By Nancy Beal Beals’ annual town meeting took place in late March and lasted nearly six hours (see Machias Valley News Observer, April 3, 2024). Three weeks later (April 19), voters from the island town of around 500 souls were back in session, picking two selectmen to replace the two who had suddenly resigned the previous week. Between 40 and 50 people crowded into the meeting room of the town office, many standing in the back or the adjacent kitchen, and spent less than an hour replacing them. Machias Click here to log in https://machiasnews.com/user or Login with Facebook or Subscribe no ..read more

By Will Tuell A novelist from Washington State who has family ties to the greater Machias area will be visiting the area in early May to promote his latest work, a historical novel spanning several generations of “Dooling” or Dowling family history and an entire continent. Mike Neir, author of Trees in the Mist, said that researching his family history led him to Machias, where he discovered, and incorporated, his ancestors’ participation in the Battle of the Margaretta into the historical romance.  Machias Click here to log in https://machiasnews.com/user or Login with Facebook or Sub ..read more

By Will Tuell Machias Click here to log in https://machiasnews.com/user or Login with Facebook or Subscribe now: https://www.machiasnews.com/subcatalog ..read more

By Will Tuell Barring a last-minute agreement, a union representing nurses and lab technicians at Down East Community Hospital (DECH) in Machias announced on April 19 that they will be going on strike for two days later this month. The decision comes as the two sides remain at loggerheads over a contract, which expired last October, and follows a late January rally where union members pushed for what they call “safe staffing” levels and better pay.  Machias Click here to log in https://machiasnews.com/user or Login with Facebook or Subscribe now: https://www.machiasnews.com/subcatalog ..read more

By Will Tuell Machias Click here to log in https://machiasnews.com/user or Login with Facebook or Subscribe now: https://www.machiasnews.com/subcatalog ..read more

I said goodbye to my wife and the Maine legislature last week. I will always miss Ernie, but I cannot say goodbye to the freedom-crushing 131st Maine Legislature fast enough.  Ern’s memorial service was a blessing with friends, family, and community. Our grown-up sons delivered testimony that swelled me with both pride and grace. Testimony of her giving heart and many mitzvahs from friends and community buoyed me. Several suggested that Ernie was a Saint, which prompted me to bless her memory for sticking with me for 44 years. Editorial Opinion Click here to log in https://machiasnews ..read more

In honor of Samuel Morse’s 233rd birthday, Ellsworth Amateur Wireless Association is conducting a symposium featuring not only Samuel Morse’s contribution to ham radio but also other technologies such as what a Raspberry Pi miniature computer can do for ham radio, packet radio demonstrations, and much more. Machias Click here to log in https://machiasnews.com/user or Login with Facebook or Subscribe now: https://www.machiasnews.com/subcatalog ..read more

By Nancy Beal  Interest in a track and field program has cropped up at Jonesport-Beals High School this spring and a fledgling team of five has started competing. That was the message from athletic director Dan Campbell who informed members of the Moosabec CSD board at their April 10 meeting of what was happening and what was needed from the school. Machias Click here to log in https://machiasnews.com/user or Login with Facebook or Subscribe now: https://www.machiasnews.com/subcatalog ..read more

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hosting an annual meeting from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Washington County office, 116 O'Brien Avenue on the campus of the University of Maine Machias. Rain location is Kilburn Commons cafeteria. Machias Click here to log in https://machiasnews.com/user or Login with Facebook or Subscribe now: https://www.machiasnews.com/subcatalog ..read more

By Will Tuell Four generations of Downeast women credited with keeping the Machias area’s rich Revolutionary War-era history alive are being immortalized on a coin designed by artist Tom Brennan, which the Downeast Revolutionary War Reenactors are selling as part of an annual fundraiser to help preserve local history. The women include Rose Hall, Michelle Stanhope, Heather Vose, and a woman widely regarded as the “Matriarch of Machias History,” former reporter and lifelong historian Valdine Atwood, now in her early 90s.  Machias Click here to log in https://machiasnews.com/user or Logi ..read more