The Quoddy Tides

10/13/2025

This year's Down East Living with Cancer Conference, held on October 3 at the Beth C. Wright Cancer Center in Baileyville, highlighted the vital importance of equitable access to care and the power of shared knowledge in the cancer journey.

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This year's Down East Living with Cancer Conference, held on October 3 at the Beth C. Wright Cancer Center in Baileyville, highlighted the vital importance of equitable access to care and the power of shared knowledge in the cancer journey.

10/13/2025

Questions regarding beach access are being raised in both Eastport and across Maine as residents and businesses test the limits of what's possible in a state that allows private property rights to extend to a beach's low‑water line.

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Questions regarding beach access are being raised in both Eastport and across Maine as residents and businesses test the limits of what's possible in a state that allows private property rights to extend to a beach's low‑water line.

10/13/2025

A private developer plans to start work in January on building a 66‑apartment residential building on the site of the old Border Area Community Arena in St. Stephen. The Municipal District of St. Stephen posted the announcement online October 3 that The Dock Inc. headed by Tressa Bevington of St. Andrews will undertake this project.

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A private developer plans to start work in January on building a 66‑apartment residential building on the site of the old Border Area Community Arena in St. Stephen.

10/13/2025

The unusual weather cycle of the past year – which saw ample early rain in the spring followed by drought and high heat in the summer – has had a disastrous effect on the wild blueberry crops across Washington County, with some growers reporting around 50% lower harvests. Beyond the changing weather patterns farmers are seeing, the industry is contending with higher costs, a decreased labor supply and a new invasive species.

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The unusual weather cycle of the past year – which saw ample early rain in the spring followed by drought and high heat in the summer – has had a disastrous effect on the wild blueberry crops across Washington County, with some growers reporting around 50% lower harvests.

10/13/2025

The prolonged drought is having increasingly dire effects on Grand Manan, as people are reporting dry wells, and some have been without water for extended periods. Some have been using relatives' water and others are hauling jugs. A Facebook poll posted by a resident on September 20 drew 287 responses, with 25% indicating their well was dry or almost dry, while 30% said they had adequate water. The remaining answers were "I'm concerned" at 39% or "don't know" at 6%.

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The prolonged drought is having increasingly dire effects on Grand Manan, as people are reporting dry wells, and some have been without water for extended periods. Some have been using relatives' water and others are hauling jugs.

10/10/2025

Today's issue!

09/29/2025

Grand Mananer Jeanne Ingalls recently reached a milestone with a hobby that has grown into an island‑wide project to spread cheer and lift spirits. Ingalls makes greeting card booklets for birthdays, Christmas, get‑well and other occasions, which she distributes to the nursing home, members of her church and others in the community, and on Sunday, September 21, she presented her 1,000th booklet to Kathy Frost for her birthday.

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Grand Mananer Jeanne Ingalls recently reached a milestone with a hobby that has grown into an island‑wide project to spread cheer and lift spirits. Ingalls makes greeting card booklets for birthdays, Christmas, get‑well and other occasions...

09/29/2025

Fifteen‑year‑old Cole Brown was up on a ladder building a shed when he heard a clamor coming from the alders behind him. He'd been hearing noises coming from the woods for hours, but this was a noise of a different magnitude.

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Fifteen‑year‑old Cole Brown was up on a ladder building a shed when he heard a clamor coming from the alders behind him. He'd been hearing noises coming from the woods for hours, but this was a noise of a different magnitude.

09/29/2025

A proposed dredging project off the Eastport breakwater to allow larger cruise ships to tie up at the pier instead of being at anchor in the bay is causing some concern in the community – both about possible environmental impacts and about whether the island city is prepared for or wants more cruise ship traffic downtown. Eastport Port Authority officials say they are aware of those concerns.

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A proposed dredging project off the Eastport breakwater to allow larger cruise ships to tie up at the pier instead of being at anchor in the bay is causing some concern in the community...

09/29/2025

In the March 20, 2025, report to the Washington County Commission about the recently completed 2021 county budget audit, auditor Stephen Hopkins wrote of a number of significant accounting and internal control deficiencies that prevented the detection and correction of "misstatements on a timely basis in addition to ensuring that the assets of the county are being safeguarded."

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In the March 20, 2025, report to the Washington County Commission about the recently completed 2021 county budget audit, auditor Stephen Hopkins wrote of a number of significant accounting and internal control deficiencies...

09/29/2025

An estimated 200 people filed into the courtroom in Machias on September 11, filling it beyond capacity for a public hearing by the Washington County commissioners to hear about the proposed $11 million bond to cover the recently discovered budget shortfall and to listen to what many of their neighbors had to say.

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An estimated 200 people filed into the courtroom in Machias on September 11, filling it beyond capacity for a public hearing by the Washington County commissioners to hear about the proposed $11 million bond to cover the recently discovered budget shortfall...

09/29/2025

Date correction: The Maine Wild Blueberry Association meeting in Orono will be held October 1.

Summary:
The industry is facing numerous challenges and at this meeting we will seek to identify solutions and areas where progress can be made. Like all Commission meetings, there will be opportunity for public input. The meeting will take place from 9 - 3pm, October 1st, in the McIntire Room at the Buchanan Alumni House, University of Maine in Orono.