Piscataquis Observer

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Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom VALLEY GRANGE AD WINNERS -- On April 4 the Valley Grange of Guilford announced the winners in the organization’s 11th annual Newspapers in Education advertising contest as Piscataquis Community Elementary School third- and fourth-graders all drew an advertisement to represent the organization in the Piscataquis Observer Newspapers in Education supplement. From left is grade 3 winner Macie Littlefield and grade 4 students Ruth Hartford, Prudence Bridge, and Danika Wyman -- third to first place respectively.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom VALLEY GRANGE AD WINNERS -- On April 4 the Valley Grange of Guilford announced the winners in the organization’s 11th annual Newspapers in Education advertising contest as Piscataquis Community Elementary School third- and fourth-graders all drew an advertisement to represent the organization in the Piscataquis Observer Newspapers in Education supplement. From left is grade 3 winner Macie Littlefield and grade 4 students Ruth Hartford, Prudence Bridge, and Danika Wyman -- third to first place respectively.

Valley Grange honors student advertisement designers

For 11 years the Valley Grange of Guilford has sponsored advertisements in the Piscataquis Observer’s annual Newspapers in Education supplement, which features business advertisement content created and drawn by school children from around the region.

News Browse News

Towns schedule votes on Mayo merger

The towns that make up Hospital Administrative District 4 (HAD 4) are planning for public votes regarding the potential merger between Mayo Regional Hospital and Northern Light Health. The votes will be held on a variety of dates set by each individual town as a part of a town meeting format. The result of the votes will give legislators guidance on whether or not to submit legislation to change the HAD 4 charter to allow for the merger.

Dexter Age Friendly group receives grant for town office stairlift

Following application in March, the Plummer Memorial Foundation in Dexter granted $4,600 for a stairlift to improve the safety of those trying to access second floor services in the town office. The money was quickly granted, and the stairlift was installed on March 27.

Full Plates Full Potential awards $500 to Milo summer food program

Full Plates Full Potential, Maine’s only statewide childhood hunger organization is proud to announce the Piscataquis County 2018 Summer Food Program winner. The town of Milo will receive a $500 Summer Food Grant to support the 2019 summer program. Full Plates Full Potential’s inaugural 16 County Competition was launched to highlight the critical work summer food programs do reaching the 82,000 children who qualify for free and reduced price school meals.

GFWC/Miosac Club honors high school artists

A dozen pieces created by students at Foxcroft Academy and Piscataquis Community High School were on display at the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/Miosac Club’s annual art show on Sunday, March 24 at The Commons at Central Hall.

Sports Browse Sports

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Portalatin and Pearsall run in Boston Marathon

Two runners with ties to the region were among the more than 30,000 entrants in the 123rd Boston Marathon on April 15.

Piscataquis County Ice Arena to open in August

Construction of the new $5.5 million Piscataquis County Ice Arena (PCIA) in is taking shape on the interior of the building. Work started last summer and has continued through the snow and cold of the winter months, pouring concrete, adding walls, and now, leveling the area that will be the playing surface.

Little Ten Conference to remain largely unchanged under proposed classification

High school football classification may look different in many parts of the state next fall with various programs moving up and down classes and the addition of a pair of eight-man divisions. The schedule for Foxcroft Academy and Dexter Regional High School (which has been a cooperative with Piscataquis Community High School in recent seasons) should not vary too much under a proposal given unanimous support April 8 by two Maine Principals’ Association committees.

SeDoMoCha MS athletic director helps honor his father

The State Award of Merit, awarded by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, was presented to Archer by his oldest son Cameron, who is an athletic administrator at SeDoMoCha Middle School in Dover-Foxcroft.

Opinion Browse Opinion

Column7 hours ago

How do we lower Maine’s tax burden?

Taxes are a complicated thing. You are taxed in many ways, not just on your income, and not just by one government. Indeed, American federalism guarantees that you are in fact taxed by your national government, you state government, your county government and your town government, to say nothing of the "fees" you pay to quasi-governmental organizations like licensing boards and industry funds.

Column1 day ago

Dental care bill is a reason to smile

For some people, it’s the menacing whir of a drill, maybe coming from the other room. For others, it’s anxiety about not taking care of themselves before the visit or fear of a painful experience.

Letter4 days ago

A successful merger will keep Mayo Regional Hospital operational

To the Editor; I recently attended the community forum held in Guilford by Mayo Regional Hospital to inform citizens about the proposal to merge with Northern Light Health.

Column6 days ago

Don’t let the Dream Stealers stop you

Our new Postmaster asked me the other day, "Are you retired?" "No," I smiled at her impression of me. I was sorting my mail; some of it went straight to the trash, the rest was coming home with me.

Living Browse Living

Common Threads — Find Your Purpose in Life

When your life has purpose, you have structure needed to move forward, and you feel fully engaged in life. To gain a sense of purpose, search for what you CAN do, what you LOVE to do, and what you were BORN to do.

Food sovereignty discussion Monday evening at The Commons

Did you know that Maine was the first state in the nation to pass food sovereignty legislation? Do you understand what food sovereignty is and why it’s important? There will be a Heart of Maine: Food Sovereignty Panel on the topic from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Earth Day, Monday, April 22 at The Commons at Central Hall.

Center Theatre asking for community input

The Center Theatre is looking for input from the community about its events, concessions, pricing and any other feedback from the community. While people are always welcome to send suggestions, Kathy Reardon, the chair of the Theatre Fundraising Committee, developed the survey to encourage everyone to give the Theatre their opinion.

Calendar of events

Upcoming events around the region.

Why Maine hospitals are teaming up instead of competing

Squeezed tightly by the high cost of doing business at a time when federal reimbursements don’t cover expenses and more patients need free care, Maine’s hospitals are looking to each other to survive. Hospital mergers, consolidations and collaborations have been occurring for the past 20 years, but the trend has accelerated during the past five years, experts said.

Omicron Chapter of the DKG Society International discusses women farmers

The local Omicron Chapter of the DKG Society International of distinguished women educators hosted a meeting at Foxcroft Academy on April 4. The topic of the meeting was women farmers .