One-year-old Nash Occhiogrosso takes a shot at the watermelon eating contest, a popular event of Calais Fire Association’s Annual Fourth of July games.  (Submitted photo)

Jayna Smith

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St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish welcomed Father Roland Berngeh as pastor effective July 5, 2023.  

Father Berngeh, originally from Cameroon, a country in central-west Africa, comes to St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish from St. Joseph Catholic Church.  There, he served St. Joseph and Catholic churches in Bar Harbor, Dedham, Manset, Bucksport, Castine, Stonington, Northeast Harbor, and Winter Harbor.

On Saturday, July 7, the Calais chapter of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club and the Calais Lions Club held a joint fundraiser in support of the Lions Club's annual Santa's Helper program. 

Home cook Daune (pronounced "dawn") Browne has been awarded a Blue Ribbon by Just A Pinch Recipes. Browne's "Grilled Garlic Shrimp in Foil" recipe was tested by the Just A Pinch Test Kitchen who released the following testing notes:  “A fabulous way to grill delicious shrimp. The foil pouch helps to steam the shrimp and cooks them quickly. The garlic butter that's also inside the foil pouch infuses into the grilled shrimp. Easy to prepare, serve the delicious shrimp with rice and a fresh vegetable for a lovely dinner.”

Jon Reisman

Jayna Smith

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There was lots of celebrating at Immaculate Conception Church in Calais last week when around 35 children took part in this year’s fun-filled vacation bible school.  

For three consecutive days, local children kept busy with activities that incorporated music, arts, science, drama, and more all into learning and all centered around the theme Stellar VBS:  Shine Jesus’ Light.

Jayna Smith

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The handful of volunteers who make up the International Homecoming Festival committee have been planning since January for the 50th annual celebration.  This year’s festival is slated for Wednesday, August 2 through Saturday, August 5 with the first  “international” parade set to be held since pre-pandemic times. 

Work began last week on the Legacy Square Garden in Princeton. Pictured are Miriam Pippin and Eli and Jacob with Sharon Norman. (Facebook photo)

Jon Reisman

Some random and not so random notes and rants for America’s Birthday:

-July 4th, 2023 marks our 247th birthday, not our 404th. Hannah Nicole-Jones, the New York Times and the Pulitzer Prize committee are lying leftist scum, and their hate America project should be recognized as Marxist revisionist propaganda. 

-Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is a fearless populist-capitalist without Trump’s braggadocio and baggage. Viva Vivek’s 10 Truths:

• God is real.

• There are two genders.

Miriam Libby, of Baileyville, turned 90 years of age June 16. 

Miriam’s son David came from Needham, MA last Friday and hosted a birthday party for her at Woodland Baptist Church on Saturday, June 14 with about 40 people attending. Helping in many ways was Miriam’s niece Cheryl from Rhode Island and her nephew Ken Neal and wife Marie from Topsham, whom David had asked to help him. Some from the church also helped in various ways. 

Maine Seacoast Mission has selected four students from Washington and Hancock Counties to award the Davis Maine Scholarship. Through a partnership with Andrew Davis and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, the Davis Maine Scholarship ensures first-generation, college-bound students living in the Downeast region of Maine can complete a four-year undergraduate degree without financial burden. 

Will Tuell

At their June 23 meeting, Washington County Commissioners Vinton Cassidy (R-Calais), John Crowley Sr. (R-Addison), and Chris Gardner (R-Edmunds) have selected Lubec Town Manager Renée Davis Gray as their new county manager beginning in January 2024. In the meantime, Davis Gray will serve as Deputy County Manager, working under longtime manager Betsy Fitzgerald who announced earlier this year that she would be scaling back her duties over the summer with the goal of retiring by year’s end. 

Natalie Boomer

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Folks of Washington County celebrated the grand opening of Bigfoot’s Activity Center in Baileyville on Sunday, June 18th.

“The grand opening was a huge success. No rain or cool temps was going to stop us. We had a great time welcoming patrons to the center to have fun,” said co-owner Kati Grass. 

Jon Reisman

When I was a kid, Bell Telephone (or Ma Bell), had a near total monopoly on telephone service and equipment. You could have any kind of phone you wanted, as long as it was a rotary dial black number, and you had to rent, not buy, it from Ma Bell. The phone company was a convenient and reviled villain.

Jeremy Turner Named PVC Player of the Year

On the boys side, the Calais tennis team navigated through a very tough schedule and finished the regular season at 12-0.  This led them to the number two seed heading into the playoffs.

After playoff victories over Madawaska and Washington Academy, the boys earned the right to play in the Northern Maine Class C Championship at Bates College in Lewiston against an undefeated top-seeded Orono team.

Natalie Boomer

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Mikayla Beers, of Baileyville, announced in early June that she will be opening up her a fitness studio on North Street in Calais. 

According to Beers, Vibe Fitness is “a safe space to work on your health and fitness goals without fear or judgment, a space where you can ask for guidance when you feel lost, a space where you can feel free to be your beautiful self, a space for you to feel comfortable, empowered and just vibe.”

Woodland Elementary School recently performed their Annual Spring Concert. 

The gymnasium was filled to capacity as the Beginner Band, Chorus, and Advanced Band showcased their talents. Of special note, the chorus presented a piece entItled “Mother Maine,” which was written by Maine composer Lee Southard. 

T-Ball through Calais Little League recently wrapped up the season.  Pictured here are team members of the Pirates: Coach Jeremy Willson, Aubree Curtis, Jovie Willson, Charlotte Fullerton, Kensley Fullerton, Ellory Ramsdell, Carson McIver, Kinslee Occhiogrosso, and Coach Brittany Occhiogrosso. Not pictured is Olivia Korasadowicz. (Submitted photo)

Chloe Bernardini

On Tuesday, June 13, a meeting regarding the possibility of updating the Calais Ferry Point Land Port of Entry was held at the Wabanaki Cultural Center.

The meeting was held to “gather comments from the public while also informing them about the process,” said Paul Hughes, Regional Public Affairs Officer for U.S. General Service Administration.

Jayna Smith

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An official sign of summer is the opening of the city’s Howard Fox Memorial Pool, and on Monday, June 19, it is set to open, along with summer day camp set to begin.

The pool is open seven days a week for both Calais residents and non-residents.  Public swim this year is currently slated for Mondays through Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to parks and recreation director Craig Morrison.    

Jayna Smith

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A dedication ceremony was held on Friday, June 9, at the crosswalk by Calais Elementary  School.

According to Calais City Manager Mike Ellis, the location is the area “where John ‘Jack’ Monaghan faithfully volunteered as a crosswalk guard for 26 years, ensuring the safety of thousands of children in the Calais community.”