Saturday and Sunday, as you may have heard, constitute a Free Fishing Weekend here in Maine, and the state is inviting you to head out onto the ice (safely, of course) and try your hand, whether you have a license or not.

Each winter the state holds a free fishing weekend, during which people are invited to enjoy a day on the water without a fishing license. That weekend is upon us, and on Feb. 15 to 16 anyone who hasn’t otherwise had a license suspended or revoked can fish for free.

The Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) Executive Committee is pleased to announce the hiring of a new executive director, John Shea.

The Omicron Chapter of DKG Society International, a group for women educators, met Feb. 1 at the SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft. The guest speaker was Emily Poland RN, school nurse Consultant for the Maine Department of Education. Poland spoke about Project AWARE - Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education

Earlier this week, Maine’s conservation agencies -- the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, issued some safety tips that deserve a second look.

Laura Feaga, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and a Piscataquis County native, has opened a new psychiatric practice in Dover-Foxcroft. Healing Partners Psychiatric Services, LLC, located in The Mill, provides psychiatric diagnosis, consultation, medication management and supportive therapy for clients by appointment.

The local board will be holding a meeting to discuss the operations and funding at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the Peakes House located next to the Piscataquis County Courthouse. 

On Saturday, Feb. 1 the Dover-Foxcroft Republican Committee held its biennial caucus. During the caucus, new municipal officers were elected and delegates to the Maine Republican Convention were selected. At the caucus, the committee also voted to make every registered Republican a member of the committee and elections were held for the executive committee.

Should a disaster strike the region when Piscataquis County Emergency Agency Director Tom Capraro is out of town and/or on vacation, the response may not be delayed as Deputy Director Debra Hamlin can now step up and fill in.

After all these years, I realized there weren’t any donations made as she requested. My brother-in-law Fred in England gave me the idea to grow my hair and beard, get pledges from folks, set a date to get the haircut and beard shave and then take the money raised and donate it to her cause.

Piscataquis County Democrats gathered to prepare for the upcoming March 8 caucuses on Jan. 18 at party headquarters on North Street. April Thibodeau from the Maine Democratic Party provided training to conveners from virtually every town in the county.

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at The Commons at Central Hall, NAMI Piscataquis County will present the video “Healing Your Brain With Food.”  You can learn how sugar-laden food can cause inflammation in the brain from Dr. Daniel Nuzum, DO. From Dr. William Davis, MD, you can learn about the evolution of wheat in the United States from the 4.5-foot tall “amber waves of grain” to the now 18-inch tall plant with different nutritional properties that may be the cause of some gluten sensitivities.

Mayo Regional Hospital has announced a “Ski Day” for its employees and families in February. The first 100 employees to register are able to ski for free. Officials at the hospital say that this is to encourage employee wellness while calling attention to American Heart Month, which is recognized throughout February.

A lease agreement between the town of Dover-Foxcroft and the Maine Highlands Senior Center, on the first floor at The Commons at Central Hall, was amended to assist the organization in applying for a kitchen grant. The adjustment from 15 to 20 years as of March 1 was approved during a Jan. 27 selectmen’s meeting.

A new childcare center has opened in Dover Foxcroft, Little Organics Learning Center.

Have you heard the news? Foxcroft Academy is an IB World School. Our inaugural first semester is in the rearview mirror and we are on to the second semester filled with challenging learning and new experiences. If you’re interested in learning more and possibly joining the program, there will be an informational meeting for students and parents/guardians about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at 6 p.m. n Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Foxcroft Academy in Room 211 (the Washburn Parkman Room).

Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville visited the home of Phyllis and Harlan Spaulding of Dover-Foxcroft and presented him with an Honorable Service Coin and a certificate from the State of Maine.

Eighth-grader Izzy Story earned top honors at the 10th annual SeDoMoCha Middle School District Spelling Bee on the evening of Jan. 23. Story will now go on to represent Piscataquis County at the Maine State Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Portland Press Herald and scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, March 21 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.