By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff While Mainers pull the final elements together for total solar eclipse festivities next month, for some folks, this is not their first go-round with such a rare celestial event.

DOVER-FOXCROFT— This June, the Center Theatre and Bissell Brothers Brewing are thrilled to bring a spectacular event to the Piscataquis County Ice Arena that promises to dazzle and delight audiences of all ages.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Last month the Dover-Foxcroft Select Board voted to accept a recommendation from the Mayo Mill Dam steering committee that removing the dam and connecting facilities and building a riverfront park is in the town’s best interests moving forward.

WASHINGTON, D.

By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff A Maine judge who failed field sobriety tests with a blood alcohol content nearly double the legal limit was acquitted of operating under the influence after a jury trial.

DEXTER — Students from six schools across the region wanting to make a difference came together to take part in workshops, share what they are doing, and brainstorm ideas all focused on leading positive change in their schools and communities at the Positive Action Team Summit on Friday, March 22 at Dexter Regional High School.

By Erin Rhoda, Bangor Daily News Staff State evaluators failed to carefully review bids by two local organizations competing against an out-of-state company for a massive contract to arrange transportation for Medicaid patients who have no other ride to medical appointments, the nonprofits’ attorneys argued before an appeal panel last week.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff A bill awaiting the governor’s signature will require two of the state’s departments that deal with fisheries to be responsible for a plan to keep invasive species from taking over waters important to native fish.

By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff After more than 30 years traveling throughout the U.

By Sawyer Loftus, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine has set a goal to ensure all 4-year-olds can attend public prekindergarten by the fall of 2026, but it may not meet that target unless the state’s school funding formula changes to encourage wider adoption, agreed educators, a policy analyst, state officials and a legislative commission.

By Kevin Miller, Maine Public Maine will add two new public defender offices under a bill that passed the Legislature and was signed by Gov.

By Erin Rhoda, Bangor Daily News Staff Two organizations are appealing the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to award a potentially $1 billion contract to an out-of-state company, with a history of complaints, to arrange transportation for Medicaid patients who have no other way to get to doctor appointments, dialysis and cancer treatments.

How do you organize a solar eclipse party? You have to “planet” of course! On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross over North America, with 13 states from Texas to Maine directly in the path of totality.

LEWISTON — Jacob Raynes of Dover-Foxcroft was named to the dean’s list at Bates College for the fall/winter semester ending in December 2023.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The construction process to move the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center from the cramped conditions of the Piscataquis County Jail in Dover-Foxcroft into the administrative unit of the sheriff’s office on the first floor of the same larger building is underway.

DEXTER — Students from Dexter Regional High School, Ridge View Community School, Piscataquis Community Secondary School, Penquis Valley High School, Foxcroft Academy, and SeDoMoCha Middle School will gather on Friday, March 22 in Dexter for a regional summit focused on leading positive change in their schools and communities.

BREWER — Displaying continued commitment to the health of its patients, colleagues, and community, Northern Light Health has been selected as the newest member of the Health Care Climate Council.

By Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli The weather along the swath of eclipse totality from Mexico to Maine is a big unknown.