On Dec. 2 a dozen locals braved icy conditions to attend an informational meeting about the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Organizer Laurie Sproul explained the group’s mission to “put a price on carbon.” She described her most recent lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., and announced that a bipartisan bill has been sponsored in the House of Representatives.

About two dozen area residents (including Bangor and Ellsworth) gathered this past Saturday morning. Dec. 15 at the Abbott Memorial Library to hear Brownville’s Felix Blinn discuss “Being Prepared.” how to take practical steps to anticipate likely disruptive events in a hopeful instead of fearful manner.

Gov. Paul LePage honored Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fisheries biologist Tim Obrey on Dec. 13 recognizing him for outstanding service to the state, its citizens, and the department.

Maine’s 62 newest police officers have graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, including Stephen Garib of Dover-Foxcroft Police Department. The officers spent 18 weeks in study and training and most will begin patrolling immediately, in time for Christmas and New Year’s Eve enforcement efforts.

On Jan. 14 Mayo Regional Hospital is bringing on-line a system-wide overhaul of its patient record system. The new software, CERNER, is an integrated database of patient health records that provides a comprehensive set of capabilities to electronically store, capture and access patient health information in both the acute and ambulatory care setting.

The more I read about the relationship of the White House press corps with recent US Presidents, the more I appreciate President Trump’s use of Tweets to communicate with Americans.

Jonny Law is gone. That is what he called himself – at least with his email address. Retired Maine Game Warden and two-term sheriff of Waldo County, author and artist, John Ford Sr. of Brooks passed on in November after a 20-year battle with cancer.

Light, camera, action! On Monday, Dec. 17 the Center Theatre is proud to announce that it will be hosting an advance screening of the new action-packed Transformers movie "Bumblebee" nearly a week before it opens to the public nationwide. Thanks to the work of the Foxcroft Academy, Dexter Regional High School, and Greenville High School Key Clubs with the Thirst Project, Paramount Pictures has offered this movie, at no charge to the theatre and guests, to be screened at Center Theatre as a thank-you for the students' efforts.

Recently Foxcroft Academy received word from International Baccalaureate (IB) that the school’s candidacy has been accepted to become a full IB Diploma Program school, with classes beginning at the start of the 2019-20 school year. Foxcroft Academy is making this bold move to better its mission and to better prepare students for the 21st-century workforce.

At what point in your life are you most likely to spend extravagantly? When are you most likely to waste? When are you most likely to purchase the thing you don't need, or indulge yourself on the thing that you want, or eat out more often, at more expensive restaurants?