Jon Reisman

Over the last year, the price of gasoline and crude oil have increased by more than 40%, the price of natural gas has increased by more than 50%  and the price of electrical energy for Versant and CMP customers (about ½ the bill) has increased by more than 80% (thus increasing electrical bills by 40% or more).

Jayna Smith
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At a town meeting on Tuesday, February 8, Princeton residents came out and proved in support of the town joining Downeast Broadband Utility (DBU) with a unanimous vote, 36-0.

DBU is the first of its kind, non-profit, open-access fiber optic municipal utility network in the state.  It provides high speed internet, phone, and TV through a dark fiber network to businesses and residences in towns which are members.

The Syracuse team, coached by Jason Redding, won the championship game with a score of 35-34.  The team includes Reese Ellsmore, Brock Collins, Isaac Downing, Tegan Rogers, Turner Redding, Lilliana Tomah, Dylan Smith, Quinn Rollins, Silas Socobasin, and Jamison Brown.  (Submitted photo)

The Beckett Bombers, the Beckett Center’s Special Olympics team, did not participate in any games this year.  Still, the group practiced hard and even got to show off their skills during halftime of the Woodland/Calais girls’ game last week.  As well, at that game, the Bombers joined the Lady Dragons in the lineup as the starters were announced.  Team members include Kim, Denise, Annie, Anne Marie, Linda, Bob, Bo, Matt, and Cassie.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Jon Reisman

February is dream-planting season- planting some garden seeds in the sunroom, dreaming of spring, and planting some political dreams in candidates in boxes, as they collect signatures and plead for campaign donations. Both operations are rooted in optimism, but both are leavened by years of disappointment. Sometimes the promising seedlings get a bit too leggy, or are damaged when exposed to the sun and elements after a swaddled infancy in the warm and protected sunroom. The same can happen to candidates.

Jayna Smith
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One of the busiest shops on Main Street is the Calais Community Thrift Shop, located next to the movie theater.  Its success, according to volunteer Linda Howe, is because of the continued support it receives from those in the community.

Jayna Smith
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Calais Parks and Recreation Director Craig Morrison made the annual presentation of the Michael McPherson Award last Saturday.  The award, Morrison told those in attendance, began in 2000 and recognizes a community member who is a vital volunteer at the Calais Recreation Department.

Coach Jack Downing’s championship Celtics team includes Isaac Downing, Ben Harvey, Peter Morrell, Jordan  Barnard, Wyatt Short, Jack Downing, John Bassett, and Noah White.  Absent from photo is Colby Moholland and Lucas Morrell.

Natalie Boomer
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Three young girls from The Future Stars Horse Club at Little Oak Farm in Wesley are looking to their community for help in making their dreams a reality.
They have been busy selling raffle tickets to raise money for a very special trip.  These girls, and their beloved horses, would love to compete in the Morgan Youth Oklahoma Championship Show in October.

Update from Maine State Police on last night's shooting in Calais:

On Sunday, February 6, 2022 at approximately 8:23 p.m. the Maine State Police and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a report about a male who had been shot. The information stated that a male identified as 32-year-old Adam Knowlton of Calais had been shot at a residence at 92 South Street in Calais. Knowlton was transported to a local hospital.

The incident is under investigation however Knowlton is refusing to cooperate at this time. Knowlton received non-life-threatening injuries.

Team members for the champion team Thomas, coached by Chip and Alicia Smith, are Ben Hallett, Aidan Barnard, Abigail Cilley, David Lawless, Stephen Prenier, Brayden Hamilton, Brock Smith, Logan Gilman, and Axl Shemat.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

When ABLE Moving Services owner Dale Bailey learned that a new fitness business was coming to town, he wanted to do what he could to support the business.  ABLE Moving Services is a newly established (2019), Baileyville based-business that provides residential and commercial moving services statewide and the fitness business is Down 10 Fitness, LLC, owned and operated by Carl Ripley, also of Baileyville.

Jayna Smith
jayna@calais

Wyatt MacArthur hit his second of two free throws with no time left on the clock to give the Dragons a one-point win last Thursday night at Narraguagus.

According to Coach Ben Maloney, the Dragons were down six points with just 41 seconds left on the clock. They fought back to tie the game, and as time expired, senior MacArthur drew the foul.  He missed the first, but made the second, giving the Dragons the 66-65 win.

Jon Reisman

Jayna Smith
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Many children enjoy the traditional Advent calendars leading up to Christmas Day.  Each day during Advent, these children open a small numbered flap on their calendars.  Behind each flap is typically a small piece of candy or other fun trinket.  For two brothers, however, the Advent calendar this past Christmas season was very different.

Jayna Smith
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Last Thursday evening, Calais High School held its annual National Honor Society (NHS) Induction Ceremony with nine new members welcomed into the organization.

Jayna Smith
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After nearly eight weeks of rehabilitation, a snowy owl captured in Baileyville back in November has been released back into the wild.  Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions.

On November 22, the owl had been captured in Baileyville by local Game Warden Brad Richard.  The capture came after Richard noticed the bird “could fly only short distances with minimal altitude.”

Jon Reisman

A great deal of resources, freedom and integrity are sacrificed daily in support of policies that advertise moral superiority but accomplish little or nothing promoting their supposed goals and, in fact, are often counterproductive. Climate change, Covid and assorted Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mandates all offer excellent examples of authoritarian moral preening that damages the country without actually averting any global warming, infections, or racial animus.

Machias photographer, carpenter, and sternman Jamie Moore captured this lovely photo of fishing boats in the sea smoke near Cobscook Bay State Park this month. Freezing cold temperatures and winter storms mean Maine’s scalloping season, now underway, is not for the faint of heart. Moore works with Machiasport Captain Ben Crocker Jr. aboard F/V Dawn Marie, Bucks Harbor. (Photo by Jamie Moore)

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.  

Nancy Beal

Retired state employee John Glowa recently visited the Washington County Democratic Committee to introduce himself and explain why he is challenging Gov. Janet Mills in the race for the Democratic candidacy in next November’s gubernatorial election.