After the Indigenous People’s Day holiday weekend, our fall foliage colors Downeast will be approaching high color, which state experts define as 50-70 percent of leaves changed with low leaf drop. Northern Maine, from west to east, is now enjoying peak color. It won’t be long before we see the same intense foliage in Washington County. (Photo courtesy Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry)

Cobscook Institute is excited to announce the return of Apple & Arts Day on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Originally launched in 2019, this free arts, heritage food, and harvest-focused family event will take place rain or shine on Cobscook Institute’s charming  Trescott campus. Highlights of the day include live music featuring four local acts, as well as all-ages arts workshops with the Tides Institute and Museum of Art.  

Natalie Boomer
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The Princeton Rod and Gun Club and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries hosted a Youth Field Day on Saturday, September 24th.
Boys and girls ages 8 to 15 gathered at the Princeton Rod and Gun Club to learn about all sorts of outdoors activities.

It’s the middle of breeding season (rut) for moose, the official State Animal of Maine.  Moose can stand up to seven feet tall, with adult bulls weighing as much as 1,100 pounds.  According to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the largest bull ever harvested in Maine had a dressed weight of 1,330 pounds and means it would have weighed approximately 1,767 pounds!  This bull moose was spotted last week on the Stud Mill Road.  (Photo courtesy of Zachary Cox)

Ricky Cleghorn

On October 10th, the Walmart stores located in Calais and Houlton will stop accepting Canadian dollar currency.

The Walmart located in Presque Isle has already stopped accepting Canadian cash, effective October 1st.

The changes of policy at these Walmarts are just the most recent implements of the company's new country-wide cash policy.  

Jayna Smith
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Coach Kris Siering’s Lady Dragons soccer has added some more Ws to the book, with recent wins over Shead and Calais.

Losses included games against Penobscot Valley and Penquis, with a 3-3 tie against Bangor Christian.

Congratulations to Nicole Cox, who netted her 50th high school career goal at a recent game.

With so much technology all around us, it can be easy to forget about all that nature has to offer.

On Saturday, September 24th, Washington County Community College hosted its 3rd annual Learning and Growing from the Outside In event. This year’s theme was outdoor adventure play.

This day-long training was intended for people who work in early childhood education including family childcare, center-based childcare, and early public-school teachers.

The day consisted of various learning opportunities for educators.

Jayna Smith
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A new fire chief for the City of Calais has been named.  At a city council meeting earlier this month, Calais Fire-EMS Captain Bill Lee’s appointment to Chief by City Manager Mike Ellis was confirmed by council.

Lee is a 35-year veteran of the fire service, having begun his career in Calais back in 1987.  Over the years, he has worked himself through the ranks, including having done a five-year stint as Fire Chief for the Town of Lincoln.  

Washington County community members gathered at Triangle Park in Calais on September 18th and marched in the rain for suicide awareness in the Out of the Darkness Walk. (Photo by Chad Woodruff)

Jayna Smith
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has finally announced the end to the mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app.  The long-awaited announcement came on Monday, September 26, 2022, with the end date for the required use of the app set for Friday, September 30.  

 Jayna Smith
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The Blue Devils boys’ soccer team, coached by Brian Moreau, was busy last week with another three games played.

On Monday, the Blue Devils hosted Bucksport at home.  

The Golden Bucks led at the half, 1-0, and picked up another 5 goals in the second, outscoring the Blue Devils 6-0.

Republican John “Jake” Chambers, of Calais, will be on the ballot in November to represent House District 9, which stretches from Eastport to Grand Lake Stream along the county’s eastern edge. Chambers has been busy campaigning throughout the area, most recently in Grand Lake Stream, where he said his efforts were very well received.  

Jon Reisman

Jayna Smith
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“We are doing what we feel is necessary to provide a safe and open environment that sometimes involves putting in place rules and regulations that are different from another time,” Superintendent Ron Jenkins said at last Wednesday’s school board meeting of Calais High School’s newly-implemented bathroom policy.

Tom Brennan, a Revolutionary War reenactor from Robbinston, joined, from left,  Theresa Farnsworth and Cathy Johnson, members of the  Hannah Weston Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, as they displayed a copy of the United States Construction on Saturday, Sept. 17, Constitution Day, celebrating the 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution. The trio were part of a group that gathered at the Burnham Tavern Museum in Machias to  take part in the nationwide celebration of Constitution Day by ringing “Bells Across America.” (Submitted photo)

This column once stood in the core of the South Tower, probably between floors 30 and 33.  During the tower's collapse, extreme stresses caused this multi-ton piece of steel to fold over onto itself.  Three of the four welds that held the column together split open.  (Photo from National September 11 Museum by Jayna Smith)

Becky and Jerry Green presenting a $2,000 check toward the restoration of the Waite Talmadge Congregational Church.  Becky and Jerry have been instrumental in the restoration effort! The check is being received by Stephanie Chaffee of Talmadge. Thanks to all who have helped support this most worthy effort.  The community yard sale on September 3rd was supported by the Waite General Store and very successful. (Submitted photo)

Jayna Smith
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At a three-mile race hosted by Washington Academy on Wednesday, September 7, Calais runners had strong finishes.  

First for girls was Bailey O’Rourke, with a time of 26:23.

Phillip Bassett finished in 22:13, earning him the fourth place finish, followed by Jason Socabasin, 24:18, in fifth.

Keegan Trainor was next for Calais in ninth place with a time of 26:04.

Frank Miliano grabbed the tenth spot in 28:35 and Ike Soucy the twelfth in 32:44.

Jayna Smith
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On September 11, 2001, two commercial airplanes were flown into the twin towers of New York City’s World Trade Center–one at 8:46 a.m., another at 9:03 a.m.–resulting in the collapse of the buildings.  

Jayna Smith
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On Saturday, September 10, Calais Fire-EMS hosted a training with LifeFlight of Maine at its Red Beach Station.

According to Calais Fire Chief Bill Lee, more than 30 people attended the training, which, he said, was available to all area departments.

The EMS training included Life Flight Network operations, landing zone setup and coordination, patient loading, and safety around the aircraft.