By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine is on track again to see a record number of overdose deaths by the end of the year.

MILO — A committee consisting of people from the SAD 41 school board, select boards from three district towns and residents representing Brownville, LaGrange and Milo will examine the number of directors for the SAD 41 board via an apportionment committee.

Abbot resident Walter Boomsma was recognized at the 156th annual National Grange Convention in Reno, Nevada as a Cultivator of the Year by the National Grange Membership and Leadership Development Department.

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff After working with Bangor’s homeless population for nearly 20 years, Jen Weatherbee no longer trudges through snow looking for unsheltered people to offer them help.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County’s commissioners agreed to raise the daily boarding rate for prisoners from outside the county during a meeting Tuesday.

DEXTER  — A new adoption program that aims to boost the well-being of seniors who live alone pairs them with cats in need of homes.

Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the promotion of Maria Wooten from her current role as executive vice president to president beginning in January.

Photo courtesy of Piscataquis County Democrats THANKING DR.

More than a third of middle-schoolers in Piscataquis and Somerset counties reported feelings of sadness and hopelessness in 2021, exceeding the state average, according to data released last week.

Photo courtesy of Dyer’s Hope House FOR DYER’S HOPE HOUSE — Dyer’s Hope House was overwhelmed by kindness at the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train event on Nov.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County’s commissioners plan to slash 10 percent of grants for all nonprofit organizations, including its economic development group and regional food center, to lessen the burden on taxpayers, they said Thursday morning.

Community Health and Counseling Services in collaboration with the City of Bangor and supported by grant funding from MaineHousing is implementing a program to meet the housing needs of people experiencing homelessness in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, with a focus on those experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

DEXTER — The Piscataquis County Retired Educators Association met Tuesday, Nov.

MILO — Announcing a new program in Milo! The “Arts Around Town” project brings together adult and student arts with businesses in this small town.

BREWER — Northern Light Health is leading a statewide effort to deepen personal connection and improve the health of Mainers by putting purpose behind an often-overlooked question: How are you? The How Are You? movement brings to light that an important part of better health and healing comes through human connection.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Next year’s Piscataquis County budget is likely to grow nearly 10 percent, but county officials say there still isn’t enough money for new positions that would alleviate stress for certain departments and tackle ongoing issues.

By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff This question comes to us from Bangor Daily News Managing Editor Dan MacLeod, who noticed that while his grandfather had a great Maine accent, neither of his parents do, and neither does he.

Observer photo/Jeannette Hughes SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED — Wilderness Walk for Warriors, Tradewinds Market, American Legion Post 41, and the Unit 41 Auxiliary worked together to provide food boxes to 118 Piscataquis County veteran families on Saturday, Nov.