Who elected these people? I asked myself that question a few times working in the Maine Legislature. I wasn't being cruel. Neither was I being wholly dismissive of the legislators in question. Rather, I was thinking first about the duties, the job of being a legislator. It can take only one vote to have a majority of legislators raise taxes, end charter schools, end the definition of marriage, change the way we vote -- the opportunities for legal mischief making are endless.

Have you heard the news? Foxcroft Academy is an IB World School. Our inaugural first semester is in the rearview mirror and we are on to the second semester filled with challenging learning and new experiences. If you’re interested in learning more and possibly joining the program, there will be an informational meeting for students and parents/guardians about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at 6 p.m. n Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Foxcroft Academy in Room 211 (the Washburn Parkman Room).

The public is cordially invited to a concert of classical music performed by The Highlands Classical Chamber Ensemble at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sangerville and Dover-Foxcroft, located on the corner of Church St. and Rt. 23.

The 13th annual Moosehead Lake Togue Derby with Ricky Craven was held this past weekend on Maine’s largest lake. We had great conditions on Friday, Jan. 24 with hardly a lick of wind. You don’t get many days like that on Moosehead.

On Monday, Jan. 27, Brownville Elementary held a Winter Carnival as part of the last week of activities for the WinterKids Winter Games competition.

Henry David Thoreau, beholding Moosehead Lake for the first time, wrote this: “a gleaming silver platter at the end of the table.” If only he could have seen the lake from the air! The first time that I saw the big lake from the air in a north-bound ski-plane my jaw dropped. The expansiveness, not only of the lake itself, but the entire north woods watershed, presents a panorama like no other.

We groomed all of our trails on Friday. They were in great shape for the weekend except for the 2-mile rough section on the CCC Road which needs more snow before we can groom it. The rain and sleet did not seem to damage the trails.

It is with deep regret that organizers announce that this year’s Wilderness Sled Dog Race will be canceled, the event had been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1.

Shortly before noon on Saturday, Jan. 25 a snowmobile collided with a sled dog musher just north of Brownville Junction. The musher was taking part in a sled dog race that shared part of its route with snowmobile trail ITS 110.

The other qualifiers were Woodland (53), Lee Academy (51.6), Penquis of Milo (49.4), Machias (46.6) and Wiscasset (44.9).