Downtown Augusta’s annual holiday celebration and tree lighting featured Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Olde Federal Building, a scavenger hunt and reindeer.

Owner Todd Murphy touts the freshness of trees at choose-and-cut sites, but the species preferred depends on whether the customer values needle retention, branch firmness or fragrance.

Still, veterans advocates say they haven’t heard individual complaints from people among the 10,000 patients that get mental health treatment through Togus.

The Skowhegan area school board plans to hear concerns about the mascot and might hold a public forum about the matter next year.