In his Dec. 5 column, Matthew Gagnon makes a flawed argument against ranked choice voting. He claims that with ranked choice voting we cannot evaluate the top two candidates for round two of against one another because we do not know in advance who they will be. However, with ranked-choice voting, we have effectively evaluated the top two against one another for a possible second round, no matter who they are, precisely because we’ve already evaluated and ranked all the candidates, including the final top two, in round one.

On Wednesday, Nov. 28 administrators from Foxcroft Academy and representatives from the Libra Foundation met for the first time with local town officials in regard to the newly named Piscataquis County Ice Arena being built in Dover-Foxcroft.

Approximately 1,300 Walgreens-owned Rite Aid stores will convert to the Walgreens brand over the next 12 months.This will bring Walgreens products and trusted pharmacy services to more customers and communities across the country. As part of an estimated $500 million investment nationwide, Walgreens recently converted the former Rite Aid stores in Guilford, Machias, and Calais.

After nine years in business. Spencer’s Bakery & Café of Dover-Foxcroft closed its doors at 922 West Main Street at the conclusion of the lease. Within hours, community members began inquiring at the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, wondering what became of their beloved breakfast spot.

All veterans are welcome to come to American Legion Post 41. We have a new sign when lit says OPEN meaning we are ready to accept your visit at the post home at 18 West Main Street in Milo (299-4308) and have several members who can assist veterans, widows, next of kin in obtaining discharge records and placing them in contact with the Department of Maine service officers who will assist in seeking veterans benefits and information -- they do not need to be American Legion members.

Leslie Lizotte, aging and disability resource center specialist from the Eastern Area Agency on Aging, will be holding a Medicare 101 class in the Sebec Room at Mayo Regional at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13.

Upcoming events around the region.

Penquis Valley High School senior forward Cymeria Robshaw is one of 15 players from across all four classes named to the Maine Soccer Coaches’ Girls Northern Maine State Team.

Political irony is on full display in Maine. The staple of many a politician, hypocrisy has now been foisted upon the voting process. Ranked Choice Voting, toddling mere months into its infancy, was found unconstitutional by the Maine Supreme Court for use in state elections, has now mired the state into the muck of necessary legal challenges into its Federal constitutionality, and media punditry has circled the wagons around their collective talking point that challenging Ranked Choice Voting at the federal level erodes the people’s confidence in the “institution” of voting, seemingly oblivious to the millions of dollars, and years of political spin, spent on ads, campaign mailings, and signature drives, all in a effort to erode the voters' confidence in Maine's already constitutionally established voting system.

Girl Scouts of Maine will host Discover Girl Scout events at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10 at Milo Elementary and at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec 12 at the Ridge View Community School in Dexter for potential members and volunteers.