A proposed 2017-18 SAD 41 budget of $8,500,571 was approved with 13 of 14 articles passing over 40 minutes during the annual district budget meeting on June 19 in the cafeteria at the Penquis Valley School. The total is now moved to a referendum in the district towns of Atkinson, Brownville, LaGrange and Milo on Thursday, June 29.

My friend, Christie-Lee McNally of Scarborough, Maine, is executive director of the non-profit Free Our Internet. I asked Christie-Lee to help me understand the important issue of Net Neutrality which President Obama put in place (2015) and President Trump wants reversed. For rural Mainers, especially small- and micro-business owners who want access to internet service capable of handling their online business, how is Net Neutrality affecting them?

Officials at Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (DPFR) are focusing attention on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day--recognized each June 15 throughout the United States and in other countries, and often referred to as the ‘crime of the 21st century,’ because of its increasing prevalence and devastating impacts.

A day after a proposed $6,890,304 budget for the 2017-18 school year was voted down 297-213 across the six district communities, the SAD 4 school board met on June 14 at Piscataquis Community Elementary School to start the process to bring another spending plan forward.

All nine referendum articles were passed by a majority of the 330 residents at the polls on June 13.

In case you didn’t know, a Hornberg is a commonplace artificial fly used by some trout addicts to seduce their prey. Once a “go-to” fly in any fly box, it is less used today by upscale fly fishers - especially the elite sophisticates of the fly fishing community. Some that I have shared a stream pool with do look down their noses at this utilitarian fly.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announced that Mayo Practice Associates of Mayo Regional Hospital has received NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term, participative relationships.

Middle and high school students at Piscataquis Community Secondary School enjoyed a recent spring fling that was about some different kinds of learning.

The SAD 41 board of directors approved a proposed budget of $8,500,571 for the 2017-18 academic year during a meeting on June 7 at the Penquis Valley School. The board also scheduled the district budget meeting for Monday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at Penquis Valley in the gymnasium, with an information session before at 5:30 p.m.

Maine is one step closer to a manageable, cost-effective health care system that enhances choice and access to services.

We continue a conversation with Maine’s first Small Business Advocate, my friend, Jay Martin. Jay’s office was established within Maine’s Secretary of State’s office. He is experienced working in Maine’s nonprofit sector, and in the private sector. We covered the highlights of his work experience in our June 2 column.

A 71-year-old man reported missing on June 8 was found alive the following morning in Monson. Maine game wardens and a Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office deputy located Arthur Lowe, 71, shortly after 7 a.m. on Friday, June 9.

A proposed $6,890,304 budget for the 2017-18 school year was approved during a district budget meeting on June 8 at Piscataquis Community Elementary School. The $6.89 million budget will now go to a referendum in the SAD 4 towns of Abbot, Cambridge, Guilford, Parkman, Sangerville and Wellington on Tuesday, June 13.

This is the month that eager, full-of-hope young adults graduate from institutions of learning. Whether high school or college, these graduates are always subjected to one final round of advice from a commencement speaker before they toss their hats in the air and bolt for the door.

Earlier in the year applications made by the towns of Dexter and Milo to join the AARP/World Health Organization Network of Age-Friendly Communities were approved. The designation will enable the communities to utilize AARP resources, at no charge, to make the community more age friendly through the organization’s policies and infrastructure improvements.

Following nearly eight years operating in Parkman and another eight years prior in Florida, the full-service floral establishment Chloe’s Collections has a new home at 1 North Street near the intersection with Lincoln Street. Owner Joy Gregory was formally welcomed to the community with a Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony and Business After Hours event on the evening of June 1.

Our administration has done a good job bringing accountability to the Maine Turnpike Authority. Mainers are still counting on us to ensure that turnpike revenue is spent as efficiently as possible.

When Gov. Paul LePage was first elected to office he launched what became the 25 “Red Tape Workshops” tour throughout Maine, hearing from “1,000 job creators about how government red tape impacts their businesses.” That direct feedback was instrumental in modifying or getting rid of some of the useless red tape plaguing business owners, preventing them from hiring — even causing would-be businesses from starting or expanding in Maine.