Joined by leaders from Efficiency Maine Trust, Hometown Heat Pumps and the Maine Community College System at F.W. Webb Company in Augusta, Gov. Janet Mills on Jan. 14 announced that Maine was doubling its rebates to help Maine people purchase high-performance heat pumps.

On Jan. 8 Penquis Valley High School junior Joslyn Black, 16, received an invitation in the mail from the education organization Envision. This group provides summer learning programs to students from elementary through high school. Black’s invitation is to the Stanford Law School outside of San Francisco, California to learn and engage in a 10-day intensive law and trial program.

Amid all the wild words and phrases that weather reporters bandy about during the winter -- polar vortex, bombogenesis -- there’s one panic-inducing term that dates back hundreds of years, predating modern-day snowmageddons: nor’easter.

As winter gets colder and the ice on local lakes and ponds gets thicker, more of us will waddle out there, drill a few holes and try to catch some fish. Wouldn’t you love it if you knew how to catch even more?

Galen Cole, a former Bangor mayor and businessman who spent decades commemorating the experiences of Maine veterans after he narrowly survived a German artillery attack while serving in World War II, died Jan. 9 at the age of 94.

Veterans assistance (VA issues and other benefits) will be provided at Milo American Legion Post 41 from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Walk in or make an appointment by calling 207-943-9135.

Maine’s woods are full of mysteries, large and small. Sometimes, those of us who spend time afield might not recognize all of the mysterious goings-on around us. At other times -- like when there’s a fresh coating of snow on the ground -- the evidence is much more clear.

Rep. Norman Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft announces his candidacy for a fourth term in the Maine Legislature.

Peace, Love & Waffles, a new restaurant serving breakfast and lunch in the old bank building on East Main Street, was formally welcomed to the region with a Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 9.

I recently received two emails from readers looking for great places to snowshoe in Maine. They were looking for trail suggestions, and boy did I have a lot to say. Too much to say, really. So I decided to write a whole advice column on the topic.

Upcoming events around the region.

The Dover-Foxcroft United Methodist Church “Pay It Forward” thrift shop is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second and third Wednesdays of the month in conjunction with WIC. The shop is located on the second floor of the church.

Students from the Brownville Elementary School are participating in the WinterKids Winter Games in January. Students compete in a four-week series of outdoor physical activity and nutrition challenges designed to help them be active in the winter and learn healthy habits.  Each school is encouraged to involve volunteers, parents, healthy eating and active living organizations in their community and hold a winter carnival to close out the month’s events.

Tisbury Manor Chapter NSDAR, based in Monson, has welcomed 111 members since the chapter began on Nov. 14, 1952. Tisbury Manor is excited to join the National Society in celebrating this milestone by spotlighting members of the chapter through the years.

Good Shepherd Food Bank recently announced recipients of the annual School Pantry Capacity Building Grant program. Funded on a competitive basis to school pantry sites, the food bank’s awards range from $250 to $2,500. Among the 13 grantees across the state are the Ridge View Community School of Dexter and the SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft.

Doug Thomas of Ripley has announced he is a Republican candidate for the Maine Senate District 4. Thomas is a successful small business owner and entrepreneur with customers across Central Maine. Thomas believes that the government of Maine needs to put the welfare of Maine people first.  There are a lot of problems around the country and around the world and it is not up to the people of Maine, with their hard-earned money, to pay for those problems through their tax dollars. We need to help our own people first.

On Jan. 3 after a week postponement due to weather, 19 local people came together at The Commons at Central Hall to talk about “Bridging the Climate Change Divide,” to kick off a year long monthly “Final Fridays” series of climate conversations and to enjoy a delicious potluck meal. Participants came from Charleston, Garland, Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft, Sebec and Milo and from many walks of life to share their perspectives about climate change and to talk about how the current conversation around climate change is impacting them.

A blood drive will be held in the area from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31 at the Grace Bible Church, 40 Douty Hill Road in Sangerville.