In life, it has been said, “If you find one or two good friends to depend on you are lucky.” The trials we face, sometimes can be self imposed, yet others we have no control over. In November 2016, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. This story is less about that and more about the bonds of childhood friendships from Dover-Foxcroft.

When it comes to Maine sportsmen and wild turkeys, there are two distinct groups: those who hunt ‘em and those who hate ‘em. Count me among the former. Having hunted them with a shotgun and a bow, it’s beyond me why anyone who loves to hunt is not enjoying this spring opportunity. There is a mysterious allure to these homely critters whose primordial sounds in the turkey woods still give me goose bumps even to this day. And, if cooked properly, they are tasty table fare as well.

Maine Woods Forever presented the Piscataquis Community Secondary School grade 9-10 environmental science class with the 2017 “Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award” – a youth-oriented honor created to recognize young people and youth groups whose efforts are in the spirit of Roosevelt’s conservation ethic and achievements.

Over the last several months the Foxcroft Academy Key Club, along with Key Clubs in Dexter and Greenville, have been working to raise money for the Thirst Project, a non-profit organization raising awareness of the lack of drinking water in the world. After a $2,000 donation from the Student Council at SeDoMoCha Middle School, the goal became a reality as the Key Clubs have raised over $12,000 to fund a well in Swaziland -- a small, landlocked monarchy in southern Africa.

Members of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/Miosac Club placed about 120 symbolic pinwheels at the entrance to the Dover-Foxcroft United Methodist Church on April 12 in observance of Prevent Child Abuse America Month, part of the GFWC Signature Project of Domestic Violence Awareness

Piscataquis Community Elementary School fifth-graders Jacob Duncan, right, and Isaac Worster hop over a pair of ropes as classmate Dominic Cookson twirls the jump ropes during the school’s annual Jump Rope for Heart program on April 7. Students at the school in Guilford took part in healthy activities, such as jumping rope, hula hooping and basketball, and also raised money for the American Heart Association.

Dreaming of warmer weather and the sounds of summer, the Sangerville Parks and Rec Committee has been working diligently to formulate a plan to develop the Sangerville ball field into something more

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is tracking Maine lake “Ice-Out.” This annual effort provides boaters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts with information, data and resources to help plan outdoor adventures on Maine lakes. It is available for spring 2017 and for previous years on an Ice-Out webpage maintained by the Department. The public is invited to assist this effort by reporting ice-out dates for water bodies throughout the state.

The Foxcroft Youth and SeDoMoCha Middle School wrestling teams concluded the 2017 season by competing at the Bulldog Battle Youth Tournament at Madison Memorial High School.

Calendar of events for April into May