By Kaileigh Deacon

There are many different ways to tell that spring is coming to Maine but certainly, one of the sweetest is the flowing of sap through the trees in Maine. All over the state trees are tapped as the sap starts running up the trees to prepare the tree’s buds for spring.  Sunday, March 24 is Maine Maple Sunday where sugaries and other groups around the state celebrate with plenty of maple syrup. 

By: Natalie Boomer

This past month the Calais Free Library welcomed a new children’s librarian, Virginia Brewster. 

“My very first volunteer job at age 11 was in a library. I had a very sweet relationship with the lady who taught me how to repair books and I had a blast. My family is full of librarians,” Brewster said.

Although she enjoyed the library when she was young, Brewster took a different path and pursued a degree in a different field.

Calais Rec Tiny All-Star Cheerleaders won 1st place at Maine State Cheerleading Championships at the Cross Center at Bangor. (Photo by John Rogers). 

Congratulations to Haley Black, Calais Regional Hospital Security Officer, for being selected as Securitas Northeast Region Officer of the Year for Heroism.  The award is to recognize officers for giving of themselves and modeling Securitas’ core values.  Securitas began providing security services at Calais Regional Hospital in 2016.  Haley has been part of the Securitas team assigned to CRH since 2017.    

What began as an idea to feature youth as part of the St. Croix International Quilt Show last year blossomed into a “Sew-Delightful” program for local elementary schools. Sew-Delightful has members act as mentors to those who already have some experience with fabric and as teachers to those who want to learn how to sew and quilt.

SCIQ President Bonnie Brown-Hunter hopes the children will be bringing home a completed quilted project while having had some fun in the four-week afterschool program tailored to the needs of each of the participating schools.

Washington County's Delegation recently attended the 2019 MAND Legislative Breakfast where they listened to presentations about how to improve Maine's food and nutrition environment as well as the health of Maine citizens. Pictured are Representative Anne Perry, Representative Will Tuell, Calais Regional Hospital’s registered dietitian Mona VanWart, Senator Marianne Moore and Senator Stacey Guerin. (Submitted photo)

By Jayna Smith

Last Friday afternoon, March 8th, first responders were called to a motor vehicle accident in Baileyville.  The accident involved a tractor-trailer truck and a pickup truck.

According to Baileyville Police Chief Bob Fitzsimmons, his department responded to the Baileyville end of Route 9 where the two trucks collided.  The driver of the tractor-trailer truck was Charles Curran of Rollingdam, New Brunswick.  He was taken to Calais Regional Hospital via ambulance and released.

By Conrad Black

The most immense and dangerous public scandal in American history is finally cracking open like a ripe pomegranate. The broad swath of the Trump-hating media that has participated in what has amounted to an unconstitutional attempt to overthrow the government are reduced to reporting the events and revelations of the scandal in which they have been complicit, in a po-faced ho-hum manner to impart to the misinformed public that this is as routine as stock market fluctuations or the burning of an American flag in Tehran.

Congratulations to Calais JHS basketball as they captured the 2019 County Championship with a 50-39 win over runner-up Woodland JHS. Pacing the win was Jace Cook and Ryland Sabattus each with 15-points and Alex Richard and Matt Dana each adding 8-points. On the Dragon ledger Ethan Monk hit 10-points and Brogan Brown added 9-points; Shain McIver and Nate Scharff each had 4-points. Pictured for Calais are l-r:  Reece Sabattus, Coach Nib Sabattus, Ryland Sabattus, Landon Ritchie, Ales Richard, Zack Johnson, Matt Dana, Jace Cook, Aidon Benson, Josh Calder, and Coach Hornbrook.

The St. Croix Knights of Columbus #149, held their Council Free Throw Contest, this past Saturday, March 2nd, at the Woodland High School. The proud winners, posed for a photo with the local Knights.

Four boys are 10 to 13, were named Council champions of the 2019 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship and have earned the right to compete at the State Level. The St. Croix Council #149 in Calais, sponsored the local competition at the Calais Elementary School. All youngsters ages 9 to 14 were eligible to participate.

By Lura Jackson

An orphaned boy goes on to join the Canadian Army during World War I, leads his platoon, negotiates a frontline truce, and is later decorated by King George V. While Gordon Lasky never called himself a hero, his story tells of the finest kind of heroism – one based on principles of fairness and goodwill. Lasky’s exceptional biography has been captured in the newly-released New Brunswick Lad: Memories of a World War I Canadian Soldier by Red Beach native Dr. Ken Ross.

By Lura Jackson

After nearly 24 years, Shirley Ray Coburn has retired from First National Bank in Calais. A retirement celebration for Coburn was held at the branch on Friday, March 1st.

“I don’t really have any plans,” Coburn said. “Just to enjoy life.” She plans to do so with her husband, Barry, at their family camp as well as by visiting her three sons and five grandchildren, currently spread between Colorado, Albuquerque, and Delaware.

By Lura Jackson

What’s better than being able to enjoy locally produced homemade desserts and fresh bread? The answer – at least according to Crumbs and Katahdin House, Calais’s most popular dessert makers – is being able to get them at more places. 

Both eateries are expanding into other businesses around Calais, and the response thus far has been enthusiastic.

Crumbs available at Yancy’s, Motor Inn

Living in a remote rural area like Washington County is synonymous with traveling long distances for certain kinds of medical care, including cancer treatment. The combination of travel and lodging is often too much for local families to handle on their own – and that’s where the Ronald McDonald House and Sarah’s House come in, offering free lodging to those in need. The role of these organizations is so important that the Student Senate of Washington County Community College coordinates the Polar Bear Dip every year to support them.

A vehicle fire in a Baring trailer park on Thursday, February 21st was rapidly handled by the Baileyville Fire Department. The fire, according to Baileyville Fire Chief John McPhee, fully engulfed the front half of the vehicle. Once responders arrived, it was contained within five minutes. The vehicle was parked next to a home but was pulled back to prevent the fire from spreading. No damage took place to the nearby properties. (Photo by Wendy Little)

By Lura Jackson

“Oh, the places you’ll go” – the Dr. Seuss quote is often used to encourage students at Calais Middle High School in considering their future, and it rarely feels more appropriate than when reflecting on the highly successful career of a CMHS graduate. After graduating from CMHS in 2004, Anav Silverman has gone on to become a respected and prolific international journalist.

Posted by Silent-Strength on Facebook:

Jim Walker (custodian at Princeton Elementary in Princeton, Maine) purchased a Silent Strength t-shirt, because he wanted to give it to a deserving student. After conferring with Ms. Disher, they chose to give the shirt to Lucian. Here is the response that Ms. Disher sent to us as to why they picked Lucian. May God bless all of the “Lucians” out there who are making a positive impact on all of the students (and adults) in their schools!

By Lura Jackson

One of Calais Middle High School’s [CMHS] greatest basketball stars has been recognized with a truly distinguished honorific. Becky Moholland Ireland is one of 24 inductees this year to the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame, and the first person from Calais to receive such an award.

One of the most popular Main Street eateries has taken a major step forward by reopening in an adjacent storefront. Katahdin Coffee House – soon to be known as simply Katahdin House – is now located at iconic Bank Corner in the heart of downtown Calais, and the new, much larger venue is creating a significant buzz.