By Pete Warner, Bangor Daily News Staff While the final numbers have yet to be calculated, it appears the COVID-19 pandemic continues spurring people to pursue outdoor activities in Maine.

By David Marino Jr.

GUILFORD – Valley Grange members and friends are delivering bags of children’s’ socks to local schools (Piscataquis Community, SeDoMoCha, Brownville, Ridge View, and Harmony elementary schools) for distribution to kids who need them during what is undoubtedly some of the most bitterly cold weather so far this year.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff CHARLESTON – A Lewiston man convicted 16 years ago of sex crimes against children has died at the minimum security prison in Charleston.

HAMPDEN – Lisa Warren has earned the designation of Transportation Risk & Insurance Professional from the International Risk Management Institute.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff WARREN – A man convicted of beating his neighbor to death more than 30 years ago has died at the Maine State Prison.

By David Marino Jr.

ORONO — Maine’s attorney general and four other individuals with differing personal and professional perspectives will address the topic “The State of Civil Rights in Maine” as part of eastern and central Maine’s 2022 Martin Luther King Jr.

AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) and the Maine Department of Education announced today further revisions to the Maine CDC’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for responding to COVID-19 in schools.

Abner Wade Lodge in Sangerville started the Santa Project in 2009, headed up by W.

AUGUSTA – Rep.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Nearly a month after the Dover-Foxcroft Selectboard authorized the demolition and removal of structures on the property at 72 Lincoln St.

BANGOR – Dirigo Reads, a program that aims to put a book in the hands of every Maine first grader each month during the school year by 2025, is looking to increase the number of schools that will participate in the program during the next school year.

DOVER-FOXCROFT – Each year Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District has a tree & plant sale fundraiser that offers different varieties of locally-grown fruit trees, flowers, and herbs.

Maine adults seeking to pursue college have a new option to jumpstart their education with support from their local Maine adult education program.

By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff Gov.

AUGUSTA – Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands announced an 8 percent increase in final attendance for Maine State Parks in 2021 compared to the previous all-time attendance record in 2020.

Nominations are now open for the 2022 County Teachers of the Year and 2023 Teacher of the Year.