February is American Heart Month, and as a leading community-based organization dedicated to improving the nation’s health, the Piscataquis Regional YMCA is offering a Fit February Challenge to help families in Piscataquis County be heart healthy. Participants will receive heart healthy tips and be encouraged to complete a variety of fun and healthy activities to receive entries into prize drawings throughout the month.

An incredible summer adventure awaits a group of 10 high school students in northern Maine’s rugged wilderness. Every August Friends of Baxter State Park invites students from across Maine to spend an extraordinary nine days backpacking from one end of the Park to the other, accompanied by experienced wilderness leaders and educators from the Chewonki Foundation.

A new childcare center has opened in Dover Foxcroft, Little Organics Learning Center.

Bucksport, Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, Central of Corinth, Dexter and Fort Kent would move from Class C to Class B while Schenck of East Millinocket, Deer-Isle Stonington and Machias would shift from Class D to Class C.

A Milo man accused of killing a cat and shooting at his fleeing wife and kids in December  has pleaded guilty. ABC affiliate WVII reports that Frank Foss Jr. 25, pleaded guilty Monday to domestic violence terrorizing with a dangerous weapon and cruelty to animals, among other charges.

If you drive north of Greenville on the road to Kokadjo you might notice a modest sign on the right hand side with an image of a plane and the words B52 Memorial. It commemorates an event that took place almost 60 years ago on January 23, 1963, when a hulking, 185,000-pound B-52 Stratofortress took off from Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts as part of an Air Force test of the eight-engine jet’s ability to handle low-level flight. 

Who elected these people? I asked myself that question a few times working in the Maine Legislature. I wasn't being cruel. Neither was I being wholly dismissive of the legislators in question. Rather, I was thinking first about the duties, the job of being a legislator. It can take only one vote to have a majority of legislators raise taxes, end charter schools, end the definition of marriage, change the way we vote -- the opportunities for legal mischief making are endless.

Have you heard the news? Foxcroft Academy is an IB World School. Our inaugural first semester is in the rearview mirror and we are on to the second semester filled with challenging learning and new experiences. If you’re interested in learning more and possibly joining the program, there will be an informational meeting for students and parents/guardians about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at 6 p.m. n Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Foxcroft Academy in Room 211 (the Washburn Parkman Room).

The public is cordially invited to a concert of classical music performed by The Highlands Classical Chamber Ensemble at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sangerville and Dover-Foxcroft, located on the corner of Church St. and Rt. 23.

The 13th annual Moosehead Lake Togue Derby with Ricky Craven was held this past weekend on Maine’s largest lake. We had great conditions on Friday, Jan. 24 with hardly a lick of wind. You don’t get many days like that on Moosehead.