It is not uncommon for landowners in Piscataquis County to own several acres of woodland. There are a variety of options for these residents to manage their woodlots and over the years, the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) has worked to provide educational programming on techniques and practices that can be used to better and profit from their woodlots. District staff are excited to be offering a low impact forestry workshop at the Law Farm public land, offering yet another informative session to help landowners better manage their woodlots.

Summer is in the air … and the annual Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Auction is right around the corner. The auction will be held Thursday, July 26 to Sunday, July 29 at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds with all the old traditions and exciting events attendees look forward to each year.

On Friday, June 22 the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) will host a gravel road maintenance workshop from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building, 48 Morton Avenue.

The Center Theatre hosted the first preliminary event for the Central Maine Talent Search on June 2. By the end of the evening, the three-judge panel and the 120-person audience had chosen Aidan Manning and Parker Kelley as the winners of the event. Both will continue on to the grand finale Sept. 15 where they will be eligible to win $500 and other prizes.

Upcoming events around the region.

Allen Monroe from the Milo Historical Society spoke about the early history of Milo and presented a brief slide show at the May meeting of the Milo Garden Club. On Tuesday, June 12, planning for the August club fair will take place at Three Rivers Kiwanis Headquarters at noon.

The Friends of Maine State Parks, in cooperation with the Bureau of Parks and Lands, are pleased to announce a pilot program to provide Maine State Park Vehicle Passes for day-use at Maine State Parks to 10 community libraries across the state.

June marks a new chapter for Dover-Foxcroft’s 120-year-old Thompson Free Library. Director Helen Fogler retired after 21 years and has passed the torch to Orono native Greta Schroeder, who has worked in various libraries, most recently, McArthur in Biddeford and has a MS degree in Library and Information Science.

On Saturday, June 9 Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) will host a workshop from 8 to 11 a.m. on scything at the Joe Sherburne Memorial Garden on the Ripley Road (Route 23).

Upcoming events around the region.

More and more Central Maine people are considering catching and using the rainwater that falls for free (so far!) on all of us. As our yearly precipitation slowly increases and, ironically, long spells of droughtiness also occur due to atmospheric shifts, it makes sense to consider different ways of capturing and storing rain when it does happen to use for when it doesn’t.

The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival organizers have announced they expect bakers to bring 40,000 whoopie pies to Dover-Foxcroft for the 2018 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 23.

The Milo Events Committee invites the public to join in a day of fun and festivities on Saturday, June 2. The theme this year is “Honoring our Hometown First Responders (Fire, Police, EMS & the Military).”

Older people know that they should engage in some form of daily, physical motion to help their bodies and minds maintain good functioning.

If you are a parent or guardian of an adolescent between 12 and 18, or if you teach or interact with that age group as a member of the clergy, coach, club leader, counselor, educator, group home leader, police officer or in any capacity, consider attending Youth Mental Health First Aid from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 4 at the Dexter VFW on Cedar Street.

Have you been thinking of adding solar power to your home? Have questions and don’t know who to ask? Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) is arranging a free Photovoltaic Open House tour of sorts on Saturday, June 2 with a few local solar-powered homes as examples of what is currently possible. Owners will be happy to share their experiences, knowledge, and hopefully answer your questions.

A blood drive will be held from 1-6 p.m. on Thursday, May 31 at the Knights of Columbus, 179 North Dexter Road in Dexter. Another will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Dover Foxcroft, 660 Bangor Road in Dover-Foxcroft.

Upcoming events around the region.