Piscataquis Observer

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Photo courtesy of Lynn Gerrish/Penquis Valley School COSTA RICA EXPLORERS -- Penquis Valley High School students, from left, Sydney Fowles, Katelyn Bolstridge, Cymeria Robshaw, Hope Grant, Camryn Rolfe and Emily Herbest and Spanish teacher Michele Cabral will be spending April vacation in Costa Rica immersed in the Central American nation’s culture, exploring the rainforest and more. The students have been busy fundraising for their upcoming journey and the community support has been vital in making their trip a reality.

Photo courtesy of Lynn Gerrish/Penquis Valley School COSTA RICA EXPLORERS -- Penquis Valley High School students, from left, Sydney Fowles, Katelyn Bolstridge, Cymeria Robshaw, Hope Grant, Camryn Rolfe and Emily Herbest and Spanish teacher Michele Cabral will be spending April vacation in Costa Rica immersed in the Central American nation’s culture, exploring the rainforest and more. The students have been busy fundraising for their upcoming journey and the community support has been vital in making their trip a reality.

Penquis Valley group going on Costa Rican trip of a lifetime for April vacation

Next month a half dozen Penquis Valley High School students will be immersed in a different culture and environment, switching from pine tree forests to rainforests, as they spend April vacation in Central America on their “Exploring Costa Rica’s Natural Wonders” trip with Spanish teacher Michele Cabral through EF Education Tours.

News Browse News

Sebec residents favor HAD 4 charter amendments for citizens vote on merger

Citizens of the 13 Hospital Administration District 4 member communities should have a voice in determining the fate of the potential merger between the district’s Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft and the statewide Northern Light Health system, Sebec residents indicated with their vote at a special town meeting during the evening of March 21 at the Harland A. Ladd Municipal Building.

Judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to halt Mayo’s merger with Northern Light

A Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to halt the ongoing merger between Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft with Northern Light Health, the statewide health care organization that includes Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

D-F police officer and young assistant deliver Krispy Kreme donuts for FA band

The Foxcroft Academy Marching Band’s most recent fundraiser for a return trip to Disney World involved selling Krispy Kreme donuts to the community. On March 22 Foxcroft Academy/SeDoMoCha School Resource Officer Pete Dennis volunteered his time to help deliver the donuts around town, joking that what is funner than a cop delivering donuts.

Dexter Seeds host first dialogue session with students

Dexter Regional High School’s Seeds Of Peace students led a dialogue session on Tuesday, March 19. Student leaders from clubs and organizations at the high school were invited to address issues and begin to discuss solutions.

Sports Browse Sports

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Biologists propose 12.8 percent increase in moose permits for 2019 hunt

Maine wildlife biologists on March 21 proposed a slight increase in the number of moose permits for the coming seasons. If approved, the number of permitted hunters would jump from 2,500 to 2,820, according to a Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife spokesman.

Foxcroft Youth, SeDoMoCha teams wrestle at Dexter tourney

The Foxcroft Youth and SeDoMoCha Middle School wrestling teams competed at the Dexter Youth Wrestling Tournament held at the Ridge View Community School March 16.The squads continue to improve every week and are always given their all. Congratulations to the wrestlers that placed!

Students head outside for inaugural SeDoMoCha Ice Fishing Derby

On Saturday, March 16 the Eagle’s Explorers (outdoor club) teamed with Mountain’s Market (Travis Belote and Kerr Dickson) to hold the first SeDoMoCha Ice Fishing Derby on Snow’s Pond. All SeDoMoCha students were welcome to fish for prizes provided by Mountain’s Market and its vendors.

Robshaw earns indoor track all-conference honors

Penquis Valley High School senior Cymeria Robshaw received a trio of postseason honors on the Penobscot Valley Conference/Eastern Maine Indoor Track League All-Conference Team.

Opinion Browse Opinion

Column8 hours ago

Job open for literate, friendly thinker

I am doing something these last two weeks I once did all the time, but not much the last several years. For about 30 years I owned a circa 1820 post-and-beam Cape with an El. That house always needed fixing or sprucing. And I was lucky to have neighbors, friends and family I could hire to tackle the tricky stuff (electrical wiring, plumbing), but I wanted to do as much of the home repair as possible. I was curious much more than I was trying to save a buck as a do-it-yourselfer.

Column2 days ago

Common Threads — making real connections improves health

I am always energized in the spring. This year, as so often before, I am in awe of the many opportunities we have in our community to grow more inclusive, more engaged, more healthy. So I am writing today about opportunity.

Column2 days ago

Land conservation matters, in a neighborhood and in the forest

Thanks to the hard work of Maine’s congressional delegation, on March 12, the Land and Water Conservation Fund was permanently reauthorized when a bipartisan public lands package was signed into law. Since 1965, the fund has supported community projects all across the country.

Column3 days ago

Why big sports contracts don’t bother me

This week, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout signed a new contract that is worth $430 million over the next 12 years, giving him the largest contract in North American professional sports history.

Living Browse Living

Upcoming workshop on The Alexander Technique

Do you suffer from back, neck or joint pain? Do you experience chronic muscle stiffness or tension? Do you have anxiety or stress-related conditions or have vocal or breathing problems? An upcoming workshop on The Alexander Technique might be just what you need.

Paper mache workshop coming to Abbott Memorial Library

Photo courtesy of Abbott Memorial LibraryHARRY THE LION — Alicia Millette holds a paper mache lion that was created in the Abbott Memorial Library’s Maker Space.

Monthly discussion to look at ‘Humanity’s Phase Shift?’

On Friday April 5 Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) will hold its next public discussion, the topic of which will be “Humanity’s Phase Shift.” Faced with rising environmental, social, economic and political problems across the planet, human beings are recognizing that the old governing systems based on competition and rivalry which have produced remarkable results for our species in the past are no longer workable as we approach 8 billion of us.

SoupStock April 6 at Unitarian Universalist Church

SoupStock 2019 will be held Saturday, April 6 as a fundraising event to benefit the food cupboard at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sangerville and Dover-Foxcroft. Patterned after Empty Bowls, an international project to fight hunger and personalized by artists and art organizations on a community level, SoupStock has involved the creation and decoration of over 200 bowls made from clay.

PCES recognizes February HEROs

More than 20 students in the younger grades at Piscataquis Community Elementary School are now HEROs for their outstanding conduct during the month of February. The HERO honorees were recognized with the presentation of certificates during an elementary-wide morning meeting on Wednesday, March 20.

Registration open for Birding by Ear workshop

Spring is just around the corner, believe it or not, so it is time to get ready to welcome Maine’s birds back to the area. If you love birds and want to learn more about how to identify them by their songs and calls, this workshop is for you. The Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) is hosting a new, free workshop this year called Birding by Ear and we are fortunate enough to have Bob Duchesne, Maine Birding Trails creator and Maine bird guide, lead the presentation.