By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff You’re likely not going to get rich panning for gold or digging for gems in Maine.

The towns of Sebec, Dexter, and Greenville will each be celebrating Independence Day with events on and leading up to Thursday.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Students and families gathered at the SeDoMoCha School on June 24 to kick off the 2024 Hot Lunch Summer Meal Program and the new SUN Bucks benefit.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Bangor Savings Bank helped nearly 500 people buy their first home in the last fiscal year, but the bank’s leaders said low inventory is the biggest hurdle it faces in getting more people to achieve the milestone.

BREWER — Northern Light Health announced that it has been accepted into the America Is All In Clean Energy Academy, led by the Rocky Mountain Institute, as it seeks to halve its emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

By Ethan Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff MILO — Bissell Brothers will close its Three Rivers location in Milo at the end of the summer.

PORTLAND – The John T.

BANGOR — Penquis is encouraging survey participation in the Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment (Maine Shared CHNA), inviting individuals 18 and older to participate in the statewide community survey.

GREENVILLE — Hospital leadership, members of the Allen Family, and guests gathered for a small ceremony on Monday, June 24 to dedicate the Allen Family Wing at Northern Light CA Dean Hospital.

LEWISTON — Androscoggin Bank is excited to announce that Director of Government Banking John Simko, has been promoted to senior vice president.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The day started with showers, but by mid-morning it was perfect whoopie pie weather for the 6,000 people who came to Dover-Foxcroft to get their fill of Maine’s Official State Treat during the 15th Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on Saturday, June 22.

Summer travel is back and better than ever in 2024.

By Leela Stockley, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine saw home sales increase in May, making it the fourth straight month of growth after more than two years of a steady decline in the state’s housing market.

By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — Solar subsidies and storms will drive another round of electric rate hikes hitting most Mainers on July 1, though the effects will differ depending on where you live.

GREENVILLE — Due to forecasted heavy rain and thunderstorms, Northern Light CA Dean Hospital has postponed the Sunday, June 23 Bike & Boat event.

GREENVILLE — For much of 2024, the Greenville Planning Board has been working on an affordable housing density ordinance to be in compliance with state regulations — LD 2003 “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions.

GREENVILLE — With Greenville’s police department having moved out of the town office and across Minden street to the new public safety building, the code enforcement office will now be housed in the former police space and the town clerk’s office will be in the former home of code enforcement.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — “Going once, going twice, sold to the man in the second row with the blue hat!” The Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Charities is pleased to announce preparations for their very popular largest fundraiser and summer tradition, the annual Kiwanis Auction to be held July 26-27 at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds.