By Lori Valigra, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine’s top vacation areas, including Bethel and Rangeley, are seeing strong demand for second homes, bucking a national trend showing a dramatic drop in purchases.

By Sarah Walker Caron, Bangor Daily News Staff A Canadian Pacific freight train derailed in Sandwich Academy Grant Township outside of Rockwood in Somerset County early Saturday, setting the surrounding forest on fire, according to the Maine Forest Service.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The beloved Maine Whoopie Pie Festival is back for another year of sweet celebrations in downtown Dover-Foxcroft from 10 a.

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Maine’s public school districts facing the end of federal COVID-19 relief aid are trying to keep positions that helped students through tough pandemic times.

AUGUSTA — On April 12, Senator Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor and Sen.

DEXTER — A day to relax, recharge, and explore is in store for Dexter Regional High School students on Friday, April 14 at a Mental Health Day coordinated by the school’s Positive Action Team.

WATERVILLE — Thomas College will host its 129th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13 at 1 p.

Annual district meeting set for May 24  GUILFORD — The SAD 4 school board approved a proposed 2023-24 budget totaling $8,473,000, with a combined $4,492,377 local assessment between the six district communities, during a meeting on April 11 at Piscataquis Community Elementary School.

DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Center Theatre is excited to announce an upcoming concert by the talented Barney Martin at 7 p.

Community members throughout Maine and New Hampshire voted for 44 nonprofit organizations to receive more than $140,000 in grants from The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation’s Community Matters More program.

MONSON — A Monson organization wants to give $12,000 to creative entrepreneurs or small business owners planning to grow their operations in and around the rural town for its first-ever business pitch competition.

Photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High School STUDENTS OF THE MONTH — Dexter Regional High School is pleased to announce the March Students of the Month as selected by the faculty and staff for being exemplary students.

GUILFORD — Piscataquis Community High School announces the top academic honors for the Class of 2023.

GREENVILLE — Earlier this year $1.

GUILFORD — Piscataquis Community High School announces Kendall Kimball as the 2023 Maine Principal’s Association Principal’s Award recipient.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The local community came together to generously donate hundreds of pounds of food and nearly $1,000 in financial contributions during the Center Theatre’s annual “Fill the Seats Food Drive” to benefit the Dover-Foxcroft Area Food Center.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Have you ever wondered how kilowatts get generated and delivered to your home? Steven Robinson will be the guest speaker of this month’s “Coffee Talk” held on Tuesday, April 18 from 5:30-7 p.