Upcoming events around the region.

The American Red Cross of Maine, Emera Maine and the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department are making households safer through the installation of free smoke alarms and home fire safety education.

Ridge View Community School seventh-grader Payson Rienhardt, the son of Brian and Liza Rienhardt, has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2018 Maine National Geographic State Bee. The contest will be held at the University of Maine-Farmington on Friday, April 6.

Adam Bagley of Parkman, who also is the co-salutatorian of the Class of 2018, has been selected as the Maine Principals Association Principal’s Award winner for Piscataquis Community High School, Principal John Keane announced.

I have high hopes for spring, even if it’s taking an eternity to get here. A pileated woodpecker, I’ve named Pyewacket (after Kim Novak’s cat who stalks Jimmy Stewart in the quirky film “Bell, Book, & Candle”) is visiting our bird feeder at home (perhaps pye-babies will follow?). And, thankfully, ice cream stands are opening again!Black raspberry, anyone? Besides showers, April brings a wide-range of events to the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft.

Penquis Valley High School is proud to present the 2018 Talent Show at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 13 in the school auditorium.

The following births were recorded recently at Mayo Regional Hospital:

Mayo Regional Hospital will be celebrating National Donate Life Month in April by honoring those touched by donation and transplantation. National Donate Life Month focuses national attention on every individual’s power to make life possible by registering their decision to be an organ and tissue donor and learning more about living donation.

On Friday, April 6 Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) will be hosting its monthly free public discussion at the Abbott Memorial Library. Beginning at 6 p.m. a few short videos will introduce the topic of “blockchains,” after which we’ll try to figure out how what we just saw may affect our lives, even if we are not hi-tech in the slightest.

Upcoming events around the region.

The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is hosting a Spring Fling Beach Party at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 7. Performing at the the event will be local favorites The Doughty Hill Band playing fun summer songs.

The SeDoMoCha School Organization (SSO) with the support of a number of local organizations will be bringing the travelling exhibit "Anne Frank: A History for Today" to the Commons at Central Hall from April 30 to May 11. The exhibit, developed by the Anne Frank House and sponsored in North America by The Anne Frank Center USA, has been travelling around the world for over 10 years.

Mayo Regional Hospital will soon be celebrating its 40th anniversary. Four decades on from its formation as a regional hospital serving over 13 communities, Mayo Regional Hospital will mark its 40th year Anniversary on from 1-4 p.m. on Monday, April 9 in the Resource Center.

Partners for Peace, a domestic violence resource center will host two 44-hour trainings, one in Dover-Foxcroft and the other in Bangor, for anyone interested in volunteering with the organization. The first training begins June 16 in Dover-Foxcroft. The second will take place in September in Bangor.

NAMI Piscataquis County is happy to announce the presentation of “Mindfulness: Being Present for Your Life” at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church. Elaine Ecker from NAMI Maine in Augusta is the manager of The Peer Recovery Center in Waterville and co-author of “Inspiring Minds,” a skills-based, peer education course.

Greenville is about to hear from some powerful women. At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28 at the town office panelists Alexandra Conover Bennett, Jennifer Dumont, and Aislinn Sarnacki will discuss their outdoor experiences and what it’s like to embark on remote adventures, alone.

Upcoming events around the region

The Piscataquis County Republican Committee will host a debate of the Republican gubernatorial candidates on Friday, March 23 at the Center Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m.