by Jayna Smith

One of the highlights of the Eastport’s Fourth of July festivities is the Navy ship that arrives just in time for the celebration, a time-honored Eastport tradition dating back to 1905. This year there almost wasn’t a ship, but some last-minute finagling led to the timely arrival of the USS Jason Dunham, an Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer in the United States Navy.

by Lynda Duplissea

At their June business meeting, St. Croix International Quilters presented over 40 quilts to the representatives of the area’s Hospice Care providers. Barbara Barnett and Cathy Jackson were on hand to accept the gifts of comfort.

Calais Celtic Concerts is very excited to present a show with plenty of bagpipes, kilts, step and Highland dancing, fiddles, singing, and high energy driving Celtic Music as we present the Tartan Terrors at the Calais High School, 34 Blue Devil Dr., Calais, ME., on Sunday July 14th. Showtime is at 7 p.m. EST, the doors will open at 6 p.m. EST. This isn't just a concert, it's a full-fledged show!

Volunteers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, sex and state of mind. It goes without saying that a number of organizations and corporations would be negatively impacted it there were no volunteers. Just think about schools, hospitals, Scouting and many others that simply couldn’t function without volunteers.

Think about the Bold Coast Sea and Sky Festival which is going on its fourth year, growing each year from approximately 400 in 2016 to well over a 1,000 in 2018. The participating crowd is expected to reach 1,300 this year, 2019.

by Hazel Stark

by Ruth Leubecker

From broadband to blueberries, from sexual identity to property taxes, it was a wide range of subject matter that marked a lively finale to the 129th Maine Legislature.
“Both blueberry fills passed, and broadband passed,” said Rep. Bob Alley last week. The lobsterman from Beals gained no small amount of notoriety when he recently made the front page of the Press Herald. “I just said who’s going to pay for these migrants? Nobody has answered me, but you know who’s going to pay. You and me.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

David Cale was watching the evening news from his home in Machiasport when the sight of a buoy caught his attention. It was a large lobster balloon, and it had landed in County Cork, Ireland.

“I just happened to catch it, and heard ‘Bucks Harbor’ and ‘Lobster Mobster,’” said Cale. “I had to call them out of curiosity, because I knew Craig wouldn't.”

Machias: A parade featuring local floats, six Shriner units driving miniature lobster boats, 4x4s, cars, and go-karts, the Annan Temple marching band, historical reenactors, WWII veteran and Grand Marshal Mac McKean, and Civil Air Patrol cadets. The parade begins at 6 p.m. at Machias Memorial High School and proceeds down Court Street to Free Street to Colonial Way and Main Street, ending at the Varney Agency past Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 1. Fireworks will be set off from Middle River Park at dusk, viewable from either side of the Machias dike or anywhere downtown.

by Wayne Smith

Steuben artist Bob Bryson will be the featured artist for July at the Henry D. Moore Library in Steuben.  His show will be available for viewing during library hours. Bryson will be showing a variety of his work which will include acrylics, pastels, watercolor pencils, pen and ink, mixed media, and woodcuts. Subject matter includes portraits, landscapes, seascapes, still life, and more.  Much of his artwork is inspired by people, places, and things in Down East Maine.

On June 4, Down East Community Hospital President and CEO Steve Lail presented a $1,000 check to Healthy Acadia’s 2019 DownEast Teen Leadership Camp (DETLC) program. This generous gift doubles the hospital’s 2018 camp contribution and makes a big statement about the value that Down East Community Hospital places on DETLC.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Machias Town Manager Christina Therrien has confirmed that Machias Police Chief Grady Dwelley is no longer employed by the town of Machias, effective Friday, June 28.

Therrien said only that it is a town personnel matter and therefore she is unable to comment, but the town will now begin the search for a new police chief.

Dwelley said he would not comment "on the termination," but that he has consulted an attorney.

by Nancy Beal

It would not become public knowledge until the following week, but hours before a June 6 public forum on the standoff between the Moose-a-bec Teachers Association and the Union 103 school board over teacher contracts (see Machias Valley News Observer, June 12), the two sides had met and come to an agreement. An hour after the forum ended, the school board voted unanimously to accept the negotiated terms and, four days later, the teachers ratified the compromise document.

by Ruth Leubecker

Creative artistry, generous funding and a benefit for local business all dovetail into 10 wooden lighthouses that will dot the landscape of downtown Milbridge this summer.
“Although this will be in August, it’s already generating interest, and we are excited to be creating a totally new event for the community to enjoy this summer,” says Richard Bondurant, Gateway Milbridge chair and Milbridge resident.

The Machias Bay Chamber Concert Series launches its 50th Anniversary season with 4 evening performances.  The opening concert on Tuesday, July 9 features the Jupiter String Quartet, a world-class ensemble in residence at the University of Illinois. Next, the Series offers a Piano Trio performing pieces both “old and new” on July 16. On July 23, MBCC presents a program of French music with tenor, oboe and piano. The originator of the Series, Thomas Wolf, will be attending this concert and speaking a bit about the history of Bay Chamber Concerts.  

by V. Paul Reynolds

This is the time of year when Maine’s state regional wildlife biologists examine their deer data in each of their wildlife management districts (WMDs) and make recommendations for the issuance of any-deer or doe permits in their respective districts.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Fourth graders at the Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School in Machias created, branded, bottled and sold their very own bug spray. Oofer Bugs is a natural bug repellent, and it was so popular they even had to make a second batch to fill all of their orders.

“We had originally started with 100 of these bottles, thinking that if we could get $5 apiece, if we can get the $500, we would do well,” said RMG teacher Tom Manship. “We ended up selling over $1,000 worth.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Wendy Schoppee is the newly elected president of the Machias Memorial High School Alumni Association and she is overflowing with ideas for a new, improved association.

“Last year the association was going to close,” said Schoppee, pointing to volunteer fatigue on an overworked steering committee. Instead, they rallied, recruited a few more people to the board, and elected Schoppee as their president. Now they’ve set their sights on welcoming Machias alumni back to the best August reunion ever.

On Wednesday, June 5 the Maine Sheriffs Association held the Shawn Donahue Memorial “Shooting Star” Competition, named for a Washington County Chief Deputywho died in 2014. The competition recognizes the best shots in the state and the best-shooting sheriff’s department. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office team finished the day in first place.