Happy Birthday to the Navy Reserve on March 3rd. It was formed in 1915 as a response to the outbreak of World War I and the Navy Reserve  made up almost 84 percent of the Navy's fighting force during the war. Among its ranks were five future U.S. Presidents and 15 recipients of the Medal of Honor. The Navy Reserve has since had reservists serve in every major war in which the United States has fought.

Jayna Smith

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Experts are reporting that positive COVID-19 cases are dropping, due in part by the end of the post-holiday upswing, increased preventive measures like masks and distancing and the millions of previously infected people who now have a level of natural immunity.

Jayna Smith

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Calais High School's Sophia McVicar has been selected as a 2021 Maine McDonald's High School All-Star.  She is one of only 12 girls representing the girls C/D North division.  

Blue Devils Cheerleaders:  (front) Taylor Carter, Shaylee Moores, Haylie Prickett, Emma Saunders, Madyson Parks, Alyssa Johnson, Sarah Kreft, Sierra Jones, (back) Kassidi Porter, Jordan Yarnes, Alexis Doten, Tristan Seavey, Aryana McConnico, Cadence Braughton, Lainey Johnson, Bailey O’Rourke.  (Photo by Coach Heidi Ryan-Braughton)

Jayna Smith

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Recognizing the importance of suicide prevention training and education and that anyone can make a difference, Johnny Chambers, Pastor of Common Ground Church, has organized an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid presented by the non-profit LivingWorks.  The ASIST program is the world’s leading suicide intervention training program.

Jayna Smith

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The Town of Princeton has declared itself to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary.

The Board of Selectmen voted in favor of the resolution last week, joining the Town of Paris and the Town of Fort Fairfield as possibly the only three self-declared gun rights sanctuaries in the state. 

The decision comes under the shadow of new gun control laws being drafted in Congress, all related to ammunition and background checks.

Jon Reisman

Last week I poked the green hornets’ nest by testifying in support of LD 324, An Act to Limit Public Land Ownership in Maine. The environmental left was outraged that any such sentiment would even be considered, and suggested that the legislation was unneeded, counterproductive, overly broad, a burden on democracy, local governance and efforts to confront the climate apocalypse.

Jayna Smith

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Woodland High School’s Emily Curtis has been selected as a 2021 Maine McDonald’s High School All-Star.  She is one of only 12 girls chosen to represent the girls C/D North division.  

Jayna Smith

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Last week, Nancy Audet from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Maine announced that plans are underway for a Washington County affiliate of NAMI Maine. 

NAMI Maine is the state affiliate of NAMI, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI Maine supports seven local affiliates throughout the state to provide peer support to both individuals and families.

In a typical season, ending the basketball season with a win would mean a state championship title.  This year, however, with no fans, the elimination of the game-start jump ball, and all players masked up, the final win in Washington County means the Downeast Athletic Conference Championship.

Coach Bill McVicar’s Lady Blue Devils earned that DAC Championship title last week as the grand finale to the 2021 basketball season.  After cruising by the Shead Tigerettes in the semi-finals on Wednesday, the girls faced the Lady Knights of Narraguagus on Friday.  

Jayna Smith

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Last week, a Calais native and some fellow servicemembers – all females – made history.  Staff Sgt. Courtney Beaton, a 2007 Calais High School graduate, and a group of women from the 55th Electronic Combat Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (Tuscan, Arizona), took its first all-female flight.  

Jayna Smith

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Polls will be open at the Baileyville Town Office, 63 Broadway Street, for the town’s municipal election this Monday, March 22.  Voters will cast their ballots in the fire department bay from 12 to 6 p.m.  

Michael McLean

454-3435

The Calais American Legion Support Fund St. Patrick’s Day Food Basket was won by Jim Meyers. 2nd drawing: Beth Lane 3rd drawing Amy Smith.

 The next drawing will be the Easter Food Basket with ham and a $50 gift card. Also two drawings for a $25 gift card. $10 per entry. Drawing takes place on April 2 at noon.

Eastport Arts Center’s KinderArts program, which launched a video series in October, continues with ‘Craft-along: Collage a Scene,’ set for a March 19 release. KinderArts video instructor Nia Aretakis will demonstrate a technique for creating a landscape collage scene using basic materials: fabric scraps, patterned paper, tissue paper and craft glue. Free materials kits available from EAC include sufficient supplies for the participant to both follow along with Nia’s instruction.

Jayna Smith

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For the first time in its history, a Wabanaki tribal member fills a seat on the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) Board of Trustees.  Matthew Dana, a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, was nominated by Indian Township Chief William Nicholas.  

Jon Reisman

I get quite a bit of information and political agitprop across my desk. 

Pictures Speak a 1000 words

Natalie Boomer 

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Downeast Coastal Conservancy has been chosen as a host site for The Big Night. 

Featuring Two Long-Time Outstanding Sea Music Scholars & Performers: Bob Madison, formerly of U. S. Naval Academy 

& Mystic Seaport and Jerry Bryant, sea music performer extraordinaire