Hearings were held at the State House Monday on a number of bills that would make changes to Maine’s social services programs, particularly Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. There were at least 10 bills related to TANF on the public hearing docket and they covered a broad spectrum of proposals.

A total of 87 racers across 50 boats braved the chilly conditions to make the approximate 10-mile paddle from King Cummings Park in Guilford to the finish line across West Main Street from Foxcroft Academy in the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club’s 45th annual Piscataquis River Race on April 22.

Calendar of events for April and May

The Teen Wilderness Expedition is a 3-day, 2-night trip for ages 12-16 to AMC’s Medawisla Lodge, from Tuesday, July 11 to Thursday, July 13. On this trip, youth will get a chance to explore Medawisla, AMC’s brand new lodge, all while enjoying fun outdoor recreational activities and experiencing the diverse and expansive natural resources that we depend on in Piscataquis County.

One of the most heartbreaking things I did was to deny an adopted man the names of his birth parents.

Is there really any logical reason for the Charter Revision Commission to eliminate the ability of Dover-Foxcroft residents to vote all budgetary Articles by Secret ballot in the privacy of the voting booth at June's municipal election?

Will your organization support the Moosehead Region Futures Corporation to prevent the building of two large windmill farms consisting of over 100 windmills? They will be built on Misery Ridge and on Burnt Nubble and Black Nubble.

The editorial piece written by Governor LePage that was published in the April 19th edition of the Observer is decidedly misleading. The Governor has a history of granting tax breaks to big business and the wealthy at the expense of education, the elderly, working families, the poor and the environment.

The outdoor track and field teams from both Dexter and Greenville kicked off the season on April 20 with a meet at Brewer.

In my column two weeks ago we met Foxcroft Academy’s music director Joshua Guthrie, and highlighted the exceptional music classes available there to high school students. Mr. Guthrie spoke of how the internet is changing the music profession, and how FA music students, in Guthrie’s words, “are right at that perfect time to take advantage of that.” How do Piscataquis County musicians — aspiring or professional — take advantage of this perfect time in the music industry?