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.

On Tuesday, June 13 residents of the SAD 41 communities of Atkinson, Brownville, LaGrange and Milo will be voting on an approximate $474,000 loan from the state’s school revolving renovation fund for sprinkler and elevator system upgrades at the Penquis Valley School. Under the program the state would cover 70 percent of the costs, meaning a little more than $142,000 would be paid back by the district over five years at zero percent interest.

It is a rare Mainer who isn't fascinated, or at least curious, when it comes to tales from the Maine Warden Service.

For several months seventh- and eighth-graders at the SeDoMoCha Middle School have been developing projects -- either on their own or in pairs -- for the annual science fair. On the evening of May 18, the students presented their findings to the public with projects on display in the cafeteria and adjacent multipurpose room.

More than 200 people walked or ran a little more than three miles through the streets of Dover-Foxcroft on the morning of May 20 in the Abbot-based JD Foundation’s second annual Walk/Run to Wake the Silence. Those participating in the five kilometer walk and ceremonies raised an estimated $8,500 for the nonprofit organization dedicated to curbing suicide and bullying through education and support.

Maine election officials are readying for an election in just over three weeks that you already may have forgotten about — if you knew about it at all. Mainers will vote June 13 on a $50 million bond issue for economic development, $45 million of which would be earmarked for infrastructure, equipment and technology upgrades in seven targeted sectors, including aquaculture, forestry, agriculture and composite materials.