By Cynthia Whitney The holidays often remind us how fortunate we are, as well as how many of our neighbors struggle to maintain quality of life.

By Bob Cimbollek After watching games in person, on TV and online, and seeing post players not getting enough offensive touches, here’s my Christmas gift for coaches at all levels whose big men who wish they’d post up and get the ball more.

Those of you who read my last column will remember I wrote about the misidentification of one man named Fred with another.

By Ernie ClarkStaff Writer DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Foxcroft Academy girls basketball team has shaken off a slow start to its season to emerge right in the middle of the Class B North playoff race as the midpoint of its regular-season schedule approaches.

By Ernie ClarkStaff Writer GUILFORD — The Piscataquis Community High School girls basketball team hopes a combination of good health and a busier schedule will spur improved performance in the new year, Not that the start of the season has been terrible for coach Brian Gaw’s club, though that phase of the campaign ended on a disappointing note Monday night with a 44-32 loss to Central of Corinth.

 JOHNSTON, Mary L.

 JOHNSON, Nancy M.

 DOW, W ayne D.

What were the top sports stories of the region over the past year? Our staff reviewed the past 12 months as documented by the Observer and came up with the highlights from 2015.

schedule subject to change   Wednesday, Dec.