Ham radio operators from the St. Croix Valley Amateur Radio Club will be participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 2 p.m. on Saturday until 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 25 – 26. This year's event will be taking place at the Alexander Elementary School grounds, 1430 Airline Road, Alexander. 

The event is ARRL Field Day (www.arrl.org/FieldDay), an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States.

The eighth graders who played on the recreation department’s junior high softball team were recently honored. The coaches said the team had a great season and will be a positive addition to the high school team next year.  Pictured are (front) Sarah Wentworth, MacKenzie Smith, Destiny Holmes, Sadye Cottrell, (back) Coach Crystal McLellan, Hayden Sabattus, Chole Milburn, Trinity Newell, Kaci Small, Coach Joey Craig and Craig Morrison. (Submitted photo)

The screen house has just received its new sign celebrating the Women of Grand Lake Stream.  The sign was designed and made by Jane Devereux, a member of the Women to Women Group. (Photo submitted by  Susan Whitely)

Jon Reisman

I do not get (or give) a huge amount of feedback, but I appreciate it. Criticisms, praise and suggestions are delivered via e-mail, snail mail, in grocery store aisles and by the side of the road. Praise is good for the ego, but criticism is better for the product For fifty years, the Beatles and The Prince have both battled and stayed with me. Niccolo Machiavelli counselled that it is better to be feared than loved; John Lennon countered that all you need is love.

Jayna Smith

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The members of the Spednic Club in Baileyville are well known for giving back to others in the community in times of need and to worthy causes and organizations.  Recently, they did that again with a bowling tournament held to benefit the Kenny J. Murphy Jr. Memorial Fund.  

Jayna Smith

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Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge has a new manager.  

John Magera, along with his wife Karin, moved to the area in January from southeast Texas for the new role.

While in Texas, Magera served as refuge manager for the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge.  There, he was responsible for more than 10,000 acres of native prairie, a position he held for five years.

Jayna Smith

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A community space in downtown Calais officially has a new name.

At the June 8, 2023 meeting of the Calais City Council, Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition (CDRC) members Anne Nixon and Chris Niles requested that the park, often referred to as “Triangle Park,” be officially named “Flat Iron Park.”

The name “Triangle Park” has no historical significance; “Flat Iron,” however, does.

Kobe Saunders

After beating the Fort Fairfield Tigers 8-2 in quarter-final action on Friday, June 9, the three-seed Woodland Dragons were hosted by the number two seed Bangor Christian Patriots in a Class D Northern Maine semi-final baseball game on Saturday at Husson University. 

The game started off as a pitching duel, as Woodland pitcher and DAC Player of the Year Evan Curtis and Patriots pitcher Cole Payne would not allow a single hit until the later innings.

A new, state-of-the-art Senographe Pristina 3D mammography machine is the most recent addition to the Calais Community Hospital radiology department.

Jayna Smith

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Graduation for the Woodland High School Class of 2023 was held Saturday morning, June 3, in front of a full gymnasium.  The 33 graduates marched to their seats, led by Class President Braden Richard, to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstances,” in front of faculty and staff, friends and family, and other members of the community.

Jayna Smith

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On Saturday, June 3, members of the St. Croix Area-Calais Rotary Club took to Route 1 for their annual roadside cleanup.  

According to club member David Montague, “ten intrepid volunteers and a trio of enthusiastic children” participated, despite the cold wind and rain.  

Fourth graders from Calais Elementary School recently attended the Maine Learning Technology Initiative Conference at the University of Maine, Orono.  The students attended two different sessions from among many, such as how to make an app, how to build an escape room, CANVA (pictures), green screen, and more.  They also saw the 3D printed house and had the opportunity to see the huge size of a windmill blade.  Among the 1,100 students in attendance from around the state, these Calais students were the youngest.  (CES photo)

Jayna Smith

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Rhubarb is for Lovers was the theme of this year’s Rhubarb Festival, and it proved just that, with well over 300 people coming through the gates, according to organizer Georgie Kendall, despite the low temperatures in the mid-40s the drizzly day brought.

The Rhubarb Festival, now an annual event hosted by Kendall Farm in Perry, took place on Saturday, June 3, with a line-up chock-full of activities for people of all ages to enjoy.

Chloe Bernardini

The budget for Charlotte Elementary School’s 2023-2024 year was lowered by the school board at the meeting last Wednesday, May 31st. 

About $7,500 was cut from the original $297,541.43 that was originally suggested by the school committee.

“The board was concerned that the $7,500 is too small of a cut to make the budget pass, but we really didn't have any other places to safely cut,” said Janet Moholland, a member of the school board.

Jayna Smith

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Memorial Day ceremonies to remember fallen heroes took place in Calais on Monday, starting with the wreath laying ceremony at Ferry Point Bridge.

A small group gathered downtown at the international bridge for the annual event with active duty service members, other veterans, and representatives from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Calais Fire-EMS.

Jayna Smith

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It was a topsy-turvy game on Friday, when the Blue Devils played host to the visiting Shead Tigerettes.  

Shead jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first inning, then Calais chipped away at the lead, eventually distancing themselves to earn the 22-12 win.

Ashaliegh Sulkowski led the offensive onslaught for Calais with four hits and three RBI.  She alo crossed the plate five times.

Jayna Smith

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Smoke, and even flames, could be seen for miles on Sunday, May 28, when a fire broke out in the Bocabec-Chamcook, New Brunswick area, near Saint Andrews.

According to CBC News, the fire was started by an ATV in the woods.

Jon Reisman

“Two wrongs don’t make a right”- philosophy proverb 

“Yes they do “- DEI and anti-racism advocates

“DEI stands for Discrimination, Exclusion and Indoctrination”- Ron DeSantis

Princeton’s youngest helpers Noah, Jacob and Eli did a great job during the town’s clean-up. See page 23 for the Princeton news.  (Submitted photo)