A play reading of “Arsenic and Old Lace” takes place at the Wayside Theatre at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 14. Calling all shy, lazy actors. No experience needed, no lines to memorize, no rehearsals, no stage directions or costumes. Just sit on the stage, read a part (or two or three, depending) and have fun. Scripts provided.

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) recently completed its free, 3-part series of birding workshops.

A new book about a fascinating man who moved to Monson in 1895 has caught the attention of historians and reviewers on a national scale. Based on a true story “Hermit: The Mysterious Life of Jim Whyte” by Maine author and historian Jeffrey Ryan, weaves a tale almost too fantastic to be believed.

A six-week Introduction to Drawing class will be offered at The Commons at Central Hall from 4 to 6 p.m. on Fridays from July 12 to Aug. 16. There will also be a Young at Heart Rounds Singing Class, led by Lauralyn Buie, offered from 11 a.m. to noon on Fridays from July 12 to Aug. 16.

Friends of Wilson Ponds recently awarded Franklin C. McIver Scholarships to Dale Turner of Greenville and Graceanne Brinkworth of Hampden and Shirley Mills to attend the Teen Wilderness Expedition.

SAD 41 residents in Brownville, LaGrange and Milo approved a $9,639,532 budget for 2019-20 during the June 27 referendum by a combined total of 152-37. In the Brownville the numbers were 35 in favor with 15 opposed, 16-5 in LaGrange and 101-17 in Milo.

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) is now able to offer additional parking for and access to the Law Farm thanks to a generous land donation from Pleasant River Lumber. The donation includes six acres of land that abuts the Law Farm and on that half dozen acres, there is a cleared parking area, fruit trees, perennials and much more.

Upcoming events around the region.

A donor board modeled to resemble an old time card catalog has been permanently installed just outside of the Abbott Memorial Library's reading room. Each drawer bears the name or names of a business or individual who donated to the 2018 restoration project for the library in Dexter.

A presentation and demonstration of low-stress cattle handling will be held at the Shaw Road Farm on Saturday, July 20 from noon to 3 pm. Dr. Colt Knight, UMaine Extension livestock specialist, will discuss the impact of handling cattle on their stress levels and participants will see Shaw Road Farm’s practices of separating beef animals from a herd of 50.

Joe Siccardi, a recent mid-Maine transplant, has completed his third book “My Name is Sam…. and Heaven is Still Shining Through.”

The Sebec Village Associates will have a day of events on the Fourth of July next week, with proceeds benefiting the Reading Room. The day on Thursday, July 4 starts with a breakfast at the Sebec Village Community Christian Church at 7:30 a.m.

Women who own or manage farmland in central Maine are invited to participate in a free conservation discussion focused on soil health on Thursday, July 11 at Hall’s Christmas Tree Farm, 816 Douty Hill Road. The program, sponsored by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Women, Food and Agriculture Network, is called Women Caring for the Land.

One of the nicest traditions in Greenville during the summer months are the concerts, whether they be at the Gazebo or the Thoreauly Entertaining! series at the Artisan Village. There’s something magical about being beside one of the largest lakes east of the Mississippi on a summer evening listening to some great music. This summer's series has been scheduled on Thursday and Friday evenings beginning July 4 and 5.

Love a great deal? Want to stretch you summer budget? Forget coupons and Groupon and shopping apps, the best -- most valuable -- bargains can be found at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft. This July, banish boredom with free programs for all ages.

Attention veterans and surviving spouses of veterans, on Wednesdays during the month of July the American Legion service officer will be at American Legion Post 41, 18 West Main Street, from 1-4 p.m.

The newest item of interest to the general public is the receipt of two DVDS featuring home movies compiled by John and Joe Michaud (sons of Andrew Michaud). One of these videos shows scenes in Brownville Junction and people of the area; the second is video of scenes along the Canadian Pacific Railroad from Quebec, through Maine and into New Brunswick. These home movies were made by Andrew Michaud and his dad Sam Michaud from 1939 through the 1950s. These can be found on YouTube.com.

The Sebec Village Associates will be operating the community library at the Reading Room, 665 Sebec Village Road, again this summer. There are no fees to borrow books and media from the library which boasts an extensive collection of fiction and nonfiction.