As St. Patrick’s Day approaches we’re reminded that at least 33 million Americans of Irish descent live in the United States. 

As winter slowly winds down in Maine, giving way to mud season, it can be a challenge to plan outdoor adventures. Throughout the state, snow depth can vary drastically from the coast to inland mountains, dictating whether you can ski, snowmobile, snowshoe, ice skate, bike or hike on solid ground.

On Wednesday, March 11, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sara Gideon will host a bean supper in Dover-Foxcroft beginning at 5 p.m. The event is open to the public and free to attend. The menu will include baked beans, hot dogs, brown bread, cole slaw, desserts and beverages for attendees. The event will be held at The Commons at Central Hall, 152 East Main St.

Toby Nelson, who took over the reins of the Foxcroft Academy boys basketball team on an interim basis midway through the 2019-20 season and guided the Ponies to a Class B North playoff berth, was named to the head coaching post on a full-time basis Wednesday.

Today, after yet another report of a monster brook trout coming from the state’s largest lake, I’m changing my stance a bit and offering up some enthusiastic advice. If you want to catch the fish of a lifetime, you might want to consider Moosehead Lake.

The Center Theatre announced that Gretchen Huettner has joined the Center Theatre staff through the Americorps Vista program. Through a partnership with Goodwill of Northern New England, Huettner will be the Center Theatre's volunteer coordinator. In this position, she will be responsible for the Center Theatre's volunteer recruitment, training and retention.

Upcoming events around the region.

"I'd go, 'Well, we're going fishing this weekend. We can't do that,'" Brann said. For 11 years, that excuse worked. But this year, with an annual fishing vacation to Moosehead Lake with three other couples looming, Collins made Brann a deal he couldn't refuse.

The annual Penobscot Valley Conference Coaches vs. Cancer basketball game will be held Tuesday, March 10, at Guiski Gymnasium on the campus of Dexter Regional High School.

Jim Young reached out to share his story and a photo of the impressive brookie he caught while fishing Moosehead Lake recently. The monster squaretail weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was 25 inches long. The fish was also 18 inches around at its widest point.