By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff For years, Maine’s most rural county has seen the most homes sold per capita in the state, and real estate still changes hands in the middle of winter.

BRISTOL, Rhode Island — Laney Reardon of Dover-Foxcroft has been named to the fall 2025 dean’s list at Roger Williams University.

ALLAGASH — Campsites along the historic Allagash Wilderness Waterway underwent improvements in 2025 thanks to an ongoing partnership between the state of Maine and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Staff Jada Wyman caught her first brook trout Jan.

MILO — Mid Maine Dental Hygiene LLC will welcome the community to its new location with an open house from 10 a.

RANDOLPH CENTER, Vermont — Vermont State University is pleased to recognize Maia Shahin of Guilford for earning a place on the president’s list for fall 2025.

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County will use an online diversion program this year to keep people out of its overcrowded jail.

HAMPDEN — Dozens of volunteers representing Kiwanis New England & Bermuda District 2, made up of 11 clubs from Augusta north to Milo/Brownville and Greenville, and high school Key Clubs from across the region came together on Saturday morning, Jan.

Maine students are kelp farming in Belfast, making honey to study pollinator health in Bath and studying why the Bloomfield School in Skowhegan is home to one of the largest colonies of endangered cliff swallows in Maine.

Photos courtesy of Milo Elementary School FAMILY LUNCH — Milo Elementary School hosted a Parent/Family Member Lunch on Jan.

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff HAMPDEN — The Hampden Town Council approved a proposed agreement to offset a new jail’s impact on taxpayers if Penobscot County builds it in the town.

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor Ice fishing derby season is underway across Maine.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — SeDoMoCha Schools are proud to be participating in the WinterKids Winter Games, competing on the competitive track against schools across the state of Maine while representing Piscataquis County.

MILO — Penquis Valley Middle/High School science teacher Christopher Bessey and visual arts teacher Sasha Bladen have been nominated for National Life Group’s 2025-26 LifeChanger of the Year award.

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County Commissioners voted Jan.

PORTLAND — AARP Maine invites local eligible nonprofit organizations and governments to apply for the 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 4.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — This February the Piscataquis Regional Food Center invites the community to gather once again for its 2nd Annual Cold Hands & Warm Hearts Luncheon, a heartwarming fundraiser to fight hunger in the Maine Highlands and celebrate the extraordinary generosity of this year’s Hunger Heroes, the Perkins Family.

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — It is with great pleasure that Southern New Hampshire University congratulates the following students on being named to the fall 2025 president’s list, the fall terms run from September to December: Taylor Defa of Medford and David Bialczak of Abbot.