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Greetings from Downeast where the weather could care less about all the last-minute holiday shopping people have to do — or so I hear. My gifts are all purchased, wrapped in bespoken packages, and artfully arranged under our fastidiously decorated Christmas tree. 

Yeah, not so much. Wednesday certainly wouldn’t have been the day for me or anyone else to be dashing around trying to get caught up though. Wind gusts topping out at around 67 mph blew through the region, dumping as much as 3 inches, taking out power for tens of thousands of customers. 

But the skies are clear now and there are still twelve days until Christmas, plenty of time to buy that partridge in a pear tree or whatever else is on your list. 

Hopefully, you’ll squeeze in time for some holiday cheer and “tis-the-reason-for-the-season” giving for those in need. With a slate of events, there are lots of options, even solstice celebrations. Santa is in town, including at the Small Town Christmas Festival in Jonesboro. 

But Old Saint Nick has some competition. The Gringe is the Jonesport Grange (he’s promised to behalf). Scrooge got in on the act too with the new play, Scroogeport, at the UMM performing arts center. There’s more song, dance, and crafts from Baileyville and Calais to Lubec and Orono. 

And trees! Towns throughout Downeast are all a glitter with tree festivals, from Eastport to Ellsworth. Take a walk through a dazzling Christmas Forest in Perry or extend some holiday healing by supporting the Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center’s Trees for Hope fundraiser in Ellsworth. It’ll make you feel even better than a hot cup of cocoa on one of those stormy days.

Bucksport salmon farm still on ice

Six years after Whole Oceans announced plans for a land-based farm, the site is empty and permits have expired. Town officials still think it could work out.

Read this story by Murray Carpenter of The Maine Monitor

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ICYMI from The Monitor: Abortion funds take on bigger role as access to funding shifts | The Maine Monitor

Wednesday’s storm brought up to 65 mph wind gusts, as much as 3 inches of rain, and widespread power outages. | Bangor Daily News

Storm impacts and mitigation strategies eyed | Quoddy Tides

Maine is set to receive about $15 million from the U.S. Forest Service to conserve woodlands and encourage climate friendly forestry, including money to preserve old growth forest in the north woods. | Maine Public

The city of Ellsworth is a department head short after the departure of Economic Development Director Janna Richards in late November. | The Ellsworth American

Northern Light Health announced on Thursday it is ending pension benefits for roughly 6,000 employees at Eastern Maine Medical Center, Acadia Hospital, Northern Light’s home offices and some off-site locations. | Bangor Daily News

Public safety, lack of surplus cause county budget increase | Quoddy Tides

Maine public housing authorities’ rules bar evicted tenants from returning to government-subsidized units and from receiving other benefits that could help them relocate. | Bangor Daily News for ProPublica's Local Reporting Network

A familiar face is returning to School Union 76 following a tumultuous several weeks that led to the resignation of the school district’s top official. | Bangor Daily News

Fishermen are seeing the highest prices ever for their catches and more draggers in the bay than during the past few years | Quoddy Tides

A leaking water main discovered on Brae Drive this summer has raised questions regarding ownership and responsibility for repairs of city-linked utility infrastructure on private roads. | The Ellsworth American

After issuing its first ever product recalls this fall, the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy is urging producers to make sure they understand the state's testing and handling rules. | Maine Public

Maine’s illegal cannabis grow houses are being refurbished, relisted and sold. | Portland Press Herald 

People in colder countries understand the magic of winter. What's their secret? Health psychologist, Kari Leibowitz, explains how to embrace a “wintertime mindset.” | NPR

Pinkham's Treefarm, a three-generation family business in Vassalboro, is one of about a dozen Maine Christmas tree farms to donate trees to military bases and families of deployed troops. | Morning Sentinel

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