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 Fabulous Fall Colors Photo by Judy Wilbur Craig, on the coast of Maine 2012
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By Alex Barber, BDN Staff: DEXTER - The Dexter Town Council announced on Thursday that it has chosen Shelley Watson as town manager. Watson has worked in the town office since 1987 and served as town clerk since 1996. “I’m a little overwhelmed, flattered and nervous,” Watson said Thursday morning. Watson, 59, will start her duties as town manager on Dec. 1. Kim Hughes will be promoted to town clerk at that time. Watson’s base salary will be $55,000. She said the relationships she has built in her time in town will benefit her as town manager. “I think I have a lot of good working relationships with the department heads already as well as with the citizens of Dexter,” she said. “It was unanimously agreed that she demonstrates great leadership qualities,” Town Councilor Alan Wintle said in a statement. “Shelley also has a great pulse on what is needed for the town of Dexter in economical development. She will be a beneficial part of the local government and takes her oath and duties honestly and seriously.” Beautifying Main Street, promoting small businesses and keeping taxes low are issues Watson is focused on, she said. “I just want to do a good job for the community and keep taxes down,” she said. “I care about the town. I’ve lived here for 30 years.” Watson said she was encouraged to apply for the position. “Everybody wanted me to try it,” she said. “I’m excited about it, and I’m nervous about it. It’s the next step.” Wintle said 22 people applied for the position. Town Council Chairman Peter Haskell said applications came from all over the country, including New Hampshire, Vermont, Oklahoma, Texas and Alaska. Watson will be the third town manager for Dexter since 2011. Dave Pearson resigned Sept. 1, 2011 and promptly joined nearby Sangerville as its town manager. Linda-Jean Briggs was hired two months later and had signed a contract extension through July 1, 2014. However, she resigned last month. Watson said she will be the sixth town manager since she started working with the town in 1987.  New board members were also elected. Lou Harper of Sangerville will serve as president, C. Tom Gerkovich III of Abbot as vice-president, and Jane Neptune of Guilford and Rick Jennings of St. Albans as representatives. The band wishes to thank the Wayside Theatre for summer rehearsal space and held a benefit concert for the Theatre/Grange at the Dexter Town Hall. The band is preparing for the holiday season with weekly Tuesday 6 pm rehearsals at the Ridge View School music room, 175 Fern Rd in Dexter. New members of all abilities are always welcome. The band is in particular need of percussionists. Instrumental loan and instruction are available. To assist with the expanding music library, volunteer "band aids", requiring no musical skills, are needed. In its third year, the band's sponsoring organization is a 501c(3) non-profit organization and a member of the New Horizons International Music Association. For more information, visit cuthbert-foundation.org or call 924-6235. Monday, November 25, 2013
MAINE - DACF pre-holiday announcement designed to help businesses save money and lost products AUGUSTA - Maine decorative-plant shippers who are sending Christmas trees and wreaths around the country for the holiday season can save money and lost products by noting important regulations enforced by other states, according to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF). The Department promotes and assists natural resource-based Maine businesses, and is seeking to help educate shippers and spread the word in advance of the holiday season. "Shippers should be especially aware this year of the many state laws and regulations regarding the movement of plants and forest products," warned Ann Gibbs, Maine state horticulturist. "Many states, including Maine, closely monitor shipments to prevent infestation by invasive insects and the spread of plant diseases. Planning ahead benefits Maine shippers by speeding along deliveries in this time-sensitive industry," said Gibbs. DACF Commissioner Walt Whitcomb stressed the importance of working to educate shippers in advance of the holidays to avoid or reduce shipping delays. "Governor Paul R. LePage has made support for natural resource job creators a hallmark of his administration. Maine forests have contributed to the holiday spirit across America for generations. The DACF supports and enhances that tradition and further development of Maine's natural resource economy," said Whitcomb. DACF staff offer wreath and tree shippers the following advice: "Import requirements for cut trees, wreaths with ornamental nuts and fruit arrangements exist to protect regional agriculture or other commodities from the risk of plant pests," Gibbs explained. Unfortunately, despite the quality of Maine products, some shippers have learned about these regulations the hard way and have had shipments delayed, impounded and occasionally destroyed. We want to prevent any losses by getting the word out now," said Gibbs. An informational sheet, "Know State Regulations When shipping Wreaths and Trees," is available on the web at http://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/horticulture/wreaths.htm Shippers with questions are also invited to call: (207) 287-3891 or email For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: http://www.maine.gov/acf WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Mike Michaud praised the release of over $33 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding for the state of Maine. "LIHEAP is an important lifeline for Mainers struggling to make ends meet and stay warm during the winter months. While I have pushed to fully fund the LIHEAP program, the funding announced today provides our state the certainty it needs to plan for the upcoming heating season," said Michaud, who has requested that the Appropriations Committee fully fund the LIHEAP program at $5.1 billion. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department is making available a total of $2.93 billion in FY 2014 LIHEAP block grant funds under the current Continuing Resolution (CR), which runs through January 15, 2014. This represents 90 percent of the full year funds for states, tribes and territories. This level gives states certainty to plan for their upcoming heating season while allowing Congress flexibility in setting its final funding level for the program in a final FY 2014 appropriation, as required by the CR.
DEXTER - The town of Dexter “CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS” program will be accepting applications November 1st, 2013 through November 29th, 2013 for Dexter residents that have the child/children listed on the application living in their home full time. Proof of residency is required {ex. Rent receipt, Mortgage statement etc.} along with proof the child/children are residing in your home {DHHS benefit statement for TANF, Food Stamps, Maine Care, Proof from the school they attend, etc.} will be accepted. Applications will not be accepted from people getting gifts from the Sunshine club, Piscataquis Santa Project or any other program. One application per child. After the November 29th deadline NO applications will be accepted. Pick up dates for the toys will be December 18th , December 19th, December 20th . Applications can be picked up at the Dexter Town Office, the General Assistance Office, the Clothes Closet, and from the 2nd floor lobby area. Or download here If you have any questions please call Jean Jacobs at 924-7351 Ext. 17. AUGUSTA – Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap today announced the launch of an extension to The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program, a new mobile app titled RoadReady™. The app, sponsored by Ford Motor Company, is designed to augment the program in its mission to address a need to improve roadway safety and teen driving behaviors. RoadReady™ is currently available on the App Store at no charge and will be made available to Android users in 2014. “It’s a great feeling to be arming parents and teens with a technologically-advanced, free toolkit that encourages their participation in the teen driver education process,” said Secretary Dunlap. “Not only are we providing parents of permitted teens with a guide to assist them through the state required 70 hours of supervised driving, but this new mobile app RoadReady™ will help parents to track the actual time they spent behind the wheel with their teen.” Parents of teens obtaining their learner’s permit are given a copy of The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program by their driving instructor at the conclusion of the required parental involvement component of driver education. The program focuses on the role of the parent in the teen driver education process and is provided at no cost to families or to taxpayers thanks to sponsorship by Ford Motor Company with support from Vermont Mutual Insurance and Irving Oil. Studies show that parents have a tendency to overestimate the amount of time they spend driving with their teen. RoadReady™ eliminates the question of overestimated time and allows parents and teens to focus on driving skills, roadway conditions and enhanced experiences as the app automatically and accurately tracks their time together. RoadReady™ also offers educational features, such as tips and suggestions to assist parents throughout the supervised driving process and tracks roadway types and weather conditions to encourage parents and teens to spend more time driving together in a variety of conditions. The app offers the ability to print a driving log with a list of all supervised driving sessions, which can be returned to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) upon applying for a road test. For more information on The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program please go to: www.theparentssuperviseddrivingprogram.com. 
 DEXTER - Fossa's General Store / Dexter Community Farm Project is open on the corner of Main Street and Route 7 in Dexter and support farmers, vendors, bakers, candlestick makers with products being produced primarily within 35+ miles of Dexter. New products being added almost everyday. We aim to offer the consumer the widest variety of products that we can that are locally grown & locally produced. Interested producers are welcome to contact Judy Wilbur Craig at the store 207.924.DEXT(3398) or by email judy@DexterFarmProject.com Click here for the Guidelines for Producers – adopted 05.2013 by DRDC Board of Directors. For folks on Facebook we post our daily specials, pictures, new products at Facebook.com/FossasGeneralStore Website: DexterFarmProject.com Note: this is NOT the safest possible route to take, but it is a good service and much better than never running a virus check. To check your computer, go to housecall.antivirus.com Many people think that if they have a virus program on their system they are safe, BUT you are only as safe as your latest update. Yes, you do have to update your virus program frequently. (I do it every day!) Download a FREE virus program that works well at www.free.avg.com The Daily ME is on-line only, non-profit newspaper and a one-woman operation with the help of contributing writers and photographers. If you would like to contribute to The Daily Me, we welcome press releases, contributing editor's young and old. Send your Upcoming local events, news, Town reports, club news, school news or other items that you have in mind. If you have pictures you would like to share with friends and relatives far and near, please contact The Daily Me. We encourage feedback and suggestions from our readers. I hope that The Daily ME gives you information that keeps you in touch with home! 
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