Staff Report     DEXTER — The Feb.

A PARADE OF FLOATS Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom Students in the four grade 1 classes at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School in Dover-Foxcroft created floats at home with their parents as part of a unit on the books of Jan Brett.

HELPING TO FEED THOSE IN NEED Photos courtesy of TCTC Just as the holidays were winding down Health Occupations students from the Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter started a food drive to benefit local food pantries.

By Mike LangeStaff Writer     MILO — A Republican candidate for the Maine House of Representatives has dropped his party affiliation and will now run as an independent.

RED FOR ED Observer photo/Mike Lange As a tribute to the late coach Ed Guiski, fans at the Dexter-Bangor Christian boys’ hoop contest were asked to wear red, the Tigers’ team color.

Staff Report     GREENVILLE — Fire Chief Matt St.

By Mike LangeStaff Writer     GUILFORD — The Guilford Board of Selectmen agreed at last week’s meeting to place two articles related to fireworks on the annual town meeting warrant along with a measure to start a micro-loan program in the community.

By Stuart Hedstrom  Staff Writer     DOVER-FOXCROFT — The initial steps have been taken in developing the RS8 68 budget for the 2014-15 academic year, with the first meeting of the budget committee having taken place last month.

By Mike LangeStaff Writer     DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County Sheriff John J.

STUDENT FLOATS Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom As a culminating project for a unit on the books of author/illustrator Jan Brett, first-graders at SeDoMoCha Elementary in Dover-Foxcroft and their parents created floats replicating Brett’s works.

By Stuart Hedstrom  Staff Writer     DOVER-FOXCROFT — Since the start of the new year, town officials have been discussing the concepts and possible implementation of both development impact fees and conditional and contract rezoning.

Bangor Daily News photo/Kevin Bennett      Milo Elementary School students, from left, May Horton, Ainsley Ade and Courtney Rouleau celebrated the Chinese New Year last Friday during a parade at the Bangor Mall.

Photo courtesy of Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance      Piscataquis County employees gathered items for families in transition at their holiday party.

    DEXTER — Tri-County Technical Center held the Local Skills Showcase Competition on Jan.

    MILO — On Saturday, Feb.

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, and on Tuesday, Feb.

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Farmers and others interested in using alternative fuels for transportation and equipment are invited to a program at 7 p.

    DEXTER — On Friday, Feb.