The Project Canopy Grant Committee will be holding a public meeting at the Washburn Memorial Library on Wednesday, August 29. at 6 p.m.
The $3,500 grant was received by the town of Wade in 2006 and was used to develop a sustainable forestry plan for Wade’s 1,200 acres of woodlands.
With technical assistance of licensed Forester Bruce Wilkins, the plan has been completed and will be available for review and comment. Also available will be a number of very interesting maps and other materials the Committee obtained from Steve Walker of the State’s Begin with Habitat program.
One of the stated goals of the grant was to establish a permanent advocacy group for the town’s forest resources. To this end, the Committee has drafted an ordinance to establish a Wade Natural Resource Committee. The Grant Committee encourages citizens of Wade to review this proposed ordinance and ask questions as well as make comments on this proposal.
The town of Wade has scheduled a Special Town Meeting for Monday, September 10, to vote on a number of proposed ordinances for the town. This public meeting presents Wade citizens with the opportunity to have input into the composition of at least one of these ordinances prior to the September 10 voting.
Active members of this Grant Committee include: Chairman Steve Demaio, Victoria Grover, Debbie LeClair, Bill Sargeant and Jim LeClair. For further information on this issue, residents may contact Steve Demaio at 455-8158.
Birthdays/anniveraries
Correction: Madelyn “Maddie” Johnston was born on July 25, 2007, and her big sister Emma’s birthday is June 4.
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Sam Ingersoll, Terry Grant, Roscoe McIntosh, Dale Easler, Lois McCrossin, Geraldine Beckwith, Glen Tupper, Leroy Beaulier, Charity Hebert, Martha Bouchey, Caleb Gordon, Burton Kierstead, Sandy Buckingham, Doug Drost, Justin Farley, Milford White, Stacy Baker, Earl Campbell and Amber Thompson.
Anniversary wishes go out to: Lendal and Edwyna Mills, Mark and Diana Bragg, Fred and Tamria Maynard, Robert and Valerie Maynard, Bill and Tracy Whitten, Mike and Peggy Kelley, and Erik and Erika Vaughn.
Rec Center notes
The Washburn Recreation Department ended their summer programs with a “Survivor” theme day at Thomas Brewer Park. This was for all the children who had participated in the programs throughout the summer. Thanks go out for all those who helped Marcie with the various summer programs including swimming lessons, arts and crafts, cooking, soccer, basketball, ultimate games and scrapbooking.
The youth were split up into three teams to compete in various challenges, with each team given a different color bandana. They began by creating a team name and designing their team flag. Team names were The Chili Peppers, The Green Beans and the Purple Bandits. They competed in challenges including throwing tennis balls at a target, a water balloon toss, an obstacle course and sliding down a slip and slide to put a softball in a bucket. The Green Beans team earned first-place standing, and all participants received sporting-type prizes ranging from sports balls and Frisbees to squirt guns and bubbles.
The youth then had some free time on the slip and slide which was watered down by the use of a Washburn fire truck, generously supplied by the fire department. The day’s events finished with a hotdog roast for lunch.
The upcoming schedule for soccer is as follows: each Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the elementary school fields with grades K-2 playing from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., followed by grades 3 and 4 playing from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.
There will also be men’s basketball at the high school gym each Monday starting at 6:30 p.m. For further information on any Rec Center programs, contact Director Marcie Barbarula at 455-4959.
Fire Department ‘embers’
A team of Washburn firemen went to Grand Falls, New Brunswick, to compete in the Firemen’s Muster in July. It must certainly have been an interesting event with six of our burly firemen in their complete turnout gear competing in one event in a very small Toyota! Rumor has it that Brian McCoy and Ryan Goodine were ‘hauled’ in sideways through the windows! The team took a Rescue II truck and the 1963 fire truck along with personal vehicles.
The group enjoyed themselves and came home with three trophies! One was third place for a marching unit, another third place for the Farmer’s Day Award. The department was most proud of receiving the Sportsmanship Award. Much appreciation goes out to those who participated including: Kevin Goodine, Greg Sperrey, Matt Palmer, Ryan Goodine, Brian McCoy and Chief Arnie Devoe. Once again, Washburn has been well-represented by its Volunteer Fire Department, and we thank them all for their efforts.
Municipal minutes
The Washburn Town Council met on Monday, August 9, at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. Members voted to approve the minutes from the July 9 Council meeting as well as the July 23 Special Council Meeting. The Council is currently working on budgetary and other procedures and policies to have in place for the Sewer and Water District Board of Trustees to be named at a later date.
The Council signed off on the final touches to some Mill Pond grant work and was informed that the playground equipment will be arriving this fall. There will be a work day scheduled in the near future to install the equipment and landscaping. The town is also currently working on some landscaping ideas in order to solve the problem of the geese at the Mill Pond. There are two new portable toilets installed at the Thomas Brewer Memorial park.
The Council was also informed of a special Hamburger Helper grant, which resident can assist in the town’s efforts to receive. By visiting the site on the web, www.myhometownhelper.com, going to the ‘find a project’ link, entering in Maine and Washburn, residents and others can earn their community points for positive comments concerning the Mill Pond Park Project and help towards receiving a park grant of $15,000.
The Council accepted ‘with regrets’ the resignation of Washburn Memorial Library Board member Susan Fuller. They also signed off on a Municipal Quitclaim Deed and voted to add three new street signs for safety issues. The Council voted to allow the purchase of a cell tower and to negotiate the price up to a previously voted on amount. This would enable much-needed cell phone reception, greater wireless Internet access and GPS in the Washburn area.
The Council was given an update on ideas for school consolidation. There are currently three proposals being considered. The proposals will be sent for approval to the commissioner of the Department of Education in Augusta. Accepted proposals will then be brought before the School Unit Committee and the chosen proposal will be voted on by the community.
Items included in the agenda were looking into a grant for purchasing E911 numbers. The Council voted to purchase a sound and recording system at a great savings. The Council authorized checking into Radon testing grant money, and a qualified volunteer noted his willingness to train residents on how to test for the gas. Town Manager Andrea Powers, acting as Washburn’s health officer, informed the Council of a local health issue concerning an abandoned residence and is currently going through the process to take care of the issue.
The Council officially voted to rename the former McCain’s property as Washburn Industrial Park and is currently active in looking for scrap metal dealers to take care of dismantling efforts. The Council also was informed that the new tax bills have been mailed out and noted that a homeowner’s tax bill would increase this year only due to any major renovations or additions to their properties assessed prior to April 1, 2007. The town is also checking on a qualified assessor for a new town-wide residential and commercial re-assessment to be done by 2009 that would allow for fair and just taxes town-wide.
The next scheduled Town Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 10, at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. All interested residents are urged to attend.
Library ‘bookmarks’
The Big Kids Count II and the Kids Count Day Care centers visited the library on Thursday, July 26, for a mini story time. Librarian Kathy Corey read the stories “Is Milton Missing?” and “Cranberry Mystery.”
Door prize winners included: Abby Michaud, Parker Thompson, Brooklyn Tupper, Carter Doak, Makenzie Vaughn, Brianna Turner, Noah Caron, Madison Miller, Maranda Wohlford, Janelle Doak, Logan Michaud, Jayden Harris, Emerson Turner, Quintin Thompson, Jenica Harris and Aidan Churchill.
On Wednesday, August 22, a scrapbooking class for beginners will be held at the Washburn Memorial Library at 6 p.m.
There will also be a meeting of the Middle School Book Club held at the library on Monday, August 27, at 5 p.m. The book to be read will be “Tuck Everlasting.”
Perham ‘postmarks’
The Perham Town Office will be closed on Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29. It will reopen on Thursday, August 30, with regular hours being from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekly hours include: Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Fridays and holidays. You can reach them at the office at 455-5887, by fax at 455-4473 and the garage at 455-4424.
The Perham Planning Board now meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9 30 a.m. These hours will soon be going back to the 7 p.m. time, so check for postings. Additional Board members are still needed, and anyone interested is asked to call Deb Viola at 498-3433.
Perham residents are being notified of a household hazardous waste collection day, sponsored by NMDC. It will be held on Saturday, August 25, in Houlton. Pre-registration was required, and participants must bring their permit with them. For further information, contact Connie Bondeson at 498-8736.
Roy Wood was recently elected to the position of selectman for the town of Perham. He can be reached by contacting the Perham Town Office at 455-5887.
Selectmen tentatively meet on the first and third Mondays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Perham Town Hall. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Festival results
More information, photos and contest results will appear in a later column.
