By Paul Sylvain

The spirit of giving is alive and well, thanks to more than a dozen merry elves at the Parish Hall on Broadway. Thanks to the unselfish efforts of these community elves, more than 600 needy people in the Greater Machias Area will enjoy a warm and happy Christmas this year.

For the 23rd straight year, the Community Christmas Giving Tree Program is continuing its mission to “help area children, elderly, and adults with special needs to have a Merry Christmas.”

By Will Tuell

Wayne Smith’s recent piece about Christmas wreath-making, known simply as “wreathing” to most longtime Downeasters, got me to thinking about my own family’s forays into the woods in search of fir boughs -- “tips” -- during the months of November and December and our own family wreathing operation out of my grandfather’s garage. 

“Oh, I ought to write that up,” I said to myself, not really expecting to have the time to do so amidst several other articles I had in the works at the time. 

By Will Tuell

The Elm Street Panther junior high boys’ and girls’ basketball teams moved to 3-0 in the young season with strong wins over Rose M. Gaffney School of Machias and D.W. Merritt School of Addison last week. The back-to-back blowouts solidified the East Machias-based Panthers as one of the early favorites this season as Elm Street picked up victories on back-to-back nights. 

By Paul Sylvain

A Robbinston woman accused of murdering her former lover and principal drug supplier last year in Pembroke, faces a prison sentence of 32 years after changing her plea to guilty in Washington County Superior Court on Dec. 7.

In changing her plea from not guilty to guilty, Rebecca Moores, 43, admitted to shooting 53-year-old Paula Johnson in Johnson’s home at 515 Leighton Point Rd, in Pembroke, on Feb. 9, 2022, Moores was arrested in Pembroke on July 6, 2022, and charged with Johnson’s murder.

By Paul Sylvain

From Santa and a live Nativity display to Wesley’s Tree Festival and brightly decorated floats, the spirit of Christmas was on full display throughout the Shiretown this past weekend in Machias. 

By Will Tuell

While Machias and Milbridge were ring-ting-tingling with Christmas cheer this past weekend, there’s still plenty to do for Downeast families who want to get in on the December fun before Santa and his reindeer make their annual trek across the Sunrise County. From one end of the county to the other, there’s a little something for everyone from Friday to Sunday. 

By Phil Stuart

The 2023\2024 high school basketball season officially opens on Dec. 8.  That is the date that high schools are eligible to play their first countable games.

For the most part, girls' teams kick things off with their season openers on Dec. 8. The Jonesport-Beals Royalettes travel to Machias for a matchup with the Lady Bulldogs.  Calais journeys up to Lincoln to face Mattanawcook Academy, and Woodland plays the Narraguagus Lady Knights in Harrington.

By Paul Sylvain

The trial of a Pleasant Point couple accused of murdering 43-year-old Kimberly Neptune on April 21, 2022, is scheduled to begin with jury selection at Washington County Superior Court in Machias on the morning of Dec. 5. 

By Will Tuell

With the Christmas season in full swing, Downeasters could be forgiven for not paying attention to the goings on in the mountainous country of Nepal -- some 7,100 miles from Machias, as the crow flies. But for one local church, the festive time of year is the perfect time to be working to spread the Gospel to and improve the quality of life in a remote Himalayan nation gripped by sex trafficking.   

By Jayna Smith

'Tis the season once more as Pratt Auto Dealership embarks on its annual tradition of matching donations for the local food pantry.  However, this time around, the challenge has grown in scale.  Owner Ian Pratt has increased his commitment by offering to match donations up to $10,000, an increase from last year's cap of $7,500.  Even more, the campaign's duration has been extended through Christmas, extending from only November in years past.