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.

Gabriella, left, and Destiny Michelle Richardson tell Santa what they would like for Christmas during the Sebec Village Associates’ annual party on Dec. 16 at the Reading Room.

Upcoming events across the region.

The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors to give more life to patients now and into the new year by giving blood or platelets. Area blood drives will be on Friday, Dec. 29 from noon to 5 p.m. at Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft; Friday, Dec. 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greenville American Legion; and Tuesday, Jan. 2 from 1-6 p.m. at the Milo Town Hall.

On Dec. 11 Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville and Sen. Scott Cyrway, R-Benton joined retired Maine State Trooper Mark Nickerson, Trooper Seth Allen, Trooper Tyler Harrington and Lt. Jackie Theriault at Brown Cemetery in Benton to visit the grave of Trooper Thomas J. Merry, a hero who died in the line of duty in July of 1980 in Palmyra.

Photos courtesy of Terry Young A SPOOKY CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE — The Piscataquis Community High School Club Drama Club performed “The Haunted House” — inspired by Charles Dickens adapted by Sam Craig — on Saturday, Dec.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension has released the sixth installment of “Growing Maine,” a series of short documentaries highlighting Maine food producers and farm families. The latest video in the series tells the story of Worcester’s Blueberries, a lowbush blueberry farm in southeast Piscataquis County.

Hometown Health Center (HHC) is operating its Hands of Giving Tree again this year. Winter can be a difficult time for families with limited resources. Often, children go without the winter necessities, but HHC is here to help.