Piscataquis Observer

Sophia and Karson_AdamArmitage.jpg

Photo courtesy of Adam Armitage LAKE TROUT — Sophia and Karson enjoy a productive day, landing lake trout in Bowerbank.

Photo courtesy of Adam Armitage LAKE TROUT — Sophia and Karson enjoy a productive day, landing lake trout in Bowerbank.

Maine anglers kick off the new year on the ice

January 2, 2026

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor Early ice fishing opportunities in Maine exist in December on specific lakes and ponds, but the official statewide season typically begins Jan 1. So far, cold temperatures have created good ice conditions for early-season fishing, and what better way to spend New Year’s Day than on the ice? These anglers got right after it.

News BrowseNews

Winter workshops at Guilford Memorial Library

GUILFORD — Late last summer Wendy Lorrigan, a resident of Sangerville who teaches art at Piscataquis Community Elementary School in addition to being a community artist, was awarded two grants.

Maine will start tracking how much housing is being built in the state

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine’s largest city approved more than 1,300 new units of housing in 2025 — but only 159 homes were actually built in the last year.

Maine’s campaign to manage invasive spruce budworm is in its 2nd year

By Pete McGuire, Maine Public Timberland owners and state officials hope to capitalize on a successful pesticide campaign against a spruce budworm outbreak by resuming aerial treatment next spring.

The 10 most-read stories in Maine in 2025

By Paul Koenig, Bangor Daily News Staff This year had it all in Maine.

New Maine laws going into effect in 2026

By Daniel O’Connor, Bangor Daily News Staff As Maine rings in the new year, many laws passed by the Legislature are set to go into effect.

Penobscot County leaders approve $35.3M budget

By Kasey Turman, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County Commissioners approved the county’s 2026 budget with a unanimous vote on Dec.

Sports BrowseSports

Foxcroft-mascot

Foxcroft wrestling finishes fifth at Husky Classic

December 31, 2025

PITTSFIELD — The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team finished with a score of 114.5 points to place fifth at the Husky Classic on Saturday, Dec.

Fake announcement misleads Maine anglers about northern pike regulations

By Susan Bard, Bangor Daily News Outdoors Editor A fake announcement about changes to northern pike regulations claiming to be from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife circulated among Maine’s fishing community Dec.

Three local athletes win indoor track events

ORONO — Three area athletes won their respective events at a Penobscot Valley Conference/Eastern Maine Indoor Track League meet on the morning of Saturday, Dec.

Opinion BrowseOpinion

Why this angler avoids ice fishing for brook trout

By Al Raychard Our kind and generous outdoors editor, Susan Bard, recently asked if I do any early season ice fishing for brook trout.

Why were so many deer permits issued in Maine this year?

You won’t believe how his deer season ended

By Pete Warner I had waited patiently, until the absolute end of legal shooting time on the next-to-last day of muzzleloader season.

The Maine winter ritual that keeps me sane

By Bob Romano Nearing the end of December, the streams are shrouded in ice.

How journalism moves awareness into action

By Jennifer Holmes Since stepping into the role of president in September, I’ve been reminded of both the importance of local journalism and the financial challenges required to sustain it.

Why Maine’s fly-fishing-only and heritage waters matter for native fish

By Al Raychard I have never been good at telling jokes and if I ever tried to make it as a comedian I would undoubtedly starve to death, but bear with me when I tell you this one.

Living BrowseLiving

Center Theatre announces auditions for ‘The Sound of Music’

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce open auditions for its 2026 spring musical production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic “The Sound of Music.

New Ventures Maine opens applications for Gilda E. Nardone Scholarship

AUGUSTA — New Ventures Maine Executive Director Janet Smith has announced a call for applications for the Gilda E.

Calendar of events

Recurring Events Mondays DEXTER: The Abbott Museum is open 10 a.

Here’s how many houses sold in every Maine county this year

By Kathleen O’Brien, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine saw more houses change hands this year than last, with the state’s most populated counties seeing the highest number of sales — part of a years-long pattern.

Maine to get $190M in federal funding to improve rural health care access

By Carol Bousquet, Maine Public The government says the Rural Health Transformation Program is intended to help residents in rural Maine have better access to preventive, primary, maternal and behavioral health services.

Maine sets new record in reports of tick-borne disease in 2025

By Elizabeth Walztoni, Bangor Daily News Staff Reports of common tick-borne diseases in Maine broke records again in 2025 as tick populations have expanded in the state.