As of the end of last month, Dr. Lesley Fernow of Dover-Foxcroft has retired from the practice of medicine after 38 continuous years in the region. Patients, family members of patients and others are invited to a community reception for Dr. Fernow -- who will be staying in town and said she looks to get more involved in the community in various volunteer capacities -- from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Center Theatre.

For over a decade the JD Foundation has been working as an educational tool across Maine in order to bring suicide prevention and bullying rates down through awareness and education. The organization had previously been based out of the 107 Main Road home of JD Foundation founder Cheryl Morin and her husband Vic, but now a converted carriage house on the Morins’ property will serve as the organization headquarters. The office space was formally opened during a ceremony on Oct. 14.

A father and son in Sangerville plan to be very busy over the next few months, fixing up bicycles to give to children who otherwise may not be able to have a model of their own.

Three years ago residents approved an ordinance concerning private distribution corridors, including paved highways, pipelines and high-tension transmission lines. The moratorium enacted in 2014 -- meaning permits for these types of development projects cannot be granted during the timeline -- was in effect for 180 days. The moratorium has since been renewed six times with the current extension in place through Nov. 26.

Numerous social media posts and signs around town have been encouraging the community and beyond to vote for Foxcroft Academy boys soccer and wrestling coach Luis Ayala in the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach program. The efforts have paid off so far, as Ayala -- who also coaches soccer and wrestling for various age groups -- is one of 15 nationwide finalists now eligible for the Most Valuable Coach honor.

During an Oct. 12 council meeting, Town Manager Jim Chandler said he and Police Chief Kevin Wintle attended the recent MMA convention in Augusta with a number of sessions there concerning marijuana.

When Penquis Valley High School and Penobscot Valley High School met nearly a month prior in Howland on Sept. 14 the two girls soccer squads combined for 10 goals as the host Howlers won 6-4. In the rematch on Oct. 12 at Harris Field the teams only had three goals between the two but Penobscot Valley scored early in both halves and then held on for a 2-1 victory.

For the first month of school students and families at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School had the opportunity to read “Lost on a Mountain in Maine” at home together during the eighth annual One Book, One School program -- copies of the book were provided by the school. The shared reading program concluded with a celebration on the evening of Oct. 5 with dinner, a nature walk, crafts and games.

During an Oct. 4 meeting of the SAD 41 school board, Superintendent Michael Wright said a week and a half prior the capital improvement committee met with Jim Lucy of Honeywell -- which has worked at the complex for a number of decades and would likely apply -- to discuss putting out request for qualifications to decide on a firm to help implement the QZAB funds before the end of year deadline.

With the Friday, Oct. 6 Class D North football game between Foxcroft Academy and Mount View High School of Thorndike serving as both the 2017 Homecoming contest and Senior Night for the Ponies, Foxcroft Academy personnel were already in a celebratory mood. The good times kept on rolling once the ball was kicked off as five touchdowns in the first half helped the Ponies earn a 49-3 win