Upcoming events around the region

The framed needlepoint pictured here was blessed on Oct. 29 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Brownville Junction in memory of Fr. Frank Baker, who served the church as an interim priest for more than seven years.

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 Shaw Public Library will host a book talk and signing with local resident Sandra Neily on her debut novel “Deadly Trespass” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

A group of Dexter Regional High School students recently planted a garden of yellow tulips for The Yellow Tulip Project – a movement started by Maine high school student Julia Hansen who lost two close friends to suicide her sophomore year.

The following births were recorded recently at Mayo Regional Hospital:

November calendar of events

Three Rivers Kiwanis has been running the Secret Santa Program for many years and it is the largest program the organization runs annually. Kiwanis members purchase clothing, shoes and gifts according to need for children up to age 16 who live in the SAD 41 district communities of Atkinson, Brownville, LaGrange and Milo. Kiwanians typically spend between $50 and $75 per child.

This will be the 14th annual Thanksgiving dinner offered to the community, by the community. The meal is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day Thursday, Nov. 23 at the Guilford United Methodist Church on the corner of North Main and School streets.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/Miosac Club met at Thayer Parkway Oct. 17 with 14 members present.

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) has recently accredited the Charlotte White Center for a third consecutive three-year period for its residential brain injury services.

Sunoco announced that Dexter resident Elisha Chadwick was one of 14 grand prize winners in its 13th annual Sunoco UltraTech Free Fuel 5000 sweepstakes. She was awarded her prize of $5,000 worth of free fuel at a ceremony held Nov. 2 in her honor at the Sunoco station on Church Street.

Marie Vienneau, president and CEO of Mayo Regional Hospital, spoke recently at the regular morning meeting of the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club at Foxcroft Academy.

Calendar of events for November.

We have a winner! Melanie Baird, a local resident, will enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner that the Dover Cove Farmers Market raffled off as a conclusion to the summer market. She and her family visit the farmers market as often as they need fresh veggies and eggs, and feel that farmers markets are “vital to the community as well as the environment.”

The Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MIFW) and the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be holding a workshop on Maine bats Thursday, Nov. 16. The workshop will be led by Cory Mosby, biologist for Maine IFW, and Sarah Boyden, biologist for MDOT, and will be held from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church at 824 West Main Street.

The Parkman Grange is again this year running the SAD 4 Santa Program, helping families in the school district -- the towns of Abbot, Cambridge, Guilford, Parkman, Sangerville and Wellington -- enjoy Christmas.

Thanksgiving leaps to mind when we think of November. But all too often the focus is on food and stuffing ourselves, not just the turkey. Keep in mind that gratitude has a place at the table too. So be grateful for community resources like the Thompson Free Library, and, as Veterans Day approaches, for our men and women in the armed forces, past and present.