International Feztival of Trees Kicks off Next Week in Calais

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

The International Feztival of Trees has been a highlight of the Christmas season since it began in Calais in 2016.  Cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the recent announcement of its return this year was very welcome news.

Proceeds of the popular event benefit the fundraising efforts of the two sponsoring clubs, Schoodic Shrine Club, which covers northern Washington County, and Washington County Shrine Club, which covers the southern part of the county.

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Girl Scouts Brightening Spirits with Gifts for Senior Residents

 

Kaileigh Deacon

Christmastime is the time for giving, and for a local Girl Scout troop, the gift of giving is a year-round cause. This Christmas, for the second year in a row, Girl Scout Troop 2253 will be getting into the Christmas spirit by giving back to those who need it.

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“Blessing of the Bambinelli” Set for Machias, Lubec and Cherryfield on December 11-12

 

A wonderful tradition, originating during the papacy of Pope St. John Paul II, will be renewed in Washington County on the weekend of December 11-12, the third Sunday of Advent.

The “Blessing of the Bambinelli” will occur at each Mass on Saturday and Sunday at Holy Name of Jesus Church on 8 Free Street in Machias (Sunday 8:30 a.m.), Sacred Heart Church on 14 Hamilton Street in Lubec (Saturday 4:30 p.m.), and St. Michael Church on 51 Elm Street in Cherryfield (Sunday 10:30 a.m.).

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Sewall Memorial Congregational Church

 

Bonnie Lyons
[email protected]

    
Church services are Sundays at 3 p.m. There will be no services on December 19.

Happy Birthday to Pastor Ron and he is sick. Praying for a speedy recovery and back to church next week.

Jesse Gower helped Pastor Collin light the advent wreath at Sewall Memorial Congregational Church.

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Basketball Athletes, Spectators Look to Rebound Against COVID

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

Basketball has begun at area high schools, and while athletes are excited to get back on the court, spectators are excited to get back into the gym after COVID-19 excluded them from all games last year.

According to Calais High School athletic director Randy Morrison, the Maine Principals’ Association Sports Medicine Committee (MPA SMA) has many recommendations in place; however, each school is responsible for setting their own rules surrounding COVID-19.

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Calais Skatepark Continues to Make Positive Impact

 

Arthur Carter accepts on behalf of Calais Veterans Center a $250 donation from the Calais Skatepark’s Brendan Leddy Memorial Fund.  The donation will be used for the center’s  Homeless Veterans Project.  Those involved with the center and with the Brendan Leddy Memorial Fund are also exploring options that will allow the center to establish services from a local mental health counselor.  (Calais Skatepark Photo) See two more photos on page 15 of this week's The Calais Advertiser.

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Students Impress Chamber of Commerce Event Attendees with Sophisticated Dinner

 

Jayna Smith
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The near 80 attendees of the St. Croix Valley Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and awards event on Friday evening, November 19, were not only impressed with the beautifully-decorated venue and fun atmosphere provided, they were also in awe of the delicious food included as part of the dinner.

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Snowy Owl Rescued Locally Recovering at Wild Bird Hospital

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

Last week, Avian Haven shared on social media that a snowy owl had been captured in Baileyville by local Game Warden Brad Richard after he noted it “could fly only short distances with minimal altitude.”  

Avian Haven is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization located in Freedom, near Waterville.  There, wild birds that are orphaned, sick, and/or injured are cared for, with a goal of releasing them back to their natural roles in the wild.

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Hat Tree is Back, Thanks to Family’s Service Project through Ministry

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

The hat tree has returned to 1 Pleasant Street.  For those unfamiliar with the hat tree, it consists of a wooden frame, or “tree” of sorts, that has hanging from it many hats, socks, gloves, and mittens.  The items are all offered for free to anyone who may need them, to make sure hands, heads, and feet are warm this winter season.

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Santa’s Coming to Town for Annual Baileyville Christmas Parade

 

Natalie Boomer
[email protected]

The annual Baileyville Christmas Parade is set to take place on Friday, December 10. Santa and his gang will begin their journey around the town Baileyville at 6 p.m.

Starting on Broadway Street, they will make their way down Palm Street, and finally up Main Street, where they will all end up at the park for a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

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Calais Walmart Removes Local Newspapers

Jayna Smith

[email protected]

After years of The Calais Advertiser being available for purchase at Calais Walmart, the retail giant is now refusing to carry the local publication.

At last Wednesday morning’s delivery of the publication, the newspaper’s distributor was informed by store manager Ronnie McLain that it would no longer allow the sale of local newspapers.  

The newsstand, which for years was located at the front of the store, had been removed.

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Fear, Fraud and Fauci

 

Jon Reisman

Tony Fauci is America’s senior public health bureaucrat. He is the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), where he oversees and greenlights millions of dollars of taxpayer funded research, and Senior Medical Advisor to President Brandon. He is also an egomaniacal serial liar and a power hungry enemy of freedom. If Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was a transgender octogenarian, Tony Fauci is what you would have.

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Local Girl Scouts Set to Host 3rd Annual Craft Fair and Bake Sale

 

Natalie Boomer
[email protected]

Girl Scout Troop 2259 will be hosting their 3rd annual Christmas Fair and Bake Sale on Saturday, December 18th.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., local vendors, along with the Girl Scouts themselves, will be at The Lobster Crate Event Center in Perry selling holiday goods.

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Spednic Club Members Spread Christmas Spirit with Donation

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

The Spednic Club in Baileyville is known for its service to the community, and recently, members got together to help out once again.
On November 20th, the Spednic Club held an annual bowling tournament, with a goal of not just to have fun, but also to help out a local charity, the Stuff the Bus campaign.

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Stuff the Bus to Help Make Christmas Happier for Area Disadvantaged Kids

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

The 7th annual Stuff the Bus event was held on Saturday, and as expected, the generosity from local people was as great as ever.
Stuff the Bus, a Christmas gift collection program spearheaded by Baileyville Police Chief Bob Fitzsimmons, collects items for children of all ages throughout the county at a day-long campaign at Calais Walmart.  

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A Celtic Christmas Dec. 10 with Members of COIG!

 

After a 20-month shut down due the COVID-19, Calais Celtic Concerts returns, bringing three members of the popular Cape Breton Celtic super group COIG, namely Darren McMullen, Rachel Davis and Chrissy Crowley. They will be back to Calais, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, on Friday December 10 at 6 p.m. The doors will open at 5 p.m. Due to the smaller venue at the Knights Hall, it is suggested all arrive early for the best seats.

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Calais Student Named Heisman State Scholarship Winner

Kobe Saunders, a senior at Calais High School, has been named an overall state winner of the Heisman High School Scholarship by Acceptance Insurance.

The opportunity to apply was open to all seniors who have a GPA of 3.0 or better, are proven leaders and role models in their school and community, and have participated in at least one recognized sport while in high school.

Alexis Donahue and Saunders were named the female and male winners at the school level for Calais High School.  

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Alexander Grange Members Lay Wreaths on Veterans Graves

 

Excerpt from the Alexander news column by Cassie Oakes:

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Hundreds Braved the Cold for 24th Annual Lioness Christmas Parade

Full video www.tinyurl.com/calaischristmasparade

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

On what some say was the coldest night for a parade in the history of the Lioness parade, the Calais Lioness Club executed a great community Christmas parade last Friday night.

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Calais Walmart Removes Local Newspapers

This story has since been updated since publication date: https://www.calais.news/calais-walmart-places-local-newspapers-customer-...

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

After years of The Calais Advertiser available for purchase at Calais Walmart, the retail giant is now refusing to carry the local publication.

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Brothers Save Money to Buy Gifts for Other Kids

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

The holidays bring out the giving spirit in most people, and such was the case for 12-year-old Bradley Walton and his 9-year old brother Parker.

Bradley has been a paperboy at The Calais Advertiser for nearly three years.  He has been known to do very nice gestures for his customers, as an example, providing each with a rose last Valentine’s Day.  

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Calais IGA Welcomes Back Canadian Shoppers

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

As of November 30, 2021, vaccinated Canadians can visit the United States for up to 72 hours without the need for a PCR test upon returning, per the Canadian government.  

Calais IGA was ready for their Canadian customers on that day with a “Welcome Back” banner displayed at its entrance.  

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Hoping, But Not Optimistic, That 2022 is an Improvement

 

Jon Reisman

I began 2021 channeling “1921” from the Who. I had no reason to be overly prophetic, but it turns out Roger Daltrey accurately foreshadowed the Delta variant, Afghanistan, the open Southern border, January 6, cackling Kamala, the Durham probe, the Rittenhouse and Smollett trials and the media lies and malpractice surrounding all of it:

Got a feeling '21
Is going to be a good year,
Especially if you and me
See it in together.

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Downeast Broadband Utility Continues to Expand

Jayna smith
[email protected]

Downeast Broadband Utility (DBU), as most now know, is the first of its kind, non-profit, open-access fiber optic municipal utility network in the state.  The residents of Calais and Baileyville own DBU, which provides high-speed internet, phone, and TV through a dark fiber network to businesses and residences in both towns.  

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Calais Walmart Places Local Newspapers at Customer Service Desk

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

After The Calais Advertiser shared last week the news of the Calais Walmart discontinuing the sale of this publication, without any information provided from the local store manager, the retail giant’s media relations contacted the newspaper.

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Calais Lights Up for Christmas

 

Homes all over town are well lit and well decorated for the holiday season.  These photos show just a couple of the many you can view on an evening trip around Calais. These homes are on Calais Avenue and Swan Street.

 

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Baileyville Christmas Parade

 

Baileyville Public Works decorated a plow truck for the Baileyville Christmas Parade.  Its great display won first place among the entries. (Photos by Natalie Boomer)

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International Feztival of Trees Glows with Christmas Spirit

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

Since 2016, with the exception of last year due to COVID-19, the International Feztival of Trees has brought hundreds out to view spectacular Christmas trees, all well decorated and complete with gifts underneath.  The event is a fundraiser for the two sponsoring clubs, Schoodic Shrine Club, which covers northern Washington County, and Washington County Shrine Club, which covers the southern part of the county.

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Downeast Girls’ Basketball Preview: Key Players, What to Expect, and More

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

Players and fans throughout Washington County have welcomed back basketball after last year brought an abbreviated season with no tournaments and no spectators, all due to the coronavirus pandemic.  This season is looking closer to normal, with full schedules, tournaments planned, and spectators–although masked–permitted in most schools.
Recently, area coaches shared what can be expected from their respective teams this season.

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Downeast Boys’ Basketball Preview: Key Players, What to Expect, and More

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

Boys’ basketball is back and closer to normal this year, with fans permitted in most schools, full schedules lined up, and plans underway for a state tournament.  Area coaches recently shared what their respective teams will bring to the court this season.  
 

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Race Grifter Enablers

 

Jon Reisman

Because the racist “anti-racists” will work to erase the Jussie Smollett guilty verdict memory as quickly as possible, the idiotic credulity and evil complicity of the following race grafter tweets should be regularly remembered:

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Pratt Donation-Match Campaign Brings in Nearly $10,000 for Local Food Pantries

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

For about ten years, Ian Pratt of the Pratt dealership has held a donation-match campaign throughout the month of November, all to benefit local food pantries.  Through this program, Pratt has always committed to matching up to $5,000 of donations received.

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Spednic Club Members Continue to Spread Goodwill and Cheer

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

Just recently, The Calais Advertiser shared news about Spednic Club members raising funds for the Stuff the Bus campaign, one of many ways the members contribute to the community.  Now, members there have once again stepped up to help others.

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PBSO Trio Performs for Seniors

 

Residents of Eastport Nursing Home and Washington Place in Calais were treated to a musical visit by three Passamaquoddy Bay Symphony Orchestra members on Tuesday, December 14. The program of holiday tunes was performed by the talented trio of Ann Simmons, violin, June Gregory, flute and Ellen Krajewski, cello.

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Trinity Jones Leads Lady Blue Devils to Three Wins

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

The Lady Blue Devils, under Coach Sean Cavanaugh, were successful in picking up two wins in their first full week of play, upping their record 3-0.

On Monday, December 13, the Calais girls’ hosted Machias in a 72-41 downeast match up.

Trinity Jones led the team with 15 points, while Mercedes Owen contributed 11 and Kendra Stevens and Nevaeh Thoms each dropped in 10.  Brenna Critchley added 8 for the winners.

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Lights Tie Lubec and Campobello Together for Christmas

 

Sarah Craighead Dedmon
 
It all began with a question.

“I was wondering if it might be possible to decorate the bridge for Christmas?” asked Joel Ross of Lubec, posting Nov. 29 on Facebook. Readers enthusiastically applauded his idea, and this week for the first time ever, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Bridge —  and the saltwater beneath it —  shine with Christmas lights.

The bridge connects Lubec, the easternmost town in the nation, with Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada.

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Calais Parish Spreads Christmas Cheer

 

A year after creating personalized Christmas cards for the residents of Washington Place Assisted Living in Calais, the faith formation students at Immaculate Conception Church, also in Calais, decided that this year, they would go even further to ensure smiles and a brighter day for those in need.

“Last year, the cards went over great. They loved them!” said Marc Podschlne, director of faith formation at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish of which Immaculate Conception Church is a part. “This year, all of my faith formation classes made cards again.”

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Santa Claus Makes Early Visit to Local Children

 

Natalie Boomer
[email protected]

The man in the red suit came to town a week early.  Santa Claus visited the children of Baileyville and Baring on Sunday, December 19th.

With the help of Ray Faulkner and the Baileyville Fire Department, Santa made his rounds by fire engine, instead of sleigh.

In the meantime, local children dropped off their letters to Santa at the Woodland IGA, where a special mailbox was placed just for this occasion.

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Santa Visits Children of Woodland

 

Santa Claus makes his way through the Village of Woodland to visit local children with the help of the Baileyville Fire Department. (Photo by Natalie Boomer)

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Calais Resident Says ‘DITTO’ to Neighbors’ Elaborate Christmas Display

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

Calais resident Stacy Crosby, who resides on Palmer Street, could not keep up with the elaborate Christmas display of her neighbors Bob and Gayle Greenlaw.  

Over the weekend, rather than attempt to upstage the dazzling show next door, Crosby affectionately gave tribute to the Greenlaw’s hard work by displaying her own type of clever show, the word “DITTO,” lit up brightly for all to see.

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Merry Christmas!

From all of us here at The Calais Advertiser, we wish
you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Resolutions and Forlorn Hopes

 

Jon Reisman

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Dragons Claim Victory Over Blue Devils

 

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

At Calais on December 22, Coach Ben Maloney’s Dragons came through with a 58-51 win over Coach Dean Preston’s Blue Devils.
Stats provided by the Dragon coaching staff showed Ethan Monk led the winners with 23 points, while Wyatt MacArthur chipped in with 21.  MacArthur also pulled down 11 rebounds.  
Brogan Brown added another 7, while Shain McIver and Reece Sabattus had 3 each.

 

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Keeping a Culture Alive, One Drumbeat at a Time

 

Barbara A. Walsh,
Maine Monitor

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First Sunrise of 2021

 

The first sunrise of 2021 off the coast of Lubec by West Quoddy Head Light. (Photo by Kaileigh Deacon)

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