by Wayne Smith

Cutler Students from Bay Ridge Elementary are participating in the WinterKids Winter Games for the month of January. Students will compete in a four-week series of outdoor physical activity and nutrition challenges designed to help them be active in the winter and learn healthy habits.  Each school is encouraged to involve volunteers, parents, healthy eating and active living organizations in their community, and hold a winter carnival to close out the month’s events. This year’s WinterKids Winter Games theme is STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).

by Commissioner Judy Camuso, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

Last week, I had to push myself to get outside and go for a walk.  It was a crappy weather day; my least favorite. Cold rain. I don’t mind a nice warm rain; when I could still run, running in a warm rain was always my favorite. It was cold though, not quite cold enough for snow, but cold sleety precipitation dropping from the sky. The air was raw, and the sky was gray and gloomy. Not a day that screams “let’s go for a walk.”

by Hazel Stark

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Last week at Machias Savings Bank, Jennifer Tuell greeted customers dressed as Mrs. Claus for the 15th time, and for the last time. The end of 2019  will also mark the end of Tuell’s long and — to hear her describe it — happy career at Machias Savings Bank. She began working for the bank in January 1987, and though she is technically a few days shy of her exact work anniversary, she said ending with the calendar year felt right.

by Ruth Leubecker

Welcoming in 2020 is not just like greeting any other in the annual firmament.

This time around we celebrate 200 years of statehood. The actual date is March 15, 1820, but throughout this year galas from Kittery to Fort Kent will mark this special year, already steadily growing with scheduled events.

by Wayne Smith

by Camille Hawkins

My Christmas cards are all out and coming in steadily.

Linda and I went to Bangor on Sunday to pick up my new GE washing machine. Richard and Dustin unloaded it and put it down cellar for me. Thank you both. Got it hooked up on Monday and have done three loads. Merry Christmas to me. Thank you Warren and helper for working on my flush, it had to have all new innards in the tank.

I got a small tree this year; it's sitting on the puzzle table. The cats are taking turns sleeping under it.

It was all you could eat chowders, soups and stews at the last public supper for 2019. Everyone got to enjoy some seafood, fish and corn chowders as well as the very popular cheeseburger soup, chop suey, chili and some beef and hamburger stews. Janet's rolls and biscuits topped out the meal along with homemade pies and cakes. This supper, along with all the eight other public suppers, was put on by the Friends of the Whitneyville Public Library. In 2020, the suppers will once again begin on April 4th. So keep watch in this article and paper for the public announcement.