by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Despite unusually cold temperatures a large crowd assembled at the Lee Pellon Center on Jan. 31 to learn more about the proposed Machias Revitalization TIF, a proposed Communications Facility Ordinance and amendment to the town’s building permit procedures.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis and Chief Deputy Michael Crabtree say they’ve hired two new deputies and identified a third to hire in April. One new hire will backfill a vacant position, and the other will fill one of three new positions funded for 2019.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 12 will invite residents of Roque Bluffs to learn more about the potential for a town-owned internet offering. Roque Bluffs Selectwoman Lisa Hanscom said this is the third in a series of conversations the town has held since last year.

“The people who have attended are really interested, “ said Hancom. “We’re asking people from the community to come again and discuss all this with Axiom and Island Institute.”

by Nancy Beal

The Jonesport budget committee met January 30 and reviewed selectmen’s recommendations for a 2019-20 budget that totaled $728,961. After an hour’s discussion, the five-person panel added nearly $6,000 to that total. Members of the committee present included Wendy Beal, chair, John Church, Shane Farris, Lois Hubbard and Jane McMichen. Absent for medical reasons were Boyde Crowley and Paul Iossa. Also present were the town’s three selectmen, their office assistant and the town treasurer/tax collector.

by Hazel Stark

by Nancy Beal

A bill that would grant to apprentice lobstermen who have been waiting for a license for 10 years or more was heard in Augusta February 5. Most spoke against it, including the president of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association. The Department of Marine Resources, which issues lobster licenses, did not take a position, indicating that it would wait until after any new restrictions on fishing were issued by the federal government in its attempt to protect North Atlantic right whales.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

When David Wood volunteered his services to demolish and relocate a house, he thought the Machiasport Fire Department would soon proceed with their plans to use it for a training burn, per the owner’s wishes. Instead, the monster two-story pile of demolition debris has greeted drivers entering Machiasport from the Rim Road since last October.

by Nancy Beal

Legislation that would expand the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission (WBC), under discussion since December by members of the WBC and by small growers who sought the expansion, was heard in Augusta February 5 by the legislature’s Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Not scheduled at press time, but expected to follow soon, is a second bill on the subject prepared and promoted by the WBC itself.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon
Machias voted in favor of adopting the Machias Revitalization TIF at a town meeting held Thursday, Feb. 7. More than 50 people attended and voted unanimously in favor of the TIF or Municipal Tax Increment Financing.
The town also voted unanimously in favor of a new Communications Facility Ordinance, which will give the town the power to weigh in on placement of new radio and cell tower construction, and a small amendment to the town’s building permit regulation.

by Ruth Leubecker

Magnified by the growing demographic of the elderly and the aversion to report, elder abuse must now also contend with inadequate staffing and stagnant funding.

State caseworkers are short-staffed enough that they often can’t read through all the new cases in a given day. One caseworker, stipulating that she remain nameless, said that the daily number of reports of abuse and neglect among the elderly and disabled ha beesn increasing steadily over many months.

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Despite a history of congenial relations, a 277-square-mile expanse of water stands out as a persistent disagreement between the United States and Canada.
The “grey zone” is the name given to prime lobster waters between Washington County and Grand Manan, New Brunswick, where the matter of jurisdiction has been in question since the 1700s. Today it is fished by lobstermen from both nations, but each side fishes according to different rules.

by RJ Heller

A lofty goal has been set by the Porter Memorial Library (PML) board of trustees to implement a plan that will make the historic structure fully accessible to the public while also adding much needed programming space. The anticipated expansion will cost approximately $1.5 million.

Students at the Cobscook Experiential Program invite the community to an all you can eat pizza and music fundraiser on Friday, March 1 from 6 – 8 p.m. Students are raising money for two upcoming trips, one to Saint John, New Brunswick in March and another to Washington, DC in April. Washington County’s favorite Yankee bluegrass quintet, Fremont Street String Band, will perform. Students are also organizing a raffle of new family camping items and children’s life jackets. The suggested donation for the dinner is $10 per person or $25 per family.

by Lura Jackson

Testimony is currently being heard in Augusta to weigh the case of changing the second Monday in October from Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day at the state level. The bill, LD 179, was introduced by Representative Benjamin Collings of Portland and is co-sponsored by nine other legislators, including Anne Perry of Calais. In her testimony, Perry referenced the important role of the Passamaquoddy in the St. Croix Valley.

Porter Memorial Library is happy to have Ruth Fenton come and talk about her new book — It’s 3 a.m . — on Friday, March 1 starting at 5 p.m. The book is a collection of poems, lyrics, anecdotes, letters to the editor and something we all have, random thoughts. Alternating between whimsical and profound, Ruth’s voice is both intensely personal and universal. Come and hear Ruth read from her book and share her thoughts on the writing process. No doubt,  you’ll find that some of the stories from the book are your stories, too.

What others are saying about It’s 3 a.m. —

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The news never sleeps but sometimes I do, and so last week I took a vacation from this page, and this week I’ve taken a vacation from the other pages.  

by Hazel Stark