This past Wednesday, September 11th, Eileen and I were in Freeport, ME, standing an hour in the rain for the farewell watch of the great Freeport Flag Ladies. The three ladies — Carmen Footer, Elaine Greene, and JoAnn Miller — stood on their Main Street corner every Tuesday, for 18 years, commemorating 9/11.

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District has built a successful and popular chainsaw safety offering in our area. Now that we have graduated several level 1 participants and see the demand for a higher-level chainsaw safety offering across the state, we are ready to offer a chainsaw safety level 2 workshop on Friday, Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Law Farm.

Charlie Mann of Winthrop and George Smith of Mount Vernon, who has a camp at Nesowadnehunk Lake on the edge of Baxter State Park, were each honored with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award. MDIFW Commissioner Judy Camuso presented the award to Smith and Elaine Mann, Charlie’s widow, at the annual Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine banquet on Sept. 7. The award, one of the department’s highest honors, celebrates a lifetime of achievement and mentoring in Maine’s outdoors.

Citing a thriving wild turkey population that some have said is a bit too high, lawmakers this spring passed new laws that will allow fall turkey hunters to enjoy a long season and take more birds in many Wildlife Management Districts.

Moose are Maine’s largest big game animal by far. Bulls have been known to top the scales in excess of 1,000 lbs! Because of their sheer size and body mass, they can be difficult to put down, even with a high-powered rifle -- if shot placement is not good. For ethical, as well as practical reasons, moose hunters need to zero in their rifles carefully and practice their marksmanship at various distances long before the fall hunt of a lifetime. Shot placement is key, even more important, really, than the caliber of choice!

I don't remember Pearl Harbor. Nor should I. I was born in 1980, three days after the 39th anniversary of the event. I wasn't alive when it happened. I didn't see it. I didn't feel it. My knowledge of Pearl Harbor comes from news footage, dozens of documentaries, and some famous lines uttered by an American president.

Democrats should be embarrassed. But not for the typical reasons that might have quickly jumped to mind.

The Guilford Bed and Breakfast, 24 Elm Street, will be featuring the 2019 Monson Writers Alliance Symposium on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at the next "Evening with an Artist" community series. The event is free, but tickets are required to reserve a seat.

Gabe Irwin, grandson of the famous blind hiker Bill Irwin who moved to Sebec later in his life, completed the Appalachian Trail on Sunday, Sept. 8, reaching the trail’s northern end atop Katahdin. The long journey brought to life the family story he’s heard since he was a child, and opened his eyes to the enormity of his grandfather’s accomplishment.

Pine Tree Hospice brings your second chance to be named the trivia master of Piscataquis County. This fun event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at The Commons at Central Hall, 152 East Main Street.