A number of area residents were recognized at the county-wide Spirit of American Awards ceremony Nov. 15 at the Valley Grange in Guilford.

he Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation has kicked off Phase 2 of the Wayfinding Initiative. Four information kiosks have been installed to help visitors locate the major outdoor public attractions in the Moosehead Lake region.

First National Bank recently announced a $50,000 donation to Foxcroft Academy toward the capital campaign for the construction of a new fieldhouse. The $5.5 million fieldhouse project will provide dedicated space for student activities including field hockey, soccer, wrestling, track, baseball and softball as well as future community use of the facility

Elementary and fifth-graders brought in food for Thanksgiving boxes for families in the community, and middle school students raised pledges in order to fund other items for the Thanksgiving boxes such as turkey, cooking supplies, gravy and anything else needed.

Dexter town officials have been working to retain and attract businesses to the community. One economic development tool available to Maine communities is tax increment financing (TIF) and during a Nov. 14 council meeting Town Manager Trampas King discussed what the community may be able to do.

This will be the 16th annual Thanksgiving dinner offered to the community, by the community. The meal is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 at the Guilford United Methodist Church on the corner of North Main and School streets. Take out meals are available. Delivered meals and rides to the event are available.

The leader of Maine’s second largest health care system is leaving her post for a job at a prominent national lobbying organization for hospitals. Michelle Hood, president and CEO of Northern Light Health, announced Thursday that she has accepted a job as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Hospital Association.

Ah winter… It’s on the way for sure. The north winds have been blowing, hardwood trees are practically leafless, and Mother Nature’s gift of snow has already made an appearance. In this part of Maine thoughts are turning to winter pastimes like skiing, snowshoeing and of course, snowmobiling.

State regulators have given preliminary support to a proposed merger of Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft with Northern Light Health, the statewide health care system that includes Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

A municipal solar power project will not be located at the town airport at the Charles A. Chase Jr. Memorial Field on Pine Street. During a selectmen’s meeting Tuesday night in the Morton Avenue Municipal Building Gymnasium, the board passed a motion to focus on a solar project at an alternate site other than the airport.

On Nov. 4 over 20 educators from across the state converged on Foxcroft Academy, an Apple Distinguished School, to learn about and discuss best practices in educational technology integration, specifically with the use of iPads.

After much consideration, Wilson saw an option he believed to be the most logical. The town of Guilford would retain the C.H. Lightbody Medical Building, relocate the municipal offices there and provide the existing town office space on School Street to the fire/EMS service already housed there. Wilson made the recommendation and the select board endorsed the decision.

The Maine Bicentennial Commission (Maine200) recently awarded the first round of Bicentennial Community Grants. Out of 44 applications from organizations and municipalities across the state, the commission chose a total of 30 grant recipients: 21 large grants and nine small grants at varying amounts. Among those are a Bicentennial Birthday Bash in Rockland, theatrical productions in Portland and Dover-Foxcroft, as well as conferences, educational curriculum, art exhibits, lecture series and more, spanning several Maine counties.

Two corporate foundation grants have catapulted the Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation’s campaign for a waterfront park in downtown Greenville over the $100,000 mark. Grants totaling $10,000 from both Machias Savings Bank and the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund now bring the campaign total to $111,000 on the way toward the $250,000 fundraising goal.

Gov. Janet Mills has appointed four new commissioners to Volunteer Maine, the state service commission, including Dexter resident Mathison Deering. A student at Thomas College in Waterville, Deering joins the Volunteer Maine commission to represent an individual age 16 to 25 who is a participant in a service program for youth.

The school district’s near $745,000 share of a $2.4 million funding package to upgrade the heating system at the Penquis Valley School will be $200,000 less than anticipated thanks to a grant from the East Millinocket-based Gloria C. MacKenzie Foundation, which through its mission and vision hopes to improve economic growth and enhance the quality of life for the people of Maine.

Citing what they feel is a non-proportional expense and lack of benefits, the Piscataquis County Commissioners are considering ending membership in the Maine County Commissioners Association. The commissioners discussed the possibility during a Nov. 5 meeting and plan to attend a meeting with officials from other Maine counties also pondering an exit to learn more.

Dexter residents went to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5 to vote on races for the town council, SAD 46 school board, HAD 4 board of directors and seats on the Dexter Utility District board of trustees.