These days we seem to have never-ending election cycles. Do you know your ancestors’ political leanings? Genealogists may assume their family was always Republican or Democrat. This isn’t true. These parties came into being at the advent of the Civil War. Republicans favored the fight for the Union. Democrats, also known at the time as Copperheads, opposed the war. There were entire areas in Maine where Republican draft officers didn’t dare go.

On Saturday, May 18 the Foxcroft boys placed fifth of six teams at Old Town High School with a score of 57 points.

Application packages may be picked up at the Parkman Town Office. Completed applications must be submitted by June 30. Scholarships will be awarded at the eighth annual Memorial Scholarship Supper in early August.

The Brownville-Brownville Junction Historical Society held its annual meeting on May 14 at the Parish House Museum. The election of officers retained the same officers from last year: President & Secretary Susan Worcester, Vice President George Dean and Treasurer Lana Washburn.

While southernmost Maine has turned away from American Legion baseball in recent years, the tradition-laden summer program has battled to maintain its foothold in eastern and central areas of the state. From its peak of 48 Senior Legion teams spread from central Aroostook County to the New Hampshire border in 2007, the roster of programs for the oldest level of the national program in the Pine Tree State has gradually dipped to just 16 teams this summer.

Game wardens located a man lost northeast of Kokadjo on Saturday, May 18. Gregory Schaefer, 63 of Newcastle, became lost late in the morning while looking for shed moose antlers near Seventh Roach Pond.

Four of the region’s high school track teams took part in a May 17 Penobscot Valley Conference meet at the University of Maine.

Six Foxcroft Academy students were presented Horizon Scholarships by Tom Lizotte of the school’s board of trustees at a schoolwide assembly on May 17. Horizon Scholarships provide financial support for exceptional academic experiences not presently offered at Foxcroft Academy.

I listened this week to a “Team Never Quit” podcast interview with American swimmer Dara Torres, a 12-time Olympic medalist and former world record-holder in three events. Mrs. Torres’s interviewers are three retired US Navy SEALS.

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) is excited to be offering a Watersheds 2.0 talk on Friday, May 31 from 6-8 p.m. in Greenville at the Masonic Lodge. District staff encourage folks to join to learn about local watersheds.