Gardening is a wonderful way for people to get outside and enjoy physical activity. It is one of the most popular hobbies in the U.S. As the saying goes, “Gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes!” Everyone should have the opportunity to grow something, regardless of age, injury, pain, or other limitations. With adaptations that respect gardeners’ abilities, gardening can be a lifetime activity.

The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine awarded Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, an Impact Award at their annual meeting in Brewer on May 5.

Calendar of events

Have you been dreaming about adding a pond to your property? Perhaps you would like a place to stock trout, enjoy wildlife, to take a dip on a hot summer day or even have a water source for agricultural needs. If a pond is what you desire then join the staff of the Somerset and Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation Districts for a pond construction and maintenance workshop on Friday, June 9.

Teachers from each of Maine’s 16 counties were honored May 11 at the Statehouse for an annual event in the Hall of Flags announcing the 2017 Maine County Teachers of the Year. Among the group is Kaitlin Young of SeDoMoCha Elementary School. Young teaches music at the school in Dover-Foxcroft.

The valedictorian for the Class of 2017 at Foxcroft Academy is William Casey. The salutatorian is Marie Hartung.

Calendar of events

March for Babies 2017 will take place on Sunday, May 21 at Mayo Regional Hospital. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. for the 3-mile walk. The March for Babies is the March of Dimes’ largest fundraiser, supporting programs that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Dexter Regional High School Principal Stephen Bell is proud to announce the valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2017. Valedictorian is William Strauch and the salutatorian is Ashley Reynolds.

Last weekend was the opening of “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” at the Center Theatre. By all accounts it is a magical performance for the whole family. Over 250 people attended the performance on opening night and according to Patrick Myers, the Center Theatre’s executive Director, they were enchanted.

Foxcroft Academy celebrated the retirement of long-time Dover-Foxcroft Police Chief Dennis Dyer, with “Chief Dyer Day” at the Friday morning assembly. Chief Dyer has been with the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department since 1972.

On May 3 a special assembly was held at Foxcroft Academy to announce the Class of 2017’s outstanding scholars at the annual Rose Award ceremony. This year the recipients are Brianna Adkins, Camille Bozzelli, Caleb Buerger, William Casey, Erika Chadbourne, Hannah Fishburn, Joseph Gilbert, Marie Hartung, Rose Kreider, Bonnie Page, Chandler Rockwell, Alexandria Scuderi, Taylor Smith, Emily Sprecher, Dingying Zhang and Wenduo Zhang.

A genealogist ‘s best friend is a good librarian. And while many of us automatically head to larger libraries such as the Maine State Library when we think of researching, there are valuable resources for the family researchers in smaller, local libraries in the town where your ancestors lived. The guide to these treasures is the local librarian.

General Federation of Women’s Club (GFWC)/Miosac Club members listened intently as Karen King of the Dover-Foxcroft Area Food Cupboard spoke about her work and the cupboard -- currently housed at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church but moving to the former Agway building when the facility is ready.

Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) will host its monthly workshop on Saturday May, 13 at the Abbott Memorial Library beginning at 9:30 a.m. on the basics of small root cellars to store garden produce.

May events calendar

On Wednesday, May 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the Guilford Memorial Library, the NAMI Family and Friends Support Group will host Stephen Madera, child abuse and neglect educator. He will speak about positive ways everyone can promote children’s well-being to prevent child maltreatment.

The Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation will host a presentation of the Moosehead Lake Regional Strategic Action Plan on Monday, May 8, at the Greenville Middle/High School auditorium from 3:45 pm to 5:30 pm.