The towns that make up Hospital Administrative District 4 (HAD 4) are planning for public votes regarding the potential merger between Mayo Regional Hospital and Northern Light Health. The votes will be held on a variety of dates set by each individual town as a part of a town meeting format. The result of the votes will give legislators guidance on whether or not to submit legislation to change the HAD 4 charter to allow for the merger.

Following application in March, the Plummer Memorial Foundation in Dexter granted $4,600 for a stairlift to improve the safety of those trying to access second floor services in the town office. The money was quickly granted, and the stairlift was installed on March 27.

Full Plates Full Potential, Maine’s only statewide childhood hunger organization is proud to announce the Piscataquis County 2018 Summer Food Program winner. The town of Milo will receive a $500 Summer Food Grant to support the 2019 summer program. Full Plates Full Potential’s inaugural 16 County Competition was launched to highlight the critical work summer food programs do reaching the 82,000 children who qualify for free and reduced price school meals.

A dozen pieces created by students at Foxcroft Academy and Piscataquis Community High School were on display at the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/Miosac Club’s annual art show on Sunday, March 24 at The Commons at Central Hall.

The Center Theatre is looking for input from the community about its events, concessions, pricing and any other feedback from the community. While people are always welcome to send suggestions, Kathy Reardon, the chair of the Theatre Fundraising Committee, developed the survey to encourage everyone to give the Theatre their opinion.

If you own a boat that gets trailered to your favorite body of water, you are familiar with boat ramps. When things go right, you back the trailer down the ramp until the boat starts to displace water. On with the emergency brake or the parking mode. You disconnect the yellow winch strap, park the trailer, start the motor and you’re off to your fishing spot or other destination.

The recent trend in hospital consolidations started in October 2013, when St. Andrews Hospital merged with Miles Memorial Hospital in nearby Damariscotta to form LincolnHealth, which in turn is part of Portland-based MaineHealth.

Squeezed tightly by the high cost of doing business at a time when federal reimbursements don’t cover expenses and more patients need free care, Maine’s hospitals are looking to each other to survive. Hospital mergers, consolidations and collaborations have been occurring for the past 20 years, but the trend has accelerated during the past five years, experts said.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group, Northern New England’s leading independently owned real estate and home services company, honored its top agents for 2018. Agents from the company’s 36 offices in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont were recognized for their achievements in real estate sales including those from the Dover-Foxcroft office: Betty Ann Richardson, Grover Kilpatrick, Donna Vainio and Brian Chadbourne.

Connor DiAngelo of Greenville was awarded a Maine Legislative Memorial Scholarship in the Maine Senate in Augusta on April 11. While he was unable to attend session, DiAngelo’s parents Bette and Joe accepted the scholarship on his behalf. Connor attends college at the University of Maine where he is majoring in business finance.

Each month the SeDoMoCha School recognizes “Students in the Spotlight,” celebrating pupils from kindergarten to grade 8 who teachers and staff have determined best demonstrate a specific positive attribute or characteristic chosen for the timeframe from the Habits of Mind (a set of life skills for educators and parents). The April Students in the Spotlight were honored during an all-school assembly in the gym on the morning of Friday, April 12.

The Dexter Town Council unanimously gave its approval to the proposed merger of Mayo Regional Hospital with Northern Light Health system during an April 11 meeting.

Rick Whitney is this year’s Spirit of America Award recipient for Dexter. The honor is presented in the name of Maine municipalities to local individuals, organizations and projects for commendable community service

Last month SAD 41 voters overwhelmingly approved a $2.4 million funding package to upgrade the Penquis Valley School heating system. During a school board meeting on April 10 at the school, the directors formally approved the computation and declaration of votes and signed the project loan agreement.

The Veazie Salmon Club, to its credit, is not sitting on its collective hands when it comes to the following issue: the Federal government’s insistence that the declining Atlantic salmon that returns to the Penobscot River must be listed as an Endangered species. Granted, the Atlantic salmon is in deep trouble throughout its native habitat, including Maritime Canada. To warrant the listing criteria as an endangered species the biological evidence must demonstrate that the Penobscot’s returning salmon are, indeed, native or so-called “wild” species.

Amber Ober said she came to Portland to honor Campbell and because she felt a connection with Campbell’s wife, Hilary, and their 6-month-old son, Everett. The 23-year old from Dover-Foxcroft is married to a Piscataquis County sheriff’s deputy, and she was carrying their daughter, Elliot, who is 4 months old. She remembers exactly where she was when she heard of Campbell’s death.

Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine said he’s upset by a report that found lower-income counties, including two in Maine, are subject to more tax audits by the IRS. Piscataquis and Washington counties have median incomes below most of the nation and the rest of the state. But, according to a study published in a trade publication, they have been targeted for IRS audits.

“The large radio reorganization is in California, the equipment is in California,” Dispatch Sgt. Gary Grant said during an April 9 commissioners meeting. Grant said the equipment will go Whitten’s 2-Way Service, Inc. of Brewer -- which has worked with the sheriff’s department for more than two decades -- to be programmed for installation.