By Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — Mainers who are not lawmakers, legislative staffers or lobbyists may have still been asleep around 6 a.

Contributed photo CHILLY SWIM — The ice recently went “out” at Schoodic Lake and on Sunday, April 14 the Brownville Days Committee sponsored a polar dip that raised over $5,500 for events to celebrate Brownville’s 200th birthday.

Reading Is Fundamental is proud to announce that Brownville Elementary has been selected as a winner of its “Rally to Read 100” sweepstakes, a six-month initiative designed to ignite a love of reading for students in grades PreK-5 across the country.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — An estimated 40,000 people viewed the total solar eclipse in Piscataquis County on the afternoon of Monday, April 8.

The Northern Forest Center is offering grants of $1,000 to $3,000 to volunteer-led organizations working to increase youth participation in outdoor recreation in Northern Forest Communities.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff The group that runs Greater Bangor’s meal delivery program for older residents is working hard to overcome a roughly $126,000 funding gap due to receding federal funding, rising food prices and increased demand.

BROWNVILLE JUNCTION — After 42 years, the Brownville Junction High School Alumni Association has officially dissolved.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff It’s a little bit early, but one of Maine’s most iconic animals is awake and on the hunt for food.

Get your canoes and kayaks ready! The Three Rivers Kiwanis’ Sebec Canoe/Kayak Race will be Saturday, May 11.

By Leela Stockley, Bangor Daily News Staff April 8’s celestial event is one that will linger in most people’s minds for a while to come.

AUGUSTA — The Department of Administrative and Financial Services announced today that Maine Revenue Services, a bureau of DAFS, will extend the deadline to file Maine state taxes for eight counties impacted by severe January storms, matching the recent Internal Revenue Service federal tax extension deadline for Maine taxpayers until July 15.

By Ethan Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff Traffic on Maine’s highways was way above average around the solar eclipse but the total number of visitors to Maine may have been fewer than expected.

The total solar eclipse that passed through western and northern Maine on Monday was something for the ages: a celestial event that may only come once or twice in someone’s life.

Matthew Polstein estimated Monday that the solar eclipse, which drew a rush of visitors to the Katahdin region and other communities along the path of totality, brought more than $150,000 to his business.

By Ethan Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff The total solar eclipse that crossed Maine on Monday ended at 3:33 p.

By Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli, Houlton Pioneer Times Staff Sun and clear skies are on tap for Monday’s total solar eclipse in Maine, and that is prompting eclipse chasers to change their travel plans and head for the parts of the Pine Tree State that are best situated to see it.

The Children’s Summer Drama Camp, launched in 1999 before the Center Theatre building had even been renovated, is the theatre’s longest-standing program.

By Billy Kobin Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — A proposal to enshrine “reproductive autonomy” in the Maine Constitution failed to get two-thirds support in the state Senate on April 1, with all Republicans withholding the votes that will be necessary to get the item to the November ballot.