Governor LePage Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

01/15/2016 03:56 PM EST

 AUGUSTA - Governor Paul R. LePage will mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day by attending the 25th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Breakfast in Waterville on Monday, Jan. 18. Additionally, Governor LePage has signed a proclamation declaring Monday as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

"On this day our state and nation remembers the life and work of a man who dedicated his life to ensure civil rights for all Americans," Governor LePage said. "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was committed to advancing equality, social justice and opportunity for all, and his teachings can continue to guide and inspire us in addressing the challenges of today."

"As we remember Dr. King, we are reminded of the many opportunities we have as Americans to give back to our communities on this holiday and make an ongoing commitment to service throughout the year." This is the 25th year of the event, which is sponsored by the Waterville Rotary Club and Spectrum Generations. Governor LePage, who is a Rotarian, has attended the annual Waterville event for many years.

The Pleasant Street Methodist Church Choir and George Mitchell School students will perform music at the celebration. Allecia Reid, PH. D. William and Margaret Montgoris Assistant Professor of Psychology, Colby College, will be the guest speaker. Reid received her Ph.D. in psychology from Arizona State University. She held postdoctoral research positions at Yale University and Brown University before coming to Colby College in 2013. Dr. Reid lives in Oakland, Maine with her husband and two children.

Proclamation language is as follows:

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. devoted his life to advancing equality, social justice and opportunity for all, and challenged all Americans to participate in the never-ending work of building a more perfect union; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King's teachings can continue to guide and inspire us in addressing challenges in our communities; and

WHEREAS, the King Holiday and Service Act, enacted in 1994, designated the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Services with leading the effort that has inspired millions of Americans to serve their neighbors and communities on the King Holiday; and

WHEREAS, serving on the King Holiday is an appropriate way to honor Dr. King, meet local and national needs, bring our citizens together, and strengthen our communities and nation; and

WHEREAS, the King Day of Service is the only federal holiday commemorated as a national day of service, and offers an opportunity for Americans to give back to their communities on the holiday and make an ongoing commitment to service throughout the year; and

WHEREAS, King Day of Service projects are being organized by a wide range of non-profits in the State of Maine.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAUL R. LEPAGE, Governor of the State of Maine, proclaim January 18, 2016, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday as The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

throughout the State of Maine, and call upon the people of Maine to pay tribute to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through participation in community service projects on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and throughout the year.

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

Maine Forest Service Christmas Tree Care and Safety Tips for Proper Display, Care and Disposal.....

12/16/2015 03:27 PM EST

*It is not too late to grace the family living room with a Maine grown Christmas tree*

AUGUSTA - Governor Paul R. LePage and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) are again urging holiday shoppers to purchase natural Christmas trees locally. Maine-grown Christmas trees are freshly cut, support local tree farms and most importantly, visiting a Maine "Choose and Cut" Christmas tree operation can be a memorable family experience. The DACF's Maine Forest Service offers tree purchasing, care and safety tips.

"The Christmas season is an important time to give thanks for the many blessings we are given and show appreciation for the contributions of others," said Governor Paul R. LePage. "Nothing says Maine more than a locally grown fir tree that graces a family living room. The Maine people are truly fortunate to call this state home and to create products enjoyed beyond our borders."

Commissioner Walt Whitcomb reflected on the unique experience that tree buyers can have harvesting their own tree from a Maine family tree farm. "Maine tree growers grow a product that symbolizes the Maine outdoors and the Christmas holiday," said Whitcomb. You can support local businesses by buying a Maine Christmas tree. You can also create a new family memory from the shared experience of harvesting a tree from a Maine family tree farm."

**Maine Christmas Trees:**

Naturally grown Christmas trees are also much less harmful to the environment than artificial Christmas trees. Considered a "renewable resource," Maine Christmas trees provide fresh air, wildlife habitat and scenery while they are grown. After the holidays, most Christmas trees are returned to the forest where they can provide wildlife cover, reduce erosion and add nutrients to the soil.

**Here are some tips for purchasing fresh cut Maine Christmas trees:**

- Always ask the seller "where and when" the Christmas trees were cut. In general, the closer the location and the most recent shipment, the better.

- Don't wait until the last minute to purchase your Maine Christmas tree. In the past few years, there have been shortages of Maine-grown Christmas trees.

- Check to make sure the Christmas tree is fresh. The needles of a freshly harvested balsam fir tree should bend about 30 - 40 degrees before breaking.

**Some information on transporting and storing a Christmas tree:**

- Make sure the Christmas tree is tied securely to your vehicle and that the butt end is facing forward.

- Avoid transporting the tree when the roads are wet. The spray from road can shorten the life of your tree and dull the color. If necessary, wrap the tree in a tarp.

- Once you transport the tree home, try to set it up inside soon. If you can't, make sure you store it outside in a cool, dark location out of the sun and wind. A garage is a good place.

**Safety tips for setting up the tree at home:**

- Before bringing the tree inside to display, cut off at least 2" of the butt end. This will help the tree stay moist and last longer.

- Make sure you have the correct tree stand for the size tree you have purchased. For most trees, the stand should hold at least a gallon of water.

- Keep the tree watered, especially the first few days after it is set up. There are inexpensive devices that can be purchased that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.

**Proper disposal of your Christmas tree:**

- Completely remove all plastic and metal items from the tree.

- Do not burn the tree in your fireplace or woodstove. If all other recycling options are not practical, check with your local fire department, get a burn permit and burn it outdoors when there is snow on the ground.

- Recycle your tree at your local transfer station. If they don't accept trees, consider leaving the tree in the woods (landowner permission is required) or near your birdfeeder to provide cover for songbirds.

- If possible, chip the tree and use the chips as mulch.

READY?? Lebanon Rec Department and Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers Gear Up for Holiday Decorating Competition Judging!!

Lebanon Recreation Department

and

Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers

 

HOLIDAY DECORATION
COMPETITION

contestants list

 

 

 

 

260 Lower Guinea Rd,

84 North Rochester Rd,

538 Upper Guinea Rd

12 Evergreen Lane

78 Smith Road

 

The Lebanon Recreation Department Director, Georgie Allen and Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers, Deborah Wilson and Sandy Adams are so happy to have 5 good strong contestants for our very first Holiday Decorating Competition!!

 

 

First Prize Judges Choice $50 Cash

(Given by LMTS)

First Prize People's Choice $50 Cash

(Given by LMTS)

Second Prize Judge's Choice $25 MB Gift Card

(Given by Lebanon Rec)

Second Prize People Choice $24 MB Gift Card

(Given  by Lebanon Rec)

Best Lebanon Pride Decoration Gift Basket

(Given by LMTS)

 

Please note that Lebanon Recreation Department is a department of the Town of Lebanon, Maine.

The Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers is NOT a town department and the town does not guarantee our portion of the prizes.

 

Lists for People's Choice viewing and buckets available at
Train's Tavern Gas Station on 202
Welch's Hardware and Lumber on 202
Hometown Mobil on 202
and
Lebanon Fire and EMS Station 1
on Depot Road

 

Formal Judging will begin at 4:30 pm on Saturday, December 19, 2015

 

Winners in all categories to be announced on Sunday, December 20, 2015

 

Take a ride around, enjoy the holiday lights and vote your choice!!!

 

 

 

 

AG Mills Shares Safe Shopping Tips for Families

12/11/2015 03:36 PM EST

AUGUSTA - Attorney General Janet T. Mills wishes to share information and resources to ensure that the brightly wrapped gifts being exchanged this holiday season contain no unwanted surprises and to remind families to set ground rules for the proper and safe enjoyment of digital devices year-round.

"There is nothing like seeing the joy of a child opening a gift," said Attorney General Mills. "But if that gift is a digital device, parents should be thinking now about how to most appropriately use that gift in the months to come. Ask yourself if your child should have 24/7 access to the internet and how you can establish clear, consistent rules for the use of these devices in your home. Review with your child what information they can share on social media and reinforce how quickly private' information and photos can become public. Remind them that the golden rule' also applies to their online behavior - they need to treat others with respect online."

Once families decide to purchase a gaming device, tablet, computer or smart phone, it can be difficult for parents to keep up with the rapidly evolving array of games, websites and apps that appeal to young people. Parents should review and monitor what sites and apps their child uses to ensure they are age appropriate. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB.org), the non-profit organization that assigns age and content ratings for video games and mobile apps, offers a list of helpful tips for parents who want to ensure they make the right choices for their families, from fulfilling their kids' wish lists to ensuring their playing time is appropriately managed and safe. Local retailers are well versed in the ratings system and can provide advice at the point of sale.

"We are pleased that organizations like the Entertainment Safety Rating Board assigns age and content ratings to video games and mobile apps to help Mainers make the right choices for their families. We are glad that Attorney General Mills is helping spread the word to promote safe shopping this holiday season," stated Curtis Picard, executive director of the Retail Association of Maine.

There are websites that can help parents and children learn about the best games and apps for them and how to learn about smart online behaviors. Parents can also review their individual device to install settings that limit the content available.

OnGuardOnline.gov offers tips to parents and has information for other adults as well. ESRB.org assigns age and content ratings for games and mobile apps and has information and tips to help parents strike the right balance for kids between time spent with the game or app and time spent with the family, school work, extracurricular activities and other interests. CommonSenseMedia.org reviews apps, beyond the ESRB ratings, to help you determine if the app is right for your child. NetSmartzKids.org helps to educate your child about what information about themselves or their families can be shared on social media and how to prevent cyberbullying. SafeSurfingKids.com has a model contract' so that parents and kids know the rules governing their device use and online behavior ahead of time. The American Academy of Pediatrics has established guidelines for appropriate limits on screen time and access to media for children. Between school work, entertainment and ever present smartphones, kids are exposed to much more screen time now than ever before. Parents should be mindful of how much of their child's time is spent looking a screen.

"People should also consider the safety and age-appropriateness of traditional gift items for children," said Attorney General Mills. "Most toys have a recommended age on the package because it may contain small parts that pose a choking danger to a small child who puts items in their mouths. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has a website with recalled children's products - everything from cribs and car seats to pajamas and toys. It pays to stay apprised of items that may have high lead levels or other hidden dangers."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC.gov) offers these three pieces of advice to holiday shoppers: 1. Choose age appropriate toys by reading the age label on the toy. For children younger than 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking. In particular avoid deflated or broken balloons, small parts or small balls. 2. Scooters and other riding toys - Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast, and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn properly at all times and they should be sized to fit. Avoid riding a scooter on a street or roadway with other motor vehicles. 3. Magnets - Children's magnetic toys are covered by a strong safety standard that prevents magnets from being swallowed. High-powered magnet sets, which are covered by a mandatory standard, also have small magnets that are dangerous and should be kept away from children. Whether marketed for children or adults, building and play sets with small magnets should also be kept away from small children.

"However you celebrate, I hope this season is filled with joy," said Attorney General Mills. "Taking a little extra time now to think about some of the responsibilities that come with giving a child an electronic device will ensure these gifts continue to deliver that joy for many months to come."

Pictorial from the Lebanon Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, West Lebanon Village, December 6, 2015.

Lebanon Maine Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

West Lebanon Village

sponsored by the West Lebanon Ladies' Circle

December 6, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictorial from the Rochester Christmas Parade 2015, Rochester NH, December 6, 2015

Rochester Christmas Parade 2015

December 6

Rochester, New Hampshire

 

 

 

 

The Celebration of Kwanzaa, A Celebration of Community, Family, Honor....... and a West African recipe to try!!

Kwanzaa, December 26th to January 1st....
A celebration of people of Community, Family, Honor, Love and Respect.

Kwanzaa was first celebrated in December 1966 and January 1967. The holiday was proposed by Maulana Karenga to give those of African descent a holiday to celebrate their own cultural heritage and the key values of family and community.  Although seen as an alternative to Christmas and thus possibly anti-Christian in the early years, many people now observe aspects of both festivals.

Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba—the seven principles of African Heritage), which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy," consisting of what Karenga called "the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world." These seven principles comprise *Kawaida, a Swahili term for tradition and reason. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles, as follows:

• Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
• Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
• Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
• Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
• Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
• Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
• Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Kwanzaa symbols include a decorative mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed: corn (Mahindi) and other crops, a candle holder kinara with seven candles (Mishumaa Saba), a communal cup for pouring libation (Kikombe cha Umoja), gifts (Zawadi), a poster of the seven principles, and a black, red, and green flag. The symbols were designed to convey the seven principles.

West African Chicken Stew Recipe for Kwanza

1 tablespoon olive oil         

1 (3 pound) roasting chicken, deboned and cut into bite size pieces

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 onion, chopped

1 large potato, diced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander seed

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water                                   
• 3/4 cup unsalted natural-style peanut butter          
  
• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

Prep 10 m            

Cook 35 m            

Ready In 45 m            

1. In a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid, heat oil over medium high heat. Add chicken, and brown quickly. Remove chicken from pan. Reduce heat to medium low, and add garlic, onion and potato to the pan; saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Season with cumin, coriander, black pepper, red pepper and salt. Do not let garlic brown.
2. Mix in water and browned chicken, and any accumulated juices. Place lid on skillet and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Remove lid, and stir in the peanut butter and garbanzo beans. Make sure the peanut butter is blended in. Replace lid to simmer for 10 more minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender. Remove from heat, adjust seasoning, and serve.

 

Why is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky?? Interesting Historical Information or Our Favorite Phobia!!

Today, people around the globe will feel uneasy about getting out of bed, leaving their homes, or going about their normal daily routines, all because of a superstition. These unfortunate folks suffer from  “paraskavedekatriaphobia,” a common neurosis familiar to us all—the fear of Friday the 13th. But just where did this superstitious association come from, and how did it catch on?
The truth is that no one is absolutely sure where the idea that Friday the 13th is unlucky originated. Donald Dossey, the founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina suspects the fear can be traced back to a Norse myth about twelve gods who had a dinner at Valhalla—the fabled hall where legendary Norse heroes feasted for eternity after they died—that was interrupted by a thirteenth guest, the evil and mischievous god Loki. According to legend, Loki tricked Höðr (the blind god of winter and son of Odin, the supreme god in Norse mythology) into shooting his brother Baldr (the benevolent god of summer who was also Odin’s son) with a magical spear tipped with mistletoe—the only substance that could defeat him. Thus the number thirteen was branded as unlucky because of the ominous period of mourning following the loss of such powerful gods by this unwanted thirteenth guest.
For whatever reason, among many cultures, the number twelve emerged throughout history as a "complete" number: There are twelve months in a year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve Gods of Olympus, twelve sons of Odin, twelve labors of Hercules, twelve Jyotirlingas or Hindu shrines where Shiva is worshipped, twelve successors of Muhammad in Shia Islam, and twelve tribes of Israel. In Christianity, Jesus was betrayed by one of his twelve Apostles—Judas—who was the thirteenth guest to arrive for the Last Supper. Surpassing the number twelve ostensibly unbalances the ideal nature of things; because it is seen as irregular and disrespectful of a sense of perfection, the number thirteen bears the stigma of misfortune and bad luck we know today.

Advertisement

 

Why Friday?

Friday joins in the mix mostly because all of the early accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion agree that it took place on Friday—the standard day for crucifixions in Rome. As Chaucer noted in The Canterbury Tales, "And on a Friday fell all this mischance." Yet perpetuating Friday as an unlucky day in America came from the late-nineteenth century American tradition of holding all executions on Fridays; Friday the 13th became the unluckiest of days simply because it combined two distinct superstitions into one. According to the Oxford University Press Dictionary of Superstitions, the first reference to Friday the 13th itself wasn’t until 1913. (So despite actually occurring on Friday, October 13, 1307, the popular notion that the Friday the 13th stigma comes from the date on which the famed order of the Knights Templar were wiped out by King Philip of France is just a coincidence.)
The repercussions of these phobias reverberated through American culture, particularly in the 20th century. Most skyscrapers and hotels lack a thirteenth floor, which specifically comes from the tendency in the early 1900s for buildings in New York City to omit the unlucky number (though both the Empire State Building and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel have 13th floors). Street addresses sometimes skip from twelve to fourteen, while airports may skip the thirteenth gate. Allegedly, the popular Friday the 13th films were so-named just to cash in on this menacing date recognition, not because the filmmakers actually believed the date to be unlucky.
So, is Friday the 13th actually unlucky? Despite centuries of superstitious behavior, it largely seems like psychological mumbo jumbo. (One 1993 study seemed to reveal that, statistically speaking, Friday the 13th is unlucky, but the study's authors told LiveScience that though the data was accurate, "the paper was just a bit of fun and not to be taken seriously." Other studies have shown no correlation between things like increased accidents or injuries and Friday the 13th.) And Friday the 13th isn't a big deal in other cultures, which have their own unlucky days: Greeks and Spanish-speaking countries consider Tuesday the 13th to be the unluckiest day, while Italians steer clear of Friday the 17th. So today, try to rest a little easy—Friday the 13th may not be so unlucky after all.

Information as written on the pages of www.mentalfloss.com

Today is New England Apple Day!! Head to Your Local Pick Your Own Farm this Weekend for a Wonderful Family Experience!!

September 2, 2015....

NEW ENGLAND APPLE DAY!

 

Today, Wednesday, September 2,  seems like the perfect choice to celebrate New England Apple day, as Lebanon children head back to school after a Summer of fun and freedom!

According to the Smithsonian Institute, apples became the symbol of favorite teachers many years ago when Frontier families were responsible for providing food and lodging for their town teachers. Students would bring apples to their teachers as a treat and a sign of appreciation for their services.

The apple has it's beginning in recorded history as a negative symbol in the story from Genesis in the Bible as the downfall of mankind when the serpent convinced Eve to try the "forbidden fruit", however American's now think of the apple as a national symbol, right up there with the bald eagle and baseball.

If you've never been out picking apples in a fall orchard, do yourself a favor, pack up your family, and head out for an enjoyable day in the fall sunshine. The sent and coolness of the orchard will help to fuel your natural harvest instincts, and baking pies, cobblers and crisps with your children is a great way to teach them the value of agriculture!

Many new and different varieties have been grown on New England Pick Your Own farms in the past few years. Right now the McIntosh, New England's favorite for pies, apple sauce and eating fresh are ripe and ready for the picking!!

 

We suggest you call ahead to your choice of Pick Your Own Orchards to find out what apple varieties are available for picking!!

 

Local orchards providing a

Pick Your Own experience include:

 

McDougal Orchards, 201 Hanson's Ridge Road in Springvale, ME.

Open daily 9 am - 5 pm daily. (207)-324-5054.

 

 

Pine View Orchard, 17 Sunset Lane, Berwick, ME

Open daily 10 am - 5 pm (207)-715-0365

 

Butternut Farm, 195 Meaderboro Road, Farmington, NH

open daily 8 am - 4 pm. (603)-335-4705

 

 

LEBANON MAINE TRUTH SEEKERS: Today is Flag Day. Do you know what it means?

In the United States Flag Day is celebrated  on June 14th. It commemorates the adoption of the United States Flag, which happened by resolution of the Second Continental Congress on July 14, 1775.