by Phil Stuart

Local baseball certainly isn’t what it used to be.

At one time it was a very popular sport at the high school level.

Jonesboro has had a proud tradition of home grown baseball talent and some of that still exists today. After players graduated from high school, many stayed close to home and continued to play on the local town team.

The 1948 Jonesboro Jets town team proved to be a very talented group and were led by left-handed pitcher Cony Feeney who once had a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

by Phil Stuart

Jeremy Lisee of Milbridge has been on the road race circuit for two and a half decades and has been one of the area’s best over that period of time.

Lisee picks and chooses a few races each year but never overloads.

On April 21 Lisee won the 11th  Annual Jerry Kaufman 5K in Ellsworth with a time of 17.58. Two weeks later he ran on his home turf going by his home twice on the Fickett’s Point Road in Milbridge to win the Annual Elaine Hill Memorial 5K in a time of 17.39.

Dear Savvy Senior,

A good friend of mine got a bad case of shingles last year and has been urging me to get vaccinated. Should I? 

Suspicious Susan

Dear Susan,

Yes! If you’re 50 or older, there’s a new shingles vaccine on the market that’s far superior to the older vaccine, so now is a great time to get inoculated. Here’s what you should know. 

Nicholas J. Dana, Jr. of Perry, Maine:  Theft of services on 10/16/2017 in Pleasant Point.  SNTC date 1/16/2018, fine $150, restitution $35.96.  GLTY

Michael B. Vanderbusch of Calais, Maine:  Operate vehicle without license on 1/5/2018 in Calais.  SNTC date 1/8/2018, Washington County Jail 48 hours.  GLTY

Dayton A. Schiff of Calais, Maine:  Passing stopped school bus on 12/8/2017 in Calais.  SNTC date 1/29/2018, fine $250.  GLTY

Shirley McDonald of Machias, Maine:  Harassment by interference with taking on 11/24/2016 in East Machias.  NADJ

DMR is actively monitoring biotoxins throughout the coast.  The annual, routine regional closures primarily for mussels, European oysters and carnivorous snails have gone into effect as a precautionary measure. 

350 Downeast (www.350Maine.org/downeast) is hosting a Spring Forward for Fossil Free organizational meeting for all citizens concerned with climate change.  This is part of a global initiative by 350.org to create a grassroots movement for a just and equitable transition to a world free from fossil fuels through action at the local government level.  We are pursuing 3 demands:  100% renewable energy for all; no new coal, oil or gas projects; and not a penny more for dirty energy.  Reducing carbon dioxide in the air is necessary for reducing the

by V. Paul Reynolds

In the twilight of my life, the Boys Scouts of America – its teachings, its values, and the fun of it all – still evoke a warm glow in my overflowing storehouse of special memories. 

Everything about the scouting experience left me the better for it. We wore the uniform proudly, as we did the merit badges and the patches that symbolized our achievements and advancement in the scout hierarchy. Under it all, there was a sense or organization and self-discipline that was not unpleasant.

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 Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Machias residents enacted a 180-day moratorium ordinance banning new construction of radio, TV, telephone towers and antennas over 35’ within the town’s limits. 

The vote took place at an April 30 town meeting which lasted only 15 minutes and was moderated by Betsy Fitzgerald.

A co-pastor of the Community of Christ Church on North Street in Machias spoke in favor of the tower, saying it would be a 125’ stainless steel tower without any guidelines or flashing beacons.