by Jonathan Reisman

2023 is just getting started, but the 2024 Presidential election is well underway. I would rather pay attention to spring training, but given the likely mediocrity (at best) of the Red Sox, my attention to Florida will be more on Tallahassee than Fort Myers.

First, the Democrats:

Have you always wanted to start your flowers and vegetables from seed but felt a little out of your element?  Here’s your chance to make your vision or a healthy productive garden a reality. The Lubec Community Outreach Center (LCOC) has announced an adventurous class that will cover the amazing process of growing your own food and flowers from tiny seeds!  

by Will Tuell

Longtime State Trooper Andy Foss retired after nearly 24 years in law enforcement last week. Though his official last day occurred in late January, approximately 75 friends, family, and colleagues joined him at the State Police barracks in Jonesboro for a “signing off” ceremony Feb. 9. 

by Nancy Beal

The national shortage of teachers continued to play out locally last week, as again, approximately 20 members of the public turned out for the monthly meeting of the Jonesport Elementary School board meeting, concerned about the lack of a third-grade teacher. Despite advertising the post since last summer, the school had gotten little response. To fill the vacancy temporarily, the board brought in Joan Pulkkinen, who retired from teaching pre-K and kindergarten at Beals Elementary School and agreed to work until Christmas.

by Will Tuell

The Legislature’s bipartisan Government Oversight Committee consisting of six Democrats and six Republicans, voted Feb. 10 to take preliminary steps towards launching an investigation into unspecified allegations of financial irregularities at Maine Veterans’ Homes, which has residential care facilities for veterans and their spouses in seven locations across the state. 

by Jonathan Reisman

by Hazel Stark

There are moments in winter that feel like living in a black-and-white photo. While February often boasts those bluebird days with bright sunlight bouncing off fluffy snow and casting mini sparkling rainbows everywhere if you care to look, those are the winter days we venture out into the most. The days when the sky is entirely overcast, perhaps even releasing some mixed precipitation—those are the days we are more apt to shut ourselves indoors. 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

With record-breaking wind chills not seen since 1971, an arctic blast passed over Washington County last Friday and Saturday, bringing lows near -20 degrees and wind chills as low as -45, especially in the early morning hours of Feb. 4.

In preparation, a wide array of warming shelters and some overnight shelters made plans to be available, said Lisa Hanscom, Director of the Washington County Emergency Management Agency.

by Hailey Wood

In January, Whole Life Natural Market and Cafe in Machias hosted its first game night in collaboration with nearby neighbor Mahoney’s Gaming Emporium. There they served a limited menu of their drinks, paninis, and soups with various games available for people to play. 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

For the second month in a row, the Machias Planning Board did not vote to approve or deny a building permit requested by Graham Holdings, this time pending an opinion from the town’s law firm. Last week, the Machias Town Office submitted 28 pages of maps, correspondence, permit applications, and approved permits to Eaton Peabody for review. 

by Will Tuell

Ben Wiant of Romulus, New York has joined the Maine Marine Patrol as its newest Officer and will serve in the Washington County communities of Harrington, Jonesport, Beals and Addison.

Officer Wiant, who was sworn in recently by Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher, has completed the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Law Enforcement Pre-Service Training Program and is currently undergoing the Marine Patrol’s 45-day field training program.

by Will Tuell

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

At their meeting last Wednesday, the Machias Board of Selectmen resolved two matters raised at their final meeting of 2022. 

First, the board voted to approve the town’s release of a UCC filing against some brewery equipment owned by Bad Little Brewing Company, which closed its doors in December 2022. 

The UCC filing, a type of lien, was given to the town until BLB met its $180,000 Community Block Development Grant (CDBG) terms. 

by Jonathan Reisman

As President Biden struggles to find a classified document discovery hiatus that allows him to announce his re-election plans, nearly three-quarters of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. Here is why:

Climate alarmism and the Price of Energy

When Biden took office and canceled the Keystone pipeline, gas, and heating oil were under $2.50 a gallon, America was energy independent, and the climate alarmists were only dreaming of banning internal combustion engines and gas stoves. 

The public is invited to attend the first of three sessions in the UMaine at Machias’ Wabanaki Voices Spring ‘23 series, to be held Thursday, Feb. 9, at 12 p.m. in the Science Building, room 102.

Osihkiyol (Zeke) Crofton-Macdonald is a Wolastoqey person from the Houlton Band of Maliseets in Maine (Metaksonikewiyik) and the Oromocto First Nation (Welamukotuk) in New Brunswick, Canada. Zeke has spent his life advocating for Native rights in the United States and Canada. He will be hosting a talk titled "Wabanaki Nationhood Past, Present, and Future." 

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A forecasted temperature of -17 degrees followed by a high of 2 degrees will bring dangerously cold weather and shocking wind chills to Washington County this weekend, which means residents should prepare now to ensure their safety and the safety of their loved ones.

by Will Tuell

Two busloads of lawmakers from across the state visited Washington County on Jan. 19 and 20 as part of a tour organized by the Maine Development Foundation to familiarize legislators with different parts of the state. 

Representative Anne Perry (D-Calais) said that she and her Washington County colleagues were proud to show off this part of the state to other lawmakers who may not have been Downeast before. 

by Will Tuell

United States Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) made several stops on a swing through central Washington County on Jan. 19, including visits at the Whiting Town Hall, where she celebrated funding for the Mill Pond Dam, the Whiting Village School, where she met with pupils of all ages, and a working lunch at Helen’s Restaurant in Machias featuring nearly a dozen prominent business and community luminaries. 

by Jonathan Reisman

Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.  The Machias Rotary Club would like to do something about the effects of cold weather on our neighbors before the 2023-24 season.  Drafty windows can rob the home of precious heat in the winter in Maine. It is expensive and dangerous.