Natalie Boomer
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Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT) is bringing a new event to Grand Lake Stream.  On April 29, the Festival of the Forest will begin!

St. Croix Regional Technical Center students competed against other students from around the state in the State Conference in Bangor on March 18.
Earning medals were Cassidy Carr, silver in Prepared Speech, and Danielle White, bronze in Extemporaneous Speech.

Other students competing Joseph Jennings, Culinary Arts; Justin Carney, Job Interview; Katie Bitar, Job Skill Demonstration; Brady Cronister, Welding; Ti Bennett and Cole Dunphy, Welding Sculpture; and Cadence Baskerville, Alexis Donahue, and Lexi Doten, Health Knowledge Bowl.

Jayna Smith
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Calais got a long-awaited economic boost last weekend, thanks to more lenient rules at the border.

Just a few weeks prior, Canada had scrapped its PCR testing requirements, making rapid antigen tests within 24 hours of crossing acceptable.  Finding a testing site, however, proved difficult for most.  

Jayna Smith
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When additional resources or manpower are needed to complete a project, Calais High School’s student organizations often come to mind.  Such was the case recently when Vicki Farrell, manager at the Maine Visitor Information Center in Calais, asked for assistance with the food drive for those in Ukraine.

Jon Reisman

Jayna Smith
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Moore’s Auto Body has been a fixture at 219 Houlton Road in Baileyville for years.  Now, it has joined in a partnership with DC Automotive, owned by Christien Hooper.

Kaileigh Deacon

It has been a while since The Calais Callbacks were able to take to the stage with a live audience, but this past weekend, they brought their competition performance to the stage of Calais High School. During the peak of the pandemic, the group was still able to meet and put on a play but were unable to attend their competition or put on a performance for friends and family as they had done in the past.

Jayna Smith
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Sarah’s House of Maine is a cancer hospitality house located in Holden.  It serves many from all over the state who are receiving treatment, with Washington County residents making up the majority–42 percent.

Barbara Barnett, Executive Director of Down East Hospice Volunteers receives a sponsorship donation from Ian Pratt of Pratt Chevrolet for the 31st annual Cobscook Bay Race taking place on June 5, 2022 in Pembroke. To donate and or to participate go to www.cobscookbayroadraces.org.  All proceeds go to Down East Hospice Volunteers of Washington County.  Join others in our community and support this signature fund raising event.  (Submitted photo)

Jon Reisman

Justin Day, who served Down East Maine with honor and dignity for more than 50 years, passed away last week. He was 86 years old.
Justin served as the First Selectman of Cooper for many years. He was also the primary assessor, land surveyor, a major land owner and blueberry grower, and the link between the Town and County and State government.

Jayna Smith
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With temperatures warming up and playing fields drying after the snowmelt, high school softball teams are back on the diamond for the 2022 season.  Teams at Calais, Jonesport-Beals, Machias, Narraguagus, Shead, Washington Academy, and Woodland High Schools have been practicing for nearly a month in anticipation of this year’s regular season.
 

Jayna Smith
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Washington County has been noted as a “hot spot” for both opioid and all overdoses in the State of Maine.  Even more, the state is the leader per capita in opioid and all overdoses in the entire New England region.  Now, to help curb the drug epidemic, a new program is available in Washington County.  

The Daughters of Isabella Circle #871 of St. Joseph Church in Eastport wanted to help the innocent in Ukraine but like many, weren’t sure what they could do.
“An idea was brought forward by member Dawn Noonan,” said Kathy Lawrence, vice regent of the circle. “And it was a good one!”

The making and selling of handmade chocolate bunnies and roses (see photos) as a fundraiser, with all of the proceeds going to Catholic Relief Services’ ongoing efforts to assist those in need in Ukraine.

Jayna Smith
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Since 1999, the Calais Skatepark Committee has worked hard on its park with upgrades and upkeep, as well as hosting many events for the area’s skaters and BMX riders.  Now, the group, through the Brendan Leddy Memorial Fund, is ready to add a mini ramp.

The park already includes several q-pipes, along with starter ramps and others.  The addition of the new ramp, according to committee member Nate Gardner, is the first mini ramp for the park.  

First National Bank recently announced a $3,000 donation to the Community Caring Collaborative towards The Joy Fund.

Established in March 2022, The Joy Fund assists first-time home buyers in Washington County make the transition to homeownership by providing funds for home inspections related to a home purchase.  Georgiana (Georgie) Kendall, a 5th generation Downeaster, started this fund to support folks who would like to live, work and play here in Washington County.

Jayna Smith
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Calais residents received in the mail last week a drinking water notice indicating the level of trihalomethanes (TTHM) in the City of Calais’s drinking water exceeds federal drinking water standard.

The city’s notice reported that water testing done recently found the high level of TTHM to be 81.2 parts per billion.  “This is above the maximum contaminant level allowed for total trihalomethanes in drinking water which is 80 parts per billion,” the notice read.

Jayna Smith
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For the second time in a year, the wooden bench installed at the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge’s public fishing platform has been vandalized.  The platform is located just off the Charlotte Road.

According to Keith Ramos, manager at the refuge, the bench, which was fastened to the platform, was thrown into the stream.  “It sure took some effort from the individual or individuals that committed the vandalism,” he shared to social media.