Jayna Smith

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Many are familiar with The Blue Devil Fund, a not-for-profit organization started by Calais High School alumnus Chris Taylor. Since its inception in 2010, The Blue Devil Fund has raised well over $250,000 for charities in the downeast region.

In 2018, Taylor added a book drive to the organization’s growing list of giving campaigns. Since then, more than 8,000 books have been donated to schoolchildren throughout Washington County.

Calais Community Hospital is excited to recognize National Rural Health Day on November 20 with a grand opening celebration of Baileyville Medical Center.

National Rural Health Day highlights the “Power of Rural” and honors the individuals and organizations committed to meeting the unique health care needs of nearly 61 million people living in rural America.

Island Readers and Writers brought David Covell, author and illustrator of the book Gather Round, to Woodland Elementary School. 

After a whole school assembly, students in grades pre-K to 3 had an opportunity to work with the author to create campfire collages, experiment with saltwater painting, and enjoy storytime. 

Each student received a signed copy of Covell’s book to take home and share with their family. Island Readers and Writers brings authors and illustrators with their books to rural schools in Maine to help foster a love of reading and writing.

Paul Sylvain

The second in a continuing series of public hearings and discussions on the Upper Machias Bay Master Plan was held at the Pellon Center in Machias on Nov. 3. Its focus was on options for the more than 140-year-old failing Machias Dike and causeway separating the Middle River freshwater ecosystem in Marshfield from the tidal Machias River.

Jayna Smith

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On Wednesday, November 5, officers from the Baileyville Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office spent the morning at Woodland High School delivering a powerful hands-on lesson about the dangers of impaired driving.

This little unicorn Eliana was among the many costumed kids taking part in the Calais Free Library’s annual Halloween Parade. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Jayna Smith

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As the federal government shutdown continues, uncertainty around November SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits has left many Calais families anxious about food access. In response, Calais Elementary School has launched its “Friday bags” program to ensure students in need have meals over the weekend.

Jayna Smith

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The Crafting Clovers, the Calais area’s own 4-H Cloverbud club, continues to make a big impact on local youth by combining creativity, community service, and hands-on learning. Led by Tanya Zivkovic, the group has been active for three years and meets monthly at the Calais Free Library.

Paul Sylvain

Machiasport Harbor Master David Cale awoke on Oct. 29 with a headache that no amount of Extra Strength Tylenol could have relieved.

His headache was caused by a boat that sank at its Bucks Harbor mooring overnight, after its owner — Anthony Morascini, believed to be from Connecticut — ignored repeated written and verbal warnings from Cale about properly tying up his boat from its bow and not the vessel’s stern. 

Members of the Golden Eagles basketball team from Washington County Community College helped to build a new retaining wall at Eastport's Labor of Love Food Pantry last week.  Shown are Odessey “O” Keeling, Isaiah Fox, Christian Roebuck, and Coach Seth Martin, working with Rick Brown from Edmunds. Their volunteer labor is much appreciated by all. (Submitted photo)

Jayna Smith

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Jayna Smith

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The City of Calais will hold its municipal election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Voting will take place at the Calais Recreation Center, located at 11 Academy Street, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters may use street parking in front of the center or the parking lot accessible from Lincoln Street.

Jayna Smith

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Robbinston resident Winnie Johnson has published her first children’s book, Mr. Rich’s Christmas Tree Secrets, a heartwarming story that brings the magic and hard work of a Christmas tree farm to life for young readers.

Jayna Smith

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A fun autumn tradition returned to downtown Calais this fall with the annual scarecrow contest, where businesses, organizations, and individuals showcase their creativity by designing festive scarecrows to adorn the city’s lampposts.

Will Tuell

Fifty-nine years after It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown first aired on American television, Jeff Bossie and Heidi Nelson of East Machias have brought a bit of Peanuts joy to life by growing what Charles Schulz himself might have called “The Great Pumpkin.” Though not the first to achieve such a feat, their massive melon tipped the moose scale at an impressive 422 pounds, Nelson said in an email on Oct. 16, setting off what’s sure to be a Downeast pumpkin-palooza. 

Jon Reisman

Maine and the country are divided — on Trump, gender, capitalism, freedom, and the fundamental understanding of those terms. Division in a polity with a healthy respect for freedom of speech can be productive, if uncomfortable. Division in a polity with a growing tolerance and acceptance of political violence is a prescription for disaster. Maine and the country look more like the latter to me.

Jayna Smith

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As the chill of winter approaches, Calais Community Thrift Store on Main Street has once again launched its annual coat giveaway–an effort dedicated to spreading warmth, comfort, and kindness throughout the community.

Sparse Turnout for Bond Hearing in Machias as Cuts Loom Either Way 

Paul Sylvain

“It’s like what you see on TV when someone hits the Megabucks and two years later, they’re broke. The county is the same way. They got that ARPA money, and a year and a half later we’re broke.”

Jayna Smith

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Millions of dollars in new federal funding will support efforts in Maine to reduce the presence of “forever chemicals” in the food supply. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month announced grant awards to ten institutions across the country, three of which will direct their research toward projects based in Maine.

Jon Reisman

Maine is a largely rural state, but that rurality is not distributed evenly across the State or by Congressional District (CD). Rural demographics differences include being poorer, older, more spread out (lower population density), more agrarian, and more Republican. Maine’s Congressional districts both contain significant rural/non- metro areas, but the 2nd CD is decidedly more rural, with associated demographics.