Today, let’s take a deep breath, appreciate what we have, and reflect on how quickly everything could change. Perhaps we go out in the morning, walk into our back field for a bit of exercise, or to cut some wood, or to dig around for some gemstones that we know are waiting in that sandy pile of soil. And perhaps we never come back.

Our town has looked so beautiful this summer with an abundance of flowers on our bridges, in pots in front of businesses and gracing the front of Central Hall. I am grateful for the talented and dedicated effort of local volunteers and especially Karen Maas who has lovingly tended these flowers for all of us to enjoy

Dow got a heads up about Orono’s situation when the Red Riots traveled to Bar Harbor on Aug. 26 for a preseason round robin with MDI and Washington Academy. He then began work with fellow athletic administrators Roy Pelotte of Dexter Regional High School and Dan O’Connell of John Bapst of Bangor to determine possible substitute games by matching teams around the state with byes on the same weekends.

About a month ago, Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas made a controversial decision when he began releasing the names of Trump supporters that were residents of his San Antonio-based district.

It was a long, deadly weekend as gun violence claimed more lives. At least seven people are dead in west Texas at the hands of an angry man with an “AR style” weapon. Three police officers and a 17-month-old were among the 25 people who were wounded.

Joel Sankey is beginning his 26th year as a head football coach in the Little Ten Conference (Class D North), and as he sees roster sizes shrinking around the region he grows more concerned about the league’s future. “I just wonder how long the LTC is going to be around because of the numbers for a lot of teams,” the Bucksport High School coach said.

The Center Theatre recently announced that the Bradford Historical Players will be presenting the murder-mystery play “Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine” at the Center Theatre on Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Admission is only $5 and proceeds will benefit both the Bradford Historical Society and the Center Theatre.

The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is a spectacular 92- mile long river and lake area like no other waterway in the eastern United States. To those who are willing to get off the beaten path and unplug from technology it offers remarkable natural beauty, an opportunity to experience solitude and escape from the constant demands of our busy world.

Released in 2017, Three Beliefs (www.portlanddiocese.org/threebeliefs) is a document that offers Maine Catholics valuable assistance, guidance and information regarding end-of-life issues. Suzanne Lafreniere, the public policy director for the Diocese of Portland, will offer free presentations at Maine parishes to discuss the document and help Catholics understand the Church’s teaching on the topic. One such presentation will be at the Holy Family Church at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Children in and around Dover-Foxcroft have the opportunity to get more comfortable and confident with their word skills thanks to “READing with Erma.” Erma is a 7-year-old German shorthaired pointer and her handler April Taylor is a resident of Lakeland, Florida who summers in Sebec.