Good morning, Bangor.

A $100,000 donation by an anonymous donor supported emergency heating for about 285 Maine families this winter.

The check was presented on Dec. 18 by the Maine Community Action Partnership as part of a Giving Tuesday campaign by local news + business leaders.

Downtown Bangor's small businesses stayed busy with last-minute shoppers on Friday as local buyers shopped for Christmas gifts + supported entrepreneurs amid supply challenges.

Maine lawmakers set the chickadee as the official state bird 98 years ago because its friendly and alert nature fits our local charm (it even appears on license plates).

Locals still enjoy spotting these busy birds in backyards and parks.

All Souls Congregational Church will air its annual Christmas Eve Pageant at 10 p.m. on Fox22/WFVX this Christmas Eve.

The live show—featuring a nativity scene, special music and a multilingual reading of Christ’s birth—carries on a nearly fifty-year tradition designed to bring viewers a quiet moment of reflection.

Residents at Country Village Estates and English students from Cegep de Cabano met this week in Madawaska to celebrate the semester's end after months of letter exchanges that sharpened English skills.

The program grew from seven to 19 participants & promises future visits and lasting bonds.

UMaine officials announced that the estate of Linda + Donald Zillman donated more than $3.5 million to support students and the arts, with over $2 million to the Honors College, more than $1.4 million to the art museum in Bangor and $2.1 million to the Presque Isle campus.

Bangor officials planned to close a homeless encampment along the railroad tracks by Dec.

19, but on Friday tents remain, leaving residents uncertain about next steps as CSX confirms cleanup + local advocates call for a sanctioned site.

Four RSU 63 school board members in Holden resigned on Thursday over a lack of leadership and transparency, leaving the board without enough members to meet and conduct business after a contentious vote on consolidating elementary schools.

Penquis received a two-year $60,000 grant from the Maine Cancer Foundation to support its Accessing Cancer Care program + the program aids about 400 individuals each year with transportation for cancer treatment in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties.

Three high school basketball coaches resigned amid parent pressure, and Oceanside, John Bapst and Brewer have already named new replacements — officials say the resignations may signal growing concerns over the competitive sports culture affecting local student athletes.

River City Athletics has added Acadia Federal Credit Union as a sponsor for its 10.5 million Quirk Sportsplex project in Hampden, with Premier Field scheduled for spring and a domed facility + additional sports fields planned for later phases.

New Year's Eve Celebration

5-11:30 p.m. — Blue Sky Lounge — $199 per couple — Ring in 2026 with dinner, dancing, and a cozy hotel stay.

Tinker Bell: The Untold Story

7:00-8:15 p.m. — Cyrus Pavilion Theatre — Ticket info available — Discover the enchanting tale from Tinker Bell's perspective as the fairies of Neverland face a dire crisis.