Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting Videos from 10/5/15

 

LEBANON MAINE BOARD OF SELECTMEN'S MEETING

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015

INCLUDING

PUBLIC HEARING FOR

RENEWAL OF SPECIAL AMUSEMENT PERMIT

TRAIN'S TAVERN

 

The first part of the 10/5/15 Board of Selectmen's Meeting video begins with an Apache Lane resident addressing the Board regarding a tax abatement.

Select Board Chairman Ben Thompson advises him to file for a tax abatement and walks him trough the process.

The Board agrees to go and look at the property on Tuesday 10/6/15 in the morning.

 

 

The second part of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting video shows Selectmen's Assistant Sue Collins addressing the Board with paperwork. Most is on tax abatement requests, but  there is also a decision made that every available Monday at 4 pm the Board is requesting that Road Commissioner Tom Torno be present at their meeting.

Bid Award for Road Grading Bid awarded on 10/1/15 is signed.

More discussion on tax abatements.

 

Part 3 of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting video shows Code Enforcement Officer Mike Beaullieu addressing the board regarding two mobile homes said to be "unlivable".

At 5 pm, Trains Tavern LLC owner Paul Pelletier enters for the Special Amusement Permit Renewal Public Hearing. Only good comments.

Selectman Thompson makes a motion to grant the Special Amusement Permit for another year. Selectman Nadeau seconds the motion and all Board Members are in favor.

 

In Part 4 of the October 5, 2015 Board of Selectmen's Meeting, two residents from Godding Road address the Board regarding their desire to have .06 miles ( 6/10ths of a mile) asphalted or at least covered with recycled asphalt with some work done to the drainage.

Selectman Thompson tells the pair that Godding Road is one of the roads included on the recent Road Grading Bid.

LMTS Wilson finds that Godding Road has only 9 homes on that section of roadway and reminds the residents it just cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $37,000 to cover over existing asphalt on Center Road, and that Godding Rd would not be a cover but would need complete work done to prepare it for asphalt.

Selectman Thompson tells the pair he will look into it and get back to them.

 

In the 6th and final portion of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's video of 10/5/15, a resident of Old Ledge Road comes in to speak about the possibility of a tax abatement, stating that there is no building or mobile home on the property as the mobile home that was there was removed prior to April 1, 2015.

Thompson questions receipts for moving the home or receipts for scrapping it.

The Board states they will go and look at the Ledge Road property and get back to the property owner.

Selectman Nadeau adjourns the meeting, seconded by Selectman Heath. All in favor.

 

 

Maine Federation of Farmer's Markets Receives $348K in Federal Grants to Support Local and Regional Food Systems!!

 

The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets Receives Two USDA Grants

Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets113 North Lancey St.Pittsfield, ME 04967

Last week Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack helped to kick off the nation's harvest season by announcing nearly $35 million in new funding through four grant programs to support local and regional food systems, including farmers’ markets. The Pittsfield-based Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets will be the recipient of two of those grants, bringing more than $348,000 in federal funds to Maine for work in communities across the state.

MFFM’s largest award is from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, which will provide $249,600 to increase access at Maine farmers’ markets for people participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps). The funding will enable MFFM to hire a SNAP Program Manager to support low-income access at the markets and impact specific communities around the state (through partnerships with organizations such as the Portland Farmers’ Market Association, Washington County: One Community, and the Aroostook Community Action Program).

“Unfortunately, Maine ranks first in New England for food insecurity, and many low-income shoppers have little access to a fresh, local, healthy foods. Farmers and farmers’ markets across the state are already working hard to help those in need get healthy food. This grant will allow the Federation to provide more of the tools and technical support necessary to help these programs succeed. Projects such as this benefit small farmers, too. SNAP is a federally-funded program, so to see those dollars go to local producers and circulate in Maine’s economy is a good thing,” according to MFFM’s executive director, Leigh Hallett.

This funding will impact many regions of the state. Healthy Acadia’s Washington County Food System Coordinator, Regina Grabrovac, is excited about the grant. “I frequently hear how difficult it is for low income people to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables because they cost more than processed foods that are typically higher in calories. If we are to reverse the trend of diet-related disease, then increased access to fresh foods is critical, and farmers are ready to be part of the solution. Markets in our region need the support that this grant provides because the tools that allow for EBT access at farmers’ markets were not designed for isolated rural communities. This necessitates a great deal of technical trouble shooting at each site. Now we will be able to offer strong support services to get each of our region's markets up and running with SNAP benefits.”

The Federation also received a grant for $99,000 from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. In addition to a two year, statewide marketing campaign, that project includes developing a Farmers’ Market Snapshot Week event to collect data, photos, and stories about Maine’s markets, culminating in the publication of an annual report. According to Hanne Tierney, Chairman of the Portland Farmers’ Market Association (and Chair of MFFM’s Board of Directors), “This is a fantastic opportunity that USDA has offered Maine farmers’ markets. We have had substantial growth over the last ten years, and this grant will allow us to promote the farmers’ markets at a statewide level which would otherwise not be possible. The ‘snapshot’ will create a forum for us to share what we have accomplished with each other and the public. This grant is going to benefit markets across the state, from the small market in my community, to the largest markets in Maine.”

MFFM was founded in 1991, and works with farmers, consumers, and communities to make wholesome, locally-grown foods available to all residents, to educate consumers about food resources, and to support farm viability. With more than 8000 farms and 150 farmers’ markets statewide, the local food network not only contributes to regional food security, but is a vital part of Maine’s economy. The database of Maine’s farmers’ markets is available online at mainefarmersmarket.org.

Northern Maine Moves to Peak Foliage for Columbus Day, Maine Fall Foliage Report 10-7-15

 

Maine Fall Foliage Report
October 7, 2015

 

Augusta, MAINE (October 7, 2015) - The leaves in northern Maine will be moving towards peak conditions this upcoming Columbus Day weekend according to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
“Peak color (85 percent) is spreading throughout the northern region (Zones 6 and 7) with low leaf drop, but forest rangers are still reporting low to moderate color (30 percent to 50 percent) throughout the rest of the state. While we are seeing a lot of color along the I-295 corridor in Zones 1 and 3, there is still a lot of green in the upper elevations and in the forest canopies along the highways and byways,” noted Gale Ross, fall foliage coordinator. “This is a spectacular weekend to get out and enjoy the varying contrasts of the reds, oranges, yellows and purples mingled in with the greens of the oak trees.”
There will be Leaf Peeper Concerts in Tenants Harbor and Wells this weekend. Bring a picnic beforehand and explore Wells Reserve, featuring the huge century-old Laudholm Farm barn on 2,250 acres of salt marsh and freshwater wetland. The concerts will feature works by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Erwin Schulhoff performed by the DaPointe String Quartet.
The 16^th annual North American Wife Carrying Championship will be held this weekend during Fall Festival at Sunday River. Teams will test their physical strength, agility and teamwork during this unique competition where the winning couple takes home the wife’s weight in beer, a cash prize and an entry into the World Championship in Finland.
Grab your cameras in the upcoming weeks and share your photos with us at www.mainefoliage.com. You can even sign up to receive weekly reports by email.
For more information about fall activities and events in Maine, go to www.visitmaine.com.