Spectators gathered at the finish line at Lonesome Pine Trails in Fort Kent to cheer on mushers as they arrived at the end of their 30-mile trek through Fort Kent at the Can-Am Sled Dog Races on Feb. 29. Race winner was racer No. 25 Rico Portalatin of Milo with a time of 2:24:11; second place, No. 2 Julie Albert with a time of 2:49:19; and third place, No. 24, Alexander Theriault with a time of 2:52:21. 

Valley Grange of Guilford is sponsoring a blanket-making event from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 28 and volunteers are needed. Organizer Pat Engstrom notes “no sewing skills are needed. If you can measure, cut a straight line with scissors and tie a simple knot you can become a ‘blanketeer’ and help support Project Linus.”

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 at The Commons at Central Hall, NAMI Piscataquis County will host a video presentation entitled, “Meditation and Prayer: How Spiritual Practices Can Be Powerful Tools to Overcome Depression and Anxiety.”

At 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, Chris Clukey, MA, CCC-A, certified audiologist from Dover Audiology, will speak at the Dexter Age-Friendly Tea Talks at Gatherings 4 Maine Street.

The Dover Low Vision Group will meet at the Thayer Parkway Community Room, 33 Thayer Parkway, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 6.

When Maine achieved statehood in 1820, it was home to a number of wild creatures that are no longer seen in the region today. Wolves, caribou, panthers and rattlesnakes are among the animals found roaming the woods and waters of Maine 200 years ago. 

The Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District’s (PCSWCD) 2020 Tree and Plant Sale has begun. We are pleased to announce PCSWCD is using several new, local and organic suppliers for our tree and plant sale this year. They are all located in Maine and some are very close to home.

Dexter Regional High School is proud to announce that the following students have been selected by the faculty as “Students of the Month” for January, from left, grade 9: Jozlynn Paige, grade 10: Abey Givens, grade 11: Parker Ponte, and grade 12: Seth Hocking.

Upcoming events around the region.

Anglers are invited to Sebec Lake for the ninth annual Dover-Foxcroft Firefighters Association Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday, Feb. 29 and Sunday, March 1.

Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville and Rep. Paul Stearns, R-Guilford hosted Ben Beverly’s history class from Greenville High School at the Statehouse on Feb. 26.

This month, from compelling fiction to special programs to wonderful artwork, the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft taps into a wellspring of empathy.

“We have current conditions drafted,” Town Manager Jack Clukey said about a Dover-Foxcroft Urban Area Transportation Study during a Feb. 24 selectmen’s meeting. “Now Gorrill Palmer is working on the future alternate analysis.”

Did you have an ancestor who changed his or her name? This was quite common in the past. If our ancestors didn’t like their given name and preferred a nickname or middle name, they usually didn’t feel the need to legalize a name change in a court of law as we do today. They just went ahead and used whatever they preferred.

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors will hold their monthly meeting from 9-11 a.m. on Friday, March 13 at the USDA Building, 42 Engdahl Drive in Dover-Foxcroft.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/Miosac Club is conducting its 2020 Sebec Lake Ice Out Contest for the 44th consecutive year.  Tickets may be purchased from any club member through March 31. Monies raised will be used to maintain a variety of club projects in the Dover-Foxcroft area.

Area blood drives will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday, March 2 at the Dexter Unitarian Universalist Church, 35 Church St., and from 1-6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 at Foxcroft Academy, 975 West Main St.

We had lots of activity on our trails on this perfect snowmobiling week. We were glad to see so many people on the trails and at our cookout this weekend.