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 "ah, the solitude of the Maine Woods" Photo taken by Deb Shibe of Milltown, NJ and said, "Here is a picture of a rustic scene in Onowa that I couldn't resist. I use this as my desktop wallpaper. I love Maine and can't wait to come back!" |
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DEXTER – The Town of Dexter website (www.DexterMaine.org) has a listing of Dexter Businesses and we are in the process of making it more accurate and current. As you know, many businesses may not have to register with the Town Office, so we may not have the information to include you in that listing. OR, you may have change email address; have a new website, phone number, etc. from your original listing. Check out www.DexterMaine.org and click on Dexter Businesses and see if you are included and that your information is correct. If not, please use the submit form at the top of the page and make changes. For more information contact webmaster Judy Craig Consulting at judy@DexterMaine.com or 924.3067  Opening soon for 2010 By Diana Bowley of the BDN Staff: DEXTER, Maine — The Dexter Town Council voted unanimously Thursday to accept the Dexter Primary-Middle Schools buildings when SAD 46 vacates them later this summer. Town officials already have one proposal for the use of the buildings, but will send out requests for proposals to see whether there is any other interest in the buildings and property, Town Manager Dave Pearson said Friday. Several people attended Thursday's meeting to speak about the property. Pearson said some suggested the town subdivide the property since there is about 800 to 1,000 feet of frontage on Lake Wassookeag. Pearson said the problem with that idea is the slope is so steep behind the school to the water that nothing can be built on it. In addition, the slope is zoned resource protection, which prohibits septic systems. The town has a 350-foot shoreland zone setback, so Pearson said someone could build behind the zone on the hill but would not be able to use the lake frontage. Tim Wilson, who is involved with the Seeds of Peace International Camp and attended Thursday's meeting, had pitched a proposal to the council earlier this year for use of the property. Wilson said he would like to develop a leadership institute that could employ up to 100 people using private funds. He envisions converting the elementary school into classrooms for a leadership institute for the sons and daughters of world leaders and other top students and adults from throughout the United States and the world. He also envisions demolishing the connected middle school so a dormitory could be constructed to serve both those enrolled in the leadership institute and students who would stay on campus and attend local schools. Wilson said the institute would provide its own police protection. The schools have some environmental issues, including the presence of asbestos, mold, lack of insulation and roof problems, Pearson said. The council liked Wilson's proposal, but has to wait to see whether there are any other proposals before it can take any action, Pearson said. The council also on Thursday was told that residents Ruth Fogg and Ron Apel wanted to donate a windmill to the town and install it at no cost to the town. The couple would like to place the windmill at the skating rink, a visible place that would show people the town is taking a lead in alternative energy. The couple told the council they already have ordered the windmill. Pearson said some people on Thursday expressed displeasure about the proposed location of the windmill. A public hearing will be held on the proposal on April 8, and the council may act on the proposed gift later that meeting, he said. "It's a very nice offer," Pearson said. In other action, a proposed ordinance that would allow the use of the boat ramp off Route 23 until such time the lake had a level of 433.5 feet will be on next month's agenda. When the lake reaches that level, the ramp would be closed, according to the proposed ordinance. The Town Council voted Thursday to ban swimming at the boat ramp and the accompanying Harold J. Keyte picnic area for safety reasons. That move came after a public hearing.
DEXTER - Dexter Regional High School's Operation Graduation Committee along with Toot's Deli in Dexter, sponsored an ice fishing derby on Saturday, March 6th on Lake Wassookeag. Prizes were awarded for the largest togue, salmon and trout. Although no trout were caught, the following were winners in these catagories: Wilfred Murray - Largest togue weighing in at 3.97 lbs. Dylan Childres - Largest Salmon weighing in at 1.03 lbs. Childrens' catagory - bass/pickerel: Kayden Miller - 1st place, 2nd place, Brayden Miller, 3rd place, Dylan Childres. Each winner was given a large trophy donated by Wyman's Trophies, from Dexter. Other winners included, Devyn Bell who won the five ice fishing traps, and Kevin Jay, the winner of the three foot party sub from Subway. Pizza Hut cards were also won by Lorrie Bell, Mike White, Austin Childres, Ted Nokes and Dylan Childres. Operation Graduation and Toot's Deli would like to thank everyone for participating! GUILFORD – April 2010 has been declared as "Grange Month," and Valley Grange is inviting community members to join the celebration. "For over 140 years, the Grange has worked to advance the interest of rural Americans by providing a legislative voice for their political concerns and by showing them how to strengthen their neighborhoods through community service," Valley Grange Master Jim Annis said. "During Grange Month, we want our community to know that the Grange is a living organization that has a lot to offer it." Program Leader Walter Boomsma notes that this year's program will break from tradition a bit. "For a number of years we've used this special April meeting to honor a local citizen who's made a substantial contribution to our communities and this year is no exception but it is a lot different! As we discussed candidates for this year's award, we found ourselves coming back to our relationship with Guilford Primary School, the school's contribution to the community, and the opportunities they've provided us to work with the kids. Then we realized the school is as much a 'citizen' as any individual so this year's recipient is Guilford Primary School—teachers, staff and students past and present and parents!" The celebration will take place on April 16, 2010 at the Valley Grange Hall in Guilford. Members of the community are invited to share in a traditional potluck supper starting at 6 PM with the actual celebration beginning at 7:30 PM. The public is invited and encouraged to come prepared with testimonials to the accomplishments and community services the school's teachers, staff, and kids make. "Funny stories are especially welcome!" Boomsma noted. Julie Orton, principal of the school is excited not only that the school is being honored. She notes this is yet another learning opportunity for students. "We do think of ourselves as a community within a community and this honor gives us a wonderful opportunity to teach students the importance of citizenship." The Grange not only provides fun-filled and educational programs and activities for its members, it also provides them with opportunities to strengthen the community with community service projects. While Valley Grange has a wide array of programs and projects, many members confess that working with the children brings extra special rewards. The Grange's involvement with Guilford Primary School started with the familiar "Words for Thirds Program' which provides every third grader with their own personal dictionary. Over the years the program has expanded to include "Bookworming" with Grangers visiting the school to listen to children read and the Newspapers in Education program which involves second and third graders using their creative and artistic skills to develop advertisements for the Grange. Several ads are selected and used by the Grange throughout the year. "Our involvement with the school has really developed into a partnership," noted Grange Community Service Chairperson Mary Annis. "As we've spent time with the school and the children we've discovered how much they give back to the community and to us. We really do have a win/win relationship and it's exciting to realize we have a wonderful opportunity to recognize it!" To find out more about our open house and award ceremony, please contact Walter Boomsma at 876-4131, Mary Annis at 564-0820 or visit the Valley Grange website at http://valleygrange.wordpress.com.
A parent whose son received a scholarship commented on the importance of this award: "I would like to say thank you for believing in my son and awarding him a scholarship. I'm not sure there is any other wonderful feeling, as a parent, than to be notified that all of your child's efforts, hard work and determination earned him a spot on the dean's list for fall of 2009. Thank you for all you have done to help my son achieve his goals." "This scholarship program is our annual effort to help young students get a good education that could eventually lead to a wonderful career," said Betsy Morrell, vice president of Downeast Energy & Building Supply. "We realize that, now more than ever, a post-secondary education is increasingly expensive. And having the privilege of helping our future leaders gain the knowledge and skills to become contributing citizens in their communities is a great honor." An eligible applicant:
For more information on the program and to download an application, go online to www.downeastenergy.com or contact Betsy Morrell, vice president of Downeast Energy at betsy@downeastenergy.com. For Downeast Energy & Building Supplies, contact: About Downeast Energy & Building Supply: Downeast Energy and Building Supply operates 13 offices in southern and central Maine and Dover, NH, and a building supply store and lumber yard in Brunswick, Maine. For more information, please visit www.downeastenergy.com. "Please plan ahead for any services you may need from State agencies during this and the other State government shutdown days," said Governor Baldacci. "When scheduling the days, every effort has been made to reduce the impact to Maine people, businesses and communities." The reference to the State closures is Public Law 2009, Chap. 213, Part SSS: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/chapters/PUBLIC213-PtCtoEnd.asp This is the third of 10 closure days between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010. The other dates that State agencies and offices will be closed are as follows:
There will be a REGIONAL JOB FAIR conveniently located in Central Maine & the Sebasticook Valley Date: Wednesday, May 26, 2010Job Seekers: Need Help Finding a Job? Make sure to attend to meet Employers & Staffing agencies from the region looking to hire.
Make sure to register for a table at the Regional Job Fair
For more information on the Job Fair, contact Kathryn Ruth at the Pittsfield Town Office (487-3136) or townmanager@pittsfield.org / For more information on the Resource Tables and Providers, contact Jean Dempster at Women, Work and Community at 1-800-442-2092 or dempster@maine.edu
Weekly Column by Senator Susan Collins: The poet Emily Dickinson wrote, “There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away.” On March 2, we can all help our nation’s children set sail on a wonderful voyage of discovery, imagination, and possibilities by celebrating Read Across America Day. For 13 years, this particular date has been set aside because it is the birthday of one of the world’s favorite children’s book authors – Theodore Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Everyone has a favorite Dr. Seuss book, but the one that stands apart is, of course, The Cat in the Hat. The story behind this classic book is fascinating. In 1954, Life magazine published an alarming report on illiteracy among school children, which concluded that children were not reading simply because many of their books were boring. Geisel, already a successful author and cartoonist, was given a list of 250 words by his editor and the challenge of turning them into a “book children can’t put down.” Geisel cut the list down to 236 words and produced a captivating book that hasn’t been put down ever since. Despite much effort and some progress, early literacy remains a problem. The National Institutes of Health has estimated that about 20 million of America’s 53 million school-age children have difficulty reading, and intervention often occurs too late. For those children who reach the third grade without the ability to read, every assignment is a struggle and every day in the classroom can bring embarrassment. Children without basic reading skills are at a greater risk of losing their natural curiosity and excitement for learning. The key to success is to attack the problem right away. If a child’s reading difficulty is detected early and he or she receives help in kindergarten or first grade, that child has a 90 to 95 percent chance of becoming a good reader. By contrast, if that intervention does not occur, the “window of literacy” closes, and the chances of the child ever becoming a good reader plummet. Moreover, if a child with reading disabilities becomes part of the special education system, the chances of his leaving special education are less than five percent. While there are many ways that teachers and lawmakers are addressing this issue, nothing can replace the learning that takes place during interaction between parents and their children. Much of the learning and preparation that make reading possible occurs long before a child ever sets foot in a classroom. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, children whose parents read to them three or more times a week are almost twice as likely to be able to identify every letter of the alphabet by the time they enter kindergarten. They are also more likely to be able to count to 20 and write their own names. When a child enters kindergarten already recognizing letters and familiar with books, she or he is better prepared to learn and less likely to encounter difficulty in learning to read. One of my first jobs as a teenager was reading to children during “Story Hour” at the public library in my hometown of Caribou. I learned at that early age that encouraging children to read is an investment in our children's education and, ultimately, an investment in the future of our country. That is why I have made it a priority to support funding for reading programs and to visit as many schools as I can throughout our state to read to as many children as possible. To date, I have visited more than 170 schools throughout Maine and have had the wonderful opportunity to share some of my favorite books with thousands of children. I often read books by Maine authors, such as Antlers Forever by Frances Bloxam, Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, and The Sea Chest by Toni Buzzeo. The words and illustrations in these books are wonderful, but reading books by Maine authors also helps show students that they too can grow up to write books. Taking the time to read to children is not only a worthwhile investment but also a rewarding experience. Read Across America Day will be celebrated with special events in schools, libraries, and community centers throughout the country. But capturing the spirit of this special day can be achieved through a much simpler act: spending 30 minutes of your time each day to enlarge a child’s world through a book. It is my hope that “Read Across America” will continue to encourage families to get into a daily practice of reading to their children and helping them enjoy the magic of books. I applaud schoolteachers, librarians, and most of all, parents, for their commitment to teaching children the joys of reading. I encourage all Mainers who have or spend time with young children to observe and enjoy Read Across America every day, and to help them begin this great adventure. Remember, as they say in Seussville, "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.”  Check out the hundreds of photos and results from the fair! The website, www.MaineOpenGov.org, offers searchable databases of public information, including the payroll of all employees and retirees that draw paychecks from state or local government, from judges to elementary school teachers. The website also offers a searchable database of more than $1 billion in Maine vendor payments in 2006 and 2007. The website is unique because this information has never been available in a searchable format on the Internet. Tarren Bragdon, CEO of the Portland-based think tank, says the website's purpose is to make state and local government more transparent. "MaineOpenGov.org provides a new, clear look into how state and local tax dollars are spent, down to the agency, person, and penny," Bragdon said in a press release. Pull your can tabs and bring them to the Redemption Center or the High School and the Shriners use the tabs to purchase orthopedic beds, arts & craft supplies and dialysis time and many other items for their Children's Hospitals. Save tabs from:
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Dexter Lakes Association
