Holly Whitney of Marshfield has one of the best spots to view sunrise over the Machias Valley, as you can see from this stunner of a photo she took on January 15th. We’ll see quite a lot of sun this week but it won’t be warm, with nighttime temps dropping to the low single digits, at least. Washington County has no overnight warming shelters, but an abundance of people willing to help out. If you know someone at risk in the freeze, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll see what support we can rally to help them. Photo by Holly Whitney

Area plow and sand trucks are resting quietly but that will change soon with a big storm headed our way this evening. Area children (and maybe quite a few adults) are crossing their fingers that the storm slows down and makes Tuesday impassable since they’re already home for the MLK holiday on Monday.

I’m looking forward to 5-8 inches where I live, with a little less inland. 

With everything dormant and covered in snow, it’s easy to miss that Maine is in a worsening drought. Almost 100% of Washington County is in moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, up from about 50% on October 1, 2024, and 0% one year ago.

This being Maine, I think we can reasonably expect it to resolve, at least partially, by the spring planting season. And if it all comes back in the way of snow, so much the better for me, though I wouldn’t admit that in mixed company.

Drought or no drought, things are beginning to grow in response to the changing light. Once we passed the winter solstice my Boston fern, which can be seen as a guest star in this post, resumed its quest for world domination, putting on new fronds weekly. 

One day the fern will take over the house, and I don’t know where we’ll go then.  

Though it’s only January, there are other signs of budding growth. A glance at area event postings shows that people are already putting their 2025 calendars into order, with some regular events scheduled out as far as October, like the Moosehorn Ghost Run. 

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Tanya Decature of Machiasport stepped out of her house and into a Van Gogh painting during last week’s full moon. Lovely. Photo by Tanya Decatur

And across the county, towns are tiptoeing toward summer Town meetings as they begin their months-long budget season, preparing for the next fiscal year which for most, if not all, begins in July. In my role on the select board in Machiasport, I’m studying our spending year over year, gaining a sense of our needs, of what spending is within our control to limit, and what is not.

As a larger Town, Machias has a separate budget committee, now with one open seat. Last week, the Clerk pointed me to a possible candidate who has routinely received a single write-in vote. Were they voting for themselves, hoping to serve? Wonderful! I left them a voicemail.

The next day I heard back. “I assume you’re calling because someone voted for me for the budget committee,” they said. “No, I have no experience with budgets and every year, my friend writes me in as a joke.”

Back to the drawing board.

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Difficult things are happening across Washington County, too. This week the community rallied around the Hall family, wearing blue and hanging blue balloons in support of young Isaac Hall, who now begins his journey to recover from leukemia. If you’re interested in sending financial support, you can donate here.

And this morning, we are all holding our breath waiting for news of two Washington County fishermen who did not return home last night. 

Coast Guard, Marine Patrol, and even Canadian Coast Guard members are hard at it, while family, friends, and, well, everyone waits, hopes, and prays for good news.

Washington County legislators have set the course for their next year in Augusta now that bills have been submitted as of the Jan. 10 cloture date.

The Machias Dike continues to warrant news coverage. Last week, leaders convened for the first meeting of the Upper Machias Bay Master Plan, which aims to create consensus for a fix to the dike bridge which stands at the confluence of the Middle and Machias Rivers.

Wash your hands! Something is definitely going around, and it has shuttered schools in Calais.

I’m delighted to read that the owner of the Bluebird Motel in Machias will rebuild after the Christmas Eve fire.

Looking ahead to summer, Eastport can look ahead to a staggering number of cruise ship visitors.

Large Dog Lost in Addison

Tanya Rucosky helpfully posted this image of a Great Pyrenees dog (wink wink) wandering Addison last week. As is often the case, the comment section is the best. It’s good to have a communal laugh now and then. Read the comments here or by clicking the photo.

I’ve never seen the Danforth Town Hall but it must be a good size. I love that they’re open for winter walking on Tuesdays and Thursdays! Click the photo above to be taken to the event page. Danforth Livable Community also has an impressive array of events here.

Amazing Upcoming Events

While I’m hard at work in the Machias Town Office, I’ve begun writing these postcards bi-weekly. Maybe my favorite thing about living in Washington County is the abundance of heartfelt community events tucked in alongside our quiet natural beauty. Sometimes I like to attend, sometimes I just like to know they’re happening!

Don’t forget to check out the wonderful local guide Artsipelago here, and this wonderful micro-local calendar focused on central and western Washington County, maintained by Robert from S. Addison.

Sanchez and Sanchez will perform at the Eastport Arts Center on Sunday, Feb. 2 as part of the EAC’s Sunday Afternoons series. The father and son team, Robert Sánchez and Ellis Zipperer-Sánchez, will present an array of tunes from the Great American Songbook, including some straight-ahead jazz, and standards ranging from ballads to uptempo tunes, plus several in the bossa style. For more information click here.

Enjoy some great food and beer while listening to Duane Ingalls this Thursday, Jan. 23, at Mason’s Downeast in Machias.

In Machias, West Branch Farms will host a cornhole tournament and Chinese auction to benefit Isaac Hall, a sweet little boy from a beloved local family, who is working to overcome a recent diagnosis of leukemia. The Chinese Auction will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the cornhole tournament begins at noon. To donate to the auction, contact one of the three numbers here: Brittany Look at (207) 598-0727, Kirsten Alley at (207) 263-6445, or Megan Prescott at (207) 263-5244.

The Pembroke Library has an impressive array of events coming up this week, including a weekly Introduction to Astronomy course with Downast Astronomer Charlie Sawyer, a knitting group, plus knitting and Tai Chi. See the full list here.

This week I’m looking forward to lunch with the Director of the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, Ellen Farnsworth, who likely only takes a few weeks away from festival planning each year. Machias will host other exciting things, including the Machias ATV Jamboree, the 2025 Maine Little League Major Baseball State Tournament, and delightfully, this year’s Margaretta Days will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Machias, 1775 edition. (There was also one in 1777.) I know our historical society and reenactors have big plans to recognize it.

If you’re interested in learning more about the region’s Revolutionary War-era events, you can read here, and listen here.

Are you a plant lover or gardener? You can order your seeds from a wonderful Maine company and support Porter Memorial Library at the same time! Place your orders online by scanning the QR code here or stopping by the library for an order form, 92 Court Street Machias.

Then, mark your calendars for Saturday, March 29, when the library hosts its annual Porter Memorial Library Plant Swap and Sale, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Do you have houseplants? If you’re willing, now is a great time to start cuttings to swap or sell at the library. I have a massive clivia that needs splitting, and some String of Pearls I can start, too.

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