The first referendum vote for the FY18 budget in SAD #4/RSU 80 has failed. A new interim superintendent and bookkeeper are about to take over on a part-time basis. The school committee must step up and pull itself together. The board’s leadership is critical going forward to make progress on both passing a workable budget and facing the need to improve instruction in the classrooms in the district, which happens to enjoy very favorable class sizes.

My friend, Christie-Lee McNally of Scarborough, Maine, is executive director of the non-profit Free Our Internet. I asked Christie-Lee to help me understand the important issue of Net Neutrality which President Obama put in place (2015) and President Trump wants reversed. For rural Mainers, especially small- and micro-business owners who want access to internet service capable of handling their online business, how is Net Neutrality affecting them?

Officials at Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (DPFR) are focusing attention on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day--recognized each June 15 throughout the United States and in other countries, and often referred to as the ‘crime of the 21st century,’ because of its increasing prevalence and devastating impacts.

Window Dressers may sound like a home decorating business, but it is a volunteer-powered organization that builds low-cost window inserts to help keep people warm and save money on heating bills during Maine winters.

University of Maine field hockey head coach Josette Babineau is pleased to announce her 2017 incoming recruiting class. This year's class consists of five newcomers who will be eligible to compete for the Division I Black Bears in the fall, including recent Dexter Regional High School graduate Abby Webber of Garland.

This summer one may see kids carrying “passports” around Dover-Foxcroft. The Piscataquis Passport encourages kids to have free summer meals as well as enjoy other activities in the community. Sign-up for the Passport will be at SeDoMoCha School on Thursday, June 22 and Friday, June 23 from 11 a.m. to noon.

After dismissing Gov. Paul LePage's budget out of hand, and failing to arrive -- after six months -- at anything resembling a real budget framework to replace it, leaders in the Maine Legislature have decided to forego the typical process and rely on an appointed "supercommittee" of members from both houses, who will hammer out a final budget.

In case you didn’t know, a Hornberg is a commonplace artificial fly used by some trout addicts to seduce their prey. Once a “go-to” fly in any fly box, it is less used today by upscale fly fishers - especially the elite sophisticates of the fly fishing community. Some that I have shared a stream pool with do look down their noses at this utilitarian fly.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announced that Mayo Practice Associates of Mayo Regional Hospital has received NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term, participative relationships.

The Piscataquis County Retired Educators Association met at the Bear's Den May 23 with 12 members present.