1. Police Warn of Fake Money

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Police are warning the public and local businesses about “fake” money that has been circulating in the community.

    According to Calais Police Department, it responded to a local business last week after the store had received prop/movie money.  

    Although the “money” was marked “Movie Prop Use Only,” it did appear very similar to real US currency, the police department noted.

    Read More
  2. Grand Lake Stream Folk Art Festival Slated for this Weekend

     

    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.

    Read More
  3. City Council Updated at Liaison Committee Meeting

     

    Chloe Bernardini

    On Thursday, July 20th, Marcia Rogers, Mark Carr, James MacDonald, and Arthur Mingo of the Calais City Council met with Calais School Department Superintendent Mary Ann Spearin.

    The meeting was called to discuss matters such as the Calais Elementary School building project, the principal search for Calais Middle/High School, open teacher positions at the middle school, and Calais Rec. Department transportation.

    Read More
  4. Summer Reading Program in Dennysville

     

    Rebekah Guiltner is leading a reading program at the Lincoln Memorial Library in Dennysville on Tuesdays this summer in Dennysville.  Stories, crafts, snacks and other special activities are being presented to children going into grades K through 3 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the morning, and older children in grades 4 through 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the afternoon.  The program is free, and parents should call Rebekah Guiltner at 454-7932, or email [email protected]  from more information.

    Read More
  5. Count on Me

    Jon Reisman

    I first met Ernie in September of 1975 in the hallway of the Dana dormitory on the Colby College campus in Waterville Maine. It was not love at first sight or a meet cute moment. I was a junior visiting a friend and was introduced to a freshman woman. I don’t remember who introduced us, or what Ernie said. Four years later we were married and starting a life adventure together. Now I am the memory for both of us.

    Read More
  6. PAWS Visits Calais Free Library

     

    PAWS Brave Hearts staff member Gillian and resident kitty Orange Cakes recently participated in Calais Free Library’s summer reading program.  The children learned about how cats make it to PAWS and they had wonderful ideas about how to make them feel loved, safe and comfortable when they arrive. (PAWS Brave Hearts photo)

    Read More
  7. Applications for Street Fair Still being Accepted

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Saturday of International Homecoming Festival each year brings hundreds to downtown Calais to enjoy the offerings of the street vendors.  

    This year, according to St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce Director Kara Mitchell, Main Street will be closed from the corner of North and Main Streets to the vicinity of Jo’s Diner & Pizzeria for the annual International Street Fair happening on Saturday, August 5 beginning at 8 a.m.

    Read More
  8. All Invited to Opening Ceremony of International Homecoming Festival

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    In the days leading up to the International Homecoming Festival, an American flag and a Canadian flag will be hung from Ferry Point Bridge, just in time for the Opening Ceremony that is set to take place on Wednesday, August 2.

    Marking the official start of the 50th Annual International Homecoming Festival, the Opening Ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m.

    Read More
  9. Calais-Native Named President of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    In a recent announcement to the Saint Joseph’s College of Maine community, Jeff Moody, Chair of Board of Trustees, announced that Calais-native Joseph L. Cassidy, JD has been named the 15th President of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. 

    Read More
  10. Big Lake RV Park & Campground Ribbon Cutting

     

    Read More
  11. Calais School Board Meeting

     

    During the Calais School board meeting on July 12, 2023, various initiatives and developments for the summer season were discussed and praised. The ongoing summer school program, which concentrates on English, math, and history, received commendations for its dedicated staff and hardworking students. A special acknowledgment was given to the elementary school cafeteria team, ensuring meals for students from various school levels.

    Read More
  12. Pembroke Historical Society News

     

    New exhibits at the Pembroke Historical Society have been getting quite a bit of attention lately. Many people visited the museum following the July 4th parade and on recent Saturdays.

    On exhibit this summer is Pembroke Porcelains; Souvenirs from a Time Gone By. The exhibit draws attention to the history of buildings in Pembroke, some still standing and some long gone, by displaying decorative early 20th century souvenir cups, plates and candy dishes with images of local buildings.

    Read More
  13. Jackie O’Clair Named DECH Board Chair at Annual Meeting

     

    Down East Community Hospital and Calais Community Hospital held its annual meeting of the Corporators on Thursday, June 30.  CEO Steve Lail reported that despite the many obstacles hospitals across the country experienced in 2022, DECH and CCH operated in the black. The financial results and accomplishments from the past year were discussed and reported on at the meeting. The 2022 Annual Report, which highlights much of the hard work done by staff over the past year, is available on the DECH and CCH websites.  

    Read More
  14. Clueless

     

    Jon Reisman

    Read More
  15. Alexander’s Hometown Jubilee

    Read More
  16. Grand Lake Stream 4th of July Parade!

    Read More
  17. CFD’s Fourth of July Fun

     

    One-year-old Nash Occhiogrosso takes a shot at the watermelon eating contest, a popular event of Calais Fire Association’s Annual Fourth of July games.  (Submitted photo)

    Read More
  18. Eastport’s Grand Independence Day Parade

     

    Barbara’s International School of Dance's float won first place among the parade entries. On the float with students were Little Miss 4th of July Addalyn Sivret and her grandmother Sherry Sivret, Miss Maine Classic Beauty International. (Photo by Natalie Boomer)

    Read More
  19. St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish Welcomes Fr. Berngeh as Pastor

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish welcomed Father Roland Berngeh as pastor effective July 5, 2023.  

    Father Berngeh, originally from Cameroon, a country in central-west Africa, comes to St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish from St. Joseph Catholic Church.  There, he served St. Joseph and Catholic churches in Bar Harbor, Dedham, Manset, Bucksport, Castine, Stonington, Northeast Harbor, and Winter Harbor.

    Read More
  20. CDRC Purchases Picnic Tables for Downtown’s Flat Iron Park

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Flat Iron Park now has an addition of three picnic tables, thanks to Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition and the crew from the city’s public works department.

    CDRC purchased the picnic tables this past spring as a way to dress up the park, while also providing a convenient space for outside eating.  

    The public works department prepared the area next to the statue for the tables and put the tables in place this week.

    Read More
  21. Red Knights, Lions Club Raise Funds for Santa’s Helpers

     

    On Saturday, July 7, the Calais chapter of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club and the Calais Lions Club held a joint fundraiser in support of the Lions Club's annual Santa's Helper program. 

    Read More
  22. DCP Announces July 17 Opening for Heating Assistance Appointments; Unveils Mobile HEAP Teams

     

    Downeast Community Partners (DCP) is getting a jump on the heating assistance season this year. “We’re already proactively calling those we served from prior seasons,” notes James Nealey, Director of Energy Services at DCP. “Right now, we’re focusing on our particularly at-risk neighbors and those who were ‘eligible-benefit-determined’ last year and didn’t receive a benefit,” states Jenny Reese Pullen, DCP’s Senior Manager of Energy Services.

    Read More
  23. Calais Cook Wins Blue Ribbon for Grilled Garlic Shrimp in Foil

     

    Home cook Daune (pronounced "dawn") Browne has been awarded a Blue Ribbon by Just A Pinch Recipes. Browne's "Grilled Garlic Shrimp in Foil" recipe was tested by the Just A Pinch Test Kitchen who released the following testing notes:  “A fabulous way to grill delicious shrimp. The foil pouch helps to steam the shrimp and cooks them quickly. The garlic butter that's also inside the foil pouch infuses into the grilled shrimp. Easy to prepare, serve the delicious shrimp with rice and a fresh vegetable for a lovely dinner.”

    Read More
  24. Baileyville Annual Town Meeting

     

    Natalie Boomer

    [email protected]

    On Monday, June 26th, the Baileyville Annual Town Meeting was held at 6 p.m. at Woodland Elementary School. 

    Everyone in attendance who participated in the voting on budgeted items for the School Board and for the Town of Baileyville were required to be registered voters within the town.

    Read More
  25. Equal Protection Redemption: SCOTUS Revives the 1st and 14th Amendments

     

    Jon Reisman

    Read More
  26. Eastport Veteran Honored by USS Oscar Austin Crew

     

    USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) arrived in Eastport on Friday to participate in the Independence Day celebrations.  The crew received a warm welcome from the Eastport Port Authority at a community meet and greet on Saturday and was also able to meet and recognize 94-year-old Eastport resident and World War II veteran, Henry Lapa, who served aboard the USS Helena CA-75.  Here, Lapa is rendered honors by the crew. (Photo by LTJG Thomas McGowan)

    Read More
  27. Children Experience an Out-of-this-World Event with Vacation Bible Camp

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    There was lots of celebrating at Immaculate Conception Church in Calais last week when around 35 children took part in this year’s fun-filled vacation bible school.  

    For three consecutive days, local children kept busy with activities that incorporated music, arts, science, drama, and more all into learning and all centered around the theme Stellar VBS:  Shine Jesus’ Light.

    Read More
  28. Maine’s Opioid Response Director Speaks to Sunrise Senior College in Machias

     

    Sarah Craighead Dedmon

    Washington County doesn’t have the highest drug overdose rate in the state of Maine, but it does have the poorest overdose survival rate, according to information shared by Maine’s Director of Opioid Response, Gordon Smith, speaking last week in Machias.

    Read More
  29. 50th International Homecoming Festival Under a Month Away

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    The handful of volunteers who make up the International Homecoming Festival committee have been planning since January for the 50th annual celebration.  This year’s festival is slated for Wednesday, August 2 through Saturday, August 5 with the first  “international” parade set to be held since pre-pandemic times. 

    Read More
  30. Meet Renée Gray, the New County Manager Succeeding Fitzgerald

     

    Nancy Beal

    At their June 22 meeting, Washington County commissioners announced that they had offered Renée (Davis) Gray the post of county manager following the impending retirement of Betsy Fitzgerald, the present holder of that office. Gray will vacate the town administrator position in Lubec, where she has worked in one capacity or another since 2002.  She will assume her new duties in Machias tomorrow, July 6.

    Read More
  31. Legacy Square Garden

     

    Work began last week on the Legacy Square Garden in Princeton. Pictured are Miriam Pippin and Eli and Jacob with Sharon Norman. (Facebook photo)

    Read More
  32. What's Up, Calais?

     

    This Saturday, July 8, swing by Johnson’s True Value between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for a sweet treat from the bake sale happening there.  Proceeds will benefit the Maine Natural History Museum.  You can learn more about the museum by finding it on Facebook or visiting mainenhm.org.  According to its president Roxzanna Montague, the group is in need of some additional volunteers to donate baked goods.  Reach out to her at [email protected] or through the museum's Facebook page for more details.

    Read More
  33. Birthday Veracity

     

    Jon Reisman

    Some random and not so random notes and rants for America’s Birthday:

    -July 4th, 2023 marks our 247th birthday, not our 404th. Hannah Nicole-Jones, the New York Times and the Pulitzer Prize committee are lying leftist scum, and their hate America project should be recognized as Marxist revisionist propaganda. 

    -Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is a fearless populist-capitalist without Trump’s braggadocio and baggage. Viva Vivek’s 10 Truths:

    • God is real.

    • There are two genders.

    Read More
  34. Independence Day Fireworks Shows, Parades, and More Fun

    Read More
  35. Miriam Libby Celebrates 90th Birthday

     

    Miriam Libby, of Baileyville, turned 90 years of age June 16. 

    Miriam’s son David came from Needham, MA last Friday and hosted a birthday party for her at Woodland Baptist Church on Saturday, June 14 with about 40 people attending. Helping in many ways was Miriam’s niece Cheryl from Rhode Island and her nephew Ken Neal and wife Marie from Topsham, whom David had asked to help him. Some from the church also helped in various ways. 

    Read More
  36. It’s a Hot Lunch Summer in Washington County

     

    Natalie Boomer

    [email protected]

    The Maine Department of Education is back with the return of the state’s summer food service program, Hot Lunch Summer!

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides children ages 18 and under with healthy meals throughout the summer months at no cost. 

    Read More
  37. CHS Senior 1 of 4 Downeast Students Selected for Fully-Funded, Four-Year Scholarship

     

    Maine Seacoast Mission has selected four students from Washington and Hancock Counties to award the Davis Maine Scholarship. Through a partnership with Andrew Davis and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, the Davis Maine Scholarship ensures first-generation, college-bound students living in the Downeast region of Maine can complete a four-year undergraduate degree without financial burden. 

    Read More
  38. School Trip to Grocery Store Teaches Young Students Life Skills

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    When one thinks of summer school, field trips and cupcakes surely may not come to mind.  For kids at Woodland Elementary School, however, a field trip to Calais IGA earned them cupcakes to decorate right in the store, but it didn’t come without some hard work first.

    Read More
  39. County Commissioners Select Davis-Gray as New County Manager

     

    Will Tuell

    At their June 23 meeting, Washington County Commissioners Vinton Cassidy (R-Calais), John Crowley Sr. (R-Addison), and Chris Gardner (R-Edmunds) have selected Lubec Town Manager Renée Davis Gray as their new county manager beginning in January 2024. In the meantime, Davis Gray will serve as Deputy County Manager, working under longtime manager Betsy Fitzgerald who announced earlier this year that she would be scaling back her duties over the summer with the goal of retiring by year’s end. 

    Read More
  40. Woodland Baseball Standouts Play in State Senior All-Star Game

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Two local athletes played last week in the 2023 Class C/D North vs. South Senior Baseball Game, which took place on Thursday, June 22 at St. Joseph’s College in Standish. 

    Shane McIver and Braden Richard, both recent graduates of Woodland High School, were among those invited in a trio of games at the college.  The games included the Class C/D Senior All-Star Game, the Class A/B Senior All-Star Game, and an underclassmen game.

    Read More
  41. Bigfoot’s Activity Center Opens in Baileyville

     

    Natalie Boomer

    [email protected]

    Folks of Washington County celebrated the grand opening of Bigfoot’s Activity Center in Baileyville on Sunday, June 18th.

    “The grand opening was a huge success. No rain or cool temps was going to stop us. We had a great time welcoming patrons to the center to have fun,” said co-owner Kati Grass. 

    Read More
  42. Famous Blueberry-Shaped Building Opening Doors for 2023 Season

     

    The famous blueberry-blue dome in Downeast Maine, home to the beloved Wild Blueberry Land bakery and gift shop for over 20 years, will open this summer as the Wild Blueberry Heritage Center on June 29th. Guests will be able to shop wild blueberry themed items, purchase wild blueberry baked goods, and learn about the tiny but mighty wild fruit from exciting exhibits.

    Read More
  43. Pine Tree Power and The President’s Analyst: Climate Alarmist Plot

     

    Jon Reisman

    When I was a kid, Bell Telephone (or Ma Bell), had a near total monopoly on telephone service and equipment. You could have any kind of phone you wanted, as long as it was a rotary dial black number, and you had to rent, not buy, it from Ma Bell. The phone company was a convenient and reviled villain.

    Read More
  44. City of Calais Welcomes Downeast Community Partners Office at City Building

     

    Jayna Smith

    [email protected]

    Obtaining social services for those in the greater-Calais area just got a lot easier, thanks to a collaboration between the City of Calais and Downeast Community Partners.

    Last Friday, June 16, a ribbon cutting was held at the Calais City Building to officially mark the newest location for DCP, now with offices located upstairs in the city building on Church Street.  

    Read More
  45. CHS Boys Tennis are Northern Maine Runners Up

     

    Jeremy Turner Named PVC Player of the Year

    On the boys side, the Calais tennis team navigated through a very tough schedule and finished the regular season at 12-0.  This led them to the number two seed heading into the playoffs.

    After playoff victories over Madawaska and Washington Academy, the boys earned the right to play in the Northern Maine Class C Championship at Bates College in Lewiston against an undefeated top-seeded Orono team.

    Read More

Pages

Pages