Pets For Vets Celebrates its First Year in Maine Matching Shelter Pets with Military Veterans.

 

As Pets for Vets celebrates their first year of connecting US Military Veterans with Shelter Pets, they now offer the ability to apply online!

Some estimates say that as many as 20% of our returning military veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The goal of Pets for Vets is to ease the emotional and physical suffering of our returning military veterans by matching them with a shelter pet who also benefits from the animal / human bonding and having their own home.

All pets in the Pets for Vets program have worked with professional pet trainers to ensure their good manners and best behavior so that they easily fit into a veteran's home and lifestyle. Desensitization training to crutches, walkers and wheelchairs is also given, depending on the veteran who will be receiving this special new family member.

Pets for Vets is a concrete way to thank U.S. Military Veterans for their service.

• Featured on NPR, CBS2 and CNN, PBS and the Pentagon Channel
• Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law
• Serving veterans in our chapter areas
• With each veteran-pet match we provide the necessary equipment for them to start their new life together

All Maine Veterans interested in obtaining their own pet through the Pets for Vets program are encouraged to contact the agency or fill out the Pets for Vets application online by visiting their website at: http://www.pets-for-vets.com/

 

 

The Phantom Gourmet Hosts BBQ Country Festival at Rochester Fairgrounds.

 

The Pig was King at today's Phantom Gourmet BBQ Cookoff at the Rochester Fairgrounds!!

We were a little disappointed that there weren't local restaurants and civic groups competing in the event, but the barbecue and the music were fantastic and there were many chances to enter for raffles for local area business giveaways.

Budweiser seemed to be second in line to the throne and the beer was flowing all over the fairgrounds as attendees sampled the many different barbecued and smoked meats, roasted corn on the cob, baked goods and tapped their feet to a variety of different country music bands.

 

Walkin' the Line on stage at the Rochester Fairgrounds for the

Phantom Gourmet BBQ Country Festival with Line Dancing by Dance FUNatics.

 

 

Lebanon Truth Seekers had the opportunity to enjoy many Country Music favorites performed by  Walkin' The Line and Jay Taylor. There were line dancers from Dance FUNatics and lots of children learning to line dance to their favorite country music songs.

 

There were many BBQ offerings at the Rochester Fairgrounds on Saturday for

the Phantom Gourmet's BBQ Country Festival.

 

Sunday's musical lineup looks great too, however, be warned that the $5 admission price is non-refundable and there is no inside venue for enjoying the music in the case of a forecasted downpour.

Sunday, June 28 festivities begin at noon and end at 8 pm, including music by Chicken Fry, Caroline Lawler, Jandee Lee Porter Band and Tim Charron.

 

Just by luck, my favorite BULL 93.5 Country Music Radio Station DJ, Matt, was in attendance shaking hands and giving out bumper stickers and chances to win Darius Rucker concert tickets!!

 

A large 2 story tall bull presided over the music venue at the weekend BBQ Country Festival

 

This drone was seen flying over the Phantom Gourmet BBQ Country Festival

during Saturday's events.

 

And for those of you who don't bother looking UP, there was an eye in the sky flying over the festival keeping it's eye on partiers, dancers and feasters. Looking around we realized that Lebanon Truth Seekers were the only ones who even realized we were being watched! After several walks around the Fairground, the man in control was spotted sitting at a table in the Budweiser Beer area. Chatting with him, revealed that the footage would be featured on an upcoming segment of The Phantom Gourmet, a popular regular feature on Boston's Channel 38 television network. So, if you were at the Festival today, keep your eyes on upcoming episodes of The Phantom Gourmet and you may just have your 15 minutes of television fame!

 

Oh, and in case you're wondering what Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers favorite BBQ was...........

 

 

We loved the Johnson's Original Recipe Ribs!! Delicious with just the right amount of zing and not too heavy on the sauce!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Teens, Undefeated this Season in Babe Ruth League Baseball Going for Southern York County Championship on Monday Night!!

 

YOUR LEBANON MAINE BABE RUTH BASEBALL TEAM

wants to FILL the stands on

Monday evening, June 29, 2015

 

These teen ball players have gone the long haul and are UNDEFEATED this season with a record of 10 wins, 0 loss, 1 tie

 

If the team wins on Monday night,

they will be

The SOUTHERN YORK COUNTY CHAMPIONS

 

LETS ALL GET DOWN TO THE GEORGE STUART MEMORIAL BASEBALL FIELD

Monday Night beginning at 6:00 pm

and cheer on

YOUR LEBANON

BABE RUTH BASEBALL TEAM

Manager Mike Chambers

Coaches Tom Coull, Clem Baxter and Caleb Chambers

YOUR PLAYERS:

Matty Chambers, Connor Baxter, Ben Dewhurst,

David Hamme, Ethan Ricard,

Luck Carlock, Owen Frost, Tyler Urrutia,

Tim Ziadeh, Bruce French, Juston Ahearn,

Baley Coull, Aiden Terrevechia,

Jaxson Monroe, Jaden Balcewicz, Andrew McKee.

 

GOOD LUCK

Lebanon Babe Ruth!

 

Other teams in the Southern York County Babe Ruth Baseball League include:

Berwick, York, South Berwick, Kennebunk, and Kittery.

 

For More Information:

http://sycbaberuth.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=86

 

 

Ready to Help the World in the Case of Disaster, The Great Bay Radio Association participates in World Wide ARRL Field Day.

Jason Jasper, Vice President, and former President Michael Lavoie of The Great Bay Radio Association watch over radio transmissions for the ARRL Field Day operations at Calef's Field in Barrington, NH.

 

What would you do if one of your family members were traveling in a foreign country and you heard that the area they were in had experienced a large scale natural disaster? Do you know how you would reach out and contact people in a foreign land and try to find word of your loved one??

What if there were a large earth quake or devastating tornado in New England and we were without power for several weeks. How would you contact your loved ones to let them know you were okay?

In the event of a huge scale disaster, where radio, television and cell towers are useless, who do emergency responders look to in order to help them reach out to other States or to the Federal Government to let them know what is needed in terms of food, fresh water, medical supplies or operations for National Guard presence?

Where do you think the National Weather Service gets their information regarding wind speeds, lightning strikes, rain and snowfall totals, flood levels and more in the wake of a storm where the power grid is all but useless.

 

We never think of these things, because we don't always know what is going on behind the scenes. Our National systems are in place in case of an emergency, and that's all we know. But to small local groups, all over the United States and Canada, this is very serious stuff. They are the ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio, a small band across the world who utilize Ham Radios to provide information to the world on a daily basis.

 

Great Bay Radio Association Past President Michael Lavoie monitors his Ham Radio system

with the use of special equipment that turn radio transmissions into digital information through a computer hookup.

 

 

Talking of Ham Radios, most give a blank stare and many have stated that they thought Ham Radios were what was used way back in WWII. Well, you're right. They were. However, they are still one of the most useful means of communication in the world today as they don't require any cables, and they work off the airwaves and can send and receive messages all over the world.

 

Speaking with Jason Jasper at the Great Bay Radio Association's set up for the ARRL Field Day today, I started out thinking this was just a hobby. But not so. Jason related a story to me about the year of the deadly earthquakes in Haiti. The Strafford County NH group was able to help locate and relay messages from several people who had been visiting in Haiti and who were unable to get messages home to the United States via conventional methods, but wanted to let loved ones know they were okay and being cared for. "Hurricane Katrina was another big communications time for us", he said. The operators also were able to help with communications and coverage for the 2014 The Great Race, which had a stop over in Rochester, NH last summer.

 

Lloyd Rosevear of Dover, NH operates his Morse Code Ham Radio System from a

12 volt battery and a homemade antennae system.

 

 

Jasper, who was spending the 48 hour continuous online Field Day camping in Calef's Field in Barrington with his wife Jessica and their children, spent the time talking about the different methods with which Ham Radios can operate. Jason's radio was powered by generator and was speech generated, like a giant CB radio. Chapter President Michael Lavoie was nearby with a Digital Unit, which he used like a computer and his messages were transmitted much like a wireless computer system, and was also gasoline generator powered. Lloyd Rosevear was operating his system from a 12 volt car battery sitting on the ground by his feet and communicating in Morse Code. The final member broadcasting from the Barrington location, Lou Mattia had a complete communications center set up inside a small camper. His Morse Code system operated off of gasoline generator with a solar panel back up system. "I can go only solar", stated Mattia, "but I need the generator to have enough power for coffee. And you know I need my coffee".

 

Lou Mattia has his Ham Radio equipment set up in a small camper, complete with gasoline generator and solar panel. The compact generator he uses can power his entire set up,

including coffee maker, for 8 hours on a single gallon of gasoline.

 

The solar panel that has the ability to power Lou Mattia's entire communications system is smaller than you may think. Smaller than a breadbox and able

to generate solar power even on mostly cloudy days.

 

 

The Greater Rochester New Hampshire based organization was founded in 1933 and is one of the oldest active Amateur Radio organizations in the area. Their focus is on public service and the advancement of the art of radio transmission. They offer Ham Radio licensing classes to interested persons periodically throughout the year for Technician (basic), General (intermediate) and Extra (master level) Amateur Radio Licenses. Courses are also offered in Disaster Management in concert with the American Radio Relay League and FEMA.

 

Membership in The Great Bay Radio Association is open to any and all people who are interested in Ham Radio operations for any reason. A year's membership costs $20 in dues, (Family membership is $25). Many members of the club are also members in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the American Radio Relay League and Skywarn, all National level communications clubs which monitor natural, weather, and other emergency situations.

 

The Great Bay Radio Association group holds meetings once a month on the 2nd Monday in their club room at the Rochester NH Community Center (behind the Rochester High School), 150 Wakefield Street, Rochester NH. The group gathers at 6 pm for a fund drive dinner in the form of a cook out, or indoor pot luck style supper, with a meeting immediately following at 7 pm.

 

If you're interested in learning more about Ham Radio operation, or if you'd like to join or visit the club, please feel free to contact current club president, Deirdre Hebert from Dover NH or check out their website at http://www.wlfz.org  or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GreatBayRadioAssoc

 

My thanks to Jason Jasper and the members of The Great Bay Radio Association for inviting me to come and experience the transmissions going on all over the United States and Canada via Ham Radio for the ARRL Field Day event.

 

 

 

 

 

Residents Question Ambulance Response Times After More Scare Tactics Used to Stir the Pot.

There seems to be some confusion as to some recent Lebanon Rescue Calls made and reported on another page.
There were actually TWO calls made to the same address on that day.
The times that were noted were all over the board with some saying 25 minutes and some saying 27 minutes.

Let's start with a bit of information.
Right now, Ambulance 1 is in the shop for repairs.
This is NOT a cheap fix for Ambulance 1 and it is a repair that was noted by the repair shop as one that has been plaguing Ambulance 1 for as far back as the family Chief and Asst. Chief and was not addressed due to cost. They just pushed it off, in other words. The repairs were addressed again while Rescue was under the command of an interim Chief and because of financial budget reasons, it was once again, pushed to the side and left for a later date.
According to Chief Meehan, the repairs needed for Rescue 1 (Ambulance 1, the old one) are at a point now where they can not be pushed off to the side and have the vehicle remain in service.
So the ambulance is in the shop to be repaired.

As I've stated, the repairs to this vehicle are crucial to it remaining in service. They are not cheap and easy Band-Aid repairs as they are repairs needed to the air ride system of the vehicle.

Rescue 1 has been seen by two separate shops for estimates, which is the BEST way to do business. Competition between businesses is healthy and competition brings a better price for our town. The problem and cost have been identified and it's being looked into whether or not the problem is covered under warranty, which means a day or two waiting time before getting an answer back from an outside company.

Once the decision is made on how to proceed, the Purchase Order is filled out and presented to the Lebanon Board of Selectmen who meet on Monday and Thursday evenings and who review the Purchase Order and have to sign off on it in order for the dollars to be expended.

Once the purchase order is signed, the work on Rescue 1 can begin.

Knowing our Chief, while Rescue is down, he's alerted our Mutual Aid responders and the Dispatch that Rescue 1 is out of service so that they are aware that should there be multiple calls in Lebanon at the same time, we'll not be able to use the vehicle.

So..........back to the calls that are being slammed on some other pages.

First, we've all heard about the volunteer department way of doing things and 25 (or 27) minutes at 3 am to get out of bed, head to the department, and then move the ambulance to a call is not an unheard of amount of time. Beginning on July 1, 2015, as voted by the Town of Lebanon, there will be staffing at both the Fire Department and Rescue Department which will make call times shorter, however, because you voted for it on June 9, does not make that an immediate change. The change then becomes effective at the beginning of our next fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2015. Until that time, the Rescue Department must still function under the restraints of the previous budget which did not allow for staffing.

So. There you have that answer.

The second part of the answer comes when you have a patient who is combative. According to the other page's information, the patient was in and out of consciousness and it was reported as a possible drug issue.

What they do not tell you, is that in these instances, the State Police are called into the scene to be sure that he EMTs who arrive to care for the patient are not in danger when arriving on scene. Therefore Rescue 2 can not proceed to the scene until State Police have been to the address and cleared it for EMTs to enter.

So was it a longer period of time before Rescue 2 could access the patient?? You BET. They can not legally go into a residence that Central Dispatch has told them to wait for the State Police to clear. They just can't.

The second call was only a short while after the first (about 6 hours) and while Rescue 2 was waiting to see the patient, another emergency call was logged. There's not one word about how that call was handled, but it was toned out immediately to Mutual Aid due to the fact that Sanford Central Dispatch knew that our own Rescue Crew was already busy.

Your Rescue Department is in very capable hands. There is no reason to worry or be afraid that you will not be attended to. Chief Dan Meehan has worked tirelessly to repair relationships that were torn apart by former Rescue Commands and he has the complete support of other area Chiefs and Departments. They are all working together to bring safety and response to the Town of Lebanon, and likewise, our Department is working to help ensure a safety net for their towns as well. Mutual Aid goes both ways. The Towns who respond here in Lebanon are also on the list to have our Rescue Department respond to their calls for help as well.

With the passing of the new Rescue budget by the Lebanon voters on June 9, 2015 the funds are going to be available to begin some very positive changes at our newly combined Fire and Rescue Departments beginning on July 1, 2015. There are vehicles that have needed repairs for a very long time, we have new staff coming on board and a new group of EMTs taking certification courses over at Frisbie Hospital, thanks to a grant by Frisbie secured by Chief Meehan, who will be graduating that course in only a matter of months. Safety equipment that has been missing from the combined Fire and Rescue Department has been identified, requested via Purchase Order, and will be acquired.

There is so much going on in our Lebanon Fire and Rescue Department that it's buzzing with activity. But changes don't happen overnight. The 6 months that Daniel Meehan have been your Chief have provided many changes. And in the greater scheme of things, 6 months as Chief of a horribly run down couple of departments IS, in fact, like overnight.

Not all Rescue calls are as simple as jumping in an Ambulance, tossing the patient in the back of the van, and racing through the streets to the hospital, lights flashing and sirens blaring. There are protocols that must be followed for the safety of the EMT's and Rescue personnel responding. There are some calls that an EMT can not transport without the benefit of a Paramedic on board. There are other calls that can not be attended to without State Police intervention. It's all a very synchronized ballet and unless you are privy to the choreography of the scene, you don't always know why things are happening the way they are, but to only assume you know what's happening behind the closed doors of someone's home during a Rescue operation is wrong and it speaks volumes to the people who are making these comments.

If you have a question, I will be glad to ask it for you, or you can feel free to contact Chief Daniel Meehan at the Lebanon Fire and Rescue Department.

Better yet, why not stop in and take a look around and say hello to your Chief and his personnel?? They're people just like you and I and they welcome you stopping by for a chat as long as they aren't busy on a call!!

Today's Maine State Lottery Winning Numbers 6/26/15

 

WINNING LOTTERY NUMBERS FOR 6/26/15

as provided by

The Maine Lottery Commission

 

Please note that this page will not be held responsible for typographical errors in the reporting of Maine State Lottery results.

This is not an official Maine State Lottery site, but the winning numbers

are provided as a service to our friends.

 

PICK 3 WINNING NUMBERS 6/26/15:

Day: 498

Evening: 260

 

PICK 4 WINNING NUMBERS 6/26/15:

Day: 6156

Evening: 4867

 

GIMME 5 WINNING NUMBERS 6/26/15

01-07-17-20-28

 

 

MAINE MEGA MILLIONS WINNING NUMBERS 6/26/15

12-23-33-47-50   Megaball 3   Megaplier 5

National Weather Service in Gray, Maine Releases Lightning Safety Information.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
0600 AM EDT FRI JUN 26 2015

LIGHTNING (from Wikipedia)
Lightning is a sudden electrostatic discharge during an electrical storm between electrically charged regions of a cloud (called intra-cloud lightning or IC), between that cloud and another cloud (CC lightning), or between a cloud and the ground (CG lightning).


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THE WEEK OF JUNE
21ST THROUGH 27TH, LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THIS
IS THE LAST IN A SERIES OF FIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION
STATEMENTS TO BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN GRAY, ME CONTAINING INFORMATION ON LIGHTNING AND
LIGHTNING SAFETY.

LIGHTNING SAFETY AROUND THE HOME

ALTHOUGH HOUSES AND OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING OFFER THE
BEST PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING, EACH YEAR MANY HOMES ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES ARE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. IN FACT, ON
AVERAGE, LIGHTNING CAUSES ABOUT 4400 HOUSE FIRES AND 1800
OTHER STRUCTURAL FIRES EACH YEAR, SOME OF WHICH ARE DEADLY.
ALL TOTALED, LIGHTNING CAUSES NEARLY $1 BILLION IN DAMAGES
EACH YEAR.

THERE ARE THREE MAIN WAYS LIGHTNING ENTERS HOMES AND
BUILDINGS: (1) A DIRECT STRIKE, (2) THROUGH WIRES OR PIPES
THAT EXTEND OUTSIDE THE STRUCTURE, AND (3) THROUGH THE
GROUND. REGARDLESS OF THE METHOD OF ENTRANCE, ONCE IN A
STRUCTURE, THE LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL
AND PHONE WIRES, THE PLUMBING, AND/OR RADIO AND TELEVISION
RECEPTION SYSTEMS.

INDOOR SAFETY DEPENDS ON AVOIDING CONTACT WITH ITEMS THAT
COULD CONDUCT LIGHTNING WITHIN THE HOME. HERE ARE SOME
INDOOR SAFETY TIPS TO FOLLOW WHEN A THUNDERSTORM IS IN THE
AREA.


1. DON'T TOUCH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT OR CORDS. IF YOU PLAN TO
UNPLUG ANY ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, DO SO WELL BEFORE THE
STORM ARRIVES.
2. STAY OFF CORDED PHONES.
3. AVOID CONTACT WITH PLUMBING. DO NOT WASH YOUR HANDS, TAKE
A SHOWER, WASH DISHES, OR DO LAUNDRY.
4. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS, AND STAY OFF PORCHES.


IN CASE YOUR HOME IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING:

* EVACUATE YOUR HOME IMMEDIATELY IF YOU SMELL SMOKE AND
CALL 911.
* CALL YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, IF POSSIBLE, HAVE
THEM CHECK FOR HOT SPOTS IN YOUR WALLS WITH THERMAL
IMAGING EQUIPMENT.
* MAKE SURE ALL SMOKE DETECTORS ARE POWERED AND
OPERATING PROPERLY.
* IF NEEDED, HAVE A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN CHECK THE
WIRING IN YOUR HOME

LIGHTNING QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT ARE LIGHTNING RODS AND HOW
DO THEY WORK?

LIGHTNING RODS PROTECT A HOME FROM A DIRECT LIGHTNING STRIKE,
BUT THEY DO NOT PREVENT A HOME FROM BEING STRUCK. THEY ARE
DESIGNED TO INTERCEPT LIGHTNING, TO PROVIDE A CONDUCTIVE PATH
FOR THE HARMFUL ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE TO FOLLOW, AND TO DISPERSE
THE ENERGY SAFELY INTO THE GROUND. WHILE LIGHTNING RODS HELP
PROTECT A STRUCTURE FROM A DIRECT LIGHTNING STRIKE, A COMPLETE
LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM IS NEEDED TO HELP PREVENT HARMFUL
ELECTRICAL SURGES AND POSSIBLE FIRES CAUSED BY LIGHTNING
ENTERING A STRUCTURE VIA WIRES AND PIPES. LIGHTNING PROTECTION
SYSTEMS SHOULD BE PURCHASED FROM AND INSTALLED BY A CERTIFIED
LIGHTNING PROTECTION SPECIALIST.


HERE'S A LIST OF TOPICS THAT WERE COVERED EARLIER THIS.

MONDAY - LIGHTNING AND LIGHTNING SAFETY - AN INTRODUCTION
TUESDAY - LIGHTNING'S MOST DEADLY ACTIVITIES
WEDNESDAY - LIGHTNING SAFETY AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES
THURSDAY - LIGHTNING SAFETY AT WORK

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING OR LIGHTNING
SAFETY, VISIT NOAA'S LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEB SITE
AT:

HTTP://WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV