Golden tickets

Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
    Seventeen singers from central Aroostook and Victoria County, N.B. took the stage Friday night at Presque Isle Middle School to compete in the regional showdown of “Northern Star,” formerly “Aroostook Idol,” a singing competition designed to find the best area vocalist. This year, the top two audience picks, as well as a third wild-card pick selected by the judges, advance to the finale. Finalists in the Presque Isle show were, from left: top audience vote-getters Jordan Buckley of Westfield and Lance Albair of Woodland, and wild-card pick Alyson Michaud of Caribou. The three will join the finalists from the southern and northern shows to compete for the title of Northern Star at the finale, which will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28 at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. Northern Star is a fund-raiser for the United Way of Aroostook.