Jayna Smith

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Mary (Mulholland) Powling, a beloved matriarch and long-time resident of Princeton, celebrated her 100th birthday on December 26, 2024. Born in 1924 to Isaac and Delphine Mulholland, her life has been filled with love, dedication, and an enduring connection to her family and community.

Paul Sylvain

Maine winters aren’t what they used to be, considering the string of relatively mild winters we’ve enjoyed Downeast the past several years. Of course, with the snowiest and coldest winter months yet to come, it remains to be seen how Washington County will fare in this winter of 2024-25.

Still, the lingering memory of that last truly harsh, “old-fashioned” Maine winter a decade ago is one that anyone who experienced it won’t ever forget. 

Jayna Smith

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Residents and travelers along Route 9 are invited to participate in an on-demand formal public meeting concerning the replacement of the Big New Stream Bridge over the East Branch of New Stream in Wesley. This infrastructure project will replace the aging steel structural plate pipe arch with a more durable precast concrete box culvert.

Jayna Smith

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In a tremendous show of community support and generosity, the Pratt dealership in Calais has set a new record with its annual donation-match campaign to aid food pantries in Washington County. This year, the campaign reached an all-time high, collecting a total of $27,614 — the highest amount since Ian Pratt initiated this charitable effort.

Paul Sylvain

The Washington County commissioners have a new look for the first time in a dozen years, following the swearing-in of District 1 Commissioner Billy Howard and District 2 Commissioner David C Burns at a brief ceremony at the commissioners’ meeting room on Jan. 2. 

Looking on was District 3 Commissioner John B. Crowley, whose seat was not up for reelection in 2024. 

At a recent basketball game, the Calais High School National Honor Society hosted its annual fundraiser with a fun twist – selling strips of tape to help secure Superintendent Mary Anne Spearin to the wall. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, the NHS state charity dedicated to fighting hunger. (Photo by Jayna Smith)

Paul Sylvain

In his first official meeting as one of two newly elected Washington County commissioners, Billy Howard wasted little time, on Jan. 9, identifying his top priority for the upcoming year.

Paul Sylvain

In July 2023, Maine State Police (MSP) quietly ceased patrolling the state’s rural counties and instead focused their limited patrol resources on higher traffic and more populated parts of the state. Among those counties most affected by that decision was Washington County, in which Sheriff Barry Curtis and his deputies assumed the sole burden of providing law enforcement coverage once shared with state police.

Jayna Smith

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Calais citizens now have an easy way to stay updated on the latest city news, events, meetings, and emergencies through a new notification service. This service allows residents to receive updates via text or email, ensuring they are always informed about important community developments.

Jayna Smith

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The Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) has proudly announced that Bob Craft and David Pike, the owners of Calais and Orono IGAs, have been named IGA USA Retailers of the Year. This prestigious accolade is the highest honor bestowed upon IGA retailer members, recognizing grocers who exhibit exceptional leadership and service within their communities.