BANGOR – Strengthening communities has never been more important, making this the optimal time for United Way of Eastern Maine and United Way of Mid Maine to officially align service areas, with the mutual goal of increasing impact both locally and across the region.

BREWER – Following a comprehensive search for a new senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Northern Light Health is pleased to announce that Hugh Jones will join the Northern Light team in the coming weeks.

By David Marino Jr.

By Pete Warner, Bangor Daily News Staff While the final numbers have yet to be calculated, it appears the COVID-19 pandemic continues spurring people to pursue outdoor activities in Maine.

By Sawyer Loftus, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine State Police is working to pull back its patrol responsibilities in Penobscot County as part of a yearslong effort to reduce its presence in rural parts of the state.

SKOWHEGAN – On Giving Tuesday, Skowhegan Savings announced a commitment to give away 20 $1,000 grants to local charities as part of their “Season of Giving” program.

By David Marino Jr.

GUILFORD – Valley Grange members and friends are delivering bags of children’s’ socks to local schools (Piscataquis Community, SeDoMoCha, Brownville, Ridge View, and Harmony elementary schools) for distribution to kids who need them during what is undoubtedly some of the most bitterly cold weather so far this year.

DEXTER — Dexter town councilors will consider dedicating a portion of the town’s American Rescue Plan Act funds to a local organization that began restoring a building along Main Street to serve as a food pantry and resource center.

Composite photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High School STUDENTS OF THE MONTH – Dexter Regional High School is pleased to announce the December Students of the Month as selected by the faculty and staff for being exemplary students.

GUILFORD — An early step for a proposed regional comprehensive high school concerns the governance of the secondary institution.

AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) and the Maine Department of Education announced today further revisions to the Maine CDC’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for responding to COVID-19 in schools.

By Sawyer Loftus, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County has selected a Bangor firm to oversee the design and budgeting for a project that will add 100 beds to its chronically overcrowded jail and include a number of renovations to the more than 160-year-old facility.

Abner Wade Lodge in Sangerville started the Santa Project in 2009, headed up by W.

BANGOR – Dirigo Reads, a program that aims to put a book in the hands of every Maine first grader each month during the school year by 2025, is looking to increase the number of schools that will participate in the program during the next school year.

DOVER-FOXCROFT – Each year Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District has a tree & plant sale fundraiser that offers different varieties of locally-grown fruit trees, flowers, and herbs.

Maine adults seeking to pursue college have a new option to jumpstart their education with support from their local Maine adult education program.

DEXTER – SAD 46 is among the school units across the state adjusting to the Maine CDC and Maine Department of Education’s revised standard operating procedure with students having recently returned to classes after the holiday break.