With eight members having served on the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department for more than half a century, the Robinson family has continued to give back to the community by funding a $9,000 thermal imaging camera. The camera was donated in memory of Alfred E. Robinson -- who was a member of the department for 35 years including serving as chief from 1978-83 -- by his sons, grandson, brothers and nephews who all have been involved in the department.

The Brownville Police Department has been formally disbanded following a special town meeting on May 1 at the Brownville Elementary School.

A new $3 million facility bringing services such as radiology, phlebotomy and behavior health to the area, doubling the number of exam rooms from seven to 14 and providing for greater patient privacy opened its doors on April 25. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital’s Northwoods Healthcare new clinic at 22 Haley Court formally dedicated the facility that afternoon.

The Maine Broadband Coalition recently highlighted a number of legislative initiatives to increase Maine’s connectivity to the world.

New York State's gain is Maine's loss. I was surprised and sad to learn this week that Darn Good Yarn is no longer in Sebec, Maine.

From the Maine fisheries biologists, who candidly concede that early April fishing can be an angling challenge, here are some early fishing spot ideas released by IF&W the last week in April.:

During an April 24 selectmen’s meeting the board scheduled a public hearing on a 180-day moratorium extension for the Monday, May 22 meeting. If granted the policy would continue through late November.

Downtown Monson is undergoing a transformation thanks to the Portland-based Libra Foundation as the non-profit organization has purchased several buildings and is in the process of replacing these structures as part of its mission of making significant contributions to worthy causes across Maine.

Hearings were held at the State House Monday on a number of bills that would make changes to Maine’s social services programs, particularly Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. There were at least 10 bills related to TANF on the public hearing docket and they covered a broad spectrum of proposals.

In my column two weeks ago we met Foxcroft Academy’s music director Joshua Guthrie, and highlighted the exceptional music classes available there to high school students. Mr. Guthrie spoke of how the internet is changing the music profession, and how FA music students, in Guthrie’s words, “are right at that perfect time to take advantage of that.” How do Piscataquis County musicians — aspiring or professional — take advantage of this perfect time in the music industry?

Let's get one thing straight from the start: I love dogs. Sally, probably the last dog I will ever have, needed to be put down a few years back, after she was mauled by my neighbor's unleashed Saint Bernard. I wrote about it at the time. It was a dreadful experience.

Charles A Dean Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce the completion of the expanded Northwoods Clinic in Sangerville. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Northwoods Healthcare at 22 Haley Court.

The following cases were heard under the Piscataquis Criminal Docket at the Dover-Foxcroft Courthouse during the months of January through March, 2017

The community will now be able to utilize AARP resources as an application to the AARP/World Health Organization Network of Age Friendly Communities has been approved. “We are officially an Age Friendly Community, I got that word this week,” Town Manager Shelley Watson said during an April 13 town council meeting. She said a kick-off event will be scheduled for Friday, May 19, time and location to be announced.

While the two districts are in the midst of the application process for an integrated, consolidated grade 9-16 educational facility, SAD 4 and AOS 94 -- which includes the Dexter-based SAD 46 and the towns of Athens and Harmony -- are also looking into ways to save money and share resources in the more immediate future. During an April 11 meeting of the SAD 4 school board, the directors voted to send a written request to AOS 94 Superintendent Kevin Jordan to explore a one-year cost sharing agreement with the neighboring school unit.

The selectmen signed a 10-article warrant for the annual town meeting on Saturday, April 29 at 9 a.m. in the gym at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building complex, during an April 10 meeting.

After facing a number of referendums last November with questionable constitutionality, one state senator is looking to prevent such questions from being posed to Maine voters. Republican Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Androscoggin, submitted legislation last week that would amend the Maine State Constitution and prevent unconstitutional referendum questions from appearing on Maine ballots.

Suppose you’re a young, aspiring musician living in Piscataquis County. Or a young musician whose family is relocating to Piscataquis County. What kind of music scene will you find there?