Rex Nicholson

On Thursday evening, July 14, Calais's faithful six council members, along with Mayor Billy Howard, met at the Calais City Building to carry forward the business of our fair city. The monitors many ongoing processes, allocates finances that must be dispersed, makes crucial decisions, and takes on the responsibilities and headaches to guide our community. Not many go to these bi-weekly meetings, except when there is a gripe to vent or a need to address.

You know things are good when no one shows.

Around 200 people gathered for a day of togetherness, celebration, and faith on Sunday, July 17, at the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Picnic, held inside and outside Immaculate Conception Church in Calais.

In addition to a cookout, games, and family-friendly activities, participants enjoyed a concert by parishioners Denise and John McCurdy, who entertained with a guitar and a fiddle. Denise is a renowned fiddler who has played at concerts and festivals across the country and in Canada, Ireland, and Scotland.

Unfortunately, some misinformation is circulating in media sources regarding the Washington County Community College’s Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC).  

The College has not closed the Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) and the Center resources remain available to WCCC students and community members.  The OAC has a wide range of outdoor equipment for enjoying outdoor educational opportunities in the area.

Ricky Cleghorn

The Mexican-style family restaurant, Mama Lola’s, has been doing remarkably well. A few months ago, owner Manuela Medrano, traded out her hot truck for an air-conditioned brick-and-mortar location in downtown Calais, and has since hired much more staff.

“Now we have a full-time staff,” says Medrano. “We have wonderful, wonderful girls. And it‘s still very much a family business.” Her children were running around, taking orders and delivering food at the new 28 North Street location.

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

It’s that time of year, when folks flock to the border communities of Calais, Maine and St. Stephen, New Brunswick to attend numerous events and visit with family and friends, all in celebration of the International Homecoming Festival.

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

The return of the Chair Affair to the International Homecoming Festival will certainly be a draw to the downtown triangle park this year.  The once-annual “chair-ity” auction has been added to the lineup of events, after not being held for a few years.

The Chair Affair is an event spearheaded by Calais Downtown Revitalization Coalition (CDRC) as a fundraiser for the non-profit group.

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

Saturday of International Homecoming Festival each year brings hundreds to downtown Calais.  Typically, in addition to enjoying the many vendors of the street fair, all enjoy the grand parade.  This year, however, due to restrictions at the border crossing resulting from the global pandemic, there will be no international parade.  Instead, the highlight of the day will be the huge street fair, set to be bigger than ever in recent years.

Jayna Smith
[email protected]

Former Maine Governor Paul LePage visited the Sunrise County on Thursday, July 21.  LePage hopes to oust Janet Mills in November to win back his old job steering the state.  

His visit marked his second one to the area in just nine months, having visited last October.  

Natalie Boomer
[email protected]

“If you are or know a pregnant mother who uses substances that lives in Hancock or Washington county, the Prosper Initiative program through Healthy Acadia may be for you,” said Maine Recovery Core Intern Renee Mozeliak.

Downeast Credit Union's director of consumer lending Joanne Cushing and customer lending representative Randy Bowen recently presented a check to the Calais American Legion.  Accepting are Commander Jim Myers (second from left) and past commander Mike McLean (far right).  (Submitted photo)