Upcoming events

The Project Canopy Tree Planting will continue at 9 a.m. on Tuesday Sept 19th. Please join us at the Water Street parking lot.

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Open to the public - Wed., Sept. 20 5 p.m. Monthly meeting of the Porter Memorial Library board of trustees, 92 Court St., Machias. 

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Dinner served at 5:30 (Doors open at 5:00). This month’s Pleasant River Garden Club meeting will take place 

by Mary McFadden

By V. Paul Reynolds

by Phil Stuart

The top seeded Cutler Cardinals and the second seeded Machias Bruins squared off in the 1965 Quoddy Base League final after semi-final wins over Pleasant Point and Bucks Harbor Air Base. Cutler finished the regular season with 10-2 record followed by Machias 9-3, Pleasant Point 9-3 and Bucks Harbor Air Force 7-5. Cutler journeyed to Pleasant Point to start the 1965 playoffs with a double header against the Indians.

by Phil Stuart

Nate Mugford of Bucks Harbor recently captured the Annual Jim Merrill Tournament at Barren View Golf Club in Jonesboro with a low gross score of 72. Mugford won by five strokes over by runner-up Lenny Espling of Jonesboro.

Harry Beal of Columbia Falls supplemented his income with a big payday finishing with a low gross score of 59 and a two stroke advantage over Cooper’s Tom Viselli.

See full photo spread in September 20 issue on newsstands now or download the Digital Version.  See pages 16-17.

Brantley Kane controls the ball for Narraguagus.

An agile Colby Poirier takes the action sharply left.

The saying goes that good things come in small packages—but what about petit ones? One can find the answer to this question down Route 1 in Steuben. The peninsula of Petit Manan is one of Maine’s many “fingers” that extend into the Atlantic Ocean, and is home to the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. While some of the refuge is private property, its Hollingsworth Trail offers quick and easy access to the natural paradise of the peninsula.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and 4-H will offer a six-week Scratch computer coding course to be held at Porter Memorial Library. Beginning Oct. 4, the course will meet from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the library, 92 Court Street, Machias, and is designed for children ages 10 to 14. The Scratch computer coding course is one of many different SPIN Club (Special Interest Club) subjects for kids to explore through 4-H.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Two years after Verizon Wireless announced its expansion into eastern Hancock and Washington Counties, Downeast customers received letters stating that their Verizon contracts would be cancelled effective Oct. 17. 

Downeast customers are not the only ones receiving these notices. According to Verizon spokesperson David Weissman, 213 customers and 455 lines have been cut here in Washington County this month, but a total of 8,500 consumers in 13 states will also lose their Verizon service—19,000 lines in all.

Beals Elementary School students in grades 5 through 8 trek through the woods of The Nature Conservancy’s Great Wass Island Preserve as part of a two-day field trip last week under the auspices of the Maine Outdoor School. Photo courtesy Suzanne Carver. Story found on page 10.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is in the process of recalling mussels harvested from Frenchman Bay due to elevated levels of domoic acid, the biotoxin that causes Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). The recall follows a closure implemented yesterday of the area between East Point on MDI and Cranberry Point in Gouldsboro to the harvest of mussels, clams, oysters and whelks (carnivorous snails).

 In mammals, including humans, domoic acid acts as a neurotoxin, causing permanent short-term memory loss, brain damage, and death in severe cases.

The following is a first person account of what happened during those trying times as recorded by Lydia Whitney Sherman, wife of Aaron Sherman a local carpenter who is most noted for building the Ruggles House at Columbia Falls, and daughter of Colonel Jeremiah O’Brien. She remembers distinctly the British occupation of Machias in 1814, then a girl of eleven years. When in her nineties her remembrances were recorded by her son George W. Sherman, who sent them to George Drisko, who printed her story in the March 9, 1897 issue of the Machias Union – as follows.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Responding to public and government pressure, last week Verizon said that it has pushed out the termination deadline for 8,500 nationwide rural customers from Oct. 17 to Dec. 1. They also said they will continue to offer service to terminated customers who have “no alternative provider”.

by Jonathan Fulford

Rep. Bruce Poliquin, who refused to face constituents after voting for Speaker Ryan’s Obamacare Repeal, continues to remain silent as the devastating facts regarding Graham-Cassidy come to light. One study by Avalere Health found that Maine would lose $1 billion in Medicaid funding over the next decade, and $17 billion in reduced Medicaid funding and health insurance grants over the next 20 years.

Out and About

The Adult Education classes have begun at the High School in Harrington, it may not be too late to join. Call Dawn 483-2746 at the High School to register. The Genealogy class has started on Monday nights, always room for more to come. I can help you dig up your ancestors.

The Phys Ed Class on Tuesday last week enjoyed hiking in Pigeon Hill and Marshville during their classes.

The new steel fence installed on Monday Sept. 25 along Route 191 at the Jacksonville Cemetery will be dedicated at 10 a.m. on Saturday Sept. 30.  The cemetery association encourages all to visit and view this great accomplishment.  Now is the time to remove the old decorations and put on the new fall decorations.  There are trash barrels for this purpose at the crypt.  Any items that can be composted should be placed on the ground by the trash barrels.  For more information please contact Nate at 255-8230 or [email protected]

by Nancy Beal

For nearly a year, Jonesport officials have been engaged in cleaning up an unlicensed junkyard on the Fire Road, where derelict motor vehicles, bathroom fixtures and other debris has spread from the owner’s land onto his neighbors’ and into the road. The problem landed on the selectmen’s desk last October when the elementary school principal complained that the school bus was not able to navigate the road between Greenwood Cemetery and the coast guard housing complex.

Healthy Acadia and the Maine Gleaning Network are thrilled to announce the first annual Maine Gleaning Week - Oct. 7-16. Maine Gleaning Week will feature a collection of gleaning events - farm surplus rescue efforts that will gather crops and food that might otherwise be left in the fields or go to waste - from farms, community gardens, and farmers’ markets; engaging communities in resourceful and equitable food system activities that help to provide healthy, fresh, local food for Mainers in need. 

A Connecticut man wanted on drug charges in Maine and a number of other felonies from Connecticut, was taken into custody late last Tuesday night in Machias.  Rafael Santiago-Salazar aka “Chico” was charged in February for selling heroin and crack cocaine, following a joint investigation by Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Following his arrest, Santiago-Salazar posted bail and never showed up for his court appearances in Maine. 

by Sen. Joyce Maker

In a few days’ time, the Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee, a bipartisan 17-member committee on which I serve, will hold a public hearing on LR 2395, “An Act To Amend the Marijuana Legalization Act.” 

For the past week, Washington County has been the subject of discussion all over Maine and down to Washington, DC, as our local and national delegations, attorney general, public advocate, and private citizens struggle to make sense of Verizon’s abrupt service terminations issued to a portion of its nationwide customer base. 

As the leaves drop from the trees and the firewood gets stacked for the season, it’s that time of year when thoughts of all shapes and sizes become aimed toward breast cancer awareness.

Right up there with so many maladies of the age, we all owe it to ourselves to learn more about the cancer that will see one in eight women diagnosed with it in 2017. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Time to encourage all women -- especially your friends between 40 and 49 -- to get those mammograms. Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in claiming the lives of women. 

Porter Memorial Library with Machias Valley Film Society will screen “The Islands and the Whales” on Monday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. The film is part of the POV (point of view) documentary series from PBS. Porter Memorial Library’s presentation is an advance opportunity to see the film, which does not premier on PBS until later in the week.

The Islands and the Whales is an independent film by Mike Day that explores the tradition of whale hunting, and its social impact in the remote Faroe Islands, a self-governing region of Denmark. 

by Phil Stuart

The high school sports season got under way before the regular school year even began and several teams got into action early.

The Washington Academy Raider football team snapped a long losing streak and opened their 2017 season against the Orono Red Riots in Orono. Jared Talbot ran for 185 yards and a pair of touchdowns carrying the ball 21 times in a 32 - 0 victory over the Riots in Orono.

Finn Furth added 42 yards rushing for the 1-0 Raiders. Joe Paul led the Riots with 35 yards rushing.

Shawn Philip Bagley of East Machias died peacefully at his Bag End home on September 10, 2017. Shawn was born in Lubec on June 18, 1950 the son of the late Walter R. and Martha A. Bagley.  A 1968 graduate of Machias Memorial High School, he also graduated at the top of his class from the New England School of Broadcasting in Bangor, Maine. Shawn had many things that he held dear, but none as much as his children, Cedar and Sage, of whom he was extremely proud.  He enjoyed attending their events and supporting their interests.

Washington County Community Café and Meals on Wheels menu for October. 

Mon., Oct. 2,  Pulled Pork, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Corn, Wheat Bread, Dessert. 

Tues., Oct. 3,  Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole, Carrots and Broccoli, Wheat Bread, Dessert. 

Wed., Oct. 4,  Cheese and Beef Macaroni, Mixed Vegetables, Wheat Bread, Dessert. 

Thurs., Oct. 5,  Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken, Brown Rice, Peas, Carrots, Dessert.

Fri., Oct. 6,  Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Sesame Vegetable Rice, Green Beans, Wheat Bread, Dessert.

by V. Paul Reynolds

Grandiose delusions are not unknown to me. As a young man the challenges of a Navy carrier pilot  appealed to me – until I joined the Navy and saw how inherently dangerous it is to land a jet aircraft on the pitching deck of an aircraft carrier on a dark and stormy night. No thank you.

Later, as a civilian private pilot who owned and flew an antique airplane, I set out to be a high-time bush pilot. Then I had a taste of Maine bush flying in marginal weather.  From my book, Backtrack.:

by Phil Stuart

The Orono Red Riot varsity boys, varsity girls and junior varsity girls dominated the Bucksport Invitational cross country race Sept. 9 in Bucksport.

The Red Riot girls posted a score of 22 to 51 for George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill.

Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln was 3rd at 77 followed by Narraguagus with 91.

Eliza Broughton of George Stevens Academy took first place honors with a time of 19:51 over the 3.0 mile course.

Orono took the next four spots, giving them four runners in the top five.

The Maine Science Festival (MSF) is thrilled to announce the 2018 headliner for the 4th annual Maine Science Festival: Robert Krulwich, from Radiolab.

 Robert Krulwich is co-host of Radiolab, WNYC’s Peabody Award-winning program about ‘big ideas’ now one of public radio’s most popular shows. It is carried on more than 500 radio stations and its podcasts are downloaded over 7 million times each month. “There’s nothing like it on the radio,” says Ira Glass of This American Life. “It’s an act of crazy genius.”

Drive an hour north of Machias and enter into Canada. Travel over hills and next to forests and pass through the small town of Blacks Harbour. Amidst the morning fog, board the massive ferry that takes you through the wild Bay of Fundy. The journey here is half of the adventure. Stand on the passenger deck and feel invigorated by the brisk gusts that run through your hair. Sail past islands, playful porpoises, or even a distant whale. An hour and a half later you arrive on a new land. You are on Grand Manan.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

When Patti Sansing posted that she was listing Whole Life Natural Market & Cafe for sale, Facebook users around Machias could sense a disturbance in the Force. 

by Phil Stuart

Jonesport-Beals High School junior and defending Downeast Athletic Conference cross-country champ, Evan Merchant, ran a very fast time of 17:44 at the Wilburs 5K Sept. 2, to take first place honors.

Merchant was the only runner from Washington County to run in the Blue Hill event and finished 44 seconds ahead of Ellsworth’s Robbie Shea. Sid Broadworth of Blue Hill was 3rd in 19:51, while Mike Moon of Brooklin and Buster Brown of Ellsworth rounded out the top five with times of 20:47 and 20:50.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Responding to public and government pressure, last week Verizon said that it has pushed out the termination deadline for 8,500 nationwide rural customers from Oct. 17 to Dec. 1. They also said they will continue to offer service to terminated customers who have “no alternative provider”. 

by Ruth Leubecker

Washington County’s beleaguered prison is once again in the limelight -- this time as the target of emergency legislation.

Although off session, Rep. Will Tuell has proposed a bill that would keep the Downeast Correctional Facility open through January 1, 2020. Referring to the move in his newsletter as “emergency legislation,” the East Machias legislator cites the uncertainty of corrections proposals elsewhere in the state.

According to Nerdwallet.com, Maine students left more than $11 million in Federal Pell Grants (federal grants that don’t need to be repaid) on the table for the 2014-2015 academic year (the most recent year for which data is available) because they did not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Each year in Maine, only 60% of Maine high school seniors complete the FAFSA, the federal application that college, universities, and trade schools use to determine student eligibility for federal financial aid, according to the Finance