In November of 2017, 59 percent of Maine voters approved Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. We understood that our vote would extend health care coverage to tens of thousands of low-income Mainers.

On Saturday, March 24 owners David and Luisa Surprenant, hosted a final ride-in to the site where the Chesuncook Lake House stood for more than 150 years. “The Final Ride,” as it was called, attracted an estimated 800 riders and it was at that event when the Surprenants announced they would rebuild.

Mayo Regional Hospital will be celebrating National Donate Life Month in April by honoring those touched by donation and transplantation. National Donate Life Month focuses national attention on every individual’s power to make life possible by registering their decision to be an organ and tissue donor and learning more about living donation.

On Friday, April 6 Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) will be hosting its monthly free public discussion at the Abbott Memorial Library. Beginning at 6 p.m. a few short videos will introduce the topic of “blockchains,” after which we’ll try to figure out how what we just saw may affect our lives, even if we are not hi-tech in the slightest.

Upcoming events around the region.

During my career, I’ve been an educator and a businessman who focused on workforce development for one of Maine’s largest companies. I feel the need to weigh in on the issue of proficiency-based education -- an issue that’s extremely important to me.

The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is hosting a Spring Fling Beach Party at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 7. Performing at the the event will be local favorites The Doughty Hill Band playing fun summer songs.

The Foxcroft Youth Wrestling and SeDoMoCha Middle School wrestling teams continued the great season as both teams traveled to Howland to compete at the Hichborn Youth Wrestling Tournament.

The Maine Warden Service was recently provided with a special gift, one that is at the heart of any outdoor enthusiast who loves a good Maine winter. Nine pair of genuine, Maine-made snowshoes were donated to the newest graduating class of game wardens to use in their missions that range from fish and wildlife conservation, search and rescue and public safety.

On Saturday, March 10 the Big Pine Gun Club hosted its fourth annual youth biathlon competition. To enter the biathlon, each participant had to have passed a rifle safety course. The competitors were separated into classes based on their National Rifle Association proficiency levels achieved while taking part in Big Pine's light rifle program.