By Ernie Clark, Bangor Daily News Staff When Grace Chase first conceptualized Santa Claus and his nine galloping reindeer — including Rudolph — gliding through the holiday season in front of Foxcroft Academy in the early 1950s, the former longtime school secretary couldn’t have anticipated her idea’s staying power.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Changes are underway to improve the look of downtown Dover-Foxcroft.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff This story will be updated.

By Rosemary Lausier, Bangor Daily News Staff Winter Storm Gail is expected to turn into a high-impact Nor’easter in the Northeast Wednesday into Thursday, but Maine is only expected to get a few inches of snow.

Composite photo courtesy of Dexter Regional High School STUDENTS OF THE MONTH — Dexter Regional High School is pleased to announce the November Students of the Month as selected by the faculty and staff.

Observer photo/Jeannette Hughes SANTA CLAUS CAME TO TOWN — Santa made his annual visit to the Reading Room in Sebec Village on Saturday, Dec.

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By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff This story will be updated.

The CDC is encouraging Americans to stay safe and celebrate with their household for the winter holidays.

By Charles Eichacker, Bangor Daily News Staff The first rounds of coronavirus vaccines have started arriving in Maine, with Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor and its affiliate in Portland, Northern Light Mercy Hospital, both receiving 975 doses on Monday morning.

Grade 8, high honors-academic: Lucy Alexander, Keira Bennett, Addyson Brown, McKenzie Clay, Teegan Day, Cole Doherty, Ethan Doherty, Brooklyn Dow, Avery Fogler, Claire Fogler, Amelia Greaves, Megan Hreben, Gabrielle Judkins, Willis Rienhardt and Brianna Vafiades.

Grade eight, high honors: Heidi Clawson, Emily Greenlaw and Cameron Pratt; honors: Cody Bagley, Emma Bither, Leora Brochu, Shayli Cirulli, Margarette Clarke, Allison Conner, Carter Coy, Evalyn Fisk, Grace Greene, Scott Greene, Zoe Havaas, Alexia Heretakis, Madyson Kimball, Calvin Landry, Eli Lane, Brianna Lawrence, Serenity McCabe, Korbyn McCormick, Jack Murray, Kael Niland, Kierstyn Nuite, Chelsea O’Bar, Elizabeth Richards, Lea Schnetzer, Flynn Schriver, Ella Smith, Grace Vaillancourt and Jaxson Zimmerman.

Grade 12, high honors: Dacey Bridges, Jessica Cobb, Christian Trujillo and Katie Worster; honors: Mailer Baldwin.

By Eesha Pendharkar, Bangor Daily News Staff More Mainers have died from fatal crashes in 2020 than last year even with less traffic amid the coronavirus pandemic, with a state official citing cases of reckless driving on more open roads.

Phase 2 of funding from the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program is being distributed.

Grade 12, high honors: Joslyn Black, Savannah Boislard, Lauren Bolstridge, Destiny Golden, Thomas Lyford, Zakary Mills, Angelina Roberts and Courtney Rouleau; honors: Lealia Chadwick, Ryan Chase, AnnaJo Conklin, Haylee Gauvin, Salena Goodine, Ethan Johnson, Trevor Saunders, Karri Whitten and Jamus Winfield.

Grade 12, highest honors: Makayla Bignell, Robert Dorman, Peyton Grant, Avery Herrick, Brett Kusnierz, Lilah McCormack, Olivia Peakes, Abigail Wakefield, Elijah Warner, Isaac Webber and Jade Wintle; high honors: Cheyenne Beem, Alexys Dow, Michael Gadwah, Kaitlyn Gray, Santinaca Lawson and Parker Ponte; honors: Abby Andrews, Hunter Dean, Rosalie Gillis, Kassandra Gray, Jylian Lupo, Mary Mailhot, Alicia Michaud, Destiny Russell, Ryan Smith, Carly Taylor and Grace Wallace.