Governor LePage Urges All Maine Citizens to Observe Maine Korean War Veteran Recognition Day, Monday, July 27.

 

 

Governor Signs Proclamation Recognizing Maine Korean War Veterans

07/24/2015 03:19 PM EDT

AUGUSTA - Maine Korean War Veteran Recognition Day is Monday, July 27. To mark the special day, Governor Paul R. LePage today signed a proclamation honoring all Korean War Veterans and encouraged Mainers to recognize the observance.

The proclamation recognizes all Maine Korean War veterans, as well as the 38 POW/MIA and 245 lives lost by the State of Maine during the war. More than 36,000 lives were lost in the United States and more than 100,000 wounded.

"Their legacy of patriotism and dedication to country is an inspiration to all Americans," stated Governor LePage. "This is a war that many consider the "forgotten war" so it's important that we remember and honor our veterans for their service and sacrifice."

The proclamation language is as follows:

WHEREAS, on June 25, 1950, Communist North Korea invaded the Republic of Korea with approximately 135,000 troops, initiating the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, nearly 1.8 million members of the United States Armed Forces served along with the forces of the Republic of Korea and 20 other Allied nations under the United Nations Command to defend freedom and democracy in the Korean Peninsula; and

WHEREAS, the United States suffered with 36,574 lives lost and 103,284 wounded, and the State of Maine lost 38 POW/MIA and 245 lives during the Korean War in some of the most horrific conditions in the history of warfare; and

WHEREAS, 60 years have passed since the signing of the cease-fire agreement at Panmunjom on July 27, 1953, yet the Korean peninsula still technically remains in a state of war, and the Korean War has become a "Forgotten War" to many Americans; and

WHEREAS, many of the members of the Armed Forces who fought in the Korean War returned home without the fanfare that greeted the heroes of World Wars I and II; and

WHEREAS, the Korean War veterans deserve to be recognized by all Americans for their honorable service during the Korean War in the defense of democracy and freedom.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAUL R. LEPAGE, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim that July 27, 2015 to be

MAINE KOREAN WAR VETERAN RECOGNITION DAY

throughout the State of Maine, and urge all citizens to recognize this observance.

Selectmen's Meeting of Thursday 7/23/15 Brings Up Some Interesting Questions. See Video HERE:

 

The Selectmen's Meeting on Thursday evening, July 23, 2015, brought up some interesting questions regarding notice to the town when people are opening businesses in Lebanon, or having large money making events. WATCH the video for yourself, and don't forget to let us know what you're thinking!!

 

At 4 PM the Board of Selectmen welcomed Mike Beaulieu, Lebanon's new Code Enforcement Officer to their meeting. Mike wanted to speak with them on a new policy that he had instituted for his own office on the handling of files, specifically for the files for Certificates of Occupancy. With the Selectmen acting as the Lebanon Board of Assessors, there was question as to what happens after the final inspections were completed by Code Enforcement, and how long it takes for the Town Office to realize the projects are completed and the newly built home, outbuilding or addition was recognized and placed on the tax rolls. Beaulieu makes a GREAT point when he says it's unfair when someone is paying their taxes to look next to them and see someone with a new home who is not paying their share. He talked with the Board about assessing the percentage of the project that WAS completed on April 1st each year and taxing the builder accordingly.

Selectmen ask Mr. Beaulieu about his progress with a Mass Gathering Permit application by 4X4 Proving Grounds for their planned Country Music Festival on August 15th, and find that preliminary inspections have been completed, however at last discussion with Clear Choice Production Company, they had not yet secured needed insurances for the event, so Beaulieu had told them he would do the final permits when they have proof of insurance.

 

WATCH Part 1 of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting of 7/23/15 HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8vJw0t551k

 

The second part of the Selectmen's Video is where things get a bit more interesting. Our New Lebanon Maine Town Clerk, Mandy Grenier, introduces her plans for policy and ordinance changes in Lebanon, which includes removing the dollar amounts for town fees, originally set via ordinance votes by town voters, altering past ordinances to remove the fees, and creating a new ordinance that says the Town's Fee Schedule would be examined annually and updated and changed by the sitting Board of Selectmen. While this raises questions on removing the fee schedule from decisions made by voters, Grenier says that it would help to control the MIL rate (the rate at which Real Estate owners in town are charged taxes) and place the fees associated with services provided in town squarely in the hands of those who use these services.

Ms. Grenier's second policy is one the Board says they would like to table for now, as it is an Anti-Bullying policy for the Town's personnel. While this is an up and coming trend both in our nation's towns, as well as in schools and businesses, the Board chose to table the discussion on this as they have a Town Ethics Policy being reviewed and considered as presented by Select Board Chairman Ben Thompson only a few short weeks ago. While the Lebanon Truth Seekers have questioned if the Board has had further discussion on the idea of the Town Ethics Policy, prior to Thursday night's meeting, we have been the only one to mention it since Thompson presented the idea.

Grenier next speaks on an e mail that she received after a recent Lebanon Voice article outlined the plans for the Medical Marijuana Festival being held on Center Road again this year. This was a surprise to ALL of the Selectmen, as no one has come in speaking to them about it at all. The Lebanon Voice article claims that the weekend long Festival is planned for August 21-23, however there have been no Mass Gathering Permits applied for, and the Selectmen have not been consulted regarding this event, or whether permits need to be drawn.

Mandy speaks about the Festival and her hesitation to open an issue that has been already fought over and decided, but presents a Lebanon Ordinance from 1981 that speaks specifically to Drug Paraphernalia. Selectman Thompson states that Code Enforcement Officer Mike Beaulieu is working on changes to the same Drug Paraphernalia Ordinances. Due to changes in Maine State Laws regarding the use of Medical Marijuana, the ordinance the town holds may need to be changed in order to comply with the laws, and then revisited again if the State moves to legalize the use of recreational use marijuana.

The Lebanon Town Clerk moves to speak on an issue with Special Amusement Licenses (such as the one that is held by Train's Tavern) that allow for a business to have live entertainment events on a regular basis. Grenier's changes, which would have to be voted on and approved by the town's voters, call for changes in the need for an Annual Town Hearing every year when it's time to renew the businesses license. If the changes proposed by Ms. Grenier are voted and passed, a business would only have to present themselves at the Town Office counter with their application and fee, and barring a lack of complaints, the renewal would be granted. Selectman Thompson worries that the Town Office counter folks do not always know if complaints have been issued or voiced by town voters and that some of these complaints would "slip through the cracks" and town residents' complaints would go unanswered.

The next discussion item on the Town Clerk's list, was regarding Mass Gathering Permits. It seems that there is no set fee schedule for these permits and they do require a lot of work by Town Employees to inspect, follow through, field phone calls, and Mandy is looking to set fees for each step of the process. Select Chair Thompson adds that there IS a Mass Gathering Permit Fee of $100 for each day the Permit is applied for, but that he agrees it's minimal, and that he had no idea how that dollar amount was set or by whom.

There have been questions regarding an advertisement for employment that was placed on the Town's website. Ms. Grenier states that she didn't know it wasn't allowed, and that she took it upon herself to ad the job opportunity for Bowserzzz prior to knowing that wasn't allowed. She says that Harrison Thorp of The Lebanon Voice had phoned asking if the Town was doing this type of thing now, and if it was, in fact, being allowed, he would like her to place an ad for him. Selectman Ben Thompson says that adding advertisements for businesses to the Town Website was "Completely Illegal" stating the issue of the Town paying Grenier with public funds to advertise for a private enterprise.

 

SEE the second part of the

Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting Video HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYpTaMbGt4Q

 

Part 3 of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting Video shows Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers Deborah Wilson speaking to the Board regarding their decision of 7/20/15 to allow herself and Lebanon Maine Truth Seeker Sandy Adams to collect donations for the replacing of the broken telescoping flag pole at the Rt. 202 EMS Building.  Wilson asks if the Board will allow for Town Treasurer, Jeanette Lemay to create an account to accept these donations directly at the Town Office. After some discussion by the Board, Selectman Thompson says that the Board can do this if they create a Committee. Since the flag pole will directly benefit a town department, it's allowable to create a Committee to raise the funds for the flag pole replacement. Motion was made by Thompson to create the Committee, which still needs a 3rd member, and seconded by Selectmen Heath and all three men voted affirmatively on the motion. After the meeting, Town Clerk Mandy Grenier swore Wilson and Adams in as the Blaisdell Corner EMS Flag Pole Committee.

While we were discussing the flag pole, Sandy Adams stated that Yankee Flag Pole was willing to donate a POW/MIA flag to the Town and said that the Town is responsible to fly this flag at least 6 days per year under Federal Guidelines. Yes and No. The Town is not "Responsible" to fly it, but it sure would be nice if they did!! Here is the mandate for the POW/MIA flag as is published in the June 2012 Vietnam Magazine, "

"In 1998, Section 1082 of the Defense Authorization Act—codified as Title 36, Section 902 of the U.S. Code—mandated that the POW/MIA flag be flown over the Capitol, the White House, the Korean and Viet-nam Veterans Memorials, the offices of the secretaries of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, of the Selective Service System, and on the grounds or in the lobbies of every major military installation, every post office and all VA Medical Centers and national cemeteries on six days: POW/MIA Recognition Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day.
Since then, some states have passed laws that also mandate flying the POW/MIA flag. Oregon, for example, requires that the POW/MIA flag be flown on or near the state capitol on the same holidays as the national law. In Washington, a 2002 law requires every state agency, every state institution of higher education, and every county, city and town to display the flag on the same six holidays. Florida requires the flag at state parks year round. Arizona enacted a law requiring the POW/MIA flag to be flown over every town and city hall, Superior Court building and county office on the designated holidays. And in 2011, Idaho became the first state to require that the POW/MIA flag be flown over all state buildings, 24 hours a day, seven days a week “or until such time as all our unaccounted for and missing members of the Armed Forces return.”"

WATCH Part 3 of the Lebanon Maine
Board of Selectmen's Meeting of July 23, 2015 HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tMlHos5mnM

The final part of the Selectmen's Meeting Video from 7/23/15 shows the Board Members working with Selectmen's Assistant Sue Collins regarding a building being built on Upper Guinea Road. Collins presents an ordinance and I got a peek at it, and once again the Lebanon ordinance regarding Drug Paraphernalia is presented to the Board. So it seems Code Enforcement, Town Clerk, and Selectmen's Assistant are all concerned with this same ordinance.
According to Selectman Nadeau, he has been told it was a "Storage Facility", however Deborah Wilson had stopped and spoken with the people recently and they had said they were building "Greenhouses".
Once again I am left wondering how someone is building a facility of this size and there is no business license requirement, or appointment with the Board of Selectmen with regards to their intentions and use of the building.
Why are there so many people concerned with Drug Paraphernalia Ordinances in concern with a planned "Storage Facility" on Upper Guinea Road.
Is this project a Medical Marijuana Facility?? Selectmen Thompson and Heath will give no confirmation on that at this time.
Selectman Nadeau seems to be in agreement with me, asking why the builders wouldn't have to state what the intended use of the facility is for, saying that he had heard at first, that the building was going to be used to "grow pigs", and then he was later told by COE Mike Beaulieu that it was a planned "Storage Facility".
The ordinance that everyone seems to be concerned with, was adopted by town vote on March 14, 1981, but as it stands, it goes against current Maine State Medical Marijuana laws.
There are questions on "Home Rule" vs. "Maine State Law"......but those questions are not answered by the Board, with Selectman Thompson stating that there are "a couple of questions on the table" regarding the legality of the ordinance against State Law, and Selectman Heath weighs in with a hearty "No Comment". Selectman Nadeau did not have a comment on this matter either.

See the Fourth Part of the Thursday evening, 7/23/15
Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2nIxRi_W5U

The Board went into Executive Session with Lower Barley Road resident Traci Place, stating that her issue was a Personnel Issue, but stated to us that if there were any decisions that the Board would rule on, they would call us back into the meeting, however, while we waited outside the Town Office, Selectman Nadeau emerged from the building and left for the evening. Apparently, the adjournment of the meeting had taken place and the meeting was finished for the evening.

 

Information on Hurricanes, Tropical Storms and Tornadoes from the National Weather Service

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THE WEEK OF JULY
20TH THROUGH 24TH, HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK IN NEW ENGLAND.
THIS IS THE FIFTH IN A SERIES OF FIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION
STATEMENTS TO BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN GRAY, CONTAINING INFORMATION ON HURRICANES AND
HURRICANE SAFETY.

FRIDAY - THE FORECAST PROCESS--STATEMENTS, WATCHES, AND
WARNINGS

ONE PART OF THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
(NWS) IS TO SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT PROPERTY BY ISSUING
WATCHES, WARNINGS, FORECASTS, STATEMENTS, AND OTHER
PERTINENT INFORMATION. THESE PRODUCTS ARE USED BY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE PERSONNEL, BROADCAST
METEOROLOGISTS, AND THE PUBLIC.

DURING HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS, THE NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTER AND LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
PROVIDING CRITICAL WEATHER INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. TO
DO SO, THE HURRICANE CENTER AND LOCAL OFFICES CLOSELY
COORDINATE ON THE FORECAST, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT
INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. CONSEQUENTLY, THE NORMAL ZONE
FORECASTS MAY BE DELAYED DURING THESE SITUATIONS.

TO MAKE ACCURATE FORECASTS, FORECASTERS RELY ON A
COMBINATION OF OBSERVATIONS, ANALYSES, STATISTICS, AND
COMPUTER GENERATED GUIDANCE IN MAKING THEIR PREDICTIONS.

STANDARD OBSERVING EQUIPMENT SUCH AS SATELLITES, BUOYS, AND
LAND BASED OBSERVATIONS ARE ALL IMPORTANT IN LOCATING AND
TRACKING THE STORM. IN ADDITION, RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
FLY THROUGH THE STORMS TO TAKE AND COLLECT SPECIAL
OBSERVATIONS AND TO DROP SPECIALIZED INSTRUMENTS CALLED
DROPSONDES INTO THE STORMS TO GATHER ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION. AS THESE STORMS APPROACH LAND, RADAR
OBSERVATIONS BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT. QUALITY,
QUANTITY, AND TIMELINESS OF REMOTE SENSING OBSERVATIONS ARE
CRITICAL FOR ACCURATE AND TIMELY FORECASTS AND WARNINGS.
ONCE THE OBSERVATIONS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED, THE DATA ARE
CHECKED FOR QUALITY, ANALYZED, AND USED AS THE STARTING
CONDITIONS FOR A VARIETY OF WEATHER PREDICTION MODELS.


THE WEATHER PREDICTION MODELS START WITH THE OBSERVED
CONDITIONS AND PERFORM MILLIONS OF CALCULATIONS TO GENERATE
PREDICTIONS OF THE HURRICANE TRACK AND INTENSITY AND OF THE
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE ATMOSPHERE SURROUNDING THE STORM.
BOTH THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AND LOCAL OFFICES
EVALUATE THESE COMPUTER PREDICTIONS, COORDINATE AND
COLLABORATE, AND DECIDE ON A CONSISTENT FORECAST TO BE
RELEASED TO THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC. ONCE THE
COORDINATION IS COMPLETE, BOTH THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AND THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ISSUING A VARIETY OF FORECAST, WATCH, AND
WARNING PRODUCTS TO THE PUBLIC.

LIKE ALL WEATHER-RELATED THREATS, THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE RELIES ON A WATCH AND WARNING PROGRAM TO ALERT THE
PUBLIC TO THE POTENTIAL DANGERS FROM TROPICAL STORMS AND
HURRICANES.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH/HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN
TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE
COAST WITHIN 48 HOURS. IF YOU HAVEN T DONE SO PRIOR TO THE
ISSUANCE OF THE WATCH, IT S A GOOD TIME TO BEGIN
PREPARATIONS FOR THE POTENTIAL STORM, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE
ACTIONS THAT REQUIRE EXTRA TIME.

A TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN TROPICAL
STORM/HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE COAST
WITHIN 36 HOURS. ONCE THE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED, YOU
SHOULD COMPLETE ANY PREPARATORY ACTIONS AND GET TO A SAFE
LOCATION.

ONCE THE STORM ARRIVES, STAY IN THE SAFE LOCATION UNTIL THE
STORM HAS COMPLETELY PASSED. DON T BE FOOLED BY THE EYE OF
THE STORM, WHICH CAN MISLEAD PEOPLE INTO THINKING THAT THE
STORM IS OVER. WINDS AND RAIN WILL INCREASE RAPIDLY
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EYE PASSES OVERHEAD.

WHILE THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ISSUES HURRICANE AND
TROPICAL STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR THE COAST, THE
LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
ISSUING NUMEROUS WATCHES, WARNINGS, AND ADVISORIES FOR
VARIOUS LOCAL HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH OR PRECEDING THE
STORM, BOTH ALONG THE COAST AND INLAND. THESE INCLUDE:

COASTAL FLOOD
INLAND TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE
FLOOD
FLASH FLOOD
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
TORNADO


WHILE ISSUED SEPARATELY, THESE WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE
GENERALLY SUMMARIZED BY EACH LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENTS. IN ADDITION, EACH
LOCAL OFFICE ISSUES A VARIETY OF FORECASTS AND INFORMATION
STATEMENTS DURING HURRICANES OR TROPICAL STORMS.

IN ADDITION TO TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE WATCHES AND
WARNINGS, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AND THE TROPICAL
PREDICTION CENTER ISSUE NUMEROUS OTHER PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE
VERY USEFUL IN TRACKING AND ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS
FROM TROPICAL SYSTEMS. THESE INCLUDE:

EXPERIMENTAL STORM SURGE WATCHES AND WARNINGS
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOKS (ISSUED 4 TIMES DAILY FROM JUNE
1ST TO NOV. 30TH)
PUBLIC ADVISORIES (ISSUED EVERY 6 HOURS AS NEEDED)
INTERMEDIATE PUBLIC ADVISORIES (ISSUED EVERY 2 TO 3 HOURS
AS NEEDED)
FORECAST/ADVISORIES (ISSUED EVERY 6 HOURS AS NEEDED)
FORECAST DISCUSSIONS (ISSUED EVERY 6 HOURS AS NEEDED)
WIND SPEED PROBABILITY FORECASTS (ISSUED EVERY 6 HOURS AS
NEEDED)

QUESTION OF THE DAY: DURING WHICH MONTH ARE TROPICAL
STORMS MOST LIKELY TO DEVELOP?

WHILE THE FREQUENCY OF TROPICAL STORMS INCREASES IN JULY,
THE MOST ACTIVE PART OF THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON RUNS
BETWEEN AUGUST 1 AND OCTOBER 31. ACCORDING TO THE
HISTORICAL RECORD FROM 1886 TO 1997, THE PEAK MONTH FOR
TROPICAL STORM ACTIVITY IS SEPTEMBER. BELOW IS THE
PERCENTAGE OF THE STORMS THAT DEVELOPED IN EACH MONTH.

MONTH PERCENTAGE OF STORMS
MAY 1%
JUNE 6%
JULY 8%
AUGUST 24%
SEPTEMBER 34%
OCTOBER 21%
NOVEMBER 5%
DECEMBER 1%

FACT FOR THE DAY: IN 2006, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
BEGAN ISSUING PUBLIC FORECAST OF WIND PROBABILITIES FOR
VARIOUS LOCATIONS ALONG THE COAST. THESE NUMBERS ARE
GENERATED STATISTICALLY, AND DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY IN
FORECASTING THE TRACK AND INTENSITY, THE NUMBERS MAY SEEM
RATHER LOW, ESPECIALLY DAYS BEFORE LANDFALL. DON T BE
FOOLED BY THE LOW PROBABILITIES; EVEN THOUGH YOUR
PROBABILITY IS LOW, YOU MAY BE IN THE AREA MOST LIKELY TO
BE HIT BY THE STORM.

HERE S A LIST OF TOPICS THAT WERE COVERED EARLIER THIS
WEEK:


MONDAY - TROPICAL CYCLONES, TROPICAL STORMS, AND
HURRICANES- THE BASICS
TUESDAY - HURRICANE WINDS AND TORNADOES
WEDNESDAY - STORM SURGE AND MARINE SAFETY
THURSDAY - INLAND FLOODING

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES AND HURRICANE
SAFETY, VISIT THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER S WEB SITE AT:

HTTP://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV/

WE ARE NOW A COMMITTEE!!! Blaisdell Corner EMS Flag Pole Committee Seeking Donations for Replacing EMS Building Flag Pole

Step 1 in the Blaisdell Corner Flag Pole Replacement is complete!!
At last night's (Thursday 7/23/15) Selectmen's Meeting, it was voted and approved by the Board to make a Blaisdell Corner Flag Pole Committee. Sandy and I were named to that Committee and were sworn in immediately after the meeting.
We are now able to accept contributions toward replacing the flag pole at the Blaisdell Corner EMS Station through the Town Office.
Since the Blaisdell Corner EMS Station is the ONLY Town Building on Route 202, it is seen by townspeople, visitors and passers by alike. The flagpole should allow for the American flag to be flown properly without hours of manipulation time should the flag need to be flown at half staff.
We have secured an estimate from Yankee Flagpole in nearby NH, for a 25 foot tall flagpole, delivery to Lebanon and installation for $841.32.
We would like to get this as soon as possible so that we can get that pole installed!!!
Please stop by the Town Office, call in with Credit or Debit card, or Mail your contribution to: Lebanon Maine Town Office, c/o EMS Flag Pole Committee, 15 Upper Guinea Road, Lebanon, Maine 04027.
Thank you in advance for all of your help!!!