Dexter Regional High School is proud to announce the pupils selected by the faculty as "Students of the Month" for December.

Upcoming events around the region

The Center Theatre announced recently that registration is open for the 2018 drama camps. This year’s offerings include both a February and April vacation camp as well as the long-standing Summer Drama Camp.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/Miosac Club welcomed the New Year with a pot luck dinner. Several members braved the cold to gather at Thayer Parkway on Jan. 2.

Nominations are now open for the 2018 County Teachers of the Year and 2019 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 at http://www.mainetoy.org through Feb. 5.

Member of the public can help people affected by disasters. Learn more at an American Red Cross information session about how to help fulfill the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross. The session will be held at the Thompson Free Library, 186 East Main Street, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18.

Reg Mossey, representing the Dexter Area Food Closet, accepts a donation of $500 from Ridge View Community School Builders Club President Maureen O'Roak.

Barry Higgins of Maple Lane Farms in Charleston received the Commissioner’s Distinguished Service Award Jan. 9 at the 77th annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show Commissioner’s Luncheon.

Upcoming events across the region.

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.

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.”

Mayo Regional Hospital launched its second year of the Antibiotics Stewardship Project on Jan. 2. Since the program’s inception one year ago, Outpatient Medical Director Dr. Elizabeth Dennis has worked with her management team and colleagues at Mayo Regional Hospital to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.

It may be hard to believe but Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) was started a little more than eight years ago, a few local people concerned about climate change and how its effects might impact the area. The fledgling group began to occasionally screen films on various aspects of the subject at the town hall and then the Abbott Memorial Library in Dexter, which became popular enough to warrant a monthly public meeting, dubbed the First Friday Free Film and Discussion.

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.

Early on the morning of Dec. 16 Dexter Regional High School Student Council and Key Club members, along with several Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis members, gathered at the P&L Country Market to assemble and wrap 49 Christmas food boxes to be given to area families.