Ryan Crane and Crane Brothers Farm, Inc., in Exeter produced more than 278 bushels of corn per acre from a Livermore field to top the state yield in all categories.

Are you keeping warm this winter? While the days are getting longer, the coldest time of winter is approaching. Now is the time to order low cost, energy saving window inserts that can increase the comfort, and reduce energy use of your home and save money on heating fuel. Window Dressers, in partnership with a new local organization The Commons Energy Collaborative, is starting early this year to take orders for the 2019 workshop for the towns in the Penquis region.

As part of the Maine Department of Education’s ongoing efforts to highlight Maine’s outstanding teachers, nominations are now open for the 2019 County Teachers of the Year and 2020 Teacher of the Year. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate educators who demonstrate a commitment to excellence and nurturing the achievement of all students. Nominations can be made through the Maine Teacher of the Year website through Feb. 4.

The Center Theatre and the Slightly Off-Center Players are looking for directors for two shows in 2019. The first, “Seussical Jr.,” is a magical musical romp through the land of Dr. Seuss. This kid's production will be performed the first two weekends in May.

Spruce Mill Farm & Kitchen owner Natasha Colbry delivered what she believed to be the largest order in the history of her establishment when she dropped off 100 freshly-baked baguettes at the Augusta Civic Center on Thursday. The long, skinny loaves of French bread were destined for Gov. Janet Mills’ Inauguration Celebration on Friday evening.

Helping Hands with Heart (HHH) and the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) are pleased to be partnering with Healthy Acadia to launch Maine RecoveryCorps. Maine RecoveryCorps is funded by an AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and is focused on expanding recovery coaching to strengthen recovery support services and to improve recovery success among individuals facing substance use disorders, with an emphasis on opioid use disorders.

Janice Kimball-King, who owns The Moosehead Hooker, has been hooking and braiding rugs for the past 40-plus years. She found it was the kind of task easily picked up or put down, which worked well at the time her children were small.

The Center Theatre announced that it will be screening the award-winning film "Farmer of the Year" starting on Friday, Jan. 18. The comedy-drama, produced by Vermont-based Yellow House Films, has played festivals around the U.S. It has picked up honors such as the New Filmmakers Forum Emerging Director Award at the St. Louis International Film Festival and audiences have praised its authenticity and humor.

Being faced with loose ends after someone dies is the topic of Pine Tree Hospice’s Jan. 15 Lunch ‘N Learn, held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church. Donna Peterson, Piscataquis County register of probate, will present “Tying up Loose Ends.”

Soul loss and soul recovery of warriors following combat is the specialty of Edward Tick, PhD. His healing strategies to address these wounds and PTSD through psycho-spiritual therapy will be explored in a video presentation at NAMI’s Trauma Healing Session at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10 at The Commons at Central Hall. Normalizing the traumatic experience while passing through the healing transformational process leads to depathologizing PTSD.

January, the perennial fresh start, can feel a bit anticlimactic, even weighted with pressure from loose ends of the past year to the bright, uncertain promises of a new one. So, it’s the perfect time to visit the Thompson Free Library (TFL) in Dover-Foxcroft, where our programs, like our collection, feature plenty of your favorite elements mixed with new concepts and new faces -- all in a welcoming setting.

Upcoming events around the region.

The state with the most black bears on the East Coast might change the way it manages its growing population of the animals, and hunters and environmentalists alike are keeping a watchful eye to see if there's trouble brewing for bruins. Maine is home to more than 35,000 of the bears, up from just 23,000 less than 15 years ago, and the state wants to better manage that population growth to minimize the potential for conflicts between the bears and people. While bear populations are also growing in Vermont and New Hampshire, Maine's has grown to be among the largest in the United States.

December Students of the Month at Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford are, from left, freshman Jessie Mayberry, sophomore . Meagan Lemieux, and junior Megan McLaughlin.

A recent book review in the Piscataquis Observer concerning the first steamboat on Moosehead Lake and a man named Moses Burnham who settled in The Forks in 1836 piqued my interest. There had been some controversy over the years regarding this steamboat, aptly named The Moosehead, and whether she was truly the first to ply the waters of the lake.

Bishop Robert P. Deeley welcomed the winners of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland’s Christmas Card Art Contest, conducted by the diocese’s Office of Development, to the diocesan offices on Dec. 19

The General Federal of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/Miosac Club celebrated the season with a gifting party. Fourteen members met at the beautifully decorated home of Barb Austin for the annual event. Members brought sweet or savory dishes to share.

Over 80 beautiful parrots will celebrate the holidays at a free open house on Saturday, Dec. 29 from noon to 4 p.m. at Siesta Sanctuary, 104 Brown Road. There is no snow date.