Jayna Smith
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National Civics Day is an opportunity to celebrate civics in a number of ways, one being through community projects.  Students and staff from Washington County Community College recently did just that when they took to the Calais Waterfront Walkway for a clean-up project.

Kaileigh Deacon

Jayna Smith
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Jayna Smith
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Last week, congratulations and best wishes were extended in a Legislative sentiment to Ian and Erika Pratt and the Pratt dealership.  The recognition was sponsored by Senator Marianne Moore and cosponsored by Representative Anne Perry in honor of Pratt’s 25 years in business.

Calais High School’s senior volleyball members were recognized last week for their outstanding contributions to the team.  They include Alexis Doten, daughter of Joni Doten and Troy Doten; Franscesca Lombardo, host daughter of David Sivret; Emma Saunders, daughter of Johnna Fleming and Allen Saunders; and Kendra Stevens, daughter of Katrina Murphy and Ian Stevens.  (Photo courtesy of Brenda Batson)

Jayna Smith
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Bats are often thought of as part of Halloween scares, but they are much more than an image representing the eerie night.  Each October, bats are recognized as part of Bat Appreciation Month.  

Jayna Smith
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Kelly Bartlett grew up believing her grandparents Herbert and Olive (McLean) Bacon of the Calais area had been shot and killed on October 31, 1947.  The alleged incident occurred in Kellyland, near Baileyville.  Bartlett’s mother Jean, daughter of Herbert and Olive, was only six years old at the time of their unfortunate deaths.

Jayna Smith
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CDRC (Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition) works hard to promote downtown, bringing beautification projects, such as the gardens and hanging flowers, as well as bringing the community together, such as through the summer concert series and other events.  One recent event made possible by CDRC was the annual Harvest Festival.

Jayna Smith
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The Woodland girls’ soccer team posted a 3-3 record over the last two weeks, according to Coach Kris Siering.  This brings the team’s record to 6-4-1 on the season.  

Losses for the Dragons over those two weeks came from Penobscot Valley, Shead, and Bangor Christian High Schools.  Two wins were earned by the Dragons over Narraguagus and another over Lee Academy.  

As their high school soccer careers come to an end, senior members of the Calais High School team were recognized last week.  They include Trinity Jones, daughter of Forrest and Heidi Beal;  Katie Bitar, daughter of Nick and Anne Bitar; Alexis Donahue, daughter of Chris and Peggy Donahue and David Beach and Sarah MacNichol, shown also with sister Kerrigan; and Sage Phillips, daughter of Louis and Tristan Phillips.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

On October 13, Representative Anne Perry and Senator Marianne Moore presented Down East Hospice Volunteers Executive Director Barb Barnett and Board President Paul Strickland with a Legislative Sentiment. This Sentiment is signed by President of the Senate Troy Jackson, Secretary of the Senate Darek Grant, Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau and Clerk of the House Robert Hunt. It was introduced by Representative Perry and cosponsored by Senator Moore.

Jon Reisman

“Do you want to ban the construction of high-impact electric transmission lines in the Upper Kennebec Region and to require the Legislature to approve all other such projects anywhere in Maine, both retroactively to 2020, and to require the Legislature, retroactively to 2014, to approve by a two-thirds vote such projects using public land?”- Question one on the November Ballot.

Jayna Smith
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Drive-in theaters seem to be a thing of the past, with very few still in operation across the nation and only a handful throughout the state.  In Baileyville, however, the holiday committee has come up with a way to revive the concept with a pop-up drive-in movie theater of sorts.

Submitted by Sherry Sivret

Jayna Smith
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In true Washington County-community fashion, hundreds came out last Friday, October 8, to donate to the annual Classic Hits Turkey-a-Thon.  The event helps lessen the burden associated with food insecurities during the holiday season.  

Jon Reisman

There are usually a couple of stories every week that raise my blood pressure and result in dark thoughts and angry mumbles. Here is a recent sampling:

• Angus King votes to confirm eco-terrorist and tree spiking apologist Tracy Stone-Manning as the director of the Bureau of Land Management, charged with the stewardship of millions of acres of public land. Ms. Manning was approved 50-45, with nary a Republican vote, including Senator Collins, who can usually be counted on to support the environmental left.

Jayna Smith
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Hundreds flocked to triangle park throughout the day on Saturday to check out the many vendors onsite during CDRC’s Harvest Festival.
Shoppers were not disappointed with the array of merchandise available.  Crafters and artisans showcased everything from hand-carved signs and other handcrafted decor to jewelry and clothing items, along with canned goods and preserves.

Jayna Smith
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There was plenty of fun for kids of all ages at this year’s Harvest Festival.  Kicking off the morning was a one-mile fun run, hosted by Calais High School’s cross country team.  At the waterfront, kids had fun touring a US Coast Guard boat, learning about marine science with Downeast Institute’s portable touch tank, and painting rocks at Calais Free Library.  

The St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish’s faith formation program at St. James the Greater Church in Baileyville discovered that the most effective way to educate children on the corporal works of mercy is to live them out.

On September 26, students of the program delivered the proceeds of a canned goods and food item collection to the Woodland Community Food Pantry on 55 Broadway in Baileyville.

Jayna Smith
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In game one of the day on Sunday, the undefeated Old Town Bombers were too strong for the Calais 17U team in Eastern Maine Fall Baseball League action.

Jayna Smith
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Tickets to this year’s Community Harvest Dinner, a tradition of CDRC’s Harvest Festival, were limited to 100, and all were sold prior to Saturday’s event.  The dinner included a concert featuring musician Alan Cook.