I recently came across Matthew Gagnon’s Sept. 21 BDN (and Sept. 27 Piscataquis Observer) column “The future of freedom of speech.” I found it interesting that Gagnon blamed political correctness as the reason college campuses are drifting toward speech codes and regulations on speech.

The Three Rivers Kiwanis of Milo-Brownville extends a very big thank you to the United Bikers of Maine for the bags of toys they donated.

The Piscataquis 4-H Leaders’ Association would like to thank all of the businesses and individuals who participated in its 2017 4-H Silent Auction. This year was the third annual auction in the 4-H Exhibition Hall at the Piscataquis Valley Fair, and it was highly successful raising $1,018 for the scholarship fund.

On behalf of the Moosehead Lake Region I want to thank you for choosing Moosehead Lake as your destination and supporting America’s Crown Jewel. We appreciate it very much.

As the lazy hazy days of summer fade into the early days of autumn you will be going back to school soon. On behalf of this region I want to wish you the best as you go back to the classrooms.

Notice to the Sangerville, Maine residents, I Richard R. Dobson Sr. have in writing legal documentation from the town’s attorney Thad B. Zmistowski’s office, and the board of overseers of the bar, that the town’s attorney Thad B. Zmistowski does not represent the citizens of Sangerville or works in the best interest of the Sangerville citizens and we are not his clients.

Thank you to Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton for setting the record straight about Medicaid in Maine in an Aug 21 BDN OpEd. Gov. Paul LePage’s refusal to expand Medicaid under Obamacare has cost the state tremendously.

As our students will be going back to school soon on behalf of this great county I want to wish you the best this school year. You are our future leaders of our communities, county, state and nation.

History tells us that every generation rewrites history and often repeats it. There are enough statues and counter statues today to warrant leaving them all intact. Strategic relocation of some statues erected by Jim Crow in front of Halls of Justice would be a good compromise by both sides. We don't need to revere or hate the icons of the past.

I enjoyed reading Brett Baber’s column about the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in “The Piscataquis” Observer for Aug. 16. He urged fellow conservatives to resist the efforts of big corporations, government, and some professional bodies to limit or abolish trial by jury in civil cases by imposing dispute resolution by arbitration. As an unabashed liberal lawyer from Massachusetts, I urge my friends and colleagues to resist this trend also.

The SAD 4 school committee recently met and, as I predicted about a month ago, did not make any effort to reduce the expenses in the budget that it is submitting again to the district citizens. At a previous meeting, I had given the committee members a letter detailing over $100,000 of expenditures that could easily be cut and that would not affect student programming in any way. It continued to be totally ignored. The moral of the story is clear. Once again school committee steadfastly refuses to cut expenses as a way to bring the assessments under control.

The budget referendum election will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 8 o'clock in the morning until 8 o'clock in the evening at your local town hall. Be there and vote “no.”

Full disclosure: I am a trustee of the Center Theatre. As such, I am predisposed to think and speak favorably about the theatre’s productions. That said, I am urging readers to take in the currently-running production of ‘Nunsense’: one of the funniest and most entertaining shows “evah!”

Good morning America from the shores of beautiful Moosehead Lake as dawn pieces the night sky and my eyes penetrates through the treetops in search of the sun rising on the horizon and the sounds of nature surrounds the Moosehead Lake region with the grandeur of the Lord’s glory and love engulfing America’s Crown Jewel.

My family spent the first week in August on Moosehead lake in the Rockwood area. Our 13 year old cocker spaniel Zelda accompanied us although we’d observed a noticeable decline in her health in the weeks leading up to our Moosehead vacation. This decline continued while in Rockwood to the point where we needed to get her to a veterinarian.

As you all know my brother Allan Snyder was laid to rest Saturday, July 22. He was a decorated war veteran and past fire chief with both the U.S. Air Force and the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department.

The first regular session of the 128th Maine Legislature has finally come to a close as of Aug. 2. The state budget, with all of its trappings, was the major sticking point.

On behalf of the Moosehead Lake Region I would like to welcome all to our vast region. It is a honor to host you while you explore this great region.