Jayna Smith

jayna@calais.news

According to organizer Jamie Bohanon, Baileyville’s Octoberfest is being planned, just like any other year, with its date slated for Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend, the big day will be Saturday, October 10th.  To help raise necessary funds, an ATV Joker Run fundraiser is happening on Saturday, July 18th.

The July 4th Red, White, and Blue Parade rolled through Calais on Saturday afternoon, after making its way from Stueben, through Machias, Pembroke, and all points in between, before hitting its final destination of Indian Township.  Spearheaded by Rep. Will Tuell, with a great organizational effort by Baileyille Fire Chief John McPhee, the parade honored Washington County first responders. 

A Motor City runner unsuccessfully tries to avoid the tag of Downeast Storm catcher Kobe Saunders. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

By Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A series of Independence Day cancellations led Rep. Will Tuell to wonder if, despite coronavirus restrictions, there might a creative way for Washington County to celebrate the Fourth of July together. The result will be an unprecedented parade that will begin in Steuben and follow Route 1 all the way to Indian Township.

Submitted by Sandra Smith

Jayna Smith

jayna@calais.news

The Tony Tammaro Memorial Baseball Tournament will once again take place this summer, according to one of the organizers, Ryan Lincoln.  As in prior years, this year’s event will take place at Calais’ Dicenzo Athletic Complex and is slated for August 8th and 9th.

Jayna Smith

jayna@calais.news

On Saturday, June 27th, Alexander Fire Department responded to a woods fire.  According to Fire Chief Eddie Burgess, about four acres of land burned. 

Chief Burgess said the cause of the fire was a lightning strike to a tree.  

His department was assisted by Calais Fire-EMS, Baileyville Fire Department, and Princeton Fire Department.  

Each year, during the graduation ceremonies at area high schools, EAC honors seniors who have excelled in music, theater or the visual arts.  Nominated by their dedicated teachers, the students have been chosen based on their commitment and contribution to the fine arts at their school and community.  

By Kaileigh Deacon

For the Eighth Grade Class of 2024, nothing about the end of the 2019-2020 school year was normal, and that meant missing out on the end-of-the-year activities. Staff at the Calais Middle High School didn’t want the celebration of them moving to high school  to pass without acknowledging their hard work 

By Kaileigh Deacon

Times have been trying as the effects of COVID-19 are felt as far Downeast as Washington County. Recommended closures of businesses created a challenge for some families as to how food would be put on the table while they were out of work. The already large number of families in Washington County facing food insecurity grew as the effects of the virus and its precautions spread. 

(Critter Autonomous Zone)

Seattle might have its neo-anarchist/hipster/summer of love/ Capitol Hill Occupy Protest (CHOP), but it pales in police-free borderless entertainment value to the Critter Autonomous Zone in Cooper and Cathance Township.

The Raven Raucous Caucus

The Calais Farmers’ Market began its season downtown this week.  It will continue each Tuesday at the downtown triangle park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

by Jonathan Reisman

As the nation writhes under a leftist/media assault charging white privilege and systemic racism and advocating for defunding the police, silencing/deplatforming/canceling anyone who dares to disagree and demanding they kneel and apologize for voting for Trump and more, I’ve watched in horror as a woke leftist Jacobin mob has decided that we need to destroy the village in order to save it.

By Natalie Boomer

natalie@calais.news

The annual 4th of July celebration in Pembroke will still be taking place this year.

The parade will be held at 9 a.m. on the morning of the 4th of July. Floats, ATVs, bikes and more are all welcome to meet at the town office in Pembroke at 8:30 a.m. to participate. There will not be any prizes given this year, as the parade will be just for fun. 

By Kaileigh Deacon

Jayna Smith

jayna@calais.news

The 92 students who attend Perry Elementary School got to say good-bye for the summer to their teachers in a very unique way, all to end the very unique school year.  Last Friday, students got to watch a teacher parade that covered all of the roads and routes throughout the town and by the homes of the students.

Jayna Smith

jayna@calais.news

Calais Lioness Club recently celebrated its 35th annual Charter Night, an event that welcomes new members to the group.  It also pays tribute to the 43 ladies who joined together with the shared purpose of helping their community and its residents back in 1985.

Nolan McCullough and Paige Sockabasin each received a scholarship, presented annually in honor of Michael Severance.  Les Severance, Michael’s father, decided this year to present it to two of the Pine Tree Store employees, both of whom are graduating.  The store is owned by Les Severance and Brinda Leighton.  Each year they have a dance to raise money for this scholarship to be given so that Michael will not be forgotten.  Nolan has been a summer resident of Grand Lake Stream since the age of two, spending his summers with his grandparents, David and Jenifer McCullough.  He will attend the

By Kaileigh Deacon

Store Manager Drew Sansing and Assistant Manager Laura Donovan went all around Calais and even to Baileyville on Tuesday to thank first responders and those on the front lines during the COVID-19 Pandemic. As part of their Associates Week, which normally takes place in Bentonville, Arkansas, Walmart decided to spend this Associates Week giving back to their employees as well as the communities that serve them. 

By Natalie Boomer

natalie@calais.news

On May 30th, Sonya Lunn and Blaine McLaughlin were in a serious motorcycle accident on Route 9. 

According to Lunn’s brother, Michael Curran, the two were hit by a drunk driver and were both rushed to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with serious injuries. 

Lunn is on the road to recovery, but McLaughlin sadly passed at the hospital due to his injuries. 

Jayna Smith

jayna@calais.news

The former Townhouse Restaurant on Main Street has seen some drastic changes over the last few months.  The new owner of the property Tim Krug has been completely renovating the inside and will soon give the outside an overhaul as well.  He took on the project late last year after the property, which had been acquired by the city, was being considered for demolition.