Recently NAMI Family and Friends heard about Penquis programs to help parents build good relationships with their children from Community Parent Educator Stephen Madera.

We’ve arrived at the crossroads of summer at the Thompson Free Library. So many possibilities, so many opportunities for all ages -- patrons and the public -- to have fun, learn something new and engage with their community.

Kiley Eckstein of Garland is among the first-place winners of the 2017 Maine Constitution Essay and Poster Contest.

The Piscataquis Community Secondary School (PCSS) proudly announces Bailey Woodard as the Class of 2017 Valedictorian.

The Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce will host a Business After Hours and ribbon cutting for Chloe’s Collections, a full-service florist formerly of Parkman. The event for Chamber members will be on Thursday, June 1 from 5-7 p.m. at the 1 North Street location.

Chris Clukey, certified audiologist of Dover Audiology, spoke about age-related hearing loss at the Abbott Memorial Library's Skeleton Crew meeting in Dexter earlier in the month.

May and June events

Kiwanis President Brian Woodworth, Past Lt. Gov. Bob Moore and current Lt. Gov. Buddy Webb presented John Cushing with a Legion of Honor certificate and pin denoting 50 years of committed service and membership in the Kiwanis organization.

Suzanne Cox Raymond of Dover-Foxcroft and a member of the GFWC/Miosac Club, has been nominated for the Jennie Award. The award is named in honor of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) founder Jane Cunningham Croly who wrote for national newspapers under the pseudonym “Jennie June.”

Jordynne Littlefield, left, and Gabie Johnson plant a Crimson King Maple at the Mayo Mill River Walk in recognition of Arbor Week -- held May 14-20 -- in Dover-Foxcroft.

The following births were recorded recently at Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft:

A short workshop on root cellars piqued the interest of 10 local people on Saturday morning May 13 (enough to overcome the many temptations of the first warm sunny day of spring) in order to learn and share the basics of this old and energy-efficient food storage method.

The General Federation of Women’s Club (GFWC)/Miosac Club met at Thayer Parkway May 2 for the annual meeting.

Gardening is a wonderful way for people to get outside and enjoy physical activity. It is one of the most popular hobbies in the U.S. As the saying goes, “Gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes!” Everyone should have the opportunity to grow something, regardless of age, injury, pain, or other limitations. With adaptations that respect gardeners’ abilities, gardening can be a lifetime activity.

The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine awarded Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, an Impact Award at their annual meeting in Brewer on May 5.

Calendar of events

Have you been dreaming about adding a pond to your property? Perhaps you would like a place to stock trout, enjoy wildlife, to take a dip on a hot summer day or even have a water source for agricultural needs. If a pond is what you desire then join the staff of the Somerset and Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation Districts for a pond construction and maintenance workshop on Friday, June 9.

Teachers from each of Maine’s 16 counties were honored May 11 at the Statehouse for an annual event in the Hall of Flags announcing the 2017 Maine County Teachers of the Year. Among the group is Kaitlin Young of SeDoMoCha Elementary School. Young teaches music at the school in Dover-Foxcroft.