Peace, Love & Waffles, a new restaurant serving breakfast and lunch in the old bank building on East Main Street, was formally welcomed to the region with a Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 9.

The details, including where the necessary funding would come from, are still all to be determined but officials in SAD 41 are considering creating a resource officer position to work across the three district schools. The possibility was a topic of discussion during a Jan. 8 school board meeting at the Penquis Valley School.

Through his research, Piscataquis County Manager Michael Williams cannot determine if the county has ever had an official shield and if so what the image may have looked like. While Williams is continuing his efforts, county officials are considering holding a design contest -- such as for high school students and/or artists living in the region -- to create an official shield in recognition of Maine’s Bicentennial in 2020.

Earlier this month the executive committee of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) announced the resignation of Executive Director Christopher Winstead, who after joining the council in 2015 has accepted the new position of director of workforce development at Eastern Maine Community College. The Piscataquis County Commissioners learned more from Winstead during a Dec. 17 meeting.

Nine pupils in grades 5-8 at Piscataquis Community Elementary School are December Students of the Month. The month’s honorees were presented with certificates in front of their peers and teachers during an assembly in the cafeteria to start the day on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

DEXTER — Drooling Goat BBQ will be feeding more than just hungry patrons as owners Ken and Janice Spaulding made a $500 donation to the Dexter Police Department K-9 unit, with the funds being earmarked for dog Zelda’s food.

Difficulty: Moderate.

The SAD 41 school board learned more about PVAEC programs during a presentation by PVAEC Director Thelma Regan during a Dec. 11 meeting at the Penquis Valley School. Next month the directors are set to vote on continuing district membership in the cooperative for another year.

With the current academic year nearing the halfway point, RSU 68 district officials have started work on developing the budget for 2020-21.

A $4.8 million-plus Piscataquis County budget for 2020, along with a $1,804,670 Unorganized Territory budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, were both formally approved and signed by the county commissioners during a Dec. 10 meeting.