Numerous state, local and federal officials and leaders of Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) were in Eastport on August 24 to see a demonstration of the largest ocean tidal energy generator in the United States and to celebrate ORPC's successful generation of energy through the use of tidal currents in Cobscook Bay.

Newell Lewey, a member of the Sipayik Criminal Justice Commission, knows first-hand what it's like to be a victim of what he believes is racial profiling. The Passamaquoddy man says, "I'm 80% random myself," pointing out that over three-quarters of the time that he crosses the border between the U.S. and Canada he is either questioned extensively or detained and searched. "When it happens again and again, is it random or is it because I'm crossing so infrequently that they stop me most every time?"

Robbinston voters soundly defeated the local school budget of over $944,000 that was put to referendum vote on August 24 as part of the budget validation process, after initially approving the budget a week before. Article 1, which asked if voters favored the school budget adopted at the August 17 town meeting, was turned down by a vote of 116 against and 40 in favor. Article 2, which asked if voters wished to continue the budget validation process for three more years, was approved by a vote of 111 to 45. Voter turnout was high, at about 38%.

Voters in the Town of Perry came together at their annual meeting on the night of August 24 to voice their opinions and cast votes on 57 articles presented to them by town officials. On the beautiful clear night, emotions ran high inside the Perry Elementary School, where over 60 residents gathered to go over the line-by-line items.

A collision with a whale that sent five boaters into the waters of Head Harbour Passage on Saturday evening, August 21, had a happy ending when all were rescued within 20 minutes.