Sometimes my thought process runs like a pinball machine. A sight, a sound, a smell, triggers a thought. In an instant the thought takes off like a 1-1/16 inch, 2.8 ounce, case hardened carbon steel pinball, ricocheting around my brain, looking for stored information to help me make sense of that first thought.

It’s a new year. Give yourself permission to throw those boring, stressful resolutions out the window. Instead, focus on the word “new” -- as in exciting, different, fresh, alive. Try something new, read something new (i.e., switch authors or genres) or just begin anew with the help of the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft.

Grade 4 students in Beth Weymouth's class at Piscataquis Community Elementary School in Guilford became “Book Buddies” with pre-kindergarteners in Lindsay Panciera's class. Weymouth's students created books and puppets to share with Panciera's pupils.

Anyone interested in being part of a medieval dinner theater being held on March 31 should come to a planning meeting at the Center Theatre on at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13. The Center Theatre and the Slightly Off-Center Players will be producing a medieval dinner theatre called “The Ring of Lies” at the Commons Event Center at Central Hall on March 31.

About 59,000 working Mainers got a raise this week when the minimum wage increased from $9 an hour to $10 an hour. For someone working 40 hours a week, the dollar will increase pay by about $2,000 a year before payroll taxes. The yearly wage for a full-time worker making the new minimum was just more than $20,000.

A short time after Christmas, Wall Street Journal writer Bob Greene caught up with US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and asked him about a commencement speech he gave in June to his son's ninth-grade graduation ceremony at a boarding school in New Hampshire.

Do you love this winter weather? Are you looking forward to spending some time with family and friends snowmobiling, cooking hot dogs and marshmallows over the open fire, maybe a game of Nerf football while the ice fishing traps lie in wait for that big ole togue? If so, then you need to get your ticket for the 11th annual Moosehead Togue Derby that runs from Jan 26-28. There is no better place to spend a family weekend than the shores of Maine’s largest lake and it’s a great chance to win some spectacular prizes.

The Center Theatre and the Slightly Off-Center Players are hosting a paint ‘n sip event at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Center Theatre. The latest in this series of fun events, attendees will work on a painting by Connie LaGross, titled “Colorful Sunrise.”

The slate is clean as we start another year anew.

The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team joined some of the top teams from across Maine and schools from throughout New England at the Noble Invitational on Dec. 29-30. The Ponies tallied 111 points to place seventh out a field of nearly 40 teams at the competition, the second highest finish for Class B schools and highest among those from Class B North.