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

With Halloween here, we hope everyone has a fun and safe night out trick-or-treating. Whether you’re escorting little ghouls and goblins door to door or welcoming them at your doorstep, enjoy the spooky time! Happy Halloween from all of us at The Calais Advertiser, and don’t forget the Calais Free Library’s Halloween Parade across Main Street at 3:30 p.m. 

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

On Sunday, Oct. 27, a festive scene took place at the Woodland High School parking lot as families flocked to the Trunk-or-Treat event hosted by the school’s JMG program and the Baileyville Recreation Department. With around 25 decked-out vehicles lining the lot, attendees encountered a parade of creative, spooky, and well-themed displays that brought local businesses, organizations, and residents together to celebrate Halloween in style.

John Deetjen, Former District Master, came to Calais Sunday evening, October 20, 2024, to install the 2024-2025 officers for Assembly 342 of the Knights of Columbus.  

Installed Sunday evening were Gary Madore, three-year trustee; Mike Boies, Faithful Scribe; Rejean Roussel, Faithful Pilot; Ed Stover, Faithful Navigator; Father Roland Berngeh, Faithful Friar; George McLaughlin, Faithful Comptroller; Claude Landry, Faithful Admiral; and Weston Ranalli, Faithful Purser.

Sandra Smith

Jon Reisman

HVAC Politics

I am not sure whether I get more forced hot air from my heat pump or the political ads. The heat pump at least keeps me comfortable if perhaps a little dry, plus there are green New Deal virtue signaling points. I am told that laughter and humor are good for the immune system, and given the questionable efficacy of the Covid vaccines, I probably need all the help I can get.

World Series as Election Metaphor

Paul Sylvain

Forget the Southern border.

Maine, with its mostly heavily wooded and remote 611-mile international land border with the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec, has become an increasingly attractive place for undocumented immigrants to enter undetected into the United States.

Pembroke Library volunteers have been busy preparing treat bags for this year’s Trunk or Treat event at the Pembroke American Legion on Thursday, October 31, from 4-6 p.m. The volunteers always have a spooktacular time and look forward to seeing everyone.  (Pembroke Library photo)

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

As the call to reduce lead in our environment grows louder, hunters and conservationists can take meaningful action to protect wildlife. For those not yet ready to switch to non-lead ammunition alternatives, there are still ways the impact of lead exposure on avian scavengers, particularly eagles, can be minimized.

On October 10th, Barbara Dore and Seana MacKeldey, language and culture teachers at Sipayik Elementary School, and Lee Francis, principal at Indian Island School, presented at the 55th Annual National Indian Education Association (NIEA) Convention in Palm Springs, California, with their session Centering Wabanaki History, Culture, and Life in Every Classroom. They shared the history of LD 291 An Act to Require Teaching of Maine Native American History and Culture, which passed in 2001.

Jon Reisman

Maine’s draft climate action plan update is posted at Maine-Wont-Wait-Draft-10.15.24.pdf. 

It doubles down on expensive and unreliable energy (solar and wind), electric vehicles, youth indoctrination (Climate Corps anyone?), damaging rural Maine, moral preening, and refusing to tell the people of Maine how much global warming will be averted (none) and at what cost (bend over).

I will be having at least three bills submitted in response, led by An Act to Promote Sound Science and Transparency in Climate Change Policy. 

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

The Classic Hits Turkey-a-Thon, held last Friday, Oct. 11, was a resounding success, raising $40,458 by the end of the day. With donations continuing to roll in over the weekend, this year's event set a new fundraising record in the program’s 20-year history, equating to 3,371 turkeys.

Calais Walmart’s entry earned first place in this year’s Baileyville’s Octoberfest’s parade held last Saturday.  Downeast Credit Union earned second place, while Southard Construction earned third. (Walmart photo)

In appreciation of those who have served our country, 

The Calais Advertiser will be featuring local 

veterans in our November 7^th issue.

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

On Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, the Calais City Council met for its regular meeting, with Mayor Artie Mingo presiding over Councilors Kevin Niles, Mike Sherrard, Marcia Rogers, Elery Beale, Bill Quinn, and James Macdonald. 

What follows is a brief summary of the meeting, with the full meeting available for viewing on the City of Calais’s Facebook page.

Jon Reisman

I am going to have some version of the following submitted next session:

When a state agency advances “equity” in any policy area, “equity” must be defined and a metric must be developed and used to assess and evaluate the “equity” policy. 

This would apply to public K-12 and higher education as well.