Carpe Diem Salon on North Street earned top business honors in the annual Dover-Foxcroft Halloween BooNanza decorating contest with a display inspired by the works of Stephen King.

For many Maine moose hunters lucky enough to get drawn, a moose permit is a once-in-a-lifetime affair. Such was the case with my middle-aged friend Greg Goodman, who has been trying for that permit since he was a young man. Knowing that I had had some experience in the moose woods (and perhaps that I owned a big tent and a chainsaw winch), Greg invited me along as his subpermittee.

For more than a decade Valley Grange Bookworms have been coming to Piscataquis Community Elementary School (and previously at the former Guilford Primary School) to share their love of books with second- and third-graders as the pupils spend time reading a book of their choice to the adult visitors.

With four employees working in two rooms making for cramped quarters, staff of the district attorney’s office have been looking at possible ways to have more space at their location on the first floor of the Piscataquis County Courthouse.

After a fundraising campaign of more than eight years, the first batch of bricks have been placed in front of Central Hall on East Main Street. About 200 bricks at either four by eight inches or eight by eight inches were set or are going to be positioned in the ground next to the walkway leading to the building from the sidewalk.

An old friend from the wonderful world of public policy emailed me last week with information about an "important" upcoming U.S. Senate vote on "forced arbitration." And sitting by myself, reading my friend's email, I felt my shoulders droop a little, and I shook my head side-to-side.

The national firm of Gray & Pape Heritage Management has been hired by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission to conduct an architectural survey of Monson. Surveyors Patrick O’Bannon and Kendal Anderson will be documenting houses, stores, churches, cemeteries, etc. built before 1972 in order to identify historic properties or neighborhoods.

It probably should please me that in more than 50 years of upland bird hunting and big game hunting, I have been shot only twice: once, long ago, while duck hunting at Merrymeeting Bay, I took a BB shower from another hunter across the water; later, while fussing with my lawnmower behind my Hampden home in October, a grouse hunter sent some BBs my way from across the brook.

As of the end of last month, Dr. Lesley Fernow of Dover-Foxcroft has retired from the practice of medicine after 38 continuous years in the region. Patients, family members of patients and others are invited to a community reception for Dr. Fernow -- who will be staying in town and said she looks to get more involved in the community in various volunteer capacities -- from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Center Theatre.

For over a decade the JD Foundation has been working as an educational tool across Maine in order to bring suicide prevention and bullying rates down through awareness and education. The organization had previously been based out of the 107 Main Road home of JD Foundation founder Cheryl Morin and her husband Vic, but now a converted carriage house on the Morins’ property will serve as the organization headquarters. The office space was formally opened during a ceremony on Oct. 14.

A father and son in Sangerville plan to be very busy over the next few months, fixing up bicycles to give to children who otherwise may not be able to have a model of their own.

Three years ago residents approved an ordinance concerning private distribution corridors, including paved highways, pipelines and high-tension transmission lines. The moratorium enacted in 2014 -- meaning permits for these types of development projects cannot be granted during the timeline -- was in effect for 180 days. The moratorium has since been renewed six times with the current extension in place through Nov. 26.

Numerous social media posts and signs around town have been encouraging the community and beyond to vote for Foxcroft Academy boys soccer and wrestling coach Luis Ayala in the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach program. The efforts have paid off so far, as Ayala -- who also coaches soccer and wrestling for various age groups -- is one of 15 nationwide finalists now eligible for the Most Valuable Coach honor.

Rep. Norman Higgins of Dover-Foxcroft has announced that he has unenrolled from the Republican Party and will represent his district as an independent.

During an Oct. 12 council meeting, Town Manager Jim Chandler said he and Police Chief Kevin Wintle attended the recent MMA convention in Augusta with a number of sessions there concerning marijuana.

Jack, about six feet tall, thin, wearing baggy blue jeans and gray t-shirt, stepped from his company van. With dark circles around his eyes, a left eye that drifted slightly, and chin length light brown hair, Jack resembled television actor David Carradine (Kung Fu).

“You wimp,” Diane said. “I don’t believe this. The summit is just over that pile of rocks. I’m telling you the view is 360 degrees. It’s fantastic.” “Nope,” I said with conviction. “This is far enough. I ain’t goin.’”

For the first month of school students and families at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School had the opportunity to read “Lost on a Mountain in Maine” at home together during the eighth annual One Book, One School program -- copies of the book were provided by the school. The shared reading program concluded with a celebration on the evening of Oct. 5 with dinner, a nature walk, crafts and games.