When considering what to do about the Syrian situation, there are simply no good answers.

One of the events the Three Rivers Kiwanis of Milo/Brownville looks forward to participating in is Jean’s Blessings. Originally called Blessings in a Backpack, Jean’s Blessings started in Milo in 2009 in memory of one of the founders and owner of JSI Store Fixtures, Jean Johndro. JSI donates $2,000 every April school vacation week for food that the students bring home.

As part of Better Speech and Hearing Month, certified audiologist Chris Clukey, MA, CCC-A, of Dover Audiology, will speak about age-related hearing loss, its causes and treatments, as well as other kinds of hearing loss experienced by older adults, at the Abbott Memorial Library in Dexter on Thursday, May 11 at 1 p.m.

Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s or another dementia is a daunting, overwhelming endeavor. Caregivers need help to learn how dementia is affecting their loved one’s behavior. They need strategies for communication and knowledge about challenging behavior management. Caregiving can lead to loneliness and depression. The Eastern Area Agency on Aging is sponsoring the popular SAVVY Caregiver training in Brownville, Corinna and Greenville beginning in May. The six-week SAVVY trainings are a total of 12 hours during May, June and July.

America’s rural hospitals are at risk. In fact, 80 rural hospitals in 25 states have closed since 2010. In Maine, 19 of the state’s 36 hospitals ended fiscal year 2016 with negative operating margins. On average half of Maine hospitals have reported negative operating margins annually since 2012.

There is a thief in Dover-Foxcroft. It currently exists in the proposed revision of the town charter and it's ready to steal away your right to vote all the budgetary warrant articles presented on the ballot at the June municipal election. That's right! If you approve the revised town charter appearing as a referendum on this June's ballot you will effectively lose the ability to vote by secret ballot on any budget-related item except a "bottom line" budget total.

Taxed enough already? Well, yes and no. In our last letters we discussed taxes levied by the State of Maine. About 50 percent of their revenue comes from regressive sales taxes and another 40 percent comes from (very) mildly progressive income taxes (the rest from licenses and other taxes).

The Forest Society of Maine (FSM), a land trust serving Maine’s North Woods, holds nearly 1 million acres of forestland in conservation easements. A good portion of the conservation easements we hold surround the Moosehead Lake region and extend to the north, west and east including many mountains, lakes and rivers. The conservation easements typically allow for continued sustainable forest management and the landowners, who still own the land, continue to pay taxes on the land. The public benefits from the permanently assured public access and the conservation of wildlife habitat, special natural areas, recreational assets, and scenic beauty the easements ensure.

After facing a number of referendums last November with questionable constitutionality, one state senator is looking to prevent such questions from being posed to Maine voters. Republican Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Androscoggin, submitted legislation last week that would amend the Maine State Constitution and prevent unconstitutional referendum questions from appearing on Maine ballots.

Suppose you’re a young, aspiring musician living in Piscataquis County. Or a young musician whose family is relocating to Piscataquis County. What kind of music scene will you find there?