The Port of Eastport will again be hosting a U.S. Navy vessel during the Old Home Week festivities, which are being held from Sunday, June 30, to Saturday, July 6. While the visit by the U.S.S. Stout was unexpectedly cancelled on June 28, along with Fourth of July visits by all U.S. Navy ships along the eastern seaboard, quick action by U.S. Senator Susan Collins and Captain Bob Peacock of Eastport resulted in a replacement vessel, the U.S.S. Jason Dunham DDG 109, being secured for a visit over the Fourth. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer will arrive in Eastport on July 3.
     This year longtime Fourth of July Committee co-chairs J. Roland Mitchell and Barbara Hicks McPhail are handing the reigns of leadership to Whitney Vinson and Sonya Sullivan.
     "Earlier this year brother [J. Roland] Mitchell and I sat down to talk about the Eastport 4th of July and Old Home Week 2019 and what it might look like in years to come," says McPhail. "We also talked about the new generation and how they have stepped up to the plate, coming out to meetings, bringing new ideas and making things happen. It was a huge relief when Whitney Vinson and Sonya Sullivan agreed to serve as co-chairs of the committee, because we knew they would keep with the long history and tradition yet bring forward some new and exciting events as well." She adds that "the future of Eastport 4th of July looks very bright for years to come!"
     "I've always been very dedicated to keeping history alive in Eastport," agrees Sullivan. "I think it's important to get fresh faces and new ideas to keep things going. I've been a part of the committee for a long time now. I'm anxious to see what the 4th of July has in store for Whitney and me."
     A full line-up of events has been scheduled from June 30 through July 5.

Sunday, June 30
     The 13th annual Canada Day Sailboat Race will begin off the Eastport breakwater at 1 p.m. and proceed to St. Andrews.

Monday, July 1
     The 152nd Canada Day events at Deer Island Point include the  annual Motorcycle Show n' Shine, barbecue and Little People's Parade and pageant, beginning at 12 noon. A fireworks display will be at dusk.
     Eastport events include the frisbee contest at library park at 1 p.m., followed by the limbo competition there at 1:30 p.m., bike races on Deep Cove Road at 3 p.m., and the annual Old      Fashioned Country Rib Barbecue at the Cobscook Bay Resource Center from 5 to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 2
     Among the events on Welcome Home Day, which will include the arrival of the U.S.S. Stout, are G-force laser tag and rounds of gaga ball in library park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and caricature face painting and henna tattoos at library park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Events at Overlook Park include the children's cupcake decorating contest at 10 a.m., watermelon eating contest at 11 a.m., and Little Mr. and Miss 4th of July contest at 1 p.m.
     StudioWorks will hold an open house, photo booth and drop-in art activities from 2 to 4 p.m. The pet show begins at 4 p.m. at Overlook Park; the Shead High School Class of 1969 reunion will begin at 4 p.m. at the Lobster Crate in Perry. The Shead Class of 1999 reunion will be held at Quoddy Bay Lobster on Sea Street at 6:30 p.m.; and the Big Wheel Race will take place from Cummings Garage to Overlook Park at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 3
     Armed Services Day will include the Dale C. Lincoln Kids' One Mile Fun Run from the Boat School to the Dead River office at 9 a.m.; the Border Historical Society auction from 9 to 11 a.m.; the Tiny Tots Fair in library park at 9:30 a.m.; a summer café from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and then pan-seared Cobscook scallops from 12:30 to 3 p.m., both at the Cobscook Bay Resource Center; the Miss 4th of July contest at Overlook Park at 12 noon; the strawberry shortcake sale at Peavey Memorial Library at 1 p.m.; and a 1 p.m. book-signing by local mystery author Sarah Graves of Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake in front of the S.L. Wadsworth store.
     A firemen's muster will be held on Water Street at 2 p.m., and a self-guided open house building tour will take place from 2 to 4 p.m., beginning at the Tides Institute & Museum of Art. The Codfish Relay Race downtown begins at 3:30 p.m., and the Moose Island Follies will be performed at the Eastport Arts Center at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Live music by the Stillwaters Band will be performed from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Overlook Park. The Shead Class of 2009 reunion will be held at the Happy Crab from 7 to 9 p.m., and the Torchlight Parade will march through downtown at dusk.

Thursday, July 4
     The 243rd Independence Day celebration will begin with a flag-raising at the breakwater at dawn, followed by the blueberry pancake breakfast at the airport from 7 to 11 a.m.; Calithumpian Parade forming at the post office at 8:30 a.m.; land sports downtown at 9 a.m., with the penny scramble immediately following; water sports on the pier starting at 10 a.m.; the Rubber Ducky Race from the fish pier to the WaCo Diner pier at 10 a.m.; the Buddy Allen Car, Truck and Bike Show at 10 a.m.; the blueberry pie eating contest at Overlook Park at 11 a.m.; and the public crabmeat and assorted sandwiches at the Eastport Senior Center at 11 a.m.
     A fish chowder luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. at Christ Church Institute on Key Street; the Doll Carriage, Wagon and Trike Parade will leave from the post office at 12 noon; and Elvis Presley in concert featuring Mike Bravener will begin at Overlook Park at 12:15 p.m. The StudioWorks open house, photo booth and drop-in activities will be held from 1 to 4 p.m.
     The Grand Independence Day Parade begins at 2 p.m.; Barbara's School of Dance will perform at Overlook Park at 6:30 p.m.; and the fireworks will begin at dusk on the waterfront.
Friday, July 5
     The Shead Class of 1989 reunion will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Eastport Chowderhouse; the Shead Class of 1979 reunion will begin at 5 p.m. at Rossport, Quoddy Village; and the Tongue in Cheek Jazz Band will perform at 7 p.m. at the Eastport Arts Center.

Saturday, July 6
     The registration for the Charles E. Davis 7-mile race will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 at Shead High School, and it will begin at Perry corner at 9 a.m. The Summer Workshop Series: Garden Stone Casting with Richard Klyver, for ages 12 and up, will be offered at the Eastport Arts Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and the Moonlight Movie Miracle on Ice will be shown at the Sutherland Amphitheater at dusk.