Which Maine location recorded the coldest temperature on record?

Welcome to Christmas & Hanukkah Week here in the Penobscot Valley.

Whether you’re lighting candles, gathering around a tree, welcoming family home, or simply enjoying a quieter pace, this week always feels a little different — slower, more reflective, and deeply rooted in community.

In this week’s Penobscot Valley Voice, we’re sharing practical winter tips, local know-how, community events, and familiar features to help you stay safe, warm, and connected during this special holiday week.

🕎🎄 A Note This Holiday Week

This week, many in our community are celebrating Hanukkah, which concludes at sundown on Thursday, while others are preparing for Christmas on the same day.

Whether your traditions include lighting candles, sharing meals with family, exchanging gifts, or simply enjoying a quieter rhythm, this season is about connection, reflection, and caring for one another.

We’re glad to share this holiday week with you.

Sandy Smith, PVV Editor

7 -Day Weather Outlook - Tuesday, Dec 23 – Monday, Dec 29

A cold, wintry stretch is expected across the Penobscot Valley this week, with temperatures staying mostly in the 20s and occasional chances for light snow or flurries.

Tuesday–Wednesday:
Cloudy and cold, with a chance of light snow at times. Highs mainly in the upper 20s.

Thursday (Christmas Day):
Mostly cloudy with a few breaks of sun. Seasonably cold, highs near 30°F. A slight chance of snow later in the day.

Friday–Saturday:
Colder air settles in. Mostly cloudy with occasional snow showers or flurries possible. Highs in the teens to low 20s.

Sunday–Monday:
Quiet winter weather continues with clouds and some sun. Highs in the mid-20s. Another light snow chance toward the end of the period.

⚠️ Travel & Safety Reminder:
Watch for slick roads, especially during early morning and evening hours. Keep winter emergency supplies in your vehicle and check on neighbors who may need assistance.

Forecast based on AccuWeather trends for the Bangor/Penobscot Valley region.

Tap one option below to vote — we’ll share results next week!

On a cold Maine night, what’s your go-to comfort food?

😍Pizza
🤯Soup 0r Chowder
😴Home Cooked Casserole
😡Takeout from a local favorite
👍Breakfast-for-dinner (eggs, pancakes, bacon)
👎Slow-cooker or crockpot meals

Thank you for taking a moment to vote!
We love hearing from our neighbors across the Penobscot Valley. Your responses help shape what we share each week, and they give us a real pulse on our community.

We’ll share the poll results — and a few takeaways — in next week’s Penobscot Valley Voice, so stay tuned!

What should I actually keep in my car in winter?

You don’t need to turn your vehicle into a survival bunker — but a few basics can make a big difference if you’re delayed.

Smart winter essentials:

• Warm blanket or sleeping bag
• Extra gloves, hat, and socks
• Ice scraper and small shovel
• Flashlight with batteries
• Phone charger or battery pack
• Water and non-perishable snacks
• Jumper cables
• Reflective vest or road flares

A little preparation goes a long way.

Check your car kit before holiday travel.

With Christmas just days away:

• Make sure your ice scraper is in the car
• Toss in gloves and a blanket
• Charge your emergency battery pack

Five minutes now can save a lot of stress later.

Comfort Food of the Week: Corn Chowder

There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of chowder on a cold Maine night.

Corn chowder — with potatoes, onions, celery, and a touch of cream — is simple, comforting, and perfect for Christmas & Hanukkah week dinners or easy lunches.

As the chill rolls in, nothing captures the essence of Maine like a warm bowl of classic corn chowder.

This timeless recipe is a taste of home, reflecting our state's straightforward culinary spirit.

It begins with rendering thick-cut bacon until crisp, then softening diced onion in the savory fat.

Tender Maine potatoes are simmered before adding a hearty mix of sweet corn kernels and creamed corn.

A rich blend of whole milk and heavy cream creates the chowder’s signature velvety base, which is heated slowly to meld the flavors without boiling.

Finished with a final stir of crispy bacon, this simple, comforting dish is a true New England heritage meal, perfect for any cozy evening.

Holiday week can be busy — dinner doesn’t have to be.
Let Angelo’s Pizzeria in Hampden or Bangor handle pizza night with classic favorites and crowd-pleasing sandwiches everyone loves. 

    Hampden: 862-2224 

Bangor: 942-5553

Enjoying This Newsletter?

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Tuesday 12/23

• Songwriters’ Open Mic (2Feet Brewing) – weekly open mic for songwriters. Downtown Bangor Partnership

• Tuesday Karaoke Night (Happy Endings) – karaoke event listing includes 12/23. Downtown Bangor Partnership

• Holidays at Hill House (Bangor Historical Society) – last day (12/23), 10am–6pm, free admission. bangorhistoricalsociety.org

• Orono Public Library: Writing Club – 10:30am–12pm. orono.org

• Orono Public Library: Tech Help – 1pm–3pm, reservation noted. orono.org

• Dover-Foxcroft: “PACC The Halls” Holiday Lights Contest Finale – winners announced 12/23, with Santa + cocoa + cookies (5–7pm). Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce

Wednesday 12/24 (Christmas Eve)

• Many venues run limited hours and fewer posted events: Call ahead / check socials for holiday hours. (Downtown Bangor holiday coverage) Downtown Bangor Partnership+1

Thursday 12/25 (Christmas Day)

• Holiday hours vary widely—many community activities are informal/family-based; recommend “check venue pages for open hours.” (Downtown Bangor holiday hub) Downtown Bangor Partnership

Friday 12/26

• Adult Drop-In Basketball (Bangor Parks & Rec / EMCC) – 6–8pm, $5 cash. Bangor Maine

• Bangor Parks & Rec calendar also lists additional activities during this week (if you want more family/senior items). bangorme.myrec.com

Saturday 12/27

• Holiday-weekend happenings vary; for Bangor-area “what’s on,” the Downtown Bangor events calendar is the best single place to confirm what’s running that day. Downtown Bangor Partnership

Sunday 12/28

• Same note as Saturday—use the Downtown Bangor events calendar for the most current Sunday listings. Downtown Bangor Partnership

Monday 12/29

• Holiday-week “late December” listings continue to update; check the Downtown Bangor events calendar for Monday-specific live music/open mic/trivia postings. Downtown Bangor Partnership

Sponsor Spotlight — Gavin’s Lawn Care

This week’s Penobscot Valley Voice is proudly sponsored by Gavin’s Lawn Care, LLC — your trusted local partner for outdoor home services in Bangor, Hampden, Brewer, and surrounding communities.

Gavin’s Lawn Care is a locally owned and family-focused landscaping and property maintenance company that has been helping Maine homeowners keep their outdoor spaces beautiful all year long. From spring lawn care and garden design to fall cleanup and summer landscaping, they’ve built a reputation for reliable service and quality results. 

❄️ Now that winter is here, Gavin’s Lawn Care is also providing snow plowing, salting, sidewalk and driveway snow removal, and full winter management services. Whether it’s keeping your driveway clear after a storm or maintaining safe walkways for your family and guests, their team is ready to help you stay safe and worry-free this season.

With professional equipment, attention to detail, and a community-first mentality, Gavin’s Lawn Care makes it easy to enjoy your property no matter the weather.

📞 Call Gavin’s Lawn Care at (207) 745-4237 or visit their website at GavinsLawnCare.net to learn more or schedule snow removal and other services — before the next storm arrives.

As the holiday season arrives, many families right here in the Penobscot Valley are facing significant hardship, making community support more critical than ever.

You can make a direct impact by helping keep local children warm through drives like the annual Coats for Kids campaign.

Food pantries are also in great need.

Organizations like the Ecumenical Food Cupboard and the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter urgently require non-perishable food items and monetary gifts to provide hot meals for our neighbors.

Another way to give is by donating blood at the American Red Cross in Bangor, where one donation can save up to three lives.

For a personal touch, the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program allows you to provide specific gifts of clothing and toys for a local child, ensuring they feel the warmth of the holiday spirit.

Openings • Closings • Soft Opens • Relocations

Closures in the Food & Hospitality Sector

Several Maine restaurants have announced closures in 2025 as part of broader shifts in the local dining scene:

• Evenroods (Bangor), well-known for its American fare, has confirmed it will close at the end of December after a decade of service. https://www.wabi.tv

• Yahweh Cafe and Bakery (Old Town) — a bakery and coffee spot that opened in September — recently closed after only two months in business due to overhead challenges. Bangor Daily News

These shifts reflect both economic pressures and the challenge of sustaining hospitality businesses in smaller markets late in the year.

New & Growing Downtown Business Scene

Despite closures, 2025 has been a strong year for downtown business growth in Bangor, with the Downtown Bangor Partnership reporting that 22 new businesses have opened this year — including fresh retail and specialty shops on Main Street. Community-oriented businesses have been expanding and relocating within the downtown core, bringing variety and activity to local commerce. this was a feature in last Tuesday's Penobscot Valley Voice.  More here: https://penobscotvalleyvoice.com/a/bangor-downtown-businesses-see-major-growth-in-2025-bangor-me

Soft Opening Watch: Urban Pizza (Bangor)
Urban Pizza is in a soft opening phase at 329 Main Street in Bangor, currently running a limited menu while the team ramps up. If you go, please keep in mind it’s a soft-open format as staff gets fully trained.

Got an Update?

Know of a business opening, soft opening, relocation, or recent closure in Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Orono, Old Town, Holden, Newport, or Dover-Foxcroft?
Reply to this email with the details (name, address, what’s happening) and we’ll include it in next week’s Business Pulse. Thank You!

A handsome and energetic dog named Moose is waiting at the Bangor Humane Society with a story to tell.

He is a three-year-old, 60-pound mixed breed with a heart full of hope, perfectly sized for a local family seeking an adventure buddy.

Moose’s past is unknown, so he needs a patient home in the Bangor area committed to positive training and building trust.

The shelter emphasizes that he would thrive with an active family who can provide stability and encouragement as he settles in.

Staff believe that once he bonds, he will be an incredibly faithful friend for life.

Any potential canine siblings must meet Moose at the shelter for a proper introduction.

For a family ready to offer consistency and love, adopting Moose could be the perfect opportunity to give him the forever home he deserves.

Know Someone Who’d Enjoy This?

If you found this edition helpful, please pass it along to a friend, neighbor, or family member — sharing is one of the best ways to support our local community.

Christmas & Hanukkah week always feels special in Maine.

The pace slows. The roads quiet down. And even in the cold, there’s warmth in knowing we live in a place where neighbors still look out for one another.

Wherever this week finds you, I hope it brings moments of rest, connection, and simple joy. Until next week: Happy Hanukka & Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Big Black River, Maine recorded the state’s coldest temperature: –50°F in January 2009.