By Marie Weidmayer, Bangor Daily News Staff Piscataquis and Penobscot County’s first public defender started work on Monday, July 8.

By Elizabeth Walztoni With snapping turtle egg-laying season underway, the creatures can be seen all over roadsides, in sandy clearings and, perhaps, on your land.

By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff Destiny and Nick Murray love to fish.

Grade 12, high honors: Jaydyn Boone, Ella Dauphinee, Ethan Pratt; honors: Gabriel Baldwin, Sofia Caiazzo, Gavin Hart.

By Michael Shepherd, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA — While Maine’s elected Democrats are mostly sticking with President Joe Biden, there is behind-the-scenes pessimism among donors and operatives who think the party must pick another standard bearer before Election Day.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff President Joe Biden’s performance at the debate with former President Donald Trump has stirred up the political scene, especially in Maine.

Grade 12, high honors: Addison Conklin, Cassandra Boislard, Destiny Sibert, Dylan McKenzie, Hannah Legere, Layla Chaii; honors: Ashley Willis, Austin Gallant, Christopher “Kip” Crockett, Jacob Higgins, Mason Searles, Ryann Yenchochic, Tanairi Gonzalez, Tyler Grant.

GREENVILLE — Forest Heritage Days, an annual event that celebrates the rich forestry heritage of the Northwoods of Maine, is excited to announce its schedule of events for 2024.

Grade 12, high honors: Ashton Ade, Ruth-Ann Arnold, Chryshal Atwater, Bao Ngoc Gia Bach, Huyen Khai Bui, Colin Carpenter, Noah Cavanagh, Eliza Chambers, Cassandra Crockett, Jackson Day, Olivia Gage, Hilary Howard, Niksa Jasovic, Rose Kazmierczak, Aleksander Krause, Richard Liu, Jasmine Lockwood, Kailey McLaughlin, Jose Mieres Legido, Aubry Paradis, Zachary Peirce, Anh Phuong Pham, Wyatt Rayfield, Dominick Scuderi, Jackson Smith, Aleksa Sviloskos, Marcus Vargas; honors: Gage Beaudry, Simon Beeaker, Jackson Caruso, Marceli Cerek, Dylan Coy, Kristalyn Defries, Hieu Do, Matthew Fillmore, Devin Henderson, Annabelle Holman, Jacob Johnson, Conner Johnston, Ming Fou Lao, Loc Nguyen Mai, Kemsley Marsters, Laney McGary, Elyse Nutter, Danea Obratov, Samantha Ossenfort, Halle Page, Amara Perfect, Jenna Phillips, Dominic Redmond, Jadon Richard, Olivia Richardson, Gabriel Saunders, Owen Sherman, Alexandra Slade, Allison Smith, Izetta Story, Ngoc Thi Bich Tang, Paige Weidman, Elina White-Charette.

UScellular survey reveals consumer thoughts on inappropriate phone use July is Cellphone Courtesy Month and with smartphone usage on the rise, it’s a timely reminder to watch your digital manners.

GUILFORD — For more than four days the town of Guilford is hosting the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall.

ORONO — A $7 million grant from the National Science Foundation will fund a four-year statewide collaborative project led by the University of Maine to foster resilient forest communities in Maine.

NORWAY – Maine Community Power Cooperative was selected to receive $98,000 to engage communities and inform consumers about the benefits of cooperatively-owned community solar.

FORT KENT – The University of Maine at Fort Kent is proud to announce the dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester.

GREENVILLE — Northern Light CA Dean and Mayo Hospitals, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Piscataquis County, and Highland Area Gleaners will hold a free produce pop-up market at Bartley’s Center Cover Events, 241 Pritham Avenue, on Wednesday, July 10 from 11:30 a.

By Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff U.

By Ethan Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff A mile-long path of uprooted and snapped trees starting just north of Brownville Junction was not the work of a tornado but a downburst, according to the National Weather Service.

Maine Audubon has been working to protect Common Loons for decades, as the Fourth of July is one of the busiest periods on Maine lakes and ponds.