Area legislators presented Avis Spear of Milo with a Legislative Sentiment celebrating her 105th birthday at a party on Sunday, May 20.

A blood drive will be held from 1-6 p.m. on Thursday, May 31 at the Knights of Columbus, 179 North Dexter Road in Dexter. Another will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Dover Foxcroft, 660 Bangor Road in Dover-Foxcroft.

Ten entrants took part in the Three Rivers Kiwanis Club of Milo/Brownville’s annual Sebec River Canoe Race on May 19. Paddlers put their craft in the water in Sebec Village and they raced down river to near the boat docks in downtown Milo.

Upcoming events around the region.

On May 11 91 University of Maine at Fort Kent nursing students graduated from the program, with 32 of them attending the 34th annual UMFK Nurse Pinning Ceremony on campus. Among the 32 was Tricia N. Sherman of Greenville Junction.

Molly Bennett, an eighth-grader at the Ridge View Community School in Dexter, spearheaded a “Veteran's Box” to collect donations for servicemen and women receiving care from the VA.

Maine’s 65 newest police officers graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy on May 18, including Officer Alyshia D. Canwell of the Dexter Police Department.

The area’s track and field teams all had final meets before this coming weekend’s postseason competitions.

Yes, there were frustrations, but on balance, I really enjoyed my 10 years (1989-2000) working as “communications guy” with Republican legislators in the Maine House and Senate. What a great way to learn about the making of state law and how government works. Hired solely on my communication credentials, I came into the State House a clean slate. Never having worked in government or politics, I arrived without prejudice or expectations.

The third annual Moose Mainea 5K and 10K road races, to benefit Destination Moosehead Lake, were held Saturday, May 19.