Join us on Twitter @TheCalaisAdv Like us on Facebook "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light." VOL. 185, NO. 42 OCTOBER 15, 2020 © 2020 The Calais Advertiser Inc. $1.50 (tax included) Inside - Special 2020 Election Voter’s Guide Even Amid Pandemic, Community Comes Through for Turkey-a-Thon Jayna Smith ais. On Monday, Demmons [email protected] said the final totals from all seven locations were being The coronavirus pandemic tallied, and surprisingly, the brought some uncertainties end amount will surpass last for this year’s Classic Hits year’s approximate $35,000. Turkey-a-Thon, specifically From all the donations re- whether it would prevent ceived, Demmons said all ten people from coming out to food pantries in the county make donations or whether will receive gift certificates donations would be as great as purchased from local grocery in prior years. When the day stores to distribute to folks in ended on Friday, however, the need. In addition to those, 16th annual Turkey-a-Thon three other organizations ben- proved to be a huge success. efit from the Classic Hits Volunteers collected mon- Turkey-a-Thon: Washington etary donations at Woodland County Community Col- IGA in Baileyville, Bayside lege’s food pantry, the Calais Market in Milbridge, Four Lions Club Santa’s Helpers Corners Shop-n-Save in Co- Program, and the emergency lumbia, First National Bank shelter Next Step in Machias, in Eastport, Flat Iron Corner which Demmons said often in Lubec, Dunkin in Machias, has families staying over the and VL Tammaro in Cal- holidays. Rotarians Charlie McAlpin and Joyce Maker were just two of the many volunteers across the county for the 16th annual Classic Hits Turkey-a-Thon. The pair are pictured with Classic Hits 92.7’s Jeff Sen. Collins Visits Calais Demmons (center). (Photo by Jayna Smith) Each gift certificate, valued at $12, will allow a fam- ily in need to purchase their holiday-meal turkey. The day started a bit slow with regards to donations coming in, according to Dem- mons, but the last hour or so, he said every collection site was seeing a jump in the number of donations brought in. New this year to make do- nating more convenient, Dem- mons added the smartphone app Venmo as an alternative to coming by in person. That, he said, brought in many dona- tions from not just locally, but from out of state as well. Chris Taylor, of The Blue Devil Fund, speaks on air with Jeff Dem- (continued on page 9) mons about his program and its annual donation to the Turkey-a- Thon, just one of the annual donations made locally by the fund. (Photo by Jayna Smith) McVicar Commander Michael McLean and Sen. Susan Collins at Karen’s Scores Her Diner during the senator’s Tuesday visit to Calais. (Photo submit- ted by Michael McLean)) See page 2 for the full story. 100th Goal Calais High School senior Sophia McVicar scored four goals on We need your Thursday to help the Blue Devils remain undefeated with an 8-1 win over the Woodland Dragons. Veteran Those goals also got Sophie to We meet/beat ANY competitor’s ad price! her 100th high school career photo goal, a feat only reached by one other Blue Devils girls soccer player, Meaghan Cavanaugh, submissions. who graduated in 2013. Sophia is pictured here with her parents Check out prattcars.com See page 13. Bill and Kim McVicar. (Photo US Route 1, Calais • 207-454-0600 by Brenda Batson) CA000001776 PAGE 2 Fatal Fire in Robbinston Jayna Smith tion. scene. [email protected] Robbinston Fire Chief Rob- The cause of the fire is still ert Merrill said there were no under investigation. According State Fire Marshals investi- other injuries associated with to the fire marshal, the blaze gated a fatal structure fire that the fire. started near the kitchen and occurred in Robbinston on “The report [on social me- entryway of the building. Wednesday, Oct. 7. dia] that ambulances took two Robbinston Fire Depart- At around 6 p.m., fire crews people to the hospital was false. ment received mutual aid from responded to the fire at 88 There were no injuries at the Calais Fire-EMS, Perry Fire Ridge Road. According to scene,” the chief said. Department, and Charlotte Fire Fire Marshal Joseph Thomas, Merrill added that one fire- Department. a 66-year-old man was found fighter was “blown off a porch” deceased. due to a possible propane cyl- The man’s body was sent to inder exploding on the inside, the Office of the Chief Medical but that firefighter was unin- Examiner for an autopsy, and jured and was able to continue it was determined that Wayne fighting the blaze after being (Photo courtesy of the Maine Morrell died of smoke inhala- checked by EMS crews at the State Fire Marshal) Trap Shoot Fundraiser to Benefit Lions Santa’s Helpers Program Jayna Smith with only shotguns permit- Both novice and experi- towards the Lions Club’s an- any 2021 memberships pur- [email protected] ted. For each clay bird shot, enced shooters are invited to nual Santa Helpers Program. chased. The cost for a family the shooter will receive one participate in the Lobster Trap The club’s Weenie Wagon membership is $30, or $25 for The men in the Calais Lions lobster. Shoot, including youth shoot- will be on site with hot dogs, one person. Club have come up with a Lion Ricky Bailey said the ers with a good knowledge of fries, and beverages available The Calais Lions Club Lob- unique fundraiser to benefit club decided on such an event firearms safety and a parent for purchase and the men will ster Trap Shoot takes place on its upcoming Santa’s Help- due to trap and skeet for sport present. The cost is $10 per have raffle tickets available Saturday, Oct. 24th beginning ers program, a Lobster Trap shooting already offered at person, per round, and partici- as well. at 10 a.m. at Calais Rod & Gun Shoot, where participants have the Calais Rod and Gun Club. pants can purchase and play as According to the Calais Club, Charlotte. One can learn chances to win--you guessed And, the timing of the event many rounds as they wish. Lions Club, the Calais Rod more about this event and oth- it--lobsters! aligns with hunting season. All money raised from the & Gun Club will also include ers by following Calais Lions Those wishing to take part Participants will need to Lobster Trap Shoot will go the remainder of 2020 with Club on Facebook. will have a random chance to provide their own ammuni- hit off colored clay birds from tion, and a limited amount of 25 shots, shooting five times ammunition will be available from five different stations, for purchase at the event. Senator Collins Meets with Friends and Supporters in Calais Help Bring Better Broadband to Your Community U.S. Senator Susan Collins morning, which was the per- wastewater, at the Eastport made a stop in Calais on Tues- fect way to begin a busy day Municipal Airport. Senator Join Sunrise County Economic Council and the Island Institute for day morning as part of her “All in Washington County,” said Collins, the Chairman of the an informational discussion about Community-Guided Broadband of Maine Bus Tour,” which is Senator Collins. Transportation Appropriations “The ‘All of Maine’ bus planning, funding, and development in Washington County. taking her to all 16 of Maine’s Subcommittee, secured a $5.8 counties. tour is a Maine election year million grant for the project. “I always enjoy visiting Cal- tradition and my favorite part Other stops in Washington October 21 at 2PM via Zoom - you may either call in by of every campaign,” Senator County included a tour of Bar telephone or join us online. For more information and to register visit ais and speaking with members of the community. I had a great Collins continued. “This has Harbor Foods in Whiting, a sunrisecounty.org/community-broadband/. breakfast at Karen’s Diner this been a tremendously difficult downtown walk of Machias, MVNO000008763 year for our state and for the and a visit to Helen’s Restau- nation, but Mainers are resil- rant in Machias for pie. ient, and we look out for each During the “All of Maine” other. I will continue to work bus tour, Senator Collins is hard every day to deliver for visiting small businesses, at- the people of our state.” tending community events, and After having breakfast in listening to Mainers from every Regional campus of the University of Maine Calais, Senator Collins con- corner of the state. She is also tinued on to Eastport, where discussing her ongoing efforts she delivered keynote remarks to deliver economic relief to at the groundbreaking cer- Maine amid the COVID-19 emony for runway and light- pandemic. ing improvements, as well as Calais Alternative Care Assisted Living 4 Locations in Calais - 1 in Robbinston WE HAVE TWO IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR PRIVATE ROOMS WITH BATH We accommodate the elderly, as well as those with mental health and physical disabilities. ▪ Home-cooked meals ▪ Laundry services Earn your degree or ▪ Private rooms available ▪ Aid with personal care ▪ Aid with dispensing medications certificate online. ▪ Transportation to doctors’ appointments and activities Don’t let a busy schedule stand in the way of reaching your education goals. The University of Maine at Machias offers fully online two-year, four-year and certificate tracks in Homes and staff are state licensed.