Monson Arts -- a new arts center and artists’ residency program supported by the Libra Foundation -- will open a new exhibit on May 15 at its gallery in downtown Monson. “Artists of the Forest,” curated by folklorist Kathleen Mundell, features the work of six artists from Maine’s Northern Forest who work with one of the region’s most abundant resources- -- wood.

Local author Joe Siccardi will facilitate a second six-week class trying to demystify writing in general and taking the fear out of sharing your written words. The interactive Take the Fear Out of Writing class will begin Monday, June 3 at 1 p.m. at The Commons at Central Hall. It will continue weekly through July 8.

The Center Theatre was full of Seussified Fun Friday, May 3 as The Slightly Off-Center Player Kids took the stage to perform “Seussical Jr.” for the first time. Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and more favorite Dr. Seuss characters sprung to life onstage with exciting songs and colorful costumes.

The Brownville-Brownville Junction Historical Society while hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. at the Parish House Museum, 72 Church Street.

When passion of a livelihood is merged with classroom curriculum and shared with students through life experiences, you have an amazing educator on your hands. The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) is pleased to announce the 2019 Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year, Rob Weber of Foxcroft Academy.

Upcoming events around the region.

Family heirlooms can be something as simple, and important, as Grandma’s yellow pie plate. Family members have memories of special occasions, and these occasions are often marked by important belongings. Who gets these family heirlooms? Jane Conroy will be addressing this topic at the next Pine Tree Hospice Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, May 21.

The ice was declared to be “out” at 9:48 a.m. on Friday, May 3. The winner of this year’s contest is Larry Miller of Howell, New Jersey. His was the closest guess with a time of 10:04 a.m.

Students and staff of Piscataquis Community Elementary School recently announced several public events of interest to families and the community.

Two sessions of “Nuts and Bolts of Caregiving “will be given on Tuesday, May 14 in the old Mayo Hospital building in Dover-Foxcroft. The sessions are taught by the EMCC student nurses Ashley Vincent and Jennifer Cary, and Beth Weatherbee, R.N., B.S.N, M.Ed through the Mayo Regional Hospital Cohort. The sessions are limited to 10 people each and will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.

All are encouraged to gather for a presentation on domestic violence that will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, located on 533 North Dexter Road, on Tuesday, May 7, from 6:30-8 p.m. The event will be co-hosted by Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Dexter, St. Agnes Parish in Pittsfield and Catholic Charities Maine.

Upcoming events around the region.

Beginning on Wednesday, May 1 at 11 a.m. in the Union Church Fellowship Hall we will hold our first hour-long study. The program is designed so that a new character will be studied each week, so if you need to miss a study along the way you will not be left behind.

Clip out this column and pin it to the refrigerator. For online readers, pin your computer to the refrigerator. Eleven birding highlights are about to happen.

“Where you look affects how you feel,” discovered Dr. David Grand, PhD. in 2003 when he developed his psychotherapeutic technique called Brainspotting. It is used to help a client access unprocessed trauma by using eye gaze and subcortical brain activity to locate the spot deep within the subcortex where emotional pain is experienced.

The Wassabec Genealogical Society will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 28 in the Piscataquis Room at Mayo Regional Hospital. Speaker will be Carol McCoy, past president of the Maine Genealogical Society, and she will discuss finding a Mayflower ancestor.

A large cast of local kids will take the stage on Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m. for the opening night of “Seussical, Jr.” at the Center Theatre. The musical, based on the works of Dr. Seuss, will also be performed on Saturday the 4th at 2 and 7 p.m., Sunday the 5th at 2 p.m., Friday the 10th at 7 p.m., Saturday the 11th at 2 p.m. and Sunday the 12th at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 12 is also Mother's Day and the Slightly Off-Center Players will be hosting a Seussical Mother's Day Tea Party at 10 a.m.

Upcoming events around the region.