Secretary of State Dunlap discusses impact of REAL ID implementation on Maine travelers

01/11/2016 03:57 PM EST

AUGUSTA - Travelers can continue to use their Maine driver's licenses as identification to board airplanes through the next two years, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced Monday, following a recent statement by the federal Department of Homeland Security.

The DHS is entering the final phase of the REAL ID Act, a federal law passed in 2005 that seeks to improve the security standards for state-issued identification. Beginning on Jan. 22, 2018, a REAL ID-compliant form of identification will be required for air travelers to board a commercial domestic flight. Those with drivers licenses issued from a state that is not REAL ID-compliant and has not received a deadline extension from DHS will have to provide an acceptable alternative form of identification, as listed on the DHS website at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification .

Currently, the State of Maine is not REAL ID-compliant, but has received multiple annual extensions to fully comply with the Act, the most recent of which will expire in October 2016. Thus, Maine driver's licenses will continue to serve as acceptable identification for air travel until the Jan. 22, 2018 deadline - and possibly beyond that time, should Maine receive additional extensions.

According to the DHS, 23 states are now fully compliant with the REAL ID Act. Maine is one of 27 states that have received extensions for demonstrating steps toward compliance. Six states and territories - Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington, and American Samoa - are noncompliant and do not currently have extensions.

The DHS is encouraging states to become compliant with REAL ID in the next few years, since extensions will no longer be granted as of Oct. 1, 2020.

The State of Maine Legislature has voted against several provisions of the REAL ID Act, so a law change would be necessary to reach full compliance. Travelers are encouraged to check the REAL ID compliance status of the State of Maine on the DHS website at http://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief .

Registration Period Open for National Toboggan Championship at Camden Snow Bowl.

There’s less than a month left until Mainer's gather in Camden for a Midcoast winter classic!!

The registration period for the

The 26th National Toboggan Championships

at the

Camden Snow Bowl

 

 

 

Registration Limited to 425 Teams

 

 

The 2016 event will be held

February 5th-7th.

 

Visit: https://www.camdensnowbowl.com/toboggan-championships/ for more information.

Obituary: Edna M. Wood

 

 

 

Edna M. Wood
January 10, 2016
East Lebanon

Edna M. Wood, 94, a lifelong resident of East Lebanon, passed away in Rochester, NH, on Sunday January 10, 2016. She was born in Lebanon on January 26, 1921, a daughter of the late Elmer and Lula (Roberts) Junkins.

She was employed by Hubbard and Encore Shoe in Rochester for 40 years.

She is predeceased by her husband, Carl Wood who passed away in 1999.

She is survived by one son, Blaine Wood and his wife, Carol of East Lebanon, three grandchildren, Debra Wagner, Christine Burke, Rodney Wood and 8 great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held in the spring at Evergreen Cemetery in Berwick.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale.

Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com

Inspection to Begin on the Casco Bay Bridge January 12th and Be Ongoing for Three Days.

 

 

01/11/2016 02:42 PM EST

Portland - Crews will be performing an in-depth inspection of the Casco Bay Bridge, which spans the Fore River connecting Portland and South Portland, beginning on Tuesday, January 12th.

As part of the federally mandated inspection program, the Casco Bay Bridge will undergo an inspection on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that may include up to three additional openings lasting no longer than five minutes per opening per day. These additional openings will occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. only. There will be no impact to marine traffic.

Motorists should be aware of the potential for the additional openings for this three day period.

It is anticipated all inspection work will be completed by the end of the day on Thursday, January 14th.

Lebanon Valentine's Day Fundraiser to Purchase 02 Fur Life Animal Resuscitation Kits for Fire and EMS Department.

Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers is Proud

to announce

our partners in our

VALENTINES DAY 2016 FUNDRAISER

Our Order Forms will be out Soon!!

We are Raising Funds to Purchase

02 Fur Life Pet Resuscitation Kits

for the
Lebanon Fire and EMS Department

 

Featuring a Selection of Floral Arrangements

from

Lee's Floral Garden

on Union School Road, Lebanon

 

 

AND

 

 

a Selection of Handmade Candy
and Whoopie Pies from
Happy Pappy's Country Store
on Portland Street in
Rochester, NH

7th Annual Youth Ice Fishing Derby has been postponed to January 31st

Wentworth Douglass Hospital Highlights Health Through Nutrition in January 20th Workshop

 

Here's some food for thought ...

Can you improve your health by eating differently?

Join Dietitian Brook Gowdy-Johnson on Wednesday, January 20, from 10-11 am, for a discussion about how your nutrition habits can affect your health and how to make changes.
 

At The Works Family Health and Fitness Center.

Call (603) 742-2163 to register.

The 75th Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show starts tomorrow!

Admission to the 3-day event is free and open to the public

AUGUSTA—The 75th Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show will be held Tuesday, January 12, through Thursday, January 14, 2016, at the Augusta Civic Center. Hosted by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), the show highlights Maine agriculture and the people involved through demonstrations, presentations and meetings of nearly 40 major agricultural organizations.

There will be over 120 exhibits featuring the newest in agricultural products, equipment and services. One of the state’s largest agricultural exhibitions, the event is expected to draw more than 5,000 people over the course of three days. Admission is free and open to the public.

Governor Paul R. LePage will be on hand Tuesday for the Trades Show opening day, to highlight the economic importance of agriculture to Maine. The Governor will also join Commissioner Walt Whitcomb in publicly recognizing this year’s recipient of the Commissioner’s Distinguished Service Award.

“The 75th Maine Agricultural Trades Show is an opportunity to highlight Maine’s enormous potential to produce and sell even more Maine products and produce jobs,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “Maine has the greatest diversity of food production in New England and the most farms. Maine’s reputation for quality and unique way of life matches the growing interest in locally grown foods that our family farms produce.” 

“The 75th Maine Agricultural Trades Show is as much a showcase for new Maine agricultural opportunities as it is multiple workshops that address the challenges faced by Maine farmers,” said DACF Commissioner Walt Whitcomb. “New features are on display reflecting Maine’s ever growing agricultural activity. Farmer/veteran training and multiple marketing seminars will explore access to local, regional, wholesale, foreign and other farm product connections.”

Topics of Interest to the Press:

• Commissioner’s Luncheon - Governor Paul R. LePage will join Commissioner Whitcomb to present the Commissioner’s Distinguished Service Award. The luncheon will also feature a special guest speaker of national prominence
• Maine Agriculture In The Classroom (MAITC) Teachers of the Year announcement
• $250,000 in Agricultural Development Grants will be Announced
• Beginning Farmer Resource Network workshops for new Maine farmers
• Farmer Veteran Coalition Press Conference  - Maine’s newly chartered Chapter of the national organization will announce a planned expansion of the their efforts to provide farming skills for returning veterans
• Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) presentations and discussions on marketing and growing practices 
• Get Real Get Maine Products Showcase – An indoor farmers market
• Department Overview of Farmers Market Tips and Regulations

Something for Everyone:

This year’s show features several new offerings for attendees in addition to a wide variety of presentations covering diverse topics of interest. New 2016 program highlights also include:

• Market access seminars for Maine food interests entering the world export markets
• Instructions for growing beef production and processing
• A farmers market in the Augusta Civic Center for vendors to show their wares to food buyers
• Dozens of other meetings to advance the output of Maine farms and the return to Maine farmers
• Somerset Auction House Co. Farm Auction to benefit the Maine FFA Association

The show also provides opportunities for growers, conventional and organic, to learn the latest developments in pest management and earn credits required for pesticide license recertification. The Maine Board of Pesticides Control will also be on hand to discuss basic safety training.

This three-day event has something for everyone, the farmer, non-farmer, hobbyist, educator or supplier. Attendees can walk through, observe and learn about how food is harvested and processed. Farmers and producers can see the most up-to-date farm equipment and processing methods and equipment.

Trades Show Floor Hours:

• Tuesday, January 12, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 13, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, January 14, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The complete program and schedule are available at: http://www.getrealmaine.com/.

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: http://www.maine.gov/dacf