GUILFORD — Members of the Valley Grange #144 opted for an atypical choice as the organization’s Community Citizen Award while looking back on a year-plus in the coronavirus pandemic.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — On May 22, at the Maine Education Association Representative Assembly, the Center Theatre was given a Golden Apple Award.

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library Our goal this June at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft is to eliminate the words “I’m bored” from your vocabulary.

BREWER — Northern Light Health announced that it will increase its minimum starting rate to $15 an hour across the organization.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff This story will be updated.

To encourage more people to grow their own vegetables, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Piscataquis County Extension Executive Committee adopted the One Tomato project in 2014.

By Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News Staff While Maine’s lakes, rivers and streams are home to some great freshwater fishing, they are also contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic mercury.

Grade eight, high honors: Heidi Clawson, Emily Greenlaw, Eli Lane, Brianna Lawrence, Korbyn McCormick, Jack Murray, Kael Niland, Chelsea O’Bar, Cameron Pratt and Elizabeth Richards; honors: Shem Atwater, Emma Bither, Brooklynn Black, Asa Booker, Leora Brochu, Shayli Cirulli, Margarette Clarke, Allison Conner, Carter Coy, Ashton Day, James Estes, Evalyn Fisk, Jackson Goodine, Grace Greene, Scott Greene, Alexis Heretakis, Hailey Holler, Madyson Kimball, Calvin Landry, Serenity McCabe, Kierstyn Nuite, Aspen Perry, Jason Rhoda, Lea Schnetzer, Flynn Schriver, Lochlainn Schriver, Conner Watt and Jaxson Zimmerman.

By Lynn Fort, Bangor Daily News Staff Another Mainer has died as health officials on Sunday reported another 116 coronavirus cases across the state.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Democrats continued their efforts to address hunger in local communities with the monthly collection of cereal and other staples at their headquarters on North Street in Dover-Foxcroft on Saturday, May 22.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Residents had the opportunity to hear directly from the municipal candidates in Dover-Foxcroft about three weeks prior to the June 8 election during a Candidate Night sponsored by the Piscataquis Chapter of the League of Women Voters at the Center Theatre on May 17.

PORTLAND — The Diocese of Portland has announced major updates to the pandemic protocols currently in place at all 141 Catholic churches in Maine.

SHIRLEY – Dove Tail Bats announced an exclusive agreement with ProXR to produce the world’s first metal bat using ProXR’s handle design.

Many of Maine’s bird species are currently facing stresses causing populations to decline.

BROWNVILLE — Brownville Elementary was one of 205 schools from 43 states across the country to receive a $5,000 grant through the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff This story will be updated.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Elizabeth Palmer Tent #23, Daughters of Union Veterans FLAG DONATION — The Sarah Elizabeth Palmer Tent #23, Daughters of Union Veterans gives an American flag to a nonprofit group each year as part of their patriotic programs.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff An Androscoggin commissioner unsuccessfully pushed a “health freedom” proposal to ban the county from requiring elected officials, staff and jail inmates to get COVID-19 vaccines.