The Quoddy Tides

12/16/2024

The connection between Santa and fire departments is historically strong -- and not just because both are tied to chimneys and have modes of transportation colored bright red. While communities around the Passamaquoddy Bay widely hoist Santa onto the top of a firetruck as part of their Christmas parades, two local traditions see the jolly figure making the rounds in a unique way.

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The connection between Santa and fire departments is historically strong -- and not just because both are tied to chimneys and have modes of transportation colored bright red.

12/16/2024

With the opening of the scallop season in Cobscook Bay on December 2, fishermen are seeing the highest prices ever for their catches, which have been good, and more draggers in the bay than during the past few years. Those fishing farther up in the bay also have been finding many green crabs, an invasive species that eats clams, scallops and sea urchins.

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With the opening of the scallop season in Cobscook Bay on December 2, fishermen are seeing the highest prices ever for their catches, which have been good, and more draggers in the bay than during the past few years.

12/16/2024

The temporary bridge that was installed as a short-term measure while the replacement of the Machias d**e is being planned is itself going to be replaced, following a decision by the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT). The news came in the form of a letter from MDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note to the Machias Select Board even as the Upper Machias Bay Master Plan (UMBMP) group continues its work to focus on long-term economic, cultural and environmental viability solutions for the region.

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The temporary bridge that was installed as a short-term measure while the replacement of the Machias d**e is being planned is itself going to be replaced, following a decision by the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT).

12/16/2024

“This is the largest increase in my tenure as chair of the county budget advisory committee," said Lewis Pinkham, who has served on the committee for 24 years. On November 21 the committee voted 5-4 to approve next year's Washington County budget, with a 22% increase in the amount raised by county taxes. The vote was preceded by a meeting that went for over three hours, with the session in the county courthouse being standing room only and with public participation taking place throughout the morning. This was the latest the budget committee has convened before submitting a county budget.

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“This is the largest increase in my tenure as chair of the county budget advisory committee,

12/16/2024

On the eve of a weather event promising to bring high winds and waters, a group of stakeholders convened in Machias to discuss strategies for mitigating storm damage and to share resources that have been compiled since last winter's devastating storms. The December 10 meeting, organized by Maine Sea Grant, the University of Maine, NOAA and several others, highlighted the impacts of the January storms on Washington County communities along with vulnerabilities that have become apparent as a result.

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On the eve of a weather event promising to bring high winds and waters, a group of stakeholders convened in Machias to discuss strategies for mitigating storm damage and to share resources that have been compiled since last winter's devastating storms.

12/14/2024

To our dear Canadian subscribers:

The latest issue of The Quoddy Tides is now available on the newsstands on Campobello, Grand Manan, Deer Island and St. Stephen. We thank you for your patience in regards to the ongoing Canada Post strike and hope the strike will be over soon.

12/13/2024

Out today!

11/26/2024

To our dear Canadian subscribers,

Due to the ongoing strike of postal workers in Canada, there will be a delay in receiving the Quoddy Tides. We thank you for your patience and your continued support of local news.

Warmly,
Your Quoddy Tides news team

11/25/2024

The Quoddy Tides has been delivered to points in Campobello as of today (Monday, November 25) after being delayed by customs last week. We are sorry for the delay!

11/25/2024

Pauline Cates took most of an hour on November 16 in the company of an appreciative audience inside the Lubec Memorial Library to tell stories from her days as a teacher, principal and member of the community known as Whiting Village School.

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Pauline Cates took most of an hour on November 16 in the company of an appreciative audience inside the Lubec Memorial Library to tell stories from her days as a teacher, principal and member of the community known as Whiting Village School.

11/25/2024

A listening session focused around the sardine industry was hosted by the Penobscot Marine Museum on November 12 at the Lubec Community Outreach Center. Those invited were any who had participated in the Lubec sardine industry and any who were interested in hearing what they said. Museum curator Cipperly Good introduced the session, which was then facilitated by Tora Johnson, director of the Sustainable Prosperity Initiative of the Sunrise County Economic Council. Nearly 20 participants, ranging from former packers and plant laborers to family members of former owners, crowded into the room. All were asked to recall the days when the canning industry was profitable to the days when it closed.

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A listening session focused around the sardine industry was hosted by the Penobscot Marine Museum on November 12 at the Lubec Community Outreach Center.

11/25/2024

Look's Gourmet Food, which operates the last seafood cannery in Maine and does business as Bar Harbor Foods, has announced to its 20 employees in Whiting that the facility will be closed next month. In 2016 Sea Watch International purchased Look's Gourmet Food, which has a rich history spanning over 108 years and operates four facilities, including the one in Whiting.

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Look's Gourmet Food, which operates the last seafood cannery in Maine and does business as Bar Harbor Foods, has announced to its 20 employees in Whiting that the facility will be closed next month.

11/25/2024

Authorities have positively identified human remains found in St. Andrews as those of a former Lubec man who was reported missing in early July after going out on a paddleboard near West Quoddy Head. Harold Dean Jackson III, known as Dean, age 46, had been reported missing on July 6 after heading out on the water from the boathouse that his family owns near West Quoddy Station where he had been staying. Numerous agencies then conducted an extensive search of the area, and his paddleboard was found near Upper Duck Pond on Campobello, which is across the Lubec Channel from West Quoddy Station.

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Authorities have positively identified human remains found in St. Andrews as those of a former Lubec man who was reported missing in early July after going out on a paddleboard near West Quoddy Head.

11/25/2024

Last winter a temporary bridge was installed over a portion of the Machias d**e harboring a failing baffle system that for more than 100 years has regulated the flow of water between Middle River, Machias River and Machias Bay. The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) deemed the d**e untenable years ago and has been back and forth between two plans for its remediation -- a bridge to span the waterway or an in kind replacement. A new collaboration has since emerged that might assist with determining the end result.

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Last winter a temporary bridge was installed over a portion of the Machias d**e harboring a failing baffle system that for more than 100 years has regulated the flow of water between Middle River, Machias River and Machias Bay.

11/25/2024

An environmental advocacy organization has filed notice of its intent to sue Cooke Aquaculture for Clean Water Act violations at its salmon sites in Maine, including those in Cobscook Bay and Machias Bay, while the company strongly denies the allegations. Over the past 10 years, though, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued 26 warnings and notices to Cooke and reached one consent agreement that imposed a fine for violations of its Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MEPDES) permit for net-pen aquaculture.

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An environmental advocacy organization has filed notice of its intent to sue Cooke Aquaculture for Clean Water Act violations at its salmon sites in Maine, including those in Cobscook Bay and Machias Bay, while the company strongly denies the allegations.

11/22/2024

On newsstands today!

11/11/2024

Former President Donald Trump won a decisive victory in a deeply divided country in the November 5 U.S. presidential election, after some states that went for President Biden in 2020 turned red, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia.

Read the full story: https://quoddytides.com/trump-elected-as-republicans-win-in-washington-county.html

11/11/2024

Efforts are under way across Washington County to expand access to flexible childcare -- including the upcoming opening of a new facility at the former Charlotte Elementary School -- in an attempt to meet unmet need. The county currently faces one of the largest gaps in the state between children under the age of six and available licensed childcare slots, according to Tess Gionet at Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI).

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Efforts are under way across Washington County to expand access to flexible childcare -- including the upcoming opening of a new facility at the former Charlotte Elementary School -- in an attempt to meet unmet need.