A proposed $6,890,304 budget for the 2017-18 school year was approved during a district budget meeting on June 8 at Piscataquis Community Elementary School. The $6.89 million budget will now go to a referendum in the SAD 4 towns of Abbot, Cambridge, Guilford, Parkman, Sangerville and Wellington on Tuesday, June 13.

Earlier in the year applications made by the towns of Dexter and Milo to join the AARP/World Health Organization Network of Age-Friendly Communities were approved. The designation will enable the communities to utilize AARP resources, at no charge, to make the community more age friendly through the organization’s policies and infrastructure improvements.

Following nearly eight years operating in Parkman and another eight years prior in Florida, the full-service floral establishment Chloe’s Collections has a new home at 1 North Street near the intersection with Lincoln Street. Owner Joy Gregory was formally welcomed to the community with a Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony and Business After Hours event on the evening of June 1.

A proposed $10,817,189 RSU 68 budget for the 2017-18 academic year was approved at the annual district budget meeting on May 30 at the SeDoMoCha School. The spending package will now go to a referendum in the towns of Charleston, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson and Sebec on Tuesday, June 13

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District has selected PCSS' Heather Doherty as recipient of its Outstanding Conservation Educator of the Year Award.

After a year’s absence on account of inclement weather in 2016, the Memorial Day parade returned to Dover-Foxcroft on Monday morning.

After a pair of votes, a proposed $6,890,304 budget for the 2017-18 school year was approved by a vote of 10-5 by the directors during a May 25 school board meeting at Piscataquis Community Elementary School (PCES).

On Tuesday, June 13 residents will head to the polls to vote on a 10-article warrant -- which was approved at the annual town meeting in late April -- as well as make decisions on several municipal officer positions.

On Tuesday, June 13 residents of the SAD 41 communities of Atkinson, Brownville, LaGrange and Milo will be voting on an approximate $474,000 loan from the state’s school revolving renovation fund for sprinkler and elevator system upgrades at the Penquis Valley School. Under the program the state would cover 70 percent of the costs, meaning a little more than $142,000 would be paid back by the district over five years at zero percent interest.

For several months seventh- and eighth-graders at the SeDoMoCha Middle School have been developing projects -- either on their own or in pairs -- for the annual science fair. On the evening of May 18, the students presented their findings to the public with projects on display in the cafeteria and adjacent multipurpose room.

More than 200 people walked or ran a little more than three miles through the streets of Dover-Foxcroft on the morning of May 20 in the Abbot-based JD Foundation’s second annual Walk/Run to Wake the Silence. Those participating in the five kilometer walk and ceremonies raised an estimated $8,500 for the nonprofit organization dedicated to curbing suicide and bullying through education and support.

Husband and wife business owners who have given back in numerous ways since coming to the area a half dozen years ago have been honored by the Valley Grange with the 2017 Community Citizens of the Year honor. Will and Melissa Wedge, owners of Will’s Shop ‘n Save in Dover-Foxcroft, received the recognition on the evening of May 19 at the Grange Hall.

For the equivalent of four full days from May 11-15 the more than 58,300 Americans who lost their lives during the Vietnam War were honored as Shirley B. Carter VFW Post 4298 hosted the Moving Wall at Bud Ellms Field.

While the two districts are in the midst of the application process for an integrated, consolidated grade 9-16 educational facility, SAD 4 and AOS 94 -- which includes the Dexter-based SAD 46 and the towns of Athens and Harmony -- are also looking into ways to save money and share resources in the more immediate future. During a May 9 meeting of the SAD 4 school board, the directors voted to send a written request to AOS 94 to enter into a one-year cost sharing agreement with the neighboring school unit.

With the most recent monthly meeting starting at 4 p.m. on May 10, the selectmen opted to remain with a regular session schedule of the second Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m. at the town hall -- with additional meetings taking place as needed.

The four classes of kindergarteners at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School had some special visitors on the afternoon of Friday, May 12 as many of the students had their mothers, and/or some other family members, stop by for the annual Mother’s Day Tea in the school cafeteria.

Public hearings for both a proposed corridor moratorium ordinance extension and the June 13 referendum will be part of the next selectmen’s meeting on Monday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building.

Despite a cool start to the spring season, planning is well underway for summertime as the Dexter Town Council gave its approval to closures on public ways for three events across July and August during a May 11 meeting.