When a new year arrives, many have traditions that involve resolutions and celebrations. For Maine’s moose biologist, the arrival of a new year has come to mean something else: It’s time for the state to “recruit” a new crop of moose to aid in future research efforts.

Rep. Paul Stearns, R-Guilford has announced his intention to run for the Maine House of Representatives for a fourth term. House District 119 is made up of Abbot, Beaver Cove, Bowerbank, Greenville, Guilford, Monson, Parkman, Sangerville, Sebec, Shirley and Willimantic plus the unorganized territories of Blanchard Township, Northeast Piscataquis (including Barnard and Elliottsville Townships) and Northwest Piscataquis.

The Piscataquis Writers Alliance (PWA), formerly the Monson Writers Alliance, has some exciting changes to announce. The Alliance started in Monson with the support of the Monson Arts Center and Libra Foundation in December 2018. Meeting space was graciously made available in the Monson Public Library for the summer. Since then, the PWA has changed its meeting location and time to better accommodate its members. The Piscataquis Writers Alliance currently meets weekly at the Guilford Bed and Breakfast at 24 Elm St. in Guilford from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Ice anglers looking to find a safe place to fish on the traditional opening day of the season might want to consider a trip north, as the superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway reports that there is some fairly thick ice on AWW lakes and ponds. In much of the state, ice fishing is allowed as soon as safe ice forms. In the AWW, the season still begins on Jan. 1, as used to be the custom statewide.

The Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) is in the process of a website upgrade, and we need your help.

Kenneth Hatchette’s first attempt at a novel loosely based on his memories (and those of his friends) of Brownville Junction can be enjoyed in his new book “The Great Chase” available on Amazon.com.

Though Peace, Love, & Waffles has been open since November, there will be a grand opening celebration from 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 with a 4 p.m. Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony. Coffee and baked goods will be offered. The event is open to the public. An RSVP is appreciated at 207-564-7533.

Visiting Baxter State Park in the winter takes extra planning. The main road that leads into the park is unplowed and therefore closed to vehicles. Plus the cold, wet conditions of winter in Maine add more risk to any outdoor adventure. But the sight of Katahdin and surrounding mountains cloaked in snow makes the planning worth the effort.

The Harmony man who allegedly shot at police and wounded a Waterville officer during a multi-town pursuit remains hospitalized with injuries, but a Maine State Police spokesman said Monday morning that no charges have been filed against him.

Last week’s cold snap covered many lakes and ponds in ice, but with the warming temperatures this week, the Maine Warden Service is urging people to use caution before venturing out onto any ice covering Maine’s waterways.

Rep. Paul Stearns, R-Guilford, left, and Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville presented the Greenville Fire Department with a Legislative Sentiment for voluntary undertaking a rigorous safety program.

The honorees are Hayden Jones, kindergarten; Libby Yeo, grade 1; Aurora Youngblood, grade 2; Kaylyn Ryder, grade 3; Annabelle Turgeon, grade 4; Ella Annis, elementary unified arts; Maddox Weidman, grade 5; Alexis Burdin, grade 6; Shayli Cirulli, grade 7; Lily Smith, grade 8; and Chloe Strout and Kenadie Strout, middle school unified arts.

Earlier this month the executive committee of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) announced the resignation of Executive Director Christopher Winstead, who after joining the council in 2015 has accepted the new position of director of workforce development at Eastern Maine Community College. The Piscataquis County Commissioners learned more from Winstead during a Dec. 17 meeting.

The town of Cambridge and almost three dozen residents from the other communities that collectively own Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft have filed a lawsuit trying to block its pending merger with Northern Light Health.

Ann Mailloux, right of Dover-Foxcroft pictured with Piscataqius Observer Customer Service Represenative Jeannette Hughes, is the winner of the 2019 Find the Shop Local Tree Contest.

With 37 people in attendance at Dexter Age-Friendly’s December Tea Talks, Wanita Grant answered the most Christmas trivia questions correctly to win a seasonal fresh-flower arrangement contributed by the Spring Street Greenhouse. Gratitude is extended by everyone on the Dexter Age-Friendly Committee to Susan LaFerriere and her team for the monthly floral donation.

He will retire Dec. 31 after 38 years on the bench, the last six as chief judge of the Superior Court. Cole became a District Court judge in 1981. He was elevated to the state’s trial court five years later, which makes him the longest serving Superior Court justice still on the bench and the second longest-serving judge in Maine after Supreme Judicial Court Justice Donald Alexander.

Maine Senate Republicans have given their full support to Sen. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville for reelection.