Piscataquis County sets aside a day or two in early December to celebrate the wonder of Christmas and the magic of the holiday season. This year Dover-Foxcroft, Greenville (on Saturday, Nov. 30) Guilford, Milo, Monson, Sebec and Dexter are participating.

Great expectations. Not the Dickens’ classic or its various adaptations but those high hopes we have for the holidays vs. the sometimes less than joyous reality. Whatever your beliefs, rituals, traditions -- peace on earth and joy to the world can be especially elusive when you’re trying to buy gifts on a tight budget, go to everyone’s concert, party or special event much less plan and pull off Christmas dinner. Crazy schedules can dissipate the spirit of the season. December at the Thompson Free Library can help you recapture that spirit, catch your breath, and engage your mind.

Five high school golfers from the region earned postseason Penobscot Valley Conference recognition.

The first quarter or trimester of the school year has come and gone, and the autumn has clearly given way to the winter. Clocks have been turned back, the daylight hours have become shorter, and people across Maine and New England are preparing for what is sure to be an impressive season of snow and cold.

Fifteen Maine school staff members had the opportunity to take to the skies Nov. 14 in a UH-60 Blackhawk as part of an educator lift hosted by the Maine Army National Guard. Educators from the Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter and Foxcroft Academy were among the participants.

The winner of this years’ Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis Club fall raffle is Frank Reynolds. He chose the cash prize of $1,200 and Reynolds was presented a check at the Nov. 22 Kiwanis meeting. Ron Apel has chaired the raffle committee for several years and he was congratulated for a job well done.

Girl Scouts of Maine announces that it will host a new member sign-up event for potential members and volunteers at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2 at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School.

The funding includes $191,496 for Northern Light Health has received to implement a telemedicine project in six hospitals, among these is Northern Light C.A. Dean Hospital in Greenville. The project will serve 54,333 residents.

The Dover Low Vision Group will meet at the Thayer Parkway Community Room, 33 Thayer Parkway, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. The group will have a potluck holiday celebration, please bring a snack to share.

The honorees are Bryson Feltis, kindergarten; Lyric Reed, grade 1; Madison Weymouth, grade 2; Ryan McGary, grade 3; Aislinn Miller, grade 4; Sullivan Carey, elementary unified arts; Thomas Atwater, grade 5; Daniel Turgeon, grade 6; Emily Greenlaw, grade 7; Jack Kingsbury, grade 8; and Tyler Sandberg, middle school unified arts.