Winter days in Maine are sometimes black-and-white. My friend, Bill Kitchen, last week posted a photo view from his home porch of Bad Little Falls in Machias. You think you're seeing a black-and-white photo until you read Bill's photo caption. You are, in fact, looking at a full-color photo of the river moving almost without a ripple, between white, snow-covered banks and fir trees.

Never has giving away more than $1 trillion been so difficult. Republicans in Washington have passed a massive overhaul of the US tax code. With a package that’s heavily tilted toward wealthy individuals and large, multinational corporations, the tax plan will further exacerbate income inequality. As if that wasn’t enough, the tax bill does a lot more.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of year again, the time of year you all look forward to with ever-growing excitement. I’m speaking, of course, of my annual bold predictions, where I give you, dear reader, a foretelling of the coming year.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Boston Red Sox Foundation is seeking submissions from inspiring senior students, who are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities, for the New England Red Sox Service Scholarship. Thirty two high schools across Maine have been chosen to take part, including Dexter Regional High School, Greenville High School and Penquis Valley High School.

With the second regular session of the 128th Legislature just around the corner, Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville would like to once again invite all area students to join him at the Statehouse for a day to serve as a page in the Maine Senate.

The Piscataquis Community High School National Honor Society recently sponsored a school-wide food drive to help local food cupboards during the holidays, over 525 items were collected from the PCHS advisory groups.

Moments before the Dec. 18 deadly Amtrak derailment, a Mainer on board noticed the train’s high speed. Cody Clark, a 28-year-old Dexter Regional High School graduate from Exeter, said he recalls thinking, “We’re going pretty fast. We’re going faster than all the cars on the highway.”

The tired old joke goes like this: “How can you tell the difference between a partridge and a grouse?” You know the answer, right? If it’s shot on the ground, it’s a partridge; if it is shot on the wing, it is a grouse.

The Forest Society of Maine Board of Directors named Karin Tilberg as the organization’s new executive director during the December board meeting. The Forest Society of Maine (FSM) is a land trust with a focus on conserving forest land throughout Maine’s North Woods.

At this time of year, we gather with loved ones to celebrate Christmas, count our blessings, remember the past year and look forward to next year.