Folks who have been driving through Monson recently have most likely noticed the dramatic changes happening in that little town on Route 15 on the way to Moosehead Lake. Thanks to the Libra Foundation, the place has been getting a dramatic face-lift and Monson plans to celebrate this with a Town Wide Open House – delightfully referred to as “Nosin’ ‘Round Monson” - from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 2.

The Bill and Joan Alfond Foundation has awarded Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine’s largest hunger-relief organization, a $200,000 grant to fund strategies for eliminating food insecurity in Piscataquis County and central Maine, including Dexter.

Mayo Regional Hospital has selected Cerner, a global leader in health care technology, to implement a new integrated electronic health record (HER) and revenue cycle solutions across it acute and ambulatory facilities. This agreement provides the hospital with sophisticated health care technology that will support Mayo doctors, nurses and staff as they work to streamline operations and improve patient care.

The Lakeshore House in Monson is ramping up for the long-awaited summer season just a little early. They began by hosting a special intimate sushi night on Monday, April 23. It was a big success, so much so that the event will be repeated in the near future. Simply check their Facebook page for upcoming events.

The Greater Milo/Brownville Area and Points North Visitor Center was officially gifted to the Milo/Brownville Three Rivers Kiwanis on April 9. A grand opening for the Greater Milo/Brownville and Points North Visitor Center will be held at Kiwanis Headquarters on the Gerrish Road from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, May 18. The event is open to the public and will be followed by refreshments and a tour of the center.

Perched on a hillside, with magnificent sweeping views of Moosehead Lake, the Blair Hill Inn is heading into its 21st year of operation with the coveted new ranking of a Relais & Chateaux member.

The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) recently awarded a $4,226,000 challenge grant from the Maine Technology Asset Fund 2.0 program to the Pleasant River Lumber Company. The $4.2 million will be used toward a $12 million expansion at Pleasant River Lumber’s mill on the Milo Road and a larger $20 million initiative between the Dover-Foxcroft location and the company’s Moose River Mill in Jackman.

They may not be as large or produce as much meat, milk or eggs as quickly as their mainstream counterparts, but for those farmers and homesteaders who love them, heritage breeds fill a unique niche in Maine.

There’s a new store in downtown Greenville, right next door to The Crazy Moose on Pritham Avenue – Northern Maine Minerals. For those in the know, its former location was atop Indian Hill, across the street from the Trading Post.

A look at the past four decades serving the region and a look to the future of helping the community were both features of the 40th anniversary celebration for Mayo Regional Hospital on the afternoon of Monday, April 9 in the Resource Center.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Beyond A Century, a local family-owned business that sells vitamins, supplements and other health products, situated on the Lily Bay Road in Greenville.

On Saturday, March 24 owners David and Luisa Surprenant, hosted a final ride-in to the site where the Chesuncook Lake House stood for more than 150 years. “The Final Ride,” as it was called, attracted an estimated 800 riders and it was at that event when the Surprenants announced they would rebuild.

The Butter Stick Bakery on East Main Street was formally welcomed to the area with a Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 24.

A historic inn located on Chesuncook Lake in the Moosehead Lake region was destroyed by fire early on the morning of Saturday, March 17. The Chesuncook Lake House, located on Chesuncook Lake and accessible through a 52-mile drive up the Golden Road and another 15 miles on snowmobile trail, lost everything to the blaze, but everyone at the inn escaped without injury.

On Feb. 19 a new business opened in Dover Foxcroft. When one walks into the Butter Stick Bakery, located on East Main Street in the same space previously occupied by Shiretown Pizza, they will feel like stepping back into another era and the journey is delicious.

Somewhere, tucked away in the southeast corner of Piscataquis County and nestled into the town of Milo, is Derby. Prior to the early 1900s, Derby was known as Milo Junction, because it was a junction point for the Bangor and Aroostook trains.

The Northern Forest Center, in partnership with the Moosehead Lake Brand Leadership Team (BLT), is offering matching grants of up $2,000 to support downtown façade improvements by Greenville businesses and business property owners.

“The list was published late yesterday, there were three finalists and we were the third-ranked finalist,” SAD 46/AOS 94 Superintendent Kevin Jordan said on Feb. 15.