This past Wednesday I arrived at Museum L-A for Executive Director Rachel Desgrosseilliers’s “Grateful for Rachel” retirement party. She is a Maine treasure who created a model of historic and cultural preservation that can, and should, be duplicated in communities statewide.

When the winter winds come blowing in and temperatures hover in the single digits, cooking and consuming great food warms the tummy and the soul.

Traveling along the bank of Musquash Stream in Nahmakanta Public Lands, a scenic hiking trail visits a series of small waterfalls before turning back into the forest and forming a small loop. This 0.9-mile trail is one of the many hikes located on the state-owned property, which encompasses 43,000 acres about halfway between Moosehead and Millinocket.

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

Baxter State Park is now accepting submissions for the 2020 Visiting Artist Program. The park invites visual artists, writers, poets and musicians to apply by March 15, 2020.

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.

Veterans assistance (VA issues and other benefits) will be provided at Milo American Legion Post 41 from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

This week I had a great discussion up at Blair Hill Inn and Restaurant in Greenville with business owners, residents, development leaders and local lawmakers. We focused on ideas and strategies for economic growth in rural Maine, particularly Western Maine.

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.