I am always energized in the spring. This year, as so often before, I am in awe of the many opportunities we have in our community to grow more inclusive, more engaged, more healthy. So I am writing today about opportunity.

Thanks to the hard work of Maine’s congressional delegation, on March 12, the Land and Water Conservation Fund was permanently reauthorized when a bipartisan public lands package was signed into law. Since 1965, the fund has supported community projects all across the country.

A 23-year-old LaGrange man who stole two separate vehicles last spring -- a Dexter police cruiser and a Toyota Celica belonging to a veteran of the Iraq War -- and led authorities on a high-speed chase that ended when he crashed the Celica will serve five years of a 10-year sentence.

This week, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout signed a new contract that is worth $430 million over the next 12 years, giving him the largest contract in North American professional sports history.

The board of directors at Northern Light Health unanimously voted March 20 to merge with Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft, which would make the small Piscataquis County hospital the health care system’s 10th.

SoupStock 2019 will be held Saturday, April 6 as a fundraising event to benefit the food cupboard at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sangerville and Dover-Foxcroft. Patterned after Empty Bowls, an international project to fight hunger and personalized by artists and art organizations on a community level, SoupStock has involved the creation and decoration of over 200 bowls made from clay.

With more than 15 Democrats already running for president in 2020 and more announcing by the day, it might be hard for voters to pick a favorite, especially this far way from November 2020.

How about these for contradictory headlines? Headline one: A Great Season of Snowmobiling Headline two: More Snowsled Deaths in 2019

The Foxcroft Youth and SeDoMoCha Middle School wrestling teams competed at the Dexter Youth Wrestling Tournament held at the Ridge View Community School March 16.The squads continue to improve every week and are always given their all. Congratulations to the wrestlers that placed!

Spring is just around the corner, believe it or not, so it is time to get ready to welcome Maine’s birds back to the area. If you love birds and want to learn more about how to identify them by their songs and calls, this workshop is for you. The Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) is hosting a new, free workshop this year called Birding by Ear and we are fortunate enough to have Bob Duchesne, Maine Birding Trails creator and Maine bird guide, lead the presentation.