Recently Maine’s new fish and wildlife commissioner, Judy Camuso, was a studio guest on Maine Calling, an interactive radio program on the National Public Radio station in Portland. She performed well as she outlined the goals and challenges of the Department in the months ahead. The control of coyote populations in the North Woods by IF&W contractors, as well as recreational hunters, was a hot topic. There was a pronounced “urban bias” as some callers railed against coyote-population control as an institutionalized policy implemented by the Department.

The 13th Annual Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail Festival will take place July 24-26 on the shores of East Cove, downtown Greenville. Adventures begin at The Center for Moosehead History, 6 Lakeview St., on all three days. They range from a Thoreau-style guided hike up Little Moose Mountain to a Native American cultural workshop with directors from the Abbe Museum and the Penobscot Nation.

The state of Maine is reminding residents that they can save ticks and send them for testing if they get bitten by the pesky arachnids. State officials say the testing can show whether the person bitten by the tick was exposed to anything. The UMaine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab tests for Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesia. The tests are $15 per tick for Maine residents.

The Milo American Legion, 18 West Main Street, will be open on Wednesday, July 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. to assist with veterans assistance (VA issues and other benefits).

Monson’s annual Summerfest, on Saturday, July 20, is approaching fast and, according to organizer Dee Adams, this will be the best fest yet.

Save for a few welcome exceptions, today’s political discourse at all levels is awful. From politicians to political staffers; political reporters and commentators across all media; political party communicators, activists, public policy non-profits — the bulk of all this messaging is negative, emotionally and physically draining, and culturally corrosive.

Pine Tree Hospice invites children ages 8 through 12 to explore an alternative to “talking through grief” in this free 90-minute workshop facilitated by Terri Kelley Palin a local artist, creative play coach and life stress reduction facilitator. No artistic skills are required.

An addition has been made to this year’s children’s free summer meals program at the SeDoMoCha School on Harrison Avenue. Under the "Take what you need boutique" there is an opportunity for anyone needing clothing items that may not be able to afford them.

My single proposed amendment to LD 1708 had nothing to do with “local control” but would have merely placed in statute some safeguards to ensure that standard fiduciary procedures were followed and that the citizens of the district would have an opportunity to keep a hospital in Dover-Foxcroft should something happen down the road.

More and more, it seems business owners from out of state are moving to central Maine to begin new business ventures here in Piscataquis County. Some credit the affordability of real-estate in the region, while others gush about the welcoming communities and quality of life they experienced here while visiting. Mike and Betsey Loomis are a perfect example of this.