by Phil Stuart

Washington County has produced its share of excellent high school baseball players over the years, but very few teams have excelled when it comes to winning regional or state championships.

State championships in baseball have been in existence for eighty years or more and only 19 teams from  Washington County have made it to the big game.

Dear Savvy Senior, 

What numbers constitute high blood pressure? I use to be pre-hypertensive, but they keep changing the guidelines, so I’m not sure where I fit in now. 

Approaching 60

Dear Approaching,

by Lura Jackson

The number of houses sold in Washington County has been growing steadily over the past few years – along with the value of the houses sold. Between 2014 and 2017, the number of houses sold per year increased by almost 60 percent, while the average value of the houses sold has gone up more than 20 percent.

On April 16, the Community Integration Service for Maine Veterans was launched by a collaboration of  Maine DHHS Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHA) and the Maine Bureau of Veteran Services and Easterseals Maine. Resources are now available to all veterans throughout the state regardless of their time, duty or status. Previously, time served and status could prevent Veterans from accessing certain types of services.

Homegrown strawberries are a billion times better tasting than the hard, rarely ripe, flavorless selection in the supermarket. Strawberries are cold hardy and adaptable, making them one of the easiest berries to grow and are the first fruit to ripen in spring. While most fruit trees can take several years to begin bearing, you can harvest your homegrown strawberries the very first season you plant.

Jonesport’s Garrett Doherty safe at home. The combined J-B grammar school baseball team pulled off an 18-1 win.  Photos by Nancy Beal

As a Rotarian I have known Christina Therrien for several years.  During that time I have worked on several projects including DECH gardens, planting of trees throughout Machias as part of the downtown revitalization program and the Bold Coast Sea and Sky and Lobster Drop festivals. For the past year I have served as Rotary Vice President during Christina’s term as President  

Jonathan Fulford, Candidate for ME-02 will hold a Town Hall in Bangor, the third in a series being held in the district. “The current office holder does not hold open meetings or take questions from voters. A town hall with public officials taking questions from the public is a Maine tradition. I am doing them now and will in the future if elected.” The Town Hall will be held on Saturday, April 29 at 2 p.m. in the atrium of the Bangor Public Library.

Jon Monroe will present on how Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) will work, including differences in casting ballots, how ballots are counted, and common concerns about RCV arising from recent legislative and judicial decisions. Monroe is the League of Women Voters Outreach Specialist and previously served with the elections division of the office of the Maine Secretary of State. He holds a doctorate in political science from Michigan State University.

The event will be held Saturday, May 12 at 1 p.m. at the University of Maine at Machias in Science Building room 102.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

She was the first woman district attorney in New England, the first woman attorney general for Maine, and now she’s hoping to become Maine’s first female chief executive. Janet Mills is running for governor on the crowded democratic ticket which will be whittled from eight to one by the June 12 primary.

The Henry D. Moore Library and Community Center in Steuben invites are youth to enjoy after-school fun.

Snap circuits, Legos, Keva brain builders and robots Dot and Dash are on the menu from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. for those ages 5-8 on Monday, May 7, and from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday, May 21 for those ages 8 and up.

The event is free.

For more information, visit www.moorelibrary.org or call 207-546-7301.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

At their regularly scheduled bi-weekly meeting on Wednesday, April 25, the Machias Selectboard voted to accept a bid from Lane Engineering to handle construction work at the Machias Valley Municipal airport.  “This is the biggest part of the airport reconstruction,” said board vice chairman Joshua Rolfe. Lane Engineering will reconstruct the entire runway, currently in rough condition. “They will be getting a fuel farm out there, and also establish an area for hanger space,” said Rolfe.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The latest in a series of Machias marijuana meetings was held at the town’s telebusiness center on Thursday, April 26. Nearly 30 residents and non-residents attended the board’s workshop, and therein lay one of the evening’s hot-button issues. 

“I would like to see workshops where it is [just] residents,” said Ginny Brown of Machias. “The last one was a fiasco and nothing got done. Tonight’s going to be the very same thing cause I’m already looking around the room noticing most people are not residents.”

For one late April night, wrestling and cancer awareness came together at the Narraguagus High School. A crowd filled the gym to watch Global Independent Wrestling. All of the proceeds went towards the fight to end childhood cancer. Ryan Colson, who organized the event, has held several wrestling events for various families that have dealt with cancer.

by Phil Stuart

After the high school season ends in February, there are approximately six weeks of basketball left in Washington County. Over that six-week stretch there are two leagues playing their games during the week and several weekend tournaments in Washington and Hancock Counties.

Most of their tournaments are money-making events that go toward a class trip, new uniforms, a piece of athletic equipment, a scholarship, or to help somebody in need.

Machias Memorial High School seniors have been presenting their Senior Exhibitions this week. Each student selected a topic at the beginning of the year and had to complete research, documentation, mentorship, slideshow and a physical project in regard to their subject. Projects are presented to a panel of teachers, administrators and others and students must receive a passing grade to complete their requirements to graduate.  Russell Hanscom did an excellent job with his exhibition about welding.

Patricia L. Dudley, 76, of Milbridge/Columbia Falls passed peacefully surrounded by her family on April 21st, 2018. Pat was born February 11, 1942 to Francis W and Agnes C Stevens (Blackley) of Wilmington, Massachusetts .

She attended Tewksbury High School in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. She worked for many years as a CNA at Marshall’s Boarding Home in Machias. Aside from dedicating her life to being the best mother ever, she loved her bingo and enjoyed her many friends.

Gail C. Johnson, 68, passed away April 24, 2018, at Eastern Maine Medical.

Edith Louise Heter, healer of bodies and souls, teacher, musician, and 92 year-old resident of Lily Homes of Atlanta, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2018 while under hospice care. 

Maybe our first words were primitive poetry

Grunts and growls; sighs, whimpers, and coos

Emotions and intentions expressed unadorned

Without syntax or clutter but abundantly rich with meaning

Straight-to-the-heart notions and messages

Binding us to one another

Through sounds and quiet spaces between sparse words

Specific to our species

Now we are overwhelmed by the cacophony of multitudinous words

Like the discordant clanging of a thousand bells

Many residents of coastal Washington County are familiar with Pembroke’s Stephen Sanfilippo through his work with the Pembroke Historical Society, Pembroke Library, other area organizations, and as a soloist at St. John’s Church. During April and May, Dr. Sanfilippo, recently retired from teaching history at Maine Maritime Academy, will be presenting a series of lectures and concerts on his native Long Island, New York. 

Trudy Seavey of Artistic Fire Pyrography is the May featured artist at the Henry D. Moore Library in Steuben.

The public is invited to an opening reception 6-7 p.m. Monday, May 7. The show will be available for viewing during regularly library hours for the month of May.  

Got my bees and they died. I don’t think they lasted two days. The workers never got the queen . The state is supposed to come and check out the bees. 

Ayden Dennison is home after being hit by a vehicle in East Machias on Sunday afternoon, April 22nd. He had to spend a few days in the Bangor hospital where the doctors fixed a compound fracture of his leg. His face was scratched up but he’s doing better now that he’s home in a wheel chair. He’ll be laid up for at least six weeks. Quick recovery Ayden. 

by V. Paul Reynolds

If you have followed national issues at all, you may have learned somewhere along the way that even the hallowed U.S. Supreme Court Justices are not immune to all of the foibles, personal biases and character flaws that are the hallmark of the human condition.

Climate change is happening worldwide and is affecting Downeast Maine.  Fact: our average temperatures are getting warmer.  Fact: ice-fishing season is shorter.  Fact: winter timber harvesting season is getting shorter.  Fact: ticks and tick-borne diseases are increasing.  Fact: the temperature of the Gulf of Maine is rising faster than almost every other body of water on Earth.  Fact: the dike on the Middle River in Machias is threatened with frequent flooding.  Fact: the local economy based on fisheries, tourism, and forests is threatened.

You have to love water and trees and islands and two seasons (winter and August) to love Maine. The largest of the New England states, though short on people and heavy on trees, really offers a wide range of adventures and sights that any Mainer will tell you if you haven’t imbibed fully, you just haven’t embraced the entire Maine experience.

On Friday, May 4, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) met with Maine business owners, innovators, and entrepreneurs to discuss the implications a repeal of net neutrality could have on startups, job creators, and Maine’s statewide economy.

Upcoming events

Announcing the Beals Historical Society’s Annual Talent/Variety Show to be held on Saturday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m. featuring all types of genre from awesome local singing talent. Please join us at the Beals gym for a great night of cheap, live entertainment! Plus we will be selling delicious mouth watering food! Your support is greatly appreciated.  Admission for children is free. 

• • • • • •

On April 10 the first nail was hammered as construction began on the building that will become the new Whitneyville Public Library. Three and a half weeks later the walls and the roof trusses were put up and the outer walls were enclosed. Pipes for plumbing were installed by Allan Huntley Plumbing and Heating as the floor was then prepped for the foam board and mesh as the tubing for the radiant heat was taking shape. The metal roof was put on and is almost finished. The new Whitneyville Library has taken shape.

On Sunday April 29, Carroll and I took a ride down to Jasper Beach just to get out and enjoy the good day. If you have not been there yet this year, check it out as the road and parking area has been renovated.

Don’t forget to apply for your moose permit, only a few more days till the May 15  deadline to apply.

On Monday, April 30, Dawn Bragg of Columbia Falls ran into a traveler (he was walking across the country pushing a small carriage type rig with all his gear) at Columbia Falls Post Office. He got permission to pitch his tent at the town landing that evening.

The pressures of the campaign on my family and myself have been substantial, and I am therefore withdrawing from the campaign [for Congress].  I want to express my deep appreciation to everyone who has supported the campaign, in so many ways. I will always be grateful to you. Running for office has never been about personal ambition, but rather a belief I still hold, that we can build a better future, together.  

Thank you very much, 

Jonathan Fulford

by Nancy Beal

The state’s second largest electric company, Emera Maine (formerly Bangor Hydro-Electric Company) brought its request for the third rate increase in five years to Eastern Maine last week (May 1) in three hearings that were linked by simulcast between Machias, Presque Isle and Orono. Each attracted one of the three Public Utilities Commission (PUC) commissioners who will act on the rate hike request next month.

by Ruth Leubecker

With hundreds of bills on the table and funding hanging in the balance, the 128th Legislature went home, having not done their job and leaving Mainers at a critical impasse.

“I was very upset and bothered that we didn’t finish the work,”  said Rep. Will Tuell. “I think we will go back and finish. It has to be finished by May 30 or the prison won’t happen. We’ll be going back for veto day on Wednesday.”  

To celebrate Moms, the Henry D. Moore Library and Community Center in Steuben is hosting a special event 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12.

Sons and daughters of all ages are invited to bring Mom for Muffins With Mom. The library will have a craft activity, a variety of beverages and, of course, muffins. 

Admission is free. For more information, visit www.moorelibrary.org.

 Steuben library to show “Ferdinand” The movie “Ferdinand” will be shown 6 p.m. Friday, May 18, at the Henry D. Moore Library and Community Center in Steuben.

Juniors and seniors at Washington Academy will host a Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony on Tuesday, May 15 at noon in the school gymnasium. 

All of Washington Academy, plus the eighth grade class from the Elm Street School, will attend the assembly put on by students in the Holocaust and Genocide Studies class.

The ceremony will include a candle lighting and a reading of the names of victims and survivors. 

A meeting of the Washington Co. Historical & Genealogical Society will be held at 1 p.m. Sat., May 19th\ in the Emergency Management Room, 28 Center Street in Machias. Speaker for the afternoon will be Mrs. Annie White, age 97, who will discuss “Teaching School in Washington County, 1944 to 1977.”

by Nancy Beal

The Jonesport planning board will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 15 in the town office to consider applications from Aaron Dennis for a 14-by-14-foot sunroom on a deck at his property on Makers Point Road, and from Madelene Peabody to replace an existing trailer on a different footprint on the Fire Road.

The Beals planning board will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 17 in the town office to review an application from the Downeast Institute for a one-story, 40-by-70-foot boat storage and fabrication shop on their property at Black Duck Cove.

by Phil Stuart

Over the years, Downeast softball has lagged behind other areas of the state. There have been some outstanding teams but very few have excelled much beyond the season. Since 1976, only 12 teams from Washington County have made it to a state championship game in Class C or Class D.

by Phil Stuart

Washington County has had its share of outstanding coaches over the years. Many have left their mark at schools within the county while other have taken their talents elsewhere.

I.J. Pinkham of Milbridge is the winningest boys’ basketball coach in the state of Maine. Pinkham has over 620 victories, all at Boothbay Region High School.

Ordie Alley of Beals amassed over 500 career victories while coaching at Beals High School and Jonesport-Beals High School.

by Phil Stuart

The “mud season” of basketball is officially over by the time spring vacation starts in early April.

Once the high school basketball tournaments are over, junior high and elementary school teams play for another six weeks until spring break. These teams play a regular season of 10 to 12 games plus many go to weekend tournaments and play sometimes 12 to 15 more games.

Maine’s motto is “The Way Life Should Be”, but unfortunately that is not always the case for Maine veterans. Hundreds of veterans, our hometown heroes who served this country, live on the street or in shelters. For some veterans who are homeless, their life is a struggle - to find a job, maintain family connections and to find permanent housing.

Volunteers of America Northern New England has been working to change that.

In addition to the transitional living services provided to male and female veterans, we are building permanent homes called Cabin in the Woods.

3rd Grade; Honors- Aiden Espling, Abby Gagne; 4th Grade; Honors- Maya Henderson, Kieli Smith; 5th Grade; Honors- Thaddius Bridges,Ava Fitzhenry High Honors- Zoe Mercer, Kaiden Wood;6th Grade; Honors- Naomi Lauze; High Honors- Austin Fitzhenry, Harley Ingrish; 7th Grade; Honors- Jonathan O’Donnell; High Honors- Cameron Boynton, Eli Tremblay; 8th Grade; Honors- Elesia Berry, Gracie Guptill, Natasha Kilton, Caitlyn Link, Dalton Mercer; High Honors- Aviva Bridges

The Grand screens on the giant Coastal Eye Care Screen the first part of MPBN’s new series “The Great American Read” on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 7 p.m., presented by The Ellsworth Public Library. Tickets for this General Admission presentation are free for everyone.