The search for competitiveness within Maine high school football has taken several routes in recent years, from the addition of a fourth class in 2013 to crossover scheduling and a new developmental fifth class last fall.

The annual conference of Alpha Psi State, the Maine organization of DKG Society International, was held recently in Bangor at the Hilton Garden Inn. Two local teachers were among the recipients of special scholarship awards presented at the conference. Mirna Reyes-Henderson, Spanish teacher at Foxcroft Academy, received a scholarship as she continues work on her CAS degree at the University of Maine. Lisa Quatrale, English teacher at Dexter Regional High School, received a monetary award in support of a leadership project and class she has instituted at the school.

Prices for wood to build and renovate houses have as much as doubled over the past six months, increasing costs for consumers but boosting Maine’s softwood sales and signaling a turnaround in that segment of the forestry market, industry experts say.

Upcoming events around the region.

Among the area combatants who could land on the Sept. 8 card are two fighters from The Outlet in Dexter who both won amateur bouts at NEF 34 last weekend. Angelo Rizzitello improved his record to 2-1 with a first-round victory by D’Arce choke over Clifford Redman in their lightweight bout, while bantamweight Sarah Matulis defeated Carol Linn Powell by rear-naked choke in the first round.

The Center Theatre has announced the schedule for the 2018 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival being held on Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. The 10th annual festival opens at 10 a.m. with 25 bakers from across the state, including lead sponsor Shaw's Supermarkets, bringing over 40,000 whoopie pies to share with hungry whoopie pie fans. The full schedule and more information about the festival can be found at www.MaineWhoopiePieFestival.com.

SeDoMoCha Middle School sixth-grader Jasmine Lockwood is the state-level winner for grades 4-6 in the Letters About Literature contest. Lockwood’s letter to the author of “Too Tought to Hurt” came in first in a field of 833 submissions, which were narrowed to approximately 50 finalists as part of three rounds of judging.

I offer praise to Bangor's Peace and Justice Center for showing the just released documentary “Awake” that shows the efforts of Water Protectors at the North Dakota Standing Rock Sioux Nation. The video exposes violent actions of the North Dakota National Guard, sheriff department, and hired mercenaries who worked for the oil pipeline company throughout 2016 and 2017.

On June 13 Lori Kurzius and Beth Weymouth’s grade 4 students from Piscataquis Community Elementary School in Guilford took a field trip to the Maine Statehouse in Augusta. Rep. Paul Stearns, R-Guilford met students and gave them a walking tour of the Blaine House and an inside tour of the Statehouse.

Following a successful pilot project during the summer of 2017, the Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation (MLREDC) will launch the first full summer season of the festive Artisan Village at 35 Pritham Avenue on the Moosehead lakefront in Greenville. Four colorful cottages will house different artists from all over Maine beginning the weekend of June 23-24 and then Thursday through Monday from June 28 through Sunday, Sept. 10.