The shortest day of the year, also known as the winter solstice, is Sunday. Maine ranks among five states with the shortest winter daylight, with about 8.5 hours. Averaging day length across the year, Maine is also near the bottom, with roughly 11.5 hours, second only to Alaska.

Day length varies strongly with latitude, even within Maine. On Sunday, Fort Kent will see almost a half hour less daylight than Portland, with 8 hours, 28 minutes compared with 8 hours, 56 minutes.

Why acknowledge the solstice?

The winter solstice serves as both a scientific marker of Earth’s orbit and a cultural symbol of the cycle of darkness and light. It is a time to look forward to longer days and opportunities for outdoor recreation, including winter-specific activities.

Watch the sunrise or sunset

With such a short day, take time to appreciate the daylight we do have. Head to a scenic spot near Bangor, such as Black Cap Mountain or the Waterfront, or for a longer drive, visit Bass Harbor Head Light in Acadia National Park or Mount Battie in Camden. Watch the sun rise or set over the winter landscape. Cross-country ski or snowshoe these areas to make the outing even more exciting. Rent equipment if needed, and carry a headlamp. Don’t let the waning light shorten your plans.

Visit holiday-themed lights

The Stillwater River Trail in Orono features a free light display with tunnels and wrapped trees, open nightly from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For those willing to travel farther, the Gardens Aglow display at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay lights up nature-themed paths with thousands of beautiful lights.

L.L. Bean in Freeport is always decorated with lights and holiday music, and the Cape Neddick Light in York has lights outlining its tower, keeper’s house and surrounding buildings.

Make winter crafts

After the sun sets, residents can mark the winter solstice with indoor activities such as creating seasonal crafts using Maine materials.

A handcrafted Christmas wreath made with Maine balsam fir brings natural holiday cheer to any home, and can be embellished with other natural trimmings like turkey feathers. Credit: Susan Bard / BDN

Options include wreaths and simple candle holders made from evergreens, pinecones and berries.

Many Maine land trusts allow public access to conserved forests and trails, providing materials for crafts with a permit. Creating your own wreaths and decorations is not only rewarding; they also make great gifts and are traditions worth starting.

WALDOBORO, Maine — A freshman at Medomak Valley High School was attacked Wednesday afternoon in a vicious assault captured on video.

The father of the child, who is not being named to protect the privacy of the student, said bullying is rampant in the schools.

The assault occurred outside the school as students were getting on buses. The video shows a larger male student knocking down a smaller male and then repeatedly punching him in the head. Nearby students did not intervene, with some watching and others walking by the assault. Two adults are seen rushing to the scene and the assailant got up and walked away as one of the adults directed him to go to the office.

The father said this was the fourth time his son has been assaulted at the school since classes started this year.

“They have posters throughout the school, saying bullying is not tolerated but they don’t do anything,” the father said.

He said, in one instance, a junior in the gym picked up his son and threw him to the floor, breaking his son’s cellphone. In another, a girl came up from behind him in the hallway and knocked him to the floor.

The father said he is frustrated with the lack of action by the school resource officer throughout the year. He said the officer asked his son if he did anything to provoke the assault and that is trying to shift the blame to the victim.

A student filmed the Wednesday assault and shared it on social media.

Regional School Unit 40 Superintendent Thomas Ambrose issued a letter to parents Thursday morning

“I want to thank everyone who reached out to me about the fight at the high school yesterday. I’m writing this letter to let everyone know the following: 1. Fighting and violence at RSU 40 will not be tolerated. 2. There will be consequences for students who have violated our code of conduct or district policies once the investigation is complete. 3. We are working in collaboration with law-enforcement and our attorney to make sure that the investigation is conducted appropriately and that laws and policies for student behavior and discipline are being implemented appropriately. I’ve received some questions about the process for communication when an incident like this occurs. It is important to remember that students are protected by State and federal privacy laws including FERPA: the Federal Education Rights to Privacy Act. It is very likely that little to no information about the discipline or consequences for situations like this will be shared publicly. Students have a right to confidentiality, and this right often causes people to think that things are being swept under the rug or not addressed. I want to assure everyone that is not the case and we will be dealing with the discipline aspects of this situation as soon as the investigation is complete. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time. My email address is Thomas_Ambrose@rsu40.org,” the letter stated.

Medomak serves students from Waldoboro, Friendship, Warren, Union and Washington.

This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.

PORTLAND (WGME) – A scam is targeting Maine corporations and nonprofits.

The Secretary of State’s Office says fraudsters are trying to mislead them about filing annual reports.

This scam seems to circulate every year, but it’s back again in full force, and it could end up costing businesses and nonprofits hundreds of dollars.

Here’s how it works:

Usually, you’ll get a misleading letter in the mail that may look like it’s from the state, claiming they’ll help file an annual report on your behalf for a $210 fee.

The scammers use publicly available information about the corporation or nonprofit to make the pitch sound more legitimate, but it’s actually a scam.

According to the state, the division of corporations never mails out annual report forms.

It’s only available online.

And actual cost to file is much lower: $85 for domestic businesses and $35 for nonprofits.

The Secretary of State released a statement to the CBS13 I-Team Thursday.

“Scammers are really skilled at what they do, and when you see a scam like this one persist, it unfortunately is a sign that they are having success.”

If you get an unsolicited letter like this, the best thing to do is stop and verify.

When in doubt, reach out to the state directly to make sure you know what’s actually required.