According to a national cellphone company, the most “Most Valuable Coach” in the country resides in Dover-Foxcroft and works with student-athletes at Foxcroft Academy. Following the announcement last week Luis Ayala was formally recognized Monday morning as the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach during an all-school assembly, during which he received a $50,000 check which he has chosen to go to the two sports programs.

Many different organizations and individuals have been involved in efforts over the last few years designed to improve the health of residents across the region. Many of these partners in the Feel Good Piscataquis! initiative were recognized during a breakfast on Nov. 16 at the Three Rivers Kiwanis building.

Officials with SAD 4 continue to work with their colleagues from the Dexter-based SAD 46 on the application process for an Integrated, Consolidated 9-16 Educational Facility pilot project. Both school boards have formally authorized the superintendents to submit the Part II application due at the end of the year.

For the first few series of the 2017 Class D football championship on the turf at Fitzpatrick Stadium during the late afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 18, North region top seed Foxcroft Academy and South No. 1 Wells High School were evenly matched as both defenses forced the opposing offense into a pair of three-and-outs. The Warrior offense then got going with two touchdowns in the opening quarter and three more in the opening half to help the team win 48-0.

The SAD 41 school board approved Honeywell -- which has worked at the Penquis Valley School for several decades -- to carry out work to make the complex more energy efficient. Honeywell was chosen during a Nov. 15 meeting, and the firm is scheduled to bring forward a scope of services for the directors to vote on when they meet next on Wednesday, Dec. 6.

During a Nov. 13 select meeting the board approved another 180-day extension for a corridor moratorium ordinance, starting Monday, Nov. 27 and ending on May 25, 2018.

In the autumn of 2006, a week-long genealogy road trip first led me to the town of LaGrange. With me that September day was my 80-year-old mother and oldest daughter, exploring our family roots in Penobscot, Piscataquis and Aroostook counties as we traveled from our home in upstate New York throughout Maine and into Canada. Little did we know that our visit would lead to the discovery of a 131-year-old ancestor.

The grand opening of the new-look pool and a vision for the future after some changes in management were both key components of the Nov. 8 Piscataquis Regional YMCA annual meeting.

A rejection of Donald Trump! A rejection of the establishment Republicans! A validation of Obamacare! A harbinger of a coming wave election! Speaker Nancy Pelosi! The revenge of the Democrats! An election that means so much! An election that means nothing!

A storage garage to consolidate the vehicles and equipment for the Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) in one location is being planned by county EMA Director Tom Capraro and the next step in the project was taken during a Nov. 7 commissioners meeting. The commissioners voted to accept a $16,500 proposal from Dirigo Engineering of Fairfield for planning work on the structure to be built on the county campus.