The SAD 41 board of directors approved a proposed budget of $8,500,571 for the 2017-18 academic year during a meeting on June 7 at the Penquis Valley School. The board also scheduled the district budget meeting for Monday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at Penquis Valley in the gymnasium, with an information session before at 5:30 p.m.

Maine is one step closer to a manageable, cost-effective health care system that enhances choice and access to services.

We continue a conversation with Maine’s first Small Business Advocate, my friend, Jay Martin. Jay’s office was established within Maine’s Secretary of State’s office. He is experienced working in Maine’s nonprofit sector, and in the private sector. We covered the highlights of his work experience in our June 2 column.

A 71-year-old man reported missing on June 8 was found alive the following morning in Monson. Maine game wardens and a Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office deputy located Arthur Lowe, 71, shortly after 7 a.m. on Friday, June 9.

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.

This is the month that eager, full-of-hope young adults graduate from institutions of learning. Whether high school or college, these graduates are always subjected to one final round of advice from a commencement speaker before they toss their hats in the air and bolt for the door.

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.

Our administration has done a good job bringing accountability to the Maine Turnpike Authority. Mainers are still counting on us to ensure that turnpike revenue is spent as efficiently as possible.

When Gov. Paul LePage was first elected to office he launched what became the 25 “Red Tape Workshops” tour throughout Maine, hearing from “1,000 job creators about how government red tape impacts their businesses.” That direct feedback was instrumental in modifying or getting rid of some of the useless red tape plaguing business owners, preventing them from hiring — even causing would-be businesses from starting or expanding in Maine.

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

For years now, the Bucks Mills Rod & Gun Club near Bucksport has put on a sumptuous prime rib dinner for Maine Game Wardens, active or retired. It’s quite a hoedown. The wardens get to eat for free. It is the club’s way of showing its appreciation for the hard work and personal sacrifice that is part of the professional lot of most career game wardens.

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.

Suicide. It's a topic very much in social media these days. The posts I see mostly focus on preventing suicide among U.S. military veterans. Individuals and organizations spread the word through social media that, "We're here. There’s help. Call us." Often social media users like me are asked to share these outreach messages, to help spread the word among our social media contacts.

With the summer travel season just around the corner, the Maine Office of Tourism anticipates another good year for the tourism industry in Maine.