Though local photographer Tina Farley captured this beautiful image of the Machias River and downtown Machias in late October, it perfectly depicts the November skies we’ve seen intermittently this week. Though we’ve mostly seen sun which is why October was the 14th driest on record for Maine, and why most of Maine is currently experiencing moderate drought. Photo by Tina Farley

I topped off my coffee and checked the woodstove before walking back to my desk this morning when something unfamiliar caught my eye – sunrays angling in through my kitchen window, which faces south. 

We’re only weeks away from the solstice, on December 21, which means only weeks to enjoy this novelty of southern sunrays, and, mercifully, only weeks before the days begin getting longer.

It’s not that I don’t enjoy 4 p.m. sunsets, it’s only that I don’t like them. 

But I do love this season. Yesterday I visited Pineo’s True Value to pick up a Christmas tree for the Machias Town Office, which if I stand up tomorrow will put me 1.5 weeks behind the police chief, who decorated his office tree that long ago. You can see its blue lights twinkling through the police station doors.

“No apologies,” he said. “I love Christmas.”

No apologies needed, Chief. I’m right there with you.

And so since joining, albeit temporarily, the Machias Town Office on Oct. 24, on the edges of full workdays I’ve worked to raise funds for children’s Christmas gifts.

My family’s first Machias Community Christmas was in 2012 when the children were small. We lined up outside the old Machias Customs House, stamping to warm our feet while we waited to see Santa Claus. Once inside, each child took their turn on his lap and then stood gaping at a floor covered in painted wooden toys – doll beds, airplanes, roadsters, helicopters, and trucks. 

Decisions, decisions.

Nearby stood Chris Sprague, in his signature overalls, watching the children’s jubilation and noting which toys they liked best so he could report back to the inmates of Downeast Correctional Facility, who had worked all year long to build and paint the toys.

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The Machias Customs House as was, today the Machias Savings Bank Community Room, beautifully preserved on the corner of Main and Center Street.

When the prison closed, with it went the handmade toys, which had been the Town’s contribution to the Machias Chamber of Commerce’s event. In their place, the Town sought and won, grants to pay for toys to hand out when the Chamber invited Santa Claus to Machias. 

With the tumult of last winter’s flooding, which drove the Town from its normal office to its current location, and then the sad, sudden loss of Machias Town Manager Bill Kitchen, there hasn’t been time to raise money for gifts. 

Bill Kitchen loved this event. I wrote about one particularly long weekend he and his partner Cat spent making the gifts happen here in 2021, and again here after he died. 

In Bill’s memory, his mother and the Worcester family have made generous donations, which together with a substantial grant from Cooke Aquaculture have put us within striking distance, but more funds are needed to purchase enough toys to delight about 350 children this year.

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It’s not easy to read Sam’s — or Santa’s — expression in this 2014 photo, but in Sam’s hands is one of the handpainted wooden trucks crafted by inmates of the Downeast Correctional Facility. These years, the gifts aren’t wooden, but still, children who visit Santa during Machias Community Christmas each walk away with a Christmas treasure. Photo by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

If you are moved to donate to the Machias Community Christmas, I’ll tell you how you can do that below. But before I’m off the topic of Christmas gifts for Washington County children, I have to mention the extraordinary work of the Community Christmas Giving Tree, where Helen’s Elves are currently at work putting together Christmas packages for area children, parents, elderly, and adults with special needs.

They serve hundreds of families each year, and each child receives a variety of items – some things they need, like a warm coat or boots, and some things they want, like Legos.

If you know someone who wants to sign up for the Giving Tree this year, have them send an email to ccgtree@gmail.com. If you’d like to donate to their important work, you can mail checks to Community Christmas Giving Tree, PO Box 265 Machias, ME 04654.

And if you’d like to donate to the Machias Community Christmas gift fund, which will distribute gifts on Saturday, Dec. 7, you can mail checks, made out to Town of Machias, to the Machias Town Office, ℅ Christmas Gift Fund, PO Box 418, Machias, ME 04654. If you intend to donate, drop me a note and let me know so I can add you to our tally!

It’s wonderful to be part of a community that keeps its eye on the town’s business, and on the heart of the town, too.

More November skies, this time at sunset in Northfield, captured by Michael Hoyt, who spends more time in nature than any other person I know. Lucky us. Photo by Michael Hoyt

Last week the Machias Police Department stopped a local robbery and seized quite a lot of counterfeit money. You can also see it here, on Channel 5.

The majority of Washington County voters went red in this month’s elections.

A D-Day veteran’s family traces his travels in Normandy and shares their story with the Trescott Historical Society.

A large barge can be seen from Route 1 as travelers move past the Machias River. It’s there to improve the sewer system.

The University of Maine at Machias is bucking national enrollment trends.

While I’m hard at work in the Machias Town Office, I’ve begun writing these postcards bi-weekly, and I want to be sure to give you a sense of what’s going on until I’m back again in two weeks. But there is so much, trust me that this is not a comprehensive list!

There are a couple of Downeast events that take us back in time, and one of them is the Ruggles House Society Annual Christmas Tree. Prepare to feel like you’re in a Dickens novel, or Little Women, except in beautiful Columbia Falls. Details above.

The other is the Annual Gates House Christmas Party, which is not yet scheduled but which I’m told is definitely happening. Follow the Machiasport Historical Society to make sure you don’t miss it!

Today you can get into the holiday spirit by visiting Berry Vines 18th Annual Holiday Gathering, which will feature wonderful Christmas decorations and gifts, samples, warm cider, and for the kids to lure in the sleigh, reindeer food. Will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17.

Though I wasn’t the one hauling logs into the Narraguagus this summer, I have fond memories of how our eldest, Griffin, came out of long days in the wood covered in the forest floor and exhausted, but happy. Now I see that his boss, Chris Federico, will present the science behind that wonderful summer job at “Science on Tap: Adding Large Wood in the Narraguagus River.” Head to Mason’s Downeast in Machias at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, for dinner and drinks, then a presentation by Project SHARE and Maine Coast Heritage Trust, sharing their combined efforts to improve Atlantic salmon habitat in the Narraguagus.

Interested in learning more about the noble history of the Atlantic salmon? Me, too. I keep meaning to read this book, recommended to me by a local wildlife biologist. 

The movie edition of Lost on a Mountain in Maine seems to be a huge hit. I’m sheepish to admit that though my children have read it, I have not! Whether you have read it or not, you can see it at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, when it will play at The Milbridge Theater and Community Arts Center. 

Thanksgiving Dinner at First Settlers Lodge. From 3 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, November 28, enjoy a memorable Thanksgiving meal with smoked turkey and pumpkin pie! Tables are available for parties big and small. Call (207) 448-3000 for reservations. Located at 341 US Route 1, Weston. (Not Washington County, but close to Danforth!)

Learn the art of balsam wreath making at Whispering Pine Riding Stable’s Wreath Making Workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1 at the stables, 289 Bay Road, Jonesboro.

The Town of Danforth will host its 2024 Christmas Light Parade at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. The theme of this year’s parade is “Put a Little Holiday in your Heart.” 

The Ella Lewis Festival of Trees & Craft Fair will support the school’s PTO and will take place at 15 Village Road, Steuben, from 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7. 

As ever, there is a robust schedule of events at the Eastport Arts Center. See them all here.

Also an impressive array of classes and programs happening at the wonderful Cobscook Institute. See them all here.

The Annual Wesley Tree Festival is a flagship event of the Machias Community Christmas Weekend. This year it will be held from 4 p.m. on Dec. 6 to 3 p.m. on Dec. 8 at the Lee Pellon Center in Machias. Dozens of lavishly decorated trees on display, buy your tickets and put them in front of the ones you hope to win – I think this must be my year! All proceeds to benefit the Wesley Foundation, a nonprofit which serves the needs of Washington County youth.

Two more fun events are set for the Machias Community Christmas weekend – the Machias Arts Council’s Winter Art Show & Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. Here’s your plan – get your coffee or cocoa, hit the ATM for cash, then head to the Machias schools campus on Court Street. Start at the Art Sale in the high school, then wend your way back to the 51st Annual Down East Community Hospital Auxiliary Craft Fair in the Rose M. Gaffney gymnasium. This year, they will bring it back for the 51st time from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School in Machias. 

Then at 6 p.m., get thee to Main Street in Machias for the Annual Parade of Lights.

I never miss it.