Jayna Smith

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Located in Milltown at the basketball courts, the outdoor skating rink is a seasonal recreational facility maintained by the Calais Recreation Department. The rink provides a space for all ages to engage in fun ice skating and hockey.

American robins, like this one spotted in Princeton, are among the most recognizable winter birds in Maine. These nomadic flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands, often stay in the region throughout the year. According to Maine Audubon, contrary to popular belief, they aren’t a sign of spring in Maine and are perfectly adapted to winter in the state. (Photo by Donna Melanson)

Jayna Smith

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The annual Pink Zone Game brought the Calais Lady Blue Devils and Woodland Lady Dragons together on Friday, Feb. 7, for their final regular-season matchup — this time, in the spirit of more than just competition. Hosted by the Blue Devils, the game served as a powerful reminder of the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection.

During Storytime last week at the Lincoln Memorial Public Library, it was the Pembroke students’ turn to be dropped off by their school bus. The book that was read, How Leo Learned to Be King by Marcus Pfister, gave much food for thought, culminating in the project of the day, making to-go cups for gifts to others, which were prepared with some cocoa powder in each one. The outdoor activity, with lots of snow piles around, involved a ball being hidden in different places for the children to find.

Calais’s Noah White goes up for a shot while Woodland’s Jace Roussell leaps to defend during the Blue Devils’ 69-51 win on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Calais finished the regular season with a 12-6 record, securing seventh place and a home preliminary game that took place on Wednesday, Feb. 12. They faced tenth-seeded George Stevens Academy, which also finished the regular season at 12-6. The Dragons ended their season, falling to a record of 4-14. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Jon Reisman

I traveled to Augusta in early February to testify on several climate, energy, and environmental policy bills. The geography of the three-hour drive triggered memories of similar journeys over the past forty years.

Woodland’s Karleigh Smith is congratulated by teammates Maddison Coleman and Ava Croman after scoring her 1,000th career point in the team’s final home game of the season, a matchup against Washington Academy, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Smith becomes the eighth female player in school history to reach the milestone and only the second to do so as a junior. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Paul Sylvain

The Washington County Sheriff's Office has a new “Deputy Dog” with the arrival of K9 Tango and his handler, Cpl. Matt Carter.

Tango is an 18-month-old German Shepherd who began his training on drug and evidence detection, in addition to tracking, on Jan. 28 with Cpl Carter. 

“We are expecting big things from this team and they are a great addition to the agency,” the Sheriff’s office said in a post on its Facebook page. “We consider ourselves pretty fortunate, as we have several MCJA trainers.”

Jayna Smith

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The Woodland Lady Dragons fell to the Washington Academy Raiders at home on Tuesday, January 28, with a final score of 62-36.

Woodland held a slim lead after the first quarter, up 9-8, but the Raiders gained momentum in the second, outscoring the Dragons and taking a 29-19 advantage into halftime.

Karleigh Smith led the Dragons’ offense with 22 points, while Mishun Cornelius added 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

The Maine Historic Preservation Commission is pleased to announce that the McCurdy Smokehouse in Lubec has been recognized by the National Park Service as having a “National level of Significance” in the National Register of Historic Places.

Jayna Smith

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On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Punxsutawney Phil, the famed groundhog of Pennsylvania, emerged from his burrow and saw his shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter. This annual tradition, celebrated for over a century, continues to draw a large audience, despite questions about its accuracy.

Playground Fundraiser Continues this Saturday with Cribbage Competition

Jayna Smith

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Last Saturday evening, January 25, the Calais Elementary School PTO transformed St. Croix Tap & Table into a magical Winter Wonderland for an adults-only prom night, all to raise funds for the school’s playground fund.

Jayna Smith

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A cribbage tournament benefiting the elementary school’s playground fund is set for this Saturday, February 1, at St. Croix Tap & Table. This doubles tournament has a $20 entry fee per team, with the winning team taking home half the pot. To register, stop by, message, or call St. Croix Tap & Table at 207-454-4177.

Jayna Smith

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The Calais Blue Devils hosted the Machias Bulldogs on Tuesday, January 21, in a matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats. Despite a valiant effort, the Blue Devils came up just short, as Machias secured a narrow 43-42 victory and upped their record to 11-2.

Leading the charge for Calais was Kaesen Dana, who delivered an impressive performance with a team-high 16 points. 

Jayna Smith

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On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the Calais City Council met for its regular meeting, with Mayor Marcia Rogers presiding over Councilors Mike Sherrard, Elery Beale, Pete Foster, and Bill Quinn. Councilors Kevin Niles and James McDonald were absent from the meeting.

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

That mouthful refers to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, now less than 18 months away. I have a feeling that Donald Trump’s TV and showman experience is going to play a big part in what I hope is a huge, happy party. I think there is a lot of work and planning to do for that to happen.

Jayna Smith

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The City of Calais has announced that all items and objects must be removed from city sidewalks by Monday, January 20, 2025, to ensure safe and efficient snow removal during the winter season. Items left on sidewalks make it difficult for crews to plow effectively, impacting the safety and accessibility of the community, and crews appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

Jayna Smith

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The Calais Elementary School PTO recently announced its upcoming Winter Wonderland Adult Prom, an evening set to bring the community together for a night of nostalgia and fun. Scheduled for this Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 8 to 11 p.m., the event will take place at St. Croix Tap & Table.

Jayna Smith

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GameTime Sports Bar & Grill celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 159 Main Street in Baileyville. This new hotspot boasts an array of amenities designed for sports enthusiasts and casual diners alike, including multiple large-screen televisions for optimal game viewing, a pool table, arcade games, and plenty of parking and seating to accommodate guests comfortably.

The St. Croix Council #149 of the Knights of Columbus donated 48 brand-new coats to the We Care Community Baby Center in Machias in January. The donations were part of the Knights’ Coats for Kids program, which has distributed more than one million coats to children in need around the world. The Knights also delivered knitted clothing, diapers, and wipes donated by parishioners of St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish, as part of the ASAP (Aid & Support After Pregnancy) program.

Paul Sylvain

Just because parts of Maine are considered “rural” and “sparsely populated” doesn’t mean there’s any lesser need for a strong law enforcement presence in places that fit those descriptions, like Washington County.

The county’s legislative delegation heard that message loud and early last week at a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Maine Sheriff’s Association. Among those traveling to Augusta for the 7 a.m. gathering were Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis and Chief Deputy Mike Crabtree.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved sister, daughter, and friend, Holli A. Tapley, on January 7th, 2025. Holli was born on December 19, 1978, in Presque Isle, Maine and raised in Calais,Maine. She was a basketball icon, known not only for her incredible skills but also for the positive influence she had on the Calais and Maine basketball communities.