Back in October, I was pleased to share the stage for my book launch with Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, an outdoors enthusiast I’ve known for more than 35 years, since the high school days when our respective track teams competed against each other.

The Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) is pleased to announce confirmation of the appointment of Judy East as incoming executive director. East, a Washington County resident, brings over three decades of rural land use planning and conservation experience to LUPC.

The newest Students of the Month at PCES include fifth-graders Hailey Chambers, Olivia Goodwin and Desirae Maloon; Brady Ball and Molly Goodwin representing grade 6; grade 7 honorees Jordan Brown, Gavin Chase and Gabby Koscielny; and eighth-graders Braylin Bilodeau, Scott Chadbourne, Zachariah Demmer and Beau Talbot.

Gov. Janet Mills arrived in Greenville on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 14, to view the future home of the Dockside Inn and Tavern on the lakefront downtown, as part of her rural economic development discussions being held statewide. Mills had just come from Monson, where she visited the Monson Arts area, created in part by the Libra Foundation, and spoke with Monson businesses.

Traveling along the bank of Musquash Stream in Nahmakanta Public Lands, a scenic hiking trail visits a series of small waterfalls before turning back into the forest and forming a small loop. This 0.9-mile trail is one of the many hikes located on the state-owned property, which encompasses 43,000 acres about halfway between Moosehead and Millinocket.

A number of area residents were recognized at the county-wide Spirit of American Awards ceremony Nov. 15 at the Valley Grange in Guilford.

he Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation has kicked off Phase 2 of the Wayfinding Initiative. Four information kiosks have been installed to help visitors locate the major outdoor public attractions in the Moosehead Lake region.

First National Bank recently announced a $50,000 donation to Foxcroft Academy toward the capital campaign for the construction of a new fieldhouse. The $5.5 million fieldhouse project will provide dedicated space for student activities including field hockey, soccer, wrestling, track, baseball and softball as well as future community use of the facility

Elementary and fifth-graders brought in food for Thanksgiving boxes for families in the community, and middle school students raised pledges in order to fund other items for the Thanksgiving boxes such as turkey, cooking supplies, gravy and anything else needed.

This will be the 16th annual Thanksgiving dinner offered to the community, by the community. The meal is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 at the Guilford United Methodist Church on the corner of North Main and School streets. Take out meals are available. Delivered meals and rides to the event are available.

The leader of Maine’s second largest health care system is leaving her post for a job at a prominent national lobbying organization for hospitals. Michelle Hood, president and CEO of Northern Light Health, announced Thursday that she has accepted a job as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Hospital Association.

Ah winter… It’s on the way for sure. The north winds have been blowing, hardwood trees are practically leafless, and Mother Nature’s gift of snow has already made an appearance. In this part of Maine thoughts are turning to winter pastimes like skiing, snowshoeing and of course, snowmobiling.

State regulators have given preliminary support to a proposed merger of Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft with Northern Light Health, the statewide health care system that includes Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

On Wednesday, Nov. 7, the 23-year-old LaGrange man was finally in the right place. His timing was pretty good, too. And as a result, he wound up bagging his first career deer during a hunt he’ll never forget.

A municipal solar power project will not be located at the town airport at the Charles A. Chase Jr. Memorial Field on Pine Street. During a selectmen’s meeting Tuesday night in the Morton Avenue Municipal Building Gymnasium, the board passed a motion to focus on a solar project at an alternate site other than the airport.

On Nov. 4 over 20 educators from across the state converged on Foxcroft Academy, an Apple Distinguished School, to learn about and discuss best practices in educational technology integration, specifically with the use of iPads.

Next Thursday, Nov. 21 the Anah Shriners open the doors at 1404 Broadway for the eighth annual Feztival of Trees. Over the next two weekends the Feztival of Trees will host thousands of guests to visit the 62 trees sponsored by generous local businesses.

Surrounded by a crowd of friends and colleagues, Randy Cross soaked in the praise for a career well spent at a ceremony held in the town of Waldo. The state’s bear management and monitoring program will never be the same.