The 47th annual Piscataquis River Race, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft, is scheduled for Saturday, April 27. Canoeists and kayakers will start from King Cummings Park in Guilford and paddle approximately 10 miles down river to the shore across West Main Street from Foxcroft Academy campus.

Hot after its performance at the Shrine Circus in Bangor on April 27, the Harold J. Crosby Community Band will present a free public concert on Sunday, May 5 at 1:30 p.m. in the Dexter Town Hall. They will be performing “Circus Classics, Cowboy Classics and Classics” from the era of Rock and Roll.

Join us for a morning birdwalk on Saturday, May 11 as we explore springtime birds at the Law Farm. The Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) will be hosting birding expert Bob Duchesne for a birdwalk starting at 8 a.m. to view year round birds in Maine and also some returning springtime birds!

Brooks & Kennedy, featuring Ken and Jane Brooks and Joe and Nellie Kennedy, will perform classic country and Evergreen-style Americana music at the Wayside Grange Theatre on Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m. This is the first show for the 2019 concert series and the seventh year of an ongoing concert series.

The Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) seeks to stimulate long-term sustainable economic growth in our region. Whether the goal is in helping new businesses start, assisting expanding businesses, or attracting new employers; certain community assets such as access to health care, quality education and a diverse workforce, are paramount in the ability to execute on our mission and affect economic prosperity throughout Piscataquis County. Mayo Regional Hospital represents one of those key assets.

God help business owners with businesses dealing directly with the public. Last month I had experiences with employees at home improvement warehouse stores, most of which tested my patience. My experiences were also perplexing: Why did so many employees lack initiative, curiosity? How much were these employees costing business owners in money and customer relations?

The population of Maine as a whole and 10 of the state’s 16 counties is rising, as is the number of people moving into the state and into 14 counties, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which released its 2018 population estimates April 18.

The Foxcroft Academy and Dexter Regional High School outdoor track and field teams opened the 2019 season at an April 18 Penobscot Valley Conference meet at the Brewer Community School. The Ponies scored 46 points to place fourth among seven schools and Dexter picked up 14 points to place seventh.

The towns that make up Hospital Administrative District 4 (HAD 4) are planning for public votes regarding the potential merger between Mayo Regional Hospital and Northern Light Health. The votes will be held on a variety of dates set by each individual town as a part of a town meeting format. The result of the votes will give legislators guidance on whether or not to submit legislation to change the HAD 4 charter to allow for the merger.

Following application in March, the Plummer Memorial Foundation in Dexter granted $4,600 for a stairlift to improve the safety of those trying to access second floor services in the town office. The money was quickly granted, and the stairlift was installed on March 27.