Jonathan Reisman

This week marks the beginning of my 37th year at UMM and my 47th consecutive September on a New England college campus. The times, they are a-changing.

American higher education is on the cusp of a financial, cultural and political reckoning that will leave it smaller, poorer, less popular, less powerful and decidedly diminished. Those changes, as deserved as they may well be, will probably not be accompanied by any recognizable change in attitude, humility, leftist indoctrination practices or self-regard and esteem.

Jayna Smith

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The Town of Alexander will soon be the first to join Calais and Baileyville as part of Downeast Broadband Utility (DBU), a utility organization formed by the Town of Baileyville and the City of Calais.  

According to Ted Carter, Alexander resident and broadband liaison for the town, the town held its meeting on Monday, August 24th with the one-issue warrant.  Of the votes, 60 were in favor of joining DBU, while only 11 were opposed.

Jayna Smith

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The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) on Thursday unanimously gave the go-ahead for high school fall sports.  Now the final decision rests with the state and local school districts.  

Submitted by Ann Montgomery

222cares - Food For Veterans in the Calais Food Pantry parking lot. Pictured are Rob Jones President, Maj. Chaplain, VFW Commander David Sivret and Commander Michael McLean. (Submitted photo)

Jayna Smith

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Last month’s All Together Community BBQ was a one-day event full of fun for all ages.  The idea for the barbecue came from John Cowell, who felt it was a good time to bring the community together, especially since the annual International Homecoming Festival had to be canceled due to COVID-19.  

Jayna Smith

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Calais Downeast Revitalization Coalition (CDRC) has a big day planned for this year’s highly-anticipated Scarecrow Festival, and it’s all set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Jayna Smith

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Those involved with the Addison Coty Memorial Scholarship Fund have announced the winners of this year’s t-shirt design contests.  The contests are a new addition to the third annual 5K race and one-mile fun run that remember the 2018 Calais High School graduate while raising funds to provide scholarships in his name to graduating seniors.    

Kaileigh Deacon 

Community, especially a small community, brings people together in ways and with bonds tighter than most people would be able to understand. It doesn’t always take a long time for someone to feel like a part of a community and as if they were always a part of the community. While people aren’t always born in the places they make their home, they find their homes in the towns and people they find along their journey. 

Jonathan Reisman

“In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then he made school boards.”

― Mark Twain, Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World

Natalie Boomer 

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As Bill Braun takes a step back from his role as Superintendent of the AOS 90 school district, Patricia Metta has taken over the position with a full heart and a vision of the future. 

Natalie Boomer

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Last week, a 25x40 foot  American flag was hung across a building at St. Croix Tissue and Woodland Pulp LLC. 

As September 11th approached, Baileyville Chief of Police Bob Fitzsimmons asked the community to stop by and take a photo with the flag hanging in the background and share it to his personal Facebook wall for all to see. 

Natalie Boomer 

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The St. Croix Bowling Club in Calais started its men’s and women’s leagues on September 8 and is still welcoming new members. 

“It’s a private bowling club that was established in 1896. We have men’s leagues, women’s leagues, and a fun league, which is a couples league,” said Rick Lord, treasurer and past president of the St. Croix Bowling Club. 

Submitted by Ann Montgomery

Sunday was the first day of games for Calais-Area Fall Baseball.  This year, the program has four local teams:  Calais Blue Devils, ages 9-12, coached by Jack Downing; Calais Crushers, ages 9-12, coached by Nathan Farrar; St. Croix Lightning, ages 13-15, coached by Marc O’Neill; and the Calais-area high school-aged team, coached by Matt Vinson and assisted by Matt Dana and John Sewell.  

Kaileigh Deacon 

Fall for many means a variety of things. For many students in high school, fall typically means getting into uniform and playing sports. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students who lost their spring sports season were dealt the blow that the Baileyville School Board voted 3-2 to not hold a fall sports season either.

Jayna Smith

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Submitted by Sherry Sivret

Asher Kochendoerfer recently celebrated his first birthday with family and friends, including his great-aunt Melanie McShane, great-great-grandmother Shirley Seavey, mother Rachel Torrey, great-aunt Sherry Roussel, and great-grandmother Pat Mullen.  (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Calais-Area Fall Baseball faced a tough Motor City in a double header last Sunday.  The Calais team, made up of boys from both Calais and Woodland High Schools, fell short in both games.  Next Sunday, they travel to Searsport, where they will match up against central Maine teams Jaguars and Eagles.

By Jonathan Reisman

“If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.”- Moshe Dayan

“You can only end a negotiation for peace if you begin it”- Benjamin Netanyahu

“It’s a distraction”- Nancy Pelosi

Jayna Smith

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Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition (CDRC) executed an impressive annual Scarecrow Festival on Saturday, and organizers Anne Nixon and Chris Niles, co-chairs of CDRC, credit a number of different groups and volunteers for making it all happen.

Jayna Smith

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Organizers of the Classic Hits Turkey-a-Thon have been busy planning this year’s event, slated for Friday, October 9th.  According to Jeff Demmons of WQDY, Inc., this is the 16th year that Classic Hits 92.7/95.3 and The Border Country 102.9 have executed the event.  

Jayna Smith

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A local organization is prepping for the 2020 wreath-laying by beginning its campaign that seeks to place remembrance wreaths on graves of 138 veterans.

The high school-aged Calais-area fall baseball team fell short on Sunday against tough teams from Waldoboro and Messalonskee.  This Sunday they travel to Searsport to face both teams a second time.

Also this Sunday, the Calais-area team St. Croix Lightning, made up of area boys ages 12-15, heads to Lincoln for matchups against Storm at 10 a.m. and Sluggers at noon.  Lightning is coached by Marc O’Neill.

Tom wishes everyone a safe and happy Fall!