Piscataquis Observer

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Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom CENTURY MILESTONE BIRTHDAY — Flora Sands celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday, March 8 at the Hibbard Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dover-Foxcroft with dozens of family members spanning four generations.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom CENTURY MILESTONE BIRTHDAY — Flora Sands celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday, March 8 at the Hibbard Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dover-Foxcroft with dozens of family members spanning four generations.

Sands celebrates 100th birthday

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Flora Sands of Dover-Foxcroft celebrated her 100th birthday on the afternoon of Sunday, March 8 at the Hibbard Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with dozens of family members and friends. Flora and her late husband Albert — they were married for 67 years — had six children, Donna, Roger, Thomas, Diane, Joe and James.

News BrowseNews

Northern Light Health is guiding the way in newly released annual report

BREWER — Northern Light Health is excited to release our 2025 Annual Report.

Network of advanced weather stations helps Maine farmers save time and money

University of Maine Cooperative Extension recently completed installation of an advanced weather station in Orono, the third such station in what will become a statewide Mesonet — a network of research-grade weather stations designed specifically for agriculture.

Spring flood risk low as Maine drought continues

By Molly Enking, Maine Public Despite normal snowfall this winter, Maine remains in a years-long drought with record low stream flow, which puts the state at below normal flood risk this spring, according to the Maine Emergency Management Agency.

SAD 41, Milo looking at sidewalk project

MILO — SAD 41 and the town of Milo are working together to have a sidewalk put in over the summer along Penquis Drive between West Main Street and the Penquis Valley School, to allow students to walk to and from the building and not be in the road with all the vehicle traffic before and after school.

SAD 46 facing near $184,000 reduction in state subsidy

DEXTER — SAD 46 is looking at a $183,920 reduction in state subsidy for the 2026-27 budget, Superintendent Kevin Jordan said during a March 4 school board meeting at the Ridge View Community School.

Alden receives Foxcroft Academy’s MPA Principal’s Award

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Emma Alden, a senior at Foxcroft Academy, has been selected to receive the 2026 MPA Principal’s Award.

Sports BrowseSports

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Photo courtesy of V. Paul Reynolds BULL MOOSE — Mike Bouffard, second from left, and his crew from Kittery bagged this bull on the first morning of their hunt.

Photo courtesy of V. Paul Reynolds BULL MOOSE — Mike Bouffard, second from left, and his crew from Kittery bagged this bull on the first morning of their hunt.

Here are Maine’s 2026 moose permit numbers by hunting zone

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has set the number of moose permits for each wildlife management district for the 2026 hunt. The permit allocations were finalized Wednesday in a rule filed with the secretary of state.

Foxcroft Academy field hockey coach steps down

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Following four seasons and leading her team to the 2025 Class C championship in her final game, Foxcroft Academy head field hockey coach Davan Walker has stepped down.

PVC basketball honorees

Nearly a dozen basketball players from the regional received postseason recognition from the Penobscot Valley Conference for the 2025-26 season.

Opinion BrowseOpinion

An ice fishing disaster ended with the perfect consolation prize

Smart stream crossings benefit wildlife, public safety

By Lance Farrar and Sarah Haggerty Like the blood vessels in your body, Maine’s rivers and streams carry rainwater and snowmelt downstream to the sea.

Maine should strengthen its aging support system

To the Editor; Maine has a unique opportunity to lead the country in how we support and value older adults.

He was Baxter State Park’s 1st ranger when Donn Fendler disappeared on Katahdin

By Gregory Burr On July 17, 1939, Baxter State Park’s first ranger began searching Mount Katahdin for a lost 12-year-old boy from New York.

Maine’s adaptive moose hunt winds down

By V, Paul Reynolds For the 2025 Maine moose hunt, the harvest numbers are in.

AARP Maine’s News You Can Use

By Joyce Bucciantini, AARP Maine community outreach volunteer Last year the New England Aquarium in Boston announced that over half of their African penguins have reached senior penguin status.

Living BrowseLiving

UMaine Extension hosts virtual presentation on growing and marketing specialty potato varieties

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hosting a virtual presentation covering growing and marketing practices for specialty potato varieties in Maine from 11 a.

Dexter library to offer program on endangered birds

DEXTER — One third of America’s birds have vanished over the past 50 years.

The number of vacant homes in Maine is falling. Here’s what that means.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff The percentage of vacant homes fell statewide in recent years but it hasn’t made renting or buying in Maine any easier.

Dexter Age Friendly to host Senior Companion Program coordinator

DEXTER — At their monthly Tea Talks program on Thursday, March 12, Dexter Age Friendly will welcome Laurie Bishop.

University of Maine at Augusta president’s, dean’s lists

AUGUSTA — University of Maine at Augusta Provost Joseph Szakas announces the fall 2025 full-time president’s list and full-time dean’s list.

Calendar of events

Recurring Events Mondays DEXTER: The Abbott Museum is open 10 a.