Death notice, the city of Calais, late commercial hub of Washington County, of complications associated with arterial bypass surgery performed by an international surgical team made up of the New Brunswick and Maine Departments of Transportation.

The heart of this once vibrant community used to be the international border crossing located at the Ferry Point Bridge. This bridge was serviced by a main artery through which overflowed our lifeblood – traffic. Over the years the heart itself was weakened by application of a tourniquet on this main artery; primarily by Canada and U.S. Customs and increased truck traffic.

Local physicians, recognizing the lifeblood of the community was slowed, petitioned their government for a bypass of the narrowed segment of the artery at Ferry Point. This bypass would strengthen the heart of the community (border crossing) by allowing increased flow of the lifeblood traffic.

Pre-surgical consultation with the family seemed to lead to a new connection two miles upstream but still within the body of the city. During pre-op, however, at least one and possibly more, secret surgical meetings of the international surgical team of NBDOT and MDOT decided to go beyond arterial bypass and do a complete heart transplant to a different body seven miles away. The family was not consulted.

This unique procedure allowed traffic to flow through a renewed artery but the heart itself was removed from Calais and the body died as a result. Former residents are sorry they asked for help from their own government.

Mourners are still shaking their heads and plan a memorial service at the vacant lot which was to be the Heritage Center celebrating the former glory of the area. Alas, this too will now either die or move to New Brunswick which will be the recipient of all the lifeblood which used to feed Calais. Donations in memory of the Calais can be given to the Maine Department of Human Services upon whom the once proud residents will surely need to rely for sustenance.

John A. Mitchell

Calais