April is National Donate Life Month. Every year, Donate Life America leads the celebration of National Donate Life Month (NDLM) to focus national attention on organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation -- to share the importance of registering your decision to be a donor, honor deceased and living donors and celebrate the lifesaving and healing gift of transplantation. Mayo Regional Hospital will be participating in the month-long celebration.

The Center Theatre, the county’s most iconic landmark, recently underwent some significant renovations, and on Thursday, April 25 from 5-7 p.m. area business owners are invited to the Piscataquis Chamber’s Business After Hours event for the big reveal, in addition to an enjoyable evening of networking and socializing. This will be a member-only private event, and an RSVP is appreciated but not required. Those who plan to attend can call the Chamber to RSVP at 564-7533.

Since 1919 and through war and peace, economic depressions and booms, the Grange Hall in North Dexter has provided the community with social events. Originally housing the North Dexter Grange, and now the Wayside Grange and Theatre, this building continues to support our social, music and agricultural communities with concerts, suppers and fun times.

The Foxcroft Youth SeDoMoCha Middle School wrestling teams competed at the Marshwood Youth New England Classic on Saturday, March 30 at the Cross Insurance Arena. Over 1,000 wrestlers from all six New England states attended this very competitive event. The local teams had 16 wrestlers attend this event and eight of them placed in their weight classes.

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) takes pride in offering in-demand programs. In 2018 we offered two sessions of Chainsaw Safety for Women, both sessions filling in only four days. Considering this overwhelming demand and the feedback we received from both men and women, we are once again offering a Chainsaw Safety Level 1 Workshop, open to all, on Friday, April 26 (rain date is April 27) at the Law Farm.

Todd Mackey of Rockport isn’t among those who’ve entered the BDN’s “Win a Drift Boat Trip” contest for years and years. In fact, he’s new to the fly fishing game, and entered for the first time this year. That didn’t matter to lady luck: Mackey was randomly selected from a field of about 600 applicants to go on a full-day fly fishing trip.

I’ve never been all that moralistic about public officials. While I am certain that there are good people who hold public office, in my experience the truth has been that power and influence attract only the worst among us.

Coming to the Milo Free Public Library Wednesday, April 17 from 6-7 p.m. Ed Rice former journalist, college instructor and author of “Baseball’s First Indian” published in 2003 is coming to discuss the legacies of Louis Sockalexis, the first known Native American to play professional baseball. The talk is in support of a special project to raise awareness about why this largely forgotten Maine historical figure is worthy of such respect

It can vary by days, but in Maine the middle of April always ushers in the annual smelt runs from coldwater lakes up nearby brooks and streams. As every salmon angler knows, these small rainbow smelts are the key food source for landlocked salmon. Rule of thumb: no smelt, no salmon.

Penquis Valley High School senior Cymeria Robshaw has been named to the MTCCA Indoor Track & Field 2019 All-State Team. Robshaw is one of 14 team members from Classes A and B from across the state.