Kaileigh Deacon

As Thanksgiving ends and December begins our thoughts turn to the holidays and Christmas. Not everyone has the same opportunities at Christmas and some families don’t have the means to give their loved ones all they feel they deserve.

It’s times like these that living in a small community is a wonderful thing. Because coming together is what they do best. For three years Dunkin Donuts has been only one of the groups around our area working hard to make sure that kids get something to open on Christmas morning. 

Natalie Boomer 

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Like many others, a young girl’s birthday party was suddenly canceled after Governor Janet Mills urged Mainers to avoid gatherings and unnecessary travel to decrease the spread of COVID-19. 

Although Sutton Farmer won’t be able to have all of her friends at her 6th birthday, her close family friend, Terri Beam, thought of a different way to celebrate. 

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra is announcing new plans for its 125th anniversary season. The Symphony's five classical concerts are moving online, with new programming to meet gathering limits and social distancing requirements for the orchestra. Performances will be filmed without an audience and released through a new online platform from February to June 2021. 

Digital subscriptions are now on sale, with options ranging from $50 to $199 per household and added educational and archival content for subscribers. 

Jayna Smith

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The Blue Devil Fund has become a well-known organization within the Calais community.  Founded by Chris Taylor in 2010, his goal with the non-profit was to support local charities by using the game of basketball by what he says “as the catalyst with the mantra ‘From Assists on the Court. To Assists in the Community.’”  

Jayna Smith

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The Town of Baileyville has selected Ryan Lincoln as the new Parks and Recreation Director, and he will assume the position on Nov. 30.  He fills the vacancy left by Mike Boies, who retired after serving as director for 35 years.  

Jayna Smith

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In a time of great political divide and amidst a pandemic, when we are told to keep six feet apart, the distance between Americans, metaphorically speaking, has become miles longer.  Tensions are high and fear has intensified.  But for one Calais couple, a simple yard sign gives a much-needed reminder that compassion and cornerstones of American life are still in existence.   

By Natalie Boomer

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A local young lady has created the Facebook group “Washington County Virtual Holiday Craft Fair 2020” for those who wish to participate in craft fairs this holiday season, but are unable due to the coronavirus concerns.

Jayna Smith

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The longest running Christmas assistance program in the county is the Calais Lions Club’s Santa’s Helpers Program.  This year is the club’s 49th year of helping local families in need have a happier Christmas.  

Natalie Boomer

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The Calais Community Thrift Store on Main Street has a rack with free coats for those in need during the upcoming cold winter months. 

In the past, the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry would distribute vouchers for free coats at the thrift store; however, now, anyone in need can go in and ask if their size is available.

Jayna Smith

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The village of Woodland will be bustling on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 5th with kids -- and kids at heart -- awaiting Santa’s early arrival as he makes his way in the town’s annual Christmas parade. 

According to Jamie Bohanon, of the town’s holiday committee, the parade is being held a week earlier than in years prior.  

By Natalie Boomer

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Local, Sherri Neddeau, usually hosts a craft fair during Octoberfest in Baileyville. The fair was put on hold when the Covid-19 virus made its way into Washington County.

It will now be held on Saturday, December 5th. Although still a craft fair, it will differ from years before to keep the community safe. 

The Maine Community Foundation has announced the 2020 recipients of the Strater Downeast Scholarship Fund. The fund provides renewable scholarship support to high school graduates in Washington County and graduates of Sumner Memorial High School in Sullivan pursuing post-secondary education in a degree program at the University of Maine, the University of Maine at Machias, Maine Maritime Academy, or Washington County Community College. 

Jayna Smith

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Ian Pratt at Pratt Chevrolet is again matching donations made to the local food pantries, a fundraising campaign he has done at the car dealership for many years, all to decrease food insecurity in the area.  Throughout November, all donations brought or mailed in to Pratt Chevrolet will be matched up to $5,000.  

Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Only one other county (Somerset) supported President Trump more than Washington County, which tied with Aroostook, giving Trump 59.1 percent of its vote. Statewide, Vice President Joe Biden won 55.3 percent, or 428,232 votes to Trump’s 44.2 percent, or 356,673 votes.

Congressional District 2 (CD2), Maine’s more rural district and where Washington County is located, supported Trump to the tune of 52.4 percent, delivering him one of the state’s four electoral college votes. 

Jayna Smith

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November marks National Diabetes Month, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just over ten percent of the nation’s population has diabetes.  Five-year-old Gabe Youngblood makes up part of that number.

Kaileigh Deacon

October in Maine isn’t exactly known for its host of outdoor concerts, as the weather is unpredictable and snow could happen at any minute. But local rock group Old Skool didn’t let the cool October weather sway them from holding the second of two free concerts on the waterfront in Calais. 

Jayna Smith

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AOS 90 Superintendent Patricia Metta, who oversees schools in Baileyville, Princeton, and Topsfield, announced on Thursday, Oct. 29 that students in that district will move from in-person learning to remote learning throughout the month of November.

“At this time, the schools have had no positive cases of COVID-19,” Metta said on Friday.  “Our school closure is precautionary in nature, given what is going on in the local communities.” 

Jayna Smith

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For the tenth year in a row, Chevrolet has partnered with the American Cancer Society to support its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program.  With every #IDriveFor Twitter or Instagram post made throughout the month of October, Chevrolet contributed $5 to the American Cancer Society.  

This week, in an online recognition ceremony, the Maine Association of the Education of Young Children (MaineAEYC) honored Representative Jay McCreight and Senator Marianne Moore with Children’s Champions Awards. The original celebration was going to take place at the State House in April during the “Week of the Young Child.” It was rescheduled to coincide with an early childhood education policy and advocacy webinar series that MaineAEYC has been hosting this month.

Kaileigh Deacon 

For many, it is hard to imagine the possibility of bringing what they do to the National level, but for Lanette Pottle, the seemingly improbable has become a reality. Lanette will be presenting at a TEDx talk on November 28 in Houston, Texas. 

Jayna Smith

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Many businesses and organizations took part in this year’s Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition (CDRC) scarecrow contest, a just-for-fun event to help decorate the downtown.  Rules were simple:  choose a lamp post and create a scarecrow of your liking.

Jayna Smith

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St. Croix Area - Calais Rotary Club held its first Candidates’ Night last week, held virtually and featuring all three candidates vying for the two vacant seats on Calais City Council and three of the four candidates vying for the two vacant seats on Calais School Board.