In June, Gov. Janet Mills proposed a package of bonds that amounted to a whopping $239 million in new debt for the state of Maine. On Monday, Mills called for a special session of the Legislature to vote on many of these bonds, highlighting the most popular and widely supported among them by emphasizing the transportation bonds.

Gov. Janet Mills has called the Legislature back into special session next week to consider a smart investment package that includes money for transportation, to boost the economy, to clean up pollution and for the Land for Maine’s Future program.

There have been few University of Maine teams with as many Maine natives on their rosters as the 2019 Black Bear field hockey team. There are nine Mainers, all from different high schools, among the 20 players on the roster (45 percent). Maine-produced players have served the program well over the years.

Miles of new trails specifically designed for mountain biking have opened in the Katahdin region this summer, with plans for more biking trails to be added over the next few years.

What a relief it is to hear about campaigns that take aim at price gouging by pharmaceutical companies! It is a long-standing problem that just seems to be getting worse. Many Mainers find it very difficult to afford the medications they need.

The Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society invites all to the Wednesday, Sept. 4 meeting to be held at 7 p.m. at The Commons at Central Hall. Maine author Tim Caverly will present his “Jeopardy”-style PowerPoint program “So You Think You Know Maine.”

In reading John Holyoke’s recent piece, “Catch and release fishing not to blame for togue population explosion,” I was struck by the writer’s claim that catch and release is “under attack.”

Landless farmers joining with elder homesteaders. Here's one interesting proposal to address a current problem in Maine: somehow connect people who want to farm but don't have land with people who have land but are getting too old to work it anymore. This will be the topic of the Sept. 6 First Friday public discussion at the Abbott Memorial Library (or the UU Church across the street depending on crowd size) in Dexter from 6 to 8 p.m.

Upcoming sports events around the region.

The Dover-Foxcroft team of Window Dressers is in the final weeks of measuring for this year’s workshop. All measurements must be submitted by Sept. 15. This year’s workshop will be held at the Dexter Town Hall from Oct. 12-20. The measuring teams have been busy measuring from Palmyra to Parkman, and Milo and places in between.