The Henry D. Moore Library and Community Center in Steuben will be showing the movie “Hotel Transylvania 2” 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27.

Now that Dracula has opened the Hotel Transylvania’s doors to humans, things are changing for the better; however, Drac is secretly worried that his half-human grandson, Dennis, isn’t showing his vampire side. So, while Mavis and Johnny are away, Drac enlists his friends to help him put the boy through a monster-in-training boot camp. But things really get batty when Drac’s cantankerous, old-school dad pays an unexpected visit.  

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering a free workshop on Nov. 9, designed for people considering a small-scale food business. Recipe to Market: Is It for Me? will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, at the UMaine Extension office, 28 Center St., Machias. 

The workshop will introduce participants to topics including opportunities and challenges of being a food entrepreneur, the specialty food industry, business basics, an overview of the product development process, licensing and regulations, and food safety. 

Cobscook Community Learning Center in Trescott will host a Haunted Trail walk on Monday, Oct. 30th.

Cobscook Experiential Program students are putting this on to raise money to build electric guitars.

It will be spooky! It will be fun! It will be little-kid friendly from 4 - 6 pm, and a little creepier till 8 p.m. Donations welcome, refreshments available for purchase. 

For more information, call 207-733-2233.

The Conway Area Humane Society and The Cleo Fund are bringing a lost-cost spay and neuter clinic to Machias on Nov. 6-7. The event will be held in the Holy Name Parish Hall at 45 Broadway, Machias.

The $30 service is offered to low-income Washington County residents and will include: a physical exam, the spay or neuter surgery, nail trim, ear cleaning, a Capstar flea pill, and a rabies vaccine for cats over 12 weeks.

Space is limited so appointments are necessary. Call 603-447-5955 ext. 3 to reserve your place.

October’s Downeast Feast public supper will be held at Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School in Machias and is sponsored by the Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) 7th and 8th grade students.

The Downeast Feast is a shared, free community meal held the fourth Thursday of every month at 5 p.m. The location varies. Feasts are potluck-style meals so bring some food to share. If you can’t bring any, please come anyway! 

In light of the season, this month’s theme is autumn soups and bread. 

Addison’s Tuscan Lodge 106 will put on its traditional haunted house on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28. The lodge uses the event as a fundraiser to raise money for its community projects.

The event will run from 6 p.m. until the last survivor leaves the building. Individual and family rates available, located at 325 Water Street, Addison. 

Students in Machias schools were encouraged to walk to school on Friday, Oct. 20 as part of Healthy Acadia’s annual Walk to School program. Photo by Sarah Craighead Dedmon 

by Ruth Leubecker

Last week’s special session of the Maine Legislature faced a myriad of conflicts, ranging from the taxation of legalized marijuana to the ramifications of ranked-choice voting.

Labeled a one-day special session, the subject matter was never to be constrained to one day. “Marijuana is one topic, as is funding the state mapping office, food sovereignty and another go-around with ranked-choice voting,” said Rep. Will Tuell a week before the session was to convene. 

The Friends of the Calais Free Library are pleased to be able to offer again the popular Soup & Poetry evening in the lovely old library building’s Children’s Room, where the children’s shelves will be rolled aside to make room for cozy tables and chairs for the attendees.  Friday, Oct. 27, from 6 - 8 p.m., will be an evening that begins with enjoying various soups, breads, & cookies with coffee, cider, or water on the side.  There will be room for all at the tables for four set up around the room with seasonal decorations and possibly some seasonal poetry, too.  

As we can all see, the beautiful fall leaves are becoming a memory.  Can winter be far behind?

Chuck and Bonnie’s garage is coming along nicely.  When the snow flies, their vehicles will be under cover.  Autumn will have her own personal basketball court, also.

I now have my own personal driver when I need to go to my doctors appointments. My grand daughter Kristine is my new taxi.  She can back up much better than me and helps Charlie so he won’t have to come early to take me.

It’s Pot Roast for our Nov. 4 public supper.  Pot roast, mashed potatoes, peas, carrots, green beans, apple sauce, Janet’s Rolls and biscuits along with homemade cakes and pies are on the menu.  The supper which begins at 5 p.m. at the Hillgrove Community Building in Whitneyville is one of the six that the Friends of the Whitneyville Library do during the year.

by Phil Stuart

On September 23rd, several area runners entered either the 10K or the 5K at the Grand Willey Road Race in Ellsworth.

The 10K race overall winner was former UMO basketball star Tracy Guerette who ran an excellent time of 37:39.

Tony Santiago finished 10th overall with a time of 48:52. Other local runners and their times were Ashley Santerre of Columbia Falls 51:47, Tim Formby of Steuben 53:31 and Andi Miner of Machias 1.17.59

by Phil Stuart

The local high schools are winding down their fall sports seasons in soccer, volleyball, cross country and football.

At the present time, Woodland has a sizable lead in Class C volleyball with a 9-1 record. The Dragons are 9-1 with Washington Academy a distant second with a 5-4 mark. Look for the Raiders to come on strong and win Class C. They have played a tougher schedule and should be prime. Calais High School is third with an 8-3 mark. The Devils handed Woodland their only loss by beating the Dragons in straight sets October 2nd.

by Phil Stuart

The University of Maine at Machias (UMM) Clippers mens’ soccer team has compiled a 6-7-1 overall record and a 4-2-1 mark in the Yankee Small College Conference as they enter the final stage of the regular season.

On September 27th, the Clippers hosted the Unity Rams, a team they had tied 2-2 nine days earlier.

by Joyce Fragale

We had a wonderful brisk autumn morning for our “Walk to School” day last Friday.  Everyone was respectful, safe, and looked as though they were having a wonderful time.  A big thank you to Terri Woodruff from Healthy Acadia for helping organize this event, our own Machias Memorial High School (MMHS) Cross Country Team, and our Machias Fire Department, for keeping our students safe during our walk.

Another nice week of weather. Carroll mowed the lawn for the last time for the season, I hope. I have been diligently working outside to get it looking good before we get bad weather.

Bus evacuations have been held in the district this past week. The weather has been great in doing them. We hope in the event of an accident the students will know what to do.

 The Phys. Ed. Class has had two great days of hiking this past week. The weather has been great.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and Machias Memorial High School (MMHS) and Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School (RMG) in Machias are drawing attention to the cause by celebrating Unity Day on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Compiled and edited by: Valdine C. Atwood

I have a fascination with cemeteries. It might sound strange, but they are a wonderful place to wander around, wondering and learning about the extraordinary people that lay in their final rest and of the many the stories that they could tell.

The Court Street Cemetery here in Machias is a great place to explore because of the many, many tales that can be told of the people that are buried there. Let us examine the life of Jacob Longfellow, and the extraordinary feat taken by him and his mother Margaret (Bigelow) Longfellow. 

Work on Jonesport’s Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church 100+-year-old steeple continues. Last week, Phase 2 was completed with the removal of the belfry and clock. The bell and remains of the belfry will be capped to keep out the weather while fundraising for a fiberglass replacement continues. A Christmas craft fair is planned for November 4, with a fish chowder/beef stew lunch, silent auction, white elephant sale, hourly door prizes and a grand prize (turkey dinner) drawing at 1 p.m. Photos by Nancy Beal

 by Sen. Angus King 

 Shortly after President George W. Bush signed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, just as the “Bush tax cuts” were kicking in for many Americans, I took a trip to a hardware store in Brunswick. I can’t remember the exact year (likely 2003 or 2004), and I can’t remember the purchase that prompted the trip. But what I do remember - like it was yesterday - is the conversation I had with the clerk who rang me up.

Dear Editor,

I serve as legal counsel for INTERNITY, an organization dedicated to and advocating for Maine’s veterans. I am writing to clear up some misperceptions about our organization’s former relationship with Maine Veteran’s Project. It seems that there are a few misconceptions which are being fostered in the community, and speaking for the Board and the founder of INTERNITY, I want to help allay these misperceptions.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

When Kevin and Jeanne McEwan relocated to Machias last year, one of the first things they did was scout out the local soccer programs. “We raised three boys in Utah that were very involved in soccer,” said Kevin McEwan. “We thought, we couldn’t live without soccer!”  

A row of milkweed plants forms a lovely and fitting border along the front of the Machias Valley Grange. The Grange is maintained by the Beehive Design Collective, and milkweed is a critical component in the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly, an important North American pollinator. Monarchs have become increasingly rare due to the destruction of their southern habitat and destruction of milkweed plants, once considered a spreading nuisance in fields and gardens.

Medicare’s Open Enrollment period is now underway and it is important to remember that this is the only time of year when Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their coverage.  The Medicare Open Enrollment period began on October 15th and Mainers currently on Medicare have until December 7th to add, drop or change prescription drug and health care plans for 2018.  It is a good idea for all Medicare beneficiaries to review their options each year during open enrollment. 

By V. Paul Reynolds

For many Maine moose hunters lucky enough to get drawn, a moose permit is a once-in-a-lifetime affair. Such was the case with my middle-aged friend Greg Goodman, who has been trying for that permit since he was a young man. Knowing that I had had some experience in the moose woods ( and perhaps that I owned a big tent and a chainsaw winch), Greg invited me along as his subpermittee.

Grants will completely offset tuition and fees for eligible new students

Dear Savvy Senior,

What can you tell me about the flu shots made for seniors? I got sick last winter after getting a standard flu shot, and am wandering if the flu vaccine for older adults would provide me better protection this year.

Almost 70

 Dear Almost,

There are actually two different flu shots – the Fluzone High Dose and FLUAD – that are designed specifically for people age 65 and older (you only need to get one of them).

Randy S. Blackwood, 63, passed away Tuesday, October 17, 2017 after a long illness, surrounded by his family.  He was born June 5, 1954 in Jonesport, the son of Alfred A. “Sonny” and Rosalie E. (Palmer) Blackwood, Jr.

by Phil Stuart

Jonesport-Beals junior Evan Merchant of Beals shaved 20 seconds off the course record of 18:15 set by Jacob Godfrey of Machias in 2016.

The Bulldog Pride 5K was established in 2013 as part of the Bulldog Pride weekend which includes sporting events like soccer and volleyball in addition to alumni game.

Jay Beal of Marion ran bare footed to win the inaugural race in 2013 with a time of 21:11 while his sister Clara was the female winner in 21:13.

by Phil Stuart

The University of Maine at Machias (UMM) Clipper’s men soccer and girls soccer and volleyball squads have been busy as of late with the season approximately at the halfway mark.

On Sept. 22 and 23, the men’s soccer squad headed north to play a pair of games.

On Sept. 22, the Clippers played the University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls in the Star City.

The Clippers fell behind early in the first half as Brandon Danforth of the Owls scored unassisted at the 8:03 mark to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Washington Academy was defeated 12-30 Photo courtesy Hannah Sprague

Friday night’s lights shined down on the varsity Washington Academy Raiders during their Oct. 13 game against Houlton. photo by Sarah Craighead Dedman

Upcoming events

Buffet Dinner - Nook and Cranny proceeds to benefit Downeast Hospice Volunteers. Friday, October 20.open @ 5:30 p.m. – dinner @ 6 p.m.

space limited, resercations necessary, call 454-7521 ext 126, or Art Carter at 454-8238

• • • • • •

On Friday Oct. 13 at 5:06 p.m., the Washington County Regional Communications Center received a call of a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on the East Side Road in Addison. Deputies and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene. 

Through the course of the investigation it was determined that Trissa Donovan, age 42 of Harrington and Mandy Kane age 37 of Addison were walking south on the East Side Road in Addison when they were struck from behind by a red Dodge pickup driven by Kayla East, age 23 of Addison.  

by Phil Stuart

The 2017 High School sports season is now in the second half and so far there are not many surprises.

The soccer season is going pretty much as expected for the boys. Pre-season favorite Washington Academy hasn’t missed a step since moving up to Class B. 

The scores are much closer since moving up a class, but  they have far superior talent than all the other schools and it will take a huge effort to end their winning streak which has been going on for over two and one half seasons.

Dear Savvy Senior,

How do I find an old 401(k) that I think I contributed money to at a former employer?

Approaching Retirement

 Dear Approaching,

If you think you may have lost track of a 401(k) retirement account, you aren’t alone. As Americans jump from job to job, many leave scraps of their company sponsored 401(k) plans behind, believing they’ll deal with it later, but never do. To help you look for an old 401(k), here are some suggestions along with some free resources that can help you search.

Merrimack Mortgage Company, LLC, a HarborOne Bank Company, is pleased to announce they have opened a new branch office in Machias, Maine, NMLS ID: 1665468. This is Merrimack Mortgage Company’s fourth branch in Maine; current branches include Kennebunk, Augusta and Camden.  Joining the company at this new location is Branch Manager and Loan Officer Steve Richardson, NMLS ID: 889047.  

Healthy Acadia, a community health coalition serving Hancock and Washington counties, is thrilled to welcome Patrick Lyons and Bob Fitzsimmons as new members to the organization’s Board of Directors. “We’re so honored to have Bob and Patrick join our team,” stated Elsie Flemings, Healthy Acadia’s Executive Director. “They are dynamic community leaders, and each brings his own unique experience, insight, passion and expertise, which will help to guide our work and enhance our effectiveness in building healthier communities.” 

by  Lura Jackson

There’s an interesting phenomenon happening in Maine, and it’s directly related to women and their success at operating businesses here. In the past ten years, the revenue made by women business owners in the state has increased by 214 percent, according to the 2016 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report. This increase is the highest in the country, indicating that women in Maine are clearly doing something right.

In Machias , Healthy Acadia, in partnership with Downeast Community Hospital, will offer a free, six-week “Taking Action for Health” workshop series in the conference room of Downeast Community Hospital, 11 Hospital Drive, Machias.  Classes will meet weekly on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Oct. 26 and continuing through Dec. 7 (no class on Nov. 23).

The Addison Planning Board met on Wednesday, Oct. 4 and issued the following permits:

#15-2017 to Daniel Colby representative of Joyce and Gren Blackall to build two duel story decks-one (16’x13’) being located on their garage and one (14’x38’ in an L shape) on their house with no concrete pour subject to no conditions at 88 Carver Lane Addison Map 18 Lot 39. All fees paid.

Are you interested in local food systems? Are you interested in increasing access to local food? 

Want to learn more? Come to the fall meeting of the Washington County Food Council.

The food council is a networking group that connects stakeholders from around the county in order to better inform our work to increase healthy food access and support stronger agricultural and fishing infrastructures in Washington County.

As the days and nights grow chilly, wood stoves get fired up. Make sure yours is installed correctly, and that burnable items are kept away from it. Make sure your chimney is clean. If your wood is green, take special care to check chimneys and stovepipes to make sure they don’t get choked with creosote. Check with your local fire department for more tips on operating wood stoves safely.

The Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) has organized Machias’ annual Trick or Treat on Main Street, scheduled to take place from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27.

The Defenders, a law enforcement motorcycle club, will be providing security again this year. “They’ll make sure the little ones get across the street safely,” said Chamber director Sharon Mack.

by Ruth Leubecker

Dozens of interviews will ultimately provide the core of a wild blueberry museum primed to bring new recognition to Washington County.

“For a long time I’d been looking for a way to help my state prosper,” says Joline Blais. “Blueberries pull a lot of threads together. And they’re wild. Who doesn’t like something wild?!”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Selectman Joshua Rolfe opened last Wednesday’s meeting with a request to limit conversations during meetings. “I think we’re missing stuff, there’s a lot of side conversations,” he said. 

“I think we should try to be more structured and make sure that everybody, when speaking, addresses the chairman.”

Board Chairman Warren Gay agreed. “We will stop it, cause we got the hammer under here,” he quipped. “I’m going to start using it.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Blue skies and brilliant foliage were the backdrop for the dedication of the Jacksonville Bridge last Thursday, Oct. 12. 

The bridge is now renamed in honor of Norman E. Bagley, who served the town of East Machias for 26 years as an assessor, planning board member and selectman. He also served in the Army during the Korean War. 

The Friends of the Whitneyville Public Library will be at the Oct. 21 Craft Fair which is being held at the Parish Hall on Broadway in Machias. Their signature homemade chocolates will be for sale as well as handmade crafts. Check out what we have and indulge in some homemade chocolates.

The Downeast Coastal Conservancy (DCC) held its inaugural Bad Little Trail Run Oct. 1 as 69 runners and walkers participated in a 2.7 mile and a 7 mile course. A team of more than 30 volunteers made the event possible. This was DCC’s first ever trail run, which they hope to make an annual event. Photo By Bill Kitchen

The Department of Homeland Security has extended a grace period for the State of Maine’s REAL ID Act compliance, which will allow federal agencies to continue to accept driver’s licenses and identification cards from Maine.

The Department of Homeland security issued a compliance waiver to the State of Maine on June 15, 2017, which expired at midnight on Oct. 10, 2017. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap submitted a request for a one-year renewal on Sept. 15, 2017.