by Nancy Beal

The Moosabec Ambulance Service (MAS), emergency responders for the coastal towns of Jonesport and Beals, is approaching its 50th birthday with new leadership in the form of Chief Andrew Phillips and Assistant Chief Carlen Ray. “Andy” and “Charlie,” who ask to be called by their nicknames, were already familiar faces, having spent several years responding to the area’s emergencies.

By Will Tuell

Responding to the perceived environmental impact of large-scale commercial aquaculture and a feared loss of ocean-bottom, the Machiasport Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to move ahead with a moratorium on aquaculture Oct. 2, according to Town Clerk Marcia Hayward. The move comes after the board heard extensive testimony -- both for and against -- during a Sept. 25 public hearing, and gives the town up to six months to finalize an ordinance on future aquaculture activity in the seaside community. 

By Paul Sylvain

A big, blue sign at the Route 1 entrance to the Machias Valley Airport access road boasts, “A Runway That Saves Lives.” That may be true for med-flight helicopters, but the airport’s 2,900-foot by 60-foot asphalt runway comes up 1,400-feet short for LifeFlight of Maine to safely land its fixed-wing flying ambulances on it.

The Milbridge Theatre & Community Arts Center (MTCAC) is pleased to announce that David Plath of Hancock, Maine will assume the role of Executive Director beginning Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

Cobscook Bay State Park was the scenic locale for the 61st Annual Cobscook/Moosehorn International Scout Camporee recently. More than 140 Scouts and Scouters attended with some driving hours, or even days to attend, while a Machias-area troop picked took home the Bob McVicor Award during the “Dungeons and Dragons”-themed event.

By Paul Sylvain

If Court Street had a theme song, it would be “Shake, Rattle and Roll” by Bill Haley & the Comets. Well, until last week, that is.

by Hazel Stark

By Paul Sylvain

Amid a backdrop of Revolutionary War reenactors and members of the Hannah Weston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a plaque set in a granite stone monument was dedicated Sept. 27, to the memory of those townspeople killed in the Battle of Machias in June 1775.

By Paul Sylvain

Downeast Maine is known for its sometimes unyielding coastal fog and Saturday dawned with a thick veil of it shrouding Eastport’s downtown pier and waterfront. In other words, it was a perfect day for commissioning a Navy ship.

The cool, raw, foggy morning also failed to deter a large crowd of spectators from coming out to witness the tradition-filled, hour-long event on Sept. 30.

By Paul Sylvain

Asked how his department's budget looked for the coming year, Washington County Sheriff Barry Curtis chuckled and replied, “I think it looks great.”

The Sheriff’s Department’s proposed budget for 2024 is up 14 percent over the 2023  budget. In dollars and cents, Curtis is asking for $2,536,901, which is up $315,994 from this year.

“Unfortunately it had to go up,” Curtis said in an interview with this publication Sept. 28. “It’s just the nature of the beast, where things are changing with coverage here in Washington County.”