Citizens in Bradford voted in favor of moving forward with a merger between Mayo Regional Hospital and Northern Light Health. Bradford residents voted 20-1 in favor of the merger at a special town meeting on April 22.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Sangerville and Dover Foxcroft wishes to thank the community for its support of our food cupboard fundraiser, SoupStock. Our major fundraiser was a huge success. Special thanks go to all the businesses and individuals who donated their time and items.

Upcoming events around the region.

Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition’s (DDATT) May 3 version of First Friday will be a free public screening of "No Impact Man" -- a 2009 movie -- at 6 p.m. in the Abbott Memorial Library with discussion afterwards.

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?