Families of Maine hunters will be eating plenty of venison this winter, as nearly 30,000 of those hunters successfully filled their tags. Nathan Bieber, the state deer biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said a total of 28,314 deer were tagged by hunters using bows and arrows, crossbows, rifles and muzzleloaders this year. That total is considered “preliminary,” and could be adjusted if new data becomes available.

Seventy five beautiful parrots and one emu will celebrate the holidays at a free open house from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 28 at Siesta Sanctuary. No snow date -- if you can travel safely, we're here.

The following are the 20 winners in the SeDoMoCha Middle School Builders Club’s annual Miracle Tree Event held earlier in the month at The Commons at Central Hall:

Rep. Paul Stearns, R-Guilford, left, and Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville presented the Greenville Fire Department with a Legislative Sentiment for voluntary undertaking a rigorous safety program.

Early on the morning of Dec. 21, Dexter Regional High School student government and Key Club members, along with several Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis members, gathered at P&L Country Market to assemble and wrap 55 Christmas food boxes to be given to area families.

The Foxcroft Academy boys indoor track and field team opened the 2019-20 Penobscot Valley Conference/Eastern Maine Indoor Track League season on Dec. 21 at the University of Maine, scoring three points to finish seventh among eight schools.

Whether hunting in Colorado High Country or the Maine North Woods fir forests, you always keep a close eye on the weather. In some cases weather vigilance can make the difference between being comfortable or uncomfortable – or downright miserable, or even in harm’s way.

The basics of the Dexter boys basketball program for generations -- disciplined offense and assertive defense -- were on full display Dec. 21. The Tigers yielded just seven field goals to Bucksport and defeated the Golden Bucks 62-20 at Guiski Gymnasium.

The honorees are Hayden Jones, kindergarten; Libby Yeo, grade 1; Aurora Youngblood, grade 2; Kaylyn Ryder, grade 3; Annabelle Turgeon, grade 4; Ella Annis, elementary unified arts; Maddox Weidman, grade 5; Alexis Burdin, grade 6; Shayli Cirulli, grade 7; Lily Smith, grade 8; and Chloe Strout and Kenadie Strout, middle school unified arts.

The Kiwanis Community Christmas Project is truly a community-supported and worthwhile project. Starting with the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church, there are so many people and organizations that deserve to get big hugs for their help in making  the holidays brighter for our community's youth.