DEXTER — A week before the opening days of classes during the first week of September, teachers, staff and administrators across SAD 46 have been busy making preparations for a school year that will be unlike any other with hybrid instruction and remote learning methods being used.

Many of the events will likely not be happening as listed below due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $973,172 to help 33 rural businesses, farms, and organizations in Maine with lowering energy costs.

PARKMAN — In this unusual time of pandemic restrictions, the Parkman Grange announces its 2020 Minnie Welts Bridge Scholarship winners.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Center Theatre and Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce in Dover-Foxcroft have announced that the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will not be taking place as planned on Saturday, Oct.

BANGOR — Dirigo Reads, a program that aims to put a book in the hands of every Maine first-grader each month during the school year by 2025, is announcing the addition of 20 schools that will participate in the program during the next school year.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Perhaps no one in Maine is more eager for the high school football season to begin than Logan Martin.

One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans, and especially Mainers, strongly support conserving the open spaces they love.

What better way to usher in fall than spending Labor Day weekend taking part in the Chesuncook Salmon Derby, September 5 and 6? First prize for the largest salmon caught is a $500 cash prize, and another $500 will be awarded to the lucky angler selected in the fish pool drawing! There will be other prizes as well.

AUGUSTA — A Maine judge ruled Monday that the state Republican party gathered enough valid signatures from voters to put a challenge to a new ranked-choice voting law on the November ballot, preventing the method’s use in this presidential election.

With eight spindly legs and rows of shining eyes, spiders often rouse goosebumps and shrieks of surprise.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The United Methodist Church of Dover-Foxcroft will hold a Labor Day Weekend dessert pie sale on the lawn of the church, Friday, Sept.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer pressure gauge testing at the UMaine Extension office, 165 East Main Street.

ORONO — September brings the bounty of both summer and fall produce to Maine.

Maine’s annual bear hunt will look slightly different when it begins in a week.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, University of Maine Cooperative Extension created a virtual exhibit hall for Maine 4-H members in lieu of traditional exhibits normally shown during fair season.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Ice Arena and the Piscataquis Regional YMCA have reopened after shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite recent rainfall, most of Maine is experiencing varying degrees of drought, and it’s left the state’s hay crop largely low and dry.