Governor signs anti-drug bill LD 1537 into law

01/19/2016 02:35 PM EST

Upon delivery to his desk of LD 1537 today, Governor Paul R. LePage immediately signed the anti-drug bill, LD 1537, into law.

"I'm pleased the House and Senate incorporated the common-sense recommendations of the minority report," said Governor LePage. "I had expressed concerns about funding sources and the grant-making authority, but I thank legislative leadership for their willingness to broker changes that both the administration and the legislature could support. To be clear, this bill is just the first step in a process that needs a much more comprehensive approach."

Maine Forestry Service Offers Webinar - Ecology and Identification of Common Northeastern Conifers

Are you interested in learning more about Maine's forests and landscapes?
This interesting webinar, offered by the Maine Forestry Service will help you learn about the many varieties of Common Northeastern Conifers (trees that have cones or cone shaped seed pods).
GREAT information for ecology minded people, people interested in furthering their education on Maine woodlots and woodlands.
Be sure to register early, while space is unlimited, a registration ID is required to participate!!

Wednesday January 20, 2016 at 12:00 pm 

Conifer trees are a common feature of woodlots, forests and landscapes.  The value and qualities of trees are determined in part by the type of tree.  Knowing the principles of tree identification will help owners appreciate the value of trees and the types of benefits those trees might provide. This presentation will cover the core principles of tree identification, including how to use twigs, buds, bark, fruit (cones), growth habit, habitat (and even leaves) for identification.  Knowledge of these principles will help participants learn how to identify a wide range of trees.  Several common trees will be used to illustrate the principles. Presented by Dr. Peter Smallidge, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University.

SAF CFE credits have been requested or have been approved. 

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If you have trouble registering or connecting please contact Cisco WebEx technical support at 1-866-229-3239 (U.S. and Canada Toll-Free; 24/7). 

Instructions:

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Maine Department of Health and Human Services Outlines Changes to ASPIRE Program

 

 

 

AUGUSTA - In the Department of Health and Human Services' continued effort to help families achieve independence, the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and ASPIRE program is set to undergo some important changes this year.

The changes will create a more streamlined system to help families, provide one-on-one assistance and allow them to find employment more effectively and efficiently. The services offered by the program will be intensely focused on moving TANF/ASPIRE families toward self-sufficiency and out of poverty.

Currently, Maine's TANF program faces nearly $29 million in federal penalties because benefit recipients have not met required federal TANF work participation rates over several years, dating back to 2007. This issue must be addressed with aggressive action steps. The LePage Administration introduced legislation twice over the past two years to solve this problem by eliminating exceptions in state law to the federal work participation requirement, but members of the Democratic Party denied that solution both times.

Beginning in mid-2016, the Department will contract with a partner who will support family and employment services through technology, innovation and collaboration with established business and community partners. The Office for Family Independence will continue to determine eligibility and issue support services as well as other administrative duties. The contracted partner will be determined through a formal Request for Proposal process set to begin this month.

Other states have taken similar action and found success within the first year. Under the new model, TANF/ASPIRE families will receive comprehensive assessments, job readiness training and development, transportation and other support services, along with immediate engagement from a dedicated case management team.

In August, the Department received a letter from the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) informing the state that it would need to pay the first penalty of the $29 million currently assessed. The amount totaled $1.16 million and will need to be paid with state funds. The letter is the first of its kind sent to Maine and demonstrates the real financial liability associated with continued failure to meet the federal work requirements.

"Despite repeated failures by the legislature to address this problem with law changes, we are moving forward with this reform. The $29 million in looming federal penalties can no longer be ignored, and our clients must be provided with the best service available to help them get back to work. The Department looks forward to the positive changes coming to the program and what it means for TANF/ASPIRE families working toward a life of independence," explained DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew.

The Department has operated the program with diligence within the current rule structure and system to address performance in this program. The Department has determined the necessary step is to add significant resources to engage clients one-on-one with education, skill-building and work readiness activities.

Obituary: Craig Alan Robinson Sr.

Craig Alan Robinson, Sr. (July 18, 1970 - January 14, 2016)           Lebanon, Maine: Craig Alan Robinson, Sr., age 45, of Lebanon, Maine, died January 14, 2016 at home with his dog Barkley by his side. He spent his last days bringing everyone together and making them laugh. Born July 18, 1970 in Oakland, Maine to Ethel E. (Hatch) and Joseph M. Robinson, he grew up in Lebanon, Maine and went to Noble High School in Berwick, Maine. Craig loved spending time with family and friends. He meant well with everything he did. An excellent carpenter and comedian, he loved hunting and loved Dale Earnhardt and Earnhardt, Jr. He enjoyed fishing with his friend Scott Mayotte and there was never a dull moment hanging out and laughing with his best friends: Shawn and Lori Ellis. Survived by his mother Ethel Knowles, two children, the love of his life, daughter Stephanie Robinson of Lebanon, Maine and son Craig A. Robinson, Jr. and grandson Grayson of Effingham, NH, 2 sisters: Donna with husband Billy Cook of Oakland, Maine, JoAnne with husband Robert Lemire, Sr., of Waltham, Maine, also nieces and nephews. Predeceased by 3 brothers: Steven Robinson, Ronnie Robinson and Sumner Knowles,Jr., stepfather: Sumner Knowles,Sr. father: Joseph Robinson and nephew: Steven Robinson, Jr. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday January 21, 2016 at 11am at Peaslee Funeral Home, 24 Central Street in Farmington, NH, with a calling hour prior to the service from 10-11am. Interment will be in the spring at Milton Mills Cemetery

Lebanon Board of Selectmen Define Parameters of Community Donations to Town of Lebanon Departments.

 

 

The Selectmen's Meeting wasn't all that bad!!!

As a matter of fact, it felt really good to sit down and have a chat with Selectmen Thompson, Heath and Nadeau. We kind of miss those old boys, you know??

We guess the problem the Board wanted to discuss originates with the fact that the "former administration" was always raising money for multiple projects and many of those projects were never realized.

A lot of money donated, no product delivered.

You get the idea.

And there IS a State Law that talks about how Municipalities are to go about accepting donations from its citizens. Title 30-A, Part 2, Subpart 9, Chapter 223, Subchapter 1, Subsection 5655.

The law states simply thus:

A gift without conditions, of any type of property, offered in a municipality may be accepted or rejected by its legislative body, except for forfeited assets conveyed to the municipality pursuant to Title 15, chapter 517, which may be accepted by the municipal officers.

The donation of the 02 Fur Life Animal Resuscitation kits also falls under this law, and yes, it clearly says that donations and gifts must be presented to the Board and they must accept or reject the project.

However, when passing us the printed copy of this law, the Board Chairman clearly read from subsection 5653, which calls for notice of intent at a Board meeting, presented in writing, and then for the Board to answer their acceptance or rejection in writing within 10 days, but this subsection of the law only applies when the gift is money or property in trust, which our donations are clearly not.

So.

Were they right to ask me to present our Community Donation of the O2 Fur Life Animal Resuscitation to the Board prior to collecting donations??

YES, they were right that I have to have the donation approved by the town.

NO, we don't have to submit in writing and then allow them 10 days to accept or reject in writing unless the Board creates, presents and approves a Town Ordinance, or Town Policy requiring this process.

Tonight Chief Daniel Meehan was at the Town Office to discuss several issues, and he was kind enough to stay as I presented my project. His agreement to the need for the equipment made it much easier to present our project to the Board.

The Board heard us out on getting the community together and gathering donations for specific projects within the town.

There was discussion as to whether or not all Community Donation projects would only benefit the Fire and EMS Department and I told them NO, but that as of this moment, no other department heads in the town had discussed any furndraising needs with us, but that we would be open to any suggestions and ideas. After all, we did all band together to replace the Town Office sign when that need was identified.

One of the Board Members was worried that people would be calling him complaining that we were always asking for money. We assured him, and you, that we will only do a small number of projects a year, and that we will not sit down at local businesses with tin cans asking for spare change. Instead, we put our project out there and accept money donations as you all see fit. The choice on which projects to support or donate and how much to support each project to is your own.

The donations do not come from LMTS, they come from individuals in the community, joining together on projects that are important to all of us as a group.

We do understand the reasoning behind accountibility in the donated dollar amounts and for the Board to receive the donated equipment and the need for surety that the gift is donated without conditions, deals, or expectations. Really, this only makes good business sense for the Town.

One good thing though, the Board did agree that donations of food or coffee toward feeding the Lebanon Fire and EMS responders, or for use at Lebanon Fire and EMS fundraisers would not need to be presented to the Board for approval, however we offered, in good faith, to give them a copy of our inventory log so that they could be sure that the item were being used as intended.

In a town where FUN and FREE were the motto of the old Fire Department and Rescue Department but where FUN and FREE clearly cost everyone dearly, whether they wanted to donate or not, we actually applaud the Board for making tonight's meeting easy to understand and friendly.

At the end of our discussion, Selectman Heath got up and left the room as the time for a decision was nearing, however Selectmen Thompson stated that he was "all for" members of the community coming together to complete projects needed in the town, and when he called for Selectman Nadeau's opinion he agreed to allow the project as well. Two Selectmen is a quota, so I guess we're good to GO.........

Finally, just a shout out to Mr. Dana Coull for taking the time to come and listen to the parameters set up by the Board, and for coming and hanging out with us outdoors in the cold, sharing a conversation and a smoke while the Board was in Executive Session with Chief Meehan on ComStar billing issues. It's always nice to have company and Mr. Coull is a joy and a pleasure. Thank you to our lawyer Mr. Ed McNally for explaining the law the Board handed us this evening, and thank you to each of the great people in our community who have donated toward this project so far, and who are considering donating in the future.

 

 

Snowmobile Trail Fund Stickers now Available at at Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Store.

 

01/15/2016 07:01 AM EST Snowmobile Trail Fund Sticker now Available! Show your support for Maine’s snowmobile trail system by purchasing a Snowmobile Trail Fund Sticker. Stickers are available for purchase: Online at the IF&W store – Snowmobile Trail Fund From snowmobile registration agents statewide At time of or after snowmobile registration Proceeds from each Trail Supporter sticker, less a $2 administrative charge, will be transferred directly to the Snowmobile Program to support the trail fund. The colorful stickers are available in three levels of support: $25, $50 and $100.

Obituary: Evelyn May Weeden

Evelyn May Weeden
(June 6, 1922 - January 14, 2016)

         

Dover, NH Evelyn M. Weeden, age 93, of County Farm Cross Road, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at Watson Fields in Dover. She was born June 6, 1922 in Dover, to Fred and Mary (Jackson) Haigh. Evelyn was a seamstress, she made a lot of her own clothes and clothes for her girls. Most of all, she was a loving wife and mother. In her life, she was very involved in the church scene, teaching Sunday School, a self taught piano and organ player, she enjoyed playing in church for many years. She was employed at places in Dover, including Sawyers Mills, W.T. Grants and Moore Business Forms, where she retired at age 62. Survived by her son: Alfred W. Weeden, Jr. and wife Nancy Weeden, her daughter: Jane and husband William Crosby, her son: Thomas and wife Roxanne Weeden, 9 grandchildren and many great and great great grandchildren. Predeceased by her husband of 73 years: Alfred W. Weeden, Sr. and a daughter: Evelyn Bateman. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, January 17, 2016 from 2-4pm at Milton Assembly of God Church, 370 White Mountain Highway in Milton, NH, with a Celebration of Life at 4pm with her son Pastor Alfred Weeden, Jr., officiating. Interment will be private at Forest Glade Cemetery in Somersworth. Arrangements by Peaslee Funeral Home in Farmington.