A POSTCARD FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY

“Screenshot” by Jane Bell captured the beauty of a Washington County sunrise this week, and that perfectly punny name? Just icing on the cake. Jane is a member of the famous Tide Mill Farm Bell family. Happily, this week I ordered my Tide Mill turkey for Thanksgiving. The best. Photo by Jane Bell

SPACE | 11.12.23

Many of us looked toward Washington County’s skies last night in hopes of seeing aurora borealis, the famous Northern Lights. According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, we had reason to hope. During dinner at Helen’s, we ran into friends who suggested we try to spot them from their remote blueberry land — an ideal, dark viewing location. 

It was 31 degrees when we left the restaurant and made our way to the barrens, where we parked and got out of the car just long enough to remember we’re still leaving home without our winter coats. Later, the night owl Dedmons checked the northern skies several times, but didn’t spot the auroras. 

Did you?

Machias Memorial High School science teacher Jim Lenke stands with three of his students and their space-related science posters, which they presented at last week’s inaugural Maine Space Conference. Photo by Bill Kitchen

It has been a week for thinking about space. Last weekend my husband and I attended the inaugural Maine Space Conference in Portland. Three hundred of us were there, and a tidy number from Washington County, too. The conference brought together businesses, students, teachers, scientists, representatives from Space Force and NASA, too, to discuss the future of Maine’s space economy.

I’ll be writing about it for an upcoming edition of one of my favorite Maine publications, The Working Waterfront.

Machias Town Manager Bill Kitchen, myself, and USDA State Director Rhiannon Hampson were among the unofficial Washington County delegation to the inaugural Maine Space Conference. Kitchen is a member of the Maine Space 2030 committee. Also in attendance was Sunrise County Economic Council Director Charles Rudelitch, who sits on the Maine Space Corporation Board of Directors; MMHS Science teacher Jim Lenke and three students. And my husband, Chris Dedmon.

Meanwhile back on earth, news broke that the Maine Department of Transportation will need to construct a temporary bridge above the aged Machias dike, so that passage remains possible should the dike apparatus itself collapse. The bridge will apparently go up just after Thanksgiving, and will detour us all for about a week. This decision was made following the report of some DOT divers who made a physical inspection of the culverts that allow water passage between the Machias and Middle Rivers.

How would you like that job?

As is only appropriate, Washington County always rolls out the red carpet for its veterans on Veterans Day. At top, Justin Albee’s crane flying an American flag. Albee is the owner of 4 Shore Construction. And at bottom, some shots from the Machias Veterans’ Day Parade. Across the region, schools held luncheons in honor of those who have served. Photos by Bill Kitchen

Now that we’re near the tipping point of November, things will speed up around the county. Today we put together an album of public events taking place between now and the end of the year. You can find it here, and when you visit, be sure to follow and like our page! We’ll be updating the album as more events become scheduled.

Driving home from the barrens last night, we listened to our son Griffin’s first radio show on UMaine’s WMEB 91.9, which can be streamed here, and Griffin will air every Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. EST. His Grammy Kaye, my wonderful mother-in-law, was listening too, and in that way we were all connected – three of us listening under Maine’s cold and starry skies, Griffin underground in a radio station in Orono, and Kaye under big Texas skies, in Dallas. Griffin wished Kaye an early happy birthday, and now it’s my turn to send my love.

Happy Birthday, Kaye. Wish we were together today!

What I’m Listening to Now

The newest episode of my podcast, Way Downeast! Okay, I’m not listening to it because I made it, but you should. Episode number five is an interview with Charlie Foster, co-owner of Relic Cider, Washington County’s first cidery. It won’t be a brick-and-mortar shop, but its cider will be for sale next year, and relic cider is about more than hard cider. Listen, learn, and love it. You can stream directly from here, or from your favorite podcast app.

This incredibly aerobic fiddle performance by Gus LaCasse, recorded last weekend at the final open day for La Laiterie this year. You won’t want to miss it when they reopen in the spring – La Laiterie serves incredible coffee and baked goods courtesy of Chef Ross Florance.

Pandora’s Classical Christmas channel. That’s right – I cheat and listen early. If football can have a pre-season, so can Christmas, says me. Though I do try to save the heavy hitters (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole) for Thanksgiving and beyond. 

Barbra Streisand’s new memoir, My Name is Barbra. So far, so enjoyable. If you don’t mind a lengthy listen, pick up the audiobook, clocking in at 48 hours.

Just a beautiful sight of sheep on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Washington County, Maine. Aren’t we lucky to have farmers? For so many varied reasons. Photo by Sarah Craighead Dedmon