Join us Jan 24-26 for the 13th annual Moosehead Lake Togue Derby. We will be giving away some awesome prizes once again this winter. Of course, there will be prize money for the three largest togue: first place - $1,500, second place - $500; and third place - $250.

For 15 years Joanne Adkins has owned and operated the Wild Monkey Salon on West Main Street. On Dec. 1, 2019 the business was purchased by Miranda Nicole Durant, from Guilford, who renamed it Primpin’, Ain’t Easy or simply Primpin’.

The January Dexter Tea Talk featured speaker and musical performer Rose Hinkley, director of the Central Maine Country Music Association, presented information about charitable work and membership within her organization on Jan. 9 at Gatherings 4 Main St.

If you’ve always wanted to visit a bear den and check out the cubs, this may be your lucky year. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is taking entries into its latest Keeper of the Maine Outdoors contest, and the grand prize is a den visit for two people.

State regulators have cleared the way for Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft to join Northern Light Health, the Brewer-based health system that includes nine other hospitals stretching from Portland to Presque Isle.

Maine’s ATV task force, created by Gov. Janet Mills to address opportunities and issues associated with increasing ATV registrations, submitted a report and recommendations to the governor, which include limits on ATV sizes and weights and recognizes the importance of private landowners who allow public use of their land.

Upcoming events around the region.

SAD 4 will continue to be a part of the PVAEC for the near future as the school board voted to extend its agreement with the Cooperative through the end of the 2022-23 academic year during a Jan. 14 meeting at PCHS. SAD 4 costs will be determined and the funds will be part of the next three school budgets.

Gov. Janet Mills allowed the passage of Rep. Norman Higgins’, I-Dover Foxcroft bill to create a comprehensive career & technical education system to examine a comprehensive 4-year high school career & technical education program.

Growing Through Grief meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through May, from 1-3 p.m. in Dover-Foxcroft. The grief support group, presentation and delicious dessert are free of charge. Participants must pre-register by calling Pine Tree Hospice at 207-564-4346.

It’s always exciting to change the calendar from December to January. A new year is filled with potential and the chance to start fresh. And after the busy holidays filled with celebrations and tables of delicious treats, it’s not surprising that, according to a 2019 survey, 65 percent of people resolved to exercise more with the New Year

The Center Theatre and Slightly Off-Center Players Community Theater Group are hosting a Valentine's Day mystery dinner party at the Commons Event Center at Central Hall. The dinner party titled "Happily Never After" will start at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 The event is suitable for all ages and everyone in attendance will be part of solving the evening's mystery.

Joined by leaders from Efficiency Maine Trust, Hometown Heat Pumps and the Maine Community College System at F.W. Webb Company in Augusta, Gov. Janet Mills on Jan. 14 announced that Maine was doubling its rebates to help Maine people purchase high-performance heat pumps.

On Jan. 8 Penquis Valley High School junior Joslyn Black, 16, received an invitation in the mail from the education organization Envision. This group provides summer learning programs to students from elementary through high school. Black’s invitation is to the Stanford Law School outside of San Francisco, California to learn and engage in a 10-day intensive law and trial program.

Amid all the wild words and phrases that weather reporters bandy about during the winter -- polar vortex, bombogenesis -- there’s one panic-inducing term that dates back hundreds of years, predating modern-day snowmageddons: nor’easter.

As winter gets colder and the ice on local lakes and ponds gets thicker, more of us will waddle out there, drill a few holes and try to catch some fish. Wouldn’t you love it if you knew how to catch even more?

Galen Cole, a former Bangor mayor and businessman who spent decades commemorating the experiences of Maine veterans after he narrowly survived a German artillery attack while serving in World War II, died Jan. 9 at the age of 94.

Veterans assistance (VA issues and other benefits) will be provided at Milo American Legion Post 41 from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Walk in or make an appointment by calling 207-943-9135.