Christmas season is already in full swing — especially at Maine tree farms.

DEXTER — In large part to reward faculty and staff for all their efforts for students and families during the pandemic, SAD 46 will start its holiday break several days earlier than originally scheduled.

By Jessica Piper, Bangor Daily News Staff AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine is vaccinating young children against COVID-19 faster than almost any other state amid high case levels and fears about the omicron variant, which was first detected in the U.

DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Mountain View Correctional Facility’s Correctional Trades Supervisor Corey Hill and his work crew have been working diligently through the pandemic to construct the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Outdoor Educaiton Classroom at their public land, the Law Farm.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscatquis County’s 2022 budget and 2022-23 unorganized territory budget are likely to increase by 5.

CASTINE — Maine Maritime Academy’s annual Academic Achievement Awards ceremony was held on Nov.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — RSU 68 students will be starting their holiday break later this month several days early, as the school board adjusted the last day of classes to be Friday, Dec.

By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff The crime rate in Penobscot County was the highest in the state last year for the second year in a row, according to statistics released this week by the Maine Department of Public Safety.

By The Associated Press FORT KENT  — Parts of northwestern Maine remain in a severe drought late this fall.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Each month the SeDoMoCha School recognizes “Students in the Spotlight” celebrating pupils from kindergarten to grade 8 who teachers and staff have determined best demonstrate a specific positive attribute or characteristic chosen for the timeframe from the Habits of Mind (a set of life skills for educators and parents).

DOVER-FOXCROFT — On Tuesday, Dec.

By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff A nearly two-month-old COVID-19 outbreak at the Penobscot County Jail is preventing nearly two dozen inmates from being transferred to state prisons so they can complete their sentences there.

By The Associate Press PORTLAND — A ski mountain is set to remove a derogatory term for Native American women from its name — two decades after state law eliminated the slur from names of communities and public landmarks.

GREENVILLE — Visit three beautiful historic inns in Greenville all decked out for the holidays from noon to 4 p.

SEBEC — It’s Christmastime and in the spirit of the season the Sebec Village Associates at the Reading Room in Sebec donated $400 to the Three Rivers Kiwanis to assist with their Secret Santa mission.

By Kim Brawn DOVER-FOXCROFT — December — when four in the afternoon feels like nine at night.

BREWER — On Nov.

Adults up, chicks down, but what does it all mean? As Maine Audubon releases the data from its 2021 Annual Loon Count, it underscores the importance of long-term studies and highlights the need to look beyond the one-day count to understand the data.